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THE JAMES VERNER SCAIFE

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CIVIL WAR LITERATURE

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HISTORIES

SEVERAL REGIMENTS AND BATTALIONS

NORTH CAROLINA

GREAT WAR 1861 -'65.

WRITTEN BT nEMBERS OF THE RESFECTIVE COnHANDS

EDITED BY

WALTER CLARK,

(Lieut. -Colonel Seventieth Regiment N. C. T. )

VOL. II.

PUBLISHED BY THE STATE.

NASH BEOTHERS,

BOOK AND JOB PRINTEBS,

GOLDSBOBO, N. C.

'^

C0NTE/1TS.

PAGE.

Seventeenth Regiment, by Lieutenant. WUeon G. Lamb 1

Eighteenth Regiment, by Jid^utant WiUianL H. McLaurin 16

Eighteenth Regiment, by Piirale Thomas H. SuUon 65

Nineteenth Regiment, (Second Cav.) by Captain W. A. Oraham. . . 79
Nineteenth Rbqiment, (Second Oav. ) by Brigadier- General Wil-
liam P. Roberts 99

Twentieth Regiment, by Brigadier-Oeneral Thomas F. Toon Ill

Twenty-First Regiment, by Major James F. Beall 129

Twenty-First Regiment, by Lieutenant L. E. Powers 147

Twenty-Second Regiment, by Adjutant Oraham Daves 161

Twenty-Thiud Regiment, by Captain V. E. Turner and Sergeant H.

a Wall 181

Twenty-Fourth Regiment, by Coi-poral W. N. Rose 269

Twenty-Fifth Regiment, by Lieutenant Oarland S. Ferguson 291

Twenty-Sixth Regiment, by Assistant Surgeon Oeorge 0. Underwood 303

Twenty-Seventh Regiment, by Captain James A. Graham 425

Twenty-Eighth Regiment, by Brigadier- General J. H. Lane 465

TwENTY-NiNTtt Regiment, by Brigadier-Oeneral Robert B. Vance.... 485

Thirtieth Regiment, by Colonel P. M. Parker 495

Thirty-First Regiment, by Adjutant E. K. Bryan and Sergeant E.

H. Meadows 507

Thirty-Second Regiment, by Private Henry A. London 521

Thirty-Third Regiment, by Major J. A. Weston 537

Thirty-Fourth Regiment, by Lieutenant T. D. Liattimore 581

Thirty-Fifth Regiment, by Captain William H. 8. Burgioyn 591

Thirty-Sixth Regiment, (Second Art. ) by Colonel William Lamb 639

Thirty-Seventh Regiment, by Lieutenant Oclavius A. Wiggins.... 658

Thirty-Eighth Regiment, by Lieutenant- Colonel Oeorge W. Flowers 675

Thirty-Ninth Regiment, by Lieutenant Theo. F. Davidson 699

Thirty-Ninth Regiment, by Lieutenant John M. Davidson 727

Fortieth Regiment (Third Art.), by Sergeant T. C. Davis 745

Forty-First Regiment (Third Cav.), by Sergeant Joshua B. Hill.. 767

Forty-Second Regiment, by Major T. J. Brown 789

SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT.

1. William F. Martin, Colonel.

2. John C. Lamb, Lieut.-Colonel,

3. Wilson G. Lamb, ad Lieut., Co. F.

4. Gilbert Elliott, 1st Lieut, and Adjt.
(Builder of the "Albemarle.")

SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT.

By WILSON G. LAMB, Second Lieut. Company F.

With the exception of two companies garrisoning Fort Bar-
tow on Roanoke Island, the Seventeenth Regiment was cap-
tured at Fort Hatteras on the 27th of August, 1861, by the
United States naval and land forces, commanded respectively
by Commodore Stringliam and General B. F. Butler. The
Seventeenth Regiment was officered as follows:

W. F. Maetiw, Colonel.

Geokge W. Johnson, Lieutenant-Colonel.

Heney a. Gilliam, Major.

Gilbert Elliott, Adjutant.

John S. Dancy, Quartermaster.

L. D. Staeke, Commissary.

Wyatt M. Beown, Surgeon.

Fort Clark, commanded by Captain John C. Lamb, a mile
up the beach, and Fort Hatteras, near the inlet, under the im-
mediate command of Colonel Martin, constituted the defenses
of Hatteras Inlet. The garrison, numbering less than 1,000
men, was attacked by the overwhelming land and naval forces
of the Federals, and after an heroic defense surrendered as
prisoners of war. Shortly thereafter the enemy, under Gen-
eral Burnside, moved upon Roanoke Island. The two com-
panies constituting the balance of the Seventh Regiment gar-
risoned Fort Bartow, and, under the splendid leadership of
Captain Fearing and Lieutenant C. G. Elliott, the latter af-
terwards the gallant and efficient Adjutant General to Gen-
erals Martin and Kirkland, succeeded by the accurate fire of
their guns in keeping back the Federal fleet, and only surren-
dered after the landing of the Federal troops upon another
part of the island, pushing back the Confederates under

2 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

Colonel Shaw, and completely flanking the fort. I am in-
debted to Captain C. G. Elliott for an incident of this bat-
tle which is worthy of being preserved. He writes :

"During the bombardment of Fort Bartow a cannon shot
cut down the flag-staff. Instantly Lieutenant Thomas H.
Gilliam sprang upon the parapet, amid the storm of shot and
shell, and firmly planted the beautiful silk color of the John
Harvey Giiards which waved until the order to retire was re-
ceived." An historical parallel to the brave act of Sergeant
Jasper at Fort Moultrie.

Thus the whole regiment in these two engagements be-
came prisoners of Avar. After being exchanged, the Seventh
Volunteers (as it was first called) was re-organized at Camp
Mangum and became the Seventeenth Regiment N. C. T.

The organization was as follows :

Colonel, W. F. Martin; Lieutenant-Colonel, John C.
Lamb; Major, Thos. H. Sharp; Adjutant, Gilbert Elliott;
Sergeant Major, Wilson G. Lamb ; A. Q. M., John S. Dancy ;
Commissary, L. D. Starke; Surgeon, E. K. Speed.

Company A — Captain William Biggs.
Company B — Captain James J. Leith.
Company C — Captain William B. Wise.
Company D — Captain J. M . C. Luke.
Company E — Captain John L. Swain.
Company F- — Captain George B. Daniel.
Company G — Captain Thos. J. ISTorman.
Company H — Captain Stewart L. Johnson.
Company I — Captain A. J. M. Whitehead.
Company K — Captain Howard Wiswall.
Company L — Captain Lucius J. Johnson.

The Adjutant of the regiment, Gilbert Elliott, was detailed
and under his supervision the iron-clad ram "Albemarle,"
which contributed so largely to the capture of Plymouth, was
constructed. Lieutenants M. A. Cotten and Wilson G. Lamb
filled his place as Adjutant of the regiment. The Seven-
teenth was assigned to service in Eastern North Carolina and

Seventeenth Regiment. 3

performed picket duty watching the enemy at New Bern,
Washington and Plymouth. In December, 1862, a detach-
ment from the regiment with a squadron of cavalry from
Colonel Evans' regiment (Sixty-third North Carolina) and
Moore's Battery, all under Lieutenant-Colonel Lamb, cap-
tured Plymouth. Another detachment drove the enemy from
Washington, N. C. Many minor raids and surprises of the
enemy's outposts cleverly managed by Captain William
Biggs, Lieutenants Hardison, Grimes, Cotten and others gave
indication of what might be expected of the regiment when it
should have the opportunity of displaying its fighting quali-
ties.

In 1863 the regiment was brigaded with the Forty-second,
Fiftieth, and Sixty-sixth Regiments, and placed under the
command of Brigadier-General James G. Martin, and sta-
tioned at Fort Branch, Kinston and Wilmington, and was
thoroughly drilled and disciplined by that splendid organizer
find disciplinarian.

On the 2d of February, 1864, the regiment under com-
mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Lamb with the Forty-second,
Colonel Brown, P arris' Battery of six guns and a squadron of
cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel Jeffords, the whole under com-
mand of General J. G. Martin, attacked the enemy's forts at
Newport. After the capture of their block houses and driv-
ing in of their outposts, the command moved upon their
,forts and entrenchments. The Seventeenth N. C. on the
right assailed their columns in splendid style and pouring
over the works captured their guns and barracks. The brave
Captain Leith of Company B, was killed. The enemy fled in
dismay over the river and did not stop until safely under the
guns of Fort Macon. Ten pieces of artillery, 78 prisoners
and a large qiiantity of stores were the fruits of this victory.
The railroad bridge was burned and the railroad occupied
to prevent re-inforcements from Beaufort and Fort Macon
being sent to New Bern. Owing to the failure of General
Pickett's command to capture New Bern, General Martin's
troops were withdrawn the next day. In reference to this
battle I quote from the official report of the Federal General,

4 ;N"oeth Caeolina Troops, 1861-'65.

J. M. Palmer, commanding at ISTew Bern under date of Feb-
ruary 7, 1864.

"Martin performed his part well."

The great campaign of 1864 was now about to open and
the desperate struggle to capture the capital of the Confed-
acy to begin. Grant crossed the Eapidan on the 4th of
May, with his army of 140,000 men and moved overland
upon Richmond. Butler, with 30,000 men and a large naval
armament, ascended the James and occupied the Bermuda
Hundreds Peninsula, threatening both Richmond and
Petersburg. To meet this movement the Confederate forces
operating in IvTorth Carolina with troops from South Caro-
lina and Georgia were rapidly concentrated at Richmond and
Petersburg and placed under General Beauregard's com-
mand.

On the 11th of May, the Seventeenth (1,100 strong) fol-
lowed by the Forty-second and Sixty-sixth N. C, marched
through the streets of Petersburg with their bright bayonets
reflecting the morning sunlight to join in the mighty struggle
then impending. The battle of Drewry's Bluff on the 17th
resulted in forcing Butler back upon his fortified base at Ber-
muda hundreds. On the 20th the Confederates were or-
dered to assault this line of entrenchments. Mai*tin's bri-
gade was upon the extreme Confederate right, and the Seven-
teenth, IST. C, was Martin's right regiment sO' it devolved
upon this regiment to lead the assault. Them its thorough
drilling and discipline proved of great value. Emerging
from the woods into the open field with unbroken front and
without a halt, at double quick step, its onset was not stopped-
until the enemy's works were won and the Confederate ban-
ner waved in triumph over Butler's stronghold. The charge
was taken up along the line with equal gallantry and success
and Butler's forces were driven to shelter under the pro-
tection of their gunboats in the James and Appomattox.
Thus the "bottling up of Butler," so graphically detailed by
General Grant, was complete. The regiment suffered very
heavily in this assault, losing about 175 ofiicers and men
killed and wounded. The brave and youthful Lieiitenant-

Seventeentpi Regiment. 5

Colonel Lamb fell mortally wounded upon the enemy's works
and died a few days thereafter. •

Our fighting commissary, Captain L. D. Starke, . now of
Norfolk, Va., is entitled to special notice, having sent his
wagons to the rear and joined the boys in the front, and par-
ticipated in the battle with distinguished bravery. A more
gallant soldier never lived.

By the death of Colonel Lamb, Major Sharp became Lieu-
tenant-Colonel, and Captain Lucius J. Johnson, Company L,
became Major.

A division was created for General R. F. Hoke composed
of the brigades of Martin, Colquitt, Hagood and Clingman
and was ordered to report to General R. E. Lee.

The battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania had been
fought, and Grant in his turning movement had ordered
Sheridan's cavalry, supported by Warren's Corps, to seize
the heights at New Cold Llarbor.

"Anderson came up on the first of June, with Kershaw's
and Hoke's Divisions, and attacking Sheridan drove him
back toward Old Cold Harbor, and secured the heights around
JSTew Cold Harbor and Gaines' Mill, which he at once pro-
ceeded to fortify." The importance and value of this suc-
cess can only be realized when it is understood that had
Grant's order been carried out the Federals would have occu-
pied the ridge, and the Confederates, instead of defending,
would have been compelled to assail them, inasmuch as it was
the key to the Confederate Capital. The great and decisive
battle of Cold Harbor, on 3 June, followed these prelim-
inai'y engagements, and resulted in the bloodiest repulse
of the Federals known in the history of the war. The Seven-
teenth was upon the right of the line, and supported Grandy's
(Va.) battery. In its front the enemy's dead were so thickly
strewn that one could have walked on tlieir bodies its whole
extent. In this battle Lieutenant M. A. Gotten and Private;
Benjamin Andrews greatly distinguished themselves, bring-
ing into our works the flag of a New York regiment, of Ty-
ler's Brigade. The enemy assaulted our lines several times,
and during the interval between the assaults, this flag was
brought in and temporarily planted upon our works. This

6 ISToETH Oaeolina Teoops^ 1861-'65.

incident unquestionably misled the brave Hancock, who in
his official report of the battle claimed that his troops had
carried our line, "having seen through his field glasses the
Stars and Stripes floating from the enemy's works."

After the battle of Cold Harbor General Grant transferred
his army to the south bank of the Appomattox and attempted
a coup d'etat at Petersburg.

General Lee, on the 14th, moved Hoke's Division near
Drewry's Bluff, in order that it might be in position to act as
reserve for his army or go to the support of General Beaure-
gard at Petersburg. The Federals under General Smith had
advanced to within a few miles of Petersburg and had swept
away all our forces in their front and the city was in im-
minent danger of capture. The brigades of Hagood and
Colquitt had been sent forward by rail and Martin with
Clingman was pressing forward by forced marches and ar-
rived after midnight of the 15th and commenced to entrench.

The Confederates now numbered about 10,000 men behind
their hastily entrenched line. The Federal General Smith
had been reinforced by Bumside's Corps which came up at
noon and raised the Federal forces to 66,000.

The morning of the 16th was spent in skirmishing and
artillery fire. In the afternoon General Hancock, now in
command of the Federals, assailed with all his forces and
just at sunset broke through General Wise's lines, whose
troops went streaming to the rear. These brave men had
fought unceasingly for two days and were much exhausted
and only yielded when completely overwhelmed. As many
of the men of our division as could be spal-ed were hastily
gathered from various points on the line and with the rem-
nant of Wise's brigade being organized in a compact body
were hurled upon the victorious Federals — the right wing
of the Seventeenth joining in the attack. The Federals were
driven out and our line re-established. Warren's Corps had
now come up, which increased the Federal army to four corps
— numbering 90,000 — and no reinforcements had reached
General Beauregard from General Lee.

The battle re-opened on the 17th, at noon. Three times
were the Federals repulsed but as often resumed the offen-

SEVENTEENTH BEQIMENT.

1. L. J. Johnson, Major 2. Geo. B Daniel, Captain, Co F

3 William Biggs, Captain, Co. A.

Seventeenth Regiment. 7

sive. At dusk on the extreme right our lines "were again
broken and partially restored by the timely arrival of Gracie's
Brigade, the conflict raging until 11 o'clock.

During these engagements Beauregard's engineers had
been at work selecting a line nearer the city — shorter and
stronger, being the line afterwards held during the siege. Af-
ter midnight our troops were withdrawn to this new line. Our
skirmishers being left in the old works with instructions to de-
lay the advance of the enemy in order to gain as much time
as possible for our troops to fortify the new line. The writer
of this had the honor of commanding the skirmishers of his
regiment and can testify to their brave and determined resist-
ance, in connection with other commands, which resulted in
keeping back the enemy until 3 o'clock p. m. of that day
(18th).

Fortunately about this time Field's and Kershaw's Divis-
ions of General Lee's army arrived, which swelled the Con-
federate forces to 20,000 against 90,000 of the enemy's.

About 3 p. m. a general and final assault was given. It
was urged with as great pertinacity and was resisted with
equal determination as those preceding. Before dark it
ended in a complete repulse of the Federals along the whole
of our front. In these series of engagements the regiment
lost many of its most valued officers and brave men. Lieu-
tenants Perry, Hobbs, Pope and others were among the
killed.

The writer would desire to appear not ungrateful to his
comrade and friend. Lieutenant W. J. Hardison (now sheriff
of Martin county) and at the risk of being personal, wishes
to place on record the act of his brave friend, who, at the risk
of his own life, sprang over our breastworks during the ene-
my's last assault and bore his wounded friend in his arms to
safety behind them.

I am indebted to General Hagood's recent address for
much information as to data, etc., of these battles and note
with pleasure his closing words : "I have told the story of
Petersburg without comment. The narrative itself is an im-

8 NoETH Caeolina Teoops, 1861-'65.

mortelle and a reverently lay it upon the tomb of Beaure-
gard, the soldier."

Foiled in his attempt to carry Petersburg by storm Gen-
eral Grant now laid siege to the city. I cannot better de^
scribe the hardships endured by the brave soldiers than to
make extracts from the recent address of Captain Elliott.

"At the beginning of the siege, June 20th, the report of
Martin's Brigade occupying Colquitt's salient showed 2,200
men for duty. In September, when they were relieved, the
total force was 700, nothing but living skeletons. Occupy-
ing the sharp salient, the work was enfiladed on both flanks
by direct fire and the mortar shells came incessantly down
from above. Every man was detailed every night, either on
guard duty or to labor with pick and spade repairing works
knocked down during the day. There was no shelter that
summer from sun or rain. JSTo food could be 'cooked there
but the scanty provisions were brought in bags on the shoul-
ders of men from the cook yard some miles distant. The
rations consisted of one pound of pork and three pounds of
meal consisted 'iwcbe

meal for three days — no coffee, no sugar, no vegetables, no
grog, no tobacco, nothing but the bread and meat. No won-
der that the list of officers was reduced to three Captains and
a few Lieutenants with but one staff officer, (spared through
God's mercy) to this brigade of 700 skeletons. But every
feeble body contained an unbroken spirit and after the Fall
months came those who had not fallen into their graves or
been disabled, returned to their colors and saw them wave
in victory in their last fight at Bentonville."

In July their beloved Brigade Commander, General Mar-
tin, was transferred to North Carolina and General Kirkland
became his successor. General Martin was greatly beloved
by his soldiers. They had the most tmbounded confidence
in his military skill and admiration for his personal bravery
illustrated on every battlefield where they had followed him.
In October the brigade was sent to the Kichmond front and
participated in the minor engagements of Henrico C. H.,
Charles City Road and others, maintaining its high reputa-
tion for bravery.

Advices having reached General Lee of the preparation by

Seventeenth Regiment. 9

the Federals of a land and naval expedition for the capture
of Fort Fisher, Hoke's division was sent to its relief. The
Seventeenth and parts of the Forty-second and Sixty-sixth
reginaents were the advance of the division and reached Wil-
mington at 1 a. m. on 24 December, and, after being
lunched at the depot by the patriotic ladies of that city,
took up the line of march for Fort Fisher, the Seventeenth
bivouacking there on the night of the same day. The enemy
having edEEected a landing at Fort Gatling on the ocean
side, the regiment was withdrawn from Fort Fisher on the
morning of the 25th, and moving down the military road
were ordered to attack Butler's troops. ISTorman's company
in front, supported by the balance of the regiment, deployed
as skirmishers, assailed the enemy. General Kirkland in his
official report said :

"Lieutenant-Colonel Sharp, Seventeenth N". C, pressed
close upon and drove their skirmish line back upon, their
main body, which was covered by the guns of at least thirty
men of war lying broadside to the beach. Captain Norman,
Company G, deserves special notice."

A Lieutenant and ten men were captured. The regiment
lost three men killed and twenty wounded in this engage-
ment.

Before the arrival of the balance of our division, Butler
had re-embarked his troops and thus ended the powder-ship
fiasco and the military career of this modern Falstaff — he
being relieved by General Grant.

The ease with which this land and naval attack was re-
pulsed, undoubtedly created in the mind of General Bragg
an undue feeling of security. Not anticipating a renewal of
the attack on Fort Fisher, unfortvinately the division was
withdrawn to Wilmington.

On the afternoon of 14 January, whilst the regiments
of the division were on dress parade in Wilmington, the
enemy had reappeared before Fort Fisher and were land-
ing their forces, and before the division could be transported
to Sugar Loaf, the bulk of the Federal forces had landed and,
pushing that night across the peninsula, constructed a line
of field works from the ocean to the Cape Fear, thus cutting

10 ISToETH Oaeoliwa Teoops, 1861-'65.

off all land eominuiiication between Hoke's Division and Fort
Fisher. This line of works was held by a negro division,
commanded by General Paine and a white brigade tinder
General Joseph C. Abbott, who afterwards misrepresented
North Carolina in the United States Senate.

At 4 o'clock on the afternoon of the 15th, the skirmishers
of Kirkland's Brigade, which was on the left of our line,
under command of Lieutenant Lamb, were ordered to drive
back the enemy's pickets to enable Generals Bragg and Hoke,
to make a reconnoissance of the enemy's position. The effort
was only partially successful, owing to several of the enemy's
ships which were lying close to the shore, having opened a
terrible enfilading fire upon our skirmishers so soon as they
appeared on the open sand beach; but further to the right
where the small undergrowth was some protection, the ene-
my's skirmish line was driven in and their rifle-pits occu-
pied, giving opportunity for an examination of the enemy's
position. The writer recalls the calm and heroic bearing of
the modest and gallant Hoke who withdrew from the recon-
noissance with two bullet holes through his coat. For rea-
sons satisfactory, I presume, to General Bragg, no assault
was made, notwithstanding at this moment the enemy had
withdrawn Abbott's Brigade and a portion of Wright's negro
Brigade to join in the assaunlt upon Fort Fisher, which was
then in progress.

The troops at the time in our front were all negroes and
did not number more than 2,500, defending a line of a mile
in extent. That evening Fort Fisher after a most gallant de-
fense, surrendered, and the last port of the Confederacy was
closed forever.

Several small engagements approaching closely to the dig-
nity of battles followed the fall of Fisher, in all of which the
enemy were repulsed. The rapid advance of Sherman from
the South made the evacuation of Wilmington a mere quesr
tion of time and on 22 February, Kirkland's Bri-
gade, forming the rear guard of our army, marched sadly
and leisurely through the streets of our "City by the Sea,"
and Wilmington passed under Federal control. Continuing
our retreat up the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, the

Seventeenth Eegiment. 11

army, after crossing the North Kiver, halted for the night.
The enemy's cavalry pursued up to this point and attempted
by sudden dash to prevent the burning of the bridge over the
railroad. They were promptly encountered by our rear
guard, under the brave Captain 0. G. Elliott, and were re-
pulsed, sustaining heavy loss. The next day the march was
resumed and without further fighting the army reached
Groldsboro a few days thereafter.

And now the closing scenes of the bloody drama of the
Civil War was to be enacted upon the soil of N"orth Carolina.
Goldsboro became the objective point of three armies. Sher-
man with T0,000 men was advancing northward. Schofield
with his army corps of 21,000 raised the Federal forces to
30,000 at Wilmington ; and Cox's Division arriving at New
Bern increased Palmer's command to 15,000. These differ-
ent armies aggregating 115,000 men, if allowed to concen-
trate, would make short work of the Confederate forces whose
total, including the remnant of Hood's army, did not reach
40,000 men. The hope of successful resistance was indeed
forlorn and the only chance of any success was to fight these
armies separately.

The column under General Cox advancing from New Bern,
was encountered near Wise's Fork on the 8th of March, by
Hoke's Division, reinforced by the Sixty-seventh and Sixty-
eighth North Carolina, and the Junior and Senior reserves.
Leaving, at midnight, tlieir entrenchments along the line of
a creek, Kirkland's, Hagood's and Colquitt's Brigades under
the guide of Colonel Nethercut of the Sixty-sixth North Car-
olina, (who was familiar with the country) found themselves
at day dawn on the flank and rear of the enemy, and forming
line of battle in echelon of brigades, Kirkland's leading, burst
upon the surprised enemy and drove them in rapid flight to
the rear, capturing 1,000 prisoners and 4 pieces of artillery.
The enemy had been driven nearly a mile when Palmer's
Division appeared upon our right flank. The Seventeenth was
on our extreme right and its advance having thus become
arrested immediately changed front to meet the enemy, and
not knowing their force, boldly charged the division and
drove back that part of it in our front, wounding their com-

12 ISToETH Caeolina Troops, 1861-'65.

mander, General Palmer. Finding itself overlapped right
and left, it deployed as skirmishers with both wings reversed,
and held its position until reinforcements were brought up
under the personal command of General Hoke, and thus had
the honor of preventing the flanking of our army. Later a
congratulatory order from General Kirkland was read to the
regiment on dress parade at Goldsboro complimenting it
upon its splendid achievement.

The enemy proceeded to fortify their position, and on the
10th General Bragg sought to employ the same strategy in
again attacking the enemy. It was contemplated by recon-
noissance in force to develop the enemy's extreme left and
renew our turning movement of two days before. Kirk-
land's Brigade was assigned this duty, supported by the other
brigades of the division. Our skirmishers were thrown out,
supported by the brigade, and engaging the enemy's pickets,
drove them rapidly before us. The enemy's works were de-
veloped and, not knowing that it was intended that we should
not assault, we rushed upon the works under the heaviest fire
which we had ever received. Notwithstanding the brigade
had lost one-half of its number, it reached the abatis and
slashing and held its position until ordered to withdraw. In
this assault the heroic Captain Elliott added another gem to
the crown of his military fame. The gallant Lieutenant
Grimes, distinguished in many battles, had been desperately
wounded and became a prisoner. This is the only battle in
which the regiment was ever repulsed, and even here it felt
that if it had received support its colors would have been
planted upon the enemy's works. Sherman having reached
Averasboro it became necessary to concentrate all available
troops in his front and Hoke's Division was withdrawn and
sent by rail to Smithfield Depot and marched thence via
Smithfield to Bentonville. The army of General Sherman
was moving from Averasboro to Goldsboro, upon two roads
running parallel and about ten miles apart. Otir division
swelled our army to about 15,000 men, against Sherman's 70,-
000. On tlie morning of the 19th Jefferson C. Davis' and Slo-
cum's Corps, numbering about 35,000 men were attacked by

Seventeenth Regiment. 13

our troops and driven back a considerable distance, three
guns and nine hundred prisoners falling into our hands.

The other corps of Sherman's army came up and v^^ere
thrown on our left flank, which had become much advanced
in the battle of the previous day. In consequence of this
movement it became necessary to change the position of our
army. The brigade of Kirkland, deployed as skirmishers,
held the enemy in check while the entire army changed front,
and thereafter occupied a position in the centre and joined
in the repulse of the many and furious charges of the Feder-
als. In this battle Captain William Biggs, Company A, was
greatly distinguished for his intrepid bravery. The brigade
received the special commendation of General Jos. E. John-
son for its valued services in this engagement.

Thus closes the volume of the bloody record of the Seven-
teenth North Carolina troops and their brave companions of
associated commands.

The army was withdrawn, retiring through Raleigh and
Chapel Hill and was surrendered to General Sherman at
Centre Church, Randolph county, at the final capitulation.

Supplementing this record it would not be amiss to state
that the flag of the Seventeenth North Carolina Troops
saved at the surrender by Private Abel Thomas, of Com-
pany A, was unfurled at the unveiling of the Confederate
monument at Raleigh on 20 May, 1895, and beneath its
tattered and bulletrriddled folds the veteran survivors
marched to do honor to their dead heroic comrades.

Wilson G. Lamb^
Second Lieutenant Company Y.

WiLLIAMSTON, N. C,

26 April, 1901.

EIGHTEENTH EEGIMENT.

1. John D. Barry, Colonel. 4. Win. H. McLaurin, let Lient. and Adjt

8. E. H. Cowan, Colonel. 5. Evander N. Robeson, 1st Lieut Co K

3. Marcus W. Buie, Captain, Co. B. 6. Alex. E. Smith, Sergeant Co P

EIGHTEENTH REGIME/^T.

By WILLIAM H. McLAURIN, Adjutant.

In the stirring times of 1860-61 North Carolina was de-
votedly attached to the American Union.

Her election in August, 1868, for State officers showed the
bias of her people, and when Governor Ellis in February,
1861, issued a call for a convention and election of delegates
thereto, they not only voted down the convention, but elected
a majority of delegates who were pronounced unionists,
many of them the most trusted leaders of the State. Had
they assembled in Convention their deliberations would have
been on broad lines and fearless.

Our action encouraged Virginia and Tennessee, whose con-
ventions deliberated long and well.

"Let us reason together" was the method of North Carolina,
and she sent peace commissioners to Washington not to cringe
and fawn but to use every honorable means to avoid bloody
war. All that could be done was unavailing, and all the ave-
nues of adjustment were closed by President Lincoln on the
15 April, 1861, by calling for 75,000 troops to coerce the
seceding States.

This effectually settled all differences of opinion with us
as to what should be done. The most ardent union men of the
State joined the most fiery secessionist, in saying to our sis-
ter States, "Thy people shall be my people, thy God my God,"
and right nobly did they redeem the pledge.

On receipt of the call for troops, Virginia promptly passed
her ordinance of secession, and Tennessee followed in a few
days.

The call for a convention, and election of delegates, was
sustained with practical unanimity, . and on 20 May,

16 North Carolina Troops. 1861-65.

1861, North Carolina seceded. Volunteer companies had
been formed all over the State, and, generally, waited for
State authority for mobilization. Some companies and reg-
iments, however, went to the front as soon as formed.

The Legislature which met 1 May provided for ten regi-
ments of State troops for the war, the officers appointed by the
governor and ten regiments of Volunteers for one year, the
officers elected by companies, and field officers elected by com-
pany officers.

Of the companies that assembled around Wilmington, on
the Cape Fear defences, four from the coimty of New Hano-
ver (three of them from Wilmington), two from Bladen, one"
from Robeson, and one from Richmond were formed into the
Eighth Regiment of volunteers, viz :

Company A — Captain C. Cornehlson, Wilmington.
Company B — Captain Robert Tait, Bladen.
Company C — Captain Forney George, Colimibus.
CoiEPANY D — Captain William S. Norment, Robeson.
Company E — Captain John R. Hawes, jSTew Hanover,
(now Pender).

Company F — Captain Charles Malloy, Richmond.
Company G — Captain Henry Savage, Wilmington.
Company H — Captain I). H. Gore, Columbus.
CoiiPANY I — Captain O. P. Meares, Wilmington.
Company K — Captain George Tait, Bladen.

Of these companies A, G, and I were organized companies
many years before the war.

Company A, "The German Volimteers," Avas the only com-
pany in the State of distinctively foreign citizenship. Com-
pany G, "The Wilmington Light Infantry," and Company T,
"The Wilmington Rifle Guards," being up on tactics, fur-
nished many officers for companies and regiments throughout
the State, and the personnel of their officers and men were
frequently changed. At one time Company I was composed
of one hundred men ranging from 16 to 22 years of age, and
only one married man among them.

Company F, "The Scotch Boys," when mustered into ser-

Eighteenth Regiment. 17

(^ice had 94 ofRcers and men. Sixty of them were 6 feet to
6 feet 4 inches high, 24 over 5 feet 10 inches, 7 over 5 feet 8
inches, and 3 under 5 feet 8 inches, making an average height
for the whole company of 6 feet 1% inches, believed to be un-
precedented for so large a company, in the Confederate or
Federal armies, if it does not challenge the armies of the
world, for a company not especially selected.

Nine of the above companies were moved from their sev-
eral rendezvous to Camp Wyatt, named in honor of H. L. Wy-
att, the first soldier killed in regular battle in the Southern
army, on the lands of James Burriss, near the head of the
sound (about one mile from the present site of Carolina
Beach, a popular resort), and about 1 July elected field of-
ficers.

Major James D. Radcliff, who had been a principal of a
military school in Wilmington for several years, and was
then connected with the engineer department of the Cape
Fear defences, was elected colonel. Captain 0. F. Meares,
Company I, was elected lieutenant-colonel, and Captain
George Tait, of Company K, who was stationed at a bat-
tery near Federal Point lighthouse, was elected Major.

Charles D. Myers, of Company G, was appointed Adju-
tant; Anthony D. Cazaux, Company I, was appointed Cap-
tain, and A. Q. M. ; Duncan McNeill, Company F, Captain
and A. C. S. ; Dr. James A. Miller, Company G, Surgeon ;
Dr. Charles Lesesne, Company K, Assistant Surgeon ; Dr.
Simpson Russ, Company K, Assistant Surgeon; Rev. Colin
Shaw, Company K, Chaplain.

Colonel Radcliffe was an excellent drill master and disci-
plinarian, and soon had the regiment in good shape.

About the middle of September, Companies F and I' were
sent to Fort Fisher, and Company K from its vicinity, was
sent across New Inlet channel to a battery on Zeke's Island.
A few weeks later the other seven companies joined F and I
and engaged in laying the foundation of Fort Fisher, that
later proved to be one of the strongholds of the Confederacy.

Confusion arising from numbering both classes of troops
from 1 to 10, it was decided by the State authorities to change
the numbers of tlie volunteer regiments, enumerating them
2

18 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

from 11 to 20. Thus the Eighth volunteers became the
Eighteenth ISTorth Carolina troops, and was afterwards th\is
known.

On 7 November, orders were received to go to the aid
of Port Royal, S. C, and in a few hours all of our equipage
was on the banks of the Cape Eear, at Sugar Loaf
Landing, awaiting transportation, where, by a miscarriage
of orders, steamer after steamer passed us by, and we re-
mained thirty-six hours. During this time Company K,
that was to remain on Zeke's Island, kept its water-craft busy
crossing the inlet, and offered all sorts of inducements to any
company to exchange places, but no proposition would be en-
tertained by either company or any individual to remain. We
had acquired the soldier habit of complaining that we were
not supplied with camp necessities, but in the light of after
experiences our baggage and kitchen equipment was simply
immense.

It is safe to say that our nine companies had more cooking
utensils than A. P. Hill's corps, to which we afterward be-
longed, had at any time in 1863-64-65.

At Wilmington we were again delayed a day, also at
Charleston, S. C. Here we heard of the downfall of Beau-
fort. Our disappointment was great. Enthusiastic expecta-
tion changed to abject despair. Would the war really close
before we got a chance at battle ? Alas ! no. '

We disembarked at Pocataligo, midway between Charles-
ton and Savannah, and spent the winter at Camp Stephens,
on Huguenin's farm, drilling and guarding the lagoons of
the coast below the Coosahatchie, assisted by Trenholm's bat-
tery and Colonel John C. Calhoun's regiment of cavalry, a
part of the time under the command of Brigadier-General
Robert E. Lee, whose headquarters were two or three miles
distant.

The amateur talent of the regiment relieved the monotony
of camp life with entertainments — drama, charade, bur-
lesque. Especially enjoyable was a "Review of the Army,"
in which oiir Irish wit, Ned Stanton, "riding on an ass' colt,"
easily took rank as the burlesque reviewer of the war.

Altogether, we spent a pleasant winter, playing soldier in

Eighteenth Regiment. 19

that genial clime, though greatly disappointed several timos
by the cavalry making false alarms of the Yankees landing,
and pillaging the coast plantations.

Coloned Radcliffe put a stop to these alarms by sending
Lieutenant-Colonel Meares down the coast with three com-
panies and a week's rations.

The first night Corporal W. H. McLaurin Avas in charge of
the outpost at a landing near Donkey Island, which outpost
was reached by a dam across the marsh, and a hundred yards
or more from high land. About 10 o'clock the "yanks" be-
gan assembling at the island. The cavalryman, who was on
duty to act as courier, explained their tactics, and the posi-
tion of the different landings. Splash ! Splash ! ! Splash ! ! !
Their oars are distinctly heard coming our way.

Let me go for the reserve, plead the cavalryman. Wait
till we see something was replied. There was a lull in the
oaring, which was accounted for by him as landing a part be-
low us, when a part would go to a landing above, and cap-
ture all of us. This appeared to be true — the oaring began
again, nearly all the boats taking a different channel from
the one we wore on.

The cavalryman started for his horse, on the mainland, ro
go for the companies, and was so persistent that we had to
threaten to shoot him to get him back. The men were ar-
ranged so as to receive them, warmly, at the landing. We
all lay flat on our corntops, taken from a nearby corn field,
and arranged behind an embankment to keep us out of the
mud, only one head above the bank as an outlook. The oar-
ing again ceased. "Thes lan-lan-landing ! le-le-let me go mis-
ter !" The reply was in equally jerky tones. "Sta-sta-stay-right
there." A death-like silence reigned around, except that the
loose ends of the cornstalks, from some cause, rustled like a
cane-brake in a storm. Scared, but determined, we lay
awaiting the landing of the raiders. A minute seemed an
hour — the tension is at last relieved. Splash ! Splash : !
Splash ! ! ! A school of porpoises rose in front of our land-
ing, and went ^merrily on their way.

We welcomed our midnight relief, laughed heartily at the
cavalryman and had no more alarms.

20 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'U5.

In March, 1862, Major George Tait resigned and
Captain Forney George, Company C, was promoted
Major; Lieutenant C. C. Gore became Captain of Compa-
ny C.

On 14 March orders came for the regiment to go to
ISTew Bern, IST. C, and in a few hours everything was on
the cars, and speeding for that ill-fated Athens of JSTorth
Carolina. At Wilmington we heard of its fall. Here wo
were joined by Captain T. J. Purdie, with Company K, froin
Zeke's Island. The regiment proceeded to Kinston, where
the New Bern garrison was encamped, under command of
General L. O'B. Branch. These troops with the reinforc<i'
ments sent them were formed into two brigades the last days
of March, the First brigade commanded by General Robert
Ransom and the Second by General Branch. The latter was
composed of the Seventh, Eighteenth, Twenty-eighth, Thirty-
third and Thirty-seventh North Carolina regiments, from
that time to the close of the war.

On 24 April, 1862, the regiment was reorganized, with
almost an entire change of officers. Lieutenant-Colonel
Robert H. Cowan, of the Third North Carolina, was elected
Colonel. Captain Thomas J. Purdie, Company K, was
elected Lieiitenant-Colonel and Major Forney George was re-
elected.

Lieutenant Samuel B. Waters, of the Third North Caro-
lina, was appointed Adjutant, Captain A. D. Cazaux remained
as Quartermaster, ex-Captain Robert Tait was appointed A.
C. S., Dr. James A. Miller remained Surgeon, with former
assistants. Chaplain Colin Shaw became Chaplain to the
Sixty-first North Carolina regiment.

Private Thomas W. Brown, Company I, was elected Cap-
tain of Company A, Lieutenant Wilie J. Sikes, Company B,
elected Captain ; Lieutenant W. K. Gore was elected Captain
of Company C ; First Sergeant M. C. Lee was elected Cap-
tain of Company D ; Second Lieutenant Fred Thompson was
elected Captain of Company E; Second Lieutenant Daniel
M. McLaurin was elected Captain of Company F; Captain
Henry Savage was re-elected Captain of Company G; Lieu-
tenant M. A. Byrne was elected Captain of Company H ; Pri-

Eighteenth Regiment. 21

vate John D. Barry was elected Captain, of Company I ; Lieu-
tenant R. M. DeVane was elected Captain of Company K.

A few of the Lieutenants were retained in the same or ad-
vanced to a higher grade, but generally new men were selected
for officers.

On 2 May the brigade broke camp and embarked for
Virginia in sections. The Eighteenth Regiment left on
the 7th and arrived at Richmond next day, bivouaced a
couple of days at Howard's G-rove, then on the outskirts of
the incorporation, now a populous section of the city, and ar-
rived at G-ordonsville on the 10th. In a few days we marched
towards the valley to join Stonewall Jackson. Every foot
moved with a light and steady step and the expression of sat-
isfaction was on the countenance of all.

When about to cross the Blue Ridge at Massanutten Gap
orders were received to return to Gordonsville. The next
week the same route was gone over. A few days after our
second return our baggage was loaded on the train and wo
started towards Richmond. At Hanover Court House we
again went into camp. Here Branch was reinforced with
Colonel Hardeman, Forty-fifth Georgia, part of Latham's
artillery and some of Robertson's regiment of cavalry.

The sick, and the extra aaggage, were sent to Richmond,
and on the 26th Branch marched towards the Chickahominy,
Johnston's left camping that night between Peake's turnout
and Slash Church.

On the 27th Branch fought the battle of Hanover Court
House with about 4,000 men, engaging General Porter's reg-
ulars and Sedgwick's command of about 12,000. Colonel
James H. Lane, with the Twenty-eighth Regiment, was sent
back to hold the crossing at Taliaferro's Mill, where two
companies of the Thirty-seventh were on duty.

Porter came in between the brigade and the Twenty-
eighth Regiment on a road leading towards Mechanicsville.
The Eighteentli and Thirty-seventh Regiments were sent to
Lane's relief and found Porter's pickets at Peake's, which
they drove back upon the line of regulars at the aforemen-
tioned road.

Colonel Cowan was placed with the Eighteenth on the

22 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

right of the Hanover road and Colonel Lee with the Thirty-
seventh was sent through a wood to his right to attack Por-
ter's flank. About this time a train arrived with the Twelfth
North Carolina, Colonel Wade, which, with the Thirty-third,
was placed on the left of the road, and drove back to the road
the flankers put out by Porter. As Porter had no line be-
yond the road these regiments had no further engagement.

The Eighteenth Regiment made a splendid attack on Por-
ter's front line and drove it back to the Mechanicsville road,
where the ditch bank and wicker fence afforded fine defen(\^.
From this cover Porter's volleys did great damage, and th'^
Eighteenth was compelled to move by the right flank to a
wood some 200 yards to the right, to get some protection.
From this wood the unequal fight was carried on. The
Thirty-seventh was further to our right and engaged with lis
till ordered to withdraw.

We lost very heavily in this action, some companies losing
50 per cent, in killed and wounded. Our first experience in
war was a bloody baptism. "The Bloody Eighteenth" was a
well earned title.

General Branch, in his report, says of it : "Colonel Cowan
with the Eighteenth made the charge most gallantly, but the
enemy's force was much larger than had been supposed, and
strongly posted, and the gallant Eighteenth was compelled to
seek shelter. It continued to pour heavy volleys from the
edge of the woods and must have done great execution. The
steadiness with which this desperate charge was made re-
flects the highest credit on officers and men. The Thirt;y-
seventh found the xindergrowth so dense as to retard its pro-
gress, but when it reached its position it po^lred a heavy and
destructive fire upon the enemy. This combined volley from
the Eighteenth and Thirty-seventh compelled the enemy to
leave his battery for a time, and take shelter behind a ditcli
bank."

After stating the positions of his forces and the purposes
of his engagement, continuing, he says: "Finding I could
no longer remain without being surrounded, and hearing of no
remforceanents, and feeling assured from the firing that Lane
had made good his retreat to Hanover Coxirt House, I deter-

Eighteenth Regiment. 23

mined to draw off. This, always difficult in the presence of
a superior enemy, was rendered comparatively easy by the
precaution I had taken not to engage my whole force. Camp-
bell was ordered to place the Seventh across the road so as to
receive the enemy if they should attempt to follow. Orders
were then sent to Lee and Cowan to withdraw in order. They
were hotly engaged when the order was received, but promptly
withdrew. Colonel Cowan, in an especial manner, attracted
my attention by the perfect order in which he brought out his
regiment, notwithstanding the severe and long continued fire
he had received from both infantry and artillery. The regi-
ment marched to the rear without haste or confusion and
went up the Ashland road."

The command reached Ashland during the night, and the
next day marched to the left of Johnson's line, inside the
Chickahominy, near Chamberlain's. The Eighteenth guard-
ed the crossing several days. Here an occurrence took place
that had its influence on this and other North Carolina bri-
gades during the war, perhaps accounting for their scant
newspaper notoriety, in contrast with certain other com-
mands.

When Richmond papers came into camp two of them had
communications relative to the engagement of the Twenty-
seventh, gingerly criticising General Branch for withdrawing
without fighting all his force for all they were worth, vigor-
ously protesting that that was what the troops were there for,
etc. This was breezy.

Greneral Branch sent his aide. Major Blount, to the edi-
tors, and got each article, then sent for Captain , of

the Thirty-seventh, and Lieutenant , of the Thirty-
third, to come to headquarters.

He received them in that open, easy manner of which he
was master, and entertained them with such courtesy as put
them entirely at ease. Handing each his communication he
asked "Is that your signature for the purpose therein ex-
pressed," with the deliberation of a clerk in chancery probat-
ing, a paper.

They recognized that a condition, not a theory, confronted

24 North Carolina Troops, 18t)l-'65.

them, sweated the great sweat of confusion and acknowl-
edged their deeds.

He then handed Captain the following and asked

him to read it aloud :

HeADQUAKTEKSj
AeMY of N'oETHEEISr VlEGINIA^

June 3rd, 1862.
Brigadier General L. O'B. Branch, Commanding, Etc. :

The report of your recent engagement with the enemy ft
Slash Church has been forwarded by Major General Hill. I
take great pleasure in expressing my approval of the manner
in which you have discharged the duties of the position in
which you were placed, and of the gallant manner in which
your troops opposed a very superior force of the enemy. I
beg you will signify to the troops of your command, which
were engaged on that occasion, my hearty approval of their
conduct, and hope that on future occasions they will evince a
like heroism and patriotic devotion.

I am very respectfully your obedient servant.

RoBEET E. Lee.

Through Major General A. P. Hill.

They frankly deferred to the opinion of General Lee, as
to the merits of Branch's actions in the engagements of the
27th, and the pardon they asked he freely gave them.

They returned to their commands with a changed opinion
as to what they knew about war, fully resolved, thereafter, to
attend to the duties that lay next to their door. ,

General Lee's letter of approval was read that evening to
each regiment of Branch's brigade on dress parade, and there
were two men who looked very intently at something on the
ground in front of them during its reading.

The story spread through camp and we had no more
war correspondents.

Wait till you hear from General Lee was the rule with
the North Carolina troops, leaving to others to make reputa-
tion by printers ink.

Colonel Lane with the Twenty-eighth, had hard fighting to

Eighteenth Regiment. 25

keep from capture, and being cut off, made quite a detour to
get into the line of the Chickahominy, taking two or three
days. After the battle of Seven Pines, on the 31st, in which
General Joseph E. Johnston .was severely wounded. General
R. E. Lee was placed in command of the Army of Northern
Virginia. Brigadier-General Ambrose Powell Hill, for gal-
lantry in that battle, and others of the Peninsular campaign,
was made Major-General, and six brigades assigned to his
division, that of Branch among them.

From Chamberlain's we were moved to Brook Church on
the pike near Richmond, and did duty at Crenshaw, Meadow
Bridge and telegraph road crossings.

On 25 June the brigade moved to Crenshaws, and
next morning crossed the Chickahominy above the Meadow
Bridge road. Near Atlee's station, a part of the Seventh and
Thirty-third Regiments, in driving in the enemy, had a few
men wounded. They captured a flag and a lot of prisoners.
This was the first blood spilled, and trophy of the gory seven
day's fight. Branch turning their right caused the Yankees
alarm, and A. P. Hill crossed the division at the lower roads
with comparative ease.

McClellan made a stand at Mechanicsville, and a brisk en-
gagement was carried on, till night put a stop to it. The
Eighteenth was on the left of the line, under cannonading,
from which we lost three men.

During the night the enemy withdrew their main forces,
and their rear guard only was encountered next morning.
Pursuit was made, and the enemy found at Gaines' Mill,
or Cold Harbor, where General McClellan had concentrated
his troops in a naturally very strong position.

Branch's brigade was among the first in the battle and
did good service. The Eighteenth fought on the right of a
road, crossing a swamp, and found the enemy strongly en-
trenched on the high bluff on the opposite side, with abatis iti
front We charged with vigor, but did not succeed in carry-
ing the position. Falling back into the marsh we would re-
form and return to the charge, with like result.

Colonel Cowan in his report of the battle, says : "Friday
afternoon at 4 o'clock we were put in the fight at Cold Harbor.

26 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

By your order my line of battle was formed on tlie right o£
the road and in this order I advanced through the dense
woods, in which the enemy were posted. A small ravine,
deep and boggy, compelled ug to flank still further to the
right. By this means I became separated from the remain-
der of the brigade, Avhich had been formed on the left, and for
a long time was wholly without assistance in my attempts
upon the enemy's position. Again and again was that posi-
tion assailed, and again and again were we repulsed by vastly
superior numbers. Regiment after regiment sent into the
same attack, shared the same fate, and it was not until late in
the afternoon when the continuous arrival of fresh troops
had given xis something like an equality of forces, that any
decided impression was made upon the enemy. His posi-
tion was carried in that last charge which swept his whol'}
army from the field in a perfect rout. In this fight though
I was perfectly satisfied with the conduct of my regiment, the
position of the enemy was such that we were exposed to
heavy fire from the flank as well as from the front, and
though the regiment was frequently broken, and compelled
to fall back, yet I did not once lose command of it. The
men re-formed with alacrity, and my commands were obeyed
with the promptness, if not the precision of drill."

In the last charge that we made the writer, with others,
passed through the abatis, and got protection from the ene-
my's fire, under the bank their breastworks were on. Though
the regiment did not capture their strong position, as it re-
tired we had the satisfaction of seeing the Yanks abandon
their works — a drawn fight, as it were.

We ascended the hill to the field in rear of their breast-
works, and were there when Whiting's division of Jackson's
forces, came on the field in column, the Texas brigade in
front.

We looked up our kinsman, Lieutenant James T. McLau-
rin. Company B, Fourth Texas, and marched along with
him some quarter of a mile or more, before retiirning to our
command. The enemy appeared to have abandoned their
works, for at least a half a mile along this swamp, as the re-
sult of the determined attacks that had been made upon

Eighteenth Regiment. 27

them, and had fallen back behind a deep ravine running into
it, where Whiting found them. Tliere was little firing any-
where at that time.

Soon after I left the Texas brigade, the battle was opened
by AVhiting, and the -rattle of musketry was incessant till
well in the night, such as was rarely heard on any battle
field. The Confederates displayed their fighting qualities
on all this field but to Whiting's division belongs the credit of
the rout of ''the little giants" — mighty men of valor, not
that his troops did it alone, but he gave them the grand
bounce — the Texas brigade being the first to break their lines
and with the assistance of gallant comrades McOlellan's army
was kept moving. Night put distance between him and that
horrible rebel yell, and he abandoned much valuable army
supplies. The field, next day, gave abundant evidence of
desperate fighting on both sides. Saturday was spent in
burying the many dead upon the field, and gathering the
trophies of battle.

Monday evening, the 30th, the enemy was overtaken at
Frazier's farxn and about 4 p. m., our brigade was engaged
on the right of the road, charging the enemy's line that was
strongly posted and well defended. Sweeping across an
open field, the Eighteenth Kegiment charged a battery in the
yard of a farm house, strongly supported by infantry. They
gave us a warm reception with grape, canister, and minie,
and were greatly aided by those on their left, who gave us a
galling flank fire — so trying at all times — ^before becoming
engaged with those on our right, who did not advance as
quickly as we did. With a yell and a rush, everything was
carried before us, and at a fearful cost in killed and wounded.
At the woods beyond the house the regiment was re-formed
and advanced again, with the brigade, through a strip of
woods, and another field, routing the enemy. On Tuesday,
1 July, we were not actively engaged at Malvern Hill —
simply held the position assigned us, when we came
on the field in the afternoon. We were under fire of
the land batteries and the gunboats, a shell from the latter
wounding a few men. The rest of the week we spent on Mc-
Olellan's flank clearing it of straggling parties and on Sunday

28 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

bivouaced near Charles City C. H., in a thicket of old field
pines. Here a strange accident occurred. A musket fell
from a stack of guns and was discharged, wounding Lieuten-
ant George W. Huggins, Company I, in the foot. He was
asleep. It was a rude awakening, and from it he goes limp-
ing through life. There was no one near the guns, and on
being examined it was at half-cock, and very hot. Had the
hammer been on the cap it would have been readily accounted
for, by its hitting the ground. It was evidently a rare case
of sunheat-shooting. Had any one been reasonable near it
would have been too strong a case of circumstantial evidence
for him to have escaped punishment.

From Charles City C. H., we returned to near Richmond
and remained in camp till the first week of August, when A.
P. Hill's division reinforced Stonewall Jackson, who, in com-
mand of two divisions, had gone to the vicinity of Orange C.
H., to watch Pope's advance, threatening our railroad con-
nections at G-ordonsville. Hill reached Orange on the 7th,
and on the 8th only a few miles march was made, the weather
being oppressively hot, and there being some misunderstand-
ing of the order of march.

On the evening of the 9th, was fought the battle of Cedar
Mountain. Branch's Brigade came on the field after the bat-
tle began, and was hastily formed on the left of the Culpep-
per road, to support Jackson's first line, and ordered to ad-
vance. It had gone but a little distance when it met the
"Stonewall Brigade," that splendid body of troops that at
First Manassas gave renown and "a name" to the idol of the
army, fleeing in iitter rout and confusion before an exultant
foe. Nothing daunted by the imfavorable condition of af-
fairs Branch's "Tar Heels" met the enemy unflinchingly, and
drove them back in great disorder.

Of this charge General Branch in his report, says: "My
brigade opened upon them, and quickly drove the enemy
back from the woods into a large field.

"Following up to the edge of the field, I came in view of
large bodies of the enemy, and having a very fine position, I
opened upon them, with great effect. The enemy's cavalry
attempted to charge us in two columns, but the fire soon broke

Eighteenth Regiment. 29

them, and sent them fleeing across the field in every direction.
The infantry then retreated also. Advancing into the field,
I halted near the middle of it, in doubt which direction to
take. Just at that moment. General Jackson came riding up
from my rear, alone. I reported my brigade as being solid,
and asked for orders. My men recognized him, and raised
a terrific shout, as he rode along the line with his hat off. He
evidently knew how to appreciate a brigade that had gone
through a hot battle, and was then following a retreating
enemy, without having broken its line of battle, and remained
with me directing my movements until the pursuit ceased.
* * * * We gained a splendid victory, and the credit
is due to my brigade. I was among my men all during the
fight and they were brave and cool."

Branch's success enabled General Taliaferro, on the right
of the road, to reform his left, that was giving away, and hold
his ground.

Generals Pender and Archer were forming on Branch's left
and advanced before they were properly aligned ; success at-
tended an advance on the whole line and the field was ours.
Jackson started for Culpepper that night, but, after going
two or three miles, went into camp, his scouts reporting that
Pope hiid rec'.'ived heavy reinforceiments.

The dead were buried and in a few days Jackson took
position south of the Rapidan, the Eighteenth camping near
Orange C. IT.

On the 20th the Rapidan was again crossed, and we had a
skirmish near Brandy Station.

The fords of the Rappahannock were strongly guarded by
Pope's command, Jackson forced a crossing at one of them
and attracted their attention in that direction whilst by such
defiles as afforded cover, he ascended the right bank to War-
renton Springs and on the 22nd crossed over a small com-
mand. In that engagement the Eighteenth supported a bat-
tery on the south side and sustained but slight injury. The
troops were v. ithdra'wn from the north side and on the morn-
ing of the 2Cth, before day, Jackson "lit-out" with his foot-
cavalry to go aroimd Pope. When we reached Hazel river
we waded up that stream to keep the dust of the road from

30 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

betraying oar route, and crossing the Blue Eidge we got a
few hours rest that night around Orleans. JSText day JSTew
Salem was passed and the Blue Ridge recrossed at Thorough-
fare Gap. That night about 1 o'clock Jackson camped in
Pope's rear around Bristoe Station.

On the morning of 27 August, Branch's brigade
had a briish with cavalry and artillery near Manassas Junc-
tion, running it back across Bull Run, captuidng . sozne 200
prisoners.

The Eighteenth regiment was not in the pursuit, being
detached after tlie fight to guard Manassas depot, and hun-
dreds of cars loaded with supplies for Pope's army — a rich
trophy indeed.

Supplies were taken out, not only for Jackson's troops, but
also for Lee's army that was following, and had, two days af-
terward to fight its way through Thoroughfare Gap. All
the supplies were taken that could be disposed of and the
torch applied, about midnight, to that which could not be util-
ized. At 1 o'clock a. m. the Eighteenth followed Jackson
across Bull Run and in the early morn reached the fortifi-
cations at Centreville erected in 1861. After resting a few
hours the march was resumed, and we recrossed Bull Run at
the Stone bridge taking position in line similar to that occu-
pied by the Federals in 1861, at the First Manassas battle.
We were under heavy artillery firing for some time, and
had some casualties. The Eighteenth was again detached
from the brigade and sent to the right to the support of a
part of EWell's command.

Ewell's troops repulsed the attack on them before our arri-
val and we returned without being actively engaged. On
the morning of the 29th we made quite a march, returning
during the day near where we started from, too fatigued for
the hard service that fell to our lot. We were placed on the
left near Sudley Ford, behind the unfinished Alexandria
and Manassas Gap Railroad and being in the second line, as
supports, had ample action in different places without any
protection. Branch's brigade was fought that day in sec-
tions, and like foot-cavalry, was at all parts of the line. The
Eighteenth was sent across the railroad to cheek a flank move- ■

Eighteenth Regiment. 31

ment, then to the assistance of Gregg's brigade, that occupied
the key to Jackson's position, where desperate fighting had to
be done to hold it against the hosts that were hurled upon it,
in a vain effort to rum Jackson's left. Again the Eighteenth
was sent to A. P. Hill's right, to the support of Archer's and
a Louisiana Brigade, which occupied a railroad cut. The
Eighteenth fought iu-an open oak woods imniediately in their
rear, and when an attack was repulsed, we could not charge
and follow them. Jackson held his ground.

It was evidently Pope's intention to overwhelm Stonewall
and crush him before Lee could come to his assistance. . Long-
street met vigorous resistance at Thoroughfare Gap, but
forced his way through, and by pressing in the direction of
Jackson's guns, arrived on his right near Groveton in time
to give needful help. Every part of the line was held, and
Pope's efforts frustrated. On the 30th we were to the left
of the heavy fighting, not actively engaged, simply holding
the place assigned us. The attacks of the enemy were re-
pulsed, and in the afternoon an advance along the line drove
them back on Bull Run. The Confederates were victors on
almost the identical ground from which the Federals were
driven pell-mell in 1861.

During the night Pope's army crossed Bull Run, more de-
liberately than it was crossed in 1861, but equally defeated.

A heavy rain falling that night, pursuit was not made.
The 31st was used in burying the dead and gathering
the spoils of war, principally by Longstreet, as Jackson
crossed the historic Bull Run at Sudley Ford and camped
that night near Little River Turnpike. On 1 September
marched along the pike towards Fairfax Court House. At
Ox Hill the enemy was met that afternoon, advancing from
the direction of Centreville. Branch was formed parallel to
the pike, and advancing through a field, drove the enemy
from a wood into a large field beyond. In the edge of this
opening. Branch halted and held his position (which was
apart from the brigade that advanced with him, but on a
diverging line) though heavily assailed in front and flank.
Our ammunition being exhausted and the ordnance wagons
not accessible, we were ordered to hold our position at the

32 North Gakolina Tkoops, 1861-65.

point of the bayonet. The battle was on, during a blinding
wind and rain-storm, and the enemy was satisfied with the
assaults made upon us. Towards night we were withdrawn,
and rested on the pike. On the 5th the army crossed the
Potomac above Leesburg, Va., and camped a week on the
Monacacy, near Frederick City, Md. Here the Eighteenth
received a large number of raw recriiits from North Caro-
lina, without arms or accoutrements.

On 13 September, Jackson was off on another flank
movement, and crossing the Potomac at Williamsport, came
down upon Martinsburg, which, after some resistance was
evacuated, leaving a good quantity of supplies in our hands.

General White retreated to' Harpers Ferry, which Jackson
attacked the evening of the 14th. Night put an end to it,
and was taken advantage of to get into position. It was
after midnight when Branch got in the rear on Boiivar
Heights, and some brigades had equally as great difiiculty in
getting into position. When the fog lifted on the 15th and
Jackson's artillery opened from the heights, theretofore con-
sidered inaccessible, it was not long before the white flag was
raised and 12,000 surrendered, with a splendid equipment of
guns, ammunition and supplies. Our raw recruits were sup-
plied with guns. Up-to-date Springfield rifles, replaced our
smooth-bores, and A. P. Hill's division was left to guard the
post, parole prisoners, etc. Stonewall Jackson rejoined the
army with the rest of his conraiand, and the heavy firing that
could be distinctly heard proclaimed his need. On the 17th,
Hill's light division was marched rapidly to Sharpsburg,
crossing the Potomac at Shepherdstown, and arrived on the
field just in time to save Lee's lines, that were giving away
at all points on the right and centre. An half hour later
would have been fatal.

Branch's brigade fought about midway between Sharps-
burg and the Antietam, in a com field running northerly from
the creek to the town.

The Eighteenth was left in reserve, at first, behind a ridge
near some straw stacks, in a stubble field. The corn was visi-
ble from these straw stacks, to the Antietam, as we approach-
ed. About the time that Branch ordered the Eighteenth into

Eighteenth Regiment. 33

action he was killed near these stacks. The Eighteenth
crossed the ridge to the left of the stacks and as we descended
into the valley beyond, we saw the thin gray line retreucing
from a wooded ridge, some 300 yards over the corn, into a
valley that extended towards the town, with Burnside's victo-
rious blue coats in vigorous pursuit. The lines met in this
corn-covered valley, and the conflict was terrific, decisive.
Burnside was hurled back and a rout prevented. There was
no more fighting that evening. The Eighteenth fought
apart from the rest of the brigade, and re-formed on the edge
of the corn field behind a part stone, and part rail fence
with skirmishers in the valley. About night the brigade was
gotten together by Colonel James H. Lane, of the Twenty-
eighth North Carolina, and formed on an extension of this
fence, with the Eighteenth on its left, nearer the town, where
we lay all next day roasting in a scorching September sun, or
drenched by downpours of rain, with now and then a minie
ball salute from the wooded ridge beyond the corn. Our
hard march from Harper's Ferry, wading the Potomac in
fours, our clothing saturated with water from the hips down,
the effort to close up to the head of the column, making it an
up-hill foot-race from the river to the battle-field, caused none
but those of unquestioned endurance to be there to go into
action.

Burnside's corps was on the field all day resting. That was
its first action, and flushed with victory, it should have swept
us off the earth, the mere handful that we were to thciu in
numbers. How Hill's divisioii stood before them -"xas won-
derful, but it liad gone there to fight and was too tirotl to
run. There was no pursuit. Nature has its limits, and we
had reached ours, with fearful sacrifice.

Lee with his army, matchless by equal numbers, lay on the
field during the 18th, and was not attacked by the vastly out-
numbering foe. During the night Lee withdrew his forces
and crossed the Potomac into Virginia. Branch's brigade,
commanded by Colonel Lane, covered the retreat. Repulsing
the enemy, then falling back till pressed again, the rear was
effectively covered. We crossed the ford below Boteler's
3

34 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

mill in good order, under fire of a pursuing enemy, and went
into camp two or three miles away.

During the night the enemy crossed a corps, and on the
morning of the 20th, A. P. Hill's division was sent back to
attend to it. The heights on the Maryland side command
the Virginia side, and were bristling with artillery. A few
rounds showed that our artillery was not in it, and it got out
of range, so that it was purely an infantry fight on our part.
Hill charged with three brigades, supported by the other
three, and drove the enemy to the river, capturing many
prisoners. From the start the artillery had our range, accu-
rately, and their shells plowed through the Eighteenth several
times during the advance.. Reaching the river the Eigh-
teenth occupied a bluff overlooking Boteler's mill dam, and
from it, shot blue coats crossing the dam, till a detail sent
down captured all under the bluff.

The artillery practice became so accurate that they'd hit a
litter carrying oft' our wounded or our canteen men, going
across a ridge in our rear for water. We had to lie close all
day, and withdraw after night. The enemy that got across
the river had also to lie close in the canal all day. It was
full.

We camped aroiind Bunker Hill, and in October worked a
few days on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, beyond Mar-
tinsburg, and left a couple of sections about Hedgersville
and North Mountain depot in splendid disorder. Colonel
Lane was promoted brigadier, and assigned to the com-
mand of Branch's brigade, and remained with it during the
war. Colonel Robert H. Cowan, of the Eighteenth Regi-
ment, resigned, and Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas J. Purdie
became Colonel, Major Forney George, Lieutenant-Colonel
and Cajrtain John D. Barry, Company I, Major of the regi-
ment.

About the middle of November the Eighteenth had an en-
gagement with the enemy at Snicker's Gap, and the last days
of the month, Jackson followed Tjongstreet towards Fred-
ericksburg to meet Burnside's movements. There was an
abundance of rain, sleet and snow during the march, and

Eighteenth Regiment. 35

many of the men were barefooted, as well as thinly clad, but
they had the stuff of heroes in them.

On 10 December we camped below Fredericksburg, near
the Massaponax, and on the 12th went into line above
that stream, A. P. Hill's right being at Hamilton's
crossing and his left near Deep Run; Fields, Archer, Lane
and Pender in the front and Gregg and Thomas in the second
line as supports. From Hamilton's the railroad is the
cord of the curving ridge that extends , from that place to Fred-
ericlcsburg and runs between the foothills and the Port Royal
road.

Archer occupied a part of the railroad track, and to his left
was a stretch of wooded marshland, 500 or 600 yards between
his left and Lane's right. This gap Lane and Archer tried to
get filled, and subsequent results showed the unwise neglect of
their superiors in not heeding their entreaties.

The railroad track to the left of the marshland, wliich
Lane occupied, ran through a low place with a ridge to the
right, some seventy-five or a hundred yards, high enough to
shut out a view of the plain in front, from all of the brigade,
save part of the Thirty-seventh on the right, and the Seventh
on the left. Several pieces of artillery were on this ridge in
front of the Seventh and of Pender on its left.

When the fog lifted on the 13th, the artillery duel from
the enemy, with these guns and those on the ridge in our rear,
put lis under a heavy fire. When the enemy advanced, tliey
were repulsed at the crest of the ridge in our front. The gap
between Lane and Archer was discovered and in their next
advance, a heavy force against that part of the line, forced
back Archer's left and Lane's right, and penetrated to Gregg's
line. Lane's right regiments held their ground tenaciously,
each retiring only as compelled to do so. Colonel Purdie
threw back the right wing of the Eighteenth to the woods
some seventy-five or one hundred yards in our rear, and made
a determined stand. Here the enemy was checked, Thomas
coming to our assistance.

Gregg was said to have been killed before he knew that the
troops advancing on him were enemies. His gallant brigade
rcovered from a temporary confusion and joined with Law-

36 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

ton and Hoke were sent to Archer's relief, and Thomas and
Lane on its left. The whole line advanced, and drove back the
enemy with great loss. Reaching the railroad the left of the
Eighteenth and the Seventh, that had held their position,
joined in the advance. The division was reformed on the
railroad line and gotten in readiness for a night attack. At
nightfall we took position at the crest of the rising ground
in front and were ready at the appointed time, but Jack-
son's desire for a night attack was overruled, and the order
was countermanded in the nick of time. We occupied thi
front line till about midday of the 14th, when we were sent
back to the top of the ridge for a night's rest.

On the 15th we were again in line, ready for any emer-
gency. On that night, Burnside withdrew his forces to the
north side of the Eappahannock. Jackson's corps moved
down the Port Eoyal road to Corbin's Neck, and went into
winter quarters.

On 30 April camp was broken, and we marched to Fred-
ericksburg, and next day we engaged with the enemy across
the Orange plank road, near Chancellorsville.

On the morning of 2 May, 1863, I was sent to recall our
skirmishers, and follow to the left. Jackson marched by
the left flank, going by the Iron Furnace, around Hook-
er's army, and crossed the Orange plank road some three
miles west of Chancellorsville. Facing east the line was
ready to advance and no time was lost. Striking the Elev-
enth corps in flank and rear, it was routed and driven back,
and by sundown Jackson's troops were near Chancellorsville.
Part of A. P. Hill's division marched in column do-wn the
plank road and at sundown Lane was ordered to form his bri-
gade across the road, and charge Chancellor's Hill, on which
Hooker was massing his artillery, and forming his line, with
troops that had not been engaged.

Our artillery opened on them, and was replied to by the
guns in position. A severe cannonading prevented Lane
from forming line till our artillery was stopped and the firing
ceased.

The Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth was formed on the left
of the road and the Seventh and Thirty-seventh on the right,

Eighteenth Regiment. 37

the Thirty-third was thrown forward as skirmishers, covering
the brigade. The Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth were moved
forward near the skirmishers (which we did not know at that
time were in our front) , and before the Seventh and Thirty-
seventh were brought opposite us, a Yankee officer came into
the right regiment and asked wjiat troops it was. Waving a
handkerchief, he claimed flag of truce rights, but was not
allowed to go back. Lane was informed at once of the troops
moving on his right flank and went to investigate before ad-
vancing, though Jackson and Hill had again ordered the
advance. ■ We had orders at first to be careful as our cavalry
would cross at Ely's or U. S. Fords, and might come in from
its circuit in our front. Later we had orders to shoot any-
thing from the front.

Whilst General Lane was investigating the situation on
his right, which took some time, and resulted in retaining
the ofiicer who was parleying, and the capture of his regi-
ment— One Hundred and Twentieth Pennsylvania — Colonel
Purdie, hearing something in our front, called me with him,
and we went forward carefully on the edge of the road some
50 or 60 yards, and found Captain George W. Sanderlin, of
the Thirty-third, who gave us our first information that that
regiment was deployed as skirmishers. We told him of our
orders, and the complication that had arisen on the right. He
crossed the road with us where Lieutenant-Colonel Cowan
was and whilst talking with him Captain Joe Sanders came
up looking for Colonel Avery to tell him of the troops moving
on the right of his skirmish line. In a few minutes a few
shots were fired, apparently two or three hundred yards in
our front, to the right of the road, then extending towards
the right of the brigade. At this juncture Colonel Purdie
and myself started for our line, making our steps fast and
long. Firing began along the brigade. Before we reached
the Eighteenth it fired a terrific volley. How we escaped
was wonderful. Horses with riders, and horses without,
came into the line with us.

We are friends, cease firing ! rang out, but too late. Stone-

38 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

wall Jackson and some of the staff wounded, and some two or
three couriers killed, was the result of that volley.

Lane's ambulance corps was in our immediate rear, and
was called into use. A blanket was placed over General
Jackson to keep his wounding from being known, as he was
carried to the rear.

I pulled the cape of his overcoat over the head of one of
Hill's couriers, that fell about where I had last seen Colonel
Purdie. They were about the same size and resembled each
other very much. In the darkness I was mistaken. Purdie was
safe and sound at the left of the regiment. About a half hour
after the wounding of Jackson, another firing took place
along the line, and A. P. Hill, who had gone to the front on
foot to look for something that was left, where Jackson was
wounded, was shot in the calf of his leg. Hill was much
displeased, and was reproving us for firing at a noise, etc. A
company B back-woodsman laconically remarked : "Every-
body knows the Yankee army can't run the 'Light Division,'
and one little general needn't try it." This sally restored
him to normal condition and he limped down the road, stay-
ing on the field till General J. E. B. Stewart, the chivalrous
cavalryman, came from near Ely's ford when he turned the
command over to him. Hill may have had a contiision from
a bursting shell as mentioned by various writers of the inci-
dent, but he certainly got a minie ball in his leg after Jack-
son was wovinded.

How Jackson and Hill, their staff and couriers got in front
was never satisfactorily explained. Neither of them was in
the habit, day or night, of riding or otherwise going in front
of the skirmishers, or line, when they ordered an advance,
and the enemy known to be at a short distance on that night
they certainly woiild not knowingly have put themselves be-
tween the lines at such a time. Such a body of horsemen
could not have ridden through any part of Lane's brigade
that night without its being known. We were never more
on the alert, and wide awake than that night, and I don't re-
member to have ever heard of a member of the brigade say-
ing that he knew they had gone in our front.

My recollection is that when Hill and Jackson came for-

Eighteenth Regiment. 39

ward to know why Lane did not advance and again directed
him to do so, they went to the rear, to a large field, on the left
of the road, where Rodes, Colston, Trimble and others were
reforming their commands. It was more than probable that
the delay occurring by the complication on Lane's right,
caused them to ride forward on the mountain road, leading
towards Chancellorsville, passing beyond Lane's left, and
they were thus in our front, when the firing began. What-
ever may be the true statement of how they got in that posi-
tion, there was nothing more certain than that they came
from our front when the firing began.

It was generally conceded that the Eighteenth Regiment
fired the fatal shots. None regretted the occurrence more
than we did, and the army did not blame us for the manner
or measure of our discharge of our duty, though others did.

The Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth were transferred to
the right of the brigade about 11 o'clock and repulsed an at-
tack made upon that flank, capturing many prisoners in addi-
tion to the regiment captured there earlier in the night. The
skirmish lines were not far apart, and the least noise brought
on a volley.

With empty stomachs we slept on our arms, as best we
could, between the firings.

Our ears caught the rumbling of artillery wheels and the
clatter of many axes, making us painfully aware that Clian-
eellorsville Hill was fortified for the morrow's work. Stu-
art gave orders that the attack be made at 4 o'clock next morn-
ing. At early dawn Hill's division, commanded by Heth,
was put in motion. The right of Lane being deflected was
wheeled to the left to get in line. The first and second breast-
works were carried before sunrise. Hill's right brigades
found the enemy entrenched where Lane had fought them the
night before, and had to fight into position to advance. Be-
ing thtis detained Lane was exposed on his right, and lost
heavily at the second breastworks.

Colonel Purdie was killed,*and Lieutenant-Colonel George
wounded. Major Barry had a captain left to command the
right and a lieutenant to command the left wing of the regi-
ment, a fearful loss, and he was the only one of thirteen regi-

40 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

mental officers present with the brigade, not killed or
wounded. Color Bearer Richardson, of the Eighteenth,
was wounded in the night fighting, and Prophet and Ed-
wards were killed, successively, at the second breastworks
next morning.

The writer was wounded, through the upper third of left
thigh, just as these works were carried, and got nearly ofE
the field by using two muskets as crutches, before the enemy
rallied and retook the works. Out of ammunition and no
reinforcements arriving, the brigade was unable to hold its
position, and retreated to the first line of works, where it
remained till supplied with ammunition. The enemy rein-
forced, and stubbornly held this strong position, repulsing
several attacks made upon it. It was near 10 o'clock before
Chancellor's Hill was carried, when Lee's and Stuart's line
were joined and Hooker's army forced beyond the Planl?; road
into the tangle of that wilderness country, from which he re-
crossed the Eapidan. Lane's loss in this fight was 909, about
one-third of the loss of Hill's division.

In his book clearing up the odium that attached to the
Eleventh corps for its disaster in this battle, Lieutenant-Colo-
nel A. C. Hamlin, brother of Vice-President Hannibal Llam-
lin, historian of that much abused command, says of Lane's
brigade: "This brigade faced the Federal front in line of
battle, and although twice exposed to the fire of forty-three
cannon, it never faltered, nor called for help, until its flank
and rear were threatened by Sickles about midnight. The
history of this command under its dauntless leader, through-
out the war, and ending at Appomattox, will always be ad-
mired, and respected by those who believe in American man-
hood. And the student who seeks to discover a higher degree
of courage and hardihood among the military organizations
of either army will look over the true records of the war for
a long time, if not in vain. Investigation shows that the bri-
gade was composed of young men, of the best stock the Old
North State contained, and sent to represent it, in that bul-
wark of secession, the Army of Northern Virginia. The rec-
ords show that it was in all of the principal battles of the
Army of Northern Virginia, and that its blows were severe

Eighteenth Regiment. 41

and its losses were frightful. In the battles around Rich-
mond in 1862, the brigade lost 800 men, killed and wounded,
at Chancellorsville it lost nearly 800 men killed and wounded,
and of its thirteen field officers, all but one were struck down.
At Gettysburg it formed the left of Longstreet's charge
and although it had lost nearly 40 per cent, in its
three days fighting, it marched off the field in excel-
lent order when Pickett was routed and took position
in support of the rebel (Confederate) batteries, which
some of the brigades of that charge did not do. This organ-
ization was among the last soldiers of Lee's army to re-
cross the Potomac after both Antietam and Gettysburg.
North Carolina furnished more men than any other State
of the Confederacy, and lost more in action than any of its
sister States, and the records show, or seem to show, that her
mountaineers struck many of the hardest blows the army of
the Potomac received from the Army of JSTorthern Virginia."

These generous words from a foe, are true, and show that
those who met us on the field of battle, could recognize "foe-
men worthy of their steel."

His figures of killed and wounded are supposed to be taken
from the Surgeon General's Hospital report, and the differ-
ence between that and the brigade and the regimental reports
is accounted for by the fact that a great many slightly
wounded men never passed through the hospitals, where a
record was kept.

Jackson's corps returned to its camp and after his death, it
and Longstreet's were reorganized and three corps formed,
under Longstreet, Ewell and A. P. Hill. When A. P. Hill
was made Lieutenant-General, Brigadier-Generals W. D.
Pender and Harry Heth were made Major-Generals. Colonel
Alfred M. Scales succeeded Pender as Brigadier-General. To
Major-General Pender's "Light Division" was assigned the
Worth Carolina brigades of Lane and Scales, McGowan's (S.
C.) and Thomas' (Georgia) brigades.

Being a member of the ISTorth Carolina Legislature, Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Forney George resigned, and Major John D.
Barry became Colonel. Captain John W. McGill, Company

42 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

B, was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain Thos. J.
Wooten, Company K, major.

Lee put his army in motion and on 25 June crossed the
Potomac at Shepherdstown. On 1 July the brigade
marched from Cashtown to Gettysburg and formed on the
left of the pike. After advancing a mile or more, it
was transferred to the right to support Heth, and
again advanced. The lines diverging, Lane became uncov-
ered, and met the enemy in his own front, forcing his lines
back towards Cemetery Heights. On the 2nd the Eighteenth
was sent to support a battery, near the Theological college,
and was again with the brigade in its advance in the even-
ing-

On the 3rd Heth's division, under Brigadier-General Pet-

tigrew and Lane's and Scales' brigades, temporarily under
Major-General Trimble, were sent to Longstreet, who placed
Pettigrew in front, supported by Trimble, whilst Pickett with
two brigades in front on line with Pettigrew, was supported
by his third brigade, and Wilcox's brigade attached to him to
protect his flank.

It was a high compliment to Lleth's division and Pender's
two brigades, who had done hard service on the 1st and 2nd,
to be selected to make the attack on the 3rd, and be pitted
with Pickett's division that was fresh upon the field, and
had not had a good whiff of powder since the battle of Cold
Harbor in June, 1862. It did duty arovind Petersburg, and
in JvTorth Carolina, and had missed the hardships of the
Maryland campaign, and the battles of Fredericksburg and
Chancellorsville. Thoroughly recruited and full, it was in
fine condition for this fight. Pettigrew's brigade was simi-
larly fortunate, as to the last year's campaign, but at the
reorganization of the corps, was taken f roan its picnic grounds
and put into the division of Heth, with which it had fought
on the 1st and 2nd. (One regiment of Pettigrew's brigade,
and one brigade of Pickett's division was left in Virginia. )

The first arrangement and order of battle was for Hill's
troops to support Longstreet's Corps, in its attack, but by the
final arrangement two of Longstreet's divisions were not put
in and Pickett had but two brigades on the front line.

Eighteenth Regiment. 43

The whole of Heth's division under Pettigrew was on the
front line, and only two brigades of Pender's under Trimble,
to support it. When the advance was made Pickett and Pet-
tigrew's lines diverged, Pettigrew's supports uncovered, and
Pickett's supports also. Pickett's front brigades and supports
became so far apart when the fighting line was reached
that General Stannard seeing the opportunity, threw his
command forward from the Federal lines, and cutting a part
off, made large captures. Having about half the distance to
go Pickett reached musketry range before Pettigrew and was
repulsed, whilst Pettigrew was advancing. When Pettigrew
reached the works he, like Pickett, was without support, on
account of difference of direction of his line and support
some diverging, some crowding, and, when his support
(Trimble, with Lane's and Scale's brigades) passed beyond
and reached the works it was like Pickett and Pettigrew, un-
able to live in that maelstrom of death.

Each command broke the enemy at some point in its front,
and Trimble's and Pettigrew's dead and wounded were found
in the orchard beyond the stone fence, and at the stone fence,
the height of a man's chin, eighty yards further in their
front than the stone fence about 21/2 feet high, in front of
Pickett's line.

When leaving. Lane's brigade rallied its remnant in the
hollow by the Emmettsburg road, and marched off in order,
the last troops to leave the field.

This charge of the Confederates stands out in history in
its uniqueness for boldness and gallantry and the chaplet of
honor should encircle the brow of all the troops engaged in it.
Those who were there and surrendered deserve credit ; those
who were there and fought with their commands, can not be
sufiiciently rewarded, and those who so gallantly poured out
their life blood, a libation on their country's altar, should
be immortalized in song and story as the highest type of
American manhood.

There is no disposition on the part of those engaged to de-
tract from the merit of Pickett's men,or dim the lustre of the
charge. As a whole the charge was brilliant — in isolated in-
stances it was not what it ought to have been. Brocken-

44 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

brough's, Va., brigade did not come up to its usual standard,
and the shafts of detraction were hurled at all its comrades
under Pettigrew, on that account.

General Gr. E. Pickett made the mistake of not going with
his division. His presence would have been helpful, and
might have saved his large number of prisoners. His briga-
diers did as well as they could, but a division needs its com-
mander to get its best result.

The casualties of each command is the test of services, and
Pettigrew's command welcomes the token, as the statistics of
Gettysburg show, viz. :

Pickett and his support lost: Killed, 266 ; wounded, 1,546 ;
total killed and wounded, 1,812; prisoners, 1,756; grand
total, 3,568.

Pettigrew and his supports lost: Killed, 554; wounded,
2,470; total killed and wounded, 3,024; prisoners, 627;
grand total, 3,651. More than twice as many killed, nearly
twice as many wounded and a little more than one-third as
many prisoners.

Pickett's heaviest loss was in Armistead's brigade of Vir-
ginia: Killed, 84; wounded, 491; total killed and wounded,
575 ; prisoners, 643 ; grand total, 1,218. Five regiments
more than half prisoners.

Pettigrew's heaviest loss was in his own brigade of ISTorth
Carolina: Killed, 190; wounded, 915; total killed and
wounded, 1,105 ; prisoners, 00 ; four regiments and no pris-
oners. Killed and wounded, nearly 2 to 1.

One regiment of this brigade, the Twenty-sixth North Car-
olina, lost: Killed, 86 ; wounded, 502 ; killed and wounded,
588 ; prisoners, 00 ; grand total, 588 ; or 13 more killed
and wounded than Armistead's brigade.

Nearly half of Pickett's loss was prisoners, whilst Petti-
grew lost but one-sixth in prisoners, viz : Archer, 517 ;
Scales, 110; total, 627.

These figures, obtained from volume 26, part 2, pages 339,
343, 4, 5, Official Eecords Union and Confederate Armies,
show that Pickett's charge did not fail because he was
not supported by Pettigrew, and that Pettigrew really did the
fighting of the day.

Eighteenth Regiment. 45

North Carolinians were satisfied with doing their duty and
"We envy not others their merited glory."

Lee withdrew from the field on the night of the 4th and re-
mained at Hagerstown a week. On the 13th crossed the Po-
tomac at Falling Waters where Lane acted as rear guard.
The Eighteenth and part of the Twenty-eighth were deployed
as skirmishers and those of the Twenty-eighth were the last
to cross. A week was spent in camp near Culpepper Court
House, when the army returned to the line of the E,apidan,
the Eighteenth camping near Orange Court House.

After the death of Major-General Pender from wounds at
Gettysburg, Brigadier-General Cadmus M. Wilcox was pro-
moted, and assigned to his command. On 22 September
the Eighteenth marched with the command and was
at a skirmish at Jack's Shop, near Madison Court House,
and, after that, camped at Liberty Mills, the left of the army.
On the 9 th the army advanced, Hill marching by Madison
Court House and Warrenton to Bristoe Station where Heth
had a fight with the enemy. Cooke's and Kirkland's North
Carolina brigades were sent against a strong position on the
railroad, and gallantly went into a slaughter pen. Before
reinforcements could go to their assistance they were deci-
mated. Wilcox was under shelling from the enemy's artil-
lery with slight casualties. We again had a job on the rail-
road, and destroyed it to the Rappahannock, and camped a
week on its south side.

After leaving Brandy Station on the 8th the Yankee cav-
alry pursued in force. We laid an ambush for them near
Culpepper, using one of the North Carolina companies of
the Eleventh Virginia cavalry as decoys. It played its part
well, fighting better than cavalry was expected to, and nearly
succeeded in drawing a regiment of blue-coat cavalry into a
field, where, covered by some woods, the Eighteenth was
placed to get in their rear. The trap was discovered in time
to escape with a lot of empty saddles, and a loss to the Eigh-
teenth of one killed and a half dozen wounded.

The Eighteenth returned to Liberty Mills, and built com-
fortable winter quarters. On 28 November marched to
Mine Run, where Meade had crossed. We lay in line of bat-

46 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

tie, and built breastworks, but were not engaged, more than
on the skirmish line. The weather was fearfully cold, and the
pickets were relieved every two hours, as they could not stay
longer without fire. The skirmish lines were not far apart,
and exposure was dangerous. In a thicket of old field pines,
between the lines, a flock of wild turkeys lit down. A fine,
large gobbler lost his life there by this rashness, and lay in
full view of both picket lines. Disregarding the danger,
each side determined to capture that turkey, and several men
were gobblerized during the day. After sun down George W.
Corbett in charge of the Eighteenth skirmishers, played tac-
tics to bring him in. Picking a man to help him, they ap-
proached in different directions, and succeeded in bagging the
game, as well as in getting a new overcoat and blanket off of
an equally venturesome, but less successful blue-coater that
lay near by. The pot boiled that night. A. P. Hill's division
was massed Tuesday night, 1 December, to attack next morn-
ing, but during the night Meade recrossed the river. We
gladly returned to our winter quarters at Liberty Mills and
spent the winter there.

Who that saw it, will ever forget the snow-ball battle that
started in fun, and spread from regiment to brigade, then
division and corps, till the line from Liberty Mill to Orange
Court House was engaged in the exhiliarating sport ?

Some disgruntled spirit, at last, threw a rock in his snow-
ball and brought blood. This dastardly act was promptly re-
sented, and went to such an extent that the men rushed for
their arms, and it took the best efforts of the officers and
level-headed men for a while to prevent the rebel yell, and
snow-ball from being followed by real powder and ball.

During the winter Grovernor Vance made a tour of the army
in his candidacy for re-election as governor of North Caro-
lina. He received an ovation wherever he went and captured
the army in toto.

General Grant's successes in the western army made him
commander of the armies of the United States in the field.
During the winter he came east, and personally assumed com-
mand of the army of the Potomac. Most favorably situated,
and with carte-blanche he supplied his command with every-

Eighteenth Regiment. 47

tiling he wanted. It was a spectacle worth beholding, and
calculated to swell the bosom of any man with pride, to look
upon the one hundred and forty thousand men, with which
he crossed the Rapidan, 4 May, 1864, as splendidly equipped
a body of men as ever trod the face of the earth. Well might
he have said :

"Behold them, in their glory,
You will soon read our story,
On to Richmond ! ! !"

General Lee had sixty thousand men scantily supplied with
everything, save grit, with which to meet this mighty host.

The disparity of numbers, and condition was appalling,
but the ragged Confederates did not faint or falter.

On the evening of the 5th Heth and Pender's divisions of
Hill's corps, some 5,000 men, engaged Birney's, Mott's, Gib-
bon's and Barlow's divisions, Hancock's corps, with Getty's
division of the Sixth corps, say 40,000 men, and did good
service.

The Eighteenth was sent to the front and on the right of
the Orange plank road, near a mile from it, found the
Thirty-eighth North Carolina hotly engaged with Hancock's
troops. Colonel Barry and Lieutenant-Colonel Ashford
fought their regiments, as emergency required, in various
positions, till nightfall, when I was sent back to report their
condition and get instructions. Shifting position so often
during the evening I had lost my bearings, and in the dark-
ness got into Hancock's corps and had to tack variously to
get out. About 11 o'clock I got into Wilcox's troops, on a
straight run down the planl?; road. Before I stopped my
run, I recognized General Wilcox's white horse, and going to
him fotmd Wilcox. Out of wind, and gasping between
words, I told him that I was just out of Hancock's corps, and
that there was not a man between him and Hancock's skir-
mishers. He evidently did not believe a word of it, and was
not over polite in letting me know it. I found where my
command was and went to it. General Lane, Colonels Barry,
Avery and others believed my statement, and went to Wilcox

48 North Carolina Troops, l861-'65.

to get a picket line established in front. He assured them
that there was a division in his front, and told them not to
disturb the men, let them rest till morning. The regiments
bivouacked without regard to alignment, as they assembled
from the different parts of the field, on which they had
fought.

In the morning Colonel Avery had gotten part of the
Thirty-third in line, when Hancock's corps and Sedwick's
division struck us, and fought them like tigers. The tempor-
ary check made where they were, gave little time for the bri-
gade that was forming to get together, and Wilcox was caught
all out of joint all along his line. Though we had little or no
alignment, the regiments and squads fell back fighting as
best they could. About a quarter of a mile from where Han-
cock flushed us, we were fired into by the division that Wil-
cox thought was in his front the night before and it retreated
without waiting to let us pass by it.

There were fifty or seventy-five in the squad that I fell
back with, a part from the plank road (the most of the bri-
gade were near it). About a half mile back we were cov-
ered by the right of the Texas brigade, as it advanced, the
first of Longstreet's troops that got into action. Our squad
composed of men from all of Lanes regiments, joined the
Fourth Texas under Captain Jas. T. McLaurin, Company B,
and went with it in the charge that drove Hancock back to
the position of the morning near the Brock road.

It was near midday when we rejoined our command in the
left of the Plank road, where it had assembled after the morn-
ing's experience. Though caught at a disadvantage the men
fought well, as the casualties show, and delayed their assail-
ant's advance.

Ewell did splendid fighting that afternoon on the left of
the army and drove the Federal right some distance. About
9 o'clock that night the rebel yell was set up on the right and
extended to the left of the army.

The volume and duration of sound exceeded anything that
we had then heard or have heard since. Prisoners taken
afterwards reported great demoralization from it in Warren's
and Sed-wick's corps. General Horace Porter in his "Cam-

ElGHTKENTH ReGIMENT. 49

paign With Grant," gives a graphic account of the attack on
these commands after dark, and of the battle says : "All cir-
cumstances seemed to combine to make the scene one of un-
utterable horror. At times the wind howled through the tree
tops, mingling its moan with the groans of the dying, and
heavy branches were cut off by the fire of the artillery and
fell crashing upon the heads of the men, adding a new terror
to battle.

"Forest fires raged, ammunition trains exploded, the dead
were roasted in the conflagration, the wounded, roused by its
hot breath, dragged themselves along with their torn and
mangled limbs, in the mad energy of despair, to escape the
ravages of the flame, and every bush seemed hung with shreds
of blood-stained clothing. It was as though Christian men
had turned to fiends, and hell itself had usurped the place of
earth."

We Avere direct opposites at that time in action and prin-
ciples. I'm not inclined to combat his sentiment. Sheol
was not far off that day.

On the 8th left the Wilderness and had a little skirmish-
ing near the Po. On the 10th arrived at Spottsylvania
Court House and on that and the following day built breast-
works on different parts of the line, being moved several
times. Our lines being nearly at right angles to Ewell's
corps, we built traverses to protect ourselves from shots in
that direction.

Late in the evening of the 11th, Lane's brigade, which was
the left of A. P. Hill's corps, was thrown forward to the
front and left to connect with Ewell's line. Our left regi-
ments, Twenty-eighth and Eighteenth, were beyond a branch
and thrown forward, at an obt\ise angle to the rest of the
brigade, to connect with Stewart's brigade of General Edward
Johnson's division, that was thrown back in a curve from
that division to connect with the Twenty-eighth, forming a
salient, knoAvn as the Horseshoe angle.

During the night our artillery was withdrawn from John-
son's line, and Hancock's and Burnside's corps were massed
at the salient, with orders to attack it at 4 o'clock. The artil-
4

50 North Caromna Troops, 1861-65.

lery was returning to Johnson's line, but had not gotten in
position when Hancock attacked at daylight. Edward John-
son's left and Eobert D. Johnson's brigade that were sup-
porting it, were swept away. That let Hancock into
Stewart's rear, and the rear of the Twenty-eighth and Eigh-
teenth who were engaged with those to the right of the
angle.

The artillery and Stewart's brigade were captured. When
the Twenty-eighth and Eighteenth found that Hancock was
in their immediate rear, it was too late to escape and about
one-third of the Twenty-eighth and near half of the Eigh-
teenth were made prisoners. Of those who escaped, the
writer, adjutant of the Eighteenth North Carolina, ral-
lied a handful at the left of the breastworks of the previous
day and recklessly dashing into Hancock's host that poured
into the woods, through Johnson's opening, produced a panic,
that adding to its own demoralization, drove his serried num-
bers back beyond the branch, stampeding even the guards in
charge of the prisoners. Some of the Eighteenth's prisoners
taking advantage of the stampede, escaped and rejoined the
regiment. J. C. Kinlaw, of Company K, in a subsequent
charge, recovered his knapsack and accoutrements, of which
he had been stripped preparatory to being carried to the rear.
This stampede gave time for the Thirty-seventh, Seventh and
Thirty-third to be formed on the crest south of the branch,
and the remnant of the Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth re-
formed on their left where Lane repulsed Hancock's next ad-
vance, and saved the right of the army. Scales' North Caro-
lina brigade coming to his assistance, another attack was
repulsed.

After this Gordon, in command of Early's division, joined
our left, and by hard fighting the line was advanced and held
near the apex of the angle. On the left of the angle Daniel's
North Carolina brigade stopped the break of Ewell's line and
Eamseur's North Carolina brigade taken from Daniel's left,
retook the line to Daniel's right. Colonel R. T. Bennett's
Fourteenth North Carolina Regiment was taken from Ram-
seur's left and gallantly extended Ramseur's right. Harris'
Mississippi brigade unfalteringly extended Bennett's right,

Eighteenth Regiment. 51

McGowan's South Carolina brigade was sent from Hill's
front near the court house to extend Harris' line, and partly
lapped upon it. McGowan was wounded before getting to the
breastworks.

Harris' and McGowan's brigades fought Hancock and his
reinforcements over the breastwork all day, snatching the
muskets from each other across the works. There was an
oak woods to their rear, and an oak tree twenty inches in
diameter was so riddled with minie - balls, several feet
from the ground, that its top-weight wrung it down. I saw
the tree next day and the many dead, on each side of the
breastworks were silent witnesses of the fighting qualities
of both armies. (The two sections, above and below of this
or a similar tree, were cut off and after the war were on exhi-
bition at the War Department in Washington where I saw
them in 1866. Ed.)

During the day a white flag appeared on the breastworlis,
firing ceased, and each side began jumping over claiming the
others as prisoners. The matter was settled by the blue-coats
and Johnnies getting back on their own side and the fight be-
gan again. A new line was built across the angle from
Daniel's to Lane's, and word passed down the line to Harris'
and McGowan's men to fall back to it. After night the
firing slackened and about midnight ceased; both sides had
quietly gone away and the fought-over works were abandoned
by both sides.

Lane's brigade was taken off the line to the right of the
angle, carried into some woods to the left of the court house
and got a few hours rest in the middle of the day. In the
afternoon it was taken by Major-General Mahone with
his old brigade. Colonel Weisiger, to feel a force which
was assembling to the right of the salient, behind
the branch above mentioned. Though Weisiger had
not been engaged that day and Lane had been fighting all the
morning. Lane's small brigade was put in front to attack and
Weisiger to support. When Lane advanced, Mahone rode
back to the court house. Lane's attack was successful, though
Weisiger did not support him and when sent for did not
come. Lane turned the captured battery upon the enemy,

52 North Cabolina Troops, 1861-65.

but had to abandon it or be captured. He, however, carried
back four or five hundred prisoners and several flags.

The Eighteenth captured the flag of the artillery.

When we got back to the lines, near the court house, Ma-
hone rode out and claimed the flags, which were refused him.
He afterwards had a correspondence through army headquar-
ters concerning them, which was "held up" on account of
"unparliamentary language" that got into it. General Lee
and the Secretary of War acknowledged receipt of the flags
from Lane's brigade, a feAV days after the battle.

The Kichmond papers teemed with accounts of Mahone's
magnificent achievements in the afternoon and accredited to
other Virginia commands the honor of stopping the break
in the lines of the morning.

Pertinent to this, though personal, the following extract
from the narrative of a Michigan colonel is inserted here.
After stating how his company was captured and recaptured
at Chancellorsville, 3 May, 1863, and for supposed gal-
lantry, he was promoted major, which he protested, continu-
ing, says:

"As nothing else would do, I was, in a manner, forced to
accept this promotion and in a few days was commissioned
lieutenant-colonel 'for gallantry and meritorious cond^ict in
the presence of the enemy.' In the following winter I was
appointed to the colonelcy of a 'crack' regiment. I would
not be speaking the truth if I should say that these promo-
tions did not touch my vanity and make me zealous, not only
to maintain but to acquire more of the 'bubble reputation at
the cannon's mouth.'

"It was with an assumed feeling of arrogance and con-
tempt of danger that I led my regiment to the attack on Lee's
salient 12 May, 1864, at Spottsylvania Court House.
By the crack of dawn on that morning, before the
Johnnies were fully awake, we were right in among them in
a hand to hand encounter, capturing a great number of pris-
oners and quickly had possession of all, or nearly all of both
wings of this famous salient, the breastworks of which faced
to the front and rear. We had Lee's army now practically
cut in two, an advantage which, if it had been followed up

Eighteenth Regiment. 53

promptly, would, as I have thought, have had the effect of
terminating the war at a much earlier date. While we were
engaged in arranging to hold our newly acquired position in
the captured Confederate works, and in reforming the troops
for a further advance, an attack was made on our flank and
rear, which by its suddenness and vigor struck panic to the
troops between the position held by my regiment and the at-
tacking party, which sent them pouring pell mell back upon
my men in a wild, confused mass. Every soldier knows
something of the demoralizing effect of an enfilade fire, such
as the Confederates had on our line, and the further fact, that
a stampede of panic-stricken troops is as uncontrollable as
that of the herds on the western plains. I was drawing out
my line at an angle from their former position in order to
check the Confederate advance, when I was shot down, re-
ceiving this wound in the hip, from the effects of which in the
opinion of nerve specialists, I will never ixdlj recover. My
own men, brave and tried soldiers, though they were, caught
up the contagion and joined in the headlong flight, for be-
fore a proper alignment could be made, the Confederates were
among them, sweeping by and beyond me as I lay wounded
upon the ground, and shooting to kill, as was evidenced by
the large number of fallen Federals on the spot. I felt mor-
tified and chagrined when I saw this small body of Confed-
erates, for they did not number more than about fifty or sixty
men, by brave and skillful management, put to rout many
times their number of our men. Biit I was particularly im-
pressed by their youthful leader as he passed by where I
lay, his countenance glowing with the enthusiasm of a
school boy going out upon the play ground for a game of
ball, shouting 'forward men !' rushing on with his little band
like an avalanche to what seemed certain destruction. He
reminded me of the pictures I had seen in my old school his-
tory in my boyhood days. I admire bravery even in a foe,
and this I would call true gallantry such as was seldom wit-
nessed in either army in the many battles of the Civil War.
I am aware that -some Virginia troops claim by an attack in
front of our position to have regained their lost ground, but
I know the fact that their attack was not made until after I

54 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

had fallen, and to this young officer and his brave followers
belongs the honor of turning the tide of battle, and of possibly
saving Lee's army from direful defeat that morning. He was
my ideal of a soldier, and as I thought of him I could but re-
flect upon the honors so unworthily worn by myself, and wish
they could have been the reward of such heroism as this. One
of his men had fallen wovinded within a few feet of where I
lay, and after the heavy fighting ceased, the Confederates
having re-established their position, I was, though in pain,
so much interested that I asked him who his leader was.
Well do I remember his reply, as it came in a loud, emphatic
tone, as if proud to speak it: 'Captain Billy McLaurin, of
the Eighteenth North Carolina Regiment, one of the bravest
men iu Lee's army !' I was fully prepared to believe what
he said.

"It is a strange thing to me that those who write history are
so full and profuse in their records of achievements of gen-
erals, to the exclusion of such praiseworthy deeds on the part
of subalterns and privates who bore the brunt of battle."

The testimony of a foe on the ground is worth considering,
in giving proper credit to the troops entitled to it. There
were not more than three or four dozen of us, in this sortie,
but it gave time for Lane to get in shape and hold the position
till others could come to his assistance. When Gordon came
with Early's division, there were Virginians in it, but they
were entitled to no more credit than the Georgians, and oth-
ers, that were necessary to help, and did help, auanfuUy, to
hold the lines.

After the attack in the afternoon Lane was put on a line
that McGowan was taken from near a brick kiln. We were
shifted to different parts of the liije till the 21st when we
had a skirmish near a church two or three miles to the right
of the court house. That night we marched to the right, and
on the morning of the 23rd bivouacked in an oak wood on a
little stream that flowed into the South Anna river. Our
canteenmen were not long in finding water and — something
besides ; one of them came running back, and asked for my
'army colt.' I pointed to my belt, hanging on a nearby oak.
Others were noticed hurriedly leaving camp. Pop ! pop 1

Eighteenth Regiment. 55

pop ! bang ! bang ! bang ! was soon heard down the slope. ISTot
long after an elderly gentleman rode hurriedly into camp
and was directed to headquarters. General Lane sent at
once to have each regiment searched and if any mutton
was found to send mutton and man to him under guard.
Strict search was made, but it could no where be found and
the adjutants were so reporting. When the adjutant of the
Thirty-seventh was about to make a similar report for his
regiment, Jim L stepped up the slope right near head-
quarters with a leg of mutton in his hand, in open handed
guilt, and he was scooped in.

Jim was the first to return with a trophy of the fusillade
down the branch, and was the only man caught. The rest
who went that way were innocent lambs and saw nothing.
Jim was put to walking a circle with a billet of wood, and
the leg of mutton on his shoulder. This soon became a bur-
den and the citizen asked that he be released and allowed to
have the mutton. General Lane didn't relent at once, and
the kind-hearted citizen at last insisted that Jim be not only
pardoned, but that the men be allowed to go down into his
clover field and get the flock.

The incident of the morning, gave opportunity for one of
the ludicrous humors of war that afternoon.

The enemy drove back the guards from Jericho ford and
Lane was sent two or three miles back to assist in stopping
them, and found a corps had crossed and had a hard fight,
losing 100 men killed and wounded.

In the midst of a sharp attack the Thirty-seventh broke,
and started for the rear, leaving the Eighteenth liable to be
cut off and the Thirty-third to be flanked. x\s soon as they
began leaving the other regiments of the brigade began bleat-
ing like sheep. At a short distance the Thirty-seventh rallied
and returned and fought very well afterwards. It was ludi-
crous in the extreme — fighting for all we were worth and
bleating like sheep. We were relieved about 10 o'clock
and returned to the station. Next morning we threw up
earthworks that were not needed. The enemy had with-
drawn.

When my negro boy, Jack, came to me from the rear my

56 North Carolina Troops, 186 1-65.

haversack had an unusual fullness about it. Whilst I was
ascertaining the cause, General Lane came along viewing the
progress of the works. I asked him to share some venison
( ?) with me. He was too polite to refuse so rare a dish, and
said it was good.

Grant, like his predecessors, deferred to the objections that
General Lee rather forcibly expressed to his going direct to
Eichmond, and with the left flank movement, sought to ac-
complished that end. On the 31st we had an all-day artil-
lery and skirmish engagement at Storr's farm, on the Toto-
potamy, and on 1 June supported the artillery on the Tur-
key Ridge road in the preliminary arrangements for
the onslaught of the 2nd. The Eighteenth fortified on the
ridge near the McGhee house, and was to the right of the
main point of attack in the second Cold Harbor fight, say one-
third of a mile.

Grant massed his troops and hurled column after column
upon Lee, and was repulsed with such terrible slaughter that
his ofiicers and men as is well known refused to charge that
position again.

Though not hotly engaged, the Eighteenth lost some valua-
ble men by skirmishes and sharpshooters. General Lane
was wounded, and Colonel Barry, of the Eighteenth com-
manded the brigade. On the 13th the Eighteenth had a
skirmish near Riddle's shop. Night put a stop to it. On
the 20th we crossed James river, and on the 22nd about three
miles beyond Petersburg had a sharp fight with the enemy
who was trying to reach the Weldon railroad. On the 2'3rd
Barry was sent to relieve Mahone's brigade, and it was not out
of range when the enemy advanced. Though the artillery
and musketry firing was very heavy for a while, it did not
return to give us the help we so sorely needed.

On 2 July the brigade was ordered to the north
side of the James river and made a hard, hot march
to Deep Bottom, where we had skii-mishing almost daily till
the 28th. At Gravely Hill there was a hot engagement. A
few days afterward Colonel Barry was wounded by a sharp-
shooter whilst on a reeonnoitering tour, and Colonel W. W.
Barber, of the Twenty-seventh, commanded the brigade until

Eighteenth Regiment. 57

the battle of Euzzell's Mill, 16 August. General Wright's
Georgia brigade was deployed to hold a line, whilst Ander-
son was taking another position. The enemy advancing in
heavy force captured Wright's thin line, and reinforced their
attacking party with negro troops to hold it.

General Lee was on the field and ordered Lane's_ brigade,
under Barber, to the retaking of the work, which was done
handsomely.

It was our first encounter with negro troops, and there
were blue-black birds lying on that battle field. Colonel Bar-
ber was wounded, and Colonel Spear, of the Twenty-eighth,
succeeded to the command. We recrossed the James and
were placed on the right of the line near Battery 45, and
were used to reinforce the cavalry, and retake positions that
the "critter" companies would retire from. Brigadier-Gen-
eral Connor succeeded Colonel Spear in the command of the
brigade by order of General Lee, a few days before the battle
of Reams station, on 25 August, 1864. General Han-
cock, who we had, on previous occasions, found to be a
good soldier, and determined fighter, held a strong position on
the railroad against the attacks made upon him, and was
much encouraged by the previous success that day, that he
would hold the railroad.

Cooke's, MacRae's and Lane's North Carolina Brigades
were selected to make the final attack. It was expecting
much of them to make the assault where greater numbers had
been repulsed, but that expectation was realized to the fullest
extent.

Elated by their victories, neither Hancock nor his men
thought of leaving those breastworks till the "Tar Heels"
were crossing them, and Hancock left his coat tail in the
hands of James W. Atkinson, the gallant color bearer of the
Thirty-third North Carolina Regiment, and some 2,000 of
his command as prisoners.

We thus more than evened up his captures from the
Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth, and Johnson's division at
Spottsylvania Court House 12 May, 1864.

The Eighteenth was in the thick woods on the left, and

68 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

had a hard time in getting through the abatis on that part of
the line.

On the 29th, four days after, General Lee wrote Governor
"Vance : "T have been frequently called upon to mention the
services of JSTorth Carolina soldiers in this army, but their,
gallantry and conduct were never more deserving the admira-
tion than in the engagement at Reams Station on the 25th
instant. The brigades of Generals Cooke, MacEae and Lane,
the last under the temporary command of General Connor,
advanced through a thick abatis of felled trees, ixnder a
heavy fire of musketry and artillery, and carried the enemy's
works with a steady courage that elicited the warm commen-
dation of their corps and division commanders, and the ad-
miration of the army."

A few days afterward, in an address at Charlotte, IST. C,
President Davis said, among other complimentary things, of
North Carolina : "Her sons were foremost in the first battle
of the war, Great Bethel, and they were foremost in the last
fight, near Petersburg, Reams Station."

We returned to Battery 45 at Petersburg and were again
foot cavalry reinforcements, to the critter cavalry, in resist-
ing the extension lines of the enemy to our right.

On Y September a brisk fight was had with the infantry
and artillery at the Davis House.

On the 30th we again passed through Petersburg to go
over the James, bixt before reaching it were recalled and
found the enemy at the Jones house, not far from our camp.

They were quickly put to flight, leaving many prisoners in
our hands. We camped upon the field that night. On
1 October we found the enemy at the Pegram House, as if
they had come to stay in that neighborhood. A repetition of
the experience of the 30th caused them to retire for a time.

The repeated efforts of Grant to extend his left, brought
troops to our right. We returned to Battery 45, and were
comparatively free from similar expeditions during the next
few months. On 8 December we went to Jarratt's Sta-
tion where the Yankees were in force in possession of the Wel-
don road. They evacuated with little fighting. Again, we
went to Stony Creek further down the road. On each of these

Eighteenth Regiment. 59

days the weather was very cold, and ours was not a pleasure
trip. We were glad to return to our winter quarters near
Forty-five and Fort Gregg.

After the battle of Spottsylvania, Major Thos. J. Wooten,
of the Eighteenth, was in command of the sharpshooters of
Lane's brigade and made an enviable reputation during the
campaign. Around Petersburg he was a teiTor to the ene-
my's picket lines, and had a reputation in both armies.

Wooten's "seine-haulings" were proverbial, and he was
liberally used by division, corps and army headquarters for
ascertaining the enemy's lines or movements. His method
was to reconnoiter, during the day, the lines to be gone
through that night and at such hour as would suit his pur-
pose would approach "in twos" with his select men, sufficient-
ly near to make a dash at them. At a signal the column
would go through the line with as little noise as possible, halt,
face out, and each rank swing around right and left, taking
the skirmish line in the rear, capturing the men with the min-
imum of danger to his command. His success was phenom-
enal, and he received the commendation of Generals Lee and
Hill in congratulatory orders.

At an armistice to bury the dead, the Federals were curi-
ous to see "Major Hooten," as they called him. Viewed in
his Confederate garb, which was not very elaborate, his ap-
pearance was not "as striking as an army with banners" and
when pointed out to a lot of officers and men, a significant
smile passed 'round the group, which found expression in the
exclamation of an impressible Teuton, "Mine, Got ! ! ! Is dot
ze man what makes us skeert, like Stonewall Shackson?
Heh!!!"

There was a generous rivalry among the regiments of the
brigade, in keeping their quota of this corps to the highest
efficiency and it was deemed an honor to secure a detail to fill
a vacancy in it. Several of its members refused to accept
promotion to lieutenant, and return to their companies to
command them.

The story of Petersburg will never be written ; volumes
would be required to contain it, and even those who went
through the trying ordeal, can not recall a satisfactory outline

60 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

of the weird and graphic occurrences of that stormy period.

The Eighteenth was not often in the sapping and mining
portion of the lines and was not so particularly at-
tracted by its experience as to wish to take up its
abode in the Blandford portion of the army. During the
month of September when it was necessary to draw the
troops from about the Crater to resist an attack near the Ap-
pomattox, we were hurriedly brought from Battery 45 to
support "Long Tom" about 200 yards to the right. There
was no time to go in the covered way, and the brigade was
marched in, on an open high ridge. It now appears won-
derful that we were not swept off the earth.

We were not in the trenches long, when "Long Tom"
opened on the Supply train that arrived on Grant's military
railroad, and it was but a short time before the sand-bag em-
brazures and the embankments around "Long Tom" needed
reconstruction.

It was not difficult for us to learn the devices constructed
for protection, from the accurate fire of the enemy at close
range, and when the mortars rained do^^m their shot from the
sky we found the holes and could do the gopher act with the
facility of trained residents.

The scene at night was beautiful in the extreme, but there
was an element of unattractiveness about it, that caused us
to yield readily to the desire of any others to see the sights
from that view point, and we invariably retired at first op-
portunity, to position where the lines were further apart.

When Gordon attacked Fort Steadman 25 March, we
were massed near by, but did not become actively engaged.
Gordon carried the fort, but could not hold it, without very
great sacrifice of men. His loss was greater than his cap-
tures, and Lee had no men to spare.

On the night of 27 May, Major Wooten, with the sharp-
shooter corps of Wilcox's division, broke the Yankee lines,
and captured and held the strong position of Mcllwaine's hill
all the next day. Wooten and Dunlap (McGowan) pulled
the seine, and Scales' and Thomas' corps helped to hold the
ground. The audacity of the proceeding was their security,
as the Yankees had lots of men close by, who appeared to fear

Eighteenth Regiment. 61

that a trap was laid for them. The concentration of troops
on Hatcher's Run and Five Forks necessitated the stretch-
ing of the Confederate lines and the men of Lane's Brigade
were some twenty feet apart in the trenches, beyond the Jones
house, when the final attack was made before day on the
morning of 2 April. Our thin line could make but feeble
resistance to the Sixth corps hurled against us. We detained
them, however, till the lines were broken beyond us, and fell
back towards Fort Gregg, making a stand on the Dinwiddle
plank road.

It was after sunrise that General A. P. Hill was seen
coming from the direction of his headquarters on the Cox
road, near the Appomattox. The crowd that I was witti
made every effort to stop him. Seeing no indication of halt-
ing, I ran out towards the direction he was going, and though
some 50 yards distant, shouted to him that our line was broken
and that the enemy's skirmishers were on the plank road be-
yond the creek. Answering back, that he was aware there
was danger, but must get to his right, he disappeared around
a hill, down a valley leading to a crossing on the creek. A
volley as of a dozen guns was heard in that direction, his
horse ran back in a few minutes without him and we knew
that our gallant commander was off duty forever. His sta^i
and attendants, who were following him, caught his horse.
His body was recovered and carried to the rear.

The statement that one of his staff, or couriers, caught him
as he fell, is without foundation, a loving fabrication of the
devotional kind. They would have been with him, if they
could, but having the fleetest horse, he was far in advance,
and I was doubtless the last Confederate spoken to by him.
In the discharge of his duty, as he saw it, he rode into the
jaws of death, and the army lost one of its most valuable
officers.

Lane and Thomas' brigades formed near the Plank road
and repulsed the enemy in several advances. Wilcox ordered
the troops on the Petersburg side of the break back to a line
of small forts outside of the main works at Battery 45.

When we got to Fort Gregg we f oimd some artillerists in it
and Lane's North Carolina brigade furnished the greater

62 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

part of the garrison. Thomas' Georgia and Harris' Missis-
sippi brigades the balance. Generals Wilcox and Lane were
in it, when I left by permission of the latter to go to our win-
ter quarters near by to get our records.

The Sixth corps had been reinforced by the Twenty-fourth,
Gibbon's corps, and the advance was made on Gregg before I
could ret^irn.

I was glad to be on the outside. The fighting was des-
perate. Eepulsed, the enemy reinforced and returned with
several lines, enveloping the fort, they filled the moat and
climbed the parapet, fighting their way inside. Getting in-
side, the fighting was hand to hand, till those not killed were
overpowered.

Lieutenant William 0. Eobinson, Company B, Eighteenth
Kegiment, and Color Sergeant James W. Atkinson, Thirty-
third North Carolina, escaped after the fighting with clubbed
muskets ceased, and always speak of it as a scene of inde-
scribable horror.

After the surrender of Gregg the other forts were evacu-
ated, and the main line at Battery 45, and the dam on the
creek occupied. This was held till night, and Petersburg
was behind us in the morning.

The march to Appomattox Court House was a succession
of privations and hardships scarcely credible by those who
have not had actual army experiences.

The supply trains that were to have been stopped at Burke-
ville and Amelia Court House, passed on, and were captured.
That country could not subsist the army, and men and ani-
mals suffered for food. We were formed in line of battle
several times and had some casualties at High Bridge and
near Jetersville.

On the morning of 9 April, whilst the Eighteenth was
forming line of battle, on a ridge to the left of the road
before getting to the branch near Appoimattox Court House,
Grant's officer, bearing dispatches to Lee, passed through its
lines and found Lee a few hundred yards in our rear on the
road we had just left.

Firing was then going on beyond the court house by Gen-
eral Grimes' North Carolinians.

Eighteenth Regiment. 63

We were marched to a near by woods and sadly, sorrow-
fully stacked arms. All was over.

The limits of this paper prevent the mention of the many
meritorious officers and men composing this regiment, of
whom I could not speak in too high terms. The valor of its
men, and its services is attested by its casualties on the field
of battle, from New Bern to Gettysburg, and then to Appo-
mattox Court House, where its last act was getting ready for
battle.

Colonel John D. Barry was its only member that reached
the grade of general. He was appointed temporary brigadier
3 August, 1864, but he was later assigned to department duty
with his regular grade of Colonel (as General Lane had re-
turned to the brigade) on account of his wounds and impaired
health, leaving us the latter part of February or March.

Lieutenant-Colonel John W. McGill resigned about the
same time. Major Thos. J. Wooten was thus entitled to be-
come Colonel and was so recommended, also Captain John J.
Poisson to be Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain B. P. Rinaldi
Major. Petersburg was evacuated before they received their
rank to which they were justly entitled. Major Wooten was
kept in command of the brigade sharpshooters, and Captain
Poisson paroled the regiment, as its commanding officer.

I append a roster of those who were present, and surren-
dered at Appomattox :

Field and Staff — Major Thomas J. Wooten, Adjutant
Wm. H. McLaurin, Surgeon Thomas B. Lane, Assistant Sur-
geon Simpson Russ. ISTon-Commissioned Staff, Ordnance
Sergeant, Chas. Flanner.

Company A — Captain B. F. Rinaldi, Sergeants M. N.
Tatum, Wm. Howard, and Privates Henry Howard, F. How-
ard, John Johnson, B. D. Lindsey, G. W. McDonald.

Company B — Lieutenant R. M. Lesesne, Sergeant D.
Storm, Corporal S. Singleterry, Privates W. C. Bray, E.
Austin, John Meares.

Company C — Lieutenant Owen Smith, Musician G. W.
Sherrill, and Privates D. R. Best, Dan Green, D. Klutts.

Company D — Orderly Sergeant A. E. Floyd, Corporal J.

64 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

P. Inman, and Privates A. N. Prophet, K. Lovett, A. J.
Thompson, Zack Clewis.

Company E — Second Lieutenant W. N. Fetter, Musician
H. M. Woodcock, and Privates S. B. Costin, H. Moore, C.
"BarnhiU, J. B. Wall, L. B. Wall, T. E. Colvin.

Company P — Sergeant A. E. Smith, Corporal J. A. Pat-
terson, and Privates W. W. BuUard, W. C. Daves, J. A. Cal-
der, A. A. Huckabee, M. G. McKoy, James Nolan, N. McN.
Patterson, A. D. Webb.

Company G — Captain John J. Poisson, Second Lieuten-
ant J. M. Whitted, Sergeant Jas. R. Dancey, Corporal J. W.
Gordon, Musician J. J. Leslie, and Privates J. F. Adams, P.
Dickson, E. H. Hall, C. J. Sasser, P. T. Smith.

Company H — Second Lieutenant Alex. Lewis, Sergeant

C. M. Baldwin, Corporal H. C. Long, and Privates John
E. Baldwin, J. J. Chancy, John Creech, J. E. Jackson, A.
Minton, W. Nance, E. H. Price, John Safrit, J. W. Yelton,
Hospital Steward Wiley A. Cornish.

Company I — Sergeants S. W. Wells, J. H. Brown, Cor-
poral J. J. F. Heath, and Privates John Case, Daniel Brin-
dle, L. H. Horn, D. S. Latta, S. Bell, H. Hayne, H. A. Hall,

D. Y. Eussell and E. B. Banks.

Company K — First Lieutenant E. N. Eobeson, Sergeants
S. N. Eichardson, W. H. King, A. McNeill, Corporals J. A.
Cromartie, D. M. Sutton, and Privates W. N. Anderson,
Jesse F. Bloodworth, S. T. Buie, J. C. Kinlaw, W. Melvin,
D. Murphy, N. Sikes and John Dunham.
We prize our parole as a badge of honor.

Wm. H. McLauein,
Adjutant Eighteenth N. C. T.
Laueinburg, N. C. ,

9 April, 1901.

EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT.

Lawrence Stewart, 1st Lieut., Co. F. 2. J. D. Cnrrie, 2d Lieut., Co, K,
3. John Walter Stewart, 3d Lieut., Co. F,

ADDITIONAL SKETCH EIQHTEENTH
REGIMENT.

By THOMAS H. SUTTON, Phivatb, Company I.

This regiment was a part of the brigade of General Branch,
of Raleigh, a brave and gallant officer, who, after many times
leading his brigade to victory in bloody and hard fought bat-
tles, fell at Sharpsburg with his face to the foe, sword in
hand. After this, and to the final end, the brigade to which
the Eighteenth ]^. C. belonged, was known as "Lane's" —
Colonel James H. Lane, of the Twenty-eighth N. C, suc-
ceeding to the command upon the death of General Branch.

This brigade was composed of the Seventh, Eighteenth,
Twenty-eighth, Thirty-third and Thirty-seventh — all N"orth
Carolina regiments — whose history, was a part of that of the
Army of Northern Virginia, to which it belonged.

The Eighteenth 'N. C. was one of the best regiments in the
Confederate service.

It was composed of ten companies, each one with a full
quota of men — some companies, at the beginning, having
over one hundred, viz :

CoMPANT A, The German Volunteers, of Wilmington,
K C.

Company B, The Bladen Light Infantry, of Bladen
County.

Company C, The Columbus Guards, from Columbus
County.

Company D, The Robeson Light Infantry, from Robeson
County.

Company E, The Moore's Creek Riflemen, from ISTew
Hanover County.

Company F, The Scotch Boys, from Richmond County.

5

66 North Cakolina Troops, 1861-65.

Company G, The Wilmingtoii Light Infantry, from Wil-
mington, N. C.

Company H, The Columbus Vigilants, from Columbus
County.

Company I, The Wilmington Eifle Guards, from Wil-
mington, N. C.

Company K, The Bladen Guards, from Bladen County,
N. C.

■ Thus, it will be seen, that Bladen County furnished two,
Columbus two, Eichmond one, Eobeson one, and New Han-
over County four, three of which were from Wilmington.

The brigade was organized at Kinston, IST. C, after wnicJi,
in the Spring of 1862, they were ordered to join the com-
mand of General (Stonewall) Jackson who was then "oper-
ating" upon Banks, Shields, Milroy, et at., in his historic
and ever memorable campaign in the "Valley of Virginia. We
were sent by rail to Gordonsville, Va., and froim thence took
up our line of march towards General Jackson's command,
and while thus marching and some distance beyond a place'
called Tripperville (if my memory serves me right) a moun-
tain village in Western Virginia, we turned back upon the
line of our march, and for ten days covered an average
distance of thirty miles each day, until at Hanover Couj't
House (called by the Federals "Slash Church") we encoun-
tered the heavy division of Fitz-John Porter, said to num-
ber twenty thousand men.

Here we "fleshed our maiden sword," for it was our first
battle, and a fierce and bloody one it was. Colonel Lane's
Twenty-eighth Eegiment was by some means detached from
us, and from 1 o'clock until nearly dark, with only four regi-
ments, we held this tremendous force at bay, and then re-
treated to Ashland in the direction of Eichmond, where
General Joe Johnston was facing McClellan's splendid army.
The Eighteenth Eegiment lost in this engagement, in killed,
wounded, missing and prisoners, fully two hundred men.

From Ashland we marched to a place called "Chamber-
lain's Hill," almost in full view of the battle of Seven Pines,
which was the great preliminary skirmish to the seven days'

Eighteenth Regiment. 67

fight, which was destined, under the leadership of Lee and
Jackson, (General Joe Johnston having been wounded at the
Seven Pines fight) to rid our Capital City of the presence of
the enemy, then within sound of the chimes of its church
bells.

No one of us knew why we had been detached from the
command of General Jackson in the valley, so thoroughly did
he keep his own counsel, who, while we were marching to-
wards Hanover Court House was, with his main command,
silently and swiftly moving towards a common place of meet-
ing, mapped out by his busy and active brain.

Shortly after the Seven Pines fight, we joined the main
body of General Jackson's command (who, up to that time
we supposed, were in the Valley where we had left them) at
the bridge crossing the Chickahominy river, near Mechanics-
ville, when, soon after, the memorable "seven days" battle
around Richmond was begun and fought to a successful
finish. It was here that the splendid genius of Stonewall
Jaclcson was displayed in all its grandeur. Crossing the
Chickahominy river at or near Mechanicsville with his corps,
he opened the fight by attacking Siegel's corps of the Federal
arniy in the rear, and drove them back in the early day-
light, throwing them into the greatest consternation
and panic. Upon the opening of Jackson's men in the
rear, the main army under General Lee advanced in front,
and from thence on, for seven days, day after day, the Eigh-
teenth N. C. Regiment as a part of Jackson's corps, A. IST. V.,
drove the enemy, defeating General McClellan with his splen-
didly equipped army until they were compelled to take shel-
ter under the guns of their James river fleet.

It was reported that at the close of this series of splendid
victories. General Jackson said: "This is our opportunity,
let us on to Washington, and there dictate terms of peace and
close the war."

But if he did say these words, the fates decreed otherwise.
We did not go to Washington but we did rid Richmond, our
capital, from the presence of the enemy, threatening its de-
struction. There were many incidents, many escapes, many
adventures that happened here, in and around the seven days'

68 North Caeolina Troops, 1861-65.

fight, that might be related, if time and space did not forbid.

Our brigade camped at a place near Eichmond, after the
seven days' fight, called "Howard's Grove," and after rest-
ing a few days commenced our march towards Gordonsville,
and on 9 August, 1862, fell in with the enemy at Cedar
Eun, where we were immediately put under fire, and
had a hot time in more ways than one. It was here that we
filled the "gap" made vacant by the falling back of the cele-
brated "Stonewall Brigade" and held it to the end, driving
the enemy and making ourselves masters of the field.

After this fight and victory General Jackson rode out in
front of our brigade and "dropped" his hat in silent acknowl-
edgment of our deed, in holding an important point, which
the old "Stonewall Brigade" had failed to do — and by special
order from corps headquarters a handsome compliment was
paid to the "gallant soldiers of Branch's brigade." The night
following while resting upon our arms, a staff officer rode up
to General Branch and asked hita "how he felt," to which
General Branch replied that "he was delighted vdth the re-
sults of the day and was proud of the manner in which his
brigade had acted." Our loss was comparatively light con-
sidering the deadly work in which we were engaged, but we
left some noble and true men on that field, which served to
remind us that in the next battle we fought it might be our lot
to fill a soldier's grave. From Cedar Run we marched to
Warrenton Springs, where it was rumored General Lee would
cross the river. The enemy were in full force on the other
side, for they "shelled the woods" where we were all day, and
we felt that "something was up" or would be soon.

Late in the afternoon of the next day, we were on the
march, with Jackson's corps, to which we were now perma-
nently attached, for what point we knew not, for it was "Jack-
son's way" to keep his movements a profound secret, but after
a long forced march and before we were aware of it, we were
in possession of immense stores of great value, captured from
the enemy at Manassas Junction, our rear fighting the ad-
vance guard of the enemy, so close to the army supply train
of the foe as to make it uncomfortable as well as "unhealthy"
to those of us who, by religious training, if. any there were.

Eighteenth Regiment. 69

might be indisposed to shed human blood. The Eighteenth
North Carolina under Colonel Thos. J. Purdie, of Bladen
County, a gallant soul, was detailed to guard the train. We
were told that the train was to be fired, and a tacit consent
was given us to replenish our empty haversacks. The con-
tents of several cars were distributed and the residue burned.
Some of our men secured a very fine saddle for Colonel Pur-
die, of the Eighteenth, which was intended for the Dutch
General Siegel, sent him by his friends and admirers, but a
nobler man than he for whom it was intended, bestrode it,
and the saddle is now, or was a few years since, in the posses-
sion of the Purdie family of Bladen, treasured as a precious
relic and memento of Colonel Thomas J. Purdie, as noble
a man and gallant a soldier as ever faced a foe, and who in a
short while, following the events here narrated, fell while
gallantly leading his regiment to victory.

We left Manassas Junction about dark and rested a few
hours the next day at Centreville, where some works had
been thrown up at the conunencement of the war, and that
evening, which I think was 2Y August, we commenced
the "big" Manassas battle, which lasted until the
night following the 29th. Here were more of the enemy
killed than at any other fight or on any one field — certainly
in our front, during the entire war. The enemy began to
fall back the last day of the fight ; it was a most disastrous and
complete rout. Here we had to contend with McClellan's
army, that we had fought around Eichmond and the Valley
forces, all combined. The pursuit was kept up all day Sun-
day and the day following, when they were overtaken at Ox
Hill, when we had a -fight of four or five hours, in an almost
continuous rain ; but we again repulsed the enemy and drove
them before us, thus again acknowledging the prowess of
Branch's brigade, which for a great part was composed of the
"fiower of the Cape Fear section." That night the enemy
vacated our front, and in a few days we resumed our march,
crossing the Potomac at the "Point of Eocks," and we were
told that we were in "Maryland, my Maryland." The Con-
federate soldier will always remember the beauty of the fair,
noble women and the brave chivalric men of Maryland. The

70 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

great heart of her people was with us, and we knew it, but
they were in fetters, bound hand and foot. We camped near
Frederick City, for a few days. This is the place made fa-
mous by the touching poem of John Greenleaf Whittier,
called Barbara Freitchie, who, as the poet has it, was an old
grey-haired woman, who in her attic window waved the
Union flag at the Confederates, and was shot at by them, until
stopped by General Jackson. There is not a word of truth in
this tale — no Confederate soldier can be found, or named,
living or dead, who ever knowingly fired at a woman ; and I
have it from a gentleman who lived in Frederick City at the
time Jackson's men passed through, who says our march did
not carry us within three or four blocks of the house where
Barbara lived — that no such thing was heard of as related by
Mr. Whittier and no such thing happened. This gentleman,
my informant, is a native of Maryland, and lived in Fred-
erick City during the war and since, and has held high office
under the State Government of Maryland. I met him in
Washington a few years since and he confirmed my belief
respecting the "facts" as given by the poet, that it was a
myth, a pure invention of the imaginative mind of the poet.
The only real fact in the poem, is that there was a woman
named Barbara Freitchie, living in Frederick City at the
time Jackson passed through. But I must proceed.

We again marched through Frederick City, re-crossed the
Potomac at Williamsport, and were back in Virginia, and
"hovering with stealthy steps" (as was Jackson's way)
around Harpers Ferry. Here we operated several days,
climbing precipitous mountains trying to get into position.
We had literally to pull ourselves up by bushes, roots, or any-
thing projecting from the mountain sides, some of us actually
having to brace ourselves against trees, so as to hold our guns
in position and ready to fire at the word given. Early the
next morning the artillery opened on the enemy, receiving a
very weak reply, and in a short time the white emblem of sur-
render went up and "the boys in blue" walked out and stacked
their arms.

Here again we captured valuable stores of immense value,
and thousands of stand of arms, and eleven thousand pris-

Eighteenth Regiment. 71

oners, according to the figures published. Here again "Old
Stonewall" left his "book mark" with the enemy, as a gen-
tle reminder that he and his corps were around, and requested
a generous ( ?) remembrance by the Federal Government at
Washington.

After being supplied with Enfield rifles — of which we
stood in great need — we crossed the Potomac again, and for
the second time were in Maryland, and we were soon in the
Sharpsburg fight (called by the Federals, Antietam). This
was what might be called a "draw fight," and it was here
that our brigade commander, the noble and chivalrous Branch
yielded up his life as a holocaust to his country's need ! "ISTo
country ever had a truer son, no cause a nobler champion,
no principle a bolder defender" than the noble and gallant
soldier, General Lawrence O'Brien Branch !

After quitting the field at Sharpsburg, we crossed the Po-
tomac again at Shepherdstown, took again to the Old Domin-
ion. The winter was coming on. The chill blasts from the
North were beginning to tell heavily upon the exhausted
frames and shattered energies of our men, all of whom were
unused to such rough lives, and we did hope for a rest in win-
ter quarters, where, for a while at least, we might sleep and
dream of home and comforts, without the thought of war with
its dreadful realities.

But vain hope ! Taking up our march on the Shepherds-
town road, we soon knew that we were approaching the enemy
by the skirmishing in our front. We formed line of battle
and drove the enemy into the river, despite the heavy guns
that had been planted on the Maryland side to protect them.
We lay that day on the river bank iinder a heavy fire from the
enemy's guns of grape, canister and shell.

Our regilment camped near Berryville and were called out
several times to meet the enemy at Snicker's Gap, but never
engaged them there. We then marched up the Valley pike,
crossing the Blue Ridge at New Market Gap, and camped
near Fredericksburg. The enemy crossed the Rappahan-
nock and. we were ordered to meet them. 0^^r brigade (now
Lane's) were not in front of the city, but almost the ex-
treme right of Lee's army. We formed line of battle at the

72 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

railroad on 13 December, ■ 1862, soon after which our
skirmish line came in and the enemy developed in great
numbers and swept us from our position at the railroad. We
soon rallied and swept on to the railroad again, the Eigh-
teenth and Seventh Eegisments of our brigade not stopping at
the railroad, but going on to the hill beyond, on the top of
which we were in full view of the enemy, killing a great
many and losing some of our best men, as an offset for our
daring charge. From that time on, the fight was not heavy
in our front, but was in front of the city. The night the
enemy re-crossed the river, a general charge had been ordered
all along the line, but was countermanded by General Lee.
Then the campaign of 1862 ended with the victory at Fred-
ericksburg. We went into winter quarters on the Rappahan-
nock near Moss ISTeck church, at Camp Gregg, named for
that general who was killed at Fredericksburg. Here Gen-
eral Lane was presented with a fine saddle and bridle by the
field officers in token of their appreciation of his merits.
Under an act of the Confederate Congress a medal was to be
given to the man who was voted by his comrades as the
bravest and best soldier. The company to which Jesse F.
Bloodworth (Company K, Eighteenth IST. 0.) belonged,
without a dissenting voice, decided for him, and although
the medal never came, yet not one of Napoleon's old guard,
could have more richly deserved, nor more worthily won it.

The campaign of 1863 soon opened and we had to aban-
don our comfortable quarters at Camp Gregg. A slight
brush at the "Wilderness" was the opening prelude to that
ever memorable campaign. With Jackson we took part in
the flank movement around to Chancellorsville. The enemy
were completely surprised (for this was Jackson's way) in
an old field where a part of their forces were camped. They
left their coffee on the fire and "stood not upon the order of
their going." We marched some distance and filed left into
a woodland and formed line of battle about dark
Avith our right resting on the plank road. The Eigh-
teenth was the left regiment, and the Fiftieth , Virginia
was upon our left. It was now Avell dark; our skirmishers
had gone forward. In a few moments Generals Jackson and

Eighteenth Regiment. 73

A. P. Hill came riding down the plank road from the front,
with a good many staff officers and couriers whose appearance
in the gloom (we did not then know who they were) was well
calculated to create the impression that the enemy's cavalry
were advancing. This party wheeled into the woods exactly
in front of the Eighteenth North Carolina Regiment. Our
men having seen the skirmishers go forward, besides knowing
that we had no friends in that direction, reasonably concluded
that it was the enemy coming down upon us. At this mo-
ment some over-excited man in the line shouted "Cavalry,"
whereupon the Eighteenth Regiment opened fire. The Fif-
tieth Virginia Regiment also opened fire, and General Jack-
son— the immortal "Stonewall" — received his mortal wound
at the hands of those who loved him more than life, any one
of whom would have risked and if need be, sacrificed his own
life to save that of his beloved general.

He was to the Army of JSTorthern Virginia what ISTey was
to Napoleon, its very strong right arm, and yet by the in-
exorable decree of fate it was reserved for the Eigh-
teenth Regiment of North Carolina, in the discharge
of a supposed duty, to deprive the Southern Army of its
chief pillar of support, its most brilliant, matchless and
greatest soldier. In addition to the firing from our ranks the
enemy's artillery also opened upon us, from which it is sup-
posed' General Jackson received other wounds while being
borne from the field.

We moved to the right of the plank road, when during the
night we repulsed a heavy charge of the enemy. The next
day (Sunday) the fight was renewed by our brigade charging
the enemy's works, defended by about forty pieces of artillery
heavily supported. Three times we charged, and finally cap-
tured the works. Our regiment lost heavily. General A. P.
Hill having been wounded the night previous, our corps was
commanded by General J. E. B. Stuart. Here the gallant
Colonel Thos." J. Purdie, of Bladen County, Colonel of the
Eighteenth North Carolina Regiment, fell while gallantly
leading his men. After this battle we returned to Camp
Gregg, where a change of field officers was had. Major Jno.
D. Barry, of Wilmington, was made Colonel, vice Purdie,

74 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

killed ; Captain Jno. W. McGrill, vice Lieutenant-Colonel F.
George, elected to the Legislature from Columbus County,
and Captain Thos. J. Wooten to be Major, vice Barry, pro-
moted. We bade farewell to Camp Gregg, and crossing the
Potomac again at Shepherdstown, camped that night.

Taking up our line of march again, we were in Petmsylva-
nia, going towards Gettysburg, when the "dogs of war" were
again unloosed with redoubled fury.

The first day's fight at Gettysburg, we drove the enemy
some distance and halted on a ridge, and lay on our arms that
night, and held this ridge until the third day's fight. That
day we were in position supporting our artillery, and under
the heaviest fire of the enemy's field artillery that our brigade
ever experienced during the entire war.

Suddenly the enemy's artillery ceased and we were ordered
forward to charge the heights occupied by the enemy's artil-
lery and infantry. We faced the storm of death-dealing
grape, shell and canister shot, and an incessant shower of
musketry, a long distance in an open field, all the way, and
reaching the heights only to find that we were flanked by the
enemy and unsupported by our own troops, we were com.-
pelled to fall back, leaving many of our best and bravest men
dead and dying on this bloody and sanguinary field. After
remaining in line f(?r a day we commenced our retreat to
Hagerstown, where General Lee offered the enemy battle on
equal terms, which they declined. We left Hagerstown in a
hard rain, marching over a miserable road for Falling
Waters, and about sunrise the next morning, after an all
night's march, reached the old Potomac river again. Cross-
ing the Potomac we were on Virginia soil again, and with a
slight brush at Mine Run ended the campaign of 1863.

General Grant had taken command of the Federal forces in
the Spring of 1864, and crossed the river to meet us at the
Wilderness. Here this battle commenced early in the after-
noon, severe fighting going on contimiously until dark. We
drove the enemy back — every charge they made. During the
night following, however, by some fatal oversight, or unpar-
donable negligence of some of our generals, our forces were
hiiddled together in the utmost confusion, "cross and pile,"

Eighteenth Regiment. 75

with no line formed, so that at daylight, the enemy making
a desperate charge, we came very near being utterly routed,
and would have been but for the timely appearance of some
fresh troops. Our brigade rallied and drove the enemy
back, the battle ended with victory for the Southern cause.

Then commenced our roundabout march to Petersburg.
On 12 May, 1864, we met the enemy at Spottsylvania,
and on that morning we were in the memorable "Horse-
shoe" enveloped by a dense fog, taking advantage of which
the enemy broke our line, and captured many prisoners. But
General Lane, by his admirable management of our brigade,
again drove the enemy back and regained our lines. At this
juncture our brigade was reinforced by Thomas' Georgia bri-
gade, and we drove the enemy back across the works and into
the woods beyond. Our brigade was then moved to the
right, and behind hastily improvised works, which afforded
little or no protection, we were exposed to a galling and heavy
enfilading fire from six of the enemy's guns on his left. Thus
we remained several hours, while General Ewell was being
hard pressed. Later we were ordered to take the enemy's
guns, supported by Mahone's Virginia brigade.

We did capture the guns, besides took four hundred and
fifty prisoners and three stand of colors. This the Eigh-
teenth North Carolina Regiment, with the brigade to which
it belonged, did, and the credit of the same was awarded to
Lane's North Carolina Brigade, although Mahone tried to
claim it. With the charge of our brigade the battle of Spott-
sylvania Court House ended in another victory for General
Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.

On theimarch towards Petersburg we had several "brushes"
with the enemy at Totopotomy Creek, Cold Harbor, Turkey
Ridge and other places, not now remembered.

At Turkey Ridge, General Lane being wounded, the com-
mand of the brigade devolved upon Colonel Jno. D. Barry,
of the Eighteenth North Carolina Regiment.

Crossing the James river at Drewry's Bluff, we were
among the first troops to reach Petersburg.

It would be impossible to give anything like an accurate ac-
count of our every day's work — fighting, marching and build-

76 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

ing works around Petersburg. Suffice it to say that the
Eighteenth North Carolina Kegiment was always at the
front, and always did its whole duty. We were ordered to
cross the James river at Drewry's Bluff again, and on the
march thither for the first time, at "Deep Bottom," we en-
countered the colored troops, who first drove a brigade on our
right out of the works, which we in turn retook, and held
them until ordered elsewhere.

Marching to Petersburg via Drewry's Bluff, we were sta-
tioned below and to the right of Battery No. 45, and remained
until our brigade was sent to assist in an attack on Reams
Station. There we supported the brigades of Generals Cooke,
MacEae and others, and being well supported, we charged
the enemy's lines, took nine of his guns, two thousand prison-
ers, besides wagons, ambulances, etc. It was a desperate
fight, but the result added to the fame of the North Carolina
soldier, of which their descendants may, for all time to come,
be proud.

Events in rapid succession crowded upon each other. The
end was rapidly approaching. We went back to Battery
No. 45.

At Jones' Earm on 30 September, 1864, we had a severe
fight, and lost from our regiment some of its bravest
and best. Our regiment was now reduced to a mere "skele-
ton" or handful of its former strength. Starting out with
eleven hundred men, we were now reduced to one hundred or
less. The death of every comrade was now indeed a serious
loss. Our entire brigade was hardly now in numbers, as
much as half our original regimental muster roll.

We remained in the trenches at Petersburg until we took
our last march in the Spring following towards Appomattox.
As we passed through Petersburg the sidewalks of the city
were filled with weeping women and children, lamenting the
fate which they knew daylight would bring upon them. In
our army they had centred their hopes, and with our de-
parture they well knew their last earthly refuge and hope
were gone, and for many days and nights thereafter the wail-
ings and lamentations of these helpless women and children
rang in the Southern soldier's ear as he "plodded his weary

Eighteenth Regiment. 77

■way" to the place where the Southern flag was to be furled
forever. The march from Petersburg began 2 April, and
ended at Appomattox 9 April, 1865.

Twenty-eight thousand bleeding, half -starved and foot-sore
soldiers stood there on that eventful 9 April, 1865, with
folded arms, as General Lee rode down our lines and "bade us
adieu forever."

The Eighteenth North Carolina Regiment, after one year's
coast service in North Carolina, went to Virginia. Early in
1862 was part of Branch's Brigade, afterwards to the close of
the war, Lane's.

After seeing some service in the Valley, from the battle of
Hanover Court House, (called by some "Slash Church"), to
the surrender at Appomattox, it was a portion of General Lee's
Army of Northern Virginia.

This regiment fought not less than thirty-five (35) bat-
tles, besides double that number of skirmishes; was in both
the Maryland and Pennsylvania campaigns, forded the Poto-
mac five times, and crossed it once on a pontoon, and was "in
at the death," when the Southern Star of victory went down
in a sea of bloodj in the gloom of defeat at Appomattox.

Such is the history, in brief, of the Eighteenth North
Carolina Regiment. A great many of the scenes described
I have drawn from data obtained from comrades years ago.
A great many have faded from my ^memory. Yet while I
was not a participant in all or indeed in many of the battles
and stirring scenes of those troublous times, yet I am sure
this hastily written sketch, imperfect as it is, faithfully re-
cords the history of the Eighteenth North Carolina Regi-
ment in the substance of its work and in all its essential par-
ticulars.

It is only intended, as I understand it, to furnish data
for the future North Carolina historian, when he comes to do
his State justice, by a faithful and impartial record of its
soldiers' sufferings, privations, toil and victories, in that
bloody drama.

If these lines will thus aid the future writer of the deeds
and heroism of the North Carolina soldier, I feel that the
task assigned me is accomplished, and that I have contributed

78 North Carolina Teoops, 1861-65.

my part towards its future History, even though hastily and
imperfectly done.

Certain it is, that North Carolina has no cause to feel
ashamed of the part her soldiers took, and while we detract
from none but want all to have the credit to which they are
justly entitled, yet let justice be done to the State that had
more soldiers in active service at the front, than there were
voters in the entire State.

Thomas H. Sutton.
Private Company I.

Faybtteville, N. C,

April 9, 1901.

NINETEENTH REGIMENT.

1. Sol. WilliamB, Colonel. 3. Randolph H. Reese, Captain, Co. H.

2. Geo. Pettigrew Bi'yan, Captain, Co. G. 4. James N. Turner, Captain, Co. D.

5. W. A. Graham, Jr., Captain, Co. K.

NINETEENTH REGIMEfiT.

(second cavaley. )

By W. a. graham, Captain Company K.

This regiment, with the first eight regiments of infantry,
the Ninth ISTorth Carolina Regiment (First Cavalry), the
Tenth Eegiment (First Artillery), and the Thirty-third Eeg-
iment of infantry, comprised what was originally kno'wn as
"State Troops." They enlisted "for the war," and the officers,
both regimental and company, were appointed by the Gov-
ernor. The volunteers enlisted for twelve months (except
the Bethel Eegiment — six months) ; their company officers
were elected by the "rank and file" of the company ; the field
officers by the commissioned officers of the companies of the
respective battalions and regiments. In 1862 the right to
elect company officers was given by law to the State Troops.
The horses for the privates were furnished by the State to the
First and Second Cavalry Eegiments. The regiment, except
Company A, assembled at Kittrell's Springs in August and
September, 1861.

PIELD AND STAFF.

S. B. Speuill, Colonel.

William G. Eobinson, Lieutenant Colonel.

John W. Woodfin, Major.

GuiLFOED Nicholson, Adjutant.

Capt. John S. Hines^ Quartermaster.

Capt. John W. Mooee, Commissary.

Smith, Surgeon.

E. H. Shields, Assistant Surgeon.
E. P.TucKE, Sergeant Major.

80 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Rogers; Second Lieutenants, George V. Snider and W. P.
Moore.

Company B — Iredell County — Captain, C. M. Andrews ;
First Lieutenant, S. Jay Andrews; Second Lieutenants,
Eichard W. Allison and James N. Turner.

Company C — Gates and Hertford Counties — Captain
John G. Boothe ; First Lieutenant, James M. Wynn ; Second
Lieutenants, Mills L. Eure and William P. Eoberts.

Company D — Cumberland County — Captain, James W.
Strange ; First Lieutenant, T. S. Lutterloh ; Second Lieuten-
ants, Joseph S. Baker and James F. Williams.

Company E — Nash, Wilson and Pranhlin Counties —
Captain, Columbus A. Thomas ; First Lieutenant, J. J. B.
Vick; Second Lieutenants, Nick M. Harris and Robert W.
Atkinson.

Company F — Guilford County- — Captain Barzillai F.
Cole; First Lieutenant, R. W. King; Second Lieutenants,
P. A. Tatum and Nelson.

Company G — Beaufort County — Captain, Louis E. Sat-
terthwaite; First Lieutenant, William Satterthwaite ; Sec-
ond Lieutenants, Samuel S. Whitehurst and George P.
Bryan.

Company H — Bertie and Northamipton Counties — Cap-
tain, John Randolph; First Lieutenant, H. B. Hardy; Sec-
ond Lieutenants, W. H. Newsom and George Bishop.

Company I — Moore County — Captain, Jesse L. Bryan;
First Lieutenant, J. L. Arnold; Second Lieutenants, D. 0.
Bryan and J. S. Eitter.

Company K — Orange County- — Captain, Josiah Turner,
Jr. ; First Lieutenant, William A. Graham, Jr, ; Second
Lieutenants, John P. Lockhart and James V. Moore.

In October the regiment broke camp. Companies D, E, F,
I and K, with Colonel, Major and Staff, to Hertford, thence
to Edenton; the second squadron (Companies B and G),
Lieutenant-Colonel commanding, to Washington, N". C. ; the
third squadron (Companies C and H), under Captain
Boothe, to Neuse River, below ISTew Bern. Company A was
at Asheville.

While at Edenton there was mention of arming the five

Nineteenth Regiment. 81

companies there with muskets and sending them to Roanoke
Island as infantry, to remain until relieved by infantry.
The Colonel favored this, biit the company officers objected, as
it was putting the men into a different service from that into
which they had entered, and for an indefinite time. After
several weeks' "jawing" the idea was abandoned. Major
Woodfin commanded the Battalion most of the time while at
Edenton, Colonel Spruill being in attendance upon the State
(Secession) Convention ; of which he was a member. In De-
cember the regiment, except the second squadron, was assem-
bled at ISTew Bern. Company A had come from Asheville,
the fifth squadron (Companies E and K) received horses
here, and the whole regiment was now mounted but was not
armed. Governor Clark complained to the Confederate
Government on 12th March, 1862, that the regiment had not
been armed, although it had been in service six months. Win-
ter quarters were built across the Trent river. These, on the
evacuation, were occupied by "runaway negroes" and were
the beginning of the present James City.

The regiment took part in the battle of New Bern, 14
March, 1862, Companies A. E and K dismounted, and under
command of Colonel Z. B. Vance, Twenty-sixth N. C. T. Af-
ter the battle of New Bern the camp was at "Wise's Fork, five
miles below Kinston, and for the first time the regiment met
as a whole. It picketed the roads to New Bern, the first via
Tuscarora, the second via Dover Swamp and the Third via
Trenton and near PoUocksville.

This was the severest service the regiment saw in its his-
tory. A company of from thirty to sixty men would go
from twenty to twenty-five miles to the front, establish its
picket in from a half to a fourth of a mile of those of the
enemy, who had a "reserve" of several thousand a mile or two
in their rear, and General Burnside's whole command at New
Bern, not ten miles from our outpost. For us there was no
reinforcement, except a few "couriers," in twenty miles.
Each company in turn had a picket tour of about ten days on
one of the roads, and frequently the horses were not unsad-
dled for half that time. It frequently rained nearly every
6

82 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

day of the ten. Consequently, three-fourths of the horses
returned from picket with sore backs. The regiment was
armed with almost every kind of arms (except the newest pat-
terns) known to the warrior or sportsman, and was never
fully equipped with arms of modern warfare until it
equipped itself with those furnished by the United States
and taken from its troops in Virginia.

The writer has taken Company K on picket with thirty-five
men, armed about as follows: Two Sharp's carbines, six
Hall's, five Colts' (six-shooters), four Mississippi rifles and
twelve double-barrelled shotguns, and perhaps a half dozen
pairs of old one-barrel "horse pistols." There was not ex-
ceeding twenty cartridge boxes in the company; the others
carried their ammunition (twenty rounds) in the pockets of
their clothes and in their "haversacks." Was not this a "for-
midable array" to place itself within ten miles of the head-
quarters of thirty thousand men equipped with arms of mod-
ern pattern ? While the regiment remained here there were
nearly every week, engagements with the enemy, (1) Captain
Strange, Company D, near "Ten Mile" house; (2) Captain
Andrews, Company B, at- Tuscarora ; (3) Captain Boothe,
Company C, at Mills, in Carteret county ; (4) Lieuten-
ant W. P. Roberts, Company C, with twenty-five men near
Pollocksville ; (5) 14 April, Lieutenant-Colonel Robinson,
with portions of Companies D, E, F, I and K, at Gillet's, in
Onslow County. The attack was made on horseback against
infantry in house and in a lot surrounded by a "stake and
rider" rail fence with a deep ditch on the outside. Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Robinson was wounded and captured. He never
returned to the regiment. Captain Turner, Company
K, was severely wounded and disabled for further ser-
vice in the field; (6) 13 May, at the White Church,
near Fescue's, in Jones County, on the Dover Swamp
road, fourteen miles from ISTew Bern, Lieutenant
Rogers, with twenty-five men of Company A, and Lieuten-
ant Graham, with fifteen men of Company K, a total of forty
men, were attacked by the Third New York Cavalry, a six-
gun battery and two regiments of infantry. They repelled the
attack and killed, wounded and captured nearly as many

Nineteenth Regiment. 83

as they had engaged in the fight. The road having swampy
ground on both sides, there was no opportunity for them to
deploy against us. Our loss 1 killed, 6 wounded, 2 prisoners.
The troops engaged were complimented in general orders by
Lieutenant-General Holmes from district headquarters ; also
by General Robert Ransom, commanding post. Colonel
Spruill resigned in April. Matthew L. Davis, who was com-
missioned to succeed him, died in Goldsboro en route to the
regiment. Colonel Sol. Williams was transferred from
the Twelfth Infantry to the Second Cavalry 5 June, 1862.
His Adjutant, Lieutenant John C. Pegram came with him.
Adjutant Nicholson became Lieutenant of Company A.

A FLAG OF TEUCE.

On 4 July, 1862, as First Lieutenant Company K, I was
in command of the picket on the Dover Swamp road from
Kinston to New Bern with headquarters at the Merritt House
and our outpost at the Ten-Mile House. About 11 o'clock
a. m.. Colonel W. F. Martin, Seventeenth North Carolina
Troops, and Captain Theodore J. Hughes, formerly Commis-
sary of the regiment and afterwards Purser of the "Ad-
Vance" during most of her life as a blockade-runner, arrived,
carrying communications imder "flag of truce" to General
Burnside, commanding the United States forces at New
Bern. I requested Colonel Martin to procure for me per-
mission to accompany them, and with this expectation took
command of the escort. I prepared my toilet by taking off
my coat and pants and whipping them around a sapling to
get the dust out and with a corn cob and spittle, endeavored
to "shine" my boots. After dinner (about 12:30 p. m.) we
started ; a Corporal and two men with a white handkerchief
on a pole as the "flag of truce" going about three hundred
yards in front, the escort — about fifteen men- — and the mes-
sengers following. The advance was halted at Deep Gully,
nine and a half miles from New Bern, by the Federal out-
post. This was the week of the "Seven Days' Fights" around
Richmond. We received our mail for the week by Colonel
Martin, containing papers giving accounts of the battles;

84 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

which, it will be remembered, were all in our favor. Colonel
Martin had brought several copies with him and we gathered
what we could before starting, to carry the good news with us.
"We distributed them among the officers and spoke of any par-
ticularly favorable item in the papers. After a halt of half an
hour we mounted an ambulance and Colonel Mix, who was
to accompany us, informed us that his orders were for us
to travel blind-folded and requested us to tie our handker-
chiefs over our eyes. Colonel Martin remarked that he pre-
ferred for Colonel Mix to tie his as it might come off at
some time when not desired and have the appearance of his
acting in bad faith. Captain Hughes and I also adopted the
same view, and Colonel Mix tied all our handkerchiefs.

A drive of an hour landed us at General Burnside's head-
quarters. It was now about half past 4 o'clock. General
Burnside, after reading papers brought by Colonel Martin,
asked if we had any newspapers. We told him we
had given them out at Colonel Mix's headquarters.
Colonel Mix afterwards came in and General Burnside
said to him he understood he had some late papers. Colonel
Mix said "Yes," and hfe would send them in. General Bum-
side made some remark about not caring particularly about
it ; which was but a poor attempt to conceal his desire to have
them speedily.

General Burnside apologized to lis for our blindfold ride.
He said: "General Foster was temporarily in command and
it was by his orders ; that he never required it. If any one
thought he was ready to attack him after being in his lines he
was welcome to come on and try it."

The true condition of matters was that General Burnside
had been ordered, with Generals Parke and Reno, to rein-
force ilcClellan in "Virginia. Several regiments, arriving
from Morehead City during the afternoon, were marched by
in order to make the impression on us that the troops at ISTew
Bern were being reinforced. I was surprised to see a good
many white straw hats worn by the men. General Burnside
remarked to General Foster, as a regiment passed, that he
would "make those fellows throw away those straw hats,"
which Foster said he would do. The generals were not as

Nineteenth Regiment. 85

courteous to us as the officers of lesser grade had been. They
seemed to be in bad humor. They had heard from Richmond
and other news may have accounted for it.

Sahites on the Fourth of July were being fired frequently.
General Burnside remarked to me : "I suppose you people do
not bum any powder on the Fourth of July?" I replied:
"No, we save it to burn on those who are attempting to de-
prive us of the privileges of the Fourth of July."

He remarked to Colonel Martin, that he "had just returned
from a trip North, and that you could hardly miss the men
absent in the army. This is not the case with you." Colonel
Martin replied : "No, and that it seemed to prove what he had
often heard said, that 'Northern people were staying at home
and sending the foreigners to do the fighting." General Burn-
side replied : "Not at all, but it shows the difference in the
populations of the two sections and the impossibility of the
South's success. Success would be the worst thing that could
happen for the South. When I am in a bad humor I wish the
South would succeed." Colonel Martin replied that he
"wished he was in a bad humor all the time." About this
time Generals Foster, Parke and Reno came in. They were
all in bad temper, and we spent an hour or so "spatting."
Some one of us, whenever opportimity offered, would relate
something about the late battles in Virginia. General Burn-
side expressed himself as in favor of a vigorous prosecution
of the war, even to the arming of the negroes if necessary to
success. We were surprised to hear this as General Burnside
was represented as opposed to negro soldiers. During our
confab. General Burnside turned to me and said rather
sharply: "To what command do you belong?" I replied:
"The Second North Carolina Cavalry." "Yes," says he, "you
are the fellows who are shooting my pickets. I detest such
warfare ; if a man wishes to fight let him come out like a man
and show himself and not creep up like he was hunting a tur-
key." I replied: "Your men began this mode and now you
are complaining of it." He replied: "It is not so, and to
prove it I lose five or six men where you lose one." I answer-
ed : "That only prQves that our men are the best shots, and
when they pull the trigger generally bring down the game,

86 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

while yours miss." He replied: "You do, hey!" witli a
touch of the "dry grins." I said : "If you do not like this
style of warfare order your men to stop and ours will."

We discussed secession, States' rights, Federalism, war,
ability of the South to maintain the contest, campaigns al-
ready fought, leaders, etc., etc., but in not a very gentle man-
ner. Governor Edward Stanly came in for a short while
and was very courteous. About dusk we were driven in an
ambulance to the house of the Spotswood family, but now
used by the United States Army, and placed in a room on the
second floor to spend the night.

Supper was furnished us in our room. An hour or so af-
terwards Governor Stanly called and spent several hours.
He had recently arrived from California, having been ap-
pointed "Military Governor" of the State by President Lin-
coln.

Colonel Martin remarked that he was surprised to hear
General Bumside express himself in favor of arming the ne-
groes. Governor Stanly replied that he "must be mistaken ;
that he had frequently talked with General Burnside on the
subject, and he was as much opposed to it as you or I, and, as
for myself, whenever it is done I will resign and go whence I
came."

About the time the "colored troops" were "mustered in"
Governor Stanly resigned and left the State. I do not
know, however, that there was any connection between the
two events.

After Governor Stanly left we discovered some one was in
the little room connecting the one we were in with another,
and the door was pushed a little ajar, as if to hear anything
we might say. We considered this as a "breach of hospital-
ity" and expressed ourselves in vigorous language on the sub-
ject and on Yankees in general, and the experiences of the
day. If what was gathered from our conversation was re-
ported it is not published in the Records of the Rebellion.

On the morning of the 5th, about sunrise, we went across
the street to breakfast.

Breakfast over, we got into the ambulance; were again

Nineteenth Regiment. 87

blindfolded, and when we saw the light we were at our pickets
at the Ten-Mile House.

In August the second squadron (Companies C and K),
Captain Booth commanding, moved to Hamilton, Martin
County, to picket the Roanoke river.

In October the other ten companies, under command of
Major C. M. Andrews, who had been promoted upon resigna-
tion of Major Woodfin, moved via Franklin, Va., to join the
Army of ISTorthern Virginia and camped at Warrenton, Octo-
ber 12th. Shortly after reaching there a scout of 225
mounted men and two pieces of artillery was ordered by Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Payne, Fourth Virginia Cavalry, command-
ing post. This party, commanded by Major Andrews, moved
on the 16th via Bristoe Station, Manassas, and to the south
of Centerville to Gainesville. Here the Major learned that
a train had passed a short time previous. Pushing on, he
overtook and captured the train at Hay Market, consisting of
seven wagons and teams, also thirty-nine prisoners, killed
three and wounded five Yankees. The regiment remained
at Warrenton until 1 December, when it moved with the
army to the vicinity of Fredericksburg. In the battle of
Fredericksburg, 13 December, the regiment acted with
other mounted forces in protecting General Lee's right,
but was not engaged, except as skirmishers. The regi-
ment was represented in the detail to make the raid under
General Stuart into Maryland, on 24 December. It was
assigned 2 December, 1862, to the brigade of General W. H.
F. Lee, with the Ninth, Tenth, Thirteenth and Fifteenth
Virginia Regiments of cavalry. It spent the winter in Es-
sex County, picketing the Rappahannock river from Hazel
River to Centre Cross. In March it moved to Culpepper
County, camping between Culpepper Court House and
Brandy Station. 1 May engaged Stoneman in his raid at
Stone's Mills. The regiment was commanded by Major An-
drews from 14 December to 8 May, Colonel Williams being
detached as president of a court-martial. Major Andrews
then getting a "sick furlough," Lieutenant-Colonel Payne
was temporarily assigned to command it.

The second squadron (Companies C and K) remained at

88 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Hamilton until October. It participated in the attack on
Washington, 1 September. Captain Boothe was severely
woimded and not again in active service. While moving to
join the regiment in Virginia the squadron was ordered into
camp near the "Halfway House" on the pike between Peters-
burg and Richmond. It, with Company C, Forty-first North
Carolina (3d Cav.), formed a battalion, commanded by Cap-
tain Graham, and built winter quarters on the pike near
Proctor's creek. The battalion picketed the James Eiver as
far as Bermuda Hundreds. To it was also assigned the
duty of picketing the Appomattox for sixty miles above Pe-
tersburg, to arrest deserters from the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia. In March, 1863, the squadron, commanded by Cap-
tain Graham, picketed General Longstreet's left flank
in his expedition towards Suffolk to secure the hogs
and cattle from the Albemarle section of North Car-
olina. While at Drewry's Bluff the squadron was at-
tached to the commands of Generals Daniel and Elzey, also
to Colonel Jack Brown, of the Fifty-ninth Georgia. Under
General Longstreet it picketed the James and Nansemond
rivers. There were engagements with the enemy at Provi-
dence Church and Chuckatuck. Captain Moore's Company,
Sixty-third N. C. (5th Cav.), and Stribling's Virginia Bat-
tery, mounted, formed a battalion, which Captain Graham
commanded. It was under Generals Jenkins of South Caro-
lina, Hood and Pickett during this service.

May 20 the squadron rejoined the regiment in Culpepper
County, Virginia. There had been many changes of officers
in the regiment. The following is a roster at that time :

EOSTEE 1 JUNE, 1863.

Sol Williams, Colonel.

Lieutenant-Colonel (Vacant.)

Clinton M. Andrews, Major.

John C. Pegeam, Adjutant.

A. Smith Joedan, Assistant Quartermaster.

W. H. Upsiiue, Surgeon.

Ianson, Assistant Surgeon.

Nineteenth Regiment. 89

Ebwaed Joedan^ Sergeant Major.

OoMANY A — Captain, J. V. B. Rogers ; First Lieutenant,
W. B. Tidwell; Second Lieutenants, Abram 0. Evans and
Jacob E. Williams.

Company B — Captain, S. J. Andrews ; Eirst Lieutenant,
E. W. Allison; Second Lieutenants, J. IST. Turner and Wil-
liam A. Luckey.

Company C — Captain, James M. Wynn; First Lieuten-
ant, W. P. Roberts; Second Lieutenants, Abram F. Harrell
and L. R. Cowper.

Company D — Captain, James W. Strange; First Lieu-
tenant, Joseph S. Baker; Second Lieutenants, J. A. P. Con-
oly and John B. Person.

Company E — Captain, R. W. Atkinson ; First Lieutenant,
K. H. Winstead ; Second Lieutenants, E. P. Tucke and Eph.
Bobbins.

Company F — Captain, P. A. Tatum; First Lieutenant,
John G. Blassingame; Second Lieutenants, IST. C. Tucker
and Holden.

Company G — Captain, ii. L. Eure; First Lieutenant, G.
P. Bryan ; Second Lieutenants, W. M. Owens and J. W. Sim-
mons.

Company H — Captain, R. H. Reese ; First Lieutenant, S.

]Sr. Buxton; Second Lieutenants, F. M. Spivey and ■

Copeland.

Company I — Captain, D. 0. Bryan; First Lieutenant,
Thomas H. Harrington; Second Lieutenants, John C. Baker
and James A. Cole.

Company K — Captain, W. A. Graham, Jr. ; First Lieu-
tenant, John P. Lockhart; Second Lieutenants, A. F. Fau-
cette and James R. Harris.

the battle of BEANDY station^ OE FLEETWOOD.

The regiment participated in the review of the Cavalry
Corps by General R. E. Lee, Monday, 8 June, 1863, on the
plain along the railroad between Brandy Station and Cul-
pepper Court House. Our regiment returned to its camp

90 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

of the night before, about one mile north of Hon. John Minor
Botts', near Gilberson's, with orders to go on picket the next
morning at Fox's Spring, about twenty miles distant on the
Rappahannock River. On the mornings of the 9th at about
6 :30 o'clock "boots and saddles" sounded. "Saddle up" was
the Confederate name for this signal, perhaps due to the fact
that the boots were generally wanting. I went to headquar-
ters and Colonel Williams directed me to leave the cooks and
sore-back horses in camp. Thirty minutes afterwards, "To
horse — ^lead out" was sounded, and just at its close Colonel
Williams' orderly came to me with orders to mount every
man I had. He had received notice of the Federals crossing
the river in the meantime, but the orderly said nothing of it.
The regiment was quickly formed, my command being the
second squadron, Companies C and K, threw me in the rear,
as we moved off in "column of fours." A quarter of a mile
distant we entered a road leading towards Beverly Ford, and
forming platoons imtmediately took the "gallop" which we
maintained for most of the distance, which miist have been
considerably over a mile, to the battlefield. Up to this time
not one-third of the regiment knew that the Federals had
crossed, or were attempting to cross, at Thompson's or Wel-
ford's. As we cleared a piece of woods the column headed
to the left and came in view of the enemy's artillery placed
between the Dr. Green residence and the river on the Cun-
ningham farm. Just as our rear squadron turned into the field
a shell cut off the top of a tree Over our heads, and this was the
first intimation we had of the presence of the enemy. We
could see a portion of the Tenth Virginia engaged in the
direction of the battery. The Nineteenth (Second Cavalry)
North Carolina passed Dr. Green's house, crossed Euffin's
Run and took position behind a knoll on which two guns of
Breathed's battery, "horse artillery," under Lieutenant John-
son were placed. This soon became engaged with the enemy.
Colonel Williams formed all the men in the regiment who
were armed with "long range guns" on foot and went to the
front where he was soon hotly engaged with the enemy who
had dismounted and taken position behind a stone wall three
hundred yards in advance of his battery. After exchanging

NINETEENTH REGIMENT.

1. W. B. Tidwell, Captain, Co. A. 4. Levi Y. Lockhart, Sergeant, Co. K.

2. John P. Loukhart, Captain, Co. K. 5. W. A. Curtis, Sergeant. Co. A.
8. Stephen O. Terry, Sergeant, Co. K. 6. John L. Hall, Private, Co. K.

Nineteenth Regiment. 91

shots for a short time, he ordered a charge and captured the
wall taking eighteen prisoners, besides the killed and
wounded. In the charge Captain S. Jay Andrews, Company
B, Iredell County, lost a foot, and Lieutenant J. G. Blassin-
game, of Columbia, S. C, temporarily in command of Com-
pany F, was mortally wounded. Our regiment held this po-
sition with little change, although engaged part of the time
with Aimes' Brigade of infantry, until 2 p. m. During the
engagement General W. H. F. Lee, with several of his staff,
were standing in a few feet of a large hickory tree a few steps
to the right of one of Lieutenant Johnson's guns, when a
shell struck the tree and threw pieces of it over them. A fair
representation of "Company Q," (Quartermaster and his
cubs) had assembled on the high ground about half a mile in
owv rear to see the fighting. A well directed shot in their
direction caused them to seek less conspicuous places for ob-
servation. About 2 p. m. General Lee withdrew his brigade
to the right to form connection with Jones and Hampton.
The Nineteenth North Carolina (Second Cavalry) being on
the right was placed on the plain which extends to the rail^
road and in full view of Fleetwood, General Stuart's head-
quarters. The Tenth Virginia was next to us and at foot of
the hills, the Ninth and Thirteenth Virginia were next to the
enemy. The brigade held the enemy in check until moved to
near the Orange and Alexandria Eailroad at Fleetwood, on
account of the advance tlie enemy, which had crossed
at the Eappahannock bridge and Kelley's Ford, had
made. Generals Pleasanton and Buford had united their
forces, which had crossed the Eappahannock at the dif-
ferent fords, and now Avith combined forces, attacked
the brigade on the left and were driving the troops in that por-
tion of the field in some disorder, capturing some of the dis-
mounted men and threatening the horse artillery.

About 3 or 3 :30 o'clock the shouts on the left told us that a
brisk engagement was proceeding! Shortly afterwards Col-
onel Williams came at full speed towards the regiment, pass-
ing the Tenth Virginia. I suppose he gave the command, as
they immediately formed by squadron and started at a gal-
lop. As soon as he was near enough to our regiment he gave

92 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

command, "Form column by squadron," and placing second
squadron in front, gave the command "Gallop ; march." As
we rose the hill we saw the enemy driving the Ninth and
Thirteenth Virginia in considerable confusion before them,
in our direction. The Tenth Virginia, when it reached a
position that it could fire on the enemy without firing into the
Ninth and Thirteenth, halted and opened fire. Colonel Wil-
liams gave the command to his regiment "Right oblique,"
and as soon as we had cleared the Tenth Virginia, turning in
his saddle shouted: "Forward; draw sabre; charge." The
regiment raised the yell as it went by our stationary and re-
tiring companions and the scene was immediately changed.
The Federals were the fleers and the Confederates the pur-
suers. Our regiment drove the enemy about half a mile back
upon their reserves of cavalry and infantry, who were posted
on a hill, while our advance had reached an angle where two
stone walls came together on an opposite hill, about two hun-
dred yards distant. This, with a volley from the reserve,
checked the advance. The leading four were Colonel Wil-
liams, Sergeant Jordan, Company C ; private Asbell, Com-
pany K, and the writer.

DEATH of colonel SOL. WILLIAMS.

Asbell was felled from his horse with a wound through the
head almost immediately. Colonel Williams gathered his
horse to leap the wall, shouting : "Second North Carolina,
follow me." The writer called to him: "Colonel, we had
better get a line, they are too strong to take this way." He
replied : "That will be best ; where is the flag ?" and as we
turned, it was not flfty yards to our rear. He rode to meet
it ; halted it and was shouting to the men to fall in, when he
was shot throug'h the head, and died immediately, his body
being carried from the fleld by his adjutant, John C, Pegram.

About this time the enemy enflladed us with a piece of ar-
tillery, placed half a mile or more to our right, towards the
river, and down the gorge, at whose head we had formed. This
caused the regiment to give back a hundred yards or so, keep-
ing its formation. The Federals charged us, we fired into

Nineteenth Regiment. 93

them, and they retired and made no further demonstration.
In the charge, we relieved a great many of our dismounted
knen, who had fallen into the hands of the enemy, and also
a gun of the horse artillery, which went rapidly to the rear, as
we relieved it of its danger of capture. Any information
General Pleasanton got of General Lee's movements, must
have been given him by General Gregg, for Buford never
pierced W. H. F. Lee's line without being immediately re-
pulsed, and the brunt of this work, both on foot and mounted,
was done by the ISTineteenth North Carolina (Second Cav-
alry), and so acknowledged at the time. Lieutenant P. A.
Tatum, Company F. (Greensboro, N. G.) who had a disa-
greement with Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Payne, Fourth Vir-
ginia Cavalry, who was temporarily in command of the regi-
ment a short time before, and had been placed under arrest,
went into the charge without arms or spurs, and was wounded
while most gallantly leading his men. The regiment lost 35.

Colonel Williams had been married but two weeks before
to Miss Maggie, daughter of Captain Pegram, of the Confed-
erate Navy, and had returned to camp on Saturday. He
was beloved by his men ; as brave and true a man as was in
that army, yet with a gentle, affectionate disposition, almost
equal to a woman's. Indulgent to his men in camp almost to
a fault, yet, when duty called and occasion required, he
proved himself a leader worthy of their admiration. I have
given this account of the battle of 9 June, 1863, somewhat in
full that Colonel Williams and his regiment might receive
some of the credit to which they are entitled.

Captain Strange, of Company D, Fayetteville, JST. C, who
was in command after Colonel Williams' death, I know pre-
pared a report of the part taken by the regiment and submit-
ted it to the officers before forwarding it to headquarters. In
"The Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies"
the Nineteenth N^orth Carolina (Second Cavalry) is hardly
mentioned in the official reports of this battle. General Stu-
art says in his report of Colonel Williams : "He was as brave
as he was efficient." The reports for the Nineteenth North
Carolina Cavalry are nearly all wanting, and a loss of only
five is reported, when the loss in my own command was three

94 North Carolina Troops, ]861-'65.

times that. The brigade ordnance officer, Captain B. B.
Turner (Official Kecord, Vol. 11, part II, page 720) says of
captured arms that "Eeports are all in except the Second
JSTorth Carolina Cavalry, which is on picket ; none of the other
regiments captured any." Consequently whatever prisoners,
whether wounded or not, that fell into the hands of W. H. F.
Lee's Brigade must have come to our regiment and been its
work.

Major H. B. McClellan has published a book entitled "The
Campaigns of Stuart's Cavalry." In this he is very unfair to
the JSTineteenth North Carolina at Brandy Station. He dis-
misses it with a statement that Colonel Williams requested
permission to go into the charge — went in on the
right of the Ninth Virginia, was shot through the
head and instantly killed. In making up his narra-
tive, he says - he got Colonel Beale, of the Ninth Vir-
ginia, to give him an account of the fight, who informs him
when he reformed his regiment, and rode forward to recon-
noiter, to his surprise he found the enemy moving buck to the
river. Not one word about the Nineteenth North Carolina,
or how he got an opportunity to reform his regiment. Major
McClellan does not seem to have considered it necessary to
consult any member of the North Carolina regiment as to
the action.

On that day W. H. F. Lee's Brigade received no assist-
ance, although Robertson's Cavalry and a portion of Iverson's
Infantry Brigade came upon the field; they fired
no gun, and saw no enemy. After sunset we rode
to a clover field near by, dismounted, and held our
horses "to graze" until half past nine o'clock, when
we marched to Fox's Spring, and as the sun rose next
morning the writer dismounted, having placed pickets on the
river. The regiment thought this very unjust, as it had
borne the burden of the fight during the day, but Colonel
Chambliss, of the Thirteenth Virginia Cavalry, was in com-
mand of the brigade, and continued through the campaign,
and I do not suppose there is a member of the Nineteenth
( Second Cavalry) North Carolina that has a single pleasant
recollection of his treatment of it during his command. He

Nineteenth Regiment. 95

was promoted to Brigadier, and fell at the head of his brigade
m 1864. His bravery was never questioned, and was dis-
played on many occasions. It is to be regretted he did not
add to this, impartiality of treatment to the regiments under
his com'mand in the Gettysburg campaign. As the regiment
formed "platoons" on reaching the Beverly Ford road, on
the morning of the 9th, my negro servant, Edmund, formed
the officers' servants and colored cooks in line immediately in
the rear of the regiment and flourishing an old sabre over
his head, took command of them. As we galloped down the
road he was shouting to them : "I want no running. Every
man must do his duty, and stand up to the rack," etc., etc.
When the shell cut off the tree, as we came in view of the en-
emy, he and his sable warriors disappeared in every direction
except the front, and we did not see them for three days.

That night, 9 June, the regiment, although it had done
most of -the fighting for the brigade during the day, was
marched to Fox's Springs to do picket duty, and just as the
sun rose on the morning of the 10th the pickets took position.
The Company was not together again until we returned to
camp on the 14th. At "roll call" I spoke to the men of my
pride in their action in the battle, mentioning those who had
especially come under my observation but that all had done
well and that when rallied in the face of the enemy none had
been missing but the dead and wounded. As the command
"break ranks" was given the band at Head Quarters struck
up the "Old North State." Such cheering, jumping, etc., I
have seldom witnessed. The mind of each went back over
the hills and valleys to the home in the old State he loved and
for which he would willingly die.

Lieutenant-Colonel Paine was assigned to command the
regiment. On 16 June we broke camp for the "Get-
tysburg campaign," first engaged in the movement in Lou-
don and Fauquier counties to cover General Ewell's advance
against Winchester. As there was little horse feed in this
county, the men held their horses by the bridle rein while
the animals grazed on the clover and orchard grass. This
was done until we crossed the Potomac, on 28 June. We
moved via Warrenton and Salem to Middleburg, when

96 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

we struck the enemy on the 18th. Then there was fighting
every clay, and sometimes nearly all day, for a week or more,
in the vicinity of Middleburg, Upperville, Goose Creek,
Union and Paris. The most severe fighting was near Upper-
ville, on 21 June. The enemy, besides cavalry, had Bar-
ry's division of infantry. These were placed behind the
stone walls with which this country was fenced. Except a
portion of the Tenth Virginia Kegiment, under Major W. B.
Clement, none of the brigade, nor of Jones' brigade, drawn
up in sight in our rear a mile or so, gave the Nineteenth North
Carolina any assistance. It was driven from the field with
a loss of over half of the men it took into action, either killed
or wounded. Captain W. P. Roberts, Company C, rallied a
portion of the regiment and enabled Breathed's Battery,
which had served most gallantly during the fight, to "limber
up" and get out ; otherwise it would have been captured.

Lieutenant Cole, Company I, was killed; Lieutenant
Bryan, Company G, was wounded and captured. Lieutenant
Holden, Company F, had his arm broken, but, calling one of
his men to make him a sling of his handkerchief and place his
arm in it, continued in the fight. Corporal Stephen 0. Terry,
Company K, was the last man to leave the field, and emptied
the five barrels of his Colt's rifie almost alone into the face of
the advancing enemy. I do not believe there was an engage-
ment during the war in which a body of troops was more for-
saken by comrades than the "Second Horse" was on that
occasion. General Ewell, having captured Winchester,
General Stuart "scouted" towards the Potomac to see
that no enemy was left in the rear when he crossed the river.
He found General Hancock, with Meade's wagon train, on
the plains of Manassas, but was not able to deprive him of
any of it, save one cannon and an ambulance. On 27
June the regiment moved via Fairfax Court House and
Dranesville to near Leesburg. After placing pickets, about
sunset, almost in sight of Hancock's rear guard, it retreated
several miles, and then, going through a pine thicket by an-
other road, found itself about 10 o'clock p. m. on the bank
of the Potomac, near Seneca Falls. It forded the river, here
three-fourths of a mile wide, with water half way up the sad-

Nineteenth Regiment. 97

die skirts. The fording was done in single file. On Sunday
(28th) we moved out near the turnpike from Washington to
Frederick City. About 2 p. m. we captured 172 of a train of
175 wagons, with six mules to each wagon, chasing them
through Rockville to within seven miles of Washington City.
The capture of this train, perhaps, caused the failure of vic-
tory at Gettysburg, or perhaps the battle at that point. To
preserve it hampered and delayed General Stuart's move-
ments and left General Lee without the cavalry to locate Gen-
eral Meade's forces. We moved by way of Westminster, Md.,
where we found abundance of rations for man and beast. Af-
ter filling body and haversack, the depot was burned. On
the morning of the 30th we passed through Papertown, Va.,
where a large quantity of paper was loaded into some of
the wagons, and reached Hanover about 10 o'clock. Here
General Stuart struck Meade's army. He attempted to cut
his way through. Our brigade was in front. The leading
regiment, after a short advance, retired in confusion. The
Nineteenth JSTorth Carolina was then sent forward, and open-
ed its way into the lines of the eaemj, cutting off a large
force; but not being supported, they immediately closed in
their rear. General Stuart sent no reinforcements to them,
perhaps concluding the task too much for him, and left the
regiment to its own defense. Hardly thirty men escaped being
killed or captured. Most of these came out on foot through
gardens or enclosures which offered protection. Here again
the Nineteenth North Carolina were the actors, its comrades
the audience.

iVfter passing Papertown details were made from each regi-
ment to impress horses from the citizens. Captain Graham
had charge of the detail from the Nineteenth North Carolina.
Gathering what horses he could from the plows, wagons and
stables in his route, and narrowly escaping capture, he re-
joined the command after the fight at Hanover. Hanover is
seventeen miles from Gettysburg. General Stuart was forced
to make the circuit with his wagons via Carlisle — where he
burned the United States barracks — to Getttysburg. We
7

'98 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

reached General Lee's lines about sunset on Thursday, 2 July.
The service on this raid .was very severe. There being
only three brigades, it required fighting two out of three
days — the first in advance, the next in rear, and to march
with the wagons on the third. One hour for rest at 9 a. m.
and one at 9 p. m. was all the intermission allowed.

On the morning of 3 July, gathering up the fragments
left from Hanover and what was available from the wagon
train. Captain Graham, as officer commanding, had a force
of forty men. That afternoon, while supporting a section of
Breathed's Battery, he was wounded. His command took
part in the charge which occurred soon after and assisted in
cutting off and capturing a squad of the enemy. The com-
mand of the regiment devolved upon Lieutenant Jos. Baker,
Company D.

I desire to acknowledge my indebtedness to Captain S. N.
Buxton, Company H, Jackson, N. C, for the account of the
fight at Hanover, Pa., and to Sergeant W. A. Curtis, Com-
pany A, for the account of the ten companies while the sec-
ond squadron was detached.

W. A. Geaham.,
Captain Company K.
Machpelah, N. C,
9 April, 1901.

NINETEENTH EEGIMENT.

1. W. P. Eoberts, Colonel. 3. E. W. Allison, Captain, Co B.

2. S. N. Buxton, Captain, Co. H. 4. P. A. Tatum, Captain, Co. P.

5. JuniuB A. Bridges, 23 Lieut., Co. H.

ADDITIONAL SKETCH NINETEENTH
REGIMENT.

(second cavalky. )

By general WILLIAM P. ROBERTS.

As stated by Major Graham .in his foregoing history of the
regiment up to Gettysburg, it lost heavily at Hanover, Penn.,
and upon its return' to Virginia it vfas a mere shadov? of its
former self and an effort was made to reorganize it, but there
was not much left to reorganize.

However, Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Gordon, of the Ninth
Eegiment (First Cavalry) was made Colonel, but in a short
time thereafter he was transferred to hisformer regiment as
Colonel. when-its gallant Colonel, L. S. Baker, was made Brig-
adier-General.

In August, 1863, 1 was commissioned Captain of Company
C, vice Captain J. M. Wynns, who had resigned and returned
to North Cajrolina to raise a battalion of cavalry. After the
transfer of Colonel Gordon, Major C. M. Andrews, late Cap-
tain Company B, became Colonel and commanded the regi-
ment till June, 1864.

During the remainder of the campaign of 1863, at Jack
Shops and Brandy Station, in the Bristoe campaign, at War-
renton. Mine Run and other places, and until its close, the
gallant little regiment was always in readiness and took its
place in front whenever called upon to do so.

During the winter of 1863-'64, it did its full share of
picket duty on the Rapidan river, and with other detachments
of the brigade levelled many breastworks thrown up by Gen-
eral Meade when he crossed that river in November. Also,
during the winter the regiment was greatly augmented in
strength and discipline, so that when the campaign of 1864
opened, it was in fair condition, although numerically much
smaller than any other regiment of the brigade, because of

100 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

its great losses at Hanover, before mentioned, both in prison-
ers and killed.

Let me state just here that the regiment never entirely re-
covered from the blow it received at Hanover. Some of its
officers and men were exchanged only a few days before the
advance of General Grant in March, 1865 ; hence its losses
were smaller than those of the other regiments of the brigade
as reported at the time ; but I am sure that the loss of the
Nineteenth was as great, if not greater, than that of any other
regiment, if numbers are to be considered.

But to return. In the night attack made by a part of the
brigade under the command of Colonel W. H. Cheek, of the
Ninth North Carolina (First Cavalry) in March, the Ninie-
teenth was part of the attacking column, and did its duty. I
remember that it was here that Dr. Thomas E. Williams, of
Clarke County, Virginia, and Surgeon of the Nineteenth
Regiment, mistook Colonel Dalghren, a Union soldier, for the
writer and had qiiite a conference with him before he found
out his mistake.

I was commissioned Major of the regiment in March, 1864,
and in May began the Wilderness campaign of General Grant.

General Sheridan's "On to Richmond" soon followed with
12,000 horse and horse artillery in abundance, and certainly
everything looked badly for Richmond, as I thought. But
our incomparable leader. General Jeb Stuart, at once fol-
lowed him, and though he lost his great life in the pursuit, yet
it was his genius and quickness of movement that saved Rich-
mond on this occasion.

Among the pursuing columns was that of General J. B.
Gordon, commanding the North Carolina Brigade, and I beg
to state here that the South furnished no grander or more
glorious soldier to the cause of Southern Liberty. Gordon
was a great favorite of Stuart's ; and when at last Stuart was
sorely pressed and his squadrons broken, just before his
death, his last words were: "Would to God, Gordon were
here." And Gordon, too, received his death wound the day
after his beloved chief fell.

In the pursuit of Sheridan, the Nineteenth bore a conspicu-
ous part, and was more than once complimented on the field

Nineteenth Regiment. 101

by General Gordon. Its losses, too, were heavy, and among the
killed was the gallant Adjutant of the regiment, Lieutenant
Worth, of Randolph County, who lost his life at the head of
the regiment while charging a battery well posted and heavily
protected. The battery was not captured for reasons that
need not be explained here, but all the same the regiment cov-
ered itself with imperishable glory, as General Gordon after-
wards stated to me.

The regiment was engaged at Todd's Tavern, White Hall,
Hanover Court House and at Hawes' Shop, and at the last
place it did splendid service. Upon the latter occasion it was
in front and made several charges ; I was there disabled by a
wound in the head, but did not leave the field. The loss of the
regiment was inconsiderable, but it was here that Lieutenant
Joseph Baker, of Company D, was either killed or captured,
and his fate was never afterwards ascertained.

In the engagement near Hanover Court House in May,
there occurred one of those unfortunate stampedes which are
always inexplicable ; but at the time the brigade was a mere
handful, most of it having gone with General Fitz. Lee to at-
tack a negro stronghold on the James river. By accident I
was in comlmand of the regiment when the stampede occurred
and in the midst of it, when the best officers and men seemed
to be demoralized, the Color Sergeant of the regiment, Pri-
vate Ramsey, of Company B, brought his flag to me, as I
had ordered him to do when he could not rally his men around
it, and, offering it to me, said: "Major, will you stand by
the flag?" Everything was then in a perfect rout, myself
with the rest, and I replied : "Ramsey, d — n the flag ; I don't
want it ;" but he insisted upon giving me the flag, and said he
was only obeying orders from me, often repeated.

His brave words inspired a few, and th« rally was sounded
and what a moment before seeimed ignominious flight and the
capture of our entire force, turned out to be victory for us in
the end. Around the flag a few of us turned and met our
pursuers, and most of them were captured before they reached
the Pamunkey river. God bless the brave boy ! I have not
heard from him since the close of the war, but he was a gallant

102 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

soldier upon every field, and carried the flag bravely until it
and all others went down under "overwhelming numbers and
resources" at Appomattox.

The regiment did its full duty at the Davis farm in June,
and it lost some men, too, but at Black's and White's, on the
Southside Eailroad a few days after, it eclipsed its record.
At this place I had command of the regiment, because of the
sickness of Colonel C. M. Andrews, who insisted that I should
lead it into action. However, later in the day, Andrews at-
tempted to rejoin the head of his regiment, but in the at-
teimpt, was wounded in the thigh and died from the effects of
amputation.

This was one of the most satisfactory engagements that
I witnessed during the war, and the old Second sustained
its reputation quite manfully. It was ordered to the front
early in the action, in advance of any other regiment of the
division, and although pressed hard until darkness closed the
scene, it held its own against great odds, and even after dark
many prisoners were captured by it. Upon this occasion it
was the great right bower of the gallant Ninth North Car-
olina (First Cavalry) commanded and led by that thrice
gallant and dashing soldier, Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. H.
Cowles, and its vigorous attack upon the enemy's flank
made sure the saving of our guns which were in great
danger of capture. There was stubborn flghting and
much individual gallantry shown by some of my men
during the day, and I remember that Sergeant Nicholas Har-
rell, of Company C, a perfectly reliable man, informed me at
the close of the engagement, that during the day he had placed
hors de combat no less than six of the enemy. The bri-
gade commander did not witness the action of this regiment,
nor did I receive an order from him during the day, but he
got possessed with an idea somehow, or other, that the N inth
alone was entitled to all praise, and published an order to that
effect so soon as the brigade returned to camp. I declined to
have the order read to my men on dress parade, and there was
friction between the brigade commander and myself, but I
carried my point in the end. I did not object to his congrat-

Nineteenth Regiment. 103

ulating the ISTinth upon its splendid behavior, but I did ob-
ject to his partiality.

After the death of Colonel C. M. Andrews, I was commis-
sioned Colonel of the regiment about the 1st of August, I
think, and soon after followed the battle of Reams Station,
brought on by a movement of the Federals to capture and
hold the Weldon and Petersburg Railroad, on 25 August.
The bearing of the' Nineteenth there. furnished an inspiration
to the whole cavalry command, but the division commander in
his report only refers to the division generally. The fact is,
the great brunt of the battle, so far as the cavalry participa-
ted, was borne by the Nineteenth N^orth Carolina and the
Tenth Virginia, and these two regiments, unsupported, car-
ried the last of the entrenchments held by the enemy. It was
just at dark, I remember, and I never witnessed a more splen-
did charge. Our losses were small, but our captures were great,
and the old Second Cavalry did splendid work. The command
captured twice as many prisoners as it had men engaged,
and the next morning's Richmond papers gave full credit to
its splendid and heroic service.

That superb soldier and our chief. General Wade
Hampton, congratulated me vipon the field and subsequently
in his official report upon the battle, referred especially to the
conspicuous gallantry of my regiment.

At McDowell's farm, on 25 September, the Nineteenth
took the lead, and captured one officer, a Major, I think,
and some prisoners. My loss in men was light, but it was
here that the brave Captain J. N. Turner, of Company B,
was killed, and his death was a great personal bereavement
to me. He and I had served as Second Lieutenants together,
and our relations were very cordial and warm, but there was
unpleasantness between him and his captain, and he asked to
be transferred to the Engineer Corps, which was done. After
I became Colonel of the regiment, he asked me to have him
sent back to it, and I remember how happy he was when he
returned. He would come to my quarters every night and
talk over the war memories of the past. He was commis-
sioned Captain of his old Company B, but, poor fellow, his
happiness was short-lived. A few days thereafter he was

104 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

shot through the head near me, in this McDowell farm fight,
his sword in one hand and his hat in the other, cheering on
his men. Poor, dear Turner, there was no better man or
more splendid soldier.

In all the marching and countermarching from the South
to the JSTorth side of James river, the Nineteenth was always
in place and participated in every engagement at Jones'
farm, Gravelly Eun, Hargroves, Boisseau's farm and other
places.

In one of these engagements, near the White Oak Swamp,
on the north side of the James river, and where the gallant
General J. R. Chambliss, of Virginia, lost his life, the regi-
ment had a close call. The division of General W. H. F.
Lee was hurried to the front in columns of fours, the Nine-
teenth being the last of the division. Suddenly I saw the regi-
ments to my front bear to the right, and immediately thereaf-
ter came an order from General Lee, borne by Major John
Lee, of his staff, for the Nineteenth to hurry to the front. The
command "trot," "gallop," was given, and in a short while I
reported to the Major-General. My orders were to relieve the
regiment to my front, the Ninth Virginia, I think it was, and
he further said to me: "Roberts, you know what to do, but
the line must be held."

The entire division was soon withdrawn by some miscar-
riage of orders, as I afterwards learned, and it was not very
long before the enemy advanced in great numbers upon my lit- ■
tie command, but it stood up against this onslaught as only
brave men can. At one time the regiment was practically
surrounded, and its annihilation seemed complete, but in the
very nick of time up dashed the Ninth North Carolina, led
by the gallant Colonel W. H. Cheek, who finally responded to
my wishes and put his regiment where I suggested it should
be put, and by his action I was enabled to extricate my men.
But our loss was enormous ; more than thirty ofiicers and men
killed in a few minutes. Captain L. R. Cowper, of Company
C, and Captain George P. Bryan, of Company G, were
among the killed. They were both brave ofiicers and splendid
soldiers, and their loss was a sad blow to the regiment. Cap-
tain Cowper and I had left home together — ^had been non-

Nineteenth Regiment. 105

commissioned officers together, and he was my personal
friend ; always jolly and in splendid humor, and ever b^ging
me to take care of myself if I wished to live ; but always in-
sisting that no Yankee bullet had ever been molded to carry
off "Old Cowp," as he called himself, to the "undiscovered
country from whose bourne no traveller returns." They were
both brave and gallant men, and died like soldiers with their
faces to the foe.

At Wilson's farm, on the Boydton plank road, on 27 Octo-
ber, 1864, the Nineteenth Regiment was again conspicuous
for gallantry, and bore its full share of the fight, as it had
done at Reams, McDowell's Farm, White Oak Swamp, and
other places.

In-the great cattle raid in September, 1864, the Nineteenth
(Second Cavalry) was a part of the command of Gen-
eral Hampton commanding the expedition, and after
the herd of cattle, 2,700, had been captured and driven
from the corral, I received orders from him in per-
son to bring up the rear. The regiment remained in
the vicinity of where the cattle were captured for nearly an
hour after the entire command had been withdrawn, and I at
once, busied myself in making the necessary disposition of the
regiment to protect our rear. Very soon the Federal cav-
alry began to press me and there were a number of mounted
charges given and received during the day, b\it I was hardly
pressed and was glad when night came to end the pursuit.
The day's work was a hard one ; none more so that I remem-
ber, but I managed to keep my command so well in hand that
I lost only one or two men, I think, before reaching Belcher's
mills.

The JSTineteenth was at Bellfield on 8 December when
the Federals under General Warren attempted once more to
secure the Weldon and Petersburg Railroad, and when the
rear of Warren's Corps was struck, a squadron of the Nine-
teenth commanded by Captain A. F. Harrell, made a splendid
charge and captured some prisoners.

Soon thereafter the regiment went into winter quarters
near Bellfield, where it was fairly comfortable during the
winter, being called out occasionally. During this interval

106 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

of partial rest I addressed myself to discipline, and there was
drill and dismounted dress parade every day; but tlie men
were wearing out, or rather the regiment was, from its great
work during the previous campaigns, and not much head-
way was made in filling up our greatly depleted ranks. Yet
the men were cheerful and apparently happy, and most of
them enjoyed the winter in their comfortable quarters near
Bellfield.

On 21 February, 1865, I received my commission
as a Brigadier-General, and was assigned to the command of
Dearing's Brigade, he having been transferred to the brigade
of General Eosser.

The bearing of both officers and men for the most part
while I commanded the JSTineteenth was all I could wish, and
there was much individual gallantry displayed by both, but
time has blunted my memory and I regret that I cannot recall
the names of all whom I would be glad to mention in this
sketch, written from memory, after the passage of more than
thirty years.

Let me say that in the beginning the regiment did not have
the same thorough military training that the First Cavalry
(Ninth ISTorth Carolina) had, as well as other regiments
commanded by old army officers. Its first commander,
though a splendid and courteous gentleman, and a brave
man, was made Colonel for political reasons, and this
made a great difference. It went to meet the enemy, too,
poorly armed and equipped. But I am glad to bear tes-
timony to the fact that in the campaigns from 1863
to 1865, it was equipped almost entirely by captures from
the enemy, including bridles and saddles, carbines, pistols,
swords, canteens, blankets, and every article necessary to a
thorough equipment of a trooper.

I believe that the regiment was equal to the best in either
the brigade, division or corps, and it never failed to respond
with cheerfulness to any command of mine. There was an
enthusiastic response to every order of attack — but few lag-
gards— and the bearing of the regiment on every occasion
elicited praise from those high in authority. I remem-
ber once that that courteous gentleman and splendid soldier,

Nineteenth Regiment. 107

General W. H. F. Lee, the division commander, said to me :
"Roberts, I think my division equal, if not superior, to any
division in the army, but let me tell you that I think I am
growing a little partial to your regiment, because I feel more
secure and my sleep is less disturbed vrhen the gallant 'Two
Horse' is in my front."

These were his exact words, and it was the most splendid
compliment ever paid the regiment. I felt especially compli-
mented when I remembered that there were in the division
the gallant Ninth North Carolina, the brave Ninth Virginia,
and other regiments of equal merit, all North Carolinians and
Virginians.

After my promotion to Brigadier-General that gallant sol-
dier, Captain James L. Gaines, Assistant Adjutant General
of the brigade, was commissioned Colonel, and he rode at its
head during all the trying times around Five Forks until he
fell dangerously wounded, losing an arm at Chamberlain's
Run, on 31 March. Under his leadership the regi-
ment added if possible another star to its already perfect
wreath. After Gaines was wounded the regiment was com-
manded by Captain J. P. Lockhart, a gallant officer, formerly
of my old squadron, Company K. Lockhart, I am told,' led
it through all the engagements following Chamberlain's Run,
and under his command the regiment lost none of its prestige
for gallantry and devotion to duty.

I distinctly remember that after the battle of Chamber-
lain's Run, I passed the regiment on the road, and its great
loss both in splendid officers and gallant men made such an
impression upon me that I wept like a child. Its losses had
been so many that I scarcely recognized it. Under Lockhart, it
kept up its organization until the capture and dispersal of
General Barringer's Brigade, 3 April. Then what was left of
it, with some scattering remnants of the other regiments of
the brigade, reported to me by orders from General Lee, and
became a part of my brigade until the surrender at Appomat-
tox.

108 NoKTH Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

APPENDIX.

My brigade was made up of tlie Fifty-ninth JSTortli Caro-
lina (Fourth Cavalry), the Sixteenth North Carolina battal-
ion of Cavalry, the Eighth Regiment of Georgia Cavalry, a
part of the last named regiment being on detached service.

The Staff Officers assigned to me were as follows :

Captaijst Theodoeb S. Gabnett, of Virginia, Assistant
Adjutant-General.

Captaii^ Wm. C. CouGHEH"0"nE, of I^orth Carolina, Inspec-
tor-General.

Lieutenant Jas. E. Webb, of Alabama, Ordnance Officer.

Lieutenant W. P. Hoi.combe, of Virginia, Aide-de-
Camp.

When I assumed command of the brigade it was
greatly wanting in organization and discipline, but its
material was equal to any brigade in both officers and
men, and it behaved with exceptional gallantry from
the time our lines were broken at Petersburg until
we finally surrendered at Appomattox; especially at
Wamozine Creek, on 3 April, a part of it stood as
firmly as the immortal 300 at Thermopylse, their bearing
and splendid courage stemming the tide of a great stampede
and saving a part of our cavalry from an ignominious flight.
In fact, the little brigade did more than its share from the
White Oak road to Appomattox, and on the morning of the
surrender it was ordered to the front on the right of our lines.
It faithfully and bravely responded to the last call, and with
the remnant of the Nineteenth ISTorth Carolina, took the last
guns captured by the Army of Northern Virginia, and I am
sure they fired the last shots as well.

Immediately after the capture of the guns — four Napole-
ons— the brigade was withdrawn from the field by order of
General Fitzhugh Lee, commanding the cavalry, disbanded
and directed by him to return to their homes if they could,
and I remember that he said that the army had surrendered.

I remember further that I saw a white flag borne down the

Nineteenth Regiment. 109

lines, and I am sure that after that there was no more firing
from either cannon or small arms.

I desire to add that I had an efficient and faithful staff.
Lieutenant Holcomb was disabled on the White Oak road
near Petersburg about the time our lines were broken. The
gallant Lieutenant Webb, ever watchful and faithful, re-
mained with his ordnance train to the last, and Captain
Coughenour, whose courage was ever conspicuous, was dan-
gerously wounded near me not far from Jetersville, Va., and
while delivering to me a message. My Assistant Adjutant-
General, Captain Theodore S. GarnetL was ever by my side,
brave to a fault, faithful and loyal, and he was with me to
the last ; and although a mere boy, his wise counsel and steady
nerve rendered me valuable service always.

W. P. ROBEETS.
ViCTOEIA, B. C,

31 March, 1897.

TWENTIETH REGIMENT.

1. T. P. Toon, Colonel. 3. John S. Brooks, Lieut.-Colonel.

3. Nelson Slough, Lieut.-Colonel. 4. P. A. Smith, Captain, Co. A.

B. C. B. Denson, Captain. Co. E.

TWENTIETH REGinEfiT.

By brigadier-general THOMAS F. TOON.

I cannot write a history of the Twentieth North Carolina
Regiment — initiated at Seven Pines, sacrificed at Gettys-
burg, surrendered at Appomattox — epochs too widely sun-
dered to be bridged over by consecutive history. I can not
record all the great sacrifices made, suffering and privation
borne with unflinching heroism, heroic achievements, bloody
victories, and grand triumphs — instances of individual dar-
ing and unswerving fidelity to duty — after a lapse of thirty-
six years, when so many noble hearts of the Twentieth Regi-
ment have passed to that shore where wars cease, and no his-
tory can invade the ever blissful present. So many too anx-
ious to forget the fitful shadows of that dreata, "too bright to
last," have sealed their lips and refused to speak How can
even a sketch be made ?

I will not attetoipt to make a display of imaginary history,
embellished by thirty-odd years of afterthought, or supply the
deficiencies of facts or memory by substituting circum-
stances which are more pleasing than actual.

Such facts as I can collect I desire to arrange in some order
consistent with happenings. I cannot do justice to a single
brave soldier of the regiment, and can only recollect the
smallest part of that which ought to be written of the noble
Twentieth JSTorth Carolina.

The Twentieth North Carolina Regiment comprised com-
panies from the counties of Brunswick, Columbus, Cabarrus,
Duplin and Sampson, stationed at Smithville and Fort Cas-
well, as follows :

Captain Jno. S. BeookS;, Brunswick Guards.
Captain J. B. Stanley^ Columbus Guards ISTo. 1.

112 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Captaijst William H. Toon^ Coluiabus Guards ISTo. 2.
Captain B. Smith^ Columbus Guards No. 3.
Captain Nelson Slough^ (a veteran of the Mexican war)
Cabarrus Guards.

Captain J. B. Atwell^ Cabarrus Black Boys.
Captain C. B. Denson, Duplin Greys.
Captain Uz. Cox, Sampson N"o. 1.
Captain C. L. Chesnut^ Sampson N"o. 2.
Captain Alex. Faison^ Sampson N^o. 3.

18 June, 1861, the organization of the regiment took place
by the election of: Colonel, Alfred Iverson, of Georgia, Post
Commandant; Lieutenant Colonel, Frank Faison, of Samp-
son County, N. C. ; Major, W. H. Toon, of Columbus Coun-
ty, N. C. ; Adjutant, R. P. James, of Duplin County, IST. C. ;
Captain Quartermaster, K. S. Harris, of Cabarrus County,
promoted from Company B ; Captain Commissary, Charles
McDonald, of Company B ; Surgeon, Dr. J. A. Bizzel, of
Sampson County; Assistant Surgeons, W. B. Meares, of
Wilmington, and J. D. Pureell, of Sampson County;
Chaplains, Kev. J. A. Sprunt, of Sampson County, and Rev.
L. A. Bickle, of Cabarrus County; Sergeant Major, D. J.
Broadhurst, of Duplin County.

The following were the promotions and changes and the
Field and Staff officers of the regiment : Colonel Alfred Iver-
son, wounded at Cold Harbor, promoted to Brigadier-General
in 1863 ; Colonel Thomas F. Toon, wounded at Cold Harbor,
Chancellorsville, Spottsylvania and Petersburg, promoted to
Colonel from Captain of Company K, in 1863, and to Briga-
dier-General in 1864 ; Lieutenant-Colonel Franklin J. Faison,
killed at Cold Harbor 27 May, 1862 ; Lieutenant-Colonel Wm.
H. Toon, resigned December, 1862 ; Lieutenant-Colonel Nel-
son Slough, resigned 26 February, 1863; Major N^elson
Slough, promoted from Captain of Company A ; Major Jno.
S. Brooks, promoted from Captain of Company G, 26 Febru-
ary, 1863, killed at Spottsylvania 12 May, 1864 ; Major D. J.
DeYane, promoted from Captain of Company I; Adjutant
J. F. Ireland promoted to Captain Company D; Adjutant
Ed. S. Moore transferred from Forty-first North Carolina

Twentieth Regiment. 113

(Third Cavalry) ; Sergeant Major, Thos. W. Broadliurst,
Company E ; Quartermaster Sergeant, Jas. H. Benton, Com-
pany H ; Orderly to Colonel, Jerry M. Kistler, Company C,
and Benjamin M. Duncan, Company K.

The Regimental Band was composed as follows : Charles
Heebner (leader), D. R. Coleman, Henry Giddens, Jesse W.
Lane, Lewis D. Giddens, John B. Lane, Amos A. Campbell,
Thomas Stevenson, Marcus Bradley and James C. Benson —
from the counties of Cabarrus, Sampson and Wayne. These
faithful men cheered our hearts and beguiled many a weary
hour, and were kind to many a wounded comrade. It was upon
the application of D. R. Coleman for a furlough that General
D. II. Hill endorsed ''shooters before tooters." During the
fall of 1862 the band played "Dixie" one evening at dress
parade. The Yankee band on the other side of the river re-
peated it. The band of the Twentieth played "Yankee Doo-
dle;" then both bands joined in "Home, Sweet Home." There
was many a moist eye when the music ceased.

The Roster of North Carolina Troops gives with some de-
gree of accuracy the changes in commissioned and non-com-
missioned officers of each company, and considerable infor-
mation relative to the killed and wounded, which I do not
deem necessary to insert here. It is a credit to Worth Caro-
lina, showing the laudable desire to perpetuate the names and
deeds of her brave sons, but it is, however, very inaccurate.

The regiment remained on duty at Smithville (now South-
port), Fort Caswell and Wilmington, detailed by companies
or as a whole, until June, 1862. The duties were neither
dangerous or burdensome, in fact the men of the regiment
became restless under their inaction and urged to be sent
where they could take part in the glorious triumphs which
made famous the Army of Virginia, for they, too, longed to
snatch from the shock of battle, the clash of resounding arms,
the sulphurous canopy and din of courageous conflict,
glimpses of the bright laurels the future historian would
weave around the ensanguined brow of those who for their
country "dare to do or die." Whether or not an expression of
this feeling had any effect in hurrying their departure from
the peaceful shores of ITorth Carolina I do not know. At any
8

114 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

rate we left ISTorth Carolina and arrived at Kichmond a few
days before the battle of Seven Pines, one thousand and
twelve strong, rank and file. Placed in Garland's Brigade,
camping on the Williamsburg road, on 31 May, on the left of
Williamsburg road, we were initiated into the realities of a
soldier's life.

Inspired by Rodes on our right and Anderson supporting
and protecting our left, the regiment entered into the fight
with spirit and unfiinching courage. The first man wounded
was Alonzo Williamson, Company K, the ball passing through
him and striking T. F. Toon, then Captain of Company K,
slightly wounding him. W. E. Williamson was also wounded.
During this fight D. H. Hill's Division did the greater part
of the fighting, he losing more than one-third of his effective
strength.

The scene around Mechanicsville 26 June, was not such as
is calculated to cheer raw troops, by any means — dead or
dying artillery horses, booming cannon, shot, shell burst-
ing, and some large white eyes, and occasionally some re-
quests : "Captain, if I am killed, you will find money in my
left-hand breeches pocket to send my body home," shovdng
an interesting realization of surrounding circumstances, but
no fear.

Gaines' Mill, 27 June, 1862, Corporal Kiah P. Harris,
Company A ; Alfred Litaker, Company B ; Corporal W. B.
Collins, Company D ; Corporal Caleb M. Spivey, Company
D, were killed. Sergeant J. Peterson, Company E; C. C.
Little, Company G, were wounded.

Cold Harbor, 28 June — Fought Sykes' regulars. Gar-
land occupied the left of our line, entered in good order and
style, charged and captured a battery twice — turned it upon
the enemy with telling effect.

I recall the names of Lieutenant-Colonel Prank J. Faison,
Captain Llenry C. Smith, Lieiitenant Arthur N. Jones, Cal-
vin Meares, Elisha BuUard, Elias Bullard and others. Com-
pany C ; Mc Shaw, Donnie Stephens, George S. Eeaves and
T. T. Melntire, killed. Captain John S. Brooks, Colonel
Iverson, Captain T. F. Toon and W. D. Cherry, wounded.

In the Century, Vol. II, "Battles and Leaders of the Civil

Twentieth Regiment. 115

War," General S. Garland accords to the Twentieth North
Carolina the honor of deciding the fate of the day hy this
charge mid capture. After the various conflicts mentioned
the regiment returned with the division to camp on the York
Biver Railroad below Richmond. Left there by General
Lee to watch the remaining force of McOlellan we joined the
army on the march against Pope as soon as those troops left
Westover. In July or August we left camp for the Army of
Northern Virginia and were engaged watching Porter and
holding his force in check while the battle of Manassas was
being fought.

On 14 September, 1862, was fought the battle of
South Mountain, or Boonsboro, which General Hill called
a battle of delusions. When ready to make disposition of his
small force to disp\ite the passage of the Union army at that
Thermopylae, he found Garland at the Mountain House. He
was directed to the summit of the mountain at Fox's Gap,
his force less than one thousand men. About 9 o'clock he en-
countered Cox's Division, about three times as many. In
this battle the Twentieth was unflinchingly suffering from
the deadly fire of a Union battery. Captain Atwell, of
Company B, with his skinmishers, killed the commanding
ofiicer of the battery, but were unable by reason of the char-
acter of the ground and the force opposed to them to secure
the guns. In this fight Captain Atwell, of Company B, was
killed. He was an intelligent, high-toned gentleman, an able
officer and brave soldier. General Garland's death renders
the place solemnly historic to our brigade. Captain L. T.
Hicks, of Company E, says the enemy came within fifteen
feet before the regiment retreated down the mountain, which
being so steep the enemy fired over our heads. A part of this
company, and several from other companies of the Twentieth,
were separated from the command, during which time their
rations were green corn from the cob. Captain Hicks, by
permission, attached this mixed crowd, of which he had as-
sumed command, to General Hays' troops, and they faithfully
did their duty as brave soldiers. A pet dog belonging to
Hays' men was crazed with the noise and confusion of bat-
tle. A cannon ball cut the top out of a large oak, which in

116 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

falling, imprisoned a skulker behind the tree. His cries for
help were answered by the dog. I never saw a poor man's
pants torn so badly since. He suffered more than he would
have had he gone into the fight. At the battle of Sharpsburg
17 Septetoiber, we were at the Bloody Lane which tells its
own story. Assisting our commanding general to do all
he set out to do, worn out with marching, fighting,
starving and suffering, we re-crossed the Potomac and
went into camp at Bunker Hill. Leaving Bunker Hill
30 October, arrived at Upperville 3 November, and
Front Royal 5 November; waded the Shenandoah at
night 6 November, heavy snow on the ground ; then operating
between the forks of the Shenandoah, guarding the passes in
direction of the enemy, and threatening General McClellan's
flank and rear

Tliose friends who so kindly cared for the sick Confederate
soldiers ought to be remembered wherever they were, but we
especially ought to thank Mr. G. W. Timberlake, near Win-
chester, for special service to members of my regiment. While
sick at his house and threatened with capture by an advanc-
ing enemy, he risked his own safety to pilot us through a
mountain road to our army. To her, that noble wife and
mother of that Christian household, to her sweet child and
daughter "Evelyn," a sick soldier's heart will ever turn with
warmest affection and gratitude. Florence Nightingale may
have more praise, but was never truer or more devoted than
were these fit representatives of the women of the
Valley. Leaving the Valley by route indicated above,
crossed Blue Eidge Mountain, probably at Brown's Gap,
and marched to Fredericksburg, thence to Port Royal
at Corbin's farm. We spent the Winter, or part of it,
resting, eating government rations and luxuries at sut-
ler's prices when we could afford it, with an occasional box
from loved ones at home, when that box could thread the in-
tricacies of transportation then in vogue, and escape the rav-
ages of hungry employes. On 12 December we began to-
cook two days' rations and have them in our haversacks to
move at a moment's warning. Hurrying from camp near
Port Royal we arrived during the night of 13 Decern-
cember in front of Fredericksburg. At Hamilton's Cross-

Twentieth Regiment. 117

ing our division was held in reserve. The first man woimded
here was W. H. Enzor, of Company 0., by a shell. My regi-
ment filled part of the space which was occasioned by Archer's
repulse. The regiment was commanded by Major Nelson
Slough. After months of careful preparation and upon a field
of his own selection, General Burnside was forced to acknowl-
edge Lee master of the situation. Lee in turn generously gave
the credit to his brave soldiers and the honor to God. Back
into Winter quarters again to rest as best we could. Cor-
bin's farm camp was the scene of some changes in our regi-
ment.

Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Toon resigned February, 1863.
Major !N^. Slough, Senior Captain Jno. S. Brooks and Captain
T. F. Toon, Company K, were ordered before a Board of Ex-
amination, composed of Colonel Christie, Lieutenant-Colonel
R. D. Johnston, of the Twenty-third, and Colonel T. M. Gar-
rett, of the Fifth. Major Slough and Captain Brooks waived
their rights to promotion and requested the board to recom-
mend Captain T. F. Toon for Colonel of the regiment. After
the examination was over, the appointment was accordingly
made. When this recommendation and appointment was en-
dorsed by the officers of the regiment, the office was accepted,
for it was held that the regiment had a right to elect their own
officers, notwithstanding the effort of the Brigadier-General
to have one of his own selection appointed. The advice and
firm support of General A. M. Scales and Colonel Bynum as
legal advisers are hereby acknowledged in behalf of the of-
ficers of the regiment. Camp duty, drill, picketing the Rap-
pahannock and an occasional general inspection, varied with
snow fights between companies and sometimes regiments, oc-
cupied the remaining Winter and early Spring days. On
Wednesday morning, 29 April, we moved from the camp
near Grace Church to Hamilton's Crossing.

We remained here until Friday morning, when we began
to move in the direction of Chaneellorsville ; had a skirmish
that day; on Saturday morning relieved General Ramseur's
Brigade, and in doing this came near marching in column
into the Yankee line, caused by thick woods. A volley of
small arms and canister from a gun caused us to change our

118 North Carolina Troops, 186I-'65.

course to the left. We remained in line until 10 o'clock ; then
followed the Catharpin road and overtook the division about
4 p. m. We immediately formed line for that charge which
made Rodes' Division the recipient of unqualified praise
from General Jackson, and our regiment favorably mentioned
by our Brigadier-General. We here occupied the extreme
left of our line on the left of and at right angles to the plank
road, with the Twenty-third North Carolina deployed and
marching by right flank protecting our left. J. J. Pounds,
Company G, asks that this incident be mentioned. He writes :
''I started when you took yo^ir cap in your hand, waving it
and calling on the men to follow you, led the charge. My
gun got out of order and I ran to you. and reported it. You
said: 'This is a bad place to be without a gun. Get another
and go ahead.' Just then George Turner, of Company A,
found a gun. He gave it to me and I overtook you, still in
the lead." I remember the circumstances and the brave, in-
spiring conduct of Jesse Pounds. After the battle rested at
the Little Church at the forks of the road in rear. We were
relieved by General A. P. Hill's troops. May 3, about sunrise,
we moved forward with the second line, and soon became en-
gaged, owing to our front becoming uncovered. This was fu-
rious fighting, a perfect storm of shells and a mist of minie
balls. Here I saw the two Wilsons, of Company F, killed ;
the brother saving the watch from his brother just killed, falls
on his body dead ; tmns in birth, twins in death. I received
one wound early in the morning and before 10 o'clock
two others, and left the field and regiment in command
of Lieutenant-Colonel Slough. I was there long enough
to witness the cool and daring bravery of Lieutenants
Oliver Williams, Company C, McQueen Coleman, Com-
pany K ; Lieutenant E. W. Collins, Company D ; Major
J. S. Brooks, Sergeant Hawes, Corporal M. M. Harrelson,
McD. Ward, Dan Coleman, George Goodman, Lieutenant
Arch Laughon, Coimpany F, and many others. Yea, all on
that battle field deserved honorable memory and mention for
they stood only where men can be found. In addition to the
above named Corporal C. A. Patterson, Company A; Cor-
poral Richard Faulk, Company C ; D. E. Ellis, Company B ;

Twentieth Regiment. 119

Josiah Hudson, Company H; Newberne Tew, Company I,
and Thomas A. Morris, Company K, were placed upon the
roll of honor.

The next movement led us to the field of Gettysburg, July
Ist, 2nd and 3rd, 1863. The reports of the battle give
twenty-nine killed and ninety-three wounded in the Twen-
tieth Eegiment. General Iverson reports 500 men of his
brigade killed, lying in as good order as if on dress parade^
Why these men were kept in that position when they could
only die without being able to inflict injury on the enemy, I
have been at a loss to understand. Lieutenant Oliver Wil-
liams says: "I was wounded early in the fight. I believe
every man who stood up was either killed or wounded."
itfearly 200 of the regiment were captured, with the colors.
Captain A. H. Galloway, Forty-fifth North Carolina, recap-
tured the flag and a number of our men. General Ewell com-
plimented the troops, who stood till the greater part had fallen
in line of battle.

After Gettysburg the regiment was engaged in an affair
at ITagerstown, while guarding a wagon train. General
Rodes, in his report for 1863, says: "Those soldiers from
Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina, who for weeks kept
their ranks with swollen, bloody and bare feet, are the heroes
of the campaign." "Camping near Madison Court House in
July and near Orange Court Hoiise in August, September
and October, on the Rappahannock river, near Morton's
Ford. At the latter place, 11 October, a detachment from
Johnston's brigade, consisting of the Twentieth North Caro-
lina and five companies of the Twelfth North Carolina, un-
der Colonel Coleman, the whole under command of Colonel
T. F. Toon, Twentieth North Carolina, had a very brilliant
affair with part of Buford's Cavalry. Brigadier General
Lomax arrived and took command. We repulsed the enemy
and drove him back across the river. The brigadier was
pleased to report our part in the affair as worthy of honor-
able mention. The following names were forwarded as
worthy to be placed on the roll of honor: Chas. W. Yousts,
Benjamin F. Blackwelder, Company A ; Paul Faggart, Jno.
R. Bradford, J. A. Bradford, M. C. Cline, Company B ; Lieu-

120 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

tenant Oliver Williams, Company C ; Jno. Killet, Company
E ; W. J. Gotten, Company F ; William Simmons and A. S.
Carney, Company G; Ransom G. Hawley, Company H;
Chas. H. Hall and Sergeant B. A. Brown, Company I. 26
ISTovember in the trenches at Morton's Ford; 27 ISTovember
moved out of camp, marched to Lociist Grove, skirmished all
day. By order from General Johnston I ihrew out two com-
panies to protect our left, there being a gap be-
tween our left and General Edward Johnson's right.
In the Mine Bun affair both sides wasted a great
deal of powder, but did very little execution. The
remainder of the Winter was spent at Taylorsville, near
Hanover Junction, guarding the railroad bridges over the
ISTorth and South Anna rivers ; we had quite a pleasant time
at this camp, good country, hospitable people, charming
young ladies, all conspired to this end. 5 May we started
to the Wilderness, arriving on the 6th. Supported General
Gordon in an attack on General Grant's right; sharply en-
gaged for a short while. Lieutenant B. Watson was killed ;
General Seymour of the Sixth Army Corps, United States of
America, was captured. On the 7th marched through dust
and heat from burning woods ; reached Spottsylvania Court
House a short time before sunset. About this time our bri-
gade (General R. D. Johnston's) was placed in General
Early's Division. On the 8th and 9th unimportant moves
for position. On the 10th, about 5 o'clock, Johnston's jSTorth
Carolina Brigade with the other brigades of the division,
charged to recapture the works taken from General
Doles by massed lines of the enemy. How we suc-
ceeded and the credit due my regiment on that oc-
casion is best shown by General Lee's letter to the Secretary
of War, a copy of which was sent to my regiment afterwards,
and which is as follows :

Headquaetbes,
Aemy Noethekin' Vieginia^

May 16, 1864.
Sie: — Yesterday evening the enemy penetrated a part of
our line and planted his colors upon the temporary breast-

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Twentieth Regiment. 121

works erected by our troops. He was immediately repulsed,
and among the brave men who met him the Twentieth North
Carolina, under Colonel T. ¥. Toon, of the brigade, com-
manded by General R. D. Johnston, captured his flag. It
was brought to me by Major Jno. S. Brooks, of that regi-
ment, who received his promotion for gallantry in the battle
of Chaneellorsville, with the request that it be given to Gov-
ernor Vance. I take great pleasure in complying with the
wish of the gallant captors, and respectfully ask that it be
granted, and that these colors be presented to the State of
North Carolina as another evidence of the valor and devotion
that have made her name eminent in the armies of the Con-
federacy.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. E. Lee, General.

Hon. Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.

It is just, in this connection, to bear witness to the daring
bravery of Brigadier-General Johnston, Lieutenant-Colonel
Davis, and Major Rob. Alston, of the Twelfth North Caroli-
,na, in that same charge. On the 11th raining, muddy, disa-
greeable, under ordinary circumstances, but especially so to a
soldier with very scanty means of comfort. On the 12th,
aroused before light, precipitated into the battle before we
could see; met the successful enemy in the first moments of
his temporary triumphs, the first volley we fired the sheet of
flame made doubly visible by the darkness and fog, met that
of the enemy and lighted up the space between. I can now
see George Stepps in the mortal combat, with the color-bearer
of one of the advancing regiments, and Major Jno. S. Brooks
leap wildly into the air, grasp his side, and fall while urg-
ing the Twentieth North Carolina to the hottest conflict we
ever engaged in. We lost no groimd, however, but, with oth-
ers of our attacking column, regained our breastworks and
remained fighting until 9 o'clock at night, when we were with-
drawn. Late that evening. General Johnston was wounded.
I also received a shot in the leg, after it passed through Lieu-
tenant George Bullock's coat sleeve without wounding him.
This, however, disabled me only for a few days. Adjutant

122 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

E. S. Moore was also wounded. On the 19th we advanced
against the right of the enemy and had a severe skirmish;
fell back to our line that night. Our brigade brought up
the rear. My regiment was rear guard. The reconnois-
sance in force delayed General Grant for two days and was
of great benefit to General Lee. On the 20th we moved to
Hanover Junction, thence with the army to Second Cold Har-
bor, where we were under artillery fire and some skirmish-
ing. I was assigned command of Johnston's Brigade 4 June.
I think about 15 June General Early was detached and
sent to meet Hunter at Lynchburg. We arrived there
on the evening of the 18th, skirmished with the enemy.
I never could see why we did not attack the enemy at once.
'Next day we pursued the enemy to Liberty, Va. Here
Bryan White was wounded. In spite of heat and
dust almost insupportable the troops marched on an ex-
pedition against Washington down the Valley, Hunter
having left it open by his retreat in the wrong direction.
Passing White Sulphur Springs and jSTatural Bridge without
much time to try the health-giving nature of the one or en-
joy the beauty and sublimity of the other. 4 July enjoyed
the public dinner at Harper's Ferry spread by General Weber
for his command and friends. Fought and defeated General
Lew Wallace at Monocacy Bridge. This was a hard-fought
battle on the field in which we were engaged. Guilford Ed-
wards, one among the best soldiers in the regiment, lost his
leg here. This, I think, was 9 July. On the 10th, passed
through Rockville, saw the Dome of the Capitol, and pushed
the skirmish line, capturing soldiers in long, dress, broad-
cloth coats.

One Yankee prisoner said they were counter jumpers,
clerks in the War Ofiice, hospital rats and stragglers. I know
one thing, I could have easily taken everything in my front if
I had been allowed to continue my advance. Major DeVane,
a gallant spirit, urged me to disregard the order to fall back
and rush forward, whatever the consequences might be. I
hated to withdraw, but always tried to obey orders. On the
night of the 12th, retreated across the Potomac river, bring-
ing the accumulated proceeds of the campaign in horses, beef

Twentieth Regiment. 123

cattle, cannon, etc. For scttne time we destroyed railroads
and marched a countermarch. 20 July we had an affair
with Averill and Orook, in which we were literally run
over. This was near Winchester. I think both retreated
from the battle field. Parts of August and September eating
apple butter and doing picket duty, with just enough skir-
mishing to break the monotony of soldier's life. 19 Septem-
ber fought the battle of Winchester, and in the battle, al-
though Early was defeated, Eamseur's division was not. We
held our own until ordered to retreat. Early in the morning
the cavalry attacked our pickets. I moved the Twentieth
North Carolina to their support. Charge after charge were
repulsed. When closely pressed with cavalry on both flanks,
I formed a square and retreating in this manner, prevent-
ed capture, until General Wade Hampton came to my rescue
by charging in column those on my left and driving them
back, he enabled me to get my regiment back to the line of
battle.

The "thin gray line" which Bradley Johnston saw on 19
September, 1864, was the Twentieth North Carolina Eegi-
ment, a part of Johnston's North Carolina Brigade.

J. E. Kelly, of Company K, was the hero of the hour.
When the regiment was formed in a square almost sur-
rounded, hard pressed, a shell killed the horse of' Colonel
Toon. He directed Kelly to take charge of his belongings
on the horse. Kelly at that moment was struck in the shoul-
der joint, which caused the loss of his right arm, yet he, when
General Fitzhugh Lee, by a charge on our left, relieved us,
carried everything, saddle, bridle, blanket, and his own gun
and accoutrements, to the hospital, all safe.

J. E. Kelly enlisted from Columbus County, lived in that
county for years after the war. Raised a large family. Some
years since moved to Wilmington. Little did the old veterans
of that patriotic city think that in the breast of that one-
armed hack driver beat a heart as brave as the bravest; as
true as tried steel to his beloved Southland. Such was Jas.
E. Kelly, a Yankee boy; a Southern volunteer; a drummer
boy hero of many a hard-fought battle.

October came with its triumphs and defeat in one day. At

124 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

Cedar Run, Johnston's North Carolina Brigade was the only
body of organized troops that left the field in order and which
kept firing in retreat until we reached a bridge over the creek
blocked up by wagons, ambulances, horses and men. In all
of the uncertain movements of this army we took part and
there were none who more faithfully discharged their duty.
The disparity in number between the armies contending,
both in infantry and cavalry, was the main cause of the de-
feat of the Army of the Valley. General Early was not a
great commander nor a great general, but brave, headlong and
risky. Leaving the valley we were assigned to picket duty on
the Roanoke river. We encamped on the premises of Mr.
House, and between the hospitalities of his house and that of
Mr. Wyatt (I think that is the name) we spent an enjoyable
Winter. We returned to Hatcher's Run, skirmished and ate
shad for a short time. On 25 March was fought the battle of
Hare's Hill, or Fort Steadman, near Petersburg, Va. My
regiment led the charge on the works. It was a complete
surprise, many were killed coming out of their tents by our
men, using their guns as clubs. Why were we not supported ?
It was reported to us that as soon as we broke the line Pick-
ett's Division would support us.

About 9 o'clock we fell back to our lines after capturing a
good many prisoners. Adjutant Moore was wounded. Here
I fought my last battle, being desperately wounded, standing
on our breastworks rallying our troops to resist an expected
attack by the enemy. Dr. Schofield, of Petersburg, was kind
to me. He took me into his own house and my wounds were
tenderly dressed by soft hands now clasped in praise on the
other shore. I could not invoke good for myself were I not
to pray for better for those good people. My regiment re-
mained to the last and when the news of the surrender was
promulgated and our skirmishers ordered to halt, Major De-
Vane said : "I liated to stop just then, for I was driving the
Yankee skirmishers like sheep." On 9 April, at Appomat-
tox, hostilities ceased and the Twentieth Regiment laid down
their arms by order of their chieftain- — R. E. Lee. We
fought not for slavery. Our rights were denied us. Slavery
was only one of the many aggravating circumstances which

Twentieth Regiment. 125

precipitated hostilities. Those who make history ought to
interpret their own acts and be considered the best authority
as to what is history.

The sharpshooters from the regiment deserve especial men-
tion, and acting as a separate command justice requires it.
Under Plato Durham, Benj. Robinson, R. A. Smith, Oliver
Williams and McQueen Coleman, this corps did splendid ser-
vice, and was the most important arm of the service. Some
one belonging to this corps ought to write its history, and here
I will couple the name of Fred. D. Bryan with this request,
hoping he will do justice to this gallant corps. Mr. Bryan,
having passed through all of these scenes of conflict, can re-
call its history.

Imperfect as this sketch must be, I will close it, acknowl-
edging favors and help from the following soldiers, partici-
pants in the services of the Twentieth North Carolina : Rev.
Captain D. K. Bennett, Company G, who has passed over the
river since writing me on the subject ; Lieutenant Oliver Wil-
liams, Fair Bluff, IST. C, a veteran of the sharpshooters corps ;
Fred D. Bryan, Marion, S. C, the beardless boy, the daunt-
less hero of the same corps ; Edwin S. Moore, Selma, N. C,
Adjutant of the regiment; Captain Louis Hicks, Faisons,
N. C, a quiet, faithful soldier and a good friend ; Rev. J.
Soles (Thirty-sixth North Carolina), Mount Tabor, JST. C. ;
Jesse J. Pounds, Company G, Hamlet, IST. C. His company
ought to remember him with gratitude. Out of nearly fifty
letters written to some members of each company composing
the regiment these are all to which replies have been re-
ceived.

The following brief me;ntion may not be amiss:

Thomas Fentress Toon was born in Columbus County N.
C, 10 June, 1840. Son of Anthony F. Toon, Esq., of Irish
and Welsh extraction, and Mary McMillan Toon, daughter of
Ronald McMillan, of Scotland. 20 May, 1861, he enlisted
as a private in Columbus Guards 'No. 2, a company raised by
his half brother. Captain William H. Toon, who was after-
wards Major and Lieutenant-Colonel of the Twentieth JSTorth
Carolina. After enlistment he returned to Wake Forest Col-
lege and graduated June, 1861. June 17, 1861, elected First

126 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Lieutenant of his company. July 22, 1861, elected Captain of
his company, vice Captain W. H. Toon elected Major. 26
February, 1863, elected Colonel of the Twentieth Kegiment.
31 May, 1864, appointed Brigadier-General, and 4 June
assigned to command of Johnston's JSTorth Carolina Brigade.
He followed the fortunes of Lee, Jackson, Gordon, Early
and Ewell in all important engagements, unless deterred by
some of the five wounds received in battle. Lived in Robe-
son County, ]Sr. C, from 1891 until elected State Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction, 1900.

Lieutenant-Colonel Nelson Slough was a veteran of the
Mexican War, First Lieutenant January, 1847, honorably
discharged Y August, 1848. He was severely wounded in
the leg, the etfects of which were evident in his halting step.
When North Carolina called for troops he promptly raised
a Company in Cabarrus County and offered his services for
her defence. When the Tenth Volunteers was organized,
which regiment was afterwards changed to Twentieth North
Carolina Troops, Captain N. Slough was given the post of
honor as Company A. He followed the fortunes, of the regi-
ment ably and faithfully discharging his duty ; beloved by his
men and respected by his fellow officers for his generous,
genial, and gentlemanly deportment and for his unflinching
bravery in battle.

He was promoted to Major of the regiment, afterwards ■ to
Lieutenant-Colonel, and resigned on account of wounds and
failing health 2 Novejnber, 1863. He was afterwards sheriff
of his county for many years ; popular, beloved, and respected.

To those who knew Colonel Slough, I would say "now that
is to say simply for instance" I know no braver soldier or
more faithful officer than this hero of two wars. He died
at the residence of his daughter in Anderson, S. C. in 1900.

John S. Brooks, Captain Company G, born in Greenville,
Pitt Coimt, N. C, 20 October, 1840, killed 12 May, 1864,
at Spottsylvania Court House, Va. At the opening of the
war he raised a company and was elected Captain.
26 February, 1863, he was promoted to Major and Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Slough resigning 2 November, 1863, he was

Twentieth Regiment. 127

promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, which position he held at the
time of his death

He was signally honored by General Lee on 10 May, 1864,
as will appear by correspondence published. Loved by all
who knew him ; honored in death, his dirge was sadly, sweetly
chanted by his comrade in arms, Brunswick County's Bard,
Rev. D. K. Bennett.

JSTames deserving to be written on the same page : Lieuten-
ant J. H. Dosier and Lieutenant Oliver Mercer, both of Com-
pany G ; Lieutenant Oliver Williams, Company C, now living
at Fair Bluff, Columbus County, N. C.

Thos. r. Toow.
Kaleigh, N. C,

9 April, 1901.

TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT.

1. Robert F. Hoke, Colonel. 3. John K. Connally, Captain, Co. B.

2. E. W. Wharton, Captain, Co. E. 4. R. E. Wilson, Captain, Co. P.

5. L. E. Powers, 2d Lieut., Co. A.

TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT.

By major JAMES F. BEALL.

In writing this brief sketch nothing more than a short out-
line is intended. A volume would be too small to contain
all that could be said of this illustrious regiment. Many of
the facts connected with it and the part it played in the gigan-
tic struggle for Southern Independence cannot now be writ-
ten. But it may not be amiss for living witnesses to give
their testimony; otherwise much that is valuable to history,
may be lost.

ORGANIZATION AT DANVILLE.

Early in June, 1861, the Twenty-first ISTorth Carolina Reg-
iment was organized and mustered into the Confederate ser-
vice at Danville, Va. W. W. Kirkland was elected Colonel.
This efficient and accomplished officer, with vigorous efforts,
brought the regiment to a state of perfection in discipline and
drill, which was afterwards properly appreciated by those
of us who became intimately acquainted with the stem reali-
ties of war. Just prior to the departure of the regiment from
Danville, it was drawn up into line, with its silken -colors,
(given by the ladies) waving over them, presenting as fine a
body of men as one ever beheld — all young and enthusiastic.
Alas ! how many of those noble forms now lie mouldering in
the dust — on almost every battlefield from Gettysburg, Pa.,
to New Bern, IST. C. ? . And how many we meet with missing
limbs and honored scars upon them, telling of death and
danger dared ! The Twenty-first Regiment was engaged in
the bloodiest battles of the war — some of the greatest in his-
tory. It had for its Major-Generals those noble heroes — Ewell,
Early, Pegram and Ramseur. For its Brigadiers: — Trimble,

9

130 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Hoke, Godwin and Lewis. Its Field and Staff, Company Of-
ficers— rank and file — were inferior to none.

THE KE&IMEiSTT ABBIVBS AT MAIsTASSAS.

The regiment left Danville 15 July mid cheering and
waving of handkerchiefs by the ladies, arriving at Richmond
the same evening; 17 July it was ordered to report to Gen-
eral Beauregard, at Manassas. While en route to Manassas,
we had a considerable wreck — caused by the treachery of the
engineer, who deserted his engine — leaving the train standing
on the track in the night, where another train soon came crash-
ing into it, disabling about twenty of the regiment. Without
further incident, the regiment arrived at Manassas early on
the morning of the 18th. Immediately the regiment moved
in double quick time to our position at Mitchell's Eord on
Bull Run — this being the centre of the Confederate line of
battle. Here the regiment was vigorously shelled by the
enemy's batteries, but was not actively engaged. We con-
tinued to hold the same position on 21 July — ^when the
first battle of Mansassas was fought and a victory won for
the Confederates, which electrified the whole country. After
the rout, we pursued the enemy several miles, thinking we
were going right into Washington, but were halted and or-
dered to retrace our steps.

ISr CAMP AT BULL EtJK.

After this battle, we went into camp on Bull Run, where
the regiment suffered greatly from sickness. In September
the regiment was sent to Broad Run Station to recuperate. In
October it went into winter quarters at Manassas, and there
Trimble's Brigade was formed of the following regiments,
viz: Twenty-first Georgia, Twenty-first ISTorth Carolina,
Fifteenth Alabama, Sixteenth Mississippi. Shortly after-
wards, the latter regiment was transferred — the Twelfth
Georgia Regiment taking its place. The Twenty-first Regi-
ment after doing arduous picket duty all winter, in March
broke up winter quarters and took up line of march to Gor-
donsville, Va. From there it was ordered to the Valley of

TwENTY-FlKST ReGIMBNT. 131

Virginia by way of Swift Eun Gap, to report to General
Jackson, when the immortal "Valley Campaign" was begun,
which made General Jackson and his command famous. His
great deeds have been expressed by orator, sung by the poet,
immortalized in statuary, and emblazoned on canvas.

THE BATTLE OF WIBTCHESTEE.

On 24 March, 1862, the regiment was engaged at the
great battle of Winchester where General Banks was badly
defeated with great loss of men, arms and commissary stores.
Just previous to the battle, the regiment marched all night,
lying down just before dawn in the cold dew, to rest, but not
to sleep. The sun rose fair and bright on the field, soon to
become crimson with the blood of the bravest hearts. Shortly
after sun up we were ordered to storm the enemy's position,
simultaneously with the command on our left. With a wild
cheer the regiment moved swiftly towards the enemy's line
behind stone walls, and was met by a most terrific fire of in-
fantry and grape shot. The regiment moved right on to the
stone wall, from which the enemy were pouring forth a per-
fect storm of canister and minie balls from right and left —
cross-firing upon us. But the glorious old regiment with a
valor that stands unrivaled, swept everything before it. The
day was won with the most exalted courage and desperate
charge. It was a gallant charge and a gallant defense. The
enemy was completely routed, with great slaughter and driven
beyond the Potomac.

A FIELD OF CAENAGE.

The writer was severely wounded and left on the field, and
the sight which there presented itself can never be forgot-
ten. Around stood several pieces of artillery deserted by the
enemy. Many Federals and Confederates lay dead, wounded
and dying around me. Colonel Kirkland, while waving his
sword and cheering on his men was shot through the thigh,
but did not leave the field. Lieutenant-Colonel Pepper lay
mortally wounded, but still cheering his men on to victory.
My heart still bleeds when I think of our revered Captain J.

132 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

0. Hedgecock, who was mortally wounded, pierced by half
dozen balls or more. A braver or truer man than this young
lawyer was never sent to the field of battle. He and the gal-
lant Pepper sleep in the cemetery at Winchester, with many
of their brave comrades. Peace to their ashes. Company A
had one officer killed and one wounded — ten men killed and
eight wounded. The loss of the other companies of the regi-
iment was proportionately great. I am unable to give the ex-
act number.

BIGHT BALLS IN HIS BODT.

Never were men more mangled or pierced with so many
balls. The Confederate and Federal medical staffs were es-
pecially interested in Captain John W. Beard, Company F,
who was pierced with eight minie balls — several passing
through the bowels — ^yet recovery was complete and he served
through the entire war ; he now lives, a prosperous merchant,
in the State of Kansas. This conflict, its duration consid-
ered, and the number engaged, equals or surpasses the blood-
iest battles of the war. And yet, an eminent biographer in
describing the movements of General Jackson's Corps, makes
but one allusion to the North Carolina troops in these few
words : "Here the Twenty-first North Carolina Kegiment
lost heavily." When at the same time the Memorial Asso-
ciation of Winchester, Va., said that their cemetery contained
graves of more soldiers from North Carolina than from any
other State, a fact which might be said of almost every bury-
ing ground in Virginia. Therefore, I hope I will be par-
doned for going into detail in describing this battle.

UP AND DOWN THE VALLET.

After the battle of Winchester the regiment was marched
and countermarched up and down the valley many weeks —
engaging almost daily in combats of no minor importance,
against great odds. Fought in the battles of Newtown, Har-
risonburg, and Cross Keys. At the latter place it pleased Gen-
eral Trimble to compliment Colonel Fulton and the regiment
for its gallant conduct. After this the regiment crossed over
the Shenandoah river, engaged in the battle of Port Republic,

Twenty-First Regiment. 133

and assisted in sending General Shields down the Luray Val-
ley, completely routed and demoralized. I have given but a
poor picture of the series of brilliant victories of this valley
catapaign, in which the Twenty-first iN'orth Carolina Regi-
ment left on record, deeds rarely equaled, her banners covered
with victories, shedding lustre and glory on North Carolina
and the Southern arms. General Jackson's Corps having
defeated, in repeated engagements, no less than four Federal
armies, sweeping down from Port Republic, fell like an ava-
lanche on General McClellan's right. Then ensued that suc-
cession of brilliant engagements which resulted in sending
the enemy under the protection of his gun-boats on the James
river. In all these engagements the Twenty-first bore a con-
spicuous part, losing heavily; 9 August, 1862, engaged in
the sanguinary battle of Cedar Run. In this battle the Fed-
erals were badly whipped and driven beyond the Rappahan-
nock. In this fight, the regiment captured two pieces of ar-
tillery and several flags of the enemy.

GENERAL TEIMBLe's SPEECH.

After the fight General Trimble ^made a little speech com-
plimenting the brigade, in which he said : "Comrades, I feel
that I am on my way to my home in Maryland." On 18 Au-
gust, 1862, at Hazel river, the regiment engaged in a short,
but sanguinary battle. A charge through a thick underbrush
and marshy swamp, and with great courage, drove the enemy
from his temporary breastworks. This action on the part of
the regiment drew forth great praise from General Trimble.
Though this fight was short, our loss was by no means insig-
nificant. We then bivouacked on the battle field, which we
knew how to appreciate, having been almost continually
marching and fighting for several days.

IN pope's eeab.

The next day we received orders to prepare three days' ra-
tions, and be ready to march at a moment's warning. 20 Au-
gust, 1862, engaged the enemy on the Rappahannock, crossed
the river and again encountered him. 22 August, recrossed

134 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

the river, took up a line of march, passing through Thor-
oughfare Gap near Manassas and appeared in Pope's rear,
destroying several trains of cars and immense stores at Man-
assas. The regiment was engaged in the series of fights called
■ the Second Manassas and Jackson's Corps withstood for two
days Pope's entire army, repulsing every attack with heavy
slaughter. During this fight the Twenty-first Kegiment re-,
pulsed a half dozen or more of the most tremendous charges
that were ever volleyed and thundered at the head of mortal
man. Here we fought face to face with men filled with
whiskey, determined to crush G-eneral Jackson. 30 August
engaged the enemy all day until afternoon, then General
Longstreet came up when Pope's army was driven beyond
Bull Run. After these engagements the regiment was hors
de combat.

A SUNDAY BIVOUAC.

The next day, 31st, we went into bivouac and rested all
day Sunday, saddened by the absence of many, many, of our
brave and beloved comrades, who had fallen in the series of
conflicts through which we had just passed. Among those
who fell was our beloved Colonel, Saunders P. Ful-
ton, a man who was absolutely without fear, and who evi-
dently believed he was not to be killed in battle. 1 September
we took up line of march to Ox Hill, where we again grap-
pled in a death struggle with our old enemy. When we first
met them, the Federals seemed greatly surprised and con-
fused, and the carnage in their ranks was terrible. Here
Major-General Kearney, of the Federal army, was killed and
fell into our hands. During this battle a terrific thunder
storm prevailed, the rain coming down in torrents, making it
quite difiicult to keep our powder dry. The Federals were
again overwhelmingly defeated, and hurled into their fortifi-
cations around Washington. Our loss in this engagement
was comparatively small.

CAPTUEB OF HAEPEES FEEEY.

After this battle Jackson's Corps took up the line of march
to Martinsburg, Va., and from this place swept down on

Twenty-First Regiment. 135

Harper's Ferry capturing it with its entire garrison, General
D. H. Miles commanding the garrison. Our loss was al-
most nothing. After this we made a forced march to Sharps-
burg, Md., where we arrived 17 September and engaged in
that brilliant and bloody battle. Although sorely pressed,
the line of the Twenty-first Kegiment was broken only once
during that fight. After falling back a short distance and
reforming, we again charged, repulsing every attack of the
enemy. Our loss here was considerable. 13 December we
engaged in the great battle of Fredericksburg and assisted in
driving and pursuing the enemy into the plains below, who
had penetrated an interval in our lines near Hamilton's
Crossing. I believe this was the only charge made by the
Confederates in this fight. The loss of the enemy in this
charge was very great, while ours was comparatively small.
Here it was said that General Lee complimented Colonel
Hoke who commanded the brigade. At any rate he was made
Brigadier-General soon after this fight.

CHANCELLOESVILLE.

In May, 1863, engaged in the great battle of Chancellors-
ville, assisting in the attack on General Sedgwick's fiank,
forcing him into the bend of the Rappahannock river, where
his whole command would have been captured; but night
coming on he made his escape across the river. In this fight
we lost many valuable ofiicers and men. At this time the
brigade was composed of the following regiments: Sixth,
Twenty-first, Fifty-fourth, Fifty-seventh North Carolina
Troops. After this battle our corps, commanded by Gen-
eral Ewell, who succeeded the lamented Jackson, again took
up line of march to the Valley of Virginia, where the Twenty-
first assisted in the capture of Winchester and Martinsburg
with many thousand prisoners and a great many pieces of
artillery, many thousand small arms, wagon trains and many
stores. The loss of the regiment and entire command was
very small.

GETTYSBUEG.

We then passed over the Potomac and went to Little York,

136 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Pa. 1 July the two armies again encountered eacli other, at
Gettysburg. On this day the regiment assisted in gaining a
very decided victory over the enemy, driving him back in
great confusion, through Gettysburg. On the second day we
made an assault on the enemy's fortified line and failed.

In the general history which will go down to posterity, of
course nothing more than a brief and cursory reference can
or will be made, to the service of any small command. Yet
it is due this gallant brigade (then Hoke's) as also to those
who lived not to see the clouds and darkness of other days,
to refer briefly to the glorious services of as brave a set of
men as the sun ever shone upon. I will in my feeble way,
attempt to show how those indomitable patriots demeaned
themselves amid the wild carnage of that stricken field. The
impressions of the writer, of that memorable day are not a
picture of mere fancy, but one of actual experience. Methinks
I still hear, through the long vista of years, the rolling echo of
those awful accents of battle. After a lapse of thirty-seven
years, I recall not without emotion, the incidents of the bat-
tle which occxirred on that second day at Gettysburg, and
while life lasts, will cherish my remembrance of the mag-
nificent courage displayed by our command.

THE ASSAULT ON CEMETEEY HEIGHTS.

After lying all day under a July sun, suffering with in-
tense heat, and continually annoyed by the enemy's sharp-
shooters from the heights, from sheer desperation, we hailed
with delight the order to again meet the veteran foe, regard-
less of his advantage in numbers and position. Really, the
enemy's artillery, reopening at the going down of the sun, fell
like music upon our ears. At the time the assault was made,
the enemy had massed heavily in our front, and placed bat-
teries in the rear of his own lines, which were used with fear-
ful effect against us, firing over the heads of his own men.
The ground we had to pass over was ascending, but the troops
advanced in double quick time, and with a cheer Avent over
the rifle pits in advance of the enemy's main line of works,
killing and capturing a few of them — the greater part taking

Twenty-First Regiment. 137

refuge behind the main line of breastworks. Here the iight-
ing was desperate, but like an unbroken wave, our maddened
column rushed on, facing a continual stream of fire. After
charging almost to the enemy's line, ^ve Avere compelled to fall
back, but only a short distance. The column reformed and
charged again, but failed to dislodge the enemy. The bri-
gade held its ground with unyielding determination — ever
keeping afloat our flag to battle and breeze.

SLAUGHTEH OF COLOE BEAEBRS.

Four out of five of the color-bearers who dared hold up that
flag, went down to a heroic death. As often as the flag
went down it was taken up and flaunted in the face of the
enemy, holding an impregnable position. The hour was one
of horror. Amid the incessant roar of cannon, the din of
musketry, and the glare of bursting shells making the dark-
ness intermittent — adding awf ulness to the scene — the hoarse
shouts of friend and foe, the piteous cries of wounded and
dying, one could well imagine, (if it were proper to say it),
that "war is hell." Further effort being useless, we were
ordered to fall back a short distance imder cover. To re-
main was certain capture, to retreat was almost certain
death. Few, except the wounded and dead, were left
behind. Here, these brave North Carolinians "stood,
few and faint, but fearless still." The enemy did not follow
or show any disposition to leave their defences.

LOSS OF OFFICEES AND MEN.

Our loss in officers and men was great. All the field offi-
cers of the Twenty-first were killed and wounded except Col-
onel W. W. Kirkland, who was after this fight, promoted to
Brigadier-General. Here the lamented Colonel Isaac E.
Avery, commanding the brigade, laid down his noble life on
the altar of his country's freedom. Lieutenant-Colonel Ran-
kin was badly wounded and left in the hands of the enemy,
where he remained a prisoner throughout the war. It is re-
corded in Vol. 125, Official Records Umon and Confederate
Armies, that Private Oliver P. Rood was awarded

138 North Caeolina Troops, 1861-65.

a medal for conspicuous bravery in capturing a flag
of the Twenty first North Carolina Kegiment in a charge
on our lines at Gettysburg 3 July. As I have just
stated above, a most frightful and determined conflict
raged on the night of the 2nd. The ground was strewn
with dead and wounded. Man after man went down,
among them Major Alexander Miller, who picked up the flag
after the first color-bearer fell. He soon shared the fate of
the former. It was soon taken up by J. W. Bennett, Com-
pany F, who was, also, in quick succession, shot down. The
colors were then taken by the writer and very soon after this,
we fell back to the works, which we had just passed over a
few paces and continued such a terrific fire upon the enemy,
that their rifle fire was completely silenced, the enemy crouch-
ing behind their works. About this time Corporal Eli Wiley,
Company M, asked permission to take the fiag, saying he
did not see it when it fell. It was given to him and after the
writer had gone a few paces along the line, orders were given
to retire at once, which was accomplished under a severe fusil-
lade. We had retreated about twenty-five yards when I saw
the flag for the last time. Corporal Wiley was killed, and
left, together with the flag, in the lines of the enemy. In the
darkness and confusion the flag was not missed until we had
rallied under cover about the distance of two hundred yards.
The enemy did not follow, or show any disposition to do so,
as stated above. Soon all firing ceased and the battle was
ended. This was 2 July, and as Private Kood claims to
have captured the fiag in a charge on our lines, 3 July, it is
evident that he did not capture the fiag in battle at all, as our
regiment was not engaged after 2 July. Therefore, it is
conclusive that he picked up the fiag on the battle field on the
following day, the 3rd, and it is altogether probable that he
took the flag from the body of the dead hero who had been
cold and stark in death for many hours. The r-egiment, bri-
gade or corps, were not at any time charged by the enemy.
On the other hand, the charging was all done by the Confed-
erates and we reached Cemetery Heights, taking possession of
their works, and if the attack had been pressed on our right,
the enemy could have been prevented from concentrating upon

Twenty-First Regiment. 139

the brigades of Hoke and Hayes, compelling them to retire,
after having victory in their grasp. Eor details, see Greneral
Early's report. We do not wish to detract from an antago-
nist any distinction, but the records should be kept straight.
4 July we left Gettysburg, our division bringing up the
rear of Lee's army. Halted at Hagerstown several days,
then retired across the Potomac.

THE battle of PLYMOtTTH.

The regiment was engaged in the memorable battle of Ply-
mouth, ]Sr. 0., 20 April, 1864, where it successfully assaulted
the enemy's fortified position, the entire garrison surren-
dering to Greneral Hoke. The enemy's position here was a
very strong one, protected by forts and gun boats. About
dark we were ordered to make an assault upon one of the
outer forts up to which oiir brigade charged, time after time,
with persistent courage and stern detenmination. In the
third attempt the parapet was gained. Here the fighting
was desperate and at close quarters and deadly — ^waxing
hotter from beginning to finish. The commander of the fort,
though mortally wounded, refused to surrender, cursing his
lieutenant, (who had assumed command), for hoisting the
white flag and surrendering.

IJSrCinENTS OF DAEING COUEAGE.

It was indeed a gallant defense. The Twenty-first Georgia
and Twenty-first North Carolina Regiments, as at the first of
the war, again fought side by side in this fierce conflict —
mingling their voices together in the same deafening yell of
triumph. Many of them were stricken down on this bloody
field and many of them sleep in a common grave. In this
fight ofiicers and men in both regiments, vied with each other
in deeds of unsurpassed courage. Where all acted as heroes,
it would seem invidious to make any special mention of
names, but I must call attention to the distinguished and dar-
ing courage of Captain James 0. Blackburn, Company G, and
Private Francis Clinard, Company A. Both fell far in ad-
vance of our line in making the assault. The command then

140 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

laid down under arms, in line of battle, among the dead and
wounded, hearing all night the distressing cries of ^ the
wounded. Knowing what was before us, we slept but little,
expecting to make an attack on the main fort near the town
early the following day. But the Confederate ram, the "Al-
bemarle," coming down the Eoanoke river, sank or ran off the
Federal gun boats. Then, after a brief and futile resistance to
our coanbined land and naval forces, the entire garrison sur-
rendered unconditionally to General Hoke, who paid the bri-
gade a handsome tribute by saying: "My men, my confi-
dent expectations in you have been fully realized in this
fight."

NEW BEEN AND DI!EWEY''s BLUFF.

We then made a forced march to New Bern, N. C, and
after a fierce combat, drove the enemy into his fortifications.
Then we were hurriedly forwarded to Drewry's Bluff, where
the regiment again met the veteran foe in another death strug-
gle. The Federals were badly defeated and sent back to the
protection of their gun boats on James river. In this bat-
tle the regiment held its position under very trying circum-
stances, being flanked both right and left.

COLD HAEBOE.

3 July, 1864, engaged in the great battle of Cold Harbor,
where Grant was repeatedly repulsed with a slaughter never
equaled. It is said on this occasion he lost 10,000 men. His
men sullenly refused to renew the charge. At this time the
writer was in command of the division sharpshooters who
were a considerable distance in front of our works, the enemy
making a sharp attack on the skirmish line on our right.
They began to fall back when General Ramseur rode tip to me
and said: "Don't fall back, hold your position at all haz-
ards." He immediately wheeled his horse and left. Just
then a shell burst directly in front of my horse over a rifle pit,
killing five men, among them Lieutenant B. Y. Mebane, of
the Sixth North Carolina Regiment. No braver or truer
man ever went doAvn in battle. General Kamseur then re-

TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT.

1. W. W. Kirkland, Colonel. 4. Alexander Miller, Lieut. -Colonel.

2. Saunders Fulton, Colonel. B. W. J, Pfohl, Ma,ior.

3. B. Y. Graves, Ijieut.-Oolonel. 6. James F. Beall, Major.

7. W. G. Foy, Ist. Lieut, and Adjutant.

Twenty-First Regiment. 141

appeared, ordering me to fall back at once. Turning to start
off his horse tripped and fell, throwing his brave rider who
rolled over and over in the dust. Horse and man seemed
to rise together, and went away amidst a storm of
shot and bursting shell. 18 July, after a forced and very
tedious march, we met Hunter at Lynchburg, who
had made his murderous and marauding expedition up the
valley, where many a fair mansion fell before the incendi-
ary fire-brand. After a severe skirmish, he fled in the direc-
tion of Kanawha, W. Va. The regiment lost a few men in
this fight.

A stream reddened with blood.

Then began that memorable march down the valley to
Washington City. 9 July we engaged the enemy in the
battle of Monocacy, Md., near a railroad bridge. The en-
emy being badly defeated, fied to his fortifications around
Washington. General Gordon, in his report of this battle,
said : "I desire in this connection, to state a fact of which I
was an eye witness, and which, for its rare occurrence, and
the evidence it affords of the sanguinary character of this
struggle, I consider worthy of official mention. One portion
of the enemy's second line extended along a branch, from
which he was driven, leaving many dead and wounded in the
water and upon its banks. So profuse was the flow of blood
fr^m the killed and wounded, that it reddened the stream for
more than one hundred yards below."

AGAIN AT WINCHESTER.

12 July we engaged the enemy in a severe skirmish in
front of Fort Stephens, retreating the same night. 19 Sep-
tember engaged the enemy again at Winchester, after they had
driven back in great confusion the divisions of Gordon and
Ramseur. At no time during the war was the courage, en-
durance and discipline of the regiment put to a greater test
than in this battle. Amid great confusion, it fought with a
desperation rarely equaled, and by its steadiness, contributed
largely in preventing a disastrous rout. At no time was its

142 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

line broken. 20 September engaged tbe enemy at Fisher's
Hill, where our entire command was driven back in great
confusion; our division, in this retreat, again bringing up
the rear. This regiment, in retreating column, fought the
enemy several days, the enemy pressing us with great vigor
all the time. In this retreat, the men suffered great fatigue,
being poorly fed and clad, and miserably shod. They had
no change of clothes for weeks.

THE ENEMY SUEPEISED.

19 October, 1864, early in the morning, under cover of
darkness and fog, we succeeded in surprising the enemy, and
in turning his left flank, capturing many pieces of artillery
and many prisoners. The enemy fell back in great confu-
sion, with heavy loss, but being heavily re-enforced, rallied,
and in turn assumed the offensive, and with overwhelming
numbers made a most furious assault on the two divisions on
our left, crushing them in detail. Our division looked help-
lessly on the terrible struggle — having all that we could at-
tend to in our own front.

A TRYING OEDEAIi.

During this battle, occurred one of the most trying ordeals
of the writer's life. We were moving on the enemy, when
the writer met his brother. Captain T. B. Beall, of the Four-
teenth North Carolina Regiment, coming out desperately
wounded through the lung, the blood spurting from his breast.
There wasn't time to give him a word of sympathy, much less
attention, leaving him as I then thought for the last time in
this world. He had the good fortune soon after, to meet with
an ambulance, which took him and the gallant Lieutenant W.
G. Foy, of the Twenty-first North Carolina Regiment, who
was also desperately wounded, to the field hospital. They
received immediate attention, and both finally recovered, but
were left more or less disabled for life. In this battle fell the
lamented Eamseur.

Twenty-First Regiment. 143

PRIVATE JOHNSON^S HEROIC DEED.

Here I wish to relate the heroic deed of Private Johnson,
(ambulance driver). General Ramseur was seen to fall, and
Johnson was ordered by Major Pfohl to go after him, which
he did under a terrific fire. He succeeded in getting him,
but was overtaken and captured on the retreat. General Pe-
gram seeing that the day was lost to the Confederates, ordered
the division to fall back, saying : "Men, you must do this in
order — firing as you retreat, for your own and the army's
safety deonand it." Never was greater heroism displayed by
both men and officers than in this terrible retreat. Then the
enemy, maddened by recent defeat, and fiushed with sudden
victory, with their whole line made a furious assault upon
our discomfited line, which was driven back in great confu-
sion. In our futile efforts to stem the tide of battle that
threatened to overwhelm us, we lost many brave officers and
men. Among the killed was the heroic Pfohl, commander of
the regiment. No man ever exhibited in such a time greater
coolness, skill and bravery, which excited the admiration of
his men. In this fight near Strasburg, Va., ended our last
attempt to invade the North by way of the Shenandoah. Af-
ter this battle, the writer assumed command of the regiment,
which he had the honor to hold until 24 March, 1865, when
he was severely wounded at Petersburg in an assault on the
enemy's lines.

at PETERSBURG.

The command was then sent to Petersburg, went into
winter quarters on Hatcher's Run, where it remained all win-
ter, doing very fatiguing picket duty. 16 February, 1865,
the regiment engaged the enemy in a very fierce combat on
Hatcher's Run. It was here Captain Byrd Snow fell mortally
wounded. He was in command of the regiment during this
fight, as brave and true a soldier as ever drew sword in his
country's honor. 24 March, 1865, this regiment, the ad-
vance of the assaulting column, successfully charged the en-
emy's works between Fort Steadman and Battery No. 10.
Then turning right and left, captured several pieces of ar-

144 North Carolina Troops, 186 J -'65.

tillery and many prisoners. When we were ordered to re-
treat, the enemy's artillery fire was kept up so continuously,
it was almost impossible to get Back to our works. However,
we brought back about all of our regiment except the
wounded. General Grant in his report, claimed the Confed-
erate loss was 4,000, but the number of Confederates engaged
was not much more than half that.

THE LAST MAEOH.

A few days after this the Army of ISTorthern Virginia re-
treated from Petersburg, falling back about a hundred miles
or more, repeatedly giving battle, but finally from sheer ex-
haustion, surrendered at Appomattox. We did not lose a
great many killed on this march, but it saddens me to think
that any had to die, after going through the whole war, and
when so near the end of it. In this last sad scene of the
war, the Twenty-first JSTorth Carolina Eegianent furled for-
ever the flag to which she had added such lustre; to be em-
balmed in the affectionate remembrance of those who re-
mained true to the end.

I FIELD AND STAFF.

W. W. KiEKLAND, Colonel commanding, June, 1861, pro-
moted to Brigadier-General.

Egbert F. Hoke^ Colonel, promoted to Major-General.

Gaston Lewis, Colonel, promoted to Brigadier-General.

S. F. Fulton, Colonel, killed.

James M. Leach^ Lieutenant-Colonel, resigned.

W. L. ScoTT^ Lieutenant-Colonel, resigned.

E.. K. Pepper^ Lieutenant-Colonel, killed.

B. Y. GeaveSj Lieutenant-Colonel, resigned.

W. S. Eankin^ Lieutenant-Colonel, prisoner.

Alexander Miller^ Lieutenant-Colonel, killed.

J. M. EicHAEDsoN^ Major, resigned.

W. J. ProHL, Major, killed.

Jambs F. Beall, Major.

William Foy^ Adjutant.

Twenty-First Regiment. 145

List of Captains of Twenty-fikst North Carolina
Regiment — J. H. Miller, Captain Company A; R. E. Wil-
son, Captain Company B ; Byrd Snow, Captain Com-
pany C ; R. A. Barrow, Captain Company D ; John
W. Beard, Captain Company F; Thos. B. Gentry, Cap-
tain Company G; James H. Jones, Captain Company H;
Matthew C. Moore, Captain Company I ; John L. Pratt, Cap-
tain Company K ; John E. Gilmer, Captain Company M.

Note. — The loss of this regiment in killed, wounded and
dead was at least 75 per cent, from the beginning to the end
of the war. Forty or more combats and skirmishes of no
minor importance are not included in this sketch and many
incidents both instructive and amusing, might be given which
would extend this paper to a much greater length, but the
long list of names of wounded and killed speak more elo-
quently than tongue of the service of this regiment. I have
avoided speaking of incidents connected with other com-
mands, but have endeavored to confine myself to the deeds
of the Twenty-first Regiment only. I have written what I
saw or knew of my own personal knowledge and from infor-
mation received from reliable and official sources.

Special Mention. — Matthew Chamberlain, private,
Twenty-first North Carolina Regiment, Stokes county, never
had a furlough, never ^missed a battle in which his regiment
was engaged, never received a wound. He died in 1896.
Strange to say there is no report of Company L in
Moore's Roster.

The conduct of Lieutenant Logan T. Whitlock, who
was in command of the sharpshooters at the battle
of Plymouth, cannot be too highly commended, and
should not be omitted. It was ascertained that to make an
assault upon the main fort the command would have to charge
across a perfectly level and open field, which could not be
done without great loss. At this critical time, where "to hes-
itate was to be lost," Whitlock volunteered to reconnoitre
within the enemies lines. He foiind that he could go into the

10

146 North Carolina Troops, l861-'65.

town and get behind and close up to the enemy's fortifica-
tions by crawling along the bank of the river. The brigade
followed Whitlock and his sharpshooters. After coming
into position, near the fort, the attack was made and with the
help of the Confederate Earn "Albemarle," the enemy imme-
diately surrendered.

I wish to recall another incident worthy of observation of
all ages. Lieutenant P. A. Oaks lost his arm at Cold Har-
bor. Some months after, he caane to the regiment at Fisher's
Hill. When he arrived, the regiment was on the line and
under fire, and against the appeals of officers and men, he
persisted in going into the fight. After fighting all the even-
ing he was finally shot through the left breast. In a month
or so Oaks was back with his regiment again, saying it was
too lonesome to stay at home. The night before we engaged
the enemy in the battles around Richmond, Private H. C.
Walser, who was less than 18 years old, had his foot and ankle
badly scalded. He was left in camp, excused by the surgeon,
but soon after the firing commenced, Walser made his ap-
pearance bare-footed and went through the whole battle, in
bamboo briers and mud and water up to his knees.

In conclusion, I cannot do better than to quote an extract
from an address made by Colonel Chas. S. Venable, of Gen-
eral Lee's staff: "Comrades! we need not weave any fable,
borrowed from Scandinavian lore into the woof of our his-
tory, to inspire our youth with admiration of glorious deeds
in freedom's battles done ! In the true history of this Army
of Northern Virginia which laid down its arms — not con-
quered, but wearied with victory, you have a record of
deeds of valor, of unselfish consecration to duty, and faith-
fulness in death which will teach our sons, and son's sons how
to die for liberty. Let us see to it that it shall be transmitted
to them." James F. Be all.

LiNWOOD, N. C,

9 April, 1901.

TWBNTY-PIEST REGIMENT.

1. Samuel 0. James, Captain, Co. D. 4. John W. Miller, Captain, Co. D.

2. J. H. Miller, Captain, Co. A. 5. L. T. "Whitlock, Ist Lieut., Co. C.

3. J. E. Gilmer, Captain, Co. M. 6. J. D. McTver, Sergeant, Co. A.

7. J. O. Blackburn, Captain, Co. G.

ADDITIONAL SKETCH TVENTT-FIRST
KEQIMENT.

By lieutenant L. E. POWERS, Company A.

BATTLE OF PORT EEP0BLIO.

Shields occupied a coinmanding position. He had a six-
gun battery on a plateau of the mountain that could sweep
the whole field to the river, and there was no way to approach
him without coming within its galling range. It was abso-
lutely necessary that that battery should be silenced, and the
only way to do so was to walk up to it and take it. With this
battery in our hands, Jackson made short work of Shields.
His army was soon routed and nearly all captured, which left
us with that side of the river clear of foes and in peaceful
possession of the bridge. Jackson had left nearly all of Ew-
ell's Division, and perhaps part of the old division, confront-
ing Fremont, who, as soon as he discovered we were fighting
Shields, made an attack on Ewell and was repulsed at every
point. It was in this engagement with Fremont that I saw a
whole regiment annihilated at a single fire. It was the Sev-
enth ISTew York, composed of freshly imported Germans who
could scarcely speak the English language intelligibly. They
were so foolish as to attempt to march through an open clover
field to a body of timber within our lines, with no sharp shoot-
ers in front to locate our position. Two regiments of my
brigade, the Twenty-first Georgia and Sixteenth Mississippi,
were posted behind a fence that ran along the edge of this
woods. There was a large hollow in the clover field just in
front of our position, behind the fence. -The Germans came
marching across the clover field in beautiful line, carrying
their guns at "support arms." The Colonel walking back-
wards in front of them, seeing that they preserved a perfect
alignment just as though they were simply drilling. The
Georgians and Mississippians were lying fiat on the ground,

148 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

with their guns in the bottom crack of the fence. When the
Germans got in the hollow above-mentioned, they could not
be seen ; but when they crossed it and came into view again,
they were within fifty yards of the fence. Colonel Mercer,
of the Twenty-first Georgia, who was commanding this de-
tachment, sent an order down the line that if any man fired
before he gave orders to fire, he would have him shot. As the
Germans came up out of the hollow, their flag and that of the
Georgians exactly confronted each other This gave the Mis-
sissippians an enfilading, or raking fire. The men had their
sights drawn and their fingers on the triggers, and in a quiver
of excitement they saw the Germans coming up out of the
hollow and waited for the order to fire. Colonel Mercer
made them hold their fire until they could be seen from their
feet up. Our men had a full, clear view, a lying down rest
and an unobstructed range of not more than forty yards.
When the order "Fire !" rang out from Mercer, a volley from
a thousand guns sounded in the air, and a thousand bullets
flew to their deadly work. The poor Germans fell all across
each other in piles.

ON" TO EICHMOND.

We pushed on up the Valley until we struck the Virginia
Central Railroad, where we found a lot of trains of cars
awaiting us. So actively had this march been conducted,
that not a person along our route knew that Jackson was
moving until they saw the army marching by. We were packed
in and on the cars almost like sardines in a box, and went
whirling through the great Blue Eidge tunnel on to Rich-
mond, or as near Richmond as it was advisable to go, and
tumbled out of the cars, straightened out our limbs and took
up the march for McClellan's rear.

BATTTLE OF COLD HAEBOE.

The battle of Cold Harbor, in which we were engaged the
next day, 27 June, was a desperate and bloody one. I was
still serving on the ambulance corps and had heavy work car-
rying the wounded back to the field hospital, where the field

Twenty-First Regiment. 149

Burgeons would dress their wounds or amputate their limhs,
as might be necessary. One of the finest and most efficient
surgeons of the whole army was Dr. Tanner, a citizen of Fair-
fax County, Virginia, who was assigned to our regiment and
served with it nearly all the war. He had improvised a
rough table, or couch, with a blanket spread over it, upon
which we would lay the wounded men, and his quick trained
eye soon discovered whether amputation was necessary or not.
With his sleeves rolled up to his shoulders, he stood at that
table and amputated feet and legs, and hands and arms,
throwing them on a blanket spread on the ground, until there
were as many as four men could carry off and bury. It was
necessary to carry off this blanket full several times during
the day. Under the influence of chloroform some of the poor
fellows stormed and swore; some would sing, while others
would lie still and quiet, as the scalpel and saw did their work.
* * * This was the opening of a series of desperate and
bloody battles, known in history as the "Seven Days' Battle,"
between McClellan and Lee, near the city of Richmond, in
which the former, with a well fortified position and well
equipped army, vastly outnumbering that of Lee, was driven
from his fortifications and beaten back to the sheltering pro-
tection of a strong array of marshaled Fleets and forced to
abandon the siege of a city he had commenced and conducted
with so much eclat, lii this series of battles there was so much
fighting, so much charging and so many thrilling incidents
and displays of personal and individual courage, that I pass
over them, not having a sufficiently clear recollection at this
time to relate them in detail.

BRAGGART POPE.

We did not remain long in this camp. In fact, no part of
the Army of Northern Virginia had much rest at any time
during the active and bloody year of 1862. The armies of
Fremont, Banks and Shields, whom we had so roughly han-
dled in the Valley a short time previous, had been united
and formed an invading column under the braggart, Pope,
who declared that the only part of a rebel he had ever seen
was his back, issuing his orders from headquarters in the sad-

150 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

die, which would seem to boast, "I am going to do something.
I am."

BATTLE OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN.

Learning of the advance of this column, we broke camp at
Gordonsville and marched to meet it, determined that
Pope should see our faces when we met. We en-
countered our friend and commissary, Banks, at Cedar
Mountain, where we were so persistent in present-
ing our faces to view that this part of Pope's army
soon presented us a brief view of their backs and disappeared.
In this battle I obtained the finest view of an en-
gagement I ever had. Cedar Mountain is an isolated knob
with a broad, open country all around it. From this elevated
position we could plainly see the two lines approach, and
when they opened fire and engaged in deadly strife, how my
heart ached for the result as I looked upon this living pano-
rama of war, with the greatest possible anxiety for the suc-
cess of our men. As long as they stood and fired at each
other the result was in great dotibt ; but when our men raised
the "Rebel Yell," and swept down among them in an old-
fashioned Confederate charge, that settled it. The Federals
were swept from the field and driven off in confusion, and
Banks was made to honor another requisition from Jackson
on his commissary department.

It having been definitely ascertained that the army of Mc-
Clellan was being withdrawn from the Peninsula and sent to
Pope, General Lee began to transfer his army to the fields of
Northern Virginia again. Jackson began one of his favorite
movements to turn Pope's flank and get into his rear. To do
this, we had to make a detour of sixty or seventy miles, sweep-
ing around close to the foot of the Blue Ridge so as to turn
his right flanlc. The march was a forced and vigorous one,
so as to execute the movement before Pope could be apprised
of our purpose. While marching up a river and about a
mile from it, a regiment of the enemy crossed over,
threw out a line of sharpshooters and began to reconnoiter
our columns. They supposed, no doubt, that it was Mosby
with his little battalion of bush-whackers, hanging on their

Twenty-First Regiment. 151

flanks and annoying them, as was his custom, and they would
run him off before he could do them any mischief. They
struck our column at our brigade. We quickly faced into
line and charged them, running them back to the river, into
which they plunged precipitately as they came to it. We
rushed down to the bank and found the river full of Federals,
struggling to reach the other bank, where many were climbing
up out of the river. We paid no attention to those in the
water, it being such a fair and tempting shot at those climb-
ing the other bank. We were rolling them back in the river
at a fearful rate when we were ordered to join the column
and resume the march. We resumed our march and
pressed forward with all the speed we could make. So rap-
idly did we move from place to place, always turning up at
a place entirely unexpected by the enemy, that we were
known as "Jackson's Foot Cavalry." In fact, we could on
long marches outmarch the cavalry during the latter part of
the war.' They cotild ride off from us for the first few days,
but their horses being thin, would soon become jaded and we
would overtake them and march on by them in a week's time.
We made a complete success of turning Pope's flank and
marched around into his rear. We struck the raih'oad at a
place called Brandy Station, distant only three or four miles
from Manassas Junction, at about 11 o'clock at night. We
had been there but a few minutes when we heard the whistle
of a train in the direction of Pope's army, and discovered it
was coming toward us. We tried to tear up a rail from the
track but did not succeed before the train came thundering
by. We fired a volley into it as it sped towards Manassas
Junction. Soon we heard another whistle coming from the
same direction. This time we succeeded in getting some
rails up and turned them so as to cause the engine to jump
the track down a steep embankment. We then moved iip the
road a short distance, and as it came by we fired a volley into
it. The engineer pulled the throttle wide open and gave his
engine all the steam. When it struck the turned rails, it
jumped clear out from the rails and buried itself in the earth
at the foot of the embankment. The cars tumbled into piles,
leaving not more than half the train standing on the track.

152 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

Soon we heard another whistle, and moving up the road,
greeted the train with a volley as it passed. The engineer
did as the other, giving it all the speed he could, out about
half way through the cars standing on the track, scattering
them in all directions and doubling up his own train into a
jumbled mass. Soon we heard the whistle of another train,
and treating it as we had the others, drove it headlong into
the mass of wreckage that already encumbered the track.
This was the last one to come down, and we had three long
trains piled up in a mass of wreckage on the track. They
were all long trains of empty box ears, filled up with rough,
board seats, and were transporting McClellan's troops to
Pope. The first engine we ditched was called "The Presi-
dent," and had a very fair picture of President Lincoln
painted on the steam dome, with one of our bullet holes
through his head.

If we had struck the trains going the other way, they woTild
have been full of troops, and we would have made a big haul
of prisoners. The first train that succeeded in passing us re-
ported at the junction, where there was a company of artillery
that Mosby's gang had fired on it as it passed Brandy Sta-
tion and they might look out for an attack before day. But
for this warning, we would have caught the artillerymen in
their beds.

My regiment was sent forward to capture the junction,
which we reached about 1 o'clock in the morning. The artil-
lerymen, warned by the train that escaped us, had their guns
loaded with grape shot and canister and were in position wait-
ing for us. Grape shot are iron balls about the size of mar-
bles, and a 12-pound gun is loaded with about a half gallon of
them. Canister is a tin can about the size of a three-po\ind
tomato can, sealed up full of musket balls loaded into the
cannon that way. When fired, the can is torn to pieces and
the bullets scatter out. Marching up to cannon loaded with
grape and canister is rough medicine, but soldiers some limes
have to take it. We approached the station as silently and
stealthily as we could and succeeded in covering behind some
box cars standing on the track. We were wanting them to
fire, knowing they would get a shot any way, but we were

Twenty-First Regiment. 153

dreading the fire at the same time. They held their fire
until we got within a hundred yards, but we could not see
them well enough to shoot them, and they were waiting to see
us plainly. Finally we made such a noise among the cars
they thought we were charging, and fired all four of their
guns. Fortunately for us, their aim in the darkness was
bad. Their grape shot and bullets went whistling over our
heads, and no one was hurt. This was the opportuuity we
were wishing for. Their guns were now empty and we were
careful not to give them time to load again. With a quick
dash we were soon among them and made them all prisoners
before they could reload their guns. Having secured our
prisoners and arranged for their safe keeping, we laid down
and slept soundly until next morning.

SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS.

The large warehouse full of rations that we had burned
about six months before, had been rebuilt and was full of
army supplies, this point being used as Pope's base. It will
be observed that Jackson, with his corps only, was square in
the rear of Pope's army, which consisted of the united forces
of Banks, Fremont and Shields, with heavy reinforcements
from McClellan's army. All this force was between us and
the main body of our army. In addition to this, on the other
side of us and not far off, was the main body of McClellan's
great army, pressing up from Acquia creek to join Pope. We
were exactly between these two great armies and completely
cut off from our friends, and it looked as though they only
had to move together and crush us with their mighty weight.
The men as well as the generals knew that our position was
an extremely critical one, but not one of us had any fears of
being crushed or captured. That Jackson was with us and
could lead us out, was felt and expressed. If our friends
could not reach us before this great anaconda closed around
us, we knew that Jackson would concentrate his strength on
some weak point and cut his way through and walk off where
he pleased. We all felt we were able to do that in a great
emergency. We filled our haversacks and loaded our wagons

154 North Carolina Troops, , 1861-'65.

as well as several others, that we captured at the junction,
with Federal rations, again drawing on our good commissary,
Banks, for supplies. We then applied the torch to the re-
mainder, again burning down Manassas warehouse full of
provisions. Pope now realizing the situation, began to press
down upon us with the view of crushing us before Lee could
send us any assistance. We simply moved out a few miles
from the junction and took position on a part of the ground
on which the famous battle of Bull Eun was fought a little
more than a year previous. The lines, however, were nearly
at a right angle to those of the previous battle, as we were
being approched from a different direction. Pope had taken
the precaution to place a force at each of the mountain passes
to prevent reinforcements from reaching us, and began to
press us with his whole army, making the attack on 29 Au-
gust. This was the famous "Second Battle of Manassas,"
and was one of the most stubbornly fought battles of the war.
Jackson had only his own corps during this first day's fight to
withstand the surging mass of Federals that was hurled
against him. But this he did in true Stonewall style, beating
them back and holding our position throughout the day. In
the meantime Longstreet was hastening with all possible
speed to our assistance, and when he came to the mountain
gap through which it was necessary for him to pass in order
to reach us, he did not permit the force guarding it to be any
obstacle in his way. He simply ran over them with his old
veterans. He reached us late in the afternoon of the 30th,
and was beating back Pope's left wing before that General
knew he had crossed the mountains. On the morning of the
30th Pope hurled his forces against us with the evident in-
tention of crushing us before other help could reach us, and
it is doubtful if he yet knew that Longstreet was there wait-
ing for him. He (Pope) had still been further reinforced
from McOlellan's army and, no doubt, felt able to run over
us. During this day some of the hardest fighting that had
occurred thus far was had. On one occasion the hostile
forces met at a railroad fill and fought desperately by throw-
ing stones across the fill at each other, neither side daring to
cross it to the other.

Twenty-First Regiment. 155

We struck the enemy in a gully, or branch, that ran along
a hollow. We came to a fence on the ridge about one hundred
yards distant that seemed to run parallel with the enemy's
position. We halted at this fence and quickly tore it down
and piled the rails in front. It offered us good protection,
where we lay down on the ground. We opened fire on the en-
emy, but it soon became so dark that we could not see the en-
enemy's position, but we would fire at the fiashes of their
guns, as I suppose they would fire at our flashes. We re-
ceived orders at one time to charge the enemy, and started to
do so, but did not go many steps before we were ordered to
halt and lie down again. Our regiment was commanded by
the gallant Colonel Fulton, of Stokes County. It was during
this little advance that he fell at my side, falling against me,
shot through and killed outright. We slept on our arms,
expecting to renew the battle at daylight, but when morning
came the Federals were gone. We followed up the retreat-
ing enemy until he was safely back in the fortifications
around Washington. General Pope had for once, at least,
seen the rebels faces and had been forced, very reluctantly, no
doubt, to show them his back. So great was his mortification
after all of his intemperate boasting that as soon as he had
his army safely behind the great fortifications of Washing-
ton he resigned his commission and we never heard anything
more of Pope. All the great and well equipped armies
that had entered Virginia so cheerily in the early Spring, and
marched on to Richmond, the Confederate Capital, confident
of its capture, found themselves hurled back and cooped up
in the fortifications around their own Capital and engaged
in its defence.

THE CAPTUEE OF HAEPEE''s FEEEY.

One the morning of the 15 th, having everything ready, we
opened a merciless fire upon the doomed garrison. From
high up, almost over their heads and from every side, came
the shower of shells pouring in upon them, from which their
fortifications afforded no protection. In our immediate
front, the ground was comparatively level, or rather it was not

156 NoKTH Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

so mountainous, and on the crest of a ridge the enemy had a
strong line of entrenchments heavily manned. General Jack-
son and staff were sitting on their horses near my regiment's
position, watching the effect of the bombardment. A battery
of artillery on our right, I think it was Little Lattimore's,
that was playing on the enemy's line, limbered and galloped
to the front, took a new position on a hill in two or three
hundred yards of the enemy and fired as rapidly as I ever
saw artillery handled in my life. It was, in fact, an ar-
tillery charge. Presently we saw Jackson turn to his cour-
iers and speak a few words to them and immediately they
went galloping off to the different divisions. Our hearts
trembled. We knew the orders those couriers were carrying.
It was the order for a general and simultaneous charge all
along the line. The bristling line of bayonets behind strong
fortifications, was a dangerous thing to approach and we
knew that many of us would fall before we could hope to
scale its ramparts and beat back its defenders. But while
we were bracing our nerves in solemn dread for the deadly
encounter, a thing occurred that sent a thrill of joy to every
heart. On the enemy's works, in plain view, was unfurled
and fluttered out in the breeze, the white flag of peace. The
enemy had surrendered. Cheer after cheer rent the air. We
had now accomplished the object of our recent campaign and
supposed we would go into camp and have a rest, but to our
surprise, three days' rations were issued with orders to cook
them and be ready to march by 2 o'clock. Jackson did not
even take time to receive the surrender, but left that honor to
A. P. Hill, and when the sun went down on that victorious
day we were many miles away retracing our steps over the
same route we had come. We had been on a forced march
for some days and in line of battle all the night previous, fre-
quently shifting from one position to another, so that but lit-
tle sleep or rest could be obtained and now we had to march
all night, hastening to join Lee, who was in danger of being
attacked by the united armies of McClellan.

Two or three miles from the ford, near a small town called
Sharpsburg, we found the army in line of battle with the
sharpshooters of the two armies popping away at each other.

Twenty-First Regiment. 157

I soon found my regiment in line, taking what rest and sleep
they could, while awaiting the attack of the enemy. During
the remainder of the day there was very little fighting, both
armies manoeuvering for position. That night we slept on
our arms in line of battle. We were so exhausted, not having
camped for three or four days and nights previous, that as
soon as we could get still we were asleep, depending on the
sharpshooters in front to apprise us of the approach of the
enemy. Next morning we repulsed an assault by the enemy
in heavy force. After waiting for some time and seeing
no disposition on the part of the enemy to make a fur-
ther advance upon us, who rather seemed to enjoy standing
there and shooting at us while we lay still and took it with-
out molesting them, we concluded to take part in the play.
We had a decided advantage of position, in that we were
lying flat behind a fence and could not be seen, while they
stood upright in the open ground and could be seen from
their feet up, giving us their full length at which we could
take deliberate and careful aim. The distance between us
was about 300 yards, which is close and easy range for the
good Enfield rifles with which we were now armed. When
the "Ready" came, every man lying flat on his stomach, with
the muzzle of his gun through the crack of the fence, took
careful aim and when the order "Fire" rang out on the air,
a sheet of flame shot out from the fence up and down its
entire length, and a line of bullets on the wings of lightning
sped over the bosom of the fleld on their hurried mission of
death. When the smoke lifted, which it quickly did, it could
be plainly seen that the line, so dark and full when our
fingers pressed the triggers, was now full of long, open gaps,
and staggering under the shock of the fire.

Then came the order "Forward, charge !" Over the fence
we sprang and raising the yell, as the enemy called it, went
at them with all speed.

In this charge the Color-Sergeant, whose name was Ryer-
son, I think, did a heroic thing. I am sorry I cannot be pos-
itive about his name, as he was a member of another com-
pany. He ran ahead of the advancing line to within 100
yards of the enemy's line of battle (which had been rein-

158 North Carolina Troops, 1801-65.

forced by a fresh line) and jumping upon a stump, waved tlie
flag defiantly at the enemy, making himself a most conspicu-
ous target for their marksmen. Of course, he could not
have lived many seconds on that stump, but his brilliant
dash had an inspiring influence on our entire line, which,
raising the "Rebel Yell," rushed with such impetuosity upon
the enemy that they were quickly driven from the field and
the gallant Sergeant, amid the cheers of his comrades, de-
scended from the stump unharmed. History loves to dwell
upon the gallant act of Sergeant Jasper, in climbing the flag-
staff under the enemy's bombardment, and restoring to its
place the flag that had been shot down at Fort Moultrie, but
Sergeant Jasper's act was one of prudence and safety, com-
pared with the rashness and peril of that of Sergeant Kyer-
son.

BATTLE OF FEEDEEICKSBTJEG.

On 13 December the enemy opened the battle, moving a
heavy force against our lines near Hamilton's Crossing, where
Jackson's Corps was posted, with himself in personal com-
mand. They made a bold rush upon us, but we met them
with such a storm of shell and canister and bullets that they
were soon driven back. There was a place where our lines
did not connect and a column of the enemy penetrated this
gap and gained the crest of the hills; but we had a reserve
line which raised the "Rebel Tell," and charged upon them
and sent them flying down the hills again. In their retreat a
large number of the enemy took shelter in a railroad cut that
ran along the foot of the hills and our pursuing line charged
right on over them, leaving them in the rear, while it pursued
the others out in the open plain beyond. In returning to the
lines all those men in the railroad cut were made prisoners,
which they recognized themselves as being when we passed
over them. The battle of Fredericksburg was now over, but
we did not know it and we took advantage of the night to re-
arrange our lines and strengthen our position for the next
day's anticipated conflict. But when the morning of the
next day came and we were bracing ourselves for another
grapple with the enemy, we discovered in looking out over

Twenty-First Regiment. 159

the plain that they were not there. The enemy had learned
by sad experience the impossibility of forcing us from our ad-
mirable position, and while we were busily engaged during
the night in strengthening our position, he was silently re-
moving to the other side of the river out of the range of our
guns on those frowning hills.

L. E. Powers,
Lieutenant Company A.

KUTHERFORDTON, N. 0..

9 April, 1901.

Note. — Soon after Pope issued his braggart proclamation, above re-
ferred to, including his famous declaration his "Headquarters were in
the saddle," news came rapidly of his successive and overwhelming de-
feats. Whereat the New York Herald, pithily and wittily said, "What
else could you expect from a general who did not know his headquar-
ters from his hindquarters." Copies of the paper got into the Southern
lines and created much amusement. — Bd.

TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT.

1. Johnston J. Pettigrew, Colonel. 3. Graham Daves, 1st Lieut, and Adjt.

8. Thos. D. Jones. Captain, Co. A. 4. W. W. Dickson, 2d Lieut., Co. A.

5. Walter Clark, 2d Lieut, and Drill Master.

TWENTY- SECO/^D REQIMENT.

By adjutant GRAHAM DAVES.

The Twenty-second Eegiment of North Carolina Troops
was organized in camp near Kaleigh in July, 18C1, by the
election of the following Field Officers :

J. JoiiKSTOiy Pettigebw, Colonel, of Tyrrell County, then
a resident of Charleston, S. C. Colonel PettigreAv had seen
service with the forces in South Carolina, and conunanded a
regiment at the siege and capture of Fort Sumter by the
Confederates in April, 1861.

John O. Long^ Lieutenant-Colonel, of Eandolph County,
a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West
Point.

Thomas S. Galloway, Jr., Major, of Eockingham Coun-
ty, a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute at Lexing-
ton, Va.

The commissions of the Field Officers all bore date of 11
July, 1861.

The regiment was composed, originally, of twelve compa-
nies, but two of them, C and D, were very soon transferred to
other commands, and the lettering. A, B, E, F, G, H, I, K, L,
and M, for the ten companies, was retained. This fact is
mentioned because the lettering of the companies of this regi-
ment as reported in the Eegister published by the Adjutant-
General of the State in IN^ovember, 1861, and in the roster of
the troops published by the State in 1882, is incorrectly
given.

The several companies at the time of their first enlistment,
and before their organization into a regiment, adopted local
names, which, as part of their history, it may be of interest
to preserve :

Company A, of Caldwell County, Captain W. F. Jones,

11

162 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

was called the "Caldwell Eough and Eeady Boys" ; Company
B, of McDowell County, Captain Jas. M. N'eal, tlie '^McDow-
ell Eifles" ; Company E', of Guilford County, Captain Colum-
bus C. Cole, the "Guilford Men" ; Company F, of Alleghany
County, Captain Jesse F. Eeeves, the "Alleghany True
Blues" ; Company G, of Caswell Coimty, Captain Edward M.
Scott, the "Caswell Eifles" ; Company H, of Stokes County,
Captain Hamilton Scales, the "Stokes Boys" ; Company I, of
Eandolph County, Captain Shubal G. Worth, the "Davis
Guards" ; Company K, of McDowell County, Captain Alney
Burgin, the "McDowell Boys"; Company L, of Eandolph
County, Captain Eobert H. Gray, the "Uwharrie Eifles";
Company M, of Eandolph County, Captain John M. Odell,
the "Eandolph Hornets."

Companies C and D, which, as before mentioned, were
transferred to other regiments, were named : Company C, of
Surry County, , Captain Eeaves, the "Surry Eegulators" ;
Company D, of Ashe County, Captain Cox, the "Jefferson
Davis Mountain Eifles."

The organization of the regiment was completed by the ap-
pointment of Lieutenant Graham Daves, of Craven County,
as Adjutant, 24 July, 1861 ; Dr. James K. Hall, of Guilford
County, Surgeon, 24 July, 1861; Dr. Benj. A. Cheek, of
Warren County, Assistant Surgeon, 24 July, 1861; James
J. Litchford, of Wake County, Assistant Quartermaster, 19
July, 1861 ; Eev. A. B. Cox, of Alleghany County, 6 July,
1861, Chaplain; and Hamilton G. Graham (Company I), of
Craven County, as Sergeant Major.

First called the Twelfth Volunteers, the regiment was
shortly after mtobered and designated the Twenty-second
Troops. The change was made in the Adjutant General's
office at Ealeigh to avoid confusion. With the exception
of the "Bethel Eegiment," or First Volunteers, which served
for six months only, the troops first enlisted were mustered
into service for one year and were called volunteers. The
Legislature, however, also authorized the enlistment of ten
regiments "for three years or the war" — eight of infantry,

Twenty-Second Regiment. 163

one of cavalry (Ninth), and one of artillery (Tenth),
to be called "State Troops," and numbered one to ten.
This would have caused the numbering of ten regi-
ments each of "State Troops" and of "Volunteers" res-
pectively to have beeii the same, and the numbers of the vol-
unteer regiments were therefore moved forward ten. This
will explain a change in the numbering of the regiments, to
include the .Fourteenth Volunteers, afterwards the Twenty-
fourth Troops, which might not to be understood. A dupli-
cation of this sort in the numbering of certain regiments of
Georgia and South Carolina troops did actually exist and
caused much confusion.

The first Captain of A Company was W. F. Jones, of Cald-
well County, who was succeeded by Thos. D. Jones, of the
same. The entire number of rank and file in this company
serving at one time or another during its whole term of ser-
vice was 187 men. Company B had for its first Captain
James M. ISTeal, of McDowell County, and numbered rank
and file from first to last 171 men. Captain Columbus C.
Cole, of Greensboro, commanded E Company, which num-
bered 184 rank and file, while in service. Jesse F. Reeves,
of Alleghany County, was first Captain of F Company, which
numbered 160 men during its term. J. A. Burns was Cap-
tain of G Company at the organization of the regiment, but
was shortly after succeeded by John W. Graves. The com-
pany numbered in all 145 men. Hamilton Scales, of Stokes
County, was Captain of H Company, which numbered in all
200 men. I Company's first Captain was Shubal G. Worth,
of Randolph County. The company numbered 188 men all
told. Alney Burgin, of McDowell County, was first Captain of
K Company ; Robert H. Gray, of L Company, and John M.
Odell, of M Company, which numbered respectively, during
their several terms of service, 151, 178 and 146 men. These
figures are mentioned here for convenience, and represent, of
course, enlistments and assignments for the whole period of
the war. At the completion of its organization the regiment
numbered nearly 1,000 enlisted men. Shortly after its or-
ganization it was ordered to Virginia, and made its first halt

164 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

in Eiehmond. Eemaining in camp there for a short time, it
was next ordered to the Potomac to form part of the com-
mand of General Theophilus H. Holmes, and was first sta-
tioned at Brook's Station near Acquia Creek. Soon, how-
ever, it marched to Evansport, a point on the Potomac river,
the present Quantico Station, between the Chappewamsic
and Quantico creeks, where batteries of heavy guns were to
be established to blockade the Potomac below Washington,
Going into camp at this place late in September, the regi-
ment was stationed there during the Autumn and winter of
18 61-' 62, on duty in the erection and support of the batteries
which were in great part constructed by details of its men.
There were three of these batteries at first, mounted with
9-inch Dalghren guns, smooth bore 32 and 42 pounders, and
one heavy rifled Blakely gun, and they were thought to be
formidable in those days. ISTo. 2 Battery was in part manned
by Company I, of the regiment, detailed for that purpose,
where it continued to serve as long as the post was occupied.
After the batteries opened, traffic by water to Washington
ceased almost entirely, but the river there being about two
miles wide, some craft succeeded in running the gauntlet from
time to time, among others the steam sloop of war Pensacola,
which passed at night.

While on duty at Evansport, about the middle of October,
1861, the following roster of the line officers of the regiment,
with dates of their commissions, was returned:

Compajsty a — Thomas D. Jones, Captain, 8 August, 1861 ;
J. B. Clark, First Lieutenant, 8 August, 1861; Eelix G.
Dula, Second Lieutenant, 8 August, 1861 ; Wm. W. Dick-
son, Second Lieutenant, 8 August, 1861.

CoMPAisTY B — James H. Neal, Captain, 8 May, 1861 ; A.
G. Halyburton, First Lieutenant, 8 May, 1861 ; J. M. Hig-
gins. Second Lieutenant, 8 May, 1861 ; Samuel H. Adams,
Second Lieutenant, 8 May, 1861.

Company E — Columbus C. Cole, Captain, 23 May, 1861 ;
H. E. Charles, First Lieutenant, 23 May, 1861 ; W. H. Fau-
cett, Second Lieutenant, 23 May, 1861 ; John N". Nelson,
Second Lieutenant, 27 July, 1861.

Twenty-Second Regiment. 165

Company F — Preston B. Eeeves, Captain, 10 September,
1861 ; John Gambol, First Lieutenant, 11 September, 1861 ;
Horton L. Reeves, Second Lieutenant, 27 May, 1861 ; George
Mc. Reeves, Second Lieutenant, 2Y August, 1861.

Company G^ — John W. Graves, Captain, 11 October,
1861; J. J. Stokes, First Lieutenant, 28 May, 1861; P.
Smith, Second Lieutenant, 28 May, 1861 ; John JST. Black-
vi^ell. Second Lieutenant, 24 August, 1861.

Company H — Hamilton Scales, Captain, 1 June, 1861 ;
Fphraim Bouldin, First Lieutenant, 1 June, 1861 ; S. Mar-
tin, Second Lieutenant, 1 June, 1861

Company I — Shubal G. Worth, Captain, 5 June, 1861;
E- H. Winningham, First Lieutenant, 12 August, 1861 ;
Alex. C. McAllister, Second Lieutenant, 12 August, 1861 ;
Hamilton C. Graham, Second Lieutenant, 15 August, 1861.

Company K — Alney Burgin, Captain, 5 June, 1861 ;
Chas. 'H. Burgin, First Lieutenant, 5 June, 1861 ; A. W.
Crawford, Second Lieutenant, 5 June, 1861 ; Isaac E. Morris,
Second Lieutenant, 5 June, 1861.

Company L — Robert H. Gray, Captain, 18 June, 1861 ;
Claiborne Gray, First Lieutenant, 18 June, 1861 ; J. A. C.
Brown, Second Lieutenant, 18 June, 1861 ; W. G. Spencer,
Second Lieutenant, 18 June, 1861.

Company M — John M. Odell, Captain, 10 June, 1861;
Laban Odell, First Lieutenant, 10 June, 1861 ; J. M. Pounds,
Second Lieutenant, 10 June, 1861 ; Henry C. AUred, Second
Lieutenant, 10 June, 1861.

At different times during its entire term of service the
following were line officers of the Twenty-second Regiment ;
the list is not quite complete :

Company A — Captains: W. F. Jones, Thomas D. Jones,
James M. Isbell, Wm. B. Clark. Lieutenants: Joseph B.
Clark, James W. Sudderth, Felix G. Dula, Wm. W. Dick-
eon, Marcus Deal, J. W. Justice.

Company B — Captains: James M. Neal, J. T. Conley,
George H. Gardin. Lieutenants : Samuel H. Adams, James
M. Higgins, Robert A. Tate, S. P. Tate.

Company E — Captains : Columbus C. Cole, Chas. E. Har-

166 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

per, Joseph A. Hooper, Martin M. Wolfe, Eobert W. Cole,
Lieutenants : Andrew J, Busick, W. H. Faucett, Jas. H. Ban-
ner, John ISr. Nelson, 0. 0. Wheeler.

Company F — Captains: Jesse F. Eeeves, Preston B.
Eeaves, W. L. Mitchell, S. G. Caudle. Lieutenants: John
GamboU, N. A. Eeynolds, David Edwards, Horton S. Eeeves,
Calvin Eeeves, George G. Eeeves, Calvin C. Carrier.

Company G — Captains: Edward M. Scott, J. A. Burns,
John W. Graves, Stanlin Brinchfield. Lieutenants: O. W.
Eitzgerald, James T. Stokes, Peter Smith, J. N. BlackweU,
B. S. Mitchell, Martin H. Cobb.

Company H — Captains : Haimilton Scales, Ephraim Boul-
din, Wm. H. Lovins. Lieutenants : S. Martin, C. C. Smith,
John K. Martin, Sam B. Ziglar, Shadrach Martin, Joshua D.
Ziglar.

Company I — Captains : Shubal G. Worth, Geo. V. Lamb.
Lieutenants : Eobert Hanner, Eli H. Winningham, J«hn H.
Palmer, B. W. Burkhead, Wm. McAuley, Hamilton C. Gra-
ham, Alex. C. McAllister, J. S. Bobbins, E. A. Glenn, E. W.
Winbourue.

Company K — Captains : Alney Burgin, Chas. H. Burgin,
Wm. B. Gooding, E. J. Dobson. Lieutenants : Isaac E. Mor-
ris, A. W. Crawford, J. L. Greenlee, J. B. Burgin, John M.
Burgin, J. E. Bailey.

Company L — Captains : Eobert H. Gray, J. A. C. Brown,
Lee Eussell, Yancey M. C. Johnson. Lieutenants : Claiborn
Gray, Wm. G. Spencer, E. C. Llarney, Oliver M. Pike, Cal-
vin H. Welborn.

Company M — Captains: John M. Odell, Laban Odell,
Warren B. Kivett, Columbus F. Slier. Lieutenants : J. M.
Bobbins, James M. Pounds, Henry C. AUred, Lewis F. Mc-
Mastexs, John M. Lawrence, A. W. Lawrence.

Besides the Lieutenants named above, the Captains of the
several companies had in nearly every instance served as Lieu-
tenants previous to their promotion. Hon. Walter Clark,
now senior Justice of the Supreme Court of the State, who
will compile and edit the histories of our North Carolina Eeg-
iments, was at its organization a drill master in the Twenty-

Twenty-Second Regiment. 167

second. He was then not yet 15 years of age, fresh from
Colonel Tew's Military Academy at Hillsboro.

Until March, 1862, the regiment remained in support of
the batteries at Evansport, in brigade at different times with
the First Arkansas, the Second Tennessee, a Virginia regi-
ment, and perhaps other regiments, under command at differ-
ent times, in the order named, of Generals John G. Walker,
Isaac R. Trimble and Samuel G. French. While there the
health of the men was good, except for measles, which
seemed to be epidemic in all the regiments. The batteries
were frequently engaged with the enemy's gunboats,
and with batteries on the Maryland side of the Po-
tomac, but the casualties were very few. Company I
had several men wounded by the bursting of a 42-
pounder gun in Battery No. 2. While on duty at Evansport,
Colonel Pettigrew was promoted Brigadier-General, but feel-
ing that his services were of more value in furthering the re-
enlistment and re-organization of the regiment, then near at
hand, he declined the appointment — a rare instance of patri-
otism and devotion to the public good. When the army fell
back from Manassas and the Potomac in March, 1862, to the
line of the Rappahannock, General French commanded the
brigade, which took post at Fredericksburg. Soon after Gen-
eral French was transferred to a command in ISTorth Caro-
lina, and the regiment was marched to the Peninsula below
Richmond and shared in the Williamsburg and Yorktown
campaign. Returning to the vicinity of Richmond, and
Colonel Pettigrew having been again appointed brigadier, in
command of the brigade, which appointment he this time ac-
cepted, Lieutenant-Colonel Chas. E. Lightfoot, previously of
the Sixth Regiment, was promoted Colonel. Under his com-
mand the regiment went into the fight at Seven Pines in May-
June, 1862, in which it was heavily engaged, and its losses
were severe. General Pettigrew was here wounded and made
prisoner. Colonel Lightfoot was also captured. Captain
Thomas D. Jones and Lieutenant S. H. Adams were killed,
besides many others, and the aggregate loss of the regiment
was 147 in all.

168 North Carolina Troops, 186J-'65.

Soon after Seven Pines the regiment was re-organized,
when the following were elected Field Officers : James Con-
nor, of South Carolina, Colonel; Captain Kobert H. Gray,
of Company L, Lieutenant-Colonel; and Captain Columbus
C. Cole, of Company E, Major. They took rank from 14
June, 1862. There were many changes also in the line officers.
Previously Adj utant Graham Daves had been promoted Cap-
tain and assigned to duty as Assistant Adjutant-General on
the general staff, and Lieutenant P. E. Charles became Adju-
tant. A new brigade, too, was formed, consisting of the Six-
teenth, Twenty-second, Thirty-fourth and Thirty-eighth
North Carolina Regiments, and placed under the command
of Brigadier-General Wm. D. Pender, in the division of
General A. P. Hill.

An officer in describing the bearing of the Twenty-second
at Seven Pines says: "In all my readings of veterans, and
of coolness under fire, I have never conceived of anything
surpassing the coolness of our men in this fight."

In the "Seven Days' Fight" around Richmond the regi-
ment was next engaged: First, at Mechanics ville, 26 June,
in which Colonel Connor was badly wounded; at Ellison's
Mill; at Gaines' Mill, 27 Jime, where it won the highest
encomiums. General A. P. Hill says of it in his report of
the battle : "The Sixteenth North Carolina, Colonel McEl-
roy, and the Twenty-second, Lieutenant-Colonel Gray, at
one time carried the crest of the hill, and were in the enemy's
camp, but were driven back by overwhelming numbers."
And General Pender : "My men fought nobly and main-
tained their ground with great stubbornness." Next at Fra-
zier's Farm, 30 June. In this fight the regiment was very
conspicuous and suffered severely. Among the killed were
Captain Harper and Lieutenant P. E. Charles, of Company
E. The latter was bearing the regimental colors at the time,
and near him, in a space little more than ten feet square, nine
men of the color guard lay dead. Captain Ephraim Boul-
din, of Company H, was also killed.

On 9 August, the battle of Cedar Mountain was fought.
In this engagement the Twenty-second Regiment was charged
by a regiment of cavalry which it easily repulsed and pun-

Twenty-Second Regiment. 169

ished sharply. Lieutenant Kobert W. Cole, of Company E,
succeeded Lieutenant Charles, as Adjutant. The regiment
was with Jackson in his battles with Pope of 28 and 29 Au-
gust, and bore an active part at Second Manassas on 30 Au-
gust. In these actions it was efficiently commanded by Major
C C. Cole, owing to the extreme sickness of Lieutenant-Colo-
nel Gray. Two days later it was again engaged with the enemy
at Chantilly, or Ox Hill, fought in a terrible thunder storm, in
which the artillery of heaven and of earth seemed to strive
in rivalry. The hard service and heavy losses of this cam-
paign may be understood by the fact that at this time there
were, out of the twelve field officers of the four regiments of
the brigade, but three left on duty with their commands, and
some of the companies were commanded by corporals.

Pope, the braggart, had made good use of his "Headquar-
ters in the saddle" to get out of Virginia, and had learned all
about "Lines of Retreat."

The Twenty-second Regiment took part in the reduction
and capture of Harper's Ferry 15 August, where it re-
mained until the 17th, the day the battle of Sharpsburg was
fought. On that day the regiment, with the rest of A. P.
Hill's division, arrived on the battlefield after a forced
march of seventeen miles, in time to aid, in the afternoon, in
the decided repulse of Bumside's attack at the "Stone
Bridge," thereby preventing the turning of General Lee's
right and saving the day to the Confederates. On the night
of the 18th, the army re-crossed the Potomac and on the 19th
was followed by a division of Federals, which was promptly
attacked by part of A. P. Hill's command, routed and driven
back across the Potomac at Shepherdstown with great slaugh-
ter. The Twenty-second took an active part in this success-
ful fight. After the enemy had been driven into the river, a
heavy fire was opened on the Confederates by the Federal bat-
teries and sharp shooters from its north bank. Under this
fire a detachment of the Twenty-second under Major Cole
lay, with very slight protection, for nearly twelve hours, and
could be withdrawn only after nightfa,ll.

Shortly after Shepherdstown, Lieutenant-Colonel Gray re-
joined the regiment, and Lieutenant J. R. Cole, previously

170 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

of the Fifty-fourth Eegiment, was assigned to the Twenty-
second as Adjutant. On 22 JSTovember, A. P. Hill's Divis-
ion, which had been on duty near Martinsburg and at Snick-
er's Gap in the Blue Ridge, (where there was constant skir-
mishing), marched for Fredericksburg, where it arrived
2 December, a distance of 180 miles. In this winter
march many of the men were barefooted but made merry
over it. At the battle of Fredericksburg, 13 December,
Jackson's Corps formed the right of Lee's ■ army and Pen-
der's Brigade was on the left of A. P. Hill's Division in the
first line. The regiment acquitted itself in this famous ac-
tion in a way well worthy its old reputation. The night of
the 12th a detail from the regiment, by a bold dash, succeeded
in burning a number of haystacks and houses very near to,
and affording cover, to the Federal lines. Major C. C. Cole
was in charge of the detail, and next day commanded the
skirmish line in front of Pender's Brigade. He was ably,
seconded by Captain Laban Odell, of Company M, and Lieu-
tenant Clark, of Company A. The brigade maintained its
position throughout the action, repulsing every attack upon
it, but not without heavy loss. Major Cole was much com-
plimented for his handsome action in dispersing the strong
force of the enemy's skirmishers on the brigade front. Gen-
eral Pender was wounded, and his Aid-de-Camp, Lieutenant
Sheppard, was killed in the engagement. Some time before
Fredericksburg the Thirteenth North Carolina Eegiment,
Colonel Alfred M. Scales, had been added to Pender's Bri-
gade.

The winter of 1862-63 was passed in picket and other duty
on the Eappahannock below Fredericksburg. Colonel James
Connor rejoined the regiment while it was stationed there,
but was still unfitted by his severe wound for active duty.
The services of Lieutenant-Colonel Gray were lost to the reg-
iment at this time. Always a man of delicate health, he died
16 March, 1863. Major C. C. Cole was promoted to
Lieutenant-Colonel and Captain Odell became Major their
commissions dating 16 March, 1862 — positions that these ex-
cellent officers were to hold but a short time.

At Chancellorsville in May, 1863, the regiment was in

TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT.

1. J. B. Clarke, 1st Lieiif.. Co. A. 3. S. F. Harper. Private, Co. A

2. Sion H. Oxford, Ensign, 4. William T Abernathy,Private,Co. A.

5. Aurelius J. Dula, Private, Co. A.

Twenty-Second Regiment. 171

Jackson's flank attack on Hooker, and tkrougliout the whole
of the action was heavily engaged. Its losses were very
severe. Colonel Cole and Major Odell were both killed, two
hundred and nineteen men and twenty-six out of thirty-three
ofiicers were killed or wounded, and though the regiment was
distinguished by its accustomed efficiency and gallantry, noth-
ing could compensate for this terrible destruction. Chan-
cellorsville was the eighteenth battle of the Twenty-second
Eegiment, and the most fatal. It went through the Mary-
land campaign of 1863, and Gettysburg, with credit. G-eneral
Wm. D. Pender had been made a Major General and was
now in command of the division, and Colonel Alfred M.
Scales, of the Thirteenth Regiment, was promoted Brigadier
in command of the brigade. It participated in the first day's
brilliant success at Gettysburg, was engaged also on the sec-
ond day, and on the third the brigade was part of General
I. R. Trimble's division. General Pender having been mor-
tally wounded, in sxipport of Heth's division, then under Pet-
tigrew, in the famous charge on Cemetery Ridge. In this
charge, Archer's and Scales' brigades occupied and held for
a ti'me the Federal works, and when they retreated to the
Confederate lines, Scales' Brigade had not one Field Officer
left for duty, and but very few Line Officers. Its total loss
was 102 killed and 322 wounded.

After the return of the regiment to Virginia it was re-or-
ganized, when Thomas S. Galloway, Jr., at one time its
Major, was elected Colonel, to date from 21 September, 1863 ;
Wm. L. Mitchell was Lieutenant-Colonel; J. H. Welborn,
Adjvitant; J. D. Wilder, Quartermaster; P. G. Robinson,
Surgeon. Benj. A. Cheek was still Assistant Surgeon. The
Line Officers, with dates of commission, were as follows :

Company A— Captain, Wm. B. Clark, 12 October, 1862 ;
First Lieutenant, Joseph B. Clark, 28 October, 1862 ; Sec-
ond Lieutenant, Wm. A. Tuttle, 25 April, 1863.

Company B — Captain ; First Lieutenant, Robert

A. Tate, 1 August, 1863 ; Second Lieutenant, George H. Gar-
din, 11 May, 1863; Second Lieutenant, Samuel P. Tate, 1
August, 1863.

172 NoETH Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

OoMPANT E — Captain, Eobert W. Cole, 15 September,
1863; First Lieutenant, Andrew J. Busick, 15 September,
1863 ; Second Lieutenant, Oliver 0. Wheeler, 25 April, 1863.

Company F — Captain ; First Lieutenant, David

Edwards, 20 October, 1862 ; Second Lieutenant, Shadrach G.
Caudle, 25 April, 1863.

Company G — Captain, George A. Graves, 1 May, 1862;
First Lieutenant, Peter Smith, 10 May, 1862 ; Second Lieu-
tenant, Eobert L. Mitchell, 1 May, 1862 ; Second Lieuten-
ant, Martin H. Cobb, 25 April, 1863.

Company H — Captain, Thomas T. Slade, 23 October,
1863 ; First Lieutenant, John K. Martin, 25 May, 1863 ; Sec-
ond Lieutenant, Mason T. Mitchell, 25 April, 1863 ; Second
Lieutenant, C. L. Graves, 25 May, 1863.

Company I — Captain, Gaston V. Lamb, 18 July, 1862 ;
First Lieutenant, Burwell W. Burkhead, 1 July, 1863 ; Sec-
ond Lieutenant, Richard W. Winburne, 1 August, 1863 ; Sec-
ond Lieutenant, Robert A. Glenn, 1 August, 1863.

Company K — Captain, W. B. Gooding, 13 November,
1862; First Lieutenant, , ■; Second Lieuten-
ant, E. J. Dobson, 5 November, 1862.

Company L — Captain, Lee Russell, , ; First

Lieutenants, Yancey M. C. Johnson, 1 August, 1863 ; Second
Lieutenant, Oliver M. Pike, 15 July, 1863 ; Second Lieuten-
ant, Calvin H. Winbome, 1 August, 1863.

Company M — Captain, Columbus F. Siler, 2 May, 1863 ;
First Lieutenant, James M. Robbins, 2 May, 1863 ; Second
Lieutenant, John M. Lawrence, 25 April, 1863.

Under this organization the regiment shared in the events
of the "campaign of strategy" in October and ISTovember,
1863, on the Eapidan, and endured the cold and other priva-
tions in the affair at Mine Run, 2 December. Going into
winter quarters after that, there were no occurrences of
much note until the opening of the great campaign
in the Spring of 1864. Major-General Cadmus M.
Wilcox had been assigned to the command of the division,
General Pender having died of the wound received at Gettys-
burg, and this division with that of Heth, at the Wilderness

Twenty-Second Regiment. 173

5 May, withstood and repulsed with heavy loss every
attack of Grant's forces on that memorable day. So severe
had been the struggle that at night when General Heth asked
permission to readjust his lines, much disordered by the per-
sistent fighting, General A. P. Hill simply replied : "Let the
tired men sleep," a decision which, with the delay of Lon-
street's corps the next morning in getting into position, had
nearly caused disaster. The Twenty-second bore well its part
here, and so on, always maintaining its high reputation, at
Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, and through the
weary winter of hardship and want of 1864-'65, borne with
fortitude, in the trenches at Petersburg ; on the trying retreat
at Appomattox in April, 1865, where the sad end came.

COLD HAEBOE PETEESBUEG.

After Grant's disastrous attack upon Lee at Cold Harbor in
June, 18 64, he withdrew from Lee's front and began the move-
ment which transferred his operations to the vicinity of Pe-
tersburg. To conceal this movement Warren's Corps was sent
up the roads towards Eichmond to make demonstrations, and
to meet Warren, Wilcox's Division, in which were Scales' Bri-
gade and the Twenty-second Regiment, was sent. After a
hard march Gary's Brigade of cavalry was found falling
back before a heavy force and Lane's and Scales' Brigades of
infantry were at once ordered forward. These drove back
Wilsdn's cavalry division for one and a half miles, and
secured and held a cross-roads near a place called Smith's
Shop, in the vicinity of the Frazier's Farm battlefield. In
this fight and advance (of more than an hour) the centre of
the Twenty-second Regiment passed at one time over an open
knoll, which had been cleared for artillery two years before,
where they received the full fire of Wilson's men and lost
heavily, but still pressed on, driving the enemy before them,
and held the position as mentioned above.

BEAMS STATIOW.

In his account of this action in August, 1864, Swinton
errs in saying that three charges were made by the Confed-

174 North Carolina Troops, 18U1-'65.

erates, iivo of which were repulsed. The first charge, as he
terms it, was merely an advance of a battalion of sharpshoot-
ers, under Captain John Young, which drove in the Federal
pickets and skirmishers. Captain Young reported that there
was only a line of picket pits in our front. Under this im-
pression the Sixteenth, Twenty-second and Thirty-fourth
North Carolina regiments, and Benning's Georgia Brigade,
were ordered to charge. On reaching the edge of the woods,
Benning's men, seeing a strong line of works, well manned, in
their front, were halted. The Twenty-second Kegiment
charged up to the works, but, having lost their support on
their right, were withdrawn. They were not repulsed. Pri-
vate Ellison, of Company L, snatched an United States flag
from the earth works in this charge, and brought it away
with him. Shortly after this Lane's, MacRae's and another
brigade of ITeth's Division, with the Twenty-second Regi-
ment covering their left flank, charged the position and car-
ried the works in splendid style. Hampton's cavalry shared
in the attack and rendered most efficient service.

An incident worthy of record occurred in the winter of
1864:-'65, while the Twenty-second N^orth Carolina was on
duty on the lines south of Petersburg, Va., in support of Bat-
tery 45. General A. P. Hill, commanding the corps, was
desirous of getting certain information with regard to the
force and position of the enemy on his front. This he thought
might be obtained by the capture of some prisoners, and he
directed General A. M. Scales, commanding brigade, to make
a foray on the skirmiish line or picket posts of the enemy op-
posite his lines. General Scales detailed Captain C. Prank
Siler, of Company M, of the Twenty-second JSTorth Carolina,
to undertake the expedition with a part of the sharpshooters
of the brigade.

Captain Young, who commanded the sharpshooters, was
temporarily absent. Siler was ordered to report to General
James H. Lane and get a reinforcement from the sharpshoot-
ers of that brigade, but before making the move, Siler wished
to reconnoitre the position. To effect this thoroughly, he
adopted a ruse. Crossing to the Yankee lines he offered,
with the usual signals, to exchange newspapers, as was often

Twenty-Second Regiment. 175

done. While haggling about the exchange he examined the
position and its surroundings carefully and selected a path by
which it might be approached advantageously, iietuming
to his command, he rode over to General Lane's quarters to
get the reinforcements as ordered, General Scales having
loaned him a horse for the purpose. !N"ow, for the better de-
fence of Battery 45, the men of the Twenty-second had
dammed up a small stream in its vicinity which had the effect
of collecting much water in the battery's front and rendering
the approach to it very difficult. Along the top of this dam was
the shortest route between the two brigades, and over it Siler
attempted to ride. It was very dark, however, and, as he af-
terwards discovered, his horse was "moon-eyed," and in con-
sequence, horse and man tumbled off the dam into the water
and mud seventeen feet below. Nothing daunted, and in
spite of cold and bruises, he fished himself and horse out,
and after much tribulation he succeeded, "accoutred as he
was," in finding Major Wooten, who commanded Lane's
sharpshooters, and got the detail wanted. Uniting them
with his own men they all proceeded quietly to the Yankee
rifle pits by the path Siler had previously selected. Arrived
at tlie pits, they found all there asleep except a sentinel in
front of the works, upon whom they closed before he could
discharge his piece. The sentry ran into the works and tried
to use his bayonet, but Siler turned it aside and secured him
before he cotild give the alarm. The command then swept
up and down the rifle pits, and after capturing sixty men,
made good their retreat with their prisoners, to the Confed-
erate lines, not, however, without receiving a heavy fire from
the Yankees, who had recovered from their surprise, which,
owing to the darkness, fortunately, did no damage. From
some of the prisoners captured all information wanted was
obtained, and Captain Siler and his men were highly compli-
mented for their gallant action.

southeeland's STATIOH".

An incident, well worth recording, happened near this sta-
tion, after our troops had evacuated the works on Hatcher's

17() North Cakolina Troops, 1861-'G5.

Run. Colonel Galloway, of the Twenty-second Eegiment,
who was temporarily in command of Scales' Brigade, sent
Companies I, L, and M, of that regiment — all of Randolph
County — under command of Captain C. F. Siler, of Com-
pany M, to hold a woods a little in advance on his right. An
ammunition wagon had broken down near by and Captain
Siler had several boxes of cartridges carried to his line and
distributed. From this position he repelled with his small
command, two attacks of a full regiment, and held it until he
was ordered to retire. Captain Siler was an excellent man
and officer, equally at home in a fight or a revival, and ef-
ficient in both.

Colonel Thos. S. Galloway is still living. His residence
is now in Somerville, Tenn.

Dr. Benj. A. Clark, of Warren County, who was with the
Twenty-second Kegiment as Assistant Surgeon, or as Surgeon,
during the entire war, reported in the Spring of 1865 that,
up to that time, the death roll of the regiment amounted to
580.

It is worthy of note that the brunt of the fight on the right,
in the first day's struggle at tlie Wilderness in May, 1864,
was borne by Heth's and Wilcox's divisions of A. P. Hill's
Corps. They maintained their positions and repelled all at-
tacks all day, of a superior force, successfully. The Twenty-
second Eegiment was in Wilcox's Division, and was heavily
engaged.

The Twenty-second Eegiment served throughout the war in
the Army of ISTorthern "Virginia, and participated actively in
every action of consequence in which that army was engaged,
except the first battle of Manassas.

At Seven Pines, Company A, of the regiment, took into
action one hundred men, of whom eighteen were killed, or
mortally wounded, besides the Captain, Thos. F. Jones. At
Shepherdstown four were killed out of thirty engaged. At
Chancellorsville eight out of thirty-five; at Gettysburg four
out of thirty.

In all, out of about 180 who served with the company
during the whole period of the war, 44 were killed outright,
10 were discharged as disabled by wounds, 13 were dis-

Twenty-Second Regiment. 177

charged under the provisions of the Conscript Act, and 23
died of sickness.

Private A. J. Dula, of Company A, was standing very
near General "Stonewall" Jackson when the latter received
his death wound at Chancellorsville.

In Vol. 125, "Official Records Union and Confederate
Armies," p. 816, claim is made hy Corporal Thomas CuUen,
of Company I, Eighty-second New York Volunteers, that he
captured the flag of the Twenty-second North Carolina Regi-
ment in the fight at Bristoe Station, Va., 14 October, 1863,
"while advancing under fire." The claim is a very absurd one,
and looks like a bid by the corporal for a little notoriety at the
expense of the truth. The Twenty-second North Carolina
Regiment was not in the engagement at Bristoe at all, nor -did
any part of Scales' Brigade participate in that action. In
further proof, if it were needed, the statement of the Colonel
then in command of the Twenty-second Regiment, with re-
gard to the claim, is appended, and it will be seen that his
denial of the claim is most positive. His remarks are in re-
ply to an inquiry from the writer who wished to have the Col-
onel's ofiicial corroboration of his own knowledge of the facts
in the case :

"In reply I have to say, and I do so emphatically, that the
statement is untrue. I was, at the time of that action. Colo-
nel in command of the Twenty-second Regiment North Caro-
lina Troops, and know positively that my regiment was not en-
gaged at Bristoe at all. We did not arrive on the field until
the fighting was over. I can further state that the Twenty-
second North Carolina Regiment never lost a fiag while I
commanded it, from 23 September, 1863, to Appomattox.
"Very truly your friend,

"Thomas S. Galloway;
"Late Colonel Twenty-second Regiment, N. C. Troops, In-
fantry."

SOMEKVILLE, TeNN.,

15 November, 1900.

It may not be amiss to add that Corporal CuUen is reported
12

178 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

as stating that he "captured the flag of the Twenty-second or
Twenty-eighth ISTorth Carolina Regiment at Bristoe Station,
14 October, 1863, while advancing under fire." His state-
ment as to the Twenty-eighth North Carolina is as untrue as
that as to the Twenty-second. The Twenty-eighth Eegiment
was of General James H. Lane's Brigade, of Wilcox's Divis-
ion, and was not in the engagement at Bristoe. The brigades
most actively engaged in that disastrous fight were Cooke's
and MacRae's, of Heth's Division, A. P. Hill's Corps.

It is significant that the report of these flag captures, of
which there purport to be many, (Vol. 125, p. 814-817,
"Official Records Union and Confederate Armies/') adds,
after recounting Corporal CuUen's doughty exploit, that he is
"now a prisoner of war."

Quere. — As there were no exchanges of prisoners at the
time, is it not probable that it was CuUen, and not the flag,
that was captured at Bristoe ? Something seems to have con-
fused his memory.

At the surrender at Appomattox 9 April, 1865, the brigade
was under command of Colonel Joseph H. Hyman,
of the Thirteenth Regiment, (of Edgecombe county),
and numbered, all told, 720 men, of whom 92 were
ofiicers, of the different grades, and 628 were enlisted
men. Of the Twenty-second Regiment there were paroled
97 men and the following officers : Colonel, Thomas S. Gal-
loway, Jr. ; Lieutenant-Colonel, W. L. Mitchell ; Captains,
George H. Gardin, Company B ; Robert W. Cole, Company
E ; Gaston V. Lamb, Company I ; E. J. Dobson, Company K ;
Yancey M. C. Johnson, Company I; Columbus E. Siler,
Company M. Lieutenants: Wm. A. Tuttle, Company A;
Samuel P. Tate, Company B ; Andrew J. Busick, Company
E; W. C. Orrell, Company E; Calvin H. Wilborne, Com-
pany L. In Company E but eight privates "present for
duty," were left, and in Company H but five. Besides those
mentioned several members of the regiment, who were on de-
tached service, were paroled elsewhere.

And so the regiment was disbanded and its few surviving
members sought their distant homes, with heavy hearts, in-

Twenty-Second Regiment. 179

deed, at the failure of the cause they had upheld so long and
so bravely, undeterred by privation and unappalled by dan-
gers, but still sustained by the parting words of their illus-
trious chief, and the consciousness of right, and of duty well
done. 1^0 nobler band of men ever offered their all at the be-
hest of the sovereign State to which they owed allegiance, and
to the little squad of them, now "in the sere, the yellow leaf,"
who have not yet "crossed over the river and rest under the
shade of the trees," an old comrade sends warmest greeting
and best wishes. Would that his feeble efforts in attemp-c-
ing to preserve some portion, at least, of their record were
more worthy of their matchless deeds. Few of them, if any,
there were who, when all was over, might not have said in
the words of St. Paul : "I have fought a good fight. * *
I have kept the faith."

And to those of the regiment — that larger regiment by
far — ^who sleep their last sleep where at duty's call they laid
down their lives, on the plains and hillsides of Virginia and
Maryland, from the xippomattox to the Antietam, is gladly
rendered the fullest meed of grateful praise. Their fidelity
and devoted sacrifice shall be celebrated in song and story, and
shall be borne in loving memory while time shall last.

* * * "Lament them not!

ISTo love can make immortal

That span which we call life ;

And never heroes passed to heaven's portal

From fields of grander strife."

In offering this imperfect history of the Twenty-second
Regiment of JSTorth Carolina Troops in the late war between
the States, the writer will say, in explanation of its many
omissions and shortcomings, that during more than the last
two years of its service, he had been transferred to other duty
and was not a member of the regiment. He gratefully ac-
knowledges his indebtedness to Lieutenant J. R. Cole, some
time its Adjutant, for much valuable information. He

180 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

hopes the brave story of the part the regiment bore in the mO'
mentoTis campaigns of 18 64-' 6 5 will yet he told in full detail,

Graham Daves,
New Been, N. C,
9 April, 1901.

TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT.

1. E. D. Johnston, Colonel. 4. C. C. Blacknall, Colonel,

a. J. F. Hoke, Colonel. 5. J. W. Leak, Lieut.-Colonel.

3. D. H. Christie, Colonel. 6. E. J. Christian, Major.

7. Rev. Theophilus W. Moore, Chaplain.

TVENTT-THIRD REGIME/IT.

CAPTAIN V. E. TURNER, A. Q. M.
H. C. WALL, Seegeant Company A.

Up to the re-arrangement of the regimental numbers follow-
ing the Confederate Conscription Act, which went into effect
lY May, 1862, this regiment had been known as the Thir-
teenth Regiment of ITorth Carolina Volunteers. The reason
of the change is very clearly given by Major Gordon in the
history of the organization. As repetition is, as far as possible,
to be avoided in these sketches we will not give it here.

No North Carolinians were more forward in the cause of
Southern defence than the men who formed the Twenty-
liiird. They were among the first to respond when the State
called upon her sons to repel invasion. The organization
of most, if not all the companies, ante-date the Ordinance
of Secession, passed 20 May, 1861.

This was only ten days after the act authorizing their en-
listment was passed. Of course in this case, as in many oth-
ers, the action of the State had been foreseen and an-
ticipated, and the raising of companies had begun before.

The act authorizing the enlistment of the ten regiments of
"State Troops" had been passed on 8 May, two days earlier.

The power of appointing all commissioned officers in the
"State Troops" was lodged in the Governor. But the "Vol-
unteers" to which the Twenty-third, then the Thirteenth,
belonged, were empowered to elect their own officers, to be
commissioned by the Governor. The men of each company
were to elect their respective Line or Company Officers. The
Line Officers were, by balloting among themselves, to
elect Field or Regimental officers. The enlistment for the
"Volunteers" was for twelve months; that of the "State
Troops" as long as the war lasted. It is hardly necessary to

182 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

add that both of the above classes of troops were in fact vol'
unteers, the enlistment of both being entirely voluntary.

The personnel of the Twenty-third was doubtless as repre-
sentative of the diverse racial strains of the State as any com-
mand raised within her borders. The three companies raised
in Granville County, were virtually pure English, descend-
ants of the early Virginia settlers who later settled in this
State. In the company from Eichmond and Anson Counties
there was a strong infusion of Highland Scotch, descendants
of the stout-hearted, strong armed CuUoden lads who were
"out wi' Charlie in the '45." In those from Catawba, Lin-
coln and Gaston, the German stock, that trending down from
Pennsylvania had largely settled that part of the State,
abounded. While the names in these and other companies
from that region show the presence of many Scotch-Irish who
had been co-settlers with the Germans.

The regiment was composed of the following compa-
nies. We give the original name which each com-
pany bore, and the county in which it was raised.
Seeking to do justice to all, we give as complete as
we are able to make it, a roster of the Line and Field officers,
showing the promotions and casualties to the end of the Avar.
We regret that lack of space excludes that of equally worthy
non-commissioned officers and privates. But North Caro-
lina has not been unmindful of them. All and the casualties of
each, though not as accurately as could be wished, down to th.e -
humblest, appear in the general roster of which a large num-
ber of copies were published by the State in 1882.

Company A — Anson Ellis Rifles, Anson County — Captain
Wm. F. Harlee, of Anson County; commissioned May 22,
1861, resigned December 15, 1861. Captain James M.
Wall, of Anson County, commissioned December 15, 1861.
Captain Frank Bennett, of Anson County, commissioned
May 10, 1862 ; promoted from First Sergeant ; wounded May
29, 1862; wounded at Chancellorsville ; wounded May 12,
1864, at Spottsylvania Court House; wounded at Hatcher's
Hun. W. D. Redfearne, First Lieutenant, of Anson Coun-
ty; commissioned May 22, 1861. James C. Marshall, First

Twenty-Third Regiment. 183

Lieutenant, of Anson County; commissioned May 10, 1862;
transferred as Adjutant to Fourteenth Regiment in 1862.
John M. Little, Second Lieutenant, of Anson County; com-
missioned May 22, 1861. James Crowder, Second Lieuten-
ant, of Anson County; commissioned May 22, 1861; wound-
ed and captured at Sharpsburg ; wounded at Lynchburg June,
1864. Samuel F. Wright, Second Lieutenant, of Anson
County; commissioned May 10, 1862; captured at Gettys-
burg.

CoMPAiTY B — Hog Hill Guards, Lincoln County — Geo.
W. Seagle, Captain, Lincoln County ; commissioned May 23,

1861. Wesley Hadspeth, Captain, Lincoln County; com-
missioned May 10, 1862; promoted from ranks; wounded at
Sharpsburg; killed at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863. G. W.
Hunter, Captain, Lincoln County; promoted from ranks.
Josiah Holbrook, Captain, Lincoln County; promoted from
ranks. T. J. Seagle, First Lieutenant, Lincoln County ;
commissioned May 23, 1861. M. H. Shuford, First Lieu-
tenant, Lincoln Coimty; commissioned May 23, 1861. Lee
Johnson, Second Lieutenant, Lincoln County; commissioned
May 23, 1861. S. A. Shuford, Second Lieutenant, Lincoln
County; commissioned May 10, 1862. Wm. R. Sloan, Sec-
ond Lieutenant, Mecklenburg County; commissioned May
10, 1862. M. H. Shuford, Second Lieutenant, Lincoln
County; commissioned May 10, 1862. W. A. Thompson,
Second Lieittenant, Lincoln County; commissioned May 10,

1862. M. M. Hines, Second Lieutenant, Lincoln County;
commissioned November 20, 1861 ; prisoner September 19,
1864.

Company C — Montgomery Volunteers No. 1 — C. J. Coch-
rane, Captain, of Montgomery County; commissioned May
27, 1861. E. J. Christian, Captain, of Montgomery Coun-
ty, commissioned May 10, 1862; promoted Major May 10,
1862, and killed May 31, 1862 at Seven Pines. A. F. Sear-
borough, Captain, of Montgomery County; commissioned
May 10, 1862 ; killed May 30, 1862. E. H. Lyon, Captain,
of Granville County; commissioned May 31, 1862; trans-
ferred from Company E; prisoner September 19, 1864.
E. J. Christian, First Lieutenant, of Montgomery County;

184 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

commissioned May 27, 1861 ; promoted and killed. John E.
Nicholson, First Lieutenant, of Montgomery County; com-
missioned May 10, 1862. E. J. Garris, Second Lieutenant,
of Montgomery County; commissioned May 10, 1862; killed
W. Montgomery, Second Lieutenant, of Montgomery County ;
commissioned May 27, 1861. Jeremiah Coggins, Second
Lieutenant, of Montgomery County; commissioned May 10,
1862 ; prisoner at Gettysburg July 1, 1863 ; one of the 600
officers placed under Confederate fire at Charleston, S. C. ;
died at Fort Delaware. A. F. Saunders, Second Lieutenant,
of Montgomery County; commissioned May 10, 1862; killed
at Spottsylvania May 9, 1864. J. P. Leach, Second Lieuten-
ant, of Montgomery County; commissioned April 14, 1863.

Company I) — Pee Dee Guards — Lewis H. Webb, Captain,
of Eichmond County; commissioned May 30, 1861; resign-
ed. A- T. Cole, Captain, of Eichmond County ; commissioned
May 10, 1862 ; wounded at Sharpsburg; wounded and captur-
ed at Chancellorsville ; captured at Spottsylvania C. H.
May 12, 1864 ; one of the 600 officers placed under Confeder-
ate guns at Charleston, S. C. James S. Knight, First Lieu-
tenant, of Eichmond County; commissioned May 30, 1861;
killed at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863. Eisden T. Nichols,
First Lieutenant, of Eichmond County; commissioned May
10, 1862 ; died in 1862. J. H. Chappell, First Lieutenant,
of Eichmond County. John W. Cole, Second Lieutenant,
of Eichmond County; commissioned May 30, 1861. B. H.
Covington, Second Lieutenant, of Eichmond County; com-
missioned May 30, 1861. W. C. Wall, Second Lieutenant,
of Eichmond County; commissioned October 17, 1861; pro-
moted Captain Company F; wounded at Monacacy July
1864. James H. Chappell, Second Lieutenant, of Eich-
mond County; commissioned October 10, 1862; severely
wounded at Chancellorsville; captured. E. A. McDonald,
Second Lieutenant, of Eichmond County ; commissioned Oc-
tober 10, 1862 ; severely wounded at Chancellorsville.

Company E — Granville Plough Boys, Granville County —
J. H. Horner, Captain, of G-ranville County; commissioned
June 5, 1861. B. F. Bullock, Captain, of Granville County;
commissioned . E. E. Lyon, First Lieutenant, of

Twenty-Third Regiment. 185

Granville County; commissioned June 5, 1861. T. W.
Moore, First Lieutenant, of Granville County ; commissioned
August 15, 1861. J. H. Mitchell, Second Lieutenant, of
Granville County; commissioned June 5, 1861. A. D.
Peace, Second Lieutenant, of Granville County ; commission-
ed June 5, 1861 ; wounded twice. E.. V. Minor, Second
Lieutenant, of Granville Coimty; commissioned September
25, 1862. E. H. Lyon, Second Lieutenant, of Granville
County; commissioned JSTovember 12, 1861; transferred as
Captain of Company C. B. F. Bullock, Second Lieutenant,
of Granville County; commissioned December 6, 1861. J.
T. Bullock, Second Lieutenant, of Granville County; com-
missioned May 10, 1862; captured May 12, 1864; one of
the 600 officers placed under Confederate guns at Charleston,

5. C. A. S. Webb, Second Lieutenant, of Granville County ;
commissioned May 10, 1862 ; resigned.

Company F — Catawba Guards, Catawba County — M. L.
McCorkle, Captain, of Catawba County; commissioned June

6, 1861. W. C. Wall, Captain, of Bichmond County; com-
missioned May 10, 1864. Jacob H. Miller, First Lieuten-
ant, of Catawba County; commissioned June 6, 1861. T.
W. Wilson, First Lieutenant, of Catawba County; killed at

■ Spottsylvania May 10, 1864. M.. L. Helton, Second Lieu-
tenant, of Catawba County; commissioned June 6, 1861.
R. A. Cobb, Second Lieutenant, of Catawba County; com-
missioned Jime 6, 1861. G. P. Clay, Secpnd Lieutenant, of
Catawba County; commissioned May 10, 1862. T. W. Wil-
son, Second Lieutenant, of Catawba County; commissioned
May 10, 1862. W. C. Wall, Second Lieutenant, of Rich-
mond County; commissioned May 10, 1862.

Company G^ — Granville Rifles — C. C. Blacknall, Captain,
of Granville County; commissioned Jtine 11, 1861 ; wounded
at Seven Pines ; promoted Major May 31, 1862 ; captured at
Chancellorsville ; wounded and captured at Gettysburg;
promoted Colonel August, 1863 ; mortally wounded
September 19, 1864. I. J. Young, Captain, of Granville
County; commissioned May 31, 1862; wounded May 31,
1862, at Seven Pines; resigned August 1862; wounded at
Malvern Hill. T. J. Crocker, Captain, of Granville County ;

186 North Carolina Troops, l861-'65.

commissioned August 15, 1862 ; wounded, disabled and re-
signed. James A. Breedlove, Captain, of Granville County ;
commissioned in 1864; wounded; promoted from First Lieu-
tenant. Isaac J. Young, First Lieutenant, of Granville
County; commissioned June 11, 1861; promoted, wounded,
and resigned. T. J. Crocker, First Lieutenant, of Granville
County; commissioned May 31, 1862; promoted, wounded,
and resigned; J. A. Breedlove, First Lieutenant, of Gran-
ville County; commissioned June 11, 1861; promoted and
wounded. Washington F. Overton, First Lieutenant, of
Granville County; commissioned in 1864; wounded and
burned in woods at Chancellorsville. G. W. Kittrell, Second
Lieutenant, of Granville County; commissioned June 11,
1861. Vines E. Turner, Second Lieutenant, of Granville
County; commissioned June 11, 1861; promoted Adjutant
May 10, 1862 ; wounded at Cold Harbor Jime 27, 1862 ; pro-
moted Assistant Quartermaster in 1863. T. J. Crocker, Sec-
ond Lieutenant, of Granville County ; commissioned May 10,
1862 ; promoted. William F. Gill, Second Lieutenant, of
Franklin County; commissioned May 10, 1862; promoted
from Sergeant-Major ; killed at Malvern Hill. W. F. Over-
ton, Second Lieutenant, of Granville County; commissioned
August 15, 1862 ; promoted and killed. J. A. Breedlove,
Second Lieutenant, of Granville Cotinty; commissioned Au-
gust 15, 1862 ; promoted and wounded. C. W. Champion,
Second Lieutenant, of Granville County; commissioned No-
vember 1, 1862; killed at Gettysburg.

Company H — Gaston Guards — E. M. Faires, Captain, of
Gaston County; commissioned June 12, 1861; resigned De-
cember 1, 1861. W. P. Hill, Captain, of Gaston County;
commissioned December 1, 1861 ; promoted from Sergeant.
H. G. Turner, Captain, of Granville County; commissioned
August 18, 1862 ; promoted from ranks of Savannah Guards ;
desperately wounded and captured July 1, 1862, at Gettys-
burg. R. M. Ratchf ord. First Lieutenant, of Gaston County ;
commissioned June 12, 1861; resigned December, 1861. Jos.
J. Wilson, First Lieutenant, of Gaston County ; commissioned
December, 1861 ; promoted from Sergeant. Joseph B. F.
Riddle, First Lieutenant, of Gaston County; commissioned

Twenty-Third Regiment. 187

May 10, 1862; wounded September 30, 1864; promoted
from Sergeant. J. E. Hill, Second Lieutenant, of Gaston
County ; commissioned May 10, 1861 ; promoted from ranks.
T. N. Craig, Second Lieutenant, of Gaston County ; commis-
sioned June 12, 1861. J. M. Kendrick, Second Lieutenant,
of Gaston County; commissioned June 12, 1861; captured
July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg. W. S. Floyd, Second Lieuten-
ant, of Gaston County ; commissioned .

Company I — Granville Stars — Rufus Amis, Captain, of
Granville County; commissioned June 17, 1861. G. T. Bas-
kerville. Captain, of Granville County; commissioned 1863;
killed at Gettysburg. G. B. Bullock, Captain, of Granville
County ; promoted from Second Lieutenant. E". A. Gregory,
First Lieutenant, of Granville County; commissioned June
17, 1861 ; wounded and disabled at Chancellor sville. G.
B. Bullock, First Lieutenant, of Granville County. J. D.
Knott, First Lieutenant, of Granville County ; commissioned
May 8, 1862; killed at Seven Pines. A. M.. Luria, Second
Lieutenant, of Georgia; commissioned June 17, 1861; killed
at Seven Pines. T. K. Carrington, Second Lieutenant, of
Granville County; commissioned June 17, 1861. G. B.
Bullock, Second Lieutenant, of Granville County; promoted
from ranks of Twelfth Regiment. J. D. Knott, Second Lieij-
tenant, of Granville County; commissioned November 16,
1861 ; promoted and killed. G. T. Sanford, Second Lieuten-
ant, of Granville County; commissioned May' 20, 1862. W.
B. Sims, Second Lieiitenant, of Granville County; commis-
sioned May 20, 1862 ; promoted from ranks.

Company K — Beattie's Ford Riflemen, Lincoln County —
Robert D. Johnston, Captain, of Lincoln County; commis-
sioned June 22, 1861 ; promoted Lieutenant-Colonel May 10,

1862, and Brigadier-General in 1863. William H. John-
ston, Captain, of Lincoln County; commissioned May 10,
1862; promoted from First Lieutenant; captured July 1,

1863, at Gettysburg. W. H. Johnston, First Lieutenant, of
Lincoln County; commissioned June 22, 1861; promoted
and captured. Daniel Reinhardt, First Lieutenant, of Lin-
coln County; commissioned September, 1862. John F.
Goodson, Second Jjieutenant, of Lincoln County; commis-

188 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

sioned June 22, 1861. G. W* Hunter, Second Lieutenant,
of Lincoln County; commissioned June 22, 1861. Daniel
Eeinhardt, Second Lieutenant, of Lincoln County; commis-
sioned May 10, 1862. J. A. Caldwell, Second Lieutenant,
of Lincoln County; commissioned September 6, 1862. Wil-
liam M. Munday, Second Lieutenant, of Lincoln County;
commissioned September, 1862; promoted from ranks;
wounded at Malvern Hill. H. W. FuUenwider, Second
Lieutenant, of Lincoln County ; commissioned in May, 1863 ;
promoted from ranks; killed.

Nine of these companies were assembled in camp near Wel-
don, N. C, and between that place and Garysburg, two miles
distant, in June, 1861. Here the boys underwent a little
more drilling than they liked. But they were patriots, one
and all, and as some drilling might possibly be necessary even
to whip Yankees, they submitted cheerfully. The other com-
pany, the Anson Ellis Klifles, remained in camp at Raleigh till
ordered to join the regiment as it left for Virginia. Garys-
burg was the point of rendezvous. Here, in obedience to
orders, the Line Officers of the ten companies met 10 July
and elected Field Officers for the regiment as follows. The
date, 10 July, 1861, shows the officers then elected. Other
dates show the result of subsequent elections and promotions :

FIELD AND STAFF OFFICEES.

John F. Hoke^ Colonel, of Lincoln County ; commissioned
July 10, 1861.

Daniel H. Cheistie^ Colonel, of Granville County; com-
missioned May 10, 1862 ; wounded at Seven Pines; wounded
at Cold Habor; mortally wounded July 1, 1863, at Gettys-
burg; died in Winchester August, 1863.

Chakles C. Blacknall, Colonel, of Granville County;
commissioned August 15, 1863; wounded at Seven Pines;
captured at Ch ancellorsville ; wounded and captured at Get-
tysburg ; mortally wounded and captured-at Winchester Sep-
tember 19, 1864; died November 6, 1864.

Wm. S. Davis, Colonel, of Warren County ; commissioned
October 1864 ; transferred from Twelfth Regiment ; wounded.

Twenty-Third Regiment. 189

John W. Leak, Lieutenant-Colonel, of Richmond County ;
commissioned July 10, 1861.

RoBT. D. JoHNSTONj Lieutcnant-Colonel, of Lincoln
County; commissioned May 10, 1862; wounded at Seven
Pines; wounded at Gettysburg; promoted Brigadier-General
July, 1863 ; wounded at Spottsylvania.

Daniel H. Cheistie, Major, of Granville County; com-
missioned July 10, 1861 ; promoted.

E. J. Christian, Major, of Montgomery County; com-
missioned May 10, 1862; killed May 31, 1862, at Seven
Pines.

Charles C. Blacknall, Major, of Granville County;
commissioned May 10, 1862 ; promoted from Captain of
Company G.

Isaac Jones Young, Adjutant, of Granville County ; com-
tnissioned July 10, 1861 ; wounded July 1, 1862 ; promoted
Captain of Company G and resigned in 1862.

Vines E. Turner, Adjutant, of Granville County; com-
missioned May 10, 1862 ; wounded at Cold Harbor June 27,
1862 ; promoted to Captain and Assistant Quartermaster
June, 1863.

Junius French, Adjutant, of Yadkin County; commis-
sioned June, 1863; killed July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg.

Charles P. Powell, Adjutant, of Richmond County ; com-
missioned July, 1863 ; killed May 9, 1864 at Spottsylvania
Court House.

Lawrence Everett, Adjutant, of Richmond County;
commissioned May 12, 1864.

Edwin G. Cheatham, Assistant Quartermaster, of Gran-
ville County; commissioned July 10, 1861, resigned Febru-
ary, 1862.

W. I. Everett, Assistant Quartermaster, of Richmond
County ; commissioned in 1862 ; resigned.

Vines E. Turner, Assistant Quartermaster, of Granville
County ; commissioned June, 1863.

James F. Johnston, Assistant Commissary, of Lincobi
County.

Theophilus Moore, Chaplain, of Person County; later
Rev. Mr. Berry.

190 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

EoBEET I. Hicks, Surgeon, of Granville County; T. 0.
Caldwell, of Mecklenburg County, Assistant Surgeon; later
Dr. Jordan, of Caswell County, killed at South Mountain.

William E. Gill, Sergeant-Major, of Granville County;
killed July 1, 1862 at Malvern Hill.

Ci-iAELES P. Powell, of Richmond County; appointed
May 10, 1862; promoted to Adjutant May 9, 1864.

On 20 May, the day on which North Carolina seceded
from the Union, the Confederate Capital had been
removed from Montgomery to Richmond. It was now plain
that the Old Dominion would be the theatre of the war.
Thither the regiment was soon ordered, to return as an or-
ganized body no more, with one brief exception, till the great
drama of blood and ruin had to the last scene been acted.

On Wednesday, 17 July, Colonel Hoke, with seven
companies of the regiment, left the "Camp of Instruction" at
Garysburg, N. C, in freight cars for Richmond, Va. Com-
panies C, D and H, were for the time being necessarily left be-
hind on account of the prevalence of measles among the men.
Of this malady and in the person of John H. Harmer, Com-
pany D, the regiment lost its second man, the first man being
Wm. LoAvman, of Company A, who died while in camp at
Raleigh.

Four nights were spent in camp at "Rocketts" in the
suburbs of Richmond. It was either here, or just before
leaving Garysburg, that arms and ammunition were first
issued to us. The arms consisted of smooth bore percussion
muskets, with bayonets ; the ammunition of paper cartridges,
containing ball and powder. A little later in the war we
were armed with rifles captured from the enemy.

MANASSAS.

Early on 21 July, a bright, hot Sunday, our seven
companies entrained hurriedly in "box" cars for Manassas
Junction. Enthusiasm was at flood tide in that period of
boundless hope. Cheers greeted us on every side as we
steamed forward and at the stations we were fed and feted.
All knew that a battle was impending and later, by means of
the telegraph line along the railroad, that it was being fought.

Twenty-Third RKGijrENT. 191

We were eager to go forward ; more eager, perhaps, than
we were to reach later fields when experience had unmasked
the true, grim visage of war. But many delays occurred.
The running of the train was so erratic that the engineer was
suspected of treason, though apparently without evident
cause. The soldiers who crowded the tops of the cars in their
eagerness to assist, put on brakes too hard. This caused one
of the car trucks to take fire from friction, or come very near
it. As some of the cars carried, or were believed to carry
powder, the men stopped the train by means of the brakes and
cut the endangered car loose till it cooled.

But these delays were inconsiderable, compared with the
long stop near the Rappahannock bridge, above Gordonsville.
We had started full early and could have reached Manassas
by noon, or soon after. The presence of TOO men, fresh on
tlae field, might have had great weight at more than one junc-
ture of that dubious battle. But we were sidetracked to meet
many trains of wounded, which began to pass us at Louisa
Court House. During Sunday night we pulled into Man-
assas Junction. Monday was a rainy, chilly, dismal day.
The men had stopped their cheering and horse play when the
cars of bloody-bandaged wounded passed them the day before
at Louisa Court House. The night spent on the hard car
flooi's seemed a real hardship. The twenty-four hours fast —
we had left Richmond too suddenly to prepare rations —
seemed then to border on the heroic. The Manassas water
reddened by contact with the mud, then knee deep around the
station, drank like blood. The rows of untended wounded
who had lain all night on the field in the rain, some of them
horribly mutilated, grew longer and longer as the ambulances
came and wont. The pile of amputated limbs, naked and
whitened by tlie chilling rains, grew higher and higher out-
side an amputating tent hard-by the roadside. It was prob-
ably the most miserable and trying day that the regiment
spent diiring tlae war. The time when the Confederate sol-
dier was to become the marching, fighting, fasting machine
that he did, insensible almost to hunger, cold and mental de-
pression, was yet some distance ahead.

We went into camp at Camp Wigf all, one and a quarter

192 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

miles from the Junction. The three companies left at
Garysburg under Major Christie, broke camp there on 5
August, and after a few days delay in Kichmond wait-
ing for transportation, rejoined us here. For several weeks
encamped at this place, the regiment suffered exceedingly
from the diseases which then, and even now, seem unescapa-
ble by the u.nseason6d soldier. By the surgeon's statement,
the sick call at one time numbered 240, 57 of the cases being
typhoid fever. The mortality was large.

After spending several weeks here our first march was
made to Camp Ellis, five miles distant, where we remained six
weeks. Near here, at Sangster's Cross Eoads, our first picket
duty was performed. A little later at Mason's Hill the
whole regiment went on its first picket. 17 September
we pitched camp and began a long stay at Union Mills. ISTear
here, on Bull Run, we built log huts and went into winter
quarters in December, where we remained with only such
changes in position as the exigencies of the situation in out-
post and picket duty required. This gave us an opportunity
to enjoy the boundless hospitality of the people of this part
of Virginia, upon whom the iron hand of the war was soon
to fall with such crushing weight.

Meantime the regiment had been brigaded with the Fifth
North Carolina "State Troops," Colonel Duncan K. McRae ;
the Twentieth Georgia, Colonel Smith; the Twenty-fourth
Virginia, Colonel Jubal A. Early; and the Thirty-eighth
Virginia, Colonel Jubal Earles. Colonel Early being the
ranking officer, he was placed in command, and subsequently
commissioned Brigadier-General. General Earl Van Dorn
commanded the division. General Beauregard the corps. Gen-
eral Joseph E. Johnston the army. The army was then known
as the Army of the Potomac — ^later upon the abandonment
of that line of defense, as the Army of Northern Virginia.
In the fall and winter of 1861, many changes took place in
the Line Officers of the regiment.

The winter was a severe and trying one. After January
1, 1862, snow, hail, sleet or rain fell almost every day. Fre-
quently all fell the same day. War doffed her holiday mask
worn during the tramping from camp to camp, and from

Twenty-Third Regiment. 193

picket to picket post in the splendid weather of the past Au-
tumn. Such duties now imposed hardships of a serious and
often dangerous nature. JSTot yet hardened to endure all
things, as in time they were, the men suffered intensely from
exposure. Great was the mortality from pneumonia, typhoid
fever and other diseases.

THE EETEEAT FEOM MANASSAS.

The early spring of 1862 found the Confederate army
along Bull Run and north of that stream, less than 50,000
strong. The Federal hosts under McClellan, confronted it
over 100,000 strong. Before the opening of Spring rendered
military operations feasible on a large scale, General John-
ston decided to withdraw from his exposed position to a
stronger line south of the Rappahannock. There he would
also be in better position to meet and check any advance of
the enemy whether direct or circuitous, as subsequently
proved.

The beginning of the retrograde movement found the regi-
ment on picket duty at Burke's Station, on the Orange and
Alexandria Railroad, and in close proximity to the enemy
who were encamped in the neighborhood of Alexandria and
Springfield. The old camp on Bull Run was abandoned
8 March. We moved out at daylight, throwing away
tents and camp equipage; sum total of the first day's
march one and a half miles, progress being checked by eon-
fusion of orders. Early was now acting as Major-General,
in command of the Fourth division.

ISTot until sunset of the 9th, did the grand column move
again, reaching Manassas Junction that night. The last we
saw of the famous stone bridge across Bull Run, it was in
flames. Strictly speaking, stone bridge was a misnomer, all
but the abutments being of wood. An immense amount of
property was destroyed as the iiecessity of change of base
to the Peninsula was now anticipated. A very carnival, re-
strained to some extent by the military discipline, reigned
that night at the junction. The soldiers got rich with plun-
der. Depots of supplies and the express office were fired.
13

194 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

Barrels of whiskey were opened at the head and their con-
tents poured in streams on the ground. A rough soldier was
observed with six canteens of whiskey around his neck, as if
"he wept such waste to see," actually wading in a puddle of
the joyful, while in a ditty, tuneless, but gay, he whistled his
regrets over "departed spirits."

The next position was south of the Kappahannock. Large
numbers of refugees accompanied the . army in the retreat.
Details of our regiment, as from others, were made to guard
and as far as possible, aid them in their wild flight. As the
command waded the Rappahannock it witnessed a distressing
accident to one. of the unfortunates — a widowed lady, half
frantic lest she be left behind and taken by the Yankees,
missed the ford in driving across the river and was swept
down to death by the rapid waters.

For several weeks the army remained in position south of
the Rappahannock awaiting a further development of the
Federal plans. Then came a long, slow, impeded march
along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. How like a
sealed book to the private soldier are the plans of his leaders.
How futile our conjectures as to the purpose of our move and
the objects to be gained by it. Many yearning hearts — in
which the wish was father to the thought — saw in this south-
ern trend only a return to ISTorth Carolina.

7 April, we took the cars at Orange Court House and
that night, a dark and rainy one, found us in Richmond. Af-
ter a hastily eaten midnight supper, prepared for us in the
market house by the exlaaustless hospitality of the good people
of Richmond, we were marched to the Yorktown depot. This
was the first intimation of our destination. Going by rail
sixty miles to West Point, Ave here took schooners for York-
town, thirty miles below.

THE PEISriiySULA OAMPAIGI^.

8 April, one month after the beginning of the' with-
drawal from iianassas the regiment, with other commands,
reached Yorktown. Here we got our first experience of the
trying duties of life in the trenches, including much toil with
pick and shovel. On the lYth, after nine days behind the

Twenty-Third Regiment. 195

breastworks, tlie boys had their first experience with earinon
balls and bomb-shells. The opposing batteries were about
three-fourths of a mile apart. The pickets were in rifle pits
several hundred yards in advance, and on that day more than
one shell exploded in uncomfortable proximity to them.
When the first shot was fired direct at the position occupied
by the Twenty-third (then the Thirteenth), the writer (H.
0. Wall) was on duty in the rifle pits as Sergeant in com-
mand. Well is remembered the "sensation" produced by the
first shell that fanned the cheeks' of ye innocent braves who
occupied those rifle pits, and particularly the moving effect
wrought upon a certain tongue-tied individual, whose deport-
ment now, as contrasted with previous pretensions, presented
a striking consistency with the spirit of the ancient ballad :

"ISTought to him possesses greater charms

Upon a Sunday or a holiday.
Than a snug chat of war and war's alarms.

While people fight in Turkey, far away."

For, with a precipitate bound, the tongue-tied warrior
made tracks for the bi'eastworks exclaiming, in answer to re-
monstrances and threats of court-martial: "Dam 'fi come here
to be hulled out this way when I can't see who's a shootin' at
me" — using the terms hulled instead of shelled as synony-
mous, though he hardly thought of it at the time. At a period
a little later in the service, such conduct would have been most
severely punished. But it is not remembered that "Dam
'fi" got more than a sharp reprimand and orders for an in-
stant return to his post. If he ever afterwards flinched, we
were not informed of it. He was killed at Gettysburg.

As the sharpshooting grew hotter the pickets could be
posted and relieved only at night. The opposing pickets
fired at everything in sight. For a space the boys on such
duty embraced mother earth more intimately than they had
before deemed possible. But they gradually learned that
shooting and hitting were by no means synonymous terms.
At length before the evacuation some of them, at least, pre-
ferr«^d a prone position out on the open to the pits half filled

196 North Carolina Tkoops, 1861 -'65.

with water by the almost incessant rains. The trenckea
themselves filled with water and could not be drained. Yet
the artillery and rifle fire of the enemy held the men close
down in them. ISTo fire could be kindled day or night with-
out its becoming the focus of heavy shell fire and it was there-
fore strictly forbidden. The only food was flour and salt
meat and these in diminishing quantities. Food was cooked
by details in the rear and brought forward to us. Men sick-
ened by thousands. Soldiers actually died in the naud and
water of the trenches before they could be taken to the hos-
pital. And as many of the cases of illness were measles, this
exposure meant death. Thus unavoidably died a dog's death
many a gallant fellow, who, if spared, would have upheld with
his life the Confederate standard, through thick and thin,
and to the bitter end. It is not death amid the rapture of
the fray that makes war most horrible, but the passing within
the dark door of such men under such circum-
stances. Yet the term of service at Yorktown was not all
irksome, nor was it unmarked by occasional diversions from
the tread-mill routine of duty. About the quaint old town
were many points of interest that awakened patriotic contem-
plation. The marble slab half a^ mile from town, 'marking
the spot where eighty years before Cornwallis had surren-
dered to Washington, was a favorite place of visitation.

Standing there on consecrated ground many a fond prayer
was breathed that this self-same spot which witnessed the
achievement of American Independence might also see the ac-
complishment of Southern Independence.

The comparatively insignificant Confederate force at
YorktoviTi had now held McClellan's vast army at bay for
weeks, while troops were being concentrated higher up for
the defense of the Southern Capital. The Confederate posi-
tion exposed as it was to turning movements by the Federal
fleet on both flanks was clearly untenable. The sole object of
Southern strategy, after General Johnston made personal in-
spection of the surroundings, was simply to check the invasion
till the above concentration was completed.

This having been accomplished and holding the enemy in
check longer, being possible only by a pitched battle, which it"

Twenty-Third Regiment. 197

was not desired to fight, the Southern forces were quietly
withdrawn 4 May. A deed which, in the heroic days to
come, would have passed unnoticed, impressed the unseasoned
soldiers, and is yet remembered by many. On the day of the
evacuation, part of the Twenty-third were in the rifle pits,
which were that day subjected to a fire of unusual keenness.
When the officers in the trenches knew that the retreat would
begin that night, there was some apprehension that the men
in the rifle pits should be captured unless given exact orders
what to do. For this purpose Captain C. 0. Blacknall, Com-
pany G, left the shelter of the trenches under a ceaseless fire
at 400 yards, made the circle of the pits, gave the men their
orders and returned unharmed. The detail for picket duty
from our regiment was the last to leave the works, being re-
lieved by the cavalry at midnight. We marched all night.
At dawn when six miles out we heard the furious cannonad-
ing of McClellan's assault on our empty intrenchments.

BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUEG.

The retreat, which was much impeded by the slow move-
ment of the wagon trains over the miry roads, was tardy and
tedious in the extreme. The ancient town of Williamsburg,
in Colonial days the Capital of the Old Dominion, stands only
twelve miles from Yorktown. The afternoon of 5 May, a
rainy day in the midst of the proverbial cold, wet spell in
May, found us only a mile or so above Williamsburg, wait-
ing to see if our aid would be necessary in the expected bat-
tle.

From this point Early's Brigade — now composed of the
Fifth and Twenty-third (then Thirteenth) North Carolina,
the Twenty-fourth Virginia and the Second Florida Bat-
talion— were ordered back to aid Longstreet in resisting the
inconveniently eager pursuit of the enemy, for part of the
trains were stalled in the deep mud where they stopped the
night before, and must be protected or abandoned. The bat-
tle was fought on almost the same ground on which the Amer-
icans and British contended in 1781. We passed at double
quick through the muddy streets of the historic town, pained

198 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

at the shrieks of women and children who were terrified at
the bloody drama then going on in their full view. A short
pause to deposit in the campus of classic William and Mary
College all knapsacks, extra plunder, etc., none of which we
ever saw again — and we are out upon our first battle field.

The design was a charge by Early's Brigade against a
strong position manned by Hancock's Brigade on the enemy's
right. When drawn up in line for the forward movement,
General Early rode the length of the brigade using, in that
fine- toned voice of his, something like the words: "Boys,
you must do your duty." The line advanced a hundred yards
or more through a wheat field wet with the cold rain which
had fallen that day, but which had now ceased. Then our
regiment was confronted by a forest of trees and thick under-
growth. The line at once became irregular and more or less
jumbled by the reason of the natural obstacle to its progress.
These woods also shut out the view and caused the line of the
regiment's advance to be slightly deflected to the left, by
which it lost touch with the Fifth, on our right. At this
moment General D. H. Hill appeared, mounted, in our front,
and said sharply to the men, now endeavoring to regain their
alignment, and each one commanding his fellow, "hush your
infernal noise."

In one instant imore the right wing of the brigade, having
greatly the advantage of the ground in marching, came first in
view of the enemy's battery, and charging forward in the
open, outstripped the movement of the Twenty-third, impeded
by the woods, received a withering fire and was hurled back
by a fury of shot and shell irresistible by mortal force. The
Fifth North Carolina made a gallant, but fruitless charge,
losing many gallant lives, and our regiment was not on hand
to support it at the critical moment. That moment was of the
briefest possible span — like a sea wave against the sea wall,
the charge bounded back almost instantly.

Colonel D. K. McEae, of the Fifth North Carolina, alleged
that the Twenty-third (then the Thirteenth) was inexcusably
derelict in duty and that Colonel Hoke halted the regiment
without orders. Colonel Hoke, on the contrary, maintained
that General Early gave the order to halt, which assertion

Twenty-Third Regiment. 199

was never denied by General Early. Whether the order to
"halt" was given us before or after the batteries opened on
the assaulting line, would be hard to tell, for this halt of the
regiment appeared to be about the same moment that a por-
tion of the assaulting forces were rushing pell-mell back from
the attack. It was all the work of a few minutes and the
brigade, chagrined by defeat, and mourning the loss of many
gallant spirits, fell back in good order. The enemy seemed
content to hold his own, without much further effort to ad-
vance his line as night came on. Only four or five men in
our regiment were wounded, and all but one of them by ran-
dom bullets. Captain C. C. Blacknall, Company G, in
eagerly leading his company forward through the woods, got
some distance in advance, where he came suddenly upon two
Federals lying down in the brush. Receiving untouched the
fire of one at three paces, he sprang forward with his sword
and made them prisoners. The ball that missed the Cap-
tain struck James A. Gill, of Company G. This was the
first wound of the war received by a member of the Twenty-
third. Mr. Gill recovered from his wound and still, at the
end of thirty-eight years, survives.

Genera] Joseph E. Johnston, in conversation with me (H.
C. Wall) several years after the war, placed the responsibility
of the charge upon General D. H. Irlill. lie said that he did
not order it to be made and permitted it only after repeated
requests from General Hill. Much was said at the time,
and afterwards, of the part our regiment took in the battle of
Williamsburg. Blunders there may have been, blunders una-
voidable by a command manoevering under such circum-
stances and amid the exigencies of real warfare for the first
time; but the writer of these lines (V. E. Turner) was pres-
ent as one of its Line Officers, and had every opportunity to
be fully conversant with the spirit that animated the regi-
ment. He was conversant with it, and he knows that ofiicers
and men were as willing, and even as eager to do their duty as
any command in the Southern army. The well known ten-
dency of a man or body of men, endeavoring to go straight
forward, but unguided by any distinct objective ahead, as we
were in these woods, to bear unconsciously to the left, had pos-

200 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

sibly had its effect on the deflection in our advance and our
separation from the regiment on our right.

Wet as rain can make us, with knapsacks and every shred
of extra clothing gone, we marched back to the brow of the
hill, where we first formed in line of battle. Here amid mud
and rain we were held in line of battle till 3 a. m. As there
was momentary expectation of attack, not a spark of fire was
allowed. Then twelve miles were tramped, or rather stumbled,
through darkness, mud and slush, before halt was made for
rest or sleep. The tenacious mire was often knee deep. Shoes
were pulled from our feet by it and lost. Pantaloons became
so caked and weighted with mud that many, in sheer despe-
ration and utter inability in their exhaustion, to carry an
extra ounce, cut off and threw away all below the knees. All
that night we had no food, nor the next day, though lunging
desperately forward over virtually impassable roads. The
following day, the 7th, found us still marching and fasting,
or rather, famishing. Blessed indeed were the squad or two
that found and shot a razor-back hog. But we were the rear
guard and even razor backs had become scarce and wary after
being hunted by the 30,000 hungry mouths that had preceded
us. One of our Captains who was lucky enough to get an ear
of corn a day, always spoke of it as the parched corn march.

Many of the troops "caved" in from sheer exhaustion and
starvation. The case of Sergeant Malcolm ISTicholson, Com-
pany D., which occurred a little later in the retreat, will
illustrate our sufferings as well as the grim resolve of the
men to keep up with the colors up to the point of absolute
physical collapse. This stripling refused to succumb or fall
out till at a halt one night he toppled over. His comrades
tucked him away in an old wagon body lying near. When
the order to "fall in" came, and they went to arouse him,
they found that death had given him his discharge and that
the weary marching of the boy sergeant was over forever.

On the evening of 9 May, the Chickahominy was
reached, the wagons overtaken and the worst hardship of the
march, whose sufferings remained ever vivid to the men vt}io
clung to the fortunes of the Confederacy to the bitter end,
was over.

TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT.

1. J. H. Horner, Captain, Co. E. 4. V. E. Turner.Captain, Quart. Master.

8. Frank Bennett, Captain, Co. A. 5. Abner D Peace, Captain. Co E

8. H. G. Turner, Captain, Co. H. 6. Geo T. Baskerville, Captain, Co. I

7. Jas. A. Breedlove. Captain, Co. G.

Twenty-Third Regiment. 201

the eeoeganization.

While camped on the banks of the Chickahominy at Bar-
rett's Ferry, the regiment was re-organized. This was hast-
ened in order to take advantage of a provision in the Confed-
erate Conscript Act, passed 16 April, 1862. This provision
allowed .troops whose term of enlistment had not expired, to
re-organize with all the privileges, as to election of ofRcer^^,
which they had before the act was passed, provided the re-
organization was effected within forty days from the passing
of the act. With that period lapsed the Confederate soldier's
right to choose his own officers, all commissioned officers being
thereafter appointed by the President of the Confederacy.

Thus a re-organization of most of the Volunteer North
Carolina regiments in that army, a perilous thing in face of
a vastly superior enemy, took place about this time, an event
unparalleled in the annals of history. A large proportion of
officers failing of re-election, their places were filled with
men raised from the ranks, or from subordinate positions.
Nearly, or quite all the commands, had in their ranlvs plenty
of men competent to serve as commissioned officers. But
many thus elevated were not qualified by sufficient experience
for command, and the presence of so many inexperienced of-
ficers told against the South a month later in the prolonged
death grapple with the enemy in the Chickahominy swamps,
known as the Seven Days' Fighting. That under such circum-
stances victory should have crowned Southern effort, attest the
dauntless valor of Southern troops.

Our boys, prompted more perhaps by the desire for change,
a strong factor in all lives and strongest of all in the monot-
onous life of a soldier, elected as a rule, new Line Officers.

The following change was made in Field Officers : Daniel
H. Christie was elected Colonel in place of John F. Hoke;
Robert D. Johnston, lormerly Captain of Company K, Lieu-
tenant-Colonel ; Ed. J. Christian, former First Lieutenant of
Company C, Major ; Vines E. Turner, former Second Lieu-
tenant in Company G, Adjutant. That night the officers
who had failed of re-election bade us farewell, took leave for
Richmond and later sought, most of them, other positions in

202 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

which to serve their struggling country. Our regiment for-
'merly the Thirteenth North Carolina Volunteers, was there-
after known as the Twenty-third North Carolina Troops.

In pursuance of our plan to briefly outline the careers of
the Field Officers of the regiment, we give the following
sketch of John F. Hoke, the retiring Colonel.

COLONEL JOHN F. HOKE.

Colonel Hoke was born in Lincoln County, IsT. C, 8 May,
1820. He was a graduate of the University of ISTorth Caro-
lina, and a lawyer by profession. He served with credit as
First Lieutenant in Captain W. J. Clarke's company in the
Mexican war, taking part in the campaign which resulted in
the capture of the City of Mexico. Subsequently he served
several terms in the Legislature. At the outbreak of the
War for Southern Independence, he was appointed Adjutant-
General of North Carolina, serving till the ten regiments of
"State Troops" and thirteen regiments of "Volunteers" were
organized and equipped. In July, 1861, he was elected Colonel
of the Thirteenth (later Twenty-third) North Carolina Vol-
unteers, and commanded the regiment until its reorganiza-
tion, 10 May, 1862. Failing of re-election, he returned to
North Carolina and in 1864 became Colonel of the Seventy-
fourth Regiment, Second Senior Reserves). The close of
the war found him guarding prisoners at Salisbury. He died
in November, 1888. Colonel Hoke was an upright, honora-
ble and cultivated gentleman. Great kindness and consider-
ation characterized his bearing towards the subordinate of-
ficers of his regiment.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN W. LEAK.

John W. Leak was born in Richmond County, N. C, 16
March, 1816. His grandfather, Walter Leak, Sr., served
throughout the Revolutionary War as a private in the Amer-
ican army, and died in the town of Rockingham, in 1844, at
an advanced age.

He graduated at Randolph-Macon College about 1837.

In July, 1861, he was elected Lieutenant-Colonel of our
regiment. This office he filled till the re-organization of the
regiment in May, 1862, when, as was the case with many of

Twenty-Third Regiment. 203

the officers, he failed of re-election. Being then well ad-
vanced into middle age, he retired to private life and became
prominent in the cotton mill interests at Rockingham. He
died in May, 18Y4.

THE BATTLE OF SEVEN PINES.

The retreat from the peninsula and up the south banks of
the Chickahominj, brought us within sight of Richmond on
Sunday, 18 May. We pitched camp in a dense undergrowth
of woods, one and a half miles from the city, on the
eastern side. Soon the invading Federal hosts drew nearer.
Day by day portents of a desperate strife to come, accumu-
late. Picket firing grows heavier and more persistent, and
the shriek and roar of bursting shells seemed to have become
part of the natural order of things.

The strategy of the battle of Seven Pines, or Fair Oaks, as
it is sometimes called, was exceedingly simple.

McClellan had thrown Keyes'" Corps, composed of Casey's
and Couch's divisions, and TIeintzelman's composed of Hook-
er's and Kearney's divisions, to the southern bank of the
Chickahominy, and Casey had advanced to Seven Pines and
fortified. Couch's line was about a mile and a quarter in the
rear of Casey's. Hooker and Kearney were in rear of Couch.
On Friday night, 30 May, a violent thunder and rain
storm had greatly swollen the streams, and Johnston seized
upon this opportunity to deal with his vastly superior foe in
detail. He hoped to crush these isolated divisions before
more troops could be thrown across the swollen Chickahominy
to reinforce them. D. H. Hill's division, supported by Long-
street's, was to attack in front; Huger's division was to at-
tack the enemy's left flank, and Smith's his right.

The Twenty-third took an important and most gallant part,
both in the battle of Seven Pines and in the reconnoissance
on the Williamsburg road the day before, which disclosed the
situation of the enemy and led to the Confederate attack. In
this sortie doAvn the Williamsburg road 30 May, several
men were wounded and Captain Ambrose Scarborough, of
Company C, in command of the four companies reconnoiter-
ing, was killed. In the person of this gallant officer the reg-

204 North Cakolina Troops, 1861-'65.

iment lost its first man from a hostile bullet. Captain Frank
Bennett commanded the advance line of sharpshooters, who
really developed the enemy's strength, was severely wounded,
being disabled for months.

In the attack at Seven Pines, made in the afternoon of
Saturday, 31 May, 1862, the Twenty-third belonged to Gar-
land's Brigade. This with three other brigades, Kodes', G.
B. Anderson's and Raines', formed Ilill's division, which as-
saulted the strongly fortified Federal front. Few attacks in
war were ever made under circumstances more unfavorable to
the assaulting force. A swamp, in some places waist deep in
water and thick with undergrowth and tangled vine, had to be
crossed, and a skillfully made abatis confronted and strug-
gled through before the heavily manned hostile works beyond
could be reached. Through them all swept the regiment in
line, with its comrade commands, under a fire of musketry
and artillery as hot as mortal men ever breasted with success.
Many a gallant fellow was stricken down dead or wounded.
Some rendered helpless by wound-s, not necessarily fatal, sank
and were drowned in the deep waters of the swamp.

Finer* tribute to fighting men was never paid than, that
by a Northern writer who saw the battle from the point of
view which we assailed — there being no hotter section of that
fire-swept line than which fate assigned to the Twenty-third.
This writer says: "Our shot tore their ranks wide open,
and shattered them in a manner frightful to behold, but they
closed up and came on as steadily as English Veterans. When
they got within four hundred yards we closed our case shot
and opened on them with canister. Such destruction I never
witnessed. At each discharge great gaps were made in their
ranks. * * But they at once closed and came steadily on,
never halting, never wavering, right through the woods
(swamp), over the fence, through the field, right up to our
guns, and sweeping everything before them, captured our ar-
tillery and cut our whole division to pieces."

Huger's turning movement far to our right had been
stopped by impassable streams. Smith's attack far to our
left, where General Johnston commanded in person, had been
beaten off, and the Oommander-in-Ohief severely wounded.

Twenty-Third Regiment. 205

But in our front the victory was complete. After two hours,
ending in the brilliant charge described above, Casey's works
were carried and his routed line driven back on Couch's.
Then the division reinforced by only one, R. H. Anderson's,
smashed Couch, though reinforced by Kearney, and drove all
back on their third line two miles in rear of the first line.
Twelve pieces of artillery and 6,000 stands of small arms,
were taken. Darkness put an end to the battle.

Biit a heavy blood equivalent was paid for the victory.
Owing to much sickness the regiment, according to the state-
ment of Captain A. T. Cole, was able to go into this action
only about 225 strong. Moore's Roster, which in countless
instances, and pr6bably in this, is incomplete, shows that
twenty-four privates and non-commissioned officers were
killed, and ninety-five wounded, sixteen of them mortally.
As will be seen, this was an exceeding large proportion of the
number engaged.

There were also many casualties among the commissioned
officers. None of the Field Officers escaped injury. Colo-
nel Christie was wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel R. D. John-
ston was wounded in the arm, face and neck, had his horse
killed xmder him and was shot down within fifty feet of the
hostile works. Captain C. C. Blacknall, Company G, who,
unable to walk, owing to a sprained ankle, had gone into
action mounted, was grazed by seven balls, and received
a painful bruise near the spine from a fragment of shell. He
also received painful injuries from his horse, which was killed
and fell on him. Captain William Johnston, Company K,
and Lieutenant E. A. McDonald, Company D, were also
wounded. Lieutenants J. D. Knott and A. M. Luria, of
Company I, were killed. Luria was a gallant young fellow.
It was at Seawell's Point that he did a heroic act, which, had
he been a British soldier, would have brought him the Victo-
ria Cross and caused the world to ring with his name. While
there early in 1861, either as a visitor or as a member of Col-
quitt's command, before he joined the Twenty-third, a shell
from the Federal gunboats dropped among the Confederates.
With rare presence of mind and devotion, he seized the shell
and threw it over the works before it could explode. At our

206 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

reorganization he refused promotion, saying that he wished
nothing unless won on the battle field. Major E. J. Chris-
tian was mortally wounded, dying a few days later.

MAJOR EDMUND J. CHEISTIAIT.

Major Edmund J. Christian was born in Montgomery
County, ISr. C, in 1834. His uncle, Samuel H. Christian,
was elected to the Confederate Congress, but died
before taking his seat. While a boy, his father died, leaving
his mother and her other children largely dependent on him,
which duty he successfully performed. Major Christian was
a farmer by vocation. He was a man of magnificent physique
and had no bad habits. On the outbreak of war he enlisted
as a private,, but was elected Lieutenant, in the Montgomery
Vounteers ISTo. 1, which became Company C on the organiza-
tion of the regiment. Upon the reorganization, 10 May,
1862, he was elected Major, to fall in battle just three weeks
later. At Seven Pines he had received two wounds, either of
which would have justified his retirement from the field. But
he pluckily went forward at the head of his men till stricken
down with the third and mortal wound. He was conveyed to
a private house in Richmond, tenderly nursed for the two or
three days he had to live, and was laid to rest in the Confed-
erate Capital which he had died to defend. Lieutenant W.
P. Gill, of Company G, was also wounded.

Captain C. C. Blacknall, Company G, was promoted to
Major on the death of Major Christian.

The courage and dash of the men and officers in this
bloody onslaiight, has never been surpassed. When in the
impetuosity of the onset through the vine-tangled swamp, the
three right companies became temporarily separated from
the regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Johnston led them gal-
lantly forward with the Fourth Regiment. Splendidly did
the whole command show its alacrity to meet and close with
the foe, no matter what the obstacles, so that they knew
where he was and there was no confusion of orders
as in the woods at Williamsburg. The conduct of private
Wm. C. Cole, brother of Captain A. T. Cole, at Seven Pines,

Twenty-Third Regiment. 207

is a good illustration of the high resolve of the men to do their
full duty. This youth, a mere stripling and in poor health
from the hardships of the campaign, found in the thick of
the fight, that the channel of the tube was obstructed, and
that his musket would not fire, sat down imder a hot fire, re-
moved the tube with his wrench, screwed home a new one,
caught up with the line at a few bounds and continued to
load and fire as long as a Yankee was in. sight.

After Seven Pines, the regiment went into camp near
Richmond and passed several weeks in drilling. Here on
Tuesday, 17 June, it was re-brigaded, being now placed
in brigade with the Fifth, Twelfth, Thirteenth and Twenti-
eth, all ISTorth Carolina regiments. Samuel Garland, Jr., of
Lynchburg, Va., remained in command as Brigadier. Soon
after the wounding of General Joseph E. Johnston at Seven
Pines, General R. E. Lee became Commander-in-Chief of the
army.

THE SEVEN DATs' XflGHTING.

As the month of June, 1862, wore away, McClellan's plans
developed. The Confederate Capital was to be taken by reg-
ular approaches. The 26 June found his splendidly
organized and equipped army of at least 105,000 ef-
fectives, strongly intrenched on a line straddling the Chick-
ahominy and extending from White Oak Swamp, twelve
miles soiitheast of Richmond, to Mechanicsville, six miles
northeast. The line, especially that part north of the Chick-
ahominy, ran along positions of great natural strength, rugged
bluffs protected largely by streams or swamps on the side next
to the Confederates.

The soutliern strategy of this protracted death grapple, so
well described by its name, the Seven Days Fighting, was
masterly — as brilliant as history records. The valor and
staying powers evinced by the Southern soldiers in that pro-
longed combat is scarcely matched in the annals of time. But
for an apparently inherent defect in the Southern mind — its
inability to master, or its universal contempt for, the practi-
cal details of things, the invading hosts would in all likeli-

208 North GAROLI^:A Troops, 18t)l-'65.

hood have met its doom in the Chickahominy swamps. Had
Southern practicalness been at all commensurate with South-
ern generalship and Southern courage, it is hard to see how
McClellan's army could have escaped ruin, if not total de-
struction. This unpracticalness manifested itself here in
the failure to prepare accurate topographical maps of a region
which the trend of events had, for months, pointed out as the
most probable scene of conflict.

The position of the Federal army was, on the whole, nat-
urally very strong and made as much stronger as engineering
skill could make it. But owing to the isolating effect of the
many streams and swamps, difficult of passage, it gave the
opportunity of the war to the qualities in which the Southern
army excelled — prowess and military genius. In this in-
stance these qualities were largely negatived by the fact that
the Confederate leaders fought and maneuvered over a region
of whose exact topography they knew scarcely more than of
the craters in the moon. The result of this ignorance of nat-
ural obstacles, and of the roads that turn them, was that
thousands of gallant men, the very flower of the Southern
army, were needlessly and heedlessly sacrificed, and that a
half victory cost double the price for what a whole victory
could have been obtained.

Lee's plans were that Jackson, then in the Shenandoah
Valley, by a rapid and secret march, should strike the right
flank of this twenty-mile line, while he smote its right front.
Then beginning at the end, 55,000 of his 80,000 men, were to
be thrown impetuously against the Federal line, flanking it
as far as practicable, and rolling it back upon itself, compass
its destruction if possible.

After Seven Pines the Twenty-third was assigned a posi-
tion near the left wing of the army. Our tents were pitched
on the banks of a small stream about 600 yards in the rear of
the works. As an advance of the enemy was hourly expected,
the orders were that upon the sound of a bugle at brigade
headqxiarters, the regiment must be formed in 'five minutes
with three days' rations, canteens filled and forty rounds of
ammunition per man, ready to march rapidly to it§ place in
line. This rendered it necessary for the men to sleep with

Twenty-Third Regiment. 209

their cartridge belts on and haversacks and canteens by their
sides. Mounted officers had to keep their horses saddled.
No one was allowed to be absent from the command for a
moment. Many such alarms were given by day and by
night. Two weeks of this rigid discipline made the order to
advance a genuine relief.

The fighting began in earnest on Thursday, 26 June, a
fine cloudless day. On the afternoon of that day A. P. Hill
moved to the east and without waiting for Jackson's appear-
ance on the Federal flank, as had been agreed, assaulted in
front the impregnable lines on Beaver Dam Creek, a small
stream running north and south, and emptying into the
Chickahominy. The result was that he M'as beaten off with
the loss of over 3,000 men, a loss nearly ten times as great as
he inflicted on the enemy. This is often called the battle of
Mechaniesville from a very small village at the cross roads a
mile west of the stream. [This premature assault and conse-
quent disastrous and useless loss of life General A. P. Hill
afterward repeated at Gettysburg and at Bristoe Sta-
tion.— Ed. J

The Twenty-third, which belonged to D. H. Hill's divis-
ion, was not actively engaged on the 26th. About 11 a. m.
of that day, we left our position in line and marched to the
left, striking the Mechaniesville road as we filed down the
hill towards a little stream. To the left of our line of march
could be seen a group of high Confederate oflicers, including
President Davis, Generals Lee, Longstreet, D. H. Hill, Gar-
land and others. Their earnest consultation and the distant
firing made us feel that a momentous period in the struggle
was now at hand. We were marched up and took position op-
posite the hills beyond the stream, and were for a while under
a spirited cannonade. Adjutant Turner's horse was killed,
falling on him, but not inflicting injury enough to keep him
out of the battle of the next day. Several other casualties
were also sustained by the regiment

We slept that night on our arms. Early the next morning
while Captain I. J. Young was getting his company in line
for the work before us, one of his men complained that he
14

210 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

was not well, and wanted to report on the sick list. Captain
Young was heard to say: "Yes, damn it; I know you are
sick. But it's only the battle field colic. I'll not excuse
you." The diagnosis proved correct, the "colic" soon passed
and the patient, we believe, did his duty faithfully that day.

Upon the approach of Jackson from the north on their
right flank, the enemy withdrew from their strong line on
Beaver Dam Creek, to one scarcely less strong on Powhite
Creek, another small stream running parallel with Beaver
Dam and about fou.r or five miles to the east of it. A. P.
Hill, Longstreet and D. H. Hill followed closely.

A little to the east of Powhite Creek was fought the battle
called Gaines' Mill, and less commonly the battle of Cold
Harbor. But for the fact that it would be confounded with
the battle fought there on May, 1864, the latter term is more
accurate, for the enemy were brushed back from the line at
Powhite Creek on which stands Gaines' Mill with compara-
tively little fighting. Their stand to the death was made
behind a great semi-circle of swamps a mile or more to the
east of Powhite Creek, and much nearer JSTew Cold Plarbor
than Gaines' Mill. On the morning of the 27^1, D. H. Hill's
division was thrown forward, well to the left along the road
running by Bethesda Church, so as to reach Porter's right
rear. When, after much delay and perplexity, at 2 :30 p. m.,
we came into collision with the enemy near old Cold Harbor
and three miles northwest of jSTew Cold Harbor, our brigade,
Garland's, was on the extreme left of the enemy.

It was nearly sun doAvn when the two brigades of Anderson
and Garland got permission from D. II. Hill, their division
commander, to adva,nce to the charge. The assault was deliv-
ered under conditions not unlike those at Seven Pines nearly
a month earlier. A swamp densely covered with undergrowth
had to be passed under fire before the Federals could be
reached. These consisted of United States regulars under
Sykes, a hard and persistent fighter.

But nothing could withstand the impetuosity of our on-
ward sweep. Alignment was soon lost in the contraction of
the lines necessary in attacking a shorter front than our ovsoi.
But the Twenty-third, along with the other regiments, pressed

Twenty-Third Regiment. 211

forward, tearing their way through brush and briar and vine.

After clearing these bewildering obstructions we emerged
into a thin piece of woods with no undergrowth. This brought
us in full view of a battery on our left, which opened upon us,
as we went forward at the double quick down a little slope.
The men became excited and began to fire; but Colonel
Christie sent his Adjutant, the writer of this, to stop the fir-
ing till they got closer. So down we swept and then up the
hill to the enemy's position. Just at this juncture came the
critical moment of the day, and possibly of the campaign.
Their line began to waver. Officers and men seemed by one
accord to grasp the situation. We pressed forward in the
charge as a part of an Alabama regiment rushed back upon
our line. Its Colonel shouted that he was going back to reform.
Captain Young, then in command of the regiment. Colonel
Christie having just fallen severely wounded, exclaimed:
"Don't go back to reform. We are all needed to carry this
line." So the regiment turned and charged with us.

Up the hill we pressed. The enemy now broke and fied in
great disorder through a dense swamp in their rear, leaving
large numbers of knapsacks behind them. We took sixty or
seventy prisoners. It was now dark. We were hungry,
worn out and entirely separated from the other regiments of
the brigade which had gone in and broken the line to the right
and left of us.

We bivouaced in a body of pines, too worn out to stand
guard over prisoners, who seemed as tired and worn out as
ourselves. The Adjutant counted them and cautioned them
not to move during the night. Then lying down around
them, we slept soundly. They seemed well contented and
showed no disposition to escape while with us.

There has been much dispute as to what troops first broke
the enemy's line at Cold Harbor, and thus began the long
chain of McClellan's reverses. But l^orthern writers state
that the right wing gave way first. This is where D. H.
Hill's assault was delivered. General Hill himself says that
Garland's charge made the first break in the hostile line.
General Lee officially paid high compliment to the division
for its part in this battle.

212 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

Our regiment was not actually engaged at Savage Station,
Eraser's Farm, or any of the subsequent battles, till Malvern
Hill, fought on Wednesday, 1 July. McClellan beaten and
harried on every hand, saw that escape would be difficult,
probably impossible, unless Lee's pursuit could be checked.
For this purpose on Tuesday night, 30 June, and early the
next morning, he hurried to Malvern Hill his shattered com-
mands. If the hand of Omnipotence, molding plastic nature
at will, had contrived a fastness in which a beaten and dis-
pirited army might take refuge and grow strong in a sense
of security, it need do no more than fashion another Malvern
Hill. Here with the James river to his back, and his fleet of
gunboats on his left flank, he felt that he might meet even
Lee's dauntless, though shattered divisions. Here, frowning
tier^ above frowning tier, in implacements made by nature's
own hand, his 300 pieces of splendid artillery were concen-
trated. Hither his still formidable army, now as at the be-
ginning, far outnumbering the Confederates, was drawn back
and skilfully massed in time to strengthen, with partial en-
trenchments, the points that were least strong. A clearing
of 500 to 900 yards between the Federal position and the
woods and Swamp in their front, gave a full view of their as-
sailants.

Against this inland Gibraltar, the Southern troops were
hurled. A simultaneous attack along the whole line would
have been desperate. Attacks at intervals, at the different
points by different commands without concert of action, were
hopeless. Yet such, by an unfortunate concatenation of
errors, was the mode of attack. Late on that sultry summer
afternoon our division (D. H. Hill's) struggled through an
almost impassable swamp and opened the battle with the first
direct assault. Our brigade (Garland's) was in the first
line, and advanced through the broadest part of the belt of
cleared ground, which had been broken by the plow on the
side next to the enemy. Though only Whiting's small divis-
ion was to the left of us, our attack was directed against the
Federal centre. Here we fought Couch's men which we had
routed at Seven Pines and when here, as there, hard pressed,.
Kearney came to their aid.

Twenty-Thikd Regiment. 213

But the task now assigned us was beyond the power of
mortal men. From the first step in the open, the fire of that
huge volcanic amphitheatre and of the gun boats on the river
was focused on us, much as the ribs of a fan meet at the han-
dle. Yet onward we swept; the line, when shattered and
hurled back in places, reforming and pushing with grim de-
tertoiination, doggedly forward, breaking in part the first
line of the enemy. No field ever more fully tested the fibre
of Anglo-Saxon manhood, and on no field has it ever acquitted
itself better. ISTot till they had striven, unaided for more
than an hour against McClellan's whole army and 2,000 had
fallen, did they yield to the inevitable and were swept back-
ward by the moving wall of lead and iron.

As at Seven Pines, we will let foeman pay tribute to their
matchless ardor. A French officer, the Oomte de Paris, who
was on McClellan's staff, saw it all and said the following :

"Hill advanced alone against the Federal position. * *
He had therefore before him Morell's right. Couch's division,
reinforced by Caldwell's Brigade * * and fronting the
left of Kearney. As soon as they (Hill's troops) passed be-
yond the edge of the forest, they were received by a fire from
all the batteries at once, some posted on the hills, others
ranged midway close to the Federal infantry. The latter
joined its musketry fire to the cannonade when Hill's first
line had come within range, and threw it back in disorder on
its reserves.

While it was reforming, new battalions marched up to the
assault in their turn. The remembrance of Cold Harbor
doubles the energies of Hill's soldiers. They try to pierce
the line, sometimes at one point, sometimes at another, charg-
ing Kearney's left first and Couch's right * * and af-
terAvards throwing themselves upon the left of Couch's divis-
ion. But here also after nearly reaching the Federal posi-
tion, they are repulsed. The conflict is carried on with great
fierceness on both sides, and for a moment it seems that the
Confederates are at last to penetrate the very centre of their
adversaries and of the formidable artillery which was now
dealing destruction in their ranks. But Sumner, who com-
mands on the right, detaches Sickles' and Meagher's brigades

214 NoKTH Carolina Tkoops, 1861-'65.

to Couch's assistance. During this time, Whiting on the
left and Huger on the right, suffer Hill's soldiers to become
exhausted without supporting them. * * At 7 o'clock,
Hill reorganized the debris of his troops in the woods * *
his tenacity and the courage of his soldiers had only had the
effect of causing him to sustain heavy loss."

Not till far in the night did the terrific volcano of Malvern
Hill become extinct. Fearful had been its execution not only
on the fighting line, but numbers of the supports far back in
the woods to the rear had been struck down. It was one of
the few battles in history in which the casualties from artil-
lery fire were as large, probably larger, than those from small
arms.

Battered and shattered, but undismayed, the Twenty-third
slept that night upon its arms ready for the eventualities of
the morrow. But the stir and rumble within the hostile line
had been significant. Jackson's drowsy response, when
awakened from the slumbers which from sheer exhaustion
had mastered him, and asked what must be done should Mc-
Clellan attack tomorrow. "He won't be there," had been
indeed prophetic words. The morrow broke over Malvern Hill
tenanted only by Federal dead and wounded, all of which the
enemy had left in their flight. It broke over the "Little Na-
poleon"— ^very little he then appeared at Washington, if not
to himself — safe under shelter of his gunboats at Harrison's
Landing, clamoring for 50,000 fresh troops. McC51ellan had
lost 15,849 men in killed, wounded and captured, besides 52
pieces of artillery, 27,000 stands of small arms and millions
of dollars worth of stores. But the Confederates being every-
where the assailants, sustained a still heavier loss, their casu-
alties reaching the enormous aggregate of 19,749.

It is impossible to give with accuracy our regiment's loss
during the Seven Days fighting. Moore's Roster, often inac-
curate and incomplete, is here unusually so. According to
statement of Captain A. T. Cole, Company D, who esti-
mates the casualties of the regiment in proportion to those
known to have been sustained by his own company, the
Twenty-third began the Seven Days fighting with about 175
men. It sustained the heaviest loss at Malvern Hill. Here

Twenty-Third Regiment. 215

about 30 were killed and 75 wounded. These figures, while
only approximate, are believed to be near the mark. These
losses left the command a mere skeleton, till strengthened by
recruits and the return of wounded men who had recovered.
Colonel D. H. Christie and Adjutant V. E. Turner were
wounded at Cold Harbor. Captain I. J. Young, who com-
manded the Twenty-third at Malvern Hill was, in that bat-
tle, wounded in the face, and Private C. C. Courtney, Com-
pany A, killed in taking him from the field. Here also Cap-
tain A. T. Cole, Company D, and Lieutenant Munday, Com-
pany K, were wounded, and Lieutenant Wm. F. Gill, of
Granville County, killed. The list, though incomplete,
covers so far as can now be ascertained, the casualties of the
commissioned officers.

LIBUTEITANT WM. P. GILL.

Wm. p. Gill was born in Franklin County, JST. C, October
1842. While yet a lad fresh from college, he enlisted as a
private in the Granville Eifles, afterwards Company G, was
appointed Sergeant Major and at the reorganization, elected
Second Lieutenant in the company. His diities as Sergeant
Major had brought him in frequent contact with the officers
of his regiment, and most of the men. His death caused
genuine sorrow and regret to every member of the command.
He was handsome in person, and his bearing that of a gentle-
man. His bravery, manliness, his frank, open face alight
with the quenchless enthusiasm of a youth, won and held the
love and respect of all. For though gentle and polite, he was
firm in the discharge of his duties. His abilities were so gen-
erally recognized that his promotion must have been rapid
had he been spared to his country and the army. He said
the morning of Malvern Hill, that he would not survive the
battle. So strong was this premonition that when Captain
I. J. Young was borne to the rear, wounded, he asked the
Captain to take charge of a watch which had just been en-
trusted to him (Lieutenant Gill) by a dying Federal, for
transmission to his mother. And I will add that after the
war Captain Young found the mother and delivered the
watch. Lieutenant Gill, now in command of the regiment,

216 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

was instantly killed, being almost cut asunder by a shell, after
the attack was over. He was then only nineteen. With his
fall perished one of the noblest spirits of the command.

It was at Malvern Hill that private Charles P. Powell, of
Company D, emulated the fearless deed of Luria at Seawell's
Point. While lying in line under heavy artillery fire, wait-
ing for the order to charge, a shell dropped among us. The
men could not leave their places in the line of battle, so they
flattened to earth while their unwelcome visitor sputtered
away. An instant later the heroic Powell sprung forward,
lifted the shell and deliberately sousing the head in one of
the small water pools of the swamp, put out the fuse. The
fuse must by some error have been cut a trifle long, or after so
much delay it must have exploded in his hands before it
reached the water. This gallant fellow was wounded a little
later in this battle and also at Gettysburg, promoted Adju-
tant and was killed in the "Bloody Angle" 12 May, 1864 — an
immortal record, surely. The wounding of Captain Young
left Second Lieutenant Gill in command of the regiment till
he was killed. After his fall the Twenty-third seems to have
had no commissioned officer left on the field.

After the battle we spent several weeks of grateful and
well needed rest near Richmond. When Jackson, followed
later by the bulk of the army, marched against Pope at Man-
assas, our division was, with McLaws' left behind to observe
the enemy and guard Richmond. In fact, D. H. Hill's divis-
ion oftener than any other, was detached on independent ser-
vice of that kind.

When McClellan's army was withdrawn to reinforce Pope
and safeguard the Federal Capital, we were thrown forward
by forced marches northward. We rejoined the Confederate
army at Chantilly 2 September, three days after the
battle of Second Manassas was over. The eaTth was yet
encumbered with unburied dead. The most gruesome of our
whole war experience were the many swollen corpses crushed
and mangled by the cannon wheels, which in the urgency of
that fierce and prolonged combat had passed over them. Ar-
tillery must manoeuvre somewhere ; the dead lay thick nearly

Twenty-Third Regiment. 217

everywhere, and men had been too engrossed wielding the
sickle of death to gather in the harvest.

THE FIRST MARYLAND CAMPAIGN.

At Chantilly we were within a few miles of the scene of
our picket duty the previous Fall, Winter and Spring. But
our pause there was of the briefest. Our brigade formed
Lee's vanguard in the invasion of Maryland. Moving rap-
idly northward Friday, 5 September, we waded the Poto-
mac near Leesburg, at Poland's Ford, lower down, we be-
lieve, than the Southern army crossed it before or after in its
many passages. With what bounding hearts did we climb
the opposite banks of the Potomac, looking eagerly for the
support of "Maryland, My Maryland." Cherishing hopes
which, alas, like so many other Confederate Hopes, withered
on the stem.

Strong indeed must have been the Southern proclivities of
Maryland men to see aught of attraction in a service like ours.
We were a hungry, jaded, weather-beaten, battle-worn set.
In the forced marches to the northward wagon trains had
been outstripped, green corn and apples forming for days al-
most our only food. The fields of "roasting ears," most of
them now too hard to be really edible, were bought from the
farmers and the men turned in to help themselves. One of
General Hill's first acts after crossing the Potomac into
Maryland, was to buy a large field of com and turn in his
division. All supplies obtained during this campaign were
paid for in Federal currency.

A cartoon in Harper's Weekly represented a Maryland
Quaker woman placing a wash stand at her door and implor-
ing the rebels that if they must possess her house, please to use
that first; while the rebels mistaking this — to them — strange
apparatus for some infernal machine contrived for their de-
struction, skedaddled forthwith. But the lion, though un-
kempt and half starved, was a lion still, as the foe discov-
ered when he threw his 90,000 against our ranks thinned by
battle, disease and the giving out of foot-sore men, to less
than 30,000.

218 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

From the 6tli to the 10th of September, we remained in
camp near Frederick, Maryland. Here rest, full rations and
delightful weather recuperated us fast. It was while in
camp at this place that the famous "Lost Order" was dropped
by some one at the headquarters of our division commander,
General D. H. Hill. General HiU subsequently established
the fact that he never saw this duplicate order. The sol-
dier who lost it was never guilty of a more culpable act,
nor one fraught with more moment. This order, which was
picked up on the 13th by a Federal soldier, wrapped around
some Confederate cigars, and at once transmitted to McClel-
Ian, revealed not only the dangerous secret that Lee's army
was divided, but told in minute detail the present position
and future movements of infantry, artillery, cavalry and
trains. In the hands of an able and active foe — one alive to
the tremendous advantage thus given him and quick and res-
olute in availing himself of it — this paper must in all proba-
bility, have been the death warrant of the Southern Confed-
eracy. For by a strange fatality it revealed the faults of
Sotithern strategy at its faultiest moment, and told where
and when to meet and overcome the Confederate commands
when their strength was at the lowest ebb.

Fortunately McClellan had few of the qualities of a Jack-
son, a Forest or even a Hood. He acted upon the informa-
tion thus obtained, but not with the promptitude and energy
that Fate demands when at long intervals she places such op-
portunity in mortal hands. McClellan's report of the find
to Lincoln was not only characteristic, but a fine tribute to the
valor of his weakened, scattered and now betrayed antago-
nists. "I have all the plans of the rebels," he wires, "and
will catch them in their own trap, if my men are equal to the
emergency." Lee's strokes had been so hard and his strat-
egy, based upon the prowess of his army, so bold, that Mc-
Clellan informed Halleck that he had "120,000 men to fight."

McClellan thus apprized of the situation, moved forward
on the morning of 13 September, to take advantage of it.

One column vmder Franklin was thrown forward south-
westerly towards Crampton Gap of South Mountain. Its
objective was to crush Jackson's force, then hammering the

Twenty-Third Regiment. 219

Federal garrison at Harper's Ferry. The bulk of the Fed-
eral army was moved westerly against us through Turner's
and Fox's Gap, its object being Hagerstown, which the "Lost
Order" had disclosed as Lee's point of rendezvous.

We had withdrawn from Frederick 10 September, moving
slowly through Turner's Gap of South Mountain to-
wards Boonsboro, on the direct road to Hagerstown. Our
division was the rear guard of the army and was encumbered -
with all the wagon and artillery trains.

THE BATTLE OF BOONSBOEO, OB SOUTH MOUNTAIN.

By the afternoon 13 September, we had marched to
the west of Boonsboro, and gone into camp near Funks-
town. From here we were hurried back east to South Moun-
tain; meeting General Stuart coming down as we marched
up. That night we spent on the western slope of the ridge ; a
chilly bivouac without blankets or any manner of covering
from the keen mountain air.

Early in the morning of Sunday, 14 September, General
D. H. Hill came in person and posted Colquitt's brigade in
Turner's Gap and our brigade (Garland's) in Fox's Gap, a
mile to the south of Turner's. These two Gaps, which are
virtually one, are traversed by many roads. If McClellan's
advance was to be checked till Jackson could take Harper's
Ferry and join Lee, all these roads must be held by this hand-
ful of men against McClellan to the last extremity. This
necessitated the scattering of the regiments of the brigade
and resulted almost in the destruction of some of them, but
the pass was held and the precious time necessary for Lee
to concentrate, gained.

Garland's brigade of five regiments numbered less than
1,000 men. Our regiment had been severely cut to pieces
at Seven Pines and Malvern Hill, and not yet having been re-
cruited by conscripts to the same extent as some of the others,
was much smaller in proportion than the brigade. Our posi-
tion was in the centre of the brigade and along the crest of
the ridge behind an old stone fence, so common in that region.

220 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

The fence had been more or less dismantled by time and was
in places very low.

To our right was the Fifth and then the Twelfth ; to our
left the Thirteenth and then the Twentieth. An interval of
fully 250 yards separated the Thirteenth from the Twenty-
third, and one probably as great severed it from the Twen-
tieth.

Against Garland's 1,000 Cox led 3,000 of Eeno's Corps.
The action begun at 9 a. m. From oiir elevated position we
had a full view of the movement in our front. Below us
in plain view, went forward through the woods the skirmish
line of the brigade. Near them and slowly drawing nearer
and nearer, came a dark-blue line. Yet they apparently did
not see each other. Not till the lines seemed within a few
yards of each other was the calm, radiant Sabbath morning
broken by the crack of rifles. The battle was on.

Our skirmish line was soon forced backward by weight of
numbers. General Garland seeing this, ordered Colonel Mc-
Kae to take his regiment, the Fifth, and the Twelfth regiment
and support the skirmish line. This he attempted to do,
but the main line of the enemy coming up at this juncture,
forced our skirmish line back in disorder and developed so
much strength that McRae not being able to prevent the ad-
vance, fell back to his position on our right.

The Federals now pressed forward, striking first the Thir-
teenth and Twentieth on our left. Here General Garland
fell. But as General Hill says, the main attack was against
the Twenty-third behind the stone wall (tumbled down stone
fence). A little later, but while still fiercely contending on
the left, assault after assault was made against our front.
These we beat off, inflicting heavy loss on the assailants. At
length Colonel Christie seeing that a still stronger force which
was advancing against him could, while engaging his front,
envelop his left, sent his Adjutant, V. E. Turner (the writer
of this) to apprize General Garland of the situation. Finding
that Garland had fallen, the Adjutant, making his way to-
wards the rear of the Thirteenth and Twentieth, delivered
the message to Colonel McEae, then in command of the bri-
gade. Colonel McEae having no horse or Staff (General

j'-M ^>^^.;iXW/(^^5^%c)]r?^^e@^^^9^*^^5A3

TWENTY-THIED EEGIMENT.

1. Geo. Burns Bullock, Captain, Co. I. 5. William H. Harris, Private, Co. I.

2. N. A. Gregory, 1st Lieut.. Co. I. 6. John T, Santord, Private, Co. I.

S. Richard V. Minor, 1st Lieut., Co. E. 7. Nicholas T. Green, Private, Co. E.
4. W. P. Gill, 2d Lieut., Co. Q. 8. John H. Breedlove, Private, Co. G.

9. James E. Hart, Sergeant, Co. I.

Twenty-Third Regiment. 221

Garland's Staff having gone off with his body) had no means
of immediate communication with General HiU, and was
unable to fill the gap and to avert the disaster apprehended
by Colonel Christie.

The returning Adjutant after almost running into the hos-
tile lines, reached the position of the Twenty-third just as it
was abandoned. Colonel Christie, with his short, weak line,
hopelessly enveloped and enfiladed, and seeing capture sure if
he remained longer, had ordered the regiment to withdraw.
This withdrawal, as it had to be precipitate in the extreme,
was effected in great disorder down the steep and bewilder-
ing mountain side. Company E and a few other men on the
left, the side on which the flank attack came, either did not
hear the order to withdraw, or being already enveloped, were
mostly captured. It was here and by this gallant Company
that bayonets and clubbed muskets were so freely used in the
vain struggle to repel outnumbering foes. The regiment
had been too roughly handled to be taken into action again
that day.

The whole brigade was likewise driven back, though the
Thirteenth on the left, managed by a change of front, to
maintain itself till reinforced by Anderson's brigade. The
exact loss of the Twenty-third cannot now be ascertained, but
it was heavy in killed and wounded and of the 200 prisoners
captured from the brigade it lost its share. It also inflicted
heavy loss upon the enetmy before the stone fence, its post of
vantage, was enfiladed and rendered useless. General Jesse
L. Reno, commanding the corps assailing us, and who had
been prominent in the capture of Roanoke Island, Kinston,
and other places in ISTorth Carolina, was killed at long range
by Charles W. Bennett, of Granville County, Orderly Ser-
geant of Company E. Sergeant Bennett was severely
wounded at Sharpsburg. Among our wounded was also Cap-
tain G. T. Baskerville, of Company I. General Garland was
killed early in the action. In making his way to the firing
line, he passed through an open space to the rear of the gap,
between the Twenty-third and the Thirteenth. He had been
told that the Federal sharpshooters commanded this space,
but could not believe that they had yet advanced far enough

222 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

to reach the crest and dominate the place. Venturing through
the opening, he at once became their target and was shot
down.

The arrival of reinforcements late in the day enabled Hill,
by desperate fighting, to hold Tox's and Turner's Gap till
dark, as Crampton Gap, to the south, had been held. Under
cover of night all three gaps were evacuated and the Conf ed-
ate forces concentrated on Sharpsburg, whither Jackson hast-
ened on the fall of Harper's Ferry.

DE. JOUBDAITj ASSISTANT SUEGEON.

When the enemy at last succeeded in getting in on our left
flank and cutting us off from the other regiments of the bri-
gade. Dr. Jourdan was so near the firing line that he was not
recognized as a "non-combatant," and was deliberately shot
down. He was a native of Eoxboro, Caswell County, N. C. ;
was most highly esteemed as a gentleman and an efiicient of-
ficer, always kindly and considerate of the sick and wounded.

On the march, when the ambulance was filled with the
sick, he often gave up his horse to disabled men and marched
on foot himself. The whole regiment were greatly devoted
to him.

THE BATTLE OF SHAEPSBTJEG^ OE ANTIETAM.

Jackson captured Harper's Ferry 15 September, and
by forced marches joined Lee, with most of his forces, at
Sharpsburg on the 16th. McClellan advanced and threw
part of his command over the Antietam Creek that night.
The battle, joined at daylight of the 17th. And in that
bloody Wednesday was crowded more desperate fighting and
more carnage than theJSTew World had ever seen in one day.
Ketreating along' the Boonsboro road, we reached the field
early on the morning of the 15th, with the enemy close behind
us as we crossed the bridge over Antietam Creek. We at
once took position along the ridge and in an open field.

The Twenty-third regiment was here able to muster but few
men, many being barefoot and absolutely unable to keep up in
the forced marches over rough and stony roads. The brigade

Twenty-Third Regiment. 223

■which since Garland's fall, had been under the command of
Colonel McRae, of the Fifth, went into action with Colquitt's
brigade in the Confederate center, and were advancing in
perfect steadiness under a heavy artillery fire from the oppo-
site hills, till the unaccountable "run back" occurred. This
happened as follows: The Federals advanced against us in
dense lines through a corn field, which concealed the
uniforms, though their flags and mounted ofiicers could
be seen plainly above the corn tassels. As the blue
line became more distinct, approaching the edge of
the corn field, which brought it in our range, we
commenced to fire and effectively held it in check.
But some of Early's men, who had come from the corn field,
begged iis not to fire, saying that their men were in our front.
Some one in a regitaent tO' the right of us also shouted:
"Cease firing. You are shooting your own men." Hands
were also seen waving the line back. This confused the men.
The artillery fire grew constantly hotter. Several of the
regiments, nearly exterminated at Williamsburg, Seven Pines
and Malvern Hill, had been recruited with raw men, largely
ignorant of discipline and of the machine-like duties of a sol-
dier.

At this the regiments on our right began to fall back, strag-
gling through the woods in our rear. But we could plainly
see that we were not firing on our friends, and in our front the
enemy was firmly held in check, till we found that they were
moving on our flank unopposed. This compelled us to re-
tire, which was done in good order, considering the circum-
stances. The greater part of our regiment stopped in a
sunken road (the famous Bloody Lane) and joining the main
line there, fought the remainder of the day. General Hill
says distinctly that the Twenty-third was kept intact and
moved to the sunken road.

The brigade was gotten together that night and early the
next morning. The 18th was spent in line of battle
ready for the attack which did not come. Lieutenant-Colonel
R. D. Johnston was now in command of the Twenty-third,
Colonel Christie having been placed in command of Gen-
eral Anderson's brigade.

224 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

There is a great gap in the Southern part of the War Rec-
ords covering the first Maryland campaign. The Confeder-
ate reports were either lost or destroyed in that fortnight of
strenuous marching and fighting. The casualties of the reg-
iment at Sharpsburg, as at South Mountain, will never be ac-
curately known. Captain Wall's estimate of about 45
wounded and 20 killed is believed to be right. Captain A. T.
Cole, Company D, and Captain Wesley Hedspeth, Company
E, are the only two ofiicers given in Moore's Roster as having
been wounded, though there were almost certain twice or
three times that many. Few soldiers in any war have ever
been killed under the same circumstances as W. C. Watkins,
of Company A. This man had been discharged as not physi-
cally able to serve. But wishing to take part in one more bat-
tle, he remained and fought at Sharpsburg, and fell and was
found dead with the discharge in his pocket.

THE EETUEN TO VIEGINIA.

McClellan's desperate and repeated attempts to pierce and
shatter the 'Confederate lines, had been substantially foiled.
But Sharpsburg proved to us but a pyrrhic victory at best.
Lee with less than 30,000, could not afford victories bought at
the expense of 10,000 men, even if it inflicted a loss of 15,000
on the enemy. Holding his lines undisturbed through the
18th, he withdrew that night across the Potomac, near Shep-
herdstown. Just as the last of our own army crossed the
enemy appeared and a brush occurred, but they did not press
us closely till the next day, when we turned and drove them
back with fearful loss.

After returning to Virginia, our command lay encamped
till late in October along the Opequon, not far from its battle
ground of 19 September, 1864. The region was one of great
thrift and plenty. The long rest was exceedingly grateful to
our weary and foot-sore men. During this campaign an in-
trepid deed was performed near Bunker Hill by Frank Bow-
ers, of Company A. He was then driving an ammunition
wagon drawn by six mules. The jolting over the rough road
exploded one of the shells in his wagon and others rapidly
followed. Few men would have hesitated at instant flight.

Twenty-Third Regiment. 225

ISTo man could have been expected to do otherwise. But Bow-
ers was one of that heroic mold which never abandons a trust
or a duty. With marvellous presence of mind and courage,
he sprang to the ground, unhitched the team, and escaped
with them all unhurt from the verge of the volcano of bursting
shells. Yet history vouchsafes this gallant fellow but the
stint of two words, one of them abbreviated to a single letter,
"k, Gettysburg." (Killed at Gettysburg.)

Here the army was recruited and reorganized. The Twen-
ty-third received its share of recruits. What was more im-
portant, it was strengthened by the return of many of its mem-
bers who had recovered from wounds and diseases. Colonel
Alfred Iverson, of the Twentieth JSTorth Carolina, was, after
Sharpsburg, commissioned Brigadier-General and assumed
command of the brigade. The Thirteenth Regiment was
about this time transferred to Scales' Brigade, leaving bri-
gaded with us the Fifth, Twelfth and Twentieth

In November came the march southeast to Fredericksburg.
The following incident — a trifling flotsam of memory — oc-
curring in this month, will illustrate the humorous side of a
soldier's life. One of the Staff officers of the regiment, for
slightly overstaying a leave to visit some ladies was, as was
the usage, placed under arrest by Colonel Christie. ISTow an
officer under arrest must march in the rear of the regiment,
and cannot address his superior officer except in writing. This
incompetency to address the Colonel would have been without
complications except for the fact tliat the weather was cold
and the above officer and the Colonel were bed-fellows and
slept on a very narrow bunk. J^ow not even a Confederate
soldier was willing that all the freezing that fell to his lot
should be endured by one half of his body. So an occasional
turning of the frozen side in was a sine qua non. But a lux-
ury of this kind could be safely obtained only by co-opera-
tion— there must be a simultaneous action of both occupants
of the bunk or dire consequence might follow. For co-opera-
tion communication is essential. Written communication in
the dark was impossible. Finally after long consultation
with two other officers in the same tent — the Colonel remain-
]5

226 North Caeolina Troops, 1861-65.

ing a silent, but doubtless highly amused auditor — it was de-
cided that an officer under arrest might in extremity, address
his superior by proxy. Thi-s was forthwith done, a change
of base effected and Confederate comfort assured.

FEEDEKICKSBUEG.

The Twenty-third took no active part in repelling the
Federal army — now under Burnside — at Fredericksburg.

We were held in reserve near Hamilton's Crossing behind
Early on the right. Here, though exposed to the artillery fire
from Stafford Heights, only one man was killed and a few
hit. But Sunday morning, 14 December, our division was
carried around and placed in the front line on the extreme
right. During the day we affiliated for a while with the
Federal officers in our front, truce being granted by Lee to
Burnside to bury his dead.

That evening preparations were made for a night attack.
A white band on the arm was to be the distinguishing badge
of our troops in the night assault. These were provided and,
we believe, in a few instances, actually put on. JSTo attack
was ordered, the crushing blow that we had so easily dealt the
enemy not being yet realized by our commanders.

On Monday night, 15 December, a picket line from our
regiment was thrown well to the front. Captain H. G. Tur-
ner, of Company H, in command of the pickets, seems to
have been the first man in the afmy to discover signs of the
Federal retreat across the Rappahannock. The night was
boisterous, a strong northwesterly wind had, as is so often
the case, followed the snow fall of some days ago. This wind
muifled any sounds in the enemy's lines, which were to the
east of us. But Captain Turner observed a scarcely precepti-
ble, though incessant fiickering of the lights on the distant
hills across the river. This he could account for only on the
theory that long columns of troops were there moving under
cover of night. This movement he at once construed to be a
retreat. What he had seen and the inferences he drew there-
from, were at once reported to his superiors. Nothing came
of his report. Soon after Fredericksburg, General Eodes

Twenty-Third Regiment. 227

was placed in command of our division, General Hill being
assigned to another position.

The battle over, we went into winter quarters near Freder-
icksburg, out towards Guinea Station. Here, in January or
February, 1863, we took part in a great snow battle. The long
roll was beaten and the brigade ignorant of what it was to do,
fell into line, officers at their posts as if for real battle. Or-
ders were given and we marched rapidly out towards Dole's
Georgia brigade, which we were to attack. The Georgians
had thrown up breastworks of snow, prepared a supply of
snow balls and were ready for us. It was a grateful relief
from the tedium of camp life and the men entered with zest
into the sport. After preparing as much ammunition as we
could conveniently carry, our line m.oved forward to the as-
sault. The battle, though brief, was sharp, many of us were
knocked down and several quite seriously hurt, but the snow
fort was stormed, our opponents routed and chased back
through their camp. Many prisoners Were taken. The horse
play was ended by rolling in the snow a supercilious general
officer participating in the fun. The irate General sought a
court-martial, but was told that an officer waived his rank
when he took part in frolics of that kind.

The enemy was still in full force across the river opposite
us. This kept Lee's army constantly on the qui vive. Our
regiment did a great deal of shivering picket duty on the
Rappahannock below Fredericksburg. The winter was one
of great rigor. The men, though pretty well hardened, suf-
fered severely from want of proper clothing and food and
from exposure. Some time in January or February the
command was marched to Mine Run, and though they did
only a little desultory fighting, they suffered much hardship
from cold, being held in line in the snow for several days and
nights. The enemy being in sight, no fires could be allowed
and our suffering was intense.

THE BATTLE OF CHANOELLOESVILLE.

If the consensus of the intelligent opinion of the world
was taken as to what battle gave most lustre to Southern
generalship, it would almost surely designate Chancellors-

228 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

ville. Lee holding strong positions along the Rappahannock
and higher up upon its tributary, the Eapidan, had deemed
it expedient to detach Longstreet to spend part of the winter
near Suilolk, Va., gathering supplies from that region and
from Eastern North Carolina. Thus less than 55,000 men
were left to confront Hooker, who had superceded Burnside
as commander of the Federal army.

Hooker took advanage of this separation of the Confeder-
ate forces by strategic stroke that may, in its inception, be
called brilliant. Making a feint against Lee's front at Fred-
ericksburg and his right below that place, he suddenly 29
and 30 April, 1863, threw 120,000 men across the Rapidan
on the Confederate left flank. Had Hooker possessed the har-
dihood and moral courage of Grant and have advanced from
the Wilderness into the open country where his vastly supe-
rior force could have told, things must have gone hard with
Lee. But as has been well said, while Hooker hesitated, Lee
acted. Jackson, with 22,000 men, by a rapid march whose
very boldness bewildered the enemy, swept from Hooker's
left flank across his front and fell upon the unsuspecting right
flank like a bolt from the skies.

The Twenty-third took a highly important part in this bril-
liant movement. It led the van in Jackson's immortal
march. Friday evening and Saturday morning, 2 May,
its skirmish line was in contact with the enemy not far from
the Chancellor House. At daybreak, it was so hastily with-
drawn that two of its companies, then on the skirmish line,
were left behind and did not rejoin the regiment till late in
the evening.

Our regiment on being withdrawn from contact with the
Federals, went swiftly forward through the Wilderness,
striking now and then a dim path or road. Strict silence
was enforced, the men being allowed to speak only in whis-
pers. Occasionally a courier would spxir his tired horse past
us as we twisted through the brush. For hours at the time
we neither saw or heard anything. Great was the curiosity
to know where we were going and what "Old Jack" was
about. But we agreed tliat he did know and that the novel
march meant much. Our brigade led tlie division, our regi-

Twenty-Third Regiment. 229

ment the brigade. While swinging onward a turn in the
dim road brought us suddenly face to face with a piece of
Federal artillery, which firing point blank, double-shotted
with canister, struck down the head of the column, discon-
certing for a moment many of the bravest. Major C. C.
Blacknall, with rare presence of mind, instantly rallied a
company and springing forward with the bayonets, captured
the piece before it could be reloaded.

During the afternoon we reached the position assigned to
us. The Twenty-third was the very last regiment on the left
wing of the army. Tired, breathless, but bouyant, we lay
down in the woods near the unwary foe and waited till or-
dered to attack. As the afternoon passed we were swung
around still farther to the left and to the rear of the right
flank of the Federal Eleventh Corps. The attack was begun
back to our right. As the sun was round and red and low,
the regiment moved directly towards it on the foe. At the
first sight of the Federals, we were ordered to yell our loudest
and to move forward up the hill at the double quick. We
struck their very rear, charging in over their beef slaughter-
ing and cooking detail. The enemy began jumping up before
us and holding up their hands to surrender. But little re-
sistance was met with, the surprised enemy surrendering or
breaking before us in the wildest rout and disorder. Chas-
ing them like hares, our boys surged forward. Prisoners,
pieces of artillery, a regimental flag and countless stands of
small arms were taken by the Twenty-third. Albutress
Gabriel, a private in Company K, captured a brigade com-
mander. The frenzied flight of the foe is well illustrated by
a cannon which was seen hanging up a tree. In the panic
it' had been driven over a small tree which bent under its
weight, but finally broke it loose from the caisson in front.
Then the upspring of the tree raised the entangled gun from
the ground. There it hung as eloquent an attest of mad
flight as perchance war has ever seen. We soon emerged into
a large field occupied by a large part of Hooker's army.
Their line of battle was snugly intrenched, but the works
faced the wrong way. We came up obliquely behind their
works. Their line, in hurriedly trying to face about and

230 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

meet us, was soon tangled and scattered pell-mell all over tlie
big field. Over this field rushed helter-skelter cannon,
wagons, loose horses, dogs, men, everything. A spectacled
Adjutant was here shot dead with a congratulatory order in
his hand, telling that Lee was surrounded and would be cap-
tured the next day. It was well into the night before our onset
spent itself and we must have been then not very far from the
point from which we set out in the early morning. Then
were heard all through the woods the Yankee officers
calling out and offering to surrender. We heard distinctly
without knowing its fateful meaning, the sudden outburst of
musketry which struck down the right arm "of Lee and of the
Confederacy — Stonewall Jackson.

Our loss that night was small, as it had been with us rather
a chase than a fight. Our turn to fight came the next morn-
ing.

On Saturday night both Lee and Hooker made different
dispositions for the stem Sabbath work to come. Major
Eowe, of the Twelfth, having been wounded the evening be-
fore, Lieutenant-Colonel R. D. Johnston, of the Twenty-
third, commanded the Twelfth in this battle. Iverson's
brigade went into action on the left of the Confederate line
and to the left of the plank road. Having been in the first
line the day before, it was now placed in the second line as
a support. Our brigade reached the first line as it was falling
back from its assault on the third line of Federal intrench-
ments. General Eodes says of this attack: "The enemy
was compelled to fall back and pressing on Colonel Hall's two
regiments (Fifth and Twenty-sixth Alabama) together with
the Twenty-third Worth Carolina, Colonel Christie, carried
the heights in magnificent style, planting their flags inside the
works."

The rest of Eodes', Iverson's and Pender's troops were re-
pulsed. This exposed the three above regiments, and an
overwhelming flanking attack by the Federal Generals,
French and later Humphreys, being made, they were forced
to retire with heavy loss in killed, wounded and prisoners. But
the troops which had been repulsed soon rallied and on being

Twenty-Third Eegiment. 231

reinforced, drove back the attacking forces and the general
Confederate advance followed.

Major N. A. Gregory (then Lieutenant Company I) gives
a graphic account of several incidents in the battle. He says
substantially as follows: "They (Pender's men) had cap-
tured two lines of works from the enemy and were standing
behind the second line when we came up. They told us that
they were out of ammunition and could go no further. Gen-
eral Pender went forward with iis. After crossing a little
branch and fighting for some time in a hot place, Pender told
us to charge. We rushed ahead. My company was on the
right. I bore to the right of the road and got into a little
fort, which stood in the open field near the road. Here I
seized a rifle from a man who went into the fort with me and
blamed away at the colors of the Federal artillery company
that was then moving off the field. Just then this man called
my attention to the shots coming in on our left. As we two
were alone, we got out of there. I suppose that we went
closer to the Chancellor Plouse than any other command that
day. These shots were from French's flanking force about
to strike the Confederate left."

The loss of the Twenty-third at Chancellorsville, which is
said to have been 50 per cent, larger than any other regiment
in the brigade, was ofiicially reported by General Kodes at
173 killed, wounded and missing. Moore's Eoster gives the
casualties as follows: Wounded 48, killed 17, mortally
wounded 6. Captain Wesley Hedspeth, Company B, was
killed. Lieutenant James S. Knight, Company B, was mor-
tally wounded, dying that night. Lieutenant Washington F.
Overton, Company G, was wounded and burned with many of
our dead, and probably some other wounded, in the fire that
raged that morning in the woods to the left of the plank road
und east of the -little aldertangled branch. Captain A. T.
Cole was wounded and captured while being carried to the
rear. Major C. C. Blacknall and Lieutenant George B. Bul-
lock were, with the men they led forward, surroimded and
captured in a redoubt of the work which they had just car-
ried. These two ofiicers after being fellow prisoners in the

232 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Old Capitol Prison at Washington with Miss Belle Boyd,
the famous Confederate spy, were exchanged in two weeks
and took part in the Gettysburg campaign.

TPIB GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGS".

In no period of the war was the Southern heart more buoy-
ant or did hope gleam brighter or larger than when it was
known that Lee's victorious army had invaded the ISTorth.
All things now seemed possible. But at no period of the
struggle was hope really more fallacious and deceptive.
Southern Independence had already been lost. Chancellors-
ville was its grave. With Gettysburg won and Vicksburg
lost, Southern Independence could not have been attained.
But Chancellorsville won — decisively and overwhelmingly
won — Lee could easily have detached a force to relieve Vicks-
burg. ■ Chancellorsville must have been a decisive and over-
whelming victory but for the fatal blunder of one man — a
man brave and otherwise competent. At 5 :30 p. m. Satur-
aay evening, 2 May, 1863, Jackson held the fate of Hooker's
army in the hollow of his hand. His subordinates had but
to move forward when and where he had distinctly ordered,
and within an hour a blow would have been struck the enemy,
which, followed up with a tithe of Jackson's energy, could
have ended only in Hooker's undoing. This unfortunate of-
ficer was General Colquitt, commanding a Georgia brigade,
to whom had been assigned an exceedingly important posi-
tion on Jackson's right. The duty assigned this wing was to
strike the routed Eleventh Corps on the flank and rear and
not only destroy or capture it, but what was even more im-
portant, assail the other commands then open to attack. But
this duty was never performed. Colquitt saw some horsemen
in Federal uniform on his right front. The apprehension
of an attack on this flank — an impossible thing — sud-
denly overcame him. He halted his regiments and changed
front and also forced Ramsevir's brigade to do likewise.
Having the right of way over the "Stonewall" brigade and
four regiments of Stuart's cavalry his halt halted them. This
change of front and the purposeless marching it entailed,
kept inactive seventeen regiments of excellent troops for an

Twenty-Third Regiment. 233

hour — an hour as big with fate as battle field ever saw.
For in that hour the torrent of Federal rout passed by to a
place of safety, flooker, or his subordinates, made new dis-
positions and brought up their powerful artillery. When at
length the seventeen regiments came up and the Confederates
moved forward the golden opportunity had passed ; rout and
disorder had with the foe given place to order and determi-
nation. Jackson, realizing the exigency of the new turn in
the battle, went forward to inform himself and fell.

But to return to the Gettysburg campaign. Leaving the
vicinity of Fredericksburg 4 June, 1863, we marched, via
Culpepper Court House and Front Royal, to Berryville, Va.
Here the army captured the camp equipage of 1,500 men
who fled without a battle. Thence to Winchester, where
3,000 of Milroy's men were taken and marched past ouv com-
mand. At Martinsburg we cut the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road and pressing forward, waded the Potomac at Williams-
port on Monday, 15 June. Passing through Chambers-
burg we reached Carlisle, the northern limit of our invasion,
about 2Y June. The Twenty-third acted as provost guard
at several places on this march. At Carlisle we rested for
several days in the Federal barracks. Here many of our
jaded, weary boys, drank too much United States Government
whiskey and a battle with a Georgia regiment, for the time
likewise drowning their weariness, was narrowly averted.
Many of the Carlisle people knew General Iverson, he having
been quartered in the barracks there when a Lieutenant in
the Federal army.

As Lee threw our corps (Ewell's) north to Carlisle, threat-
ening Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, he concen-
trated his other two corps, A. P. Hill's and Longstreet's, at
Chambersburg on his line of communications. Stuart having
taken his cavalry on his famous, but fatal, raid around the
Federal army, Lee was long in complete ignorance of the ene-
mies whereabouts.

Orders had already been given for the march on Harris-
burg, when on the night of the 29th Lee, then at Chambers-
burg, learned from a scout that the enemy were on his right

234 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

flank, the head of their column being then near Frederick,
our resting place of the fall before.

Our corps was at once put in rapid motion southward. The
intelligence received had changed Lee's whole plan. His
plan now was to concentrate at Oashtown with the mountains
at his back and beyond them the rich Cumberland Valley,
for a granary. Here Meade, who had now superceded Hook-
er, would have had to attack us with everything in our favor.
A. P. Hill, contrary to orders, precipitated battle at Gettys-
burg with the enemy on the defensive and everything in their
favor. However, it is but fair to General Hill to add, that
owing to the absence of cavalry, he had no means of knowing
that the forces unexpectedly interposed between him and Get-
tysburg, whither part of his command was marching to pro-
cure a supply of shoes, were other than militia or at most a
small detachment of Meade's army.

Leaving Carlisle on Tuesday, the last day of June, we
marched swiftly southward. Cherries were ripe along the
rock-walled lanes. Bringing camp hatchets out, fruit ladened
limbs were severed and we regaled ourselves as we swung
onward. The spirit and morale of the army were then superb.
Many German-descended members of our regiment belong-
ing to the companies raised in Lincoln, Catawba, Gaston and
Montgomery Counties, were in this region amid, or not far
from, their kin. From here their ancestors had emigrated
to North Carolina about one h\mdred years before. But I
doubt if many of them thought of it at that time. Little did
the families at the separation imagine that the descendants
of the emigrants should in a generation or two return as in-
vaders to the old home. To this day (1900) there are Ger-
man families around Gettysburg which recognize their dis-
tant kinship to and occasionally visit their people who came to
this State about 1750.

But to return to the subject in hand. Sounds of strenuous
battle reached us early on the morning of Wednesday, 1 July,
as we pressed forward towards Gettysburg, the obscure
Dutch town so soon to be made famous. Our brigade (Tver-
son's) led Ewell's corps and was the first to become engaged
as he hurried forward to succor A. P. Hill, tlien hard

Twenty-Third Regiment. 235

pressed. At Willoughby Run our Field Officers dis-
mounted. Approaching from the north by the Heidelburg
road till within about a mile of the field of battle, we were
filed off by the right flank to the Mummersburg road. As
we emerged from the woods and moved down the slope to the
latter road twenty pieces of artillery opened on us with grape,
from the left, inflicting some loss.

The Mummersburg road here runs east and west. Very
close to the road on the south side stands the Forney house.
This house stands in the northwest corner of the Forney field,
which extends about half a mile from the house along the
Mummersburg road, and is about a quarter of a mile broad.
Across this road near the Forney house the brigade was form-
ed facing east. Along the path or eastern side of the field and
on a ridge ran a stone fence, which formed part of the enemy's
line. Behind this fence, alone, lay hidden from view, more
men than our assaulting column contained. A body of woods
extended from the southeastern corner of the field for about
two hundred yards along its southern side.

The brigade, about 1,450 strong, advanced under artillery
fire through the open grass field in gallant style, as evenly as
if on parade. But our brigade commander (Iverson) after or-
dering us foTAvard, did not follow us in that advance, and our
alignment soon became false. There seems to have been utter
ignorance of the force crouching behind the stone wall. For
our brigade to have assailed such a stronghold thus held,
would have been a desperate undertaking. To advance
southeast against the enemy, visible in the woods at that cor-
ner of the field, exposing our left flank to an enfilading fire
from the stronghold was fatal. Yet this is just what we did.
And unwarned, unled as a brigade, went forward Iverson's
deserted band to its doom. Deep and long must the desolate
homes and orphan children of North Carolina rue the rash-
ness of that hour.

When we were in point blank range the dense line of the
enemy rose from its protected lair and poured into us a with-
ering fire from the front and both flanks. For Battle's bri-
gade, ordered to protect our left flank, had been thrown into
confusion by the twenty pieces of artillery and repulsed by

236 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

tlie right wing of the Federal line just as we came up. This
effected, the enemy moving under cover of the ridge and
woods, disposed his forces to enfilade our right from the woods
just as our left was enfiladed from the stone fence.

Pressing forward with heavy loss under deadly fire our
regiment, which was the second frojn the right, reached a
hollow or low place, running irregularly north, east and south-
west through the field. We were then about eighty yards
from the stone fence to the left and somewhat further from
the woods to the right, from both of which, as well as from
the more distant corner of the field in our front, poured down
upon us a pitiless rifle fire.

Unable to advance, unwilling to retreat, the brigade lay
down in this hollow or depression in the field and fought as
best it could. Terrible was the loss sustained, our regiment
losing the heaviest of all in killed, as from its position in
line the cross enfilading fire seems to have been the hottest just
where it lay. Major C. C. Blacknall was shot through the
mouth and neck before the advance was checked. Lieuten-
ant-Colonel R. D. Johnson was desperately, and Colonel D.
H. Christie mortally wounded, as the line lay in the bloody
hollow. There, too, fell every commissioned officer save one ;
the recorded death-roll footing up 54 killed and 82 wounded.
The real loss was far greater, almost surely 50 per cent,
greater. Captain Gr. T. Baskerville, Company I; Lieutenant
C. W. Champion, Company Gr, and Adjutant Junius B.
French, were killed. Captain A. D. Peace, Company E,
and Lieutenant Wm. M. Mundy were wounded. Captain H.
<jr. Turner, Company H, was wounded and captured. Cap-
tain Wm. H. Johnston, Company K, was captured.

The carnage was great along our whole line which, except
the Twelfth Regiment on the right, was at the mercy of the
enemy. The Twelfth, under Colonel Davis, protected some-
what by the lay of the field and being further from the stone
wall, refused both wings and fighting to right, left and
front, gallantly beat off its assailants till help came.

Kamseiir was now hastening to otir relief. The wary foe
aware of this, swarmed over the wall and rushed down upon
our weakened line. Leaving the wounded they drove off

Twenty-Third Regiment. 237

with bayonets and clubbed muskets 49 prisoners and carried
our flag with thefm. The One Hundred and First New York
regiment has marked with a stone the point reached in this
charge. It stands about where the Twenty-third lay. This
rush was all over in a moment, for Ramseur was coming up.
This gallant officer, had he continued to advance as he started,
straight against the stone fence, must have met with disaster
just as we did. It is said that Lieutenant Crowder, of Com-
pany A, and Lieutenant Dugger, of another regiment, ran
back and advised him to file oj0f to the left and strike the
Federal right. At any rate he effected this movement with
brilliant and decisive success. The enemy saw it and ap-
prehending its meaning, strove to change front to meet him.
They were too late. Ramseur caught them in the act, and his
rifles silent till then, enfiladed their line along the stone fence
with terrible and crushing effect. This fire also killed Rial
Stewart, and perhaps others of our regiment, who had just
been captured and were being taken to the Federal rear.

Ramseur's onset began the enemy's reverses which ended
in their being driven back through the town of Gettysburg
with the loss of 5,000 prisoners, besides many killed and
wounded. What was left of our regiment and brigade went
forward in the attack and pursuit. Fire was opened on us
from the houses as we rushed into the place, but we shouted
that we would burn the town unless it stopped. The firing
ceased.

General Rodes said that Iverson's men fought and died
like heroes. When the brigade went from its position in the
hollow its dead and wounded lay in distinctly marked line
of battle from one end to the other. The imperfect returns
show 512 killed and wounded. The most careful estimate
makes it over 750. A member of the Twenty-third lying
stone dead, his musket clinched in his hand and five bullets
through his head attests the close and deadly fire under which
they lay. Thirty-five years after the battle the writer found
in the clay of the pits from which Iverson's dead had been re-
moved to Richmond, flattened bullets which had evidently
fallen from the disinterred skeletons. The field was even then
a veritable mine of war relics — bullets, grape shot and pieces

238 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

of shrapnel. Lieutenant George B. Bullock, Company I, said
that it was the only battle — and he was in all in which his
command was engaged from Williamsburg to Appomattox —
where the blood ran like a branch. And that too, on the hot,
parched'ground.

The handful left of our regiment were not taken into ac-
tion on the second or third day at Gettysburg. While being
conveyed, wounded, on the retreat through South Mountain
Sunday night. Colonel Christie, Lieutenant-Colonel Johnston
and Major Blacknall were captured by Kilpatrick's cavalry
near Monterey Springs. Christie and Johnston were rescued
by the Confederate cavalry and carried to Williamsport.
Blacknall escaped on Kilpatrick's own horse, but being too
badly wounded for rapid flight, was recaptured.

Colonel Christie died at Winchester, Va., and in his native
county, soon after the army reached that place. His wife,
whom he so longed to see, and who had hastened to him, ar-
rived a few hours after he was buried.

COLONEL D. H. CHEISTIE.

Daniel Harvey Christie was born in Frederick County,
Virginia, 28 March, 1833, and was educated at a military
school. He became a citizen of Henderson, N. C, in 1857.
The breaking out of the war found him in charge of the Hen-
derson Military Institute which he had established. His gallant
conduct and wounds at Seven Pines and Cold Harbor have al-
ready been mentioned.

Although the latter wound was very severe, within sixty
days he returned to his command and devoted himself dili-
gently to the work of recruiting and disciplining his regi-
ment. At South Mountain his management of his regiment
was such as to elicit from General Garland words of the
highest praise for himself and his regiment, a few minutes
before Garland fell. After Sharpsburg he commanded An-
derson's brigade till Colonel Bryan Grimes reported for duty.
At Gettysburg, his last battle, Christie's conduct was espe-
cially gallant. Here he held his men in position under a
most terrific fire for an hour till the whole regiment was

Twenty-Third Regiment. 239

killed, wounded or captured, except a Lieutenant and sixteen
men. He was in the act of leading a charge against the
stone fence when he fell, with his men and officers thick
around him. Colonel Christie was buried at Winchester,
another Colonel of the Twenty-third being laid by his side a
year later.

CAPTAIW BASKEEVILLE.

George Thomas Baskerville was born in Mecklenburg
County, Virginia, 16 October, 1827. He graduated with high
honors at the University of North Carolina at the age of 17,
being the valedictorian of his class — delivering his address in
Latin. About 1849, he became a citizen of Granville
County.

Captain Baskerville was without military ambition. But,
impelled by a strong sense of duty, he joined the army and
was elected Captain of Company I, Twenty-third North Car-
olina, in 1862. Refusing promotion he remained with his
company, serving with courage and ability. Falling, wounded
to death, at Gettysburg, he died the next day. His devoted
wife crushed at the tidings of his death, took to her bed and
never rose again. Captain Baskerville was of the highest
type of Southern gentlemen. He was a devout Christian, a
good neighbor and a devoted husband. His domestic life
was a most beautiful one. Plighting their troth when chil-
dren, marrying very early in life, their devotion to each other
was complete. And when the sturdy oak was stricken down,
the clinging vine fell with it.

The virtual destruction of Iverson's brigade at Gettysburg
was largely, if not wholly, owing to the fact that it had no bri-
gade commander on the field to govern its movements, as a
whole, in accordance with the exigencies of the battle and to
halt it before it entered, unsuspecting, the deathtrap laid for
it. Iverson's part in the heroic struggle of his brigade seems
to have begun and ended with the order to move forward and
"Give them hell." The brigade refusing to serve under him
longer, he was transferred to the cavalry and Lieutenant-Col-
onel R. D. Johnston was commissioned brigadier and assumed
command on 8 September, 1863. General lyerson's conduct

240 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

at Chancellorsville had also been severely criticised. Where
he was when Pender led forward his (Iverson's) brigade, has
never been explained. The Confederate newspapers of that
period spoke of strained relations between Lee and Davis be-
cause Davis refused to let Lee court-martial the "delinquent
brigadiers" for their action, or rather non-action, at Gettys-
burg. However, the fact of any coldness between them was
denied.

THE EETUEN TO VIEGINIA.

On the retreat we crossed the Potomac at Falling Waters
near Williamsport, 10 July. After operating in the
valley for a short while, our corps moved towards Madison
Court House. Here we rested till Lee's move 9 October
to strike Meade's flank, who was then at Culpepper Court
House. On that march the Twenty-third, Fifth and part of
the Twelfth, all under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Davis,
of the Twelfth, crossed the Eapidan at Raccoon Ford. This
detachment was highly commended for a gallant charge on a
battery and its support. The regiment sustained loss both at
Vidiersville and near Brandy Station during the same move-
ment.

We went into winter quarters near Orange Co^irt House.
But, in February, or March, our brigade was detached to
guard bridges over the JSTorth and South Anna rivers, near
Hanover Court House. Here we were recruited, equipped,
and put in good trim.

In barracks at Taylorsville, near Hanover, with no enemy
near, the command had the only really good time during the
war. The only thing like work was the attempt to overtake
the raiding force imder Dahlgren. Neat uniforms and even
pleated-bosom shirts, long unknown, were here to be seen, and
some of the boys bent on luxury in the extreme — thorough-
going sybarites— actually boarded out. Eating regularly
three times a day, keeping dry and sleeping warm of nights
seem.ed a preposterous thing to a Confederate soldier. We
even went into politics. 11 March, 1864, the brigade held a
convention at Taylorsville, endorsing Vance as against Hol-
den and his treasonable influences. But there never was a

Twenty-Third Regiment. 241

dream so bright, or paradise so sweet that some one did not
come to spoil it. Grant spoiled ours.

Beginning at midnight of 3 May, 1864, Grant, now Com-
mander-in-Chief of the Federal armies, suddenly threw
nearly 120,000 men under Meade, across the Eapidan.
Grant's plan was to flank Lee out of his entrenched position
on Mine Run and fight him somewhere between the river and
Eiichmond if he would > stand. That Lee did stand is at-
tested by the fall during this movement of more Federals than
Lee had men. Our brigade left Taylorsville at 11 a. m.,
4 May and by the (Quickest forced march on record
covered sixty-six miles in twenty-three hours. Ar'my mules
fell dead in their traces under the severe strain, but without
stopping for bivouac, or hardly for rest, we held out and
reached the plank road near the Wilderness Tavern, on
the 5th.

Dead tired as we were, we were ordered forward about sun-
set, with J. B. Gordon's brigade. The movement was under
Gordon's command and was directed against the Federal
right. Driving the enemy back a mile or more with slight
loss to ourselves, we halted on the turnpike and slept as even
tired soldiers hardly ever slept before. During the night of
7 May, Grant began his flanking movement around Lee's
right. Lee swung Anderson's division aroimd and headed
him off at Spottsylvania Court House. It was while on the
march to Spottsylvania that Johnston's brigade was, much
to their regret, transferred from Rodes' division to Early's,
Early being assigned temporarily to the command of Hill's
corps, Gordon commanded the division.

On the 9th, at Spottsylvania, our brigade, with 300 or
400 men, made a reconnoissance on the Confederate right
and drove back a division of Burnside's corps, but seeing
himself nearly enveloped by the enemy in overwhelming
force, Johnston withdrew his brigade in time to escape cap-
ture. The Twenty-third lost .20 to 30 men in this move.
Sergeant Thomas Powell was wounded, captured and died a
few days later in Washington. Lieutenant-Colonel Davis, of
the Twelfth, was now in conimand of the Twenty-third.
16

242 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

About this time the brigade now but a handful, fought and
ran off a heavy cavalry force endeavoring to hold the high and
open ground around the old court house . at Spottsylvania.
The cavalry vs^as a splendid body and fought desperately, but
no incident of the war was more relished by the boys than
trouncing and chasing that prim set of blue-coated horsemen.

We took no part in the battle of 10 May till nearly sun-
set. The enemy had broken over the works by Dole's bri-
gade and were advancing direct against General Lee's head-
quarters. While other troops assaulted his flanks, our bri-
gade took the most important part in repelling this assault of
the enemy. The men refused to go forward till General Lee,
then on the field, went to the rear. The following account
of the battle is from notes of Captain A. T. Cole, ,made not
long after the war : "About sunset the enemy broke through
our line at an angle in the works and were advancing rapidly
towards General Lee's headquarters then in sight, and directly
before them. Our brigade was doubled-quicked by the right
flank in column from behind a pine thicket where it had been
resting and concealed. Emerging suddenly in their front,
then going by the left flank in line of battle, we met and
drove the enemy back across the breastworks and regained sev-
eral pieces of artillery which were still in position. Some of
the Confederate gunners who, concealed in the cannon pits,
had escaped capture, now sprung out and used the guns very
effectively on the retreating Federals. Just as the brigade
faced by the left flank and advanced towards the enemy, T
saw facing the head of the column General Lee on horseback,
hat in hand, cheering on the men, within not more than 100
yards of the enemy. The flghting lasted till probably 9
o'clock that night. Killed and wounded in our regiment
numbered 20 to 25."

In making the charge Major Brooks, of the Twentieth
JSTorth Carolina, and Captain Jos. F. Johnston, Aid-de-Camp
to General E,. D. Johnston, were competitors in a race for a
Federal flag which had been planted on the captured Confed-
erate works now held by three lines of battle. Brooks reached
out his hand just in front of Johnston and seized the flag,
carried it back to the rear and presented it to General Lee

Twenty-Thtrd Regiment. 243

with the request that it be sent back to North Carolina as one
of the trophies of the brigade. It was sent to this State with
a letter from General Lee very complimentary to North Caro-
lina troops.

After repulsing the attack of the 10th, the brigade was
again withdrawn, occupying its place on reserve till the 12th.
Daybreak 12 May, a foggy, dismal dawn as May ever
saw, found us at the Harris House half a mile to the rear of
the apex of Lee's salient, thence forward to be known as the
"Bloody Angle." The Confederate line of fortification swept
around Spottsylvania Court House in an irregular semi-circle
seven miles long. A mile due north of the Court House a
spur in the hills made it necessary, in order to prevent the en-
emy from occupying a commanding position, to construct a
great angle or salient in the works. This salient, not unlike
a huge horse shoe in shape, was about three-fourths of a mile
long and half a mile broad at its base. This position, with
artilleiy, was strong ; but without, it was weak. Lee believ-
ing that Grant had resumed his movement by the left flank,
had ordered the withdrawal of all artillery on this part of the
line not easy of access. On the night of the 11th General Ed.
Johnson, who with his division of 2,000 men, held the toe of
the horse shoe, apprehending an attack from the movements
in his front, asked that the artillery be returned. The guns
were just going back into position when at daylight Grant
threw a solid imass of 20,000 men against Johnston's 2,000,
taking the guns before they could open fire. The victorious
enemy then pressed onwards to seize the whole salient and
pierce Lee's centre. Our weak brigade in bivouac at the
Harris House, half a mile to the rear, were the only troops
immediately available to stem the onset. General Gordon at
the sudden outbreak of battle, threw us forward. Going for-
ward at the double quick in the woods below the McCool
House and far down in the salient, we ran upon the Federals
coming forward in three dense lines of battle. Our numbers
were so few and the enemy so strong, the intervening distance
so short, that twice Federal Line Officers came within ten
steps of us and demanded the surrender of the brigade. Our
reply in both instances was a volley that struck down the ven-

244 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

turesome officer and for a moment staggered the oncoming
host.

But what availed a few hundred against 20,000. The bri-
gade after one of the bloodiest combats of the war and with
heavy loss, was forced backward fighting desperately as it
went. Other troops soon came up, striking the invaders on
both flanks. The brigade reformed and renewed the battle.
General K. D. Johnston seized the flag of the Twenty-third
and ordered a charge. The brigade rushed forward carrying
the position in their front, Johnston falling wounded as he
planted the flag on their works. The struggle continued with
the utmost fury till night. On the 14th Lee withdrew to a
line of works constructed across the base of the salient. Our
regiment, though small, contained many a gallant spirit and
many heroic deeds were done on that dark and dismal mom.
E. S. (Scip.) Hart, the flag bearer of the Twenty-third, was
especially brave ; again and again rushing forward with the
colors, which were never for a moment lowered except when
Scip was felled by a clubbed musket in the hands of a stal-
wart Yankee. Among the captured on that terrible day
was Captain A. D. Cole, Company A. It was Captain Cole's
fate, along with Lieutenants Coggin and Bullock, to form
three of the six hundred officers which the Federals placed un-
der the Confederate fire at Charleston for several weeks in
1864, and to endure the horrible tortures inflicted on them by
starvation at Port Royal a little later. The minute stint of
spoiled meal — a gill a day — and pickle on which they sub-
sisted for forty days ended by killing Lieutenant Coggin
and bringing Captain Cole to death's door and keeping him
there for agonizing months and even years. This too, crown-
ing three years of gallant service in the field. To few, if any,
of all the sons of the South was it given to endure more and
suffer more in her defense than did this gallant officer.

THE MAECH ON WASHINGTON.

After the Bloody Angle fight our brigade was engaged in
the battle of the 19th. Colonel C. C. Blacknall, commis-
sioned Colonel 15 August, 1863, had been exchanged in May,
and after commanding a brigade at Petersburg for several
weeks, joined his regiment about 1 June and assumed com-

Twenty-Third Regiment. 245

mand. Leaving camp near Cold Harbor at 3 a. m. 18 June
1864, we went with the corps now commanded by Early,
on the Valley campaign. Marching to the railroad at Char-
lottesville we took cars for Lynchburg, on which Hunter was
rapidly advancing. We arrived just in the nick of time to
save the town. Passing at double quick through the streets,
within twenty minutes after leaving the cars we were skir-
mishing with Hunter's advance guard.

Lieutenant Crowder, the same officer whose suggestion to
General Ramseur at Gettysburg proved of so much value, and
a brave and efficient officer, was severely wounded that night
whole posting the picket lines.

Skirmishing at Liberty and driving Hunter across to Salem
and westward into the mountains. Early wheeled suddenly up
the valley.

There was a little loitering to see what Hunter would do,
during which the army making a detour crossed the Natural
bridge and rested there a few hours, which detour to see the
bridge was put to a vote of the men and earned by a
small majority. Leg-weariness is a great stifler to curiosity.
However, pretty soon the race up the valley begun. Staun-
ton was reached 27 June. Pressing rapidly forward we
reached Harper's Ferry on 4 July. Our advance had been
so rapid and unexpected that we here surprised and broke up
a Fourth of July celebration, our advance guard eating with
appetites whetted by hard marching, the feast not intended
for us. As the enemy held the heights beyond the river and
commanded the approaches to Harper's Ferry with artillery,
only the skirmish line went into the toA'S'n, except a few ven-
turesome officers who galloped do^\m that night, fired on in
every moonlit stretch by the Federal guns. Crossing the
Potomac a few miles above, our forces for a few days made
feints here and there to confuse the enemy as to our designs.

But, finally, we dashed off for Washington. On 9 July
we met Lew Wallace at Monocacy Junction, near Frederick,
Maryland, who gave battle to bar our way to the Federal
Capital. Resisting our advance through the town, Wallace
made a determined stand at Monocacy river.

Wliile Gordon's Division crossed the river and strviek

246 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

the enemy's right flank, Johnston's brigade was ordered to
capture a block house on the other side of the Baltimore and
Ohio Eailroad. A considerable force of the enemy were in
a railroad cut and perfectly protected. The Twenty-third
under Colonel Blacknall, made a dash for the block house,
but were met by a hot enfilading fire from the line of battle in
the railroad cut. A heavy battery across the river also swept
them with a raking fire. Captain W. C. Wall, Company F,
was severely wounded. Colonel Blacknall was stunned for the
moment by an impact of a bullet on the head, which fortu-
nately did not penetrate, and the regiment was driven back.

Upon the failure of the Twenty-third to carry the block-
house. General Johnston ordered Colonel Davis, of the
Twelfth, to carry it. Colonel Davis says: "General John-
ston was not in a good humor and I was suffering (sick) so
that I could hardly walk. However, I went forward to the
ravine (not knowing of the cause of the falling back of the
Twenty-third) and here halted and had picked men as videttes
to reconnoitre and see all they could. Finding about the
line of battle on the railroad, I sent General Johnston a mes-
sage that if I advanced I would expose by men to an en-
filade fire and that if he would dislodge the line of battle in
the railroad cut, I could take the house without loss of men.
I never heard from General Johnston. In the -meantime the
fight was going on on the other side (of the river) between
Wallace, of Ben Hur fame, and Gordon. Three lines of bat-
tle engaged Gordon's one, and now General Wallace begins
to retreat. His men on our side then had to pass over quickly
or be taken. I moved forward, and as we struck the bridge
on one side the enemy were clearing it on the other." This
rapid retreat of the enemy was also expedited by a company
that passed under a culvert and opening a flank fire on the
cut, drove the enemy out.

Wallace was defeated, with the loss of 700 prisoners — our
casualties being about the same — and thrown back upon Bal-
timore. The way thus opened we advanced a forced Sun-
day march on Washington. Hot, jaded and footsore, we
arrived in sight of that city and only three miles distant at
3 p. m. on Monday, 11 July. The day was one of overpower-

Twenty-Third Regiment. 247

ing heat. The troops were too completely exhausted
with hard marching to have been ejBfective in imme-
diate attack. A reconnoissance was made Tuesday, but
the works were too strongly manned for our 10,000
men to carry. In the reconnoissance Melville Holmes,
a lad belonging to Company G, of our regiment, is said to
have fallen nearer to the works of the Federal Capital than
any other Confederate soldier of the war. This is also said
to have been the only instance in the history of the country
in which a President of the United States appeared on a field
of battle. Mr. Lincoln came out to the works on Tuesday to
view the situation and a surgeon was shot very close to his
side by Confederate sharpshooters.

Our brigade bivouacked in the grove of the famous Blair
mansion. Here an 11 -inch shell from fort Massachusetts
burst in the midst of the officers' mess at noon on the 12th,
fortunately with no worse result than knocking the food out
of some of their hands. The unauthorized burning of Gen-
eral Blair's house, if done by Confederates at all, was the
work of stragglers. Though there is a . strong probability
that it was ignited by shells from the fort that made our din-
ner party its target.

Early's division had now effected all that could be ex-
pected in drawing troops from Grant's hosts around Rich-
mond. Federal troops were now hastening to close the
passes of South Mountain and the fords of the Potomac in
his rear. Therefore after maintaining a threatening attitude
against Washington all day of the 12th, and driving in a
strong reconnoitering force from the works, he retreated at
dark without molestation. Passing swiftly through Rock-
ville and Poolsville, we crossed the Potomac at White Ford,
near Leesburg, on the morning of the 14th, bringing off all
prisoners and captures in safety.

Resting on the 14th and 15th near Leesburg, on the 16th
we resumed the march through Snicker's Gap to the valley,
the enemy following. Occasionally we had a skirmish with
their cavalry.

248 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

the valley campaign.

By this time the Federals were in strong force at Harper's
Ferry. Moving by Hillsboro in Loudon County, they struck
our wagon trains on the 16th, inflicting some damage. We
were engaged in the brush that drove them off. On the
morning of the iTth, we crossed the Shenandoah at Castle-
man's Ferry and took position at Berryville, our division
with that of Kodes, guarding the Harper's Ferry road.
There was skirmishing with the enemy on the Shenandoah.
On the night of the 19th our division, Eamseur now in com-
mand, was moved back towards Winchester to protect the
town from the now aggressive Federals. On the 20th Ram-
seur moved upon Stephenson depot, near Winchester, to at-
tack Averill. The division while moving by the flank, was
suddenly assailed by a large force of Averill's cavalry ad-
vancing in line of battle. Thus surprised, the division was
thrown into disorder. But Colonel Jackson made a gallant
charge with his cavalry and E,amseur rallying his men,
Averill was driven off.

The Richmond Sentinel printed about this time a commu-
nication very disparaging to the North Carolina troops, and
especially to Johnston's brigade, exalting Pegram's Virginia
brigade at their expense. In a word it was claimed that John-
ston's men ran without firing a gun and that Pegram's re-
doubtables alone saved them from annihilation. Colonel C.
C. Blacknall in a letter a few days after the battle, after re-
ferring to the false and deprecatory account of the affair as
published in The Sentinel, says: "The truth of the mat-
ter and which will be attested by every gentleman who was
present, was as follows : General Ramseur marched the divis-
ion down the Winchester road and from the reports of the
officer commanding our cavalry in front, was led to believe
that the enemy in small force were at a point more distant
than we found them to be after reaching the body of woods
where our cavalry were in line of battle. General Ramseur
formed Hoke's Brigade on the left and Johnston's on the
right of the road. Pegram being in the rear when we sud-
denly found the enemy in a field, immediately in our f]-ont,

Twenty-Third Regiment. 249

■we advanced and engaged him without hesitation, our men
advancing under a heavy and destructive fire in splendid
style. The enemy's line in the meantime overlapping Hoke's
left and pouring into his flank a heavy enfilade fire which
caused his left regiment to give way, the panic being commu-
nicated to the other regiments of the brigade, each one in turn
falling back hastily and in some confusion. While this was
going on, Johnston's Brigade was steadily advancing, having
broken the enemy's line in our front and caused him to fall
back before our advancing column. The left of our brigade,
the Twelfth and Twenty-third Regiments, had advanced to
within sixty yards of the enemy's line of battle, and every
toan was standing up manfully when our left was suddenly
uncovered by the falling back of Hoke's brigade, the enemy
pouring in a large force immediately on our flank. Our lit-
tle brigade being alone and unsupported were, from the na-
tiire of the case, compelled to retreat or be captured, as we
could not resist the immense odds which were hurled
against us.

"Pegram's Brigade being in the rear of Hoke's, joined in
the race and made its escape from the place of danger as fast
as heels could carry them without even attempting to make
a stand. After falling back to the railroad, some distance, it
was thought necessary to make a stand to cover the retreat
when the Twelfth and Twenty-third ;N"orth Carolina Regi-
ments, commanded respectively by Lieutenant-Colonel Davis
and 'myself were the only troops that could be rallied; all
the rest of the division retreating in much disorder to the
fortifications. When we marched back to the line where the
troops had been halted, we found Pegram's Brigade had
gotten there some time before us, although the world has
been informed through the papers that they covered our re-
treat. General Ramseur stated to General Early tliat 'John-
ston's Brigade whipped everything in its front and was last
to leave the field,' which is known to be true by every man
who was engaged in this unfortunate affair. The enemy had
many killed and wounded in our immediate front, which in-
dicated very conclusively that we were not stampeded without

250 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

firing a gun as these veracious correspondents would make
the readers believe."

In Early's victory over Crook at Kernstown, 24 July,
our division was sent to the left to get around Crook's right
flank at Bartonsville. Crook here occupied exactly the same
position that Shields did when Jackson fought him 23 March,
1862. The result of the battle was that Crook was defeated
and driven back in great rout.

Then followed much arduous marching and counter-march-
ing to meet and check the strong and active force which was
placed under Sheridan's command early in August. The
open valley country with its excellent roads gave great facil-
ity for the advantageous use of cavalry, in which Sheridan
was overwhelmingly strong. Our boys also did much hard
work in reaping, threshing and grinding grain for food. This
labor could often be done only under the protection of our
guns. The Kichmond Examiner grew facetious over the
merry harvesting time Early's men were having in the valley.
Colonel Blacknall, writing under date of 28 August, 1864,
says : "You have seen, perhaps, some facetious descriptions
of our doings and not doing in the Richmond Examiner. The
descriptions are drawn in the Examiner's inimitable style and
quite laughable withal to one at a distance. Still the 'frugal
swains' and the 'gentle shepherds' have not had quite so gay
and festive a time as one might imagine ; we have, it is true,
been engaged in reaping and thrashing and gathering supplies
from the teeming abundance in the country; but the piping
and fiddling and feasting and frolicldng, exist in the editor's
fertile imagination. The lowing and bleating herd are the
beef cattle which affords some very tough steak and the mean-
dering, bubbling streams and gentle flowing' rivulets are often
very muddy pools from which man and mules all drink indis-
criminately, neither thinking themselves better than the
other. If, however, any gentleman is disposed to believe
that this is a gay thing, all I can say to him is, that we have
a good opening for any such to come and try it."

THE BATTLE OF WIWGIIESTEE.

The battle of Winchester found our little army in the val-

Twenty-Thikd Regiment. 251

ley divided. General Early has been much criticised for al-
lowing his force to be attacked in detail — for "fighting by
divisions," as General Lee termed it. But the broad open
valley country vrith its many roads along which the strong and
active Federal cavalry could operate on his communications,
prevented that concentration which would have made the
Confederate force a unit. For Early, with 8,000 muskets,
2,500 cavalry and 1,000 artillery had, as best he could, to
hold the valley against Sheridan's 35,000 infantry, nearly
10,000 cavalry and an artillery force nearly or quite as large
in proportion to his army as Early's was. Round numbers
are given, as the exact numbers are not known, but they are
very close. Sheridan's numbers as given by Judge Mont-
gomery, are considerably below those usually accepted.

Sunday night, 18 September, 1864, found Ramseur's divis-
ion out on the Berryville Pike east of Winchester. John-
ston's Brigade was in advance with the Twenty-third Regi-
ment, thrown out on picket near the edge of the woods that
skirt the Opequon. Their position was a little north of the
pike, but very near to it and a mile or more from the stream.
As the enemy was known to be in force just over the creek,
the men were told that they now occupied the exact position
in which a Georgia Regiment had been captured and were
ordered to be on the alert.

The mounted videttes at the ford of the Opequon must
have been captured or eluded, for at earliest da^vn Sheridan's
troopers swarmed up out of the ravine around the advance
pickets of the Twenty-third, so quickly that the pickets barely
had time to fire before the horsemen were in their midst. A.
few minutes later an overwhelming force of cavalry, closely
followed by infantry, charged our weak regiment. Disput-
ing every inch of ground, making stand after stand, we were
driven back upon the brigade and that back upon the division.
In one of these stops Colonel Blacknall received his mortal
wound and was borne back into Winchester.

General Bradley T. Johnston gives the following vivid
picture of that gallant twilight combat: "By daylight, the
19th of September, a scared cavalryman of my own command
nearly rode over me as I lay sleeping on the grass and reported

252 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

that the Yankees were advancing with a heavy force of in-
fantry, artillery and cavalry, up the Berryville road. John-
ston and I were responsible for keeping Sheridan out of
Winchester and protecting the Confederate line of retreat and
communication up the valley. In two minutes the command
was mounted and moving at a trot across the open fields to
the Berryville road and to Johnston's assistance. There was
not a fence, nor a tree, nor a bush to obscure view. We could
see the crest of a hill, covered with a cloud of cavalry and in
front of them — 500 yards in front — ^was a thin grey line
moving off in retreat, solidly and in perfect coolness and self-
possession. * * A regiment of cavalry would deploy into
line and their bugle would sound the "charge" and they'd
swoop down on the "thin grey line of North Carolina." The
instant the Yankee bugles sounded, North Carolina (John-
ston's Brigade) would halt, face by the rear rank, wait until
the horses got within 100 yards and then fire as deliberately
and coolly as if firing volleys on brigade drill. The cavalry
would breali and scamper back and North Carolina would
"about face" and continue her march in retreat as solemnly
and with as much dignity as if marching in review. But we
got there just in time — that is to engage cavalry with cavalry,
and held Sheridan in check until Johnston had got back to the
rest of the infantry and formed in line at right angles to the
Pike east of Winchester."

Johnston reached his supports, though with loss, and from
then till 10 o'clock Eamseur's weak division of 1,700 men,
unaided except by Lomax's and Jackson's cavalry, held the
foe at bay. Bend this line perforce must, under the onset
of Sheridan's immense force, but breaJc it did not. At 10
Kodes' division came up and a little later Gordon's. And
all through that splendid autumnal day the battle held. His-
tory calls it the battle of Winchester. Locally it is known as
the battle of Hackwood from the Hackwood farm on which it
was fought.

Before noon the Federals were, by a bold assault, driven
back in disorder. But it had been at fearftil cost. Bodes
and many other gallant ofiicers had fallen, and the Confeder-
ate forces were too worn out by marching and fighting and too

Twenty-Third Regiment. 253

weakened by losses to take full advantage of Sheridan's dis-
comfiture. And a little later a fresh corps were hurled
against our necessarily long and attenuated line. Thus, as
morning wore to evening, continued the strife. By strenuous
and desperate fighting Sheridan's hosts were held at bay in
front.

But troops thus beset could not be expected to bear un-
moved an attack in the rear. When late in the day two divis-
ions of Federal cavalry drove in the weak force guarding the
Martinsburg road and pressed forward to the outskirts of
Winchester in the rear of our left, Early's line wavered,
broke, and the army were driven back. General Early dis-
tinctly says that our division, Ramseur's, fell back on the
right in good order, taking position to keep in line with the
other troops. Indeed those movements must have been ef-
fected with great steadiness for the division was taken for
the left wing of the eneany advancing to envelope the Confed-
erate right on which lay the line of retreat and the report
came near causing a panic at another part of the line.

Night approached and the Confederate line crumbled un-
der repeated assaults in front and flank. General Early in
his memoirs, says : "ISTothing was now left for us but to re-
tire through Winchester, and Kamseur's division, which
maintained its organization, was moved from the east of the
town to the south side of it, and put in position, forming the
basis for a new line, while the other troops moved back
through the town. * * When the new line was formed
the enemy's advance was checked until nightfall and we re-
tired to Newton without serious molestation.

The exact doings of the Twenty-third on that hard
foughten field have not been recorded. All that is known is
that it stood firmly, fighting manfully among Ramseur's
1,700 heroes.

Lomax had held the enemy's cavalry on the Front Royal
road in check and a feeble attempt at pursuit was repulsed by
Ramseur near Kernstown. The army retreated that night to
Newton. At daylight we moved to Fisher's Hill without mo-
lestation.

Colonel Blacknall being too painfully wounded for hasty

254 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

removal, was left in Winchester, where his wounds terminated
fatally.

COLONEL C. G. BLACKBALL.

Charles Christopher Blacknall was born in Granville
County, N. C, December 4, 1830.

His grandfather, Thomas Blacknall, of Virginia, was, at
16, a soldier under Washington. His grandfather's grand-
father, the "Eeverend John Blacknall, Gent'n," though later
of Virginia, was one of the first Episcopal clergymen to of-
ficiate in JSTorth Carolina. Thence through English country
gentlemen of record, his lineage runs back to the Blacknalls
of Wing, Buckinghamshire, whose armorial bearings were
two centuries old when Columbus sailed to discover the new-
world.

Charles Blacknall was educated for the law, but never prac-
ticed. When the war came he promptly raised and
was elected Captain of the Granville Eifles, which became
Company G, of the Thirteenth, later the Twenty-third North
Carolina Regiment. 15 June, 1862, he was commissioned
Major and 15 August, 1863, Colonel of the regiment.

His gallantry at Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines,
Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and his severe wounds at
Seven Pines and Gettysburg and his capture, escape, and re-
capture after the latter battle, have already been told in the
body of the sketch. Severe illness contracted while on duty
in the Chickahominy swamps prostrated him and kept him
out of the Sharpsburg campaign. Only disabling wounds or
prison bars kept him from participating in all battles in
which his command engaged up to his death.

Few, if any, JSTorth Carolinians had a more romantic or
eventful military career than the subject of this sketch. Soon
after his recapture on the retreat from p-ettysburg and while
imprisoned atFort McHenry, near Baltimore, lotswere drawn
to select a Confederate ofiicer to be hung in retaliation for a
Federal officer about to be executed in Richmond as a spy.
Colonel Blacknall drew the black bean. Though finally
spared, it was only after a long suspense.

Then followed a rigorous imprisonment at Johnston's

Twenty-Third Regiment. 255

Island, Lake Erie, during the severe winter of 1863-'64.
Driven to desperation by cold and hunger the eighteen hmi-
dred Confederate officers there imprisoned, planned an escape
to Canada. Colonel Blacknall, well known to be ever for-
ward in the charge, was elected one of the officers to lead the
forlorn hope in the assault with brick-bats against the guards
on the wall that encircled the prison. But there was in their
midst a Federal spy, disguised as a Confederate officer.
Their plans were betrayed and the guards so heavily rein-
forced, that men even as desperate as they were, could see
no hope of success.

His name standing alphabetically near the head of the list,
he was paroled in March, 1864, before the cartel was
stopped. Exchanged early in May, he started for his com-
mand the day that the Federals cut the Weldon road at Stony
Creek.

Apprised of this on reaching Weldon, he returned to Kit-
trell, his home, and without arousing his family, took horse
at midnight and hastened to Petersburg. Arriving there, he
was placed in command of a brigade, but ordered back to his
regiment before it went with Early's force to the Valley.

In all the arduous marching and counter marching, and in
the battles and countless skirmishes of this strenuous cam-
paign. Colonel Blacknall took an active part till mortally
wounded early on September 19, 1864. On the evening of
the 18th, his regiment was placed on outpost duty on the Ber-
ryville pike, two or three miles east of Winchester. The
writer of this (V. E. Turner) spent that night with him
under a simple fly tent. At dawn on the 19th, sharp firing
on his advanced picket line told that the expected attack had
begun. At this Colonel Blacknall rode hastily to the front
to direct his regiment in the encounter. He remained mounts
ed and held his small force pluckily against the heavy ad-
vancing columns of the enemy. In the midst of this and
while being borne back by overwhelming superiority of num-
bers, but contesting every inch. Colonel Blacknall received a
severe and acutely painful wound in the ankle, and was car-
ried back to Winchester. The surgeons disagreed as to the
necessity of amputating the foot to save his life, and his wish

266 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

to save it was yielded to. It being deemed risky to carry him
in the retreat, he was left in Winchester when the army fell
back at the close of the day. So much interest was felt in his
behalf that the hospital steward was ordered to remain and
take care of him.

That was the last seen of the gallant Colonel by his friends
of the regiment. The foot was amputated by Federal sur-
geons, but too late to save his life. Tenderly nursed by the
devoted women of Winchester, he lingered for six weeks and
sij^ days, dying JSTovember 6, 1864. By a singular coinci-
dence death came to him in the house of a Washington (Mrs,
Byrd Washington) and on the site of Washington's old fort
(Fort Loudon) built in the French Indian War.

Colonel Blacknall was buried by the side of Colonel
Christie, his predecessor in command of the regiment — par
nohile fratrum.

Colonel Blacknall was a man of varied gifts. He loved let-
ters and his reading had been considerable and of the best.
He was a strong and graceful writer and a ready and eloquent
speaker. To few of the children of men has been given as
much personal magnetism. During his three and a half
years' service as a soldier no one in the regiment was more be-
loved ; no one behaved more gallantly ; no one endured the
deprivation and hardships of army life more cheerfully.

Courage was the common staple of Confederate soldier-
hood. But Charles Blacknall had a command of faculty and
an ability to think and act in an emergency possessed by few.
One who knew him well spoke of him as one of the few thor-
oughly chivalrotis men that he ever knew; another as the
ideal Confederate officer. A chapter of Daughters of the
Confederacy at Kittrell, Vance County (formerly a part of
G-ranville County) Colonel Blacknall's home, has been named
for him.

General Pegram was now placed in command of our divis-
ion, Ramseur being placed in command of Rodes' division
after the death of that officer. Captain Frank Bennett, Com-
pany A, by seniority of rank, assumed command of the
Twenty-third on the fall of Colonel Blacknall.

Twenty-Third Regiment. 257

THE FISHEE S HILL DISASTER.

22 September Sheridan, who had followed us and occu-
pied our front in force, threw Crook's corps on the left flank
of our line which, even when stretched to the utmost, was too
short to occupy the position held. Driving back Lomax's
weak line of dismounted cavalry. Crook advanced against
Eamseur's left flank. Desperate efforts were made to throw
Ramseur's brigades and then our division (Pegram's) into
line to the left. But this movement in the face of a vastly
superior enemy, could not be effected without disorder. Crook
taking advantage of this, advanced, and after a brief contact
forced the whole army back in confusion, capturing eleven
of Early's guns.

The Confederate foot soldier was not noted for his admira-
tion or his respect for his compatriot who bestrode a horse.
Early's foot soldiers' love for a cavalryman was even below
the Confederate average. Sheridan's horse was so much
stronger in numbers and equipments than ours, and the na-
ture of the country gave this superiority such opportunity,
that our cavalry, gallant fellows as they were, had no showing
and cut a poor figure. But the man who trudged and toted a
musket, made none of these allowances for his mounted broth-
ers, who dashed hither and thither with no object apparent to
prejudiced eyes, except that of keeping as much space as
possible between themselves and the foe.

For some cause known only to their whimsical philosophy,
Imboden's cavalry was an especial object of their disesteem.
By way of derision they called it "Jimboden's" cavalry. The
confidence in General Early had met with that impairment
which is almost sure to be the lot of the unsuccessful leader,
no matter from what cause. This spirit in the troops mani-
fested itself at Fisher's Hill in the most droUy humorous in-
cident of the writer's whole war exprience. Close beside the
road along which the troops poured in confusion, a ragged, de-
jected, unkempt "Confed" crouched over a little fire, regard-
ing naught, absorbed alone in warming numbed fingers and
toes, for the day was chilly. As he crouched and shivered he
17

258 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

droned a song in whose tone disgust, despair and disdain all
strove for the mastery. The song, which must have been
rich, was lost except the following stanzas caught as a group
of officers rode by :

"Old Jimboden's gone up the spout.
And Old Jube Early's about played out."

"Gone lip the spout" was war lingo for passed into noth-
ingness, even as water in a kettle does when it evaporates
and goes up the spout. The singer seems to have believed
that Imboden's instead of Lorn ax's cavalry was the force that
proved unable to cope with the enemy on our left flank that
morning.

Halting at Mount Jackson on the 23d to enable the -sick,
wounded, and hospital stores to be carried off, the retreat was
resumed to Rude's Hill. Hither the close pursuit and flank-
ing movements of the enemy forced Early to retire in line of
battle, a most difficult operation when done under fire and
exposed to repeated assaults which had to be beaten off. Nine
miles of the retreat was thus covered, the troops passing
through the ordeal of repeated attacks with great coolness.
While thus fighting and falling back with the steadiness of
Cffisar's cohorts, by a strange coincidence we came to a place
called "The Tenth Legion." Here at sunset we made a stand
and checked the pursuit for the night.

Retreating up the valley, constantly skirmishing with the
hostile cavalry, we took position at Port Republic, nearly
one hundred miles south of Winchester, 27 September.
On the 28th, Early moved twenty miles further south to drive
off two divisions of Torbet's cavalry who had got in our rear
and were now destroying the railroad bridge at Waynesboro
and the tunnel through the Blue Ridge at Rockfish Gap.
Driving a force of cavalry before us, our division (Pegram's)
arrived just at night and advancing upon the enemy, drove
him off in great haste. On October 1st we marched back
down the valley to Mt. Sidney, the main force of the enemy
being then at Harrisonburg.

Early having been reinforced by Rosser's cavalry brigade
and Kershaw's infantry division from Lee's army, pre-

Twenty-Third Regiment. 259

pared to attack the enemy at Harrisonburg. But in the night
of the 5th Sheridan retreated down the valley. Early fol-
lowed and took position at New Market with his infantry.
Rosser's and Lomax's cavalry pressing forward near Fish-
er's Hill, were encountered by a superior force and driven
back in confusion, losing eleven pieces of artillery. In fact
some wag suggested that the guns that Lee was sending Early
about this time be labeled "General Phil. Sheridan, in care of
General Jube Early."

THE BATTLE OF CEDAE CEEEK.

The object of the valley campaign was to keep the largest
possible Federal force detached from Grant to protect the ap-
proaches to Washington, the acumen of Lee telling him that
the nervous Washington officials would see that the protect-
ing force was a liberal one. Early learning that Sheridan
was about to send troops back to Grant, moved farther down
the valley on October 12th. On the 13th we reached Fisher's
Hill, part of the forces advancing as far as LIupp's Hill.

Finding Sheridan's position across Cedar Creek too strong
for a front attack. Early after having it closely scrutinized
from the signal station at Massanutten Mountain, determined
to surprise and turn the Federal left flank. We moved out at
9 o'clock on the night of the 18th in great secrecy. Canteens
were closely strapped to sides to prevent rattling and only
whispering allowed. Crossing the turnpike we went around
the mountain's base by a trail that wotmd around over the
swift dashing stream. The moon was full and our long line
of bayonets glittered in its beams. Just at daybreak we
waded the stream. The shot of a Federal picket rang out.
We rushed forward with loud yells right into the sleeping
camp. A little later in the morning our division had a hand-
to-hand engagement with and drove back a larger part of the
Sixth corps and aided by Battle's Alabamians, captured six
pieces of artillery, which were most bravely defended, the ar-
tillerymen dying at their guns rather than surrender. Our
division was then moved to the north of Middleton and took
position across the pike. Here it remained during the day
skirmishing with the cavalry force in its front.

260 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

Meanwhile the tide of battle, so strong in our favor in the
morning, finally turned. The Confederate commands had
been greatly weakened by men who left the ranks to loot the
captured camps, so tempting to ill-fed, ill-equipped soldiers.
The routed Federals were halted and reformed. Sheridan,
absent in the morning, came up, made new disposition and
assailed Early in flank. Then came disaster quick on the
heels of disaster.

Our command was in position where we could see the line
as it broke, first at the point held by Gordon and then at that
held by Ramseur. These divisions retired from the field in
great disorder. Johnston's brigade was the only organized
body that retreated from the face of the enemy with its line
unbroken, halting and firing repeatedly as they were pressed
upon. In fact they were then the only organized force in
Early's whole army. After falling back near Cedar Creek,
General Pegram sent an order to General Johnston "to cross
the bridge" and follow the road towards Strasburg. General
Johnston sent a message saying that it would be impossible to
cross the bridge, as the breastworks built by the enemy com-
manded the bridge completely, and the enemy would occupy
them before he (Johnston) could cross; but that he could
cross below and preserve his brigade intact. A second staff
officer from General Pegram ordered Johnston to bring his
brigade across the bridge just under the command of these
works which in the meantime, had been occupied by the en-
emy. While the brigade was attempting to obey the order
and cross the bridge, a hot fire was poured into it from these
works. Being totally unprotected and at the mercy of the
enemy and their formation broken by the rush of fugitives,
the brigade fell into confusion and retreated under cover of
the saving darkness.

General Early says that could 500 men have been rallied
after the creek was passed the pursuit which was feeble, could
have been checked sufficiently to have saved not only his own
artillery and trains, but also to have brought off the captured
guns, all of which got safely over Cedar Creek, but were cap-
tured afterwards. Now in Johnston's brigade he would have
had a large part of the necessary 500. In view of this Gen-

Twenty-Third Regiment. 261

eral Pegram's peremptory order to Johnston to cross at the
bridge was exceedingly unfortunate. For Early lost, not
only all the captured guns, but likewise every piece of his
own artillery. A bridge broke on a very narrow part of the
road between Fisher's Hill and Strasburg, the artillery and
trains could not cross and being undefended, were taken by a
small force of Federal cavalry.

Halting at Fisher's Hill till 3 o'clock the next morning
the retreat was continued without halt to New Market, nearly
thirty miles distant. On this retreat and while near Mt.
Jackson, General Johnston was ordered to face about and
hold the enemy in check. He formed line of battle, threw
out skirmishers, and had one of the hottest fights in which the
brigade was engaged on the skirmish line during the war.
The enemy was defeated and driven back.

At New Market we rested undisturbed during the remain-
der of October Recruits and stragglers came in. Dejected
spirits revived. The Confederate soldier was himself again,
dogged;^ indomitable. The order to advance once more down
the valley was received with joy. Starting 10 November
on the 11th we approached Cedar Creek, our last un-
fortunate battle ground. Sheridan's main force fell back to
Winchester. Driving the cavalry before us we reached New-
ton, within a few miles of Winchester. Making as great a
show of force so as to hold as many of the enemy here and
away from Lee as possible, we remained here the 11th and
12th, constant skirmishing going on between the opposing
cavalry forces. Being too weak to attack Sheridan and he
refusing to leave his intrenchments to attack us, we retreated
on the night of the 12th, returning to New Market.

Our brigade formed part of the forces returned to Lee's
army about the last of November. Camping near Waynes-
boro, on the following night, we took cars for Richmond. We
arrived in the Confederate Capital amid a hard snow storm.
The haste in which we were detrained, double quicked
through the streets and entrained for Petersburg told us that
Grant was still hammering at the defences and that we were
sorely needed. This time he was making another effort to get
possession of the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad. We

262 North Carolina Troops, 186l-'65.

were hurried to a point a few miles south of Petersburg to
frustrate his attack.

THE BATTLE OF HATCHEE^S EUN.

Then followed much arduous picketing on Hatcher's Rim,
the winter being a severe one. The Twenty-third took a
prominent part in the battle of Hatcher's Eun, fought in Feb-
ruary. It was in the hottest of the fight near the Crow
house. At one time when the opposing lines of battle were
less than one hundred yards apart, the flag of the Twenty-
third was advanced three times, each time falling as its gal-
lant bearer was shot down. Captain A. D. Peace, in com-
mand of the regiment, now took up the flag and rushed for-
ward, followed by the men. But just then came the tidings
that Pegram had fallen and that we were flanked, and the
lines broke and were falling back in confusion till Grordon
dashed to the front, restored the fight and the enemy were
driven back.

Our regiment lost heavily in the fight, in proportion to
numbers. Captain Frank Bennett, in command of the skir-
mishers that day, lost an arm. Every year of the war had in
store a wovtnd for this gallant officer. The day before Seven
Pines, in 1862 ; Chancellorsville, in 1863 ; Spottsylvania, in
1864; Hatcher's Run, in 1865, are the dates of his wound-
ings.

General Pegram, our division commander, was killed at
Hatcher's Jiun and General James Walker assumed command
of the division. Soon after the battle otir brigade was sent
back to Worth Carolina, going into camp at Garysburg, our
first point of rendezvous in the hopeful days of 1861. Pour
years of war had dealt hard with the old Twenty-third. Hard-
ship, disease and Yankee lead had left but a battered rem-
nant of the buoyant band of yore.

Remaining here a few days, we were then put on
round duty. There were so many men, mostly conscripts,
deserting from Lee's army and passing southward through
North Carolina, that the Confederate authorities sought to
check it by drawing a cordon of troops across their route.
Johnston's brigade was the one selected for this duty. Some

Twenty-Third Regiment. 263

of the companies were sent back to their neighborhoods to
catch deserters. Company A went back to Richmond County.
The battalion of sharpshooters went to cope with the recalci-
trant .mountaineers and possibly other companies elsewhere.
But the most of the brigade formed the cordon on Roanoke
river, from Gaston to Clarksville, guarding every road and
ferry. Our regiment was assigned to the lower end of the
line near Gaston with headquarters at Warren Plains. Here
we remained for about a month catching probably as many
deserters as we had men — which was not many.

March 23rd Gordon telegraphed Johnston to bring his bri-
gade to Petersburg at once. The return was so sudden that
the troops far up the river near Clarksville, did not reach the
railroad in time and with the detached companies, in other
parts of the State, joined us at Petersburg some days later.

It was known to the troops on that night that the next day
we were going back to Lee's stem battle grotmd around Pe-
tersburg. Some of the men, loosing that night the captured
deserters, fled with them under cover of darkness. But not
many and those few were conscripts, men forced into the
ranks.

Bivouacing at Stony Creek the first night and marching
around the gap in the railroad made by the enemy we pressed
on to the front. The night of the 24th we slept on the hard
pavements of Petersburg, the last sleep but one of many a gal-
lant fellow that neither hardships, nor wounds, nor even de-
spair, could part from the Southern standard — nothing but
death.

While it was yet dark on Friday morning, 25 March, the
men were roused, thrown into column and marched silently
and rapidly to the east.

We had been chosen part of the forlorn hope of the des-
perately straitened Confederacy — honor high, but danger-
ous. Lee's last hope was by a sudden and desperate assault
on Grant's left at Fort Steadman to roll back the hostile line
and loosen the strangling folds drawn around the Confederate
Capital and its sister city on the Appomattox.

The opaque east grew vaguely translucent. The Federal
works on Hare's Hill rose in sharp outline against the bright-

264 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

ening back ground. Then Grordon's assaulting force, con-
sisting of our division (Walker's) and Grimes' division,
sprung over the Confederate works and rushed forward.
Hacking, tearing our way through the hostile abatis, we
pressed onward under fire too hurried to be other than wild.
In a few minutes Fort Stedman and a large section of the left
of Grant's works was in our hands and our part of the line, at
least, had penetrated several hundred yards further. But the
troops expected to support us failed to appear. For an hour
or more we held on. Broad daylight came. Gun after gun,
battery after battery, from the right, the left, the rear of the
Federal line was brought to bear, till it is said that 200 guns
were concentrated on us. No command to retreat reached
us, but we could see the oth,er troops being driven back. To
reimain where we were or to attempt to retreat meant, it
seemed, annihilation. About two thousand of the assaulting
force surrendered. Our brigade was among the troops that
came back. Every foot of the retreat was swept by a tre-
mendous tempest of shot, shell, grape, canister — every missile
that the engines of war cast from their iron lips. The artil-
lery ploughed and tore up the ground so ceaselessly that in
all but color the flying earth looked like a wind driven snow
storm.

The Twenty-third had not many men to lose, but of these
few a large proportion fell ; how many there are no records to
tell. General R. D. Johnston, comnianding the brigade, sus-
tained a severe sprain of the ankle as he climbed the Federal
works, while unf elt for a few minutes in the excitement of
the battle, it soon rendered him unable to walk for the rest of
the war. Colonel Lea, of the Fifth Eegiment, commanded
the brigade for the remaining weeks of the war.

Soon after the bloody and unavailing assault on Fort Stead-
man, our brigade was moved out and placed on picket be-
tween Swift Creek and Appomattox river. Here for a little
while we had rest. Early on Sunday morning, 2 April,
the brigade leaving its position on picket, was hurried on the
double quick through the streets of Petersburg. The enemy
had broken over and captured part of the works held by
Grimes' division and we were the only available troops to re-

Twenty-Third Regiment. 265

take it. This break in the line was about a mile south of
that part of the line we passed over to carry Fort Steadman.

Captain B. M. Collins, of the Twelfth Eegiment, then Ad-
jutant-General of the brigade, gives me the following graphic
account of this, the last day's fighting around the doomed
city : "We moved out through the covered way, nearly knee
deep in mud. We could see our captured works swarming
with blue-coats. The fire was so hot that to expose an inch of
the person above the protection meant death or wounding.
Colonel Lea sent me back to report to General Walker, our
division commander, that to assault such a force with his
weak brigade of about 250 men was a desperate undertaking.

General Walker repeated the order to assault, adding that
Captain Hobson (father of Lieutenant Hobson, the hero of
Santiago) commanding a force of sharpshooters, would make
a diversion in our favor. The diversion amounted to noth-
ing. We crept up within one hundred yards of the enemy,
sprang from the ditch and charged. A small part of the
works were taken in this rush. This position we set to work
to widen, shooting to right and left along the 'line. There
were traverses along the works at frequent intervals made of
timber and earth. The ends of the traverses next to the works
were roughly fitted, leaving many holes and openings.
Through these holes some of the men fired away at light-blue
legs while the bulk of the command fired over the traverses at
dark-blue heads.

The Federals fought us, but not with the spirit which
their immense superiority in numbers would have justified.
An attack half as vigorous as ours must have swept over
us and captured Petersburg in an hour. For a while no
attack at all came from our front. A part of our command
was thrown forward recapturing Fort Mahone in advance of
the line of works. This opened the hornets nest on us. An
overwhelming force of red pantalooned Yankees, sweeping
contemptuously across our weak front, recaptured the fort,
our troops escaping, bringing the garrison as prisoners. But
the charging force paid dear for their temerity. Our deadly
enfilading fire piled the ground with red breeches as their
flank came by us.

266 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

"About midnight came the order to withdraw^ telling us
that all was up. Passing through Petersburg we were re-
joined by the skirmish line left behind that morning in the
sudden movement to recapture the works. We then crossed
the canal and retreated up the south bank of the Appomattox
river, shells falling around us as we went.

"Our depleted corps formed the rear and wagon guards on
the retreat, fighting constantly. The enemy brought up fresh
troops when one command was worn out. We were under-
ceaseless strain. I was afraid to sleep lest I be left behind,
taking only short, restless naps when completely exhausted."

The handful left of the 23rd fought at Amelia Court
House and at Sailor's Creek. Here the whole corps was
broke, but got in fair shape by the next day.

General E. D. Johnston suffering too acutely from his
swollen ankle to mount a horse, accompanied the retreat in an
ambulance. On one occasion finding that the Federal cavalry
was about to capture the whole line of wagons and ambu-
lances, he collected a few stragglers, stopped an ammunition
M^agon, made every man get down and take a gun and Avith
this motley force prevented the capture of the train.

Further on in the great retreat the hostile cavalry broke
into the line and captured General Johnston's ambulance
and the rest, incltiding a portion of the wagon trains. Gen-
eral Johnston cut the insignia of rank from his coat, mounted
a mule, the rider having fled, rode back, organized a force of
stragglers and recaptured the whole line.

At midnight of 8 April, we had a bloody skirmish. Be-
fore sun up of the fateful 9 th the brigade passed smftly
through the little town of Appomattox. Forming a line to the
left of the Lynchbxirg road we made our last charge against
dismounted cavalry in a body of woods. The hostile force
was swept back in precipitation.

Then for the last time rang out from ouv thin line, the
"Rebel Yell," which had so long heralded the.resistless charge
of the men in gray.

But then comes an order to halt and to right-about face.
We are marched back towards the village, near which the
remnant of the Army of ISTorthem Virginia seems to be con-

Twenty-Third Regiment. 267

centrating. Strange apparitions greet our eyes. Officers in
Federal uniform ride unchallenged among our troops. We
rub our eyes as if they did not serve us true. But the officers
in blue still come and go.

Slowly, heavily, crushingly the agonizing fact bears down
upon our hearts. The thing that could not happen had hap-
pened. The end of all things was- at hand. Lee had surren-
dered.

It is said that the last man to fall was a member of the
First Battalion of North Carolina Sharpshooters, attached to
our brigade, and that Captain B. M. Collins, of the Twelfth
North Carolina, fired the last musket fired by Lee's army.

The greatest of Greek painters in depicting the mental
agony of a hero shows him with his face covered, leaving to
the imagination the supreme expression of sorrow. We
shall so deal with the emotions that filled our breast. Words
are futile things when we would describe feelings like those
that weighted the Confederate breast. Better leave to the
sympathetic imagination which has followed these men from
the beginning — which has seen with what valor, what forti-
tude, what matchless self-devotion they .upheld the cause of
Southern Independence, to measure the otherwise fathomless
abyss of their sorrow and despair at seeing it stricken down
forever.

Dr. E. I. Hicks, now of Warrenton, Va., the faithful and
efficient surgeon of the Twenty-third throughout the war, says
of the regiment: "It did as much hard service, fought as
many battles, was as constant in the performance of duty as
any other regiment in the army. And at Appomattox it sur-
rendered about as many men as any other regiment in the
army." According to the parole list, Johnston's Brigade
then numbered 463 men, rank and file.

The authors are well aware that the foregoing sketch is but
a meagre and unworthy history of the command whose deeds
and sufferings they would fain chronicle. More than the
third of a century has passed since the Twenty-third stacked
arms for the last time at Appomattox. On many comrades,
depositories of priceless reminiscences, death has set all too
soon the seal of silence. Even with the living time is fast

268 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

blurring the scenes that were long so clear and sharply cut
that it seemed they must abide with us forever. But the
writers have garnered what little could be saved before it was
too late, grieving that the harvest should be so poor.

Many a gallant deed has passed into oblivion with him who
performed it and the few who witnessed it. Of some individ-
uals a good deal is recorded, of many, nothing. This must
not be taken to mean that the men whose gallant deeds are
given are the only worthy or even the most worthy. Largely
owing to chance, the m.emory of some brave acts and of the
men who performed them survives; while others, perhaps
even more gallant, have been lost. Such authentic ones as
could be collected the writers have given, deploring none the
less that time should have been so partial in -his treatment of
these comirades in arms, preserving the deeds of some, casting
to oblivion the deeds of others.

Vestes- E. Turner^
Raleigh, N. C.

H. Clay Wall,

Rockingham, N. C.

Note. — In rewriting Sergeant Wall's sketch of the regi-
ment, it gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the valuable
assistance of Mr. O. W. Blacknall (son of the late Colonel
Chas. C. Blacknall), who has visited the important battle-
fields of the Army of ISTorthern Virginia and has given much
study to Lee's campaigns.

He also has had access to the private letters and papers of
his gallant father which have enabled him to rescue from
oblivion many interesting and important facts relating to the
history of the regiment.

V. E. Turner.

Raleigh, N. C. ,

9 April, 1901.

TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.

1. John L. Harris, Lieut. -Colonel. 3. Junius P. Moore, Chaplain

a. Thaddeus D. Love, Major. 4. William G. Balrd, Captain. Co. H

5. Barna Lane, Captain, Co. E.

TWENTY-FOURTH REGlrtE/^T.

By corporal W. N. ROSE, Company E.

This regiment was the Fourteenth Eegiment of Volunteers,
and served as such the first year of the war.

It was organized at Weldon, IST. C., about the first of
July, 1861, with the following Field and Staff officers :

William J. Clarke^ Colonel, of Craven County.

Thos. B. Venable, Lieutenant-Colonel, of Granville
County.

Jonathan Evans, Major, of Cumberland County.

John Feeeel, Assistant Quartermaster, of Halifax
County.

John A. Williams, Assistant Commissary, of Granville
County.

De. Bedfoed Beown, Surgeon, of Person County.

Dr. W. E. Wilson, Assistant Surgeon, of Granville
County.

William W. Baied, Sergeant-Major, of Person County.

Company A — Captain, John G. Dillehay, Person County.

Chaeles D. Claek, Quartermaster Sergeant, of Wake
County.

Laweence E. Duffy, Orderly Sergeant, of Onslow
County.

The following companies constituted the regiment :

Company B — Captain, George T. Duffy, Onslow County.

Company C — Captain, George W. Crockett, Johnston
County.

Company D — Captain, David C. Clark, Halifax County.

Company E — Captain, Barney Lane, Johnston County.

Company F — Captain, Charles H. Blocker, Cumberland
County.

Company G — Captain, Thaddeus D. Love, Eobeson
County.

270 North Carolina Troops; 1861-65.

CoMPAM-Y ^ — Captain, John L. Harris, Person County.
Company I^Captain, Ira T. Woodall, Johnston County.
Company K — Captain, David W. Spivey, Franklin
County.

The regiment, after its organization, remained at Weldon
for a few days, practicing in regimental drill. From Wel-
don, the regiment was ordered to Richmond, Va., where it
went into camp in the western suburbs of the city for one day
and night. From here it was ordered to join General John
B. Floyd, then operating in the region of the Gauley river,
West Virginia.

Boarding the cars, we set out on a two days' trip, it being
often the case that the three engines attached, could hardly as-
cend the gi-ades on this mountain road, then completed only
to Jackson River depot.

The regiment remained at Jackson River about one week,
it raining most of the time.

From here we took up the line of march to join General
Floyd, then in the Kanawha Valley. This was a long and
tedious march, of nearly or quite one hundred miles, over
the mountain roads. The weather being very warm the boys
began to see some of the realities of war and the life of a sol-
dier. On this march we encamped for a short while at the
celebrated White Sulphur Springs, Meadow Bluff and Blue
Sulphur Springs. We joined General Floyd in the latter part
of October, on his return from the Kanawha, where he and
General Wise had a fight with General Rosecrans, then in
command of the Federal forces in West Virginia.

General Floyd, retreating into the mountains, being pur-
sued by the Federals, took a position on Big Sewell Mountain
with the enemy in front. Here he built a very substantial
breastwork of chestnut logs, and in this position the two
armies remained during the fall and early part of the winter
of 1861.

Heretofore the boys had not been used to hard marching,
and the severities of camp life. The measles having broken
out among them, many died from disease. We remained,
however, in the mountains of West Virginia until the winter

Twenty-Fourth Regiment. 271

was well advanced. It was in this campaign that the Twen-
ty-fourth Regiment served under the immortal soldier, Robert
E. Lee, then a Brigadier-General. From here the regiment
was ordered to Richmond and on to Petersburg, where we
went into winter quarters at the Model Farm.

Here the boys had fun and a good time generally.

In the early spring of 1862, the regiment was ordered to
Eastern ISTorth Carolina. We remained at and near Mur-
freesboro, IST. C, for quite a while watching the enemy. It
was near this place in May, 1862, that the regiment was re-
organized and became the Twenty-fourth Regiment, State
Troops. As stated in the outset, the regiment up to this time
was twelve months Volunteers and the Fourteenth Regiment.
In the reorganization there was some dissatisfaction among
the volunteers at having to move up to higher numbers. The
Fourteenth Volunteers, however, became the Twenty-fourth
State Troops and reorganized as follows :

William J. Claeke, Colonel, of Craven County.

J OHN L. Haeeis, Lieutenant-Colonel, of Person County.

Thaddeus D. Love, Major, of Robeson County.

Oliver D. Cooke^ Adjutant, of Craven County.

John Feerel^ Assistant Quartermaster, of Halifax
County.

John A. Williams, Assistant Commissary, of Granville
County.

Dr. Wm. R. Wilson, Surgeon, of Granville County.

De. Charles Dufft, Assistant Surgeon, of Onslow
County.

EvANDEE McNair, Chaplain, of Robeson County.

Other Staff Officers about the same as first year of the
war.

Company A — Captain, James Holeman, Person County.
Company B — Captain, Geo. T. Duffy, Onslow County.
Company C — Captain, John D. Gulley, Johnston County.
Company D — Captain, David C. Clark, Halifax County.
Company E — Captain, Barney Lane, Johnston County.
Company F — Captain, Jas. S. Evans, Cumberland
County.

272 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Company G — Captain, A. A. Mclver, Robeson County.
Company H — Captain, Jas. C. Bailey, Person County.
Company I — Captain, Ira T. Woodall, Johnston County,
Company K — Captain, David W. Spivey, Franklin
County.

Having thus organized, we were now "in for the war."
The regiment left North Carolina for Virginia just before
and in time for the seven days' fight below Richmond. We
had passed the first year of the war in marching and watch-
ing the enemy, and many of the boys were fearful that the
war would close without giving them a chance at the Yankees,
but the time had now come when such fears were no longer to
be entertained, for it was on 25 June, 1862, that the Twenty-
fourth Regiment was led into its first engagement at White
Oak Swamp, below Richmond.

In this fight Compa,ny E, of the Twenty-fourth, was
thrown forward as skirmishers, and while deploying William
Scott, of this company, was killed. This was the first man
killed in the Twenty-fourth Regiment by a Yankee bullet. In
this fight we began to see war as a reality. We held the line
that had been occupied by the Tenth Louisiana Regiment in
the morning part of the day, they having been badly cut to
pieces. At sunset the Twenty-fourth was ordered to take a
Yankee battery that had been shelling us during that after-
noon, not more than 150 yards in front, but while we were
forming in the hedgerow, the Yankees began falling back.

Soon after dark, the Twenty-fourth Regiment was relieved
by Colonel Zeb Vance's Regiment, the Twenty-sixth JSTorih
Carolina, and sent back immediately in the rear to rest for
the night. However, we were not out of danger, for during
the night Vance's men got up a fuss with the enemy, and
Yankee bullets came thick and fast among us.

Next morning, 26 June, the Twenty-fourth Regiment
was ordered to re-occupy the same position of the even-
ing before. On reaching this post. Colonel Vance came up
to Colonel Clarke and asked him if he was ready. Clarke an-
swered him yes. Whereupon Vance said : "Very well then,
Colonel. I will open the ball, and the baby shall be born."

Twenty-Fourth Regiment. 273

In a few minutes he turned and walked ofE in the direc-
tion of his command, whistling as jovial as a boy going to
mill.

Reaching his command he gave the order to charge, but the
Yankees did as the evening before — they limbered up and
got further. This was the first time the writer ever saw
Colonel Vance, and this little incident made an impression
that Vance would do to tie to, no matter where you placed him,
and we never had cause to change that opinion. Later in the
day, the Twenty-fourth Regiment was ordered to the right
of the Confederate lines, and later to the extreme right.
About dark an order passed down the line to fall back in good
order. This order proved to be a false order, but was not so
understood by Captain Lane, who was on the extreme right
of the regiment, tmtil he was lost in a thick marsh or swamp,
where we had to remain during the night in water almost knee
deep. We could hear the enemy as they were moving near
us on our right. We could hear the clanking of their armor,
and did not know what moment they might discover our iso-
lated condition. Company E being cut off from the regiment.

To the writer, this was perhaps the most miserable night
of the war. Captain Lane, however, at dawn of day, found
his way back to the regiment, and Company E resumed her
place in line. The regiment was then ordered to drive the
enemy from an oak thicket in front, which was done in ad-
mirable style.

We quietly remained on this line the remainder of the day.

The 28th was passed quietly by us on this line. The 29th
was quiet also.

The 30th, moved to the left and did some skirmishing.

1 July, McClellan's retreat from Richmond was dis-
covered. Lee's pursuit commenced. The Twenty-fourth
Regiment had previously been assigned to General Robert
Ransom's Brigade, and Ransom's brigade was among the ad-
vance troops, the Twenty-fourth Regiment at the head of the
column. Reaching the fork of the road near Frazier's farm,
we found General Lee and Staff on horseback. General Lee
remarked to Colonel Clarke that we were an hour too late, that

18

274 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

McClellan liad just passed. We followed on, however, reach-
ing Malvern Hill about 3 p. m. Wright's Georgia
Brigade on Ransom's right led the attack. The Twen-
ty-fourth Eegiment was posted on the hill behind an
old fence. While in this position, Eansom rode in front of
the line, and gave the order to wait until we could "see the
whites of their eyes, and d — n it, give it to them." We were
soon, however, moved to the support of Wright, who by this
time was getting things hot. Soon after the whole of Lee's
army became engaged, and from then until 9 o'clock at night,
the contest was unabated. It was here that Captain Bill Gul-
ley, of Company C, from Johnston County, was found dead
in advance of any other Southern soldier that fell on this
blood-red field. We slept at night on the battle field, expect-
ing a renewal of the strife the next morning. Morning came
and with it the rain in torrents, which prevented a renewal of
the strife.

McClellan retreated to Harrison's Landing, on the James.
Lee followed. McClellan evacuated Harrison's Landing and
swung his army around to the north of Richmond. Lee
moved to the Rapidan. The Twenty-fourth Regiment camped
for a few days near the old Seven Pines battle field, and then
crossed the James, camped near Drewry's Bluff. From here
we marched through Petersburg, and went into camp near
City Point. It was here that we heard the farewell address
of our beloved Vance, who had been elected to the governor-
ship of ISTorth Carolina. From here the regiment moved to
the north of Petersburg and camped on Dunlap's farm. About
the first of September we reached Richmond, boarded the
train to Gordonsville, the railroad having been torn up be-
yond there to Manassas. From Gordonsville we took up the
line of march to Frederick City, Maryland, fording the Po-
tomac north of Leesburg. The first night in Maryland, a
detachment was sent out to attack the Yankee picket at Mon-
ocacy bridge, under Captain Duffy, of Company B. Cross-
ing the canal, an attack was made, in which Captain Duffy
was severely wounded and he and his men taken prisoners.
The following day we recrossed the Potomac at Point of
Rocks, south of Harper's Ferry. The next day we marched

Twenty-Fourth Regiment. 275

thirty-eight miles to reinforce troops near the Ferry, whose
garrison was captured the next day.

From here we forded the Shenandoah and 16 Septem-
ber we crossed the Potomac near Shepherdstown. At
night Lee's army was drawn up in line of battle in front of
Sharpsburg. On the following morning Ransom's Brigade
was placed on the extreme right. The battle opened from
center to left of Lee's line, soon Ransom's Brigade was trans-
ferred in double quick to the left. Here we were ordered to
lay off our knapsacks, which we never saw again. The Twen-
ty-fourth Regiment was ordered to dislodge some Yankees
from behind a stone fence, and of course we did so in good
style. General J. E. B. Stuart, with General Ransom,
watching this charge from a distance. General Stuart re-
marked to General Ransom that every soldier in that com-
mand was worthy to be made a commander. Ransom replied,
"God bless the gallant boys, I will never curse them any
more."

It was in commemoration of this gallant charge that Mrs.
Mary Bayard Clarke, wife of our Colonel, wrote that beau-
tiful poem, which runs something like this :

"Well may the noble Old North State,

Be of her soldiers proud,
But of her glorious Twenty-Fourth

I'll sing with praises loud.
Eight gallantly they've borne the flag,

Their State unto them gave;
Though torn by many a shot and shell,

Long may it o'er them wave.

"God with us on this blood-red field,

Is set in purest white;
For by His arm and their good swords

They trust to win the fight.
On Sewell's Mount they tentless lay.

For days in sleet and snow,
Faced sickness, hunger, cold and toil,

As bravely as the foe.

276 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

''They foiled the wily Roseerans,

Neath Floyd and General Lee,
And bore their part in Richmond fights

With Ransom and Hnger.
That bloody charge, which cost so dear,

At Malvern Hill they led,
And in the foremost rank they left.

Their brave and honored dead.

Upon Potomac's famous banks.

Again their banners flew.
In Sharpsburg's fight they won a place

And stoutly held it too.
The gallant Louisiana Tenth

Which fought with them on Malvern Hill,
Here again beside them stood.

And cheered them with good will.

"And when their General saw them charge,

His eyes with tears ran o'er,
'God bless the gallant boys,' he cried,

'I'll ne'er curse them more.' "

On the following day we remained in line, but that night
we were again on the march, with orders to follow our file
leader and ask no questions ; daylight the next morning once
more finding us across the Potomac, near Shepherdstown.

We then went on to Martinsburg, and on to near Win-
chester, Va., where we went into camp for about ten days.
From here we were ordered to Culpepper and Madison Court
House, whence in the latter part of November we marched
to Fredericksburg where we occupied a very important posi-
tion. On the famous Marye's Heights, 13 December, the
Twenty-fourth Regiment suffered severely, losing many
men and several valuable officers. It was here that Lieuten-
ant London Browne, of Company E, was mortally wounded
and died a few days later.

It was after the battle of Fredericksburg that Ransom's
Brigade left the army of Northern Virginia (3 January,
1863) and was sent back to North Carolina.

General Robert Ransom, in June, 1863, was promoted to
Major-General, and sent west, and Colonel Matt. W.

Twenty-Fourth Regiment. 277

Ransom, of the Thirty-fifth Regiment, promoted to Brigadier
in his place, thenceforth he was our Brigadier.

Just here, the, writer woiild say for General Matt. Ran-
som, what we helieve every soldier would say that ever be-
longed to the old brigade, that IS^orth Carolina never produced
a more noble son or a better soldier. He was ever kind to his
men, and as indulgent as army discipline would permit him
to be, always urging them to duty and at the same time warn-
ing them against unnecessary danger. The night before the
storming of Plymouth, IST. C, by Ransom's Brigade in rear
of the town, the writer was acting as a courier for General
Ransom from the skirmish line and as such bore a dispatch
from Captain Lane to General Ransdm with regard to the
bridge at the creek below the town.. He asked us onany
questions, spoke words of kindness and caution, and said that
he would not have one life lost unnecessarily for the glory of
beating the Yankees in the morning. Such a commander
will ever be held dear in the hearts of the old brigade, and his
memory can never perish while there is one left living to tell
the story.

About the first of March, 1863, the regiment reached Wel-
don, ]Sr. C. ; went on to Goldsboro and Wilmington, back to
ISTorth East river, and on to Kenansville. Ransom's Bri-
gade was sent down here to guard the Wilmington and Wel-
don Railroad. The Twenty-fourth Regiment reached Golds-
boro from Kenansville 21 March. From Goldsboro we
were ordered to Kinston, where we did picket duty below
the town at Wise's Fork and Gum Swamp. At the latter
place we had some skirmishing with the enemy, and drove
them as far in the direction of New Bern as "Deep Gully."
20 April the Twenty-fourth Regiment was ordered to Wel-
don. Nothing transpired worthy of note while at this place.
31 May ordered to Virginia; 10 June down on Blackwa-
ter, Va. While in this region, and near the home of our be-
loved General, we had a fight with Spears' cavalry at Boone's
Mill near Jackson, IST. C. The Yankees caught some of the
boys in the pond swimming, but of course, they were out in
time and "whipped" the Yanks just the same. The next
morning after this little fight, General Ransom took the

278 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

Twenty-fourth Kegiment to his home near by and gave us
breakfast, and some of the boys said here was the most fried
bacon they ever saw at one time. The Twenty-fourth Kegi-
ment had also a skirmish down on the Blackwater with some
Yankees that came up the river on a gunboat.

Ordered from here to Drewry's Bluff, reaching that place
16 June. From this place, a few days later, we were sent
down below Eichmond, at Bottom's Bridge. 4 July had a
fight near the bridge, in which we lost several men, and drove
back the enemy with severe loss, after which we returned to
Eichmond about 8 July, and went into camp for a
few days below the city. On the march from Bottom's
Bridge one of the boys became sick, and. the writer was de-
tailed and left behind, to take care of and help him on to
camp. Night soon came — one of those dark, dismal nights,
that is so intensely dark that we can almost feel it with the
hand, and we had to pass over the old battle field of the seven
days' fights below Eichmond of the year before. As we
trudged along we talked of the loneliness of the hour and of
the sacredness of the ground over which we were passing, not
knowing what moment we might stumble over the bleaching
bones of an old comrade that had fallen on this blood-red field
the year before. We moved on, however, reaching camp late
at night, tired and worn out. The Twenty-fourth remained
here a few days, after which it was ordered to Petersburg.

From Petersburg, on 20 July, the Eegiment was or-
dered to Weldon, N. C. Beaching that place we went into
camp on the east side of the town. It was expected, when the
Eegiment left Eichmond, that we would go on to Eocky
Mount, ]Sr. C, as the Yankees had the day before invested
that town and burned part or all of the pviblic buildings ; but
on reaching North Carolina it was found that the enemy had
fallen back nearer the coast. The regiment remained near
Weldon for quite a while awaiting orders. On the 28th of
October we left Weldon for Tarboro, N. C, reaching there
on the 30th. On the first of November we set out for Ham-
ilton, N. C, arriving there on the 6th. Here the regiment re-
mained for some time, doing picket duty at Eawl's Mill and
below there. Scouting parties were often sent out from the

Twenty-Fourth Regiment. 279

regiment to go down in the enemy's lines in the vicinity of
Washington, E". 0., to watch their movements. The writer
had some experience along this line, but time and space forbid
any account of the same here. 22 E"ovember, ordered to
Williamston, IST. 0. Here the regiment did picket duty on
the river below the town for some time.

In the latter part of December Major Love took a detach-
ment of three companies from the regiment, to-wit : Compa-
nies E, I, and F, and went down near to Plymouth to ambus-
cade a regiment of Yankee cavalry that was in the habit of
going in the country to forage. After a hard march all night
over hedges and byways, we reached a place of concealment
to await their coming ; but soon after the rain began pouring
down in torrents, and so thoroughly wet our guns and aimmu-
nition that the Major gave up the idea as a bad job, and we
set out to retrace our footsteps, marching on until late in the
afternoon. We reached a mill, where we found Colonel
Clarke with the remaining companies of the Twenty-fourth.
Here we camped for the night, completely tired and worn
out. On the following day the regiment set out in the direc-
tion of Weldon, reaching there a day or two later, where we
remained for a few days.

13 January, 1864, the Twenty-fourth Regiment reached
Tarboro, JST. C, and remained here for a short while, doing
picket duty below the town. In the latter part of January
the Twenty-fourth was ordered to Goldsboro, and from this
place to Kinston, ISTew Bern and back to Goldsboro and on to
Weldon. It was a continuous move, with no fighting, except
at ISTew Bern, where we had what we called a litte "round"
with the Yanks. From Weldon, 19 February, the Twenty-
fourth Regiment was ordered to Petersburg, Va., and
went into camp on Dunn's Hill, near the city. 17 Febru-
ary returned to Weldon, IST. C. 24 February the regiment
was called on to re-enlist for the duration of the war. It
was understood by the boys, however, that they were in for
the war, and the consequence was, but few re-enlisted.

On 25 February Major Love took Company E, with
three other companies of the regiment, and went down
in' Eastern Carolina on a series of hard marches. The de-

280 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

tachment reached G-atesville about the first of March. Erom
Gatesville on to South Mills, which place had previously been
burned by the enemy. At this place the Yankee cavalry was
stationed, and on our approach a running fight ensued up the
Dismal Swamp Canal. We followed up the canal for several
miles, driving the enemy before us, until we reached the only
house we had seen since we had left the burnt town. Here
we halted, and at night Major Love placed the detachment
in ambush, and awaited results. Soon after, the enemy was
heard moving in our direction down the canal ; and had it not
been for the impatience of the detachment highest up the
canal, who fired too soon, we must have had a nice time of it.
This, of course, spoiled the whole trick, and the Yankees
whirled about and made a hasty retreat up the canal — ^not
however, without leaving several dead and wounded.

It was now snowing, 'and the night was intensely cold, and
we without fire or blankets. Major Love called to order and
returned down the canal, breaking the dikes behind him —
reaching South Mills in the early morning, where we re-
mained that day. The following night we set out on a march
of about thirty miles and went into camp ; remaining here for
a day or two, or until the regiment joined us. From this
place, the Twenty-fourth set out for Suffolk, Va., which place
was in possession of a regiment of negro cavalry. Moving on
during the day, we camped within seven miles of the place. At
3 o'clock in the morning we resumed the m.arch, General Ran-
som with the brigade having joined vis the night before.
Moving on in the darkness, we came in contact with what we
supposed the enemy drawn iip in line of battle at the fork of
the road. Ransom ordered Colonel Clarke to form the Twen-
ty-fourth in line and advance as near as possible without forc-
ing a fight to observe, if possible, if it was the enemy or Col-
onel Tom Kennedy's cavalry that was supposed to have been
captured a day or two before. It proved to be Kennedy,
which was found out when it was light enough so that we
could see their gray uniforms. Each party sprung their guns
many times that morning, and had one gun been discharged,
there wotild have been a dreadful slaughter among friends.
After the parties were known to each other, Kennedy took the

TWENTY-FOURTH EEGIMENT.

1. James A. Holeman, Captain. Co. A. 3.

2. John A. Williams, Captain, Commis- 4.

sary. 5.

C. S. Powell. 2d Lieut.. Co. E.

J A. Long. Orderly Sergeant, Co. H.

Edwin G. Moore, Private, Co. A.

Twenty-Fourth Regiment. 281

left hand road and Ransom the right. We ran in with the
Yankee pickets about three miles from town and drove them
in. In the afternoon the Twenty-fourth Regiment was sent
around to the west of the town at a church. Soon after we
saw in the distance a squad of Yankee cavalry. At this mo-
ment Captain Durham, of Ransom's StafE, took charge of
the Texas Zouaves, about fifteen in niimber, and mounted on
very poor horses, dashed forward to meet them. A running
fight ensued, the Twenty-fourth being ordered to follow in
double-quick. Durham pursued at close quarters until reach-
ing the lower part of town, when the enemy received rein-
forcements and a hand to hand conflict was had. The Twen-
ty-fourth Riegiment had now reached the scene in disorder,
having double-quicked about two miles. The ladies were on
the streets with their inspiring words and telling us that it
was but a regiment of negroes, to go forward. At this mo-
ment General Ransom came up and commenced forming the
men in ranks. In the meantime the negroes were forming
for a charge, splendidly mounted on fine chargers, and at the
command dashed forward as if they would ride over us ; but
every man of the Twenty-fourth that had arrived needed no
words of command to make him do his duty, except to hold
his fire until the proper time. On they came to within forty
paces, when the order was given to fire, which was done with
telling effect. It was enotigh. The negroes wheeled their
horses and fled in the direction from which they came; and
the writer has often thought this the most splendid exhibi-
tion of horsemanship we have ever witnessed. The negroes
did not return. Those that fell into our hands were in some
houses in town and refused to surrender, and continued to flre
out of the windows until the}' were burned up in the houses.
Late in the evening General Ransom permitted the Twenty-
fourth Regiment to plunder the camps of the enemy, which
were rich in many good rations, which were very much needed
by our boys. We remained in Siiffolk two days, and our part-
ing with the citizens and ladies were as sad as our meeting
upon entering the town was joyous. On 12 March, 1864,
we again reached Weldon, worn ovit and tired, and went into
camp, soon after which orders came to clean guns and get

282 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

ready for regimental inspection. We remained at this camp
for several days.

We left Weldon in the early part of April and reached
Plymouth, IST. C, about the 15th, and began the siege of that
place. There were about 3,500 Yankees here, under the
command of General Wessell, strongly fortified by a
series of breastworks and forts, well mounted, with nearly two
hundred heavy siege guns, which would seem to make the
place well nigh invulnerable to an equal number of troops as
the assaulting party.

General Hoke established his lines on the upper town or
river, and Ransom's Brigade on the south or front part of the
town, all under the command of Hoke. On the 18th, Ran-
som was ordered to assault the works in front of the town
which, by the way, was that part of the work that embraced
the three principal forts and could not be carried by an as-
sault made directly in front.

Preparatory to making this assault the Twenty-fourth Reg-
iment was drawn up in line of battle in a skirt of woods, some
three-quarters of a mile from the enemy's works, and a de-
tail made, to intercept and drive back the enemy's sharpshoot-
ers, posted some two hundred yards in front of us in the open
field. Our line advanced about half the distance, when the
firing commenced, and we can truthfully say, that this was
the finest work of the kind we ever saw, our lines steadily
advancing, while the enemy's retreated into the forts.

The Twenty-fourth Regiment followed the line of skirmish-
ers to within a short distance of the forts, where we were
halted and ordered to lie down in a deep ravine. At this mo-
ment (dark) all the artillery on both sides, that could be
brought to bear was in full play, and from then until a late
hour at night it was a sublime, as it was also an awful scene,
to watch the transition of the bursting shells, dealing death
and destruction on every hand. The light caused by the
vivid flash of the cannon and the explosion of shells, made
it sufficient at times to have picked up a pin from the earth.
In this assault our casualties were comparatively light, con-
sidering how terriffic was this artillery duel.

We withdrew late at night, and the next day Ransom's Bri-

Twenty-Fourth Regiment. 283

gade was sent around in rear of the town on the river to make
the assault from below. Company E, of the Twenty-fourth,
was thrown forward as skirmishers and to find out, if possi-
ble, if the bridge at the creek had been burned. As we have
before stated in this sketch, the writer was acting as courier
from the skirmish line to General Ransom's headquarters. It
was now night, and I had delivered a message froim Captain
Lane, in charge of the skirtmishers, to General Ransom, with
regard to the force of the enemy at the creek, when Lieuten-
ant Applewhite, of Texas, and acting as aid to General Ran-
som, was standing by and asked permission to take "this
man" (myself), and go to the creek and ascertain if the bridge
had been burned. Ransom at first objected, but finally
yielded, and Applewhite and myself set out, but did not go
far before we met General Bearing, of our eavarly, and one
other man.

On learning that we were going to the creek, Bearing and
his man joined us and we four soon stood on the bank of the
creek. The bridge had been burned and a small boat was on
the opposite side. Bearing asked who would swim the creek
and get the boat, and no sooner said than the man we did not
know was across the creek and had the boat. The enemy, as
we soon learned, was about forty paces from us behind breast-
works. The man that swam the creek, we have learned since
the war was Cavenaugh, from Onslow county. It was a
brave deed, and we mention it simply to show the material
that composed the Southern army, then around Plymouth,
and no doubt there were hundreds of equally brave spirits
in that unequal contest, some of whom fell that night and the
next morning in the storming of this strong citadel.

Captain Lane, with Company E, of the Twenty-fourth,
now arrived at the creek, and soon after a pontoon was fixed
and Lane and his ooimpany went across to the Yankee side.
When he gave the order to forward, the enemy poured into
them a heavy fire from behind breastworks, wounding several
of Lane's men. Lane, however, maintained his ground until
reinforcements arrived, which was about ten minutes later,
when the Yankees fled.

We followed on to a hedgerow about one thousand yards
from the main forts, when Company E held the skirmish

284 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

line during the night. At dawn of the day, the 20th, Cap-
tain Durham of Eansom's Staff, ordered Captain Lane to
forward his line of Skirmishers. This order was greeted by
a shower of minie balls from the enemy. At the time all
of his artillery that could be brought to bear upon us was in
full play, which made the earth quake beneath our feet.
Amid this storm of shot and shell, Lane led his line in ad-
vance of the line of battle to the first fort. On arriving at
the fort, Daniel King, Orderly Sergeant of Company E,
mounted the parapet and demanded its surrender, which
order was obeyed. The second fort was then stormed and
carried ; the third also, and our victory was complete. The
Twenty-fourth Regiment and Eansom's Brigade had stormed
and taken an army greater in nunibers than they themselves,
and the enemy well fortified within these strong forts, but
this was not done without some loss to us, for in Company E,
Lane's, alone, we numbered twenty-one killed and wounded.

Hoke's Brigade occupied the line above town on the river
and consequently did but little of the fighting on this day.
This was a complete victory for our side and it was greatly
due to Ransom and his brigade.

The recapture of Plymouth, IST. C, under the existing cir-
cumstances, was one of the most splendid victories achieved
by Southern arms in this great contest, and about the only
hard fought battle on North Carolina soil. At night, the
troops were marched out of town and the dead buried with
military honors. On the following day the Twenty-fourth
Regiment was sent to garrison the town where we remained
for a day or two, when we were relieved by the Fiftieth Regi-
ment, North Carolina troops, and Ransom's Brigade sent to
lay siege to Washington, N. C.

Soon after our arrival at this town the Yankees took to their
gunboats and left for parts unknown, and we set oxit for New
Bern, N. C, reaching a point near the city on the south side
of the Trent, 6 May. Here we had some fighting, cap-
turing about fifty prisoners, with a loss of but two men on
our side killed.

8 May, we reached Kinston, N. C, on our way to
Virginia. About 10 May, we reached Petersburg, Va.,

Twenty-Fourth Regiment. 285

and were sent down on the James river to intercept Butler,
then advancing on Richmond from the south side of the
James ; Ransom's Brigade was now assigned to Bushrod
Johnson's division, under command of General Beauregard.
Ransom's Brigade was now sent to Drewry's Bluff, and on
the 14th, was sent down the railroad to occupy a line of
breastworks on the extreme right of our lines. The Twenty-
fourth Regiment rested its right at the end of the works, on
a marsh said to be impassable by troops.

The enemy was closing in upon us in front and file. Soon
after reaching this position the enemy broke through this
swamp and attacked our line in rear, breaking our line tem-
porarily and severely wounding General Ransom. At this
moment, the gallant Captain Durham was killed at the head
of the Twenty-fourth Regiment, which was now being pressed
from all sides and the only alternative was to cut through the
enemy's lines from the rear, which was done in admirable
style. The Twenty-fourth was ordered to cover the retreat
up the railroad, the enemy shelling with all their artillery
which made this position anything but comfortable. At
night, the Twenty-fourth was ordered to rest on their arms
and Company E was sent forward on a skirmish. During
the night we could hear the cries of a wounded reb in front
of our lines, the words of whom we could not understand at
the time, or that it had a special signification or meaning
until hostilities ceased for the time and the wounded man
was brought safely into our lines. It was said, by men that
knew, that this man was a Free Mason, and was thus safely
rescued. Firing was kept up during the night, and in the
early morning of the 15th assumed the proportions of a regu-
lar battle. Fighting was kept up during the day, and in the
afternoon the whole line became engaged. Ransom's Brigade
occupying much the same position of the night before. The
Twenty-fourth Regiment suffered terribly during the day.
Cotapany E lost nine m«n wounded and one killed by the ex-
ploding of a shell. It was here that Colonel Clarke, com-
manding the brigade, was severely wounded, and never again
returned to the regiment. ISTight closed this day's fighting,
and as the morning of 16 May,' 1864, was ushered

286 North Carolina Troops, 186]-'65.

in, we were again on the move, the Twenty-fourth Kegi-
ment occupying the left of the line from that of the previous
day. About 9 o'clock Ransom's Brigade, in command of
Colonel Eutledge, of the Twenty-fifth Eegiment, was ordered
to retake a portion of our works that had been captured the
day before. Lieutenant-Colonel Harris led the Twenty-
fourth to the charge. The route over which we had to pass
was about 500 yards.

The timber had been cut and felled in the direction from
which we had to make the advance. At the word forward, we
made our way as best we could, losing our men at every step.
Reaching the works occupied by the enemy, the conflict be-
came fearful, the breastwork only dividing the two lines. At
this moment the Twenty-fourth Regiment had one hundred or
more of her already thin ranks stricken down, and for the
first time in her history had to fall back in disorder. On
reaching the point from which we first started^ Colonel Har-
ris reformed the regiment for a second charge. Captain
Lane, Company E, on getting his men together, found that
he had but two men left. The writer was one of the two. Ad-
dressing General Beauregard, who was present, in tears, told
him that he had lost all of his men but two, pointing to my-
self and Creech. Beauregard said to Lane: "Captain, you
have done enough ; take those two men and act as rear guard
and recruit your company." But when Harris ordered the
second charge. Lane ordered us to fall in and we did so. But
on reaching the works the Yankees had fled, leaving their
dead and wounded behind.

This was a heart-rending scene. The dead and wounded
were lying in every conceivable condition, and cries for help
went up all around. It is enough that we should say, that
none could look on and not weep, unless he possessed a heart
as unsusceptible as stone, or that he were a soldier. Butler
retreated to Bermuda Hundred. Beauregard followed.
About the flrst of June, we had a heavy skirmish fight at Ber-
muda Hundred, and the fighting was kept up from day to
day for several days. On one occasion Company E was sent
to reinforce Colmpany H on the skirmish line. Soon the
whole regiment was sent and drove the enemy back. Reach-

Twenty-Fourth Regiment. 287

ing a road, Colonel Harris gave the order to lie down, and
just here happened a little incident that we will mention for
the fun of the thing. When the order came to lie down, the
writer crossed over the road and took a position behind a
forked oak, and began firing at the Yankee colors about one
hundred yards off. Soon we were joined by Tom Toler, who
also began to fire soon after. Looking around we saw that
the regiment was going. Calling to Tom to let's go, he said,
"No, we are going up."

We shook hands and parted and on reaching the regiment,
I told the boys Tom was gone up ; that he was a prisoner, but
in a few moments up came Tom, out of breath, puffing and
blowing, and said the next time he offered himself to the
Yanks, they would be sure to have him. The boys gave a
loud yell at Tom's expense.

18 June below Richmond, near Bottom's Bridge, doing
picket duty on a creek. This was as bad picket duty
as we ever did, the two lines being divided by the streaim and
not more than forty yards apart. All that was necessary for
the exchange of shots was to show yourself or shake a bush.

21 June, left Chaffin's Bluff and went to Petersburg, fight-
ing every day. On reaching the city, we were hastened for-
ward to reinforce some militia that had withstood the Yan-
kee forces around Petersburg up to this time, and had been
driven to our last line of works. Soon after our arrival, the
enemy charged our regiment in heavy column. We let them
come sufficiently near, when we mowed them down so fear-
fully that hundreds threw down their guns and surrendered.

At night the firing was kept up on both sides. Just before
day the enemy broke Johnson's (Tennessee) Brigade and
came in our rear before we knew it. The result was that all
of the Twenty-fourth that were asleep were captured, being
over one hundred. It was now day and the remainder of the
Twenty-fourth fell back to a new position, and were ordered
to build new works and support Miller's battery. We worked
during the day with our hands and bayonets, and by night we
had a strong work. At night Colonel Faison, in command of
the brigade, ordered us to move to the left, and soon after to
take back a portion of the works that Wise's Virginia Brigade

288 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

had been run out of. The Twenty-fourth Regiment was led
by Major Love. This was a desperate struggle, it being nec-
essary to club the enemy out with the butts of our guns. It was
soon over, however, and our loss was light, considering the
situation. We remained here in this captured works until
just before day, the enemy's dead and wounded in piles
among us, when we were moved to the right. This brought
day of the morning of the 23rd, and we were again ordered
to built breastworks which was again done during the day
with bayonets as our only tools. The eneray massed their
columns all day in a deep ravine in our front.

About sunset they advanced several columns deep. Our
lines were doubled also. On they came to within seventy-
five yards before we gave them the first fire; still they came
until the third round, Avhen they weakened and fell back
down the hill, still firing but to no effect, as the balls passed
well over us. About 9 o'clock at night, we were relieved by
General Longstreet's corps, and sent out near the reservoir
for rest, the first we had had for several days. On leaving
the works, we came in range of the enemy's bullets and suf-
fered considerable loss. The siege of Petersburg now began
by General Grant, and the line of breastworks built this day
by the Southern army was the line maintained and held by
them during the remaining nine raontlis of the war. During
this nine months, there was scarcely a moment, and certainly
not an hour, but the sound of arms could be heard on some
portion of the lines. Time rolled on. Ransom's Brigade oc-
cupying that portion of Lee's line from the right bank of Ap-
pomattox river to and beyond the iron railroad bridge, east of
the city. Skirmishing was now an every day occurrence.

In many places the two lines were not one hundred yards
apart.

On 30 July, Grant sprung the mine, afterwards
known as the "Crater, or Blow-xip at Petersburg." The right
of the Twenty-fourth Regiment rested within a few paces of
the "Crater" at the time of this explosion, and was among the
first troops to engage in repelling "Bumside's IsTegro Sol-
diers" from this bloody chasm. We remained here among
these dead negroes until they were buried, or partially so, for

Twenty-Fourth Regiment. ,289

several days, the stench being unbearable under other circum-
stances. This portion of the lines was ever after known as
Mortar Hill. Subsequently, the Twenty-fourth Regiment
was moved to the left, and occupied the line from the iron
bridge to the river as before stated. Here it was our daily oc-
cupation to watch the enemy through port holes made through
sand bags and to dodge mortar shells. At night we did picket
duty in the rifle pits between the two lines, in some places not
more than forty yards from the Yankee pickets. Often we
would meet and exchange tobacco and coffee, and have a social
chat with each other.

In Qctober, the Regiment was recruited by conscripts from
Camp Holmes, which swelled our ranks somewhat, and many
of these men made good soldiers. Time moved on with its
many changes, in men and other things. The Yankees often
making desperate efforts to break our lines, but were as often
repulsed, and sometimes with heavy loss. About 15 March,
1865, Ransom's Brigade was relieved and sent about
seven miles west of the city. Here we remained for a few
days in some houses or huts that had been built by the army.
About 24 March, at night, we were ordered to fall in
ranks, not knowing what was going to happen next. We took
up the line of march in the direction of Petersbuig, which
place we reached after midnight. We were ordered to the
place we had left but a few days before, at the iron bridge.
It now became apparent that something had to be done. About
one hour to day, the Twenty-fourth Regiment was ordered
to mount the works and move as quietly as possible on the
enemy's works.

Moving on in the darkness we soon came in contact with
the enemy's cJieveaux de freise fastened together Avith wire.
Through this we so&n made an opening, and entered the works
without firing a gun, the Yankees not expecting an assault.
As we brought them out in their night clothes we. would send
them to the rear. A moment later firing commenced to our
right, but the enemy was so completely taken by surprise that
their effort was but a feeble one, and we had their line for a
mile or more. For some unknown cause the advantage we
19

290 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

had then gained was thrown away, and we were permitted to
quietly remain where we were until Grant moved a portion
of his army from Hatcher's Run, some nine miles away.

It was now 9 o'clock in the morning ; and when the Yan-
kees came, they presented a sublibae scene in their long lines
of blue. We prepared to receive them as they came; but
soon yelling commenced to the right of Ransom's Brigade,
and later they came in both front and rear and poured into
us a heavy, enfilading fire, which was very destructive to our
men. It was here that Lieutenant-Colonel Harris was severely
wounded, and Major Love took command of the Twenty-
fourth Regiment. We were now powerless to help ourselves,
as the Yankees were closing in upon us from every quarter,
and the order was given to fall back by companies, begin-
ning on the left of the regiment ; but before the right compa-
nies received the order the enemy had cut off all chances of
retreat. The writer was present with Major Love at the
head of the regiment when the Yankees came, and saw him
wrest frdm the hands of a Yankee color-bearer his colors, but
of course he was not allowed to keep them, for we were now
prisoners, or ^.t least one-half of the men belonging to the two
right companies were. We have never known the number
killed and wounded in the Twenty-fourth in this engagement,
but it was very heavy in both men and officers, as there was
but a handful of men left under the command of Captain

• to surrender at Five Forks, a week later. We

believe, however, that the Twenty-fourth Regiment was repre-
sented at Appomattox in the final surrender by our beloved
commander, but by no organized command. Those of us
taJsen prisoners were sent to Point Lookout, Md., and to John-
son's Island, N. Y., where we remained until June, 1865.

Thus closed the services to the "Lost Cause" of one of the
best regiments that the Old North State furnished during the
late war.

W. K Rose, Je.

OVBESHOT, N. C,

9 April, 1901.

TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT.
1. T. L. Clingman, Colonel. 4. James A. Blalock, Captain, Co. F.

8. Henry M. Butledge, Colonel. 5. James M. Cathey, Captain, Co. F.

3. T. D. Bryson, Captain, Co. B. 6. W. Pinck Welch, 1st Lieut., Co. C.

7. J. C. L. Gudger, 1st Lieut, and Adjutant.

TVENTT-FIFTH REGinmi.

By garland S. FERGUSON, Second Lieutenant Company F.

In May, 1861, the companies which were to form the Twen-
ty-fifth Regiment began to organize in Western North Caro-
lina and to assemble in Camp Patton at Asheville. As each
successive company took its position in camp the guard line
was extended and the civilian began to do duty and learn the
step and manoeuvers of the soldier. By 15 August, ten com-
panies, the requisite number, were in camp and the regiment
was organized, the field ofiicers being elected by the votes of
the commissioned officers of the companies.

Hon. Thomas L. Clingmajst, Colonel, who for years had
represented the mountain district in the Congress of the
United States, and who had resigned his seat in the United
States Senate — afterwards Brigadier-General.

St. Claib Deaeing, Lieutenant-Colonel, who had resigned
his position in the United States Army — later Brigadier-Gen-
eral.

Hektey M. EutlegEj Major, a boyish-looking young man
of 22, with military education and bearing.

W. ]Sr. Feeeman, was appointed Adjutant.

W. H. Beysow^ Quartermaster.

John W. Walkee, Commissary.

De. S. S. Satchwell^ Surgeon.

De. G. W. Fletchee, Assistant Surgeon.

J. C. L. Gudgee^ Sergeant-Major.

Clinton A. JoneSj Quartermaster Sergeant.

Julius M. Toung^ Commissary Sergeant.

Petee M. EicHj Drum Major.

The companies composing the regiment were :

Com f ANY A — From Henderson County, conmianded by

292 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Captain Baylis M. Edney, who was killed in 1863, and after-
wards by Captain Matthew H. Love, who was promoted to
Major and Lieutenant-Colonel; Captain John Plumby,
who was killed at Five Forks.

Company B — From Jackson County, commanded by Cap-
tain Thaddeus D. Bryson, and afterwards by Captain David
Rogers.

Company C — ^From Haywood County, commanded by
Captain Sam C. Bryson, who was promoted Major, Lieuten-
ant-Colonel, wounded at Eraser's Farm in front of Peters-
burg on the night of lY June, 1864, resigned, and afterwards
by Captain W. IST. Freeman.

Company D — From Cherokee County, commanded by
Captain John W. Francis, who was promoted Major, wounded
at Malvern Hill, resigned, and afterwards comtaianded by
Captain Lee B. Tatham.

Company E — From Transylvania County, commanded by
Captain Francis W. Johnston, afterwards by Captain Wm.
W. Graves, who was killed in front of Petersburg, then by
Captain Charles L. Osborne.

Company F — From Haywood County, commanded by
Captain Thomas I. Lenoir, afterwards by Captain James M.
Cathey, who was killed at the "Crater" in front of' Peters-
burg on the 30th of June, 1864, then by Captain James A,
Blaylock.

Company G^ — From Athens, Georgia, Clay and Macon
counties, North Carolina, commanded by Captain Wm. S.
Grady, who was promoted Major and mortally wounded at
the "Crater" 30 June, 1864, and afterwards by Captain John
S. Hayes, then Captain John H. Phinisee.

Company H — From Buncombe and Henderson counties,
commanded by Captain Frederick Blake, and afterwards by
Captain Solomon Cunningham, who was killed at Fredericks-
burg 13 December, 1862, then by Captain Thomas J. Young.

Company I — From Buncombe County, commanded by
Captain George W. Howell, afterwards by Captain W.. Y.
Morgan, who was promoted Major, and then by Captain A. B.
Thrash.

Company K — From Buncombe cotinty, commanded by

Twenty-Fifth Regiment. 293

Captain Charles M. Roberts, who was promoted Major of a
battalion and killed by bush whackers while on detail duty in
Madison County in 1864, and then commanded by Captain
Jesse M. Burleyson.

With the exception of a part of Company G, the regiment
was composed of mountain men west of the Ridge, the Colo-
nel was a politician and statesman ; the Lieutenant-Colonel a
professional soldier; the Major a civilian with a military ed-
ucation. There were but few slave owners in the regiment,
90 per cent, of the men were farmers and farmer's sons, fully
80 per cent, home owners, or the sons of farmers who owned
their farms. With the exception of the Lieutenant-Colonel
the survivors expected to return to the peaceful pursuits of
life after the war should terminate.

The majority of the men composing the regiment had been
Union men until after President Lincoln's Proclamation,
they then regarded their interests with the South and ac-
knowledged their allegiance to the State. They had gone to
war to defend their homes from invasion by an armed foe.

The men had been accustomed to independence of thought
and freedom of action and had elected for their company of-
ficers their neighbors and companions and had no idea of
giving up more of their personal liberty than should be nec-
essary to make them effective soldiers — obedient on duty, in-
dependent off — this spirit, they in a marked degree, retained
to the close of the war, and it was this which made them the
pride of their General in battle and sometimes gave him an-
noyance in camp. Under the mild discipline of the Colonel
and skillful training and accurate drill of the LieutenanlhCol-
onel and Major, the regiment was soon thoroughhly drilled
and disciplined, on duty. On 18 September the reg-
iment marched from Asheville to Icard Station below Mor-
ganton, the nearest railroad point; the majority of the regi-
ment had never seen a steam engine or a railroad. It stopped
a day or two in Raleigh and drew uniforms and reached Wil-
mington 29 September and went into camp at Mitch-
ell's Sound. Here the regiment had arms, muskets,
distributed to it. In ISTovember it was sent to the coast de-
fence of South Carolina and camped near Grahamville most

294 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

of the winter, doing picket duty, drilling and building fortifi-
cations. 14 March, 1862, the regiment left Grahamville for
ISTew Bern, N. 0., but before reaching that point the city had
been taken and the regiment met the retreating Confederate
troops at Kinston, where it went into camp and remained
until after the reo-rganization, being attached to the bri-
gade commanded by General Robert Ransom, which consisted
of the Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth, Thirty-
fifth and Forty-ninth North Carolina Regiments. At the re-
organization Clingman was re-electel Colonel, Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Dearing being a professional soldier ob-
jected to again taking a second place in the regi-
ment and retired from the command. Major Rutledge
was elected Lieutenant-Colonel and Captain S. C. Bry-
son of Company C, elected Major. Colonel Clingman was
soon promoted Brigadier-General, Rutledge to Colonel ; Bry-
son to Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain Francis of Company
D, to Major.

On 24 June, 1862, the regiment reached Richmond,
Va., as a part of General Robert Ransom's brigade;
by sunrise of the 25th it was on the march towards the front
and to join the division of General Huger, which was then en-
gaged at Seven Pines on the Williamsburg road. There was
heavy firing of artillery and musketry in front. It had at
last come in hearing of the true music of war. About one-half
mile from the line the regiment was ordered to double quick.
It was thrown in line on the immediate left of the Williams-
burg road, and when within range of the enemy the regi-
ment halted, the front rank at the command fired and fell to
the ground, the rear rank fired over theln, then with bayo-
nets fixed we raised the rebel yell and charged ; the enemy
gave way and the ground which had been lost in the morning
was retaken. The enemy opened a heavy fire of musketry
and three times tried, without effect, to retake their lines. At
6 o'clock p. m. a heavy fire of grape was opened on the regi-
ment without demoralizing or moving it. It was relieved at
dark. Major-General Huger in his report of this battle
says: "The Twenty-fifth Regiment (Colonel H. M. Rut-
ledge) was pushed to the left of the Williamsburg road,

Twenty-Fifth Regiment. 295

where the enemy had advanced, and drove them back in gal-
lant style." The loss of the regiment was two killed and forty
wounded. Private B. B. Edmondson was promoted to Ad-
jutant of the regiment for gallantry on the field. General Rob-
ert Ransom commended, in his report of the engagement, the
officers and men of the regiment.

The regiment was on several occasions, during the suc-
ceeding days, under fire. On 2 July at Malvern Hill late
in the evening it made a charge, but for want of sup-
port and on account of a galling fire, it was ordered back, and
with other regiments of the brigade, was reformed under
cover by General Robert Ransom, and again advanced to
within one hundred yards of the enemy's guns and line, when
the men raised a yell and charged in the face of a perfect
sheet of fire from musketry and artillery, without wavering,
to within twenty yards of the enemy's guns, some going even
nearer. At this point General Ransom discovered that he
was not supported and that the enemy were heavily massed,
very greatly outnumbering his men. Unwilling to sacrifice
his men in a hopeless charge and dark coming on he withdrew
from the attack. In his report of the battle he speaks in the
highest terms of praise of the conduct of the officers and men,
commending especially the courage and coolness of Colonel
Rutledge and Major Francis. The Colonel was stunned by a
bursting shell and the Major wounded. The regiment's loss
was ninety-three in killed and wounded. After the battle of
Malvern Hill General Ransom had full confidence in the
fighting qualities of the Twenty-fifth Regiment, and the men
of the regiment .had full confidence in him as a careful, cour-
ageous and skillful leader in battle. It was only in camp
and on the march that any difl^erence existed between the men
and their General; this existence amounted to positive dis-
like, in some instances hate. The men of the Twenty-fifth
Regiment would not have exchanged General Robert Ran-
som as a leader in battle for any General in the Army of
Northern Virginia. His mastery of military tactics, cool-
ness on the field, and judgment of ground enabled him to
place his men in action with great rapidity and comparative
safety, xmtil they were ready to do execution. If he had un-

296 NoETH Carolina Troops, 186] -'65.

derstood volunteer soldiers and realized that four-fifths of the
men in ranks were as careful of their personal honor, and as
anxious for the success of the cause as he, he would have
been one of the gi-eatest generals in Lee's army, was the opin-
ion of some, and is still the opinion of the writer. After Mal-
vern Hill the regiment went into camp for a time at Drewry's
Bluff. It was here, in consequence of the exposure just gone
through, that army sickness first made its telling effect on the
regiment, the loss by death from sickness being eighty-one.
About this time the Twenty-sixth Regiment was taken out of
our brigade and later the Fifty-sixth Eegiment was assigned
us in its place.

The regiment, with the brigade, was attached to Walker's
Division in the Maryland campaign, and at Harper's Ferry
was placed to gviard Loudon Heights to prevent the escape of
the enemy. When it was first made known to the men
by General Lee's order that the army was to cross the Poto-
mac there was a considerable murmur of disappointment in
ranks. The men said thej^ had volunteered to resist invasion
and not to invade, some did not believe it right to invade
Northern territory, others thought that the same cause that
brought the Southern army to the front would increase the
jSTorthern army, still others thought the war should be car-
ried into the North; thus the men thought, talked and disa-
greed. This was the first dissension among the men of the
regiment, but all were united in their confidence and love
for Lee.

At Sharpsburg the regiment was put into action near the
extreme left of Lee's line. Our troops were retreating in
front of a determined charge of the enemy, the men passed
through the retreating troops, raised the yell, and charged
with a determination that drove the enemy from the field
to cover of his heavy works.

Camping equij^ments had been left behind at Richmond,
and frequently on the march the men had to resort to ram-
rods for baking purposes and forked sticks for the roast;
blankets and change of clothing had been left at Sharpsburg,
and when the men recrossed the Potomac they were without
blankets and bare of clothing, this was late in September and

TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT.

J. S. J. SheltoD, 1st Lieut., Co. C. 3. J. T. Cathey, 2d Lieut., Co. F.

2. W. H Hartgrove. 1st Lieut., Co. F. 4. Garland S. Ferguson, 8<1 Lieut., Co.F

5. John W. Norwood, 1st Sergeant, Co. C.

Twenty-Fifth Regiment. 297

the regiment did not receive new blankets till some time in
October. The beds were room}' but cool.

After remaining in the Shenandoah Valley for some time
the regiment marched to Madison Court House, where it
bivouaced and there drew a stipply of clothing and blankets,
then marched to Fredericksburg. The winter at Fredericks-
burg was cold, but sh^ters were made of pine brush, log fires
built in front, and with an additional supply of blankets and
clothing, which most men received from home, the men were
fairly comfortable.

On 11 and 12 December, 1862, the regiment was
in position back of Marye's House. About 11 o'clock
on the morning of the 13th, General Robert Ransom informed
the regiment that General Cobb's men who were holding ovir
line in front of Marye's House, were short of ammunition
and must be reinforced, and that the xmdertaking was a dan-
gerous one; the men fully understanding the importance and
danger of the duty, moved forward with a firm and steady
step, like patriots, to battle. On reaching the crest of the
hill (the regiment having been divided so as to pass the house
on either side) it met a fearful fire from the enemy two hun-
dred yards off. In casting an eye along the line men could be
seen falling like sheaves before the sickle. In less than two
minutes the regiment's loss in killed and wounded was one
hundred and twenty. It reached Cobb's line just as his men
were emptying their last cartridge, and held the line, repell-
ing six successive assaults, until relieved at nightfall.

During the spring of 1863 the regiment was stationed
at Kenansville, Wilmington, and other places in North
Carolina. The fall and winter of 1863 the regiment was sta-
tioned at Garysburg, from which place it made several ex-
cursions to check the advances of the enemy on the coast of
ISTorth Carolina, but did not see much hard service until the
spring of 1864. In October, 1863, a detachment of the regi-
ment under Lieutenant-Colonel Bryson, had an engagement
at Hot Springs, in Madison County, North Carolina. The
enemy outnumbered them twenty to one, and the loss of the
detachment in killed and wounded was heavy, including Lieu-
tenant Hyatt, of Company F, who was killed on the field.

298 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

In April, 1864, the regiment participated in the assault
and capture of Plymouth, IST. C.

During the Virginia and Maryland campaigns, Colonel
Eutledge had so endeared himself to the non-commissioned of-
ficers and privates of his regiment, by his courage and kind-
ness, that they presented him a fine saddle horse, not allowing
the commissioned ofiicers to bear any part of the expense or
take any part in the presentation ceremonies.

General Robert Hansom was promoted Major-General June

1863, and Colonel Matthew W. Eansom, of the Thirty-fifth,
was promoted to Brigadier-General and assigned to the com-
mand of the brigade. General Matthew Ransom was a law-
yer, very handsome in appearance, of undoubted courage and
knew the temper of volunteer soldiers. The men of the regi-
ment loved him and trusted him.

The regiment was engaged at Drewry's Bluff 12 May,

1864, in which engagement Company F lost Lieutenant
Ebed J. Ferguson, killed, and six non-commissioned officers
and privates wounded; and participated in the engagements
at Ware Bottom Church and Bermuda Hundred.

On 16 June, 1864, the regiment crossed to the South of
the Appomattox for the defence of Petersburg and entered at
once into the fight in front of Avery's House, and checked the
advance of the enemy who was driving back the Petersburg
militia, the only protection to the city at that time. On the
night of the 17th the regiment participated in the engagement
at Avery's Farm, and drove the enemy from their breastworks
at the point where the Twenty-fifth made its attack.

From 16 June, 1864, until.April, 1865, the regiment was
constantly under fire, with the exception of about ten days
in March, occupying the trenches in front of Petersburg.
The position of the regiment on 30 June, 1864,
was on the right of Ransom's brigade and to the
left of Elliott's South Carolina brigade. The explosion of
Grant's Mine (the "Crater") was in the line occupied by the
left regiment of the South Carolina brigade. Immediately
after the explosion the Twenty-fifth regiment, then number-
ing about two hundred and fifty men moved from the trenches
and formed a new line in the rear of the trenches occupied by

Twenty-Fifth Regiment. 299

the South Carolinians, which had been taken at the time of
the explosion and which were then occupied by the enemy. The
regiment, with a remnant of the Sixth South Carolina, was the
only force between the enemy and the city, at that point.
The enemy massed his troops in our trenches in front of us
until he had sixteen regimental flags in our works. He made
several attempts to move forward and force our line, but
was successfully repulsed and held in check for several hours,
until reinforcements arrived. The regiment led Mahone's
men in the charge which retook the works. In retaking the
works the fight was hand to hand, with guns, bayonets, and
swords, in fact anything a man could fight with. One six-
teen year old boy had his gun knocked out of his hands and
picked up a cartridge box and fought with that. Major
Grady, who commanded the regiment, was mortally wounded
and Captain Jas. M. Cathey, of Company F, killed.

On 21 August, 1864, the regiment participated in the
battle of the Weldon Railroad, between Petersburg and
Reams' Station. The enemy had entrenched himself behind
heavy earthworks and had felled the timber in front, crossing
the laps of the trees and sharpening the limbs. In order
to reach their works the timber had to be removed so as to
make a passway for the men. During this time the enemy
kept up a constant fire until our men reached the works. The
color-bearer of the regiment was shot down and Sergeant
J. B. Hawkins, of Company C, caught the colors, rushed for-
ward and placed them on the works. The works were taken
and the enemy driven back under cover of his heavy artillery.
The loss of the regiment was heavy in killed and wounded.
Lieutenant Garland S. Ferguson, of Company F, was
wounded in the right shoulder, but did not quit the field.

On 25 March, 1865, a detail of ten men from each
regiment of Ransom's brigade, under Lieu.tenant Burch, was
placed in charge of Lieutenant J. B. Hawkins, of Company
C, Twenty-fifth regiment, who received his orders from Gen-
eral Robert Ransom in these words: "I order you to take
Fort Steadman, not attack it." Lieutenant Hawkins quietly
executed this order and had the fort in possession without the
firing of a gun.

300 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

The Twenty-fifth was moved forward to the left of Fort
Steadman and nearly in front of the position it had occupied
in the ditches through the winter ; drove in the enemy's pick-
ets, took their first works and held them. The fort of the
enemy in the field on the left was not taken, and the enemy
from that point poured a fearfnl enfilading fire into the
regimBnt. Several unsuccessful efforts were made from the
front to dislodge the regiment. After the enemy retook Fort
Steadman and was advancing in front and while the regiment
was suffering the effects of an enfilading fire from the left, the
Colonel walked along the line of his regiment with his cap on
sword, shouting to his men, "Don't let them take our front,
Twenty-fifth, the Twenty-fifth has never had her front
taken." At this time orders were received from General G-or-
don to fall back to our line of works. The loss of the regi-
ment was hfeavy. A number of commissioned ofiicers were
severely wounded, including Lieutenant Garland S. Fergu-
son, whose left thigh was broken ; many non-commissioned of-
ficers and privates were killed and wounded.

After Steadman the regiment moved to the right, marching
and fighting ; the principal battles in which it was engaged
were at Amelia Court .House, and Five Forks. I can do no
better in giving the description of the battle of Five Forks
than to do so in the language of the gallant and beloved Colo-
nel of the regiment. He says : "At Five Forks I was more
proud of the regiment than I had ever been before, and that
is saying a great deal. I have thought of them and com-
pared them to the 'Stonewall' of Manassas. They were sur-
rounded on three sides by -many times their own numbers,
but there they stood, a solid mass of mountain men,
broad sides from the enemy being poured into them, and there
they stood like the rock of Gibraltar. When I remember
that heroic scene, I cannot fail to compare that gallant com-
pany, desperate band, to the line the Great Napoleon saw at
Waterloo. Speaking afterwards of the English line of bat-
tle, he says : 'I covered them with artillery, I fiooded them
with infantry, I deluged them with cavalry, but when the
smoke of battle rose, there stood the red line yet.' Yes, there
stood the gray line, the only line that stood that day, that I

Twenty-Fifth Regiment. 301

saw, and finally, after combating five different and separate
times over the same field, pine thickets, broom grass, old
fields, all sorts of a place, I was going to win. I was attempt-
ing to whip the enemy with the Twenty-fifth North Caro-
lina, and I knew I could do it. I thought I was getting along
finely, until I happened to look to front, left and right, and
saw we were surrounded with but a small loop hole to get
through. We backed through that, emptying into their faces
the last cartridge we had."

The regiment's loss from its enlistment to the surrender
was: Killed in battle, 220; died from disease, 280, and 470
were wounded, of which last number 140 were wounded
more than once.

When General Lee's order to surrender was received, the
Twenty-fifth regiment still had its flag. It was furled, and
taken down in obedience to the order, but the color-sergeant
concealed it on his person, returned with it home and gave it
to his captain, and it was destroyed by a fire when Captain
Freeman's house was burned.

I omitted to state that Dr. F. N. Luckey was made surgeon
of the regiment in 1862, in place of Dr. Satchwell, who was
assigned to hospital duty, and Serge ant-Major J. C. L.
Gudger was promoted Adjutant in 1864, to fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation of Adjutant Edmondston.

Captain H. A. Boone succeeded Captain T. D. Bryson in
command of Company B. Captain Boone was murdered on
the streets of Murphy by the celebrated outlaw. Morrow, af-
ter the close of the war.

Garland S. FeegusoNj
Waynesville, N. 0.,

9 April, 1901.

TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.

1. Zebulon B. Vance, Colonel.

8. Harry K. Burgwyn. Colonel.

3. John R. Lane, Colonel.

4. J. T. Jones, Lieut-Colonel.

5. N. P. Rankin, Major.

6. Thomas J. Boykin, Surgeon.

7. J. J. Young, Captain and Asst. Q. M.

8. James B. Jordan, 1st Lieut, and Adjt.

TVENTT-5IXTH REGIHENT.

By assistant SURGEON GEORGE C. UNDERWOOD.

" Vi-xere fortes ante agamemnona multi; sed omnes illacrimabUes. urgentur
ignotique longa node, carent quia vote sacro. Paulum sepultx distat inertise
celata virtus."

CAMP OF INSTEtrCTION.

The regiment was mobilized at the Camp of Instruction
at "Crab Tree," about three miles from Ealeigh, IST. 0. At
this Camp, during the months of July and August, 1861,
were assembled ten companies from the counties of Alamance,
Anson, Ashe, Caldwell, Chatham, Moore, Eandolph, Union,
Wake, and Wilkes. These companies were organized before
leaving home, and on arrival at Camp of Instruction, reported
as follows :

1. — Jeff Davis Mountaineers, Ashe County ; Captain, An-
drew ]Sr. McMillan; Eirst Lieutenant, George K. Eeeves;
Second Lieutenant, Jesse A. Eeeves ; Junior Second Lieuten-
ant, James Porter.

2. — Waxhaw Jackson Guards, Union County ; Captain, J.
J. C. Steele; First Lieutenant, William Wilson; Second
Lieutenant, Taylor G. Cureton; Junior Second Lieutenant,
John W. Eichardson.

3. — ^Wilkes Volunteers, Wilkes County ; Captain Abner E.
Carmichael ; First Lieutenant, Augustus H. Horton ; Second
Lieutenant, Phineas Horton ; Junior Second Lieutenant, Wil-
liam W. Hampton.

4. — ^Wake Guards, Wake County; Captain, Oscar E.
Eand ; First Lieutenant, James B. Jordan ; Second Lieuten-
ant James T. Adams ; Junior Second Lieutenant, James W.
"Vinson.

5. — Independent Guards, Chatham County; Captain, W.

304 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

S. Webster; First Lieutenant, William J. Headen; Second
Lieutenant, Bryant 0. Dunlap; Junior Second Lieutenant,
S. W. Brewer.

6. — Hibriten Guards, Caldwell County; Captain, Nathan-
iel P. Rankin ; First Lieutenant, Joseph E. Ballew ; Second
Lieutenant, John B. HoUoway; Junior Second Lieutenant,
Alfred T. Stewart.

Y. — Chatham Boys, Chatham County; Captain, William
S. McLean; First Lieutenant, John E. Matthews; Second
Lieutenant, George C. Underwood; Junior Second Lieuten-
ant, Henry C. Albright.

8. — Moore Independents, Moore County; Captain, William
P. Martin ; First Lieutenant, Clement Dowd ; Second Lieu-
tenant, James D. Mclver ; Junior Second Lieutenant, Robert
W. Goldston.

9. — Caldwell Guards, Caldwell County; Captain, Wilson
S. White; First Lieutenant, John Carson; Second Lieuten-
ant, John T. Jones; Junior Second Lieutenant, Milton P.
Blair.

10. — Pee Dee Wild Cats, Anson County; Captain, James
C. Carraway; First Lieutenant, James S. Kendall; Second
Lieutenant, John C. McLauchlin; Junior Second Lieuten-
ant, William C. Boggan.

The commandant of the Camp of Instruction at Crab Tree
was Major Harry King Burgwyn, Jr., not twenty-one years
of age, who had graduated at the Virginia Military Institute
in May previous.

The Adjutant of the Camp was Oliver Cromwell Petway,
also a cadet at the Virginia Military Academy in 1860-1861,
subsequently Lieutenant-Colonel of the Thirty-fifth North
Cal-olina Regiment, and killed at Malvern Hill 1 July, 1862.

Of this young commandant, Corporal John R. Lane, Com-
pany G, subsequently rising by his military talents to
the Colonelcy of the regiment, gives his first impressions as
follows : "We took the train at Company Shops (now Bur-
lington) for Raleigh; arriving at this place, the company
marched out to Camp Crab Tree, a Camp of Instruction, and
were assigned our position in camp a little after dark. On
the next morning when we awoke, we saw the sentinels at

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 305

their posts and realized that we were indeed in the war. Im-
mediately after roll call — but there was no roll call in our
company — Major li. K. Burgwyn, commander of the Camp
of Instruction, sent down to Captain W. S. McLean, demand-
ing the reason for his failure to report his company.

Before the excitement occasioned by his message had sub-
sided among the commissioned ofScers, an order came for a
corporal and two men to report at once at headquarters. Cap-
tain McLean selected Corporal Lane, his lowest subaltern of-
ficer, and two of the most soldierly-looking men, S. S. Car-
ter and W. G. Carter, to report to Major Burgwyn.

Accordingly, these three worthies appeared before the com-
mandant, wondering whether they were going to be promoted,
hanged or shot. This was our first sight of the commanding
officer, who appeared though young, to be a youth of author-
ity, beautiful and handsome; the flash of his eye and the
quickness of his movements betokened his liravery. At first
sight I both feared and admired him. He gave us the fol-
lowing order: "Corporal, take these men and thoroughly
police this Camp ; don't leave a watermelon rind or anything
filthy in Camp."

This cheering order completely knocked the starch out of
our shirts and helped greatly to settle us down to a soldier's
life. The cleanliness of the camp was reported by the officer
of the day as being perfect. You may be sure our officers re-
ported the company promptly after that.

REGIMENTAL ORGANIZATION (AUGUST 27, 1861).

The companies composing the regiment were from the cen-
tral and western coiinties of the State ; counties which had op-
posed secession until the Proclamation of President Lincoln
(April 15, 1861) calling upon Governor Ellis to furnish
North Carolina's quota of seventy-five thousand volunteers
to coerce the seceding Southern States.

After being drilled and otherwise disciplined, these ten
companies were organized into a regiment designated as the

20

306 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

Twenty-sixth North Carolina Troops (Infantry) and the
companies took rank as follows :

Captain McMillan's Company, from Ashe County, as
Company A.

Captain Steele's Company, from Union County, as
Company B.

Captain Caemighael's Company, from Wilkes County,
as Company C.

Captain Rand's Company, from Wake County, as Com-
pany D.

Captain Webster's Company, from Chatham County, as
Company E.

Captain Rankin's Company, from Caldwell County, as
Company F.

Captain McLean's Company, from Chatham County, as
Company G.

Captain Martin's Company, from Moore County, as
Company H.

Captain White's Company, from Caldwell County, as
Company I.

Captain Caeea way's Company, from Anson County, as
Company K.

The company officers completed the regimental organiza-
tion by electing as Colonel, Captain Zehulon B. Vance, then
Captain of the "Rough and Ready Guards" from Buncombe
County, in the Fourteenth North Carolina Troops ; as Lieu-
tenant-Colonel, Major Harry K. Burgwyn, Jr., commandant
of the camp; and as Major, Captain Abner B. Carmichael,
of Company C.

Colonel Vance subsequently appointed First Lieutenant
James B. Jordan, of Company D, Adjutant ; Sergeant Joseph
J. Young, of Company D, Quartermaster ; Lieutenant Robert
Goldaton, of Company H, Commissary, who died at Carolina
City October, 1861 ; Dr. Thomas J. Boykin, of Sampson
County, Surgeon; and Private Daniel M. Shaw, Company
H, Assistant Surgeon.

Rev. Robert H. Marsh, of Chatham County, since so widely

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 307

known as an eloquent preacher of the Baptist persuasion,
was appointed Chaplain. The commissions of the officers
tore date 27 August, 1861. First Lieutenant A. H. ITorton,
of Company C, was promoted Captain vice Carmichael,
elected Major. The non-commissioned staff were:

L. L. Polk, Sergeant-Ma j or, of Company K.
Benjamin ITind^ Hospital Steward, of Company ~K.
E. H. HoBNADAYj Ordnance Sergeant, of Company E.
Jesse Feeguson, Commissary Sergeant, of Company C.
Abbam J. Lanb^ Quartermaster Sergeant, of Company G.

ENCAMPMENT ON BOGUE ISLAND.

Promptly on its organization the regiment was ordered to
the defence of Fort ii aeon, on Bogue Island. Leaving Ral-
eigh on the 2d of September, 1861, under command of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Burgwyn, (Colonel Vance not having as yet
reported for duty) , the regiment, halting a few days at More-
head City, took up its permanent camp near Fort Macon — •
at which place Colonel Vance assumed command. The
months of September, October and ISTovember, 1861, were
passed at this place. The time was occupied in guard
duties, drilling and preparing for the arduous duties that lay
before them.

Occasionally, upon rumor that the enemy were landing,
the long roll would be sounded, and the regiment drawn up in
line. There was great sickness among the soldiers. An en-
demic of measles and fever prevailed. A hospital was estab-
lished at Carolina City on the mainland, three miles west of
Morehead City — Commissary Goldston, Assistant Surgeon
Shaw, Lieutenant John E. Matthews and many privates died
in a short while. Nine men from one Company died in a
week. Supplies had to be brought across the Sound, and the
water being shallow, the men had to wade quite a distance to
get to the vessels bringing the rations.

The regimental officers were incessant in their attentions to
their men, showing them every kindness, providing every
comfort possible, and became much endeared to those under
their authority. When time came to go into winter quar-

308 North Carolina Troops, 186r-'65.

ters, the regiment was moved to the mainland and camped
midway between Morehead and Carolina Cities. While in
this camp, Captain McLean, of Company Gr, was appointed
Acting Assistant Surgeon, and Corporal John K. Lane elected
Captain of the Company.

The winter of 1861-1862 was passed in unremitting drill
and under strict measures of discipline,, which got the regi-
ment into fine condition' for the opening campaign; and here
they acquired a reputation for efficiency in drill and obedi-
ence to orders which they retained with increasing credit until
the final surrender

In October, 1861, General D. H. Hill was appointed to the
command of the District of Pamlico, to be succeeded in No-
vember by Brigadier-General L. O'B. Branch. After the fall
of Eoanoke Island (10 February, 1862) and in view of the
threatened attack on New Bern by General Burnside, the reg-
iment was ordered up the railroad within three miles of New
Bern, and there went into bivouac and assigned to Branch's
command, which as then constituted, was composed of the
Seventh, Twenty-sixth, Twenty-seventh, Thirty-third, Thir-
ty-fifth and Thirty-seventh North Carolina Regiments, In-
fantry, and Latham's and Brem's Batteries of artillery. Colo-
nel Spruill's Second Cavalry (Nineteenth North Carolina),
a battalion of militia under Colonel H. J. B. Clark, and some
detached companies. Brigadier-General R. C. Gatlin com-
manding the Department of North Carolina and coast de-
fenses, headquarters at Goldsboro, was in supreme command.

BATTLE OF NEW BEEN, N. 0. 14 MARCH, 1862.

General Ambrose E. Burnside flushed with his captures of
Fort Hatteras (29 August, 1861) and Eoanoke Island (If)
February, 1862) was now about to attempt still greater move-
ments on the military chess boajd, and on 11 March, 1862
he embarked the brigades of Foster, Bono and Parke aad
accompanying artillery, at Eoanoke Island and reached Slo-
cum's Creek where it empties into the Neuse river, some six-
teen miles from New Bern, on the evening of the 12th. Early
next morning, after shelling the country around, General
Burnside disembarked his command, and ordered Foster's

Confedera+e
Ted era I

1 .J77i«JffaXtory t^&tv £fJ'4fil

Y ^5anft>gwffi»aiis;y

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 309

Brigade to advance up the county road, and attack our front
and left ; Reno's Brigade to march up the railroad with orders
to turn our right; and Parke's Brigade to follow along the
county road at convenient distance as a support either to Fos-
ter or Reno as there might be need.

General Burnside's advance appears to have met no oppo-
sition ; the Croatan breastworks above Otter Greek he found
abandoned, and at night his entire command bivouacked in
easy striking distance of the Confederate lines of defence,
which we will now describe.

About five miles below New Bern on the right bank of the
!N"euse River the Gonfederates had constructed a strong fort,
called "Fort Thompson," manned by thirteen siege guns of
good size, stipported by ten field pieces, with three navy 32-
pounders on its rear face.

From the fort in a straight line to the railroad leading
from New Bern to Morehead City, was the main line of de-
fense, consisting of a strong breastwork about one and one-
quarter miles in length.

Through the centre of these breastworks the Beaufort
County road leading to New Bern passed, and intersected the
railroad about two miles behind the works ; thence crossed the
Trent river on a wooden bridge about a mile and a half above
New Bern. Where the breastworks met the railroad there
was a brick kiln, and this proved to be the cause of all our
woes in this battle. Instead of continuing the breastworks
straight across the railroad into the swamp beyond, to make
the line as short as possible after reaching the railroad, the
line was thrown back abou.t 15U yards to the banks of BuUen's
Creek and thence, a series of small breastworks conforming
to the features of the ground, ran off in the direction of a
swamp. To guard this gap of 150 yards in which was this
brick kiln plant, General Branch ordered the brick kiln to be
loopholed; and the evening before the battle, had ordered
down two 24-pounder guns which were being mounted when
the party was fired into in the beginning of the action and
the work was stopped never to be resumed. The timber in
front of the breastworks had been felled for some 350 yards.

General Branch's disposition of his troops had to be made

310 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

with great rapidity, as the enemy left him no time for delay.
At 4 p. m. on the 12th of March, General Branch was notified
of the enemy's approach. He ordered Colonel Sinclair, of
the Thirty-fifth JSTorth Carolina Regiment, to proceed to
Fisher's landing, just above the mouth of Otter Creek, to re'
sist any attempt of the enemy to land. Late in the night
he ordered the Twenty-sixth Worth Carolina Regiment and
Brem's Battery, Lieutenant-Colonel Burgwyn in command, to
follow. Colonel Vance being temporarily in command of the
Post of New Bern. These troops arrived to find the enemy
had anticipated them by occupying this ground, so the two
regiments fell back to take their places in the main line for
the next day's battle.

General Branch divided his forces that were to defend the
works on the left of the railroad, namely, between the rail-
road and Fort Thompson, into two wings to be commanded
respectively by Colonel C. C. Lee, of the Thirty-seventh
North Carolina Regiment, and Colonel Reuben P. Camp-
bell, of the Seventh North Carolina Regiment. Colonel Lee's
command embraced the troops between the fort and the county
road, and was composed of the Twenty-seventh North Caro-
lina Regiment and his own, the Thirty-seventh North Caro-
lina Regiment; on the right of the county road reaching to
the railroad constituted Colonel Campbell's command and
was defended by his own regiment (the Seventh) ; the Thirty-
fifth g.nd Captain Whitehurst's independent company, and
on the right next to the railroad was placed the battalion of
militia under command of Colonel H. J. B. Clark. Two sec-
tions of Brem.'s and Latham's batteries of artillery were
posted along this line between the county road and railroad,
under Colonel Campbell's command.

Colonel Vance, of the Twenty-sixth North Carolina Regi-
ment, was in command of all the defences on the right of the
railroad, comprising a distance of one and a quarter miles.
His own regiment, one or two detached companies and a sec-
tion of Brem's artillery, were the only troops at his disposal
for this important defense. His line ran along the bank of
BuUen's Creek for ahowt half a mile, until the creek emptied
into a swamp ; beyond this swamp his line was extended to the

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 311

Weathersby road leading to ISTew Bern ; and beyond this (on
the right) was Bryce's Creek, a deep and impassable stream of
about 75 yards wide, which empties into the Trent Biver.
Shortly after the battle opened, the part of Governor Vance's
line next to the railroad and under the immediate command
of Major Carmichael, of the Twenty-sixth Eegiment, was re-
inforced, first by five companies of Colonel Avery's Eegi-
ment, the Thirty-third North Carolina, held in reserve ; and
as the battle progressed and more determined became the at-
tempt of the enemy to carry this position, the other five com-
panies of the Thirty-third Regiment, under the gallant Colo-
nel Avery and Lieutenant-Colonel- Robert F. Hoke, came to
Major Carmichael's assistance. As will hereafter be seen,
the enemy never succeeded in carrying the works on the right
of the railroad.

During the day of the 13th, the enemy kept up a brisk
shelling from their gun boats, now in the l^euse, and keeping
abreast of their land forces ; and by night had gocten his three
brigades in position for the attack early the next morning.
These were disposed as follows : General J. G. Foster formed
his line across the county road parallel to the Confederate
works, the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-fourth Massachusetts
Regiments on the right, and the Twenty-seventh and Twenty-
third Massachusetts on the left, supported by six navy howitz-
ers and the howitzers of Captains Dayton and Bennett.

General Jesse L. Reno formed his brigade on the left of the
railroad in the following order, viz., the Twenty-first Massa-
chusetts, Ninth New Jersey and Fifty-first Pennsylvania
Regiments. General Parke's Brigade was drawn up in line
in the intermediate space between General's Foster and Reno,
with orders to support whichever brigade needed it.

About 1 :30 a. m. the battle was opened by a shot from a
Parrott gun from Latham's battery under Lieutenant Wood-
btiry Wheeler. This shot dispersed a squad of horsemen who
seemed to be reconnoitering under cover of the woods. Imme-
diately after this, the firing became general. General Fos-
ter's attacks on the main works in his front made but little, if
any, impression; they were easily repulsed. Doubtless the
enemy knew the weak points in the Confederate line of de-

312 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

fense. Immediately on getting his men into line, General
Eeno ordered Lieutenant-Colonel W. S. Clark to charge with
the right wing of his regiment, the Twenty-first Massachu-
setts, and tate the brick kiln.

Colonel Clark says in his report : "At the moment of our
arrival at the Cut, the enemy were busily engaged in re-
moving ammunition from the cars which had just come down
from New Bern with re-enforcements. At the first volley
from Company C the enemy in great astonishment, fled from
the road and trench to a ravine in the rear of the brick yard.
General Reno ordered Color-bearer Bates to plant his flag
upon the roof of a building within the enemy's intrench-
ments. General Reno, with Companies C, A, B, and H, of
the right wing, dashed across the railroad up the steep bank
and over the rifle trench on top into the brick yard. Here
we were subjected to a most destructive cross fire from the
enemy on both sides of the railroad and lost a large number
of men in a very few minutes. The General supposing he
had completely flanked the enemy's works, returned across
the road touring up the rest of his brigade; but just at this
time a tremendous fire of nmsketry and artillery was opened
from the redoubts hitherto unseen, which were nine in nu.m-
ber, extending from the railroad more than a mile to the
right into the forest.

"The General, now obliged to devote his attention to the
enemy in front of his brigade, ordered the left wing of the
Twenty-first Massachusetts not to cross the road, but to con-
tinue to fire upon the enemy in the first two redovibts. These
troops consisted of the Thirty-third North Carolina and the
Twenty-sixth North Carolina Regiments, and were the best
an led and fought the most gallantly of any of the enemy's
forces ; their position was almost impregnable so long as their
left flank resting on the railroad was defended. They kept
up an incessant fire for three hours until their ammunition
was exhausted, and the remainder of the rebel forces had re-
treated from that portion of their works lying between the
river and the railroad."

Having quoted so freely from the Federal side, let us now
see what was doing among the Confederates. It is seen. Gen-

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 313

eral 'Branch had but one brigade to oppose three — but six reg-
ments to oppose thirteen. These thirteen Federal regiments
were in full ranks. The Twenty-iirst Massachusetts, of
which we have been speaking, took into the battle 743 men.
When Colonel Campbell was informed by Colonel Sinclair,
"under much excitement," that the enemy had flanked him
and were coming up the trenches which had been vacated by
the militia, Colonel Campbell ordered Colonel Sinclair to
leave the works and charge bayonets upon the advancing col-
umns ; this Colonel Sinclair failed to do, and left the field in
confusion. Colonel Campbell then ordered Lieutenant-Colo-
nel Haywood to have his men, the Seventh IsTorth Carolina
Regiment, leave the works and charge the enemy. This was
done in handsome style, and the enemy were driven over the
breastworks and the guns of Brem's Battery that had fallen
into their hands, were retaken. This charge was so impetuous
that the enemy largely magnified the number of men that
made it. Says Colonel Clark, of the Twenty-first Massachu-
setts Regiment, resuming our quotation from his report of the
battle: "Having been ordered into the brick yard and left
there with my colors and the four companies above mentioned,
and finding it impossible to remain there without being cut to
pieces, I was compelled either to charge upon Captain Brem's
Battery of flying artillery or retreat. Accordingly, I formed
my handful of men (about 200) in line, the right resting on
the breastworks of the enemy, and commenced firing upon the
men and horses of the first piece. Three men and two horses
having fallen, I gave the order to charge bayonets and went
to the first gun. Leaving this in the hands of Captain Wal-
cott and Private John Dunn, of Company B, I proceeded to
the second gun, about 300 paces from the brick yard. By this
time the three regiments of the rebel infantry, who had re-
treated from the breastworks to a ravine in the rear when we
entered the brick yard, seeing that we were so few and re-
ceived no support, rallied and advanced on us. The Thirty-
fifth and Thirty-seventh ISTorth Carolina, supported by the
Seventh North Carolina, came upon us from the ravine in
splendid style, with their muskets at the right shoulder and
halted. Most forttmately, or rather providentially, for us.

314 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

they remained undecided for a minute or two, and then re-
solved on a movement v^hich saved us from destruction. In-
stead of giving us a volley at once, they first hesitated, and
then charged upon us vs^ithout firing. I instantly commanded
my men to spring over the parapet and ditch in front, and to
retreat to the railroad, keeping as close as possible to the ditch.
On the railroad I found Colonel Rodman with the Fourth
Rhode Island Regiment waiting for orders, and I urged him
to advance at once and charge upon their flank, as I had
done."

Up to this point in the battle, everything had gone on sat-
isfactorily for the Confederates on the right of the railroad.
General Reno's attacks had been met and repulsed hand-
somely. The Confederate line of defense on the right of the
railroad as heretofore stated, consisted of rifle pits and de-
tached intrenchments in the form of lunettes and redans along
the bank of BuUen's Creek, and across the swamp to the
Weathersby road, about one and one-quarter miles. A rifle
pit near the railroad was occupied by Captain Oscar R. Rand,
Avith his Company D, about 77 men ; by Company A, 68 men,
and by 25 men from Company G, all under command of Ma-
jor A. B. Carmichael, of the Twenty-sixth Regiment. Quot-
ing from Captain Rand's account of the battle, written
shortly after his capture and addressed to Colonel Z. B.
Vance :

"About 7 :30 a. m. the battle commenced on the left and for
a time, extending from Fort Thompson along the whole line
of the breastworks to the railroad, the roar of cannon and
musketry was incessant. Within a few minutes after the
battle had commenced, the enemy made his appearance on the
right of the railroad directly in front of us. About one reg-
iment (the left wing of the Twenty-first Massachusetts) took
position between the railroad and BuUen's Creek, sheltering
themselves in the woods and behind the logs, while the main
body consisting of several regiments advanced under cover of
the woods down the opposite side of the creek, occupying the
heights and extending himself along ovlt right.

"When the advance of the enemy had reached nearly oppo-
site Major Carmichael's position, he gave the order to fire,

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 315

and sent a volley full into the head of the advancing column.
The enemy replied immediately and from this time to the
close of the action, the j&ring never ceased. At first, the en-
emy shooting very badly, their balls flying high above our
heads and cutting the boughs from the tops of the trees in our
rear, whereas our men, under direction of Major Oarmichael
and other officers, took deliberate aim, sending death into their
ranks. As soon as we were fairly engaged with this part of
the enemy, the other part which held position between the
railroad and the creek came up from under their cover and
attempted to cross the railroad with a view to flank the main
intrenchments and cut our lines in two.

"No sooner was this attempted than it was discovered, and
every gun ordered to bear upon them. One well directed
volley scattered this force. Many a poor fellow fell here to
rise no more, for they were well exposed.

"Just at this time, about half an hour after the battle had
commenced, Colonel Avery, who had been held in reserve, ar-
rived with the Thirty-third regiment. He with four compa-
nies entered the rifle pits occupied by us, while four other
companies under Major Gaston Lewis, were ordered to occupy
an advanced rifle pit nearest to the brick yard. This move-
ment was attended with great danger, and was gallantly ex&-
cuted. Major Lewis had to advance a space of 150 yards
over fallen timber ; all the while exposed to the enemy's flre,
and without being able to return it. He gained the position,
however, and held it during the remainder of the action.

"The battle now raged furiously ; the enemy throwing them-
selves along our right so as to gain the point from which he
could fire directly into our trenches, and Colonel Avery, ably
seconded by Major Oarmichael, using every effort to prevent
it. In this they were somewhat aided by the artillery and
infantry, part of the Twenty-sixth Eegiment and two com-
panies of the Thirty-third Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colo-
nel Hoke — on the right of us, only two or three companies
of which, however, were within range. The intention of the
enemy was plain. They were to engage lis hotly on both
wings, and then with a sufficient force can-y the railroad,
which, when gained, would cut our lines in two and be equiv-

316 North Carolina Troops, l861-'65.

alent to flanking us right and left. No troops were at any
time stationed along the line from the extreme left of the
Twenty-sixth Eegimeht to the brick kilns, a distance of over
200 yards, until Colonel Avery ordered Major Lewis with
four companies of the Thirty-third Regiment, to occupy it.
There were also no troops defending the line from the brick
kiln to where the main breastworks touched the railroad, a
distance of 200 yards or more.

"The enemy now determined to carry this part of the line
of our defence. What part the militia, who were stationed
along the main breastworks nearest the railroad, and the
Thirty-fifth Regiment, who were next to them, took in resist-
ing this attempt, I cannot say. The brick kilns and other
buildings excluded the view. These troops were certainly
aear enough, and by a proper change of front could have
thrown themselves upon the enemy and overwhelmed him.

"The force attempting this point of our works, I do not be^
lieve to have been more than one regiment. (It was only the
right wing of the Twenty-first Massachusetts Regiment) , and
the main resistance he encountered came from the rifle pits
occupied by Major Carmichael's and Major Lewis' com-
mands. The enemy was held in check for some considerable
time, but at last he succeeded and carried the railroad be-
tween the brick kilns and the main breastworks and a part
of his force passed in. They had advanced but a short dis-
tance, however, when they were met by a part of the Seventh
North Carolina Regiment and driven out at the point of the
bayonet, the Yankees leaping over the breastworks into the
ditch beyond.

"It was during this time that we met with a severe loss in
the death of Major Carmichael — as true a patriot and as
brave a gentleman as ever lived. His death occurred in this
manner: Colonel Avery and Major Carmichael were stand-
ing together at the corner of the traverse nearest the railroad.
Tliey were watching the action on the left and beyond the
brick yard, when a single ball, whether aimed at the party or
not, entered the mouth of Major Carmichael as he was speak-
ing, and passed out at the back of the neck. I was standing
at his side when he fell. He died instantly. A feeling of

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 317

bitter grief ran through the trenches as he fell, for there was
not a man in the Twenty-sixth regiment who was not devot-
edly attached to him. During the battle, Major Carmichael
wore a small Confederate flag, perhaps three by four inches in
dimension, mounted on a staff and attached to his cap. This
ma;j have attracted the fatal shot." The flag had been given
the Major by a lady of New Bern, and he had promised her
he would wear it in his cap in his first battle. It was doubt-
less the cause of his being singled out by some sharpshooter.

We will now return to the left of the Confederate line be-
tween the railroad and Fort Thompson. General Branch's
paucity of troops prevented his taking advantage of Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Haywood's brilliant bayonet charge with the
Seventh Kegiment. The enemy were driven back, but there
were no soldiers to occupy the vacant line of defense at the
brick yard, or to take the place in the works vacated by the
retreat of the militia and the Thirty-fifth Eegiment. Says
General Branch, in his report : "The whole of the militia had
abandoned their positions. Colonel Sinclair's Regiment very
qiiickly followed their example. This laid open Haywood's
right and a portion of the breastworks was left vacant. I had
not a njan with whom to occupy it, and the enemy soon passed
in a column along the railroad and through a portion of the
cut down timber in front which marched up behind the breast-
works to attack what remained of Colonel Campbell's com-
mand." How this was done we will explain by quoting from
Brigadier-General Parke, commanding the force su.pporting
Reno's Brigade attacking the Confederate right wing.

"Lieutenant-Colonel Clark, commanding the Twenty-first
Massachusetts, meeting Colonel Rodman, of the Fourth
Rhode Island, informed him he had been in the works and
assured him of the feasibility of again taking the intrench-
ments.

"I approved of this course on the part of Colonel Rodman,
and at once ordered the Eighth Connecticut and the Fifth
Rhode Island to his support. Passing quickly by the rifie
pits which opened on us with little injury, we entered in rear
of the intrenchments and the regiments in a gallant manner
carried gun after gun, until the whole nine brass pieces on

318 North Carolina Troops, l861-'65.

their front line wei-e in our possession, the enemy sullenly re-
tiring, firing only three guns from the front and three others
from the fort on their left (Thompson). The Eighth Con-
necticut and Fifth Elhode Island followed immediately in
the rear, and in support of the Fourth Khode Island. Al-
though now in possession of the entire works of the enemy be-
tween the railroad and the river, the heavy firing on our left
and beyond the railroad proved that General Reno's Brigade
was still hotly engaging the enemy.

"I ordered the Fifth Ehode Island Battalion and the
Eighth Connecticut to advance cautiously. Captain J. N".
King then reported that the enemy still occupied rifie pits
along side the railroad back of the brick yard and a series of
redoubts extending beyond the railroad and in General Eeno's
front.

"I then had the Fourth Rhode Island brought up and or-
dered the Colonel to drive the enemy from his position. This
order was executed in a most gallant manner. The regiment
charged the enemy in flank, while a simultaneous charge was
made by General Reno in front, thus driving the enemy from
his last stronghold."

General Burnside in his report of the battle, says : "Gen-
eral Foster seeing our forces inside the enemiy's lines, im-
mediately ordered his brigade to charge, when the whole line
of breastworks between the railroad and the river were most
gallantly carried. After the cheers of our men had subsided,
it was discovered that General Reno was still engaged with
the enemy on the left, upon w\iich General Parke moved back
with a view of getting in rear of the enemy's forces in the in-
trenchments to the left of the railroad. General Foster, also
moved forward with one of his regiments, with a view of get-
ting to the rear." It was to this last regiment that Colonel
Avery and Captain Rand surrendered. This regiment Gen-
eral Foster marched down the county road leading to ITew
Bern, until opposite the camp of the Twenty-sixth Regiment,
when turning to the left, he marched through the woods and
took position on both sides of the railroad; he also brought
up four pieces of artillery and placed them in positicm.

Let us now return to Captain Rand's account of the clos-

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 319

ing incidents of the battle on his part of the line : "The ac-
tion at this place had now continued for more than three
hours. Our men from first to last poured in their fire with
deliberate aim. Colonel Avery was everywhere along the
trenches animating the men by his presence. I may say
that nearly every man did his duty nobly. Many were the
narrow escapes. Colonel Avery received a ball through his
cap, and many received balls through their hats or clothes.
The respective forces were all the time within from two to
three hundred yards of each other ; all had been silent along
our lines, both right and left of us for some time. Just at
this time, while we were so intently engaged on our front, we
were fired into on our left by a considerable body of the enemy
who had taken position in the edge of the woods beyond the
railroad. This determined the conflict so far as we were
concerned. Colonel Avery saw in an instant that nothing
now remained but to draw off the troops. The order was
given and we went out of the trenches amidst a perfect storm
of bullets from both right and left.

The intention of Colonel Avery was to rally the men and
form line on the railroad. He succeeded in a great measure,
and marched diagonally through the woods, a distance of
three or four hundred yards, for a point on the railroad just
above the camp of the Twenty-sixth Regiment. My com-
pany occupied the extreme left of the rifle pit, and became the
right of the line in retreat. The woods were so filled with
underbrush that we could see but a short distance before us.
When we had advanced far enough to see through the opening
made for the railroad track, and had nearly reached the place
where we were to form line, we discovered just across the
railroad, and about fifty or seventy-five yards in front of our
right, four pieces of the enemy's artillery and a regiment of
infantry deployed on each side and extending across the rail-
road. An officer immediately rode out and demanded a sur-
render. Seeing ourselves surrounded and no hope of escape.
Colonel Avery, and those on the right, surrendered. Those
on the left, being further off, and aided by the cover of the
woods, nearly all escaped. The surrender took place at 11 :30
o'clock a. m. The number of prisoners taken at this place

320 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

were about one hundred and fifty. The number of prisoners
taken in all were two himdred and six." This admirable and
intelligent account of the battle was prepared by Captain
Rand, shortly after his capture. It is accompanied with a
diagram of the battle field made by Lieutenant Woodbury
Wheeler, of Latham's Battery, who was also captiired.

These gentlemen were permitted to visit the battle field
from one end to the other, and they carefully made notes for
the purpose of giving an account of the battle. Space for-
bids my quoting the report in its entirety. I will only make
one further quotation: "We received no orders to retreat,
neither did we receive orders of any kind during the whole
course of the battle. The woods were very thick, which,
coupled with the mist of the morning, made it impossible to
see our troops on either side. We retreated because we were
exposed to a cross fire, and because it would have been certain
destruction to have held our places five minutes longer. No
ofiicer or man dreamed of such a thing as being taken pris-
oner. We cou.ld have made good our retreat if we had re-
ceived the order as others did."

In justice to General Branch, on this point, I quote from,
his ofiicial report: "Finding the day was lost, my next care
was to secure the retreat. I dispatched two couriers to Colo-
nel Avery and two to Colonel Vance, with orders' to fall back
to the bridges, etc., etc." These couriers never delivered their
orders. This account "will be incomplete without making
quotation from Colonel Vance's and Lieutenant-Colonel Rob-
ert F. Hoke's reports of this battle. Lieutenant-Colonel
Hoke says : "The regiment moved up to the scene of action
in fine style. Colonel Avery in command in the centre, I of
the right wing. Major Lewis of the left. Colonel Avery gave
the command to fire, which seemed to have great effect, as
the enemy scampered. Major Lewis then moved to the right
of the railroad with several (four) companies, and engaged
the enemy from that time tmtil after 12 o'clock. He be-
haved most gallajatly, was in the hottest of the whole battle
field. He repulsed the enemy time and again, and twice
charged them with detachments from his companies, and
each time made them flee. Our loss was greater at that

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 321

point than any other, as he had to fight to his front, right,
and left, biit still maintained his position. Finding the en-
emy were getting in strong force on our right, and were going
to turn our right flank, as there were no troops between our
regiment and the left of Colonel Vance's companies, a dis-
tance of a quarter of a mile, I moved quickly with Captain
Park's company, and sent a messenger to Colonel Avery for
another company. He immediately sent me Captain Kes-
ler's company. I ordered the whole to fire, which did great
execution, as the enemy fell and fled, but soon appeared in
strong force and again we drove them back, but soon they
again appeared in stronger force, and engaged us, which con-
tinued until 12 :30 o'clock. At 12 :15 o'clock I saw a United
States flag flying upon one of our works, but saw Colonel
Avery still fighting. I did not know that Colonel Avery and
Major Lewis had fallen back until I saw the enemy upon my
left with several regiments, and about fifty yards to the rear
of the position Colonel Avery had occupied. I ordered the
men under my command to fall back, but to do so in order.
We were hotly fired at as we fell back."

I next quote from Colonel Z. B. Vance's report of the bat-
tle : "The regiment was posted by Lieutenant-Colonel Bur-
gwyn in the series of redans, constructed by me on the right
of the railroad, in the rear of Bullen's Branch, extending
from the railroad to the swamp, about 500 yards from the
road by Weathersby. At this road I had constructed the
night before a breastwork, commanding the passage of the
swamp, and there was placed a section of Brem's artillery.
Lieutenant Williams commanding, and Captain McEae's
company of infantry, with a portion of Captain Hays' and
Lieutenant W. A. Graham's Second Cavalry (ISTineteenth
JSTorth Carolina) dismounted. About 2 o'clock Friday morn-
ing (14 March) I pushed Companies B, E, and K, of my
right wing across the small swamp alluded to so as to make
my extreme right rest on the battery at the Weathersby road.
During the day, two companies of the Thirty-third Regiment,
under Lieutenant-Colonel Hoke, about 9 a. m., were placed
in the redans vacated by my right companies.
21

322 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

The battle began on my left wing about 7:30 a. m., ex-
tending towards my right by degrees, until about 8 :30 a. m.,
all the troops in my command were engaged as far as the
swamp referred to.

The fight was kept up until about 12 o'clock, when infor-
mation was brought me by Captain J. J. Young, my Quar-
termaster, who barely escaped with his life in getting to me,
that the enemy in great force had turned my left by the rail-
road track at the woods and the brick yard, had pillaged my
camp, were firing in reverse on my left wing, and were sev-
eral hundred yards up the railroad between me and New
Bern. Also that all the troops were in full retreat except my
own.

Without hesitation, I gave the order to retreat. My men
jumped out of the trenches, rallied and formed in the woods
without panic or confusion, and having first sent a messenger
to Lieutenant-Colonel Burgwyn to follow with the forces on
the right, we struck across the Weathersby's road to Bryce's
Creek. On arriving at the creek, found only one small boat,
capable of carrying only three men. The creek here is too
deep to ford and seventy-five yards wide. Some plunged in
and swam over, and swimming over myself, I rode down to
Captain Whitf ord's house on the Trent river, and through the
kindness of Mr. Kit. Foy, procured three more small boats.
Carrying one on our shoulders, we hurried up to the crossing.
In the meantime, Lieutenant-Colonel Burgwyn arrived with
the forces of the right wing in excellent condition, and as-
sisted me with the greatest coolness and efficiency in getting
the troops across, which, after four hours of hard labor, and
the greatest anxiety, we succeeded in doing. Lieutenant-Col-
onel Burgwyn saw the last man over before he entered the
boat. I regret to say that three men were drowned in crossing.

"A large Yankee force were drawn up in view of our scouts,
about one mile away, and their skirmishers appeared just as
the rear got over."

Of the deaths of Major Carmichael and Captain Martin
Colonel Vance thus feelingly speaks:

"Major A. B. Carmichael fell about 11 a. m. by a shot
through the head, while gallantly holding his post on the left

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 323

under a most galling fire. A braver, nobler soldier never fell
on field of battle. Generous and open-hearted, as he was
brave and chivalrous, he was endeared to the whole regiment.
Honored be his memory. Soon thereafter, Captain W. P.
Hartin, of Company 11, also fell, near the regimental colors.
Highly respected as a man, brave and determined as a sol-
dier, he was equally regretted by his command, and by all
who Imew him. Lieutenant Porter, of Company A, was also
left behind wounded. Captain A. IST. McMillan was badly
wounded, but got away safely.

"Once across Bryce's Creek, we were joined by Lieutenant-
Colonel Hoke, Thirty-third Regiment, with a portion of his
command, and took the road for Trenton. We marched
night and day, stopping at no time for rest or sleep more than
four hours. We arrived at Kinston safely about noon on 16
March, having marched fifty miles in about thirty-six
hours."

"I cannot conclude this report," says Colonel Vance,
"without mentioning in terms of the highest praise the spirit
of determination and power of endurance manifested by the
troops during the hardships and sufferings of our march.
Drenched with rain, with blistered feet, without sleep, many
sick and wounded, and almost naked, they toiled on through
day and all the weary watches of the night without murmur-
ing, cheerfully, and with subordination, evincing most thor-
oughly the high qualities in adversity which military men
learn to value even more than courage on the battle field."

We close this account of the battle with one or two inci-
dents. When Bryce's Creek was reached, there was some
confusion, and a natural eagerness to get across, as the ene-
my's guns were heard in the distance. Many attempted to
swim across, and several were drowned before the officers
could restrain them. Colonel Vance, to inspire confidence,
spurred his horse in the creek, the animal refusing to swim,
the Colonel became unseated and weighed down with his ac-
coutrements, he sank from view in the dark water of the
stream and was about to be drowned, when assistance was ren-
dered him, and he reached the opposite side in safety. Lieu-
tenantColonel Burgwyn and his college-mate, Lieutenant W.

324 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

A. Graham, Company K, ISTineteenth ISTorth Carolina (Sec-
ond Cavalry), taking their stand on opposite sides of a.
path leading to the stream, with swords crossed, counted the
men off in boat load lots as they were called out, and in this
way without confusion or crowding, all were successfully fer-
ried over and these two officers were the last to step aboard.

Major Wm. A. Graham, so widely known in the State for
his prominence in agricultural matters, at the battle of 'New
Bern was Lieutenant in command of Company K, Second
North Carolina Cavalry, and the writer has been so fortunate
as to get him for an eye witness account of that part of the
battlefield where his command was posted, as follows :

"My company (K) was dismounted and placed in the brick
yard. About sun set was ordered to report to Colonel Vance,
Twenty-sixth North Carolina Troops, who sent me to Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Burgwyn, commanding right wing of the
Twenty-sixth Regiment and the companies on the road
(Weathersby). Colonel Burgwyn placed my company on
picket some half mile or more beyond the bridge, and he, with
writer, scouted on flank of the pickets. The axes of the en-
emy could be heard cutting a road along the railroad.

"Next morning Captain Hayes, of Company A, Second
Cavalry, reported. The pickets were called in and every-
thing made ready for the battle. The forces at the road
(Weathersby) consisted of Companies A and K, Second Cav-
alry, a section of the Charlotte battery. Lieutenant A. B,
Williams in command and Captain McRae's independent
company of infantry. Company K connected the force in
the road with the right of the Twenty-sixth Regiment. No
enemy appeared in our front and when Colonel Burgwyn be-
gan forming the companies of the TAventy-sixth in rear of
the entrenchments, we had no idea we had been defeated, but
thought it was probably for pursuit. Going to him for or-
ders, he informed me that we had been defeated on the left
and must try and beat the enemy to New Bern.

"Everything moved off in fair order until getting near the
crossing of the railroad, a scout announced the enemy coming
up the railroad only a short distance ojBf. Colonel Burgwyn
ordered the artillery and Captain Hayes' company, who were

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 325

mounted, to save themselves, which they proceeded to do.
Colonel Burgwyn, with the infantry, took to the left through
the woods. He dismounted his ordetly and gave me one of
his horses and ordered me to scout to the left and forward to
see if the bridges were standing. Coming out at the camp
of the Thirty-seventh Regiment, I saw both bridges on fire
and so reported. We then struck the trail of Colonel Vance's
retreat and overtook his command at Bryee's creek, endeavor-
ing to cross in a boat, carrying three men. Colonel Vance
had swam his horse across the creek and had gone to hunt
other boats. It was reported that the enemy were close upon
us and at least half of the men threw their arms in the creek,
saying they did not intend that the Yankees should have
them. There was great confusion. Colonel Burgwyn was as
cool as if nothing unusual was transpiring. Calling such of
the officers as he saw to him, he announced he would hold a
"council of war," told the council we were responsible for the
action of the men, and must form them and keep order. This
was done. Men were sent up and down the creek to hunt
boats.

"In the afternoon a negro man who belonged to Foy,

came to the opposite side of the creek and announced there
was a boat a mile or so down the creek where Colonel Hoke
(R. F.) had crossed. The men moved off through the swamp
down the creek, sometimes up to the armpit in the mire. The
negro went along on the other side, and when he reached the
boat he halloed and we went to him. I got into the boat and
had just taken a seat, when Colonel Burgwyn called me to
him and said I must help him keep the men from overload-
ing and sinking the boat; the boat would hold, eighteen. I
stood facing Colonel Burgwyn, and each time as we counted
eighteen we halted the column. When we all had crossed ex-
cept Colonel Burgwyn and myself, I entered the boat and,
leading the horse into the water, swam him over along its
side. The boat returned and Colonel Burgwyn came over in
like style. It was now near sun set. Colonel Burgwyn took
command of such formation as there was and held it until we
reached Trenton next day, where we found Colonel Vance
and several hundred men of the different commands which

326

North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

had been at New Bern. Colonel Vance assumed command
and brought the troops to Kinston."

When Captain J. J. Yoimg met the fleeing militia, he tried
to rally them- — exhorted them to go back and rejoin their
comrades fighting in the works, saying, their conduct would
forever disgrace them ; that the papers would be full of their
cowardice, etc., etc. One of them replied : "I had rather fiU
twenty newspapers than one grave." Some of the militia did
not stop running until they reached New Bern. One was
found dead on the rear platform of the last train as it crossed
the river into New Bern, expiring as he reached the train
just starting, having run all the way from the battle field,
about five miles.

To make this account historically complete, I append
list of the troops engaged on either side, and the casualties
sustained.

CONFEDERATE FORCES, BRIGADIER GENERAL L. O'B.
BRANCH, COMMANDING.

/

KEQIMENTS.

. >,' .

tB

Qi.-

u

u

o

?:>

O

W

H

o

. c3

a

03

a

zi

^S

iz;

;zi

^

iz;

^

■*s

c3

roO

CD

CO

t^

lO

i>-

ca

o

t^

^^-^ «

CO

(N

CO

w

h1

H

Killed . .

6

0 j 5

32

4

5

1

1

10

64

Wounded

15

0

10

28

8

11

3

3

11

89

Missing and Prisoners..

30

0

73

144

42

9

8

8

22

885

488

UNION FORCES, BRIGADIER GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE,
COMMANDING.

BRISADES.

Foster's Bri-
gade, 23, 24. 25
and 27 Mass.
and 10 Conn.

Reno's Bri-
gade, 31 Mass.,
51 N. Y.,9 N.
J. and 51 Pa.

Parke's Bri-
gade, 4 R L, 5
R. L,8and 11
Conn.

Totals.

Killed. . . .

37

30

21

88

Wounded .

145

167

58

370

Artillery . .

3' killed, 8 Iwounded.

10

465

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 327

So much space is given to the account of this, the first hat-
tie in which the regiment was engaged, because it was its first
battle, and the conduct of its officers and men was so alto-
gether creditable. No troops could have borne themselves
better under the ordeal to which they were exposed. The
rapidity of General Burnside's advance took General Branch
by surprise. The latter expected at least a day's delay at
Fisher's landing, and at the Croatan breastworks above Otter
Creek, but there was no fight at these advanced points of de-
fense, and nothing delayed the enemy's rapid approach. An-
other day and the brick yard would have been defended by
artillery, and this point secure. General Burnside would have
failed in his attempt to capture New Bern. The disparity of
forces was great, but General Foster, with his five regiments,
opposed by Colonels Campbell and Lee, with their three,
could make no headway on the Confederate left; and General
Keno, with his four regiments, assisted by General Parke,
was regularly driven back by the Twenty-sixth and Thirty-
third Regiments on the right. One regiment to have replaced
the 350 militia, and the Thirty-fifth Regiment, would have
stood as firm as the others, and there would have been no un-
defended part of the line to let the enemy through ; and rein-
forcements, which were hurrying to General Branch's assist-
ance, would have reached him during the day.

General Burnside well won his promotion as Major-Gen-
eral, which was the result of his victory, whereas on the Con-
federate side, this battle introduced to the military world
names to become distinguished in the annals of the war.

The press of the State heaped eulogies upon the officers
and men of the Twenty-sixth Regiment and recruits flocked
to its standard.

Governor Vance applied for and received permission to re-
cruit his regiment to a legion, and was in a fair way to suc-
ceed, several companies having arrived in camp, and others
were at home drilling, when he gave up the attempt in dis-
gust at what he thought was "the opposition to the scheme on
the part of the State and Confederate authorities," and the
companies were disbanded.

While resting at Kinston, after the battle of New Bern,

328 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

Captain If. P. Eankin, of Company F, was elected Majorvice
Carmichael, killed; and First Lieutenant Clement Dowd
elected Captain of Company H, vic« Martin, killed; First
Lieutenant Joseph E. Ballew was promoted to be Captain of
Company F.

The troops around Kinston were now reorganized. Brig-
adier-General French, on 16 March, reached Groldsboro and
relieved General Branch of the command of the District of
Pamlico; and 19 March General Gatlin was relieved of com-
mand on account of ill health, and Major-General Theo. H.
Holmes, assigned to the command of the Department of
ISTorth Carolina. On 17 March Brigadier-General Robert
Ransom was ordered to Goldsboro "for duty with troops in
the field," and a brigade was formed for him consisting of the
Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth, Thirty-fifth,
Forty-eighth and Forty-ninth North Carolina Regiments.
Under this gallant and accomplished soldier and disciplina-
rian, numerous drills and strict camp regulations prevailed
until on 20 June, 1862, the brigade was ordered to Virginia
to join Lee's army, then confronting McClellan below Rich-
mond.

EEORGAjyiZATION FOE THE WAE.

The Twenty-sixth Regiment was a twelve-months regiment,
and in the Spring of 1862 re-enlisted for the war. The men
in the ranks were given the right to elect their company offi-
cers, and the latter the right to elect field ofiicers.

Many changes took place in the regiment at its reoi'ganiza-
tion. Colonel Vance was always most popular with his men.
He sought and obtained to the fullest extent the love of his
soldiei-s, was always solicitous of their welfare and comfort,
leaving chiefly to his second in command matters of drill and
discipline. At no time was there any doubt as to his re-
election.

As to Lieutenant-Colonel Burgwyn, had the election taken
place before the regiment had in actual battle experienced the
benefit of drill and strict obdience to orders, he could not have
been re-elected. Says an officer of the regiment (Captain
Thomas J. Cureton) : "Colonel Burgwyn was emphatically

Twenty-Sixth Hegiment. 329

a worker in camp, careful of the comforts of his men, con-
stantly drilling; he believed in discipline and endeavored to
bring his regiment to the highest state of efficiency. I always
found him strict in camp, so much so, that up to the battle of
New Bern he was very unpopular, and I often heard the men
say if they ever got into a fight with him what they would
do, etc., etc."

The morning before the fight, Burnside's gunboats were
coming up the river, shelling the banks. Colonel Vance was
placed in command of the right of our line, or in other words,
acting Brigadier-General. Lievitenant-Colonel Burgwyn was,
therefore, in command of the Twenty-sixth Regiment. He
suspected the feelings of the men towards him. He formed
the regiment at the point where the breastworks crossed the
railroad, and addressed them in substance as follows: "Sol-
diers ! the enemy are before you, and you will soon be in
combat. You have the reputation of being one of the best
drilled regiments in the service. Now I wish you to prove
yourselves one of the best fighting. Men, stand by me, and I
will by you." The response was unanimous — "We will,"
from the men. Next day the battle was fought. Only the
left companies of the regiment under the command of Major
Carmichael, and Captains Rand and Martin were most ac-
tively engaged, and suffered heavily. The right companies,
when they found the enemy on their flank and getting in
their rear, had to fall back to find the bridge across the Trent,
on fire, our troops all gone, and the only way of escape was to
cross Bryce's Creek.

When we got there only a small boat that would parry two
people at a time could be found. Colonel Vance rode his
horse in the creek, which refused to swim, and the colonel
was very nearly drowned before assistance reached him. Sev-
eral of the men were drowned trying to swim the creek. When
the boat reached the bank we were on, an officer called to Col-
onel Burgwyn to get in first. He was met with the reply:
"I will never cross until the last man of my regiment is over."
Nor did he till the last man was over.

We retreated up to Trenton Court House and expected
pursuit. Colonel Burgwyn was always in the rear. From

330 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

this time on he had the entire confidence of his men and was
their pride and love. Colonel Vance and Lieutenant-Colo-
nel Burgwyn received practically the unanimous vote of the
regiment.

CHANGES IK THE OEFICEKS AT EEOEGANIZATIOISr.

First Lieutenant James S. Kendall, Company K, was elec-
ted Major. This gallant officer and accomplished soldier
only survived his promotion a few weeks, dying before the
regiment left for Virginia, from yellow fever, contracted at
Wilmington while on furlough.

First Lieutenant William Wilson became Captain of Com-
pany B ; Second Lieutenant James T. Adams, Captain of
Company D ; Second Lieutenant John T. Jones, Captain of
Company I; Second Lieutenant John C. McLauchlin, Cap-
tain of Company K., and First Lieutenant S. W. Brewer,
Captain of Company E.

A WOMAM" EECETJIT.

While the Twenty-sixth Regiment was in camp in and
around Kinston, after the battle of New Bern, many recruits
joined the command. Among them were two young men,
giving their names as L. M. and Samuel Blalock. They en-
listed in Captain Ballew's company (F) and were brought to
the regiment by private James D. Moore, of Company F.
On the way from their home, in Caldwell County, to join the
regiment, Moore was informed in strict confidence by L. M.
(Keith) Blalock, that Samuel was his young wife, and that
he would only enlist on condition that his Avife be allowed to
enlist with him. This was agreed to by Moore, who was act-
ing as recruiting officer, and Moore also promised not to
divulge the secret. Sam Blalock is described as a good look-
ing boy, aged 16, weight about 130 pounds, height 5 feet and
4 inches, dark hair; her husband (Keith) was over 6 feet in
height. Sam Blalock's disguise was never penetrated. She
drilled and did the duties of a soldier as any other member
of the company, and was very adept at learning the manual
and drill.

In about two months her husband, who was suffering from

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 331

hernia and from poison from sumac, was discharged, and
Sam informed his Captain and Colonel Vance, that he was a
woman, whereupon she was discharged and permitted to join
her husband.

On returning home, Keith Blalock and his wife, now
knoAvn by her real name, "Malinda," joined Kirk's com-
mand, an organized body of Union troops, made up largely of
deserters and bushwhackers, operating in the Western part
of the State.

In the Spring of 1864, while the said James D. Moore was
at home at his father's, at a place called the Globe, recovering
from the wound he had received at Gettysburg, the house
was attacked by Keith and Malinda Blalock, and their gang,
and Carroll Moore, his father, severely wounded. Several of
the marauders were wounded, and among them Malinda.

Again in the fall of 1864, Keith and his raiders attacked
Mr. Carroll Moore's house, and were again driven off. This
time Keith was shot in the head, and one eye put out.

After the war, Keith attempted merchandizing in Mitchell
County and was a candidate for the Legislature on the Re-
publican ticket, but was defeated, and about 1892 he and his
wife went to Texas. They subsequently returned to North
' Carolina, and at this time (1901) are living in Mitchell
county. Malinda Blalock's maiden name was Pritchard, and
her brother, Riley Pritchard, was United States Commis-
sioner in President Harrison's Administration.

MALVEE,N HILL^ JULY 1, 1862.

Ordered to Virginia, 20 June, 1862. Ransom's Brigade
was directed to report to General Huger on the Williamsburg
road, and a little before dark on the night of 25 June, Colo-
nel Vance's Regiment relieved the Twenty-fourth JSTorth Car-
olina Regiment on picket duty in front of the enemy.

The night was very dark, and with no one to direct them,
the regiment took position on one side of a rail fence and in
front of a hedge row. As it happened, the enemy were lying
down in line of battle on the opposite side, and abiding their
time. After the Twenty-sixth had gotten quieted dovm for

332 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

the night, in entire ignorance of the presence of the enemy,
the latter suddenly arose, thrust their guns through the fence
rails and opened fire. So close were they to us, says a mem-
ber of the regiment, that the beards of many of the men were
singed. The surprise was so great that seven of the compa-
nies on the right of the regiment went to the rear ;. however,
Companies G, H and K, undaunted by the nearness and num-
bers of the enemy, remained on the field. On the next morn-
ing those companies were highly complimented by their field
ofiicers for their exceedingly creditable conduct in holding
their lines during the night under such trying circumstances.
Again, on picket, on the 27 June, the Twenty-sixth Regi-
ment was pushed to the front and took possession of some
unfinished works of the enemy. Just as it was about to be re-
lieved, it was attacked, but returned the fire so briskly and
with such effect as to drive the enemy back.

Quoting from so much of Brigadier-General Robert Ran-
som's report of the part his brigade took in the battle of Mal-
vern Hill, as applies to the Twenty-sixth Regiment, he says :
"At 7 p. m. (July 1, 1862) I received the third request from
General Magruder, that he must have aid, if only one regi-
ment. The message was so pressing that I at once directed
Colonel Clarke to go with his regiment ( Twenty-fourth North
Carolina). The brigade was at once put in motion, Colonel
Clarke had already gone. Colonel Rutledge next, then Colonel
Ransom, Colonels Ramseur and Vance, all moved to the
scene of conflict at the double quick. As each of the three
first named regiments reached the field, they were at once
thrown into action by General Magruder's orders. As the
last two arrived, they were halted by me to regain their
breath, and then pushed forward under as fearful fire as the
mind can conceive.

"Ordering the whole to the right so as to be able to form
under cover, I brought the brigade in line within 200 yards
of the enemy's batteries. It was now twilight ; the line was
put in motion and moved steadily forward to within less than
100 yards of the batteries. The enemy seemed unaware of
our movements. Masses of his troops appeared to be moving
from his left towards his right. Just at this instant the bri-

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 333

gade raised a tremendous shout, and the enemy at once
wheeled into line and opened upon us a perfect sheet of fire
from muskets and the batteries. We steadily advanced to
within twenty yards of the guns. The enemy had concen-
trated his forces to meet us. Our onward movement was
checked ; the line wavered and fell back before a fire, the in-
tensity of which is beyond description. It was a bitter disap-
pointment to be compelled to yield when their guns seemed
almost in our hands."

The losses sustained by Ransom's Brigade from 26 June to
1 Jxily, 186'2, inclusive, embraced . three Colonels wounded,
one Lieutenant-Colonel killed, several field officers and many
company officers, and a total of 499 privates killed and
wounded.

Casualties separately stated :

Regiments 24th.

Killed 9

Wounded 42

INCIDENTS OI" THE BATTLE.

During the charge of the regiment at Malvern Hill, Cap-
tain Lane, of Company G, had the pocket of his coat cut open
by a ball, and the contents fell on the ground. Among these
was a package wrapped in newspaper, containing the month's
pay of his company. Next morning Captain Lane discovered
his loss, obtained permission to go and hunt for it, and strange
to say, found the package untouched, lying in the open ground
where it had fallen among the dead and wounded.

After the regiment had taken its position for the night
after the charge, and the officers and men were resting on their
arms. Captain Lane lay down between two of his soldiers and
fell asleep, l^ext morning when he awoke the man on his
right and left had both been killed by the enemy's fire while
asleep, and their deaths not discovered. They awoke to the
sound of the "reveille" in another world.

While the men were lying down in line of battle, waiting
the order to charge, they were subjected to a furious shelling,
and there was more or less dodging of the head as the missiles

25th.

26th.

35th.

49th.

22

6

18

14

106

40

91

75

334 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

whizzed by. "Why are you so polite in the presence of the
enemy," remarked Colonel Vance. A rabbit was flushed by
the line as it advanced, which caused the men to raise a shout
as it ran past them, whereupon Colonel Vance joined in the
cry, saying: "Go it cotton tail. If I had no more reputation to
lose than you have, I would run too."

On 7 July Kansom's Brigade was ordered back to General
Holmes' command, and on 31 July, 1862, Major-General D.
H. Hill relieved General Holmes in command of the Depart-
ment of North Carolina, and 11 August Brigadier-General J.
Johnston Pettigrew, who had been severely wounded and
captured at the battle of Seven Pines, 1 June, 1862, was as-
signed to the command of Petersburg, and given the brigade
then under the command of Colonel Junius Daniel.

TWENTY SIXTH EEGIMENT DETACHED FEOM EANSOm's AND
ASSIGNED TO PETTIGEEW''s BEIGADE.

Colonel Vance's election as Governor in August, 1862,
caused a vacancy in' the Colonelcy of the Twenty-sixth Regi-
ment. The LieutenantColonel was not 21 years of age, and
the opposition of General Ransom to his promotion on account
of his age, the General saying: "He wanted no boy Colonel
in his brigade," was well known to the regiment, and indig-
nantly resented.

Application was made through the proper channels for a "
transfer to some other brigade, and on 26 August, 1862, by
special order No. 199, from the A. & I. G. office, at Rich-
niond, the Twenty-sixth Regimont was detached and ordered
to report to Brigadier-General S. G. French, at Petersburg,
Va., for duty with the brigade formerly commanded by Brig-
adier-General J. G. Martin.

Referring to the election of Colonel Vance as Governor,
one of the regiment writes as follows: "Though rejoicing
that he had been chosen Governor of the State by such a com-
plimentary majority, with a pang of regret we saw Colonel,
now Governor-elect Z. B. Vance, exchange the sword for the
helm of State. He received almost the unanimous support
of the regiment, there being only seven votes cast against him,
which well attests his popularity among his troops.

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 335

"His separation from us was quite sad, all feeling the
heavy loss to the regiment. In his farewell address to the
regiment, he, with his usual truthfulness and sincerity, scorn-
ed to hold out any false promises to those who had been under
his command, telling them plainly, that all they could expect
was 'War ! War ! ! War ! ! ! Fight till the end.'

"But in the promotion of Lieutenant-Colonel Burgwyn to
the Colonelcy of the regiment, we gained an officer, young,
gallant and brave, and eminently fitted to fill the vacancy."

Speaking of the transfer of the regiment to Pettigrew's Bri-
gade, this writer goes on to say: "Never was there a more
fortunate change. It seemed as if Pettigrew and Burgwyn
were made for each other. Alike in bravery, alike in action,
alike in their militai-y bearing, alike in readiness for battle
and in skillful horsemanship, they were beloved alike by the
soldiers of the Twenty-sixth. Each served as a pattern for
the other, and in imitating each other they reached the high-
est excellence possible of attainment in every trait which dis-
tinguishes the ideal soldier." It will be of pathetic interest to
state in addition to the above eloquent panegyric, that both
General Pettigrew and Colonel Burgwyn were akimni of the
State University, and fell on the field of battle within a few
days of each other, the one on Gettysburg's gory field, 1 July,
1863 ; the other, commanding the rear guard of the army on
its retreat across the Potomac at Falling Waters, 14 July,
1863.

The promotion of Lieutenant-Colonel Burgwyn, and the
death of Major Kendall, who had been sick since his election,
required the filling of the positions of Lieutenant-Colonel
and Major. A board of examination having been appointed
to pass upon the qualifications of all officers before their pro-
motion. Captain John K. Lane, of Company G, and Captain
John T. Jones, of Company I, were summoned for examina-
tion, and obtaining the favorable report of the board, which
was composed of Colonel H. K. Burgwyn, of the Twenty-
sixth; Colonel Thomas Singletary, of the Forty-fourth, and
Lieutenant-Colonel T. L. Hargrave, of the Forty-seventh
North Carolina Regiments, duly received their commissions
as Lieutenant-Colonel and Major, respectively. About this

336 North Carolina Troops, l861-'65.

time, Captain Ballew, of Company F, resigned and First
Lieutenant E. M. Tuttle was promoted to be Captain of this
company, to become famous above all other companies in the
army, from the fact that every member present, numbering
ninety-one, was killed or wounded in the battle of Gettys-
burg. Captain Steele, of Company B, also resigned, and
First Lieutenant Thomas J. Cureton became Captain, and
served most gallantly to the end. Lieutenants H. C. Albright
and N. G. Bradford were promoted to be Captains of Com-
panies H and I, respectively.

PETTIGEEw's BRIGADE.

This brigade to become so famous in military annals, was
composed of the Eleventh, Twenty-sixth, Forty-fourth, Forty-
seventh and Fifty-second North Carolina Regiments.

Of the commander of this brigade, later on in this sketch
a more extended notice will be given. He was, at the time
of its organization, convalescent from the severe wound re-
ceived on 1 June, 1862, at the battle of Seven Pines, and was
placed in command of Petersburg in the fall of 1862. Dur-
ing the months of September, October, November and De-
cember, 1862, Pettigrew's Brigade was either on duty in
Virginia or North Carolina.

The faithfulness with which Colonel Burgwyn disciplined
the regiment, much improved its efficiency, and it became
known as one of the best drilled regiments in the service. In
his labors in this behalf, he was ably seconded by his Lieu-
tenant-Colonel, John R. Lane, who manifested extraordinary
abilities as a drill master, and disciplinarian. "This perfec-
tion of drill, to which the excellent music of Captain Mickey's
band greatly added, was a cause of just pride to every member
of the regiment, officers and men alike. Never was any
man prouder of his regiment and of his band, considered the
finest in the army of Northern Virginia, than Colonel Bur-
gwyn," writes a member of the regiment.

EAWLS' MILLSj 2 NOVBMBEK^ 1862.

The first opportunity afforded the Twenty-sixth regiment
to show of what stuff it was made, acting in an independent

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 337

command, occurred in the engagement at Eawls' Mills, in
Martin County, N. C, in resisting General J. G. Foster's
attempt to capture the regiment while on a reconnoissance in
the neighborhood of Washington, Beaufort County.

In his report of the expedition, General John G. Foster,
commanding the Federal troops in North Carolina, with
headquarters at New Bern, says he set out on 31 October,
1862, from New Bern to capture the three regiments (Seven-
teenth, Twenty-sixth and Fifty-ninth North Carolina) forag-
ing through the Eastern counties of the State. He took three
brigades, 21 pieces of artillery and cavalry, with ample wagon
train, total 5,000 men.

On 2 November, 1862, Foster left Washington for Wil-
liamston. On the same evening he encountered the Twenty-
sixth Regiment at Little Creek. He says : "I ordered Colo-
nel Stevens, commanding Second Brigade, to drive them
away. The engagement lasted one hour, when the enemy
being driven from their rifle pits by the effective fire of Bel-
ger's Rhode Island Battery, retired to Rawls' Mill. One
mile further on, where they made another stand in a recently
constructed field work, Belger's battery and two batteries of
the Third New York artillery, after half an hour, succeeded
in driving the enemy from their works, and across the bridge,
which they burned. We bivouacked on the field, and next
day proceeded to Williamston."

The only Confederate troops to oppose these 5,000 of Fos-
ter were six companies of the Twenty-sixth Regiment, under
Colonel Burgwyn. Leaving four companies under Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Lane, at Williamston, on the Roanoke river. Col-
onel Burgwyn started out on a reconnoissance to go as far as
Washington, N. C. He stationed two companies at Rawls'
Mills, under Captain McLauchlin, of Company K, with or-
ders to fortify the position and proceeding with the remaining
four, reached the vicinity of Washington, N. C, just as Gen-
eral Foster was starting out to capture him.

Colonel Burgwyn had no cavalry or artillery. There were
two parallel roads leading out of Washington for William-
ston. Again, it was necessary to delay the Federal advance
22

338 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

as much as possible, to give time to Colonel Ferebee, of the
Fifty-ninth Regiment (Fourth Cavalry) and LieutenanlhCol-
onel Lamb, in command of the Seventeenth Regiment, who
were in the neighborhood of Plymouth, to retrace their steps.
Dispatching a messenger to Colonels Lamb and Ferebee, warn-
ing them of their danger, and one to Lieutenant-Colonel Lane,
with an order to join him at Rawls' Mills, Colonel Burgwyn
determined to resist Foster's advance at that point.

As soon as it was ascertained which of the two roads the
enemy had selected. Colonel Burgwyn chose the other and
started out in the race for Rawls' Mills. On reaching the
Mills, he ordered Captain McLauchlin to go down the road on
which Foster was advancing, and hold him in check at Little
Creek. Captain McLauchlin, with Companies K and I,
reached Little Creek just as the enemy's cavalry began to
cross, and attacked them with his handful of men.

Colonel Burgwyn, placing his four companies in the hastily
constructed breastworks at the Mills, awaited Foster's ad-
vace. After Captain McLauchlin had been for some time
engaged with the enemy at Little river, successfully defend-
ing the passage of the stream against Colonel Stevenson's bri-
gade with cavalry and artillery. Colonel Burgwyn sent Com-
panies D and F, under command of Major Jones, to Cap-
tain McLauchlin's support. Fearing that a longer resist-
ance by so small a force would result in its capture. Colonel
Burgwyn, after the fight had lasted over an hour, ordered
Captain McLauchlin to join him at the Mills. Here Gen-
eral Foster brought into action three batteries of artillery
against the six companies at the Mills, and succeeded, "ac-
cording to the General's report," after half an hour, in driv-
ing the enemy from his works, and across the bridge, which
they burned. The fact was. Colonel Burgwyn, having re-
ceived advices that Colonels Ferebee and Lamb were safe,
and Lieutenant-Colonel Lane having joined him from Wil-
liamston, conckided to retire in the night, so as not to disclose
the paucity of his force, and at his leisure fell back in the
direction of Tarboro, first burning the bridge at the Mill.
Captain McLauchlin lost one killed, and three wounded.

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 339

General Foster's report admits a loss of six killed and eight
wounded.

After proceeding to within ten miles of Tarboro, "owing
to the exposed condition of his men and want of provisions,"
says General Foster, he abandoned any further advance, and
countermarched to Washington, and thence to New Bern.

It was a singular coincidence that the Federal General
(Foster) had been the tutor of his youthful antagonist (Bur-
gwyn), when the latter was a student at West Point, in 1856,
awaiting appointment in that institution, at which General
Foster, then Captain Foster, was one of the professors. The
art of war as taught by the professor was in this instance ap-
plied to his discomfiture by the pupil.

Foster's expedition against goldsboeo.

In December, 1862, General Foster started out from New
Bern to destroy the railroad bridge over the Neuse river, and
capture Goldsboro, N. C. Major-General S. G. French, who
was in command of the Department of North Carolina, under
Major-General G. W. Smith, commanding at Richmond, as-
sembled his forces to oppose him. On 17 December, 1862, a
spirited engagement took place near Goldsboro, in which Gen-
eral Foster was driven back, and he hastily retreated to New
Bern. Pettigrew's brigade was not seriously engaged in this
action, but pursued General Foster on the latter's retreat.

GENERAL D. H. HILl's ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE NEW BERN.

On 7 February, 1863, Major-General G. W. Smith re-
signed and Major-General D. H. Hill was again placed in
command of the troops in North Carolina. General Hill re-
solved on the capture of New Bern. General Pettigrew was
given command of the troops on the north side of the Neuse,
and General Hill had charge of those to operate on the south
side.

General Pettigrew with his brigade, started from Golds-
boro on 9 March, 1863. By rapid marches he reached the
enemy's works at Barrington's Ferry, near New Bern. The
Twenty-sixth Regiment was ordered at daylight into position

340 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

to carry the place. Three 20-poun(l Parrott guns relied upon
to destroy the gunboats guarding the water approaches to
ISTew Bern, proved utterly worthless. One burst, the ammu-
nition was defective and their fire proved more injurious to
the Confederates than to the enemy. There was nothing to
do but to withdraw. "The only question," says General Pet-
tigrew in his report, "was whether I should carry the works
before withdrawing. The Twenty-sixth Regiment had been
in waiting ever since daylight, and would have done it in five
minutes. The works we could not hold. There would be a
probable loss of a certain number of men sixty miles from a
hospital. I decided against it. It cost me a struggle after
so much labor and endurance to give up the eclat, but I felt
that my duty to my country required me to save my men for
some operation in which sacrifice would be followed by conse-
quences. I therefore withdrew the whole command except
the Twenty-sixth Regiment, which remained within about
500 yards of the place, in order to cover the withdrawal of
Captain Whitf ord's men. I cannot refrain from bearing tes-
timony to the unsurpassed m.ilitary good conduct of those
under me. In seven days they marched 12Y miles ; waded
swamps, worked in them by night and day, bivouaced in the
rain, some times without fire, never enjoyed a full night's rest
after the first, besides undergoing a furious shelling, and
discharging other duties. All this without murmuring or
even getting sick."

It was not long before General Pettigrew had another
chance at the enemy, in which he was more fortunate. Gen-
eral Hill, with all his available forces, on 30 March, 1863,
invested General Foster in Washington, IST. C. On 9 April,
1863, at Blount's Creek, Pettigrew's brigade met and defeated
General Spinola in the latter's attempt to raise the siege.
Finding it impossible to capture the place after the enemy's
gun boats had succeeded in passing the batteries at Rodman's
Point, and thus reinforcing General Foster, after fourteen
days investment. General Hill withdrew, having failed in this
attempt to capture the town.

TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.

1. James T. Adams, Lieut -Colonel. 4. Stephen "W. Brewer, Captain. Co. E.

2. Samuel P. Wagg, Captain, Co. A. 6. Jos. R. Ballew, Captain, Co. F.

3. 'William Wilson, Captain, Co. B. 6. R. M. Tuttle, Captain, Co. F.

7. H. C. Albright, Captain, Co. G.

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 341

MAJOR GENERAL HAEKY HETh's DIVISION.

On 1 May, 1863, Pettigrew's Brigade was ordered to Rich-
mond to be ever thereafter attached to the Army of ISTothem
Virginia. Taking position first at Hanover Junction, to
protect that important point in the enemy's attempts to cap-
ture Richmond, the brigade, leaving the Forty-fourth Regi-
ment behind at the junction, as a guard, proceeded to Fred-
ericksburg, and now attached to Heth's Division, set out on
15 June on the memorable march to invade Pennsylvania.

Heth's Division, as then organized, was composed of Arch-
er's Tennessee, Davis' Mississippi, Brockenborough's Vir-
ginia, and Pettigrew's North Carolina Brigades.

The division commander was a native of Virginia, a gradu-
ate of West Point, had served with distinction in the war with
Mexico, and against the Indians on the frontier, and had re-
signed from the United States Army to accept service under
his native State. Promoted from Colonel of the Forty-fifth
Virginia Regiment to the command of a Virginia Brigade, he
won additional promotion by his services in the Chancellors-
ville campaign (Spring of 1863), and was now at the head of
a command ever to bear his name and to serve under him until
he, with its shattered remnants, surrendered at Appomattox.
"His earnest praise of the great qualities of his North Caro-
lina soldiers was imstinted. Even to the last, there was a
peculiar tension and quiver of the mouth when he would
speak of their almost God-like heroism at Gettysburg, and
the unheard of and never equalled slaughter that checked, but
never terrified them."

MARCH TO GETTYSBURG.

Says a member of the regiment : "What a fine appearance
the regiment made as it marched out from its' bivouac near
Fredericksburg that beautiful June morning. The men
beaming in their splendid uniforms ; the colors flying, and the
drums beating ; everything seemed propitious of success. On
this march it was a real pleasure to see with what joy the peo-
ple who had hitherto been under the domination of the Fed-
erals, received us. We marched by way of Harper's Ferry,

342 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

where the gallows on which the notorious John Brown waa
hanged, was pointed out to us. Our Colonel was one of the
cadets at the Virginia Military Institute at the time, and one
of those who had guarded John Brown while awaiting his ex-
ecution.

We crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown and continued
our march and rested beyond the little town of Fayetteville,
Pa., on Sunday, 28 June, 1863. At this place the Chaplains
held services.

Alas, the last Sunday on earth to many a noble soul then
beating with such high hopes and aspirations. At this place
some of the men of our brigade robbed a farmer of a few of
his bee hives. This was regretted, for strict orders had been
given that on this great march into the enemy's country, noth-
ing should be taken except such provisions as the commissa-
ries might require to be issued as rations and for which they
were willing to pay. It being suggested that some of the
men of the Twenty-sixth got some of the honey, Colonel Bur-
gwyn and Lieutenant-Colonel Lane sought out the owner and
paid him for it. The farmers along our line of march were
quietly reaping and housing their grain. They did not seem
to be in the least frightened or dismayed by our presence, and
were left by us in the quiet and undisturbed possession of
their crops.

On 30 June, we halted at a little village named Cashtown,
on the Chambersburg Turnpike, about nine miles from Get-
tysburg, and were mustered preparatory to payment, and later
in the afternoon proceeded to within about three and one-half
miles of Gettysburg, just this side of a little creek, crossed by
a stone bridge, where we filed to the right and bivouacked in a
-beautiful grove. That night Lietitenant-Colonel Lane was
entrusted with the charge of the picket lines. After the es-
tablishment of the line, two ladies, much distressed and
alarmed, because they were cut off from their houses, ap-
proached Colonel Lane who, assuring them that the Confeder-
ate soldier did not make war upon women and children, but
ever esteemed it his duty and privilege to protect them, ad-
vanced the picket line beyond their homes, which lay close by.

The same day General Pettigrew, with three regiments of

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 343

his brigade, kept on to Gettysburg to procure shoes and other
army supplies for his men ; but meeting a strong force of the
enemy's cavalry (two brigades of Buford's Division), and
instriicted not to bring on an engagement, General Pettigrew
retraced his steps and rejoined the rest of the division in
bivouac on the Ohambersburg Turnpike, about three and a
half miles distant from the village of Gettysburg. That
night the men of Heth's Division quietly dreamed of home
and loved ones in blissful ignorance of the momentous fact
that Meade's great army was almost within their hearing.

GETTYSBUEG, 1-3 JULY, 1863.

A warning carbine shot from a vidette of Buford's Cavalry
Division on the bridge over Marsh Creek, fired in the early
misty mom at the head of a column of infantry marching
rapidly down the Chambersburg Turnpike, was the opening
of the battle of Gettysburg This infantry column was the
head of Heth's Division, marching to "feel the enemy" of
whose presence the skirmish of the afternoon before, had ap-
prised them. At once the leading brigade (Archer's) was
filed to the right, formed in line of battle, its left resting on
the turnpike and advanced to the front. Davis' brigade,
forming in a similar manner on the left of the pike, with its
right resting on the pike, also advanced. Pettigrew's and
Brockenborongh's Brigades, for the present, were held in re-
serve. Says a member of the Twenty-sixth Regiment: "As
the head of the Twenty-sixth Regiment reaches the summit
of the hill beyond the bridge crossing Marsh Creek, the enemy
opens fire, sweeping the road with their artillery. There
is some little excitement, but it soon disappears as Colonel
Burgwyn riding along the line in his grandest style, com-
mands in his clear, firm voice, 'Steady boys, steady.' "

The regiment filed off to the right about a hundred yards,
when General Pettigrew and staff appeared on the field. He
was mounted on his beaiitiful dappled gray. ISTever before
had he appeared to greater advantage. His command was
"echelon by battalion, the Twenty-sixth Regiment by the left
flank." Colonel Burgwyn gave his Regiment the command,
March ! Then, as each regiment of the brigade marching to

344 North Carolina Tkoops, 1861 -'65.

the right, uncovered the regiment in its front, its commander
gave the order "By the left flank, March," and thus in a few
moments, and by the quickest tactical movement the brigade
was in line of battle, marching to the front in the following
order from left to right, Twenty-sixth Eegiment, Eleventh
Eegiment, Forty-seventh Eegiment, and Fifty-second Eegi-
ment, each under the command of its respective Colonel.

Advancing in line of battle, the brigade was halted to
await orders. Let us turn now to see what the Federals were
doing.

On the night of 30 June, 1863, General Buford, in com-
mand of the advance division of cavalry of the Federal army,
bivouacked his division on the western side of McPherson's
ridge, which slopes down by a gentle descent to Willoughby's
Eun at the bottom. This ridge ran north and south, and
about 400 yards to the west of the ' Seminary, which is about
one-quarter of a mile to the west of Gettysburg. About 11 a.
m. on 30 June, General Buford had entered Gettysburg by
the Emmetsburg road, just as the head of Pettigrew's brigade
was coming up on the Chambersburg turnpike, and as here-
tofore stated, there was a skirmish, and General Pettigrew
withdrew, not wishing to bring on an engagement. At 10 :30
that night, General Buford telegraphed General Meade "he
is satisfied that A. P. Hill's Corps is massed just back of
Cashtown." As Archer's Brigade advanced, it met Bviford's
pickets stretching along Willoughby run. Driving them in
and rapidly advancing across the run, he struck Buford's main
line — Gamble's Brigade composed of the Eighth New York,
Eighth Illinois, two squadrons Twelfth Illinois, three squad-
rons Third Indiana Cavalry and Calif's Horse Artillery of
six 3-inch rifle guns, now dismounted and acting as infantry,
and posted along McPherson's ridge and in McPherson's
woods. These troops Archer was steadily driving back up
the slope, when he suddenly found himself enveloped between
the extended lines of Meredith's (Iron) Brigade, of Wads-
worth's Division of the First Army Corps just arrived on
the scene at double quick. Major-General A. Doubleday in
his report of the battle of Gettysburg, thus describes this ac-
tion.

TWKNTY-SlXTH Regiment. 345

"The enemy (Archer's Brigade) were already in the woods
and advancing at double quick to seize this central important
position (McPherson's woods). The Iron Brigade led by
the Second Wisconsin, in line followed by the other regi-
ments, deployed en echelon, and without a moment's hesita-
tion charged with the utmost steadiness and fury and hurled
the enemy back into the run, and captured, after a sharp and
desperate conflict, nearly one thousand prisoners, including
General Archer. (General Heth places the number captured
at 60 or 70.) General Archer was captured by Private Pat-
rick Maloney, Company G, of the Second Wisconsin. Malo-
ney was subsequently killed." "On the left," says General
Heth, "Davis' Brigade advanced driving the enemy and cap-
turing his batteries, but was unable to hold the position, the
enemy concentrating on his front and flank an overwhelming
force. The Brigade held its position until every field ofiicer
save two was shot down." By reference to General Wads-
worth's report, it is seen that it was Cutler's Brigade, assisted
by Second Maine Battery that was attacked by Davis' Bri-
gade. General Wadsworth says : "The right became sharply
engaged before the line was formed. At this time, 10:15 a.
m., our gallant leader (General John F. Reynolds, command-
ing the First Corps, Army of the Potomac) fell mortally
wounded. The regiments encountered heavy force, were out-
numbered, outflanked and after a resolute contest, fell back
in good order to Seminary Ridge near town. As they fell
back, followed by the enemy, the Fourteenth ISTew York State
Militia, Sixth Wisconsin and Ninety-fifth Wew York Volun-
teers, gallantly charged on the advancing enemy and captured
a large number of prisoners, including two entire regiments
with their fiags." Lieutenant-Colonel Rufus R. Dawes, com-
manding the Sixth Wisconsin, says in his report: "Major
John A. Blair, commanding the Second Mississippi Volun-
teers, upon my demand, surrendered his sword and regiment
to me, 7 officers and 225 men."

From this severe round, to use a pugilist's expression, both
sides took a breathing spell and reformed to renew the at-
tack. Says General Heth : "The enemy had now been felt
and the division now was formed in line of battle on the right

346 North Caroijna Troops, 1861-'65.

of the road as follows. Archer's, now commanded by Colonel
B. D. Fry, of the Thirteenth Alabama, on the right; Petti-
grew in the centre, and Brockenborough on the left. Davis
Brigade was kept oh the left of the road to collect its strag-
glers ; from its shattered condition it was not deemed advisable
to bring it into action again on that day." It did, however, par-
ticipate later in the action. After resting in line for an hour
or more, orders came to attack the enemy in my front with
the notification that Pender's Division would support me."
Let us glance a moment at the character, numbers and posi-
tion of the enemy which General Heth was now to assault
with his two sound and one crippled brigade, and make, con-
sidering the fierceness with which it was made, the obstinacy
with which it was met and the fearful loss in killed and
wounded sustained on both sides, the most notable charge in
all the battles of the war between the States.

A recent writer, John M. Vanderslice, author of a work
called "Gettysburg. Then and ISTow," a gallant Union sol-
dier, places the relative positions of the opposing forces at 11
a. m., 1 July, 1863, as follows: Heth's division occupied the
extreme right, with Archer's Brigade on the right ; next Pet-
tigrew's, then Brockenborough's, then Davis'. Facing these
Confederate troops, there was Meredith's Iron Brigade, occu-
pying McPherson's woods. On the left of the woods was
placed Biddle's Brigade and on the right of the woods was
Stone's Brigade. The One Hundred and Fifty-first Penn-
sylvania Regiment of Biddle's Brigade was in reserve, so
there were three regiments of that Brigade with Cooper's
Battery in the action at the beginning. These several bri-
gades were organized as follows: Meredith's Iron Brigade,
Nineteenth Indiana, Twenty-fourth Michigan, Second, Sixth
and Seventh Wisconsin Regiments

Biddle's Brigade, Eightieth New York, One Hundred and
Twenty-first, One Hundred and Forty-second and One Hun-
dred and Fifty-first Pennsylvania Regiments.

Stone's Brigade, One Hundred and Forty-third, One Hun-
dred and Forty-ninth and One Himdred and Fiftieth Penn-
sylvania Regiments.

These regiments in these brigades were posted as follows :

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 347

Counting from left to right. Biddle's extreme left regi-
ment One Hundred and Twentieth Pennsylvania. Next on
right Eightieth New York, then Cooper's Battery, then One
Hundred and Forty-second Pennsylvania. Meredith's Iron
Brigade, extreme left regiment Nineteenth Indiana; next
Twenty-fourth Michigan, next Seventh Wisconsin, and on
the extreme right Second Wisconsin. The Sixth Wisconsin
was in reserve. Stone's Brigade was not engaged with any of
Pettigrew's men, but confronted the remnants of Davis' Bri-
gade and the Forty-seventh and Fifty-fifth Virginia Regi-
ments of Brockenborough's. Archer's Brigade on the Con-
federate extreme right overlapped Biddle's Brigade on the
Fedeiral extreme left, but Pettigrew's Brigade of four regi-
ments, being in full ranks, and Biddle's three regiments not
large, the two left regiments of Pettigrew's lapped over and
confronted the left of the Iron Brigade, bringing the Twen-
ty-sixth North Carolina Regiment with its 800 muskets in
front of the Nineteenth Indiana and the Twenty-fourth Mich-
igan, numbering together 784, rank and file.

The position of the Iron Brigade in McPherson's woods
was not a straight line ; the Nineteenth Indiana and Twenty-
foixrth Michigan formed nearly a straight line parallel with
Willoughby Run, but its next regiment, the Seventh Wiscon-
sin, on the right of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, was formed
obliquely to the rear to confront an enemy attacking from its
right flank, and also so as not to get outside of the protection
of the woods, which General Doiibleday says in his report
"possessed all the advantages of a redoubt." Then on the
right of the Seventh Wisconsin, the Second Wisconsin was
formed connecting with the left of Stone's Brigade. Thus it
appears the Twenty-sixth North Carolina regiment faced the
front of the Iron Brigade, which consisted of the two regi-
ments, the Nineteenth Indiana and the Twenty-fourth Mich-
igan, but the Confederate troops charging these two regi-
ments in the woods were subjected to the fire from the men of
Biddle's Brigade and of Cooper's battery on their right ; and
it was from the fire of this battery, one of the best batteries of
the Federal forces, that the Twenty-sixth regiment suffered

348 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

severely, especially while charging across Willoughby Eun,
and reforming thereafter.

The situation then at 2 o'clock p. m., 1 July, 1863, is
this: The Iron Brigade in line of battle in McPherson's
woods is waiting the assault of Pettigrew's brigade, with the
Twenty-sixth JSTorth Carolina Eegiment of said brigade
directly in their front, separated by Willoughby Run and
disant about 300 yards.

The regiments of Pettigrew's Brigade were in line by
echelon, the Twenty-sixth being in the advance and the Elev-
enth on its right some distance in the rear ; the Forty-seventh
regiment in rear of the Eleventh, and the Fifty-second in
rear of the Forty-seventh. This made the Confederate troops
appear to the enemy's vision, as in several lines of battle,
whereas there was only one line of battle, and as the fight
progressed, these regiments came up successively and formed
one single line in the attack. They had, however, as their
support Pender's division, some distance in the rear.

THE lEON" BEIGADE. AEMY OF THE POTOMAC.

The author of the History of the Twenty-fourth Michigan
Regiment of this Brigade, thus accounts for its name and
gives its record. Its cognomen, "Iron Brigade," was given
them by General McClellan for intrepidity in the battle of
South Mountain, 15 September, 1862. In proportion to its
numbers it sustained the heaviest loss of any brigade in the
Union army. Its loss at Gettysburg, first day's fight, was
1,153 out of 1,883 engaged, or 61 per cent. The Second Wis-
consin sustained the greatest percentage of loss in killed and
wounded of all the 2,000 regiments in the Union army. Its
loss at Gettysburg was 77 per cent, of those engaged.

The Sixth Wisconsin had a total loss of 867 killed and
wounded during the war, and the officer in command of the
Second Mississippi Regiment of Davis' Brigade with 232 of
his regiment and its colors, surrendered to this regiment in
the early part of the first day's fight.

The Seventh Wisconsin met with the greatest loss of any
regiment in the Union army at the battles of the Wilder-
ness, and had 1,016 men killed and wounded during the war.

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 349

The Nineteenth Indiana in its first battle at Manassas, sus-
tained a loss of 61 per cent., 259 out of 423 engaged, and the
Twenty-fourth Michigan sustained the greatest loss of any
regiment in the Union army at Gettysburg, 80 per cent, viz.
397 out of 496.

m'pheeson's woods.

General Doubleday says : "On the most westerly of these
ridges (McPherson's) General Reynolds had directed his line
to be formed. A small piece of woods (in the shape of a rec-
tangular parallelogram) cut the line of battle in about two
equal parts. These woods possessed all the advantage of a
redoubt strengthening the centre of the line and enfilading
the enemy's columns should they advance in the open spaces
on either side. I deemed the extremity of the woods which
extended to the summit of the ridge, to be the key of the
position, and urged that portion of Meredith's (Iron) Bri-
gade— the western men assigned to its defense — to hold it to
the last extremity. Full of the memory of their past achieve-
ments, they replied cheerfully and proudly : 'If we can't hold
it, where will you find the men who can ?' "

Major John T. Jones, of the Twenty-sixth North Caro-
lina Regiment, who commanded Pettigrew's Brigade after the
third day's fight, and made the ofiicial report for the brigade,
dated 9 Axigust, 1863, thus describes the field:

"In our front was a wheat field about a fourth of a mile
wide, then came a branch (Willoughby Run) with thick un-
derbrush and briers skirting the banks. Beyond this again
was an open field with the exception of a wooded hill (Mc-
Pherson's woods) directly in front of the Twenty-sixth Regi-
ment, and about covering its front. Skirmishers being
thrown out, we remained in line of battle until 2 p. m., when
orders to advance were given."

THE CHAEGE.

The Twenty-sixth was the extreme left regiment of Petti-
grew's Brigade. It directly faced McPherson's woods and
its front about covered the width of the woods. The Iron
■ Brigade occupied these woods ; the open space on the left of

350 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

the woods (Confederate right) was defended by Biddle's
Pennsylvania Brigade of four regiments with Cooper's Bat-
tery in the centre, the open space on the right of the woods
(Confederate left) was defended by Stone's Pennsylvania
Brigade with three regiments. Stewart's Battery B, Fourth
United States Artillery attached to the Iron Brigade, was
posted on the right and rear supporting Stone's Brigade, but
in a position to sweep any part of the iield. A ITorthern
writer says : "There is no doubt, more men fell at Stewart's
guns than in any other battery in the Union armies." Com-
pany F, of the Twenty-sixth Regiment, was on the left of the
colors. Company E on the right and Companies A and G
near the centre. The position of these companies nearest the
flag accounts for their disproportionate losses in the battle.

A member of the Twenty-sixth regiment thus describes
the situation : "While we were still lying down impatiently
waiting to begin the engagement, the right of the regiment
was greatly annoyed by some sharpshooters stationed on the
top of a large old farm house to our right. Colonel Burgwyn
ordered a man sent forward to take them down, when Lieuten-
ant J. A. Lowe, of Company G, volunteered. Creeping for-
ward along a fence until he got a position from whence he
could see the men behind the chimney who were doing the
shooting, he soon silenced them.

During all this time. Hill was bringing up his Corps and
placing it in position. Colonel Burgwyn became quite impa-
tient to engage the enemy, saying we were losing precious
time ; but Hill did not come, and we had nothing to do but to
wait for his arrival on the field. However, we were keeping
our men as quiet and comfortable as possible, sending details
to the rear for water, and watching the movements of the en-
emy. The enemy's shai*pshooters occasionally reminded us
that we had better cling close to the bosom of old mother
earth.

Many words of encouragement were spoken and some jokes
were indulged in. Religious services were not held, as they
should have been, owing to the absence of our Chaplains. All
this time the enemy were moving with great rapidity.
Directly in our front across the wheat field was a wooded hill

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 351

(McPherson's woods). On this hill the enemy placed what we
were afterwards informed was their famous "Iron Brigade."
They wore tall, hell-crowned black hats, which made them
conspicuous in the line. The sun was now high in the heav-
ens. General Ewell's Corps had come up on our left and had
engaged the enemy. Never was a grander sight beheld. The
lines extended more than a mile, all distinctly visible to us.
When the battle waxed hot, now one of the armies would be
driven, now the other, while neither seemed to gain any ad-
vantage. The roar of artillery, the crack of musketry and
the shouts of the combatants, added grandeur and solemnity
to the scene. Suddenly there came down the line the long
awaited command "Attention." The time of this command
could not have been more inopportune ; for our line had in-
spected the enemy and we well knew the desperateness of the
charge we were to make ; but with the greatest quickness the
regiment obeyed. All to a man were at once up and ready,
every officer at his post, Colonel Burgwyn in the center, Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Lane on the right. Major Jones on the left.
Our gallant standard-bearer, J. B. Mansfield, at once stepped
to his position — four paces to the front, and the eight color
guards to their proper places. At the command "Forward,
march !" all to a man stepped off, apparently as willingly and
as proudly as if they were on review. The enemy at once
opened fire, killing and wounding some, but their aim was
too high to be very effective. All kept the step and made as
pretty and perfect a line as regiment ever made, every man
endeavoring to keep dressed on the colors. We opened fire on
the enemy. On, on, we went, our men yet in perfect line, until
we reached the branch (Willoughby's Run) in the ravine.
Here the briers, reeds and underbrush made it difficult to pass,
and there was some crowding in the centre, and the enemy's
artillery (Cooper's Battery) on our right, getting an enfilade
fire upon us, our loss was frightful ; but our men crossed in
good order and immediately were in proper position again,
and up the hill we went, firing now with better execution.

The engagement was becoming desperate. It seemed that
the bullets were as thick as hail stones in a storm. At his
post on the right of the regiment and ignorant as to what was

352 North Carolina Troops, ]861-'65.

taking place on the left, Lieutenant-Colonel Lane hurries to
the center. He is met by Colonel Burgwyn, who informs
him "it is all right in the centre and on the left; we have
broken the first line of the enemy," and the reply comes, "we
are in line on the right, Colonel."

At this time the colors have been cut down ten times, the
color guard all killed or wounded. We have now struck the
second line of the enemy where the fighting is the fiercest and
the killing the deadliest. Suddenly Captain W. W. Mc-
Creery, Assistant Inspector General of the Brigade, rushes
forward and speaks to Colonel Burgwyn. He bears him a
message. "Tell him," says General Pettigrew, "his regiment
has covered itself with glory today." Delivering these en-
couraging words of his commander, Captain McCreery, who
had always contended that the Twenty-sixth would fight bet-
ter than any regiment in the brigade, seizes the flag, waves it
aloft and advancing to the front, is shot through the heart
and falls, bathing the flag in his life's blood. Lieutenant
George Wilcox, of Company H, now rushes forward, and pull-
ing the flag from under the dead hero, advances with it. In
a few steps he also falls with two wotinds in his body.

The lines hesitates ; the crisis is reached ; the colors must
advance. Telling Lieutenant-Colonel Lane of the words of
praise from their brigade commander just heard, with orders
to impart it to the men for their encouragement. Colonel Bur-
gwyn seizes the flag from the nerveless grasp of the gallant
Wilcox, and advances, giving the order "Dress on the colors."
Private Frank Honeycutt, of Company B, rushes fromi the
ranks and asks the honor to advance the flag. Turning to
hand the colors to this brave young soldier. Colonel Burgwyn
is hit by a ball on the left side, which, passing through both
lungs, the force of it ttirns him around and, falling, he is
caught in the folds of the flag and carries it with him to the
ground. The daring Honeycut survives his Colonel but a
moment and shot through the head, now for the thirteenth
time the regimental colors are in the dust.

Kneeling by his side, Lieutenant-Colonel Lane stops for a
moment to ask : "My dear Colonel, are you severely hurt ?"
A bowed head and motion to the left side and a pressure of

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 353

the hand is the only response; but "he looked as pleasantly as
if victory was on his brow." Reluctantly leaving his dying
commander to go where duty calls him, Lieutenant-Colonel
Lane hastens to the right, meets Captain McLauchlin, of
Company K, tells him of General Pettigrew's words of praise,
but not of his Colonel's fall ; gives the order "Close your men
quickly to the left. I am going to give them the bayonet" ;
hurries to the left, he gives a similar order, and returning to
the center finds the colors still down. Colonel Burgwyn and
the brave boy private, Franklin Honeycut, lying by them.
Colonel Lane raises the colors. Lieutenant Blair, Company
I, rushes out, saying: "No man can take these colors and
live." Lane replies : "It is my time to take them now" ; and
advancing with the flag, shouts at the top of his voice:
"Twenty-sixth, follow me." The men answer with a yell and
press forward. Several lines of the enemy have given away,
but a most formidable line yet remains, which seems deter-
mined to hold its position. Volleys of musketry are fast
thinning out those left and only a skeleton line now remains.
To add to the horrors of the scene, the battle smoke has set-
tled down over the combatants making it almost as dark as
night. With a cheer the men obey the command to advance,
and rush on and upward to the summit of the hill, when
the last line of the enemy gives way and sullenly retires from
the field through the village of Gettysburg to the heights be-
yond the cemetery.

Just as the last shots are firing, a sergeant in the Twenty-
fourth Michigan Regiment (now the President of the Iron
Brigade Veteran Association, Mr. Charles H. McConnell, of
Chicago), attracted by the commanding figure of Colonel
Lane carrying the colors, lingers to take a farewell shot, and
resting his musket on a tree, he waits his opportunity. When
about thirty steps distant, as Colonel Lane turns to see if his
regiment is following him, a ball fired by this brave and reso-
lute adversary, strikes him in the back of the neck just below
the brain, which crashes through his jaw and mouth, and for
the fourteenth and last time the colors are down. The red

23

354 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

field was won, but at what a cost to the victor as well as to
the vanquished.

LOSSES IN THE FIEST DAY's FIGHT.

Pettigrew's brigade was opposed on the first day at Get-
tysburg to the best troops in the Federal army, viz : Biddle's
Pennsylvania and Meredith's (Iron) Brigade of Western
troops. The Twenty-sixth Eegiment fought at one or an-
other period of the charge, the Nineteenth Indiana and
Twenty-fourth Michigan, of the Iron Brigade, and the One
Hundred and Fifty-first Pennsylvania, of Biddle's Brigade,
which came to the support of the Federal second line. Says
the author of "Gettysburg, Then and Now," published in
1899 : "While the fighting had been going on upon the Fed-
eral right Pettigrew also made a desperate attack on Biddle's
Brigade. The Fifty-second North Carolina overlapping the
line had attacked the One Hundred and Twenty-first Penn-
sylvania on the left fiank, compelling it to change front and
the Forty-seventh and Eleventh North Carolina encountered
the Twentieth New York and One Hundred and Forty-sec-
ond Pennsylvania, while at the same time the Twenty-sixth
North Carolina fighting its way up the woods, was penetrat-
ing a gap between the One Hundred and Forty-second Penn-
sylvania and the Nineteenth Indiana, of Meredith's (Iron)
Brigade, the left of which had been forced back.

At this juncture the One Hundred and Fifty-first Penn-
sylvania which was in reserve near the Seminary, rushed to
the front and met the Twenty-sixth North Carolina in one of
the bloodiest struggles that took place on the field, as will be
noticed when the losses of these regiments are stated."

Quoting again from Major Jones' official report of the part
taken by Pettigrew's Brigade in the battle of Gettysburg, he
says:

"The Brigade moved forward in beautiful style, in quick
time, on a line with the brigade on our left commanded by
Colonel Brockenborough. When nearing the branch (Wil-
loughby Kun) the enemy poured a galling fire into the left
of the brigade from the opposite bank where they had massed
in heavy force, while we were in line of battle awaiting the

Twenty-Sixth Kegiment. 355

order to advance. The Forty-seventh and Fifty-second North
Carolina, although exposed to a hot fire from artillery and
infantry, lost but few men in comparison with the Eleventh
and Twenty-sixth. On went the command across the branch
and up the opposite slope, driving the enemy at the point of
the bayonet back upon- their second line.

"The second line was encountered by the Twenty-sixth reg-
iment, while the other regiments vs^ere exposed to a heavy ar-
tillery shelling. The enemy's single line in the field on our
right, was engaged principally with the right of the Eleventh
jSTorth Carolina and the Forty-seventh Worth Carolina. The
enemy did not perceive the Fifty-second North Carolina,
which flanked their left until the Fifty-second discovered
themselves by a raking and destructive fire by which the en-
emy's line was broken.

"On the second line the fighting was terrible, our men ad-
vancing, the enemy stubbornly resisting, until the two lines
were pouring volleys into each other at a distance not greater
than twenty paces. At last the enemy were compelled to give
way. They again made a stand in the woods, and the third
time they were driven from their positions losing a stand of
colors which was taken by the Twenty-sixth regiment, but
owing to some carelessness, they were left behind and were
picked up by some one else."

Let us quote now from the other side in obedience to the
maxim "Fas est ah hoste docen." Colonel Henry A. Morrow,
Twenty -fourth Michigan, a native of Warren ton, Va., who as
a young man moved to Detroit, Mich., and was a City Judge
there in 1862, and raised the regiment of which he was ap-
pointed to the command, in his report of the battle, says : "I
gave directions to the men to withhold their fire until the en-
emy should come within short range of our guns. This was
done. Their advance was not checked and they came on with
rapid strides yelling like demons. The Nineteenth Indiana,
on our left, fought most gallantly, but was forced back. The
left of my regiment was now exposed to an enfilade fire and
orders were given for this portion of the line to swing back so
as to face the enemy now on our flank. Pending the execu-

356 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

tion of this movement, the enemy compelled me to fall back
and take a new position a short distance in the rear.

"The second line was promptly formed and we made a des-
perate resistance, but we were forced to fall back and take up
a third position beyond a slight ravine. My third color-
bearer was killed on this line. Augustus Ernst, Company K.

"By this time the ranks were so diminished that scarcely a
fourth of the force taken into action could be rallied. Cap-
tain Andrew Wagner, Company F, one of the color guard,
took the colors and was ordered by me to plant them in a po-
sition to which I designed to rally the men. He was wounded
in the breast and left the field. I now took the flag from the
ground where it had fallen and was rallying the remnant of
my regiment, when Private William Kelly, of Company E,
took the colors from my hands, remarking as he did so, 'The
Colonel of the Twenty-fourth Michigan shall never carry the
colors while I am alive.' He was killed instantly. Private
Lilburn A. Spaulding, Company K, seized the colors and
bore them for a time. Subsequently I took them from him to
rally the men and kept them until I was wounded.

"We had inflicted severe loss on the enemy, but jve were un-
able to maintain our position, and were forced back step by
step, contesting every foot of the ground to the barricade west
of the Seminary building. The field over which we fought
from our first line of battle in McPherson's woods to the
barricade near the Seminary, was strewn with the killed and
wounded.

"Our losses were very large, exceeding perhaps the losses
sustained by any regiment of equal size in a single engage-
ment of this or any other war. The strength of the regi-
ment on 1 July, 1863, was 28 officers and 468 rank and
file, total 496. We lost, killed 8 officers and 59 men.
Wounded, 13 officers and 197 men. Missing or captured, 3
officers and 83 men. ISTearly all our wounded, myself among
them, fell into the hands of the enemy. The flag of the regi-
ment was carried by no less than nine persons, four of the
number were killed and three wounded. All the color guard
were killed or wounded."

Returning to Confederate sources for accounts of the he-

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 357

roic conduct of the Twenty-sixtli North Carolina Regiment,
I quote from his official report of the battle, made by Major-
General Heth, commanding the division :

"PettigreVs Brigade under the leadership of that gallant
officer and accomplished scholar, Brigadier-General J. John-
ston Pettigrew (now lost to his country), fought as well and
displayed as heroic courage, as it was ever my fortune to wit-
ness on a battlefield. The number of its own gallant dead
and wounded as well as the large number of the enemy's dead
and wounded left on the field over which it fought, attests bet-
ter than any communication of mine, the gallant part it
played on 1 July. In one instance, when the Twenty-sixth
North Carolina Regiment encountered the second line of the
enemy, its (Twenty-sixth Regiment's) dead marked its line
of battle with the accuracy of a line at dress parade."

Under date of 9 July, 1863, less than a week before his
fatal wounding at Falling Waters (14 July, 1863), General
Pettigrew writes Governor Vance as follows: "Knowing
that you would be anxious to hear from your old regiment, the
Twenty-sixth, I embrace an opportunity to write you a hasty
note. It cavered itself with glory. It fell to the lot of the
Twenty-sixth to charge one of the strongest positions possible.
They drove three, and we have every reason to believe, five
regiments out of the woods with a gallantry unsurpassed.
Their loss has been heavy, very heavy, but the missing are on
the battlefield and in the hospital. Both on the first and
third days yoiir old command did honor to your associa-
tion with them and to the State they represent."

Captain J. J. Yoimg, regimental Quartermaster of the
Twenty-sixth regiment, under date of 4 July, 1863, writes
Governor Vance as follows :

"The heaviest conflict of the war has taken place in this
vicinity. It commenced July 1st, and raged furiously until
late last night. Heth's Division, A. P. Hill's Corps, opened
the ball and Pettigrew's Brigade was the advance. We went
in with over 800 men in the regiment. There came out of
the first day's fight 216 all told, unhurt. Yesterday they
were again engaged, and now have only about 80 men for
duty. To give you an idea of the frightful loss in officers,

358 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Heth being wounded, Pettigrew commanded the division
(Pettigrew had the bones of his left hand crushed by a grape
shot, but remained on the iield with his hand in splints), and
Major Jones our brigade. (Jones was also slightly wounded,
but refused to leave the field). Eleven men were shot down
the first day with the colors (afterwards ascertained to te
fourteen). Yesterday they were- lost. Poor Colonel Bur-
gwyn was shot through both lungs and died shortly after-
ward. His loss is great, for he had few equals of his age.
Captain W. W. McCreery, Inspector on General Pettigrew's
staff, was shot through the heart and instantly killed. As-
sistant Adjutant-General IST. Collins Hughes mortally
wounded. Lieutenant Walter M. Eobertson, Brigade Ord-
nance Officer, severely wounded ; with them, Lieutenant-Col-
onel Lane through the neck, jaw and mouth, I fear mortally;
Adjutant James B. Jordan in the hip, severely; Captain J.
T. Adams, shoxilder, seriously ; Stokes McRae, thigh broken ;
Captain William Wilson, killed; Lieutenants W. W. Rich-
ardson and J. B. HoUoway have died of their wounds. It is
thought Lieutenant M. McLeod and Captain ]^f. G. Bradford
will die; Captain J. A. Jarrett, wounded in face and hand.
Yesterday Captain S. P. Wagg was shot through by grape,
and instantly killed. Alex. Saunders was wounded and J.
R. Emerson left on the field dead. Captain H. C. Albright is
the only Captain left in the regiment. Lieutenants J. A.
Lowe, M. B. Blair, T. J. Cureton (this ofiicer was wounded
in shoulder), and C. M. Sudderth are the only officers not
WQunded. Major Jones was struck by a fragment of a shell
on the 1st and knocked down and stunned on the 3rd, but re-
fused to leave the field.

"Our whole division numbers only 1,500 or 1,600 effective
men as officially reported, but, of course, a good many will
still come in. The division at the beginning niunbered about
8,000 effective men. Yesterday in falling back we had to
leave the wounded, hence the uncertainty of a good many
being killed yesterday evening."

Going into particulars of losses : Company F, from Cald-
well County, commanded by Captain R. M. Tuttle (now a
Presbyterian minister at Collierstown, Va.), went into the

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 359

battle with three officers and 88 muskets. Thirty-one were
killed or died of wounds received in the battle. Sixty were
wounded, fifty-nine of whom were disabled for duty. Ser-
geant Robert Hudspeth was the only man able to report for
duty after the fight, and he had been knocked down and
stunned by the explosion of a shell. In this company were
three sets of twin brothers, at the close of the battle, five of
the six lay dead on the field.

Companies I and F of this regiment were from Caldwell
County. The men composing these companies had been
reared along the slopes of the Great Grandfather Mountain.
They had been accustomed from boyhood to hunt deer, the
bear, and the wolf in the lonely forests surrounding their
homes. They were enured to hardship, self-reliant, indefat-
igable and insensible to danger. Company F was on the left
of the colors, and Company E on the right. This latter com-
pany (Company E) suffered nearly as badly as Company F,
It carried 82 officers and men into the fi^ht, and brought out
only two untouched.

Going into the particxilars of the loss of Company E, 18
men were Icilled or mortally wotinded, and 52 wounded on
the first day, and on the third day only two escaped. Every
officer in the company was wounded.

Company G lost 12 men killed and 58 wounded and miss-
ing, but the losses on each day are not given by Captain Al-
bright.

Company H had 17 Idlled and 55 wounded in the two days
battles. ^

The men composing these three companies were from the
historic counties of Chatham and Moore. Their ancestors
had fought at Alamance and Moore's Bridge and Guilford
Court House, and from their youth up they had handled the
rifle in hunting the deer and wild turkey, and as General
Pettigrew said of them, "they shot as if they were shooting at
squirrels."

Company A, from Ashe County, the same class of moim-
taineers of whom we have spoken above in referring to Com-
panies F and I, took into action 92, rank and file. Eleven
were killed and 66 wounded in the first day's fight, and on the

360 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

third day, its Captain (Wagg) was killed, and ten wounded
and missing out of fourteen taken into the fight. Lieutenant
J. A. Polk, commanding Company K when the muster roll
was signed 31 August, 1863, states every officer was wounded
at Gettysburg, 16 men killed and 50 wounded and missing.
He does not give the number taken into action.

As to the loss sustained by the regiment as a whole, we may
rely upon the statements of Northern writers who have com-
piled them from the official records in the War Department
at Washington, D. C. Colonel William F. Fox, of Albany,
H. Y., in his book, "Regimental Losses in the Civil War," a
work of recognized authority — places the loss of the Twenty-
sixth Eegiment in the first day's fight at 86 killed and 502
wounded, out of 800 taken into action. He says: "On the
third day's fight in Pickett's charge, they lost 120, recorded
as missing." In a letter to the writer dated 30 September,
1889, Colonel Fox says: "My figures for the loss of the
Twenty-sixth North Carolina at Grettysburg, are taken from
the official report of Surgeon-General Lafayette Guild, C. S.
A., who obtained his figures from the nominal lists of the
killed and wounded made out in the field hospitals. In my
opinion, the 120 missing should also be included in the killed
and wounded; but as they were not so reported officially, I
cannot substitute my opinion for official statistics. In a sec-
ond edition, which is now going through the press, I added the
losses for Bristoe Station, having obtained them from the War
Department since the publication of the first edition. In
these losses for Bristoe, I was surprised to see that the Twen-
ty-sixth North Carolina again heads the list. I took great pains
to verify the loss of the Twenty-sixth North Carolina at Get-
tysburg, for I am inclined to believe that in time this regi-
ment will become as well known in history as the Light Bri-
gade at Balaklava."

Colonel Fox further states in his book that this loss of the
Twenty-sixth Regiment was the greatest in numbers and
greatest in per cent, of those taken into action of all the regi-
ments on either side in the Civil War in any one battle. Mr.
John M. Vanderslice, Director of the Gettysburg Memorial
Association, who was a private in Company D, Eighth Penn-
sylvania, was gazetted for distinguished services in action at

Twenty-Sixth Regiment.

361

Hatcher's Enin, 6 February, 1865, in his book, "Gettysburg,
Then and Now" — writes thus: "The loss of the Twenty-
sixth North Carolina Regiment should be 584 on the first
day and of the remaining 216, 130 were lost on the third, its
total loss in the battle being 588 killed and wounded and 126
missing out of 800 engaged. This brigade (Pettigrews's)
lost over 500 additional on the third day."

As a matter of historical interest, I append a list of the
losses in the several brigades that fought in and around Mc-
Pherson's woods on the first day at Gettysburg:

o

a
.2
'3

a

r Meredith s Iron Brigade-

2 Wisconsin .

6 Wisonsin .

7 Wisconsin
19 Indiana, .
34 Michigan

Biddle's Brigade—

80 New York
131 Pennsylvania .
143 Pennsylvania.
151 Pennsylvania .

Stone's Brigade . .

Artillery

L Gamble's Cavalry.

f Davis' Mississippi Brigade

Archer's Tennessee Brigade

Brockenborough's Virginia Brigade

Pettigrew's No-th Carolina Brigade —

11 North Carolina Regitnent.
26 North Carolina Regiment.
47 North Carolina Regiment.
52 North Carolina Regiment.

— O

182
146
126
160
272

146
118
141
362

574

105

83

695
160
148

r309
J 588
] 161
[147
1105

be

a

51
22
52
50
91

24
61
70

75

279

28

bo

c

302

402
838
496

287
263
291
467

362 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

THIRD day's battle AT GETTTSBUEG^ 3 JULT, 1863.

Quoting again from Major John T. Jones' report: "The
night of the first day's fight (1 July, 1863) the brigade
bivouacked in the woods they had occupied previously to
making the charge. We remained in this position until the
evening of the 2nd, when we moved about a mile to our right
and took position in rear of our batteries facing the works
of the enemy on Cemetery Hill. We remained here until
about 12 o'clock on the 3rd, when our batteries opened upon
the enemy's works. About 2 o'clock we were ordered to ad-
vance."

A member of the regiment thus writes :

"On the second day, Pettigrew's entire brigade rested. Gen-
eral Pettigrew showed great energy in recruiting his thinned
ranks. He commanded that all those not too severely wounded
shoiild return to active duty and armed all the cooks and extra
duty men and every other man in any way connected with the
regiment. The regimental band (Captain Mickey's band) was
ordered to play inspiring music to cheer the soldiers, whose
spirits were depressed at the loss of so many of their com-
rades, and in every way the condition of things was enliv-
ened. On the evening of the 2nd, General Pettigrew marched
his command to the place in the line from which the grand
charge was to be made next day. To the great surprise of
every one, the brigade seemed as ready for the fray on the
morning of the third day, as it had been on that of the
first."

PICKETT''s AND PETTIGEEw's CHAEGB.

Quoting from the author of "Gettysburg, Then and ISTow" :
"There were two hours of comparative silence until 1 o'clock
p. m. when the signal gun was fired from Seminary Ridge,
by the Washington Artillery of ISTew Orleans, and there was
opened between the 138 Confederate and the 80 Federal guns
the heaviest and most terrible artillery fire ever witnessed
upon any battle field in this country, if upon any in the world.
It opened so suddenly that the men were torn to pieces before
they could rise from the ground upon which they had been

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 363

lolling. Some were stricken down with cigars in their mouths.
One young soldier was killed with the portrait of his sister in
his hand. The earth was thrown up in clouds. Splinters
flew from fences and rocks, and mingled with the roar of the
artillery were the groans of wounded men and the fierce
neighing of mangled horses.

"In the meantime the fresh troops of Pickett's Confederate
division had been massed under cover of the slight ridge run-
ning between Seminary Ridge and the Emmettsburg road in
rear of the artillery. While Pettigrew's Division (formerly
Heth's) was massed to their rear and left behind Seminary
Ridge. In the rear of the right of Pickett were the brigades
of Wilcox and Perry, with that of Wright in reserve.

"In the rear of the right of Pettigrew were the brigades of
Scales, and Lane, of Pender's Division, commanded by
Trimble. When the artillery ceased firing, these troops
moved from behind their cover and advanced majestically
across the field towards Cemetery Hill. Pickett's Division
on the right, Pettigrew's on its left and rear en echelon, sup-
ported by Scales' and Lane's brigades. Pickett's division
was in line as follows : Kemper's Brigade on the right, Gar-
nett on his left, while Armistead was in the rear. On the
left of Pickett were the four brigades of Pettigrew's division.
Archer's Brigade, commanded by Frye, next to Pickett ; Pet-
tigrew's, commanded by Marshall, of the Fifty-second ISTorth
Carolina Regiment, next on the left ; Davis next, and Brock-
enborough on the extreme left.

"In the rear of Frye and Marshall, there were Scales' Bri-
gade, commanded by Lowrance, and Lane's Brigade, these
under Major-General Trimble, from Maryland. Together the
assaulting columns numbered 14,000. The point of direc-
tion was the small copse of trees to the left of Ziegler's Grove,
held by Gibbon's Division of the Second Corps. After ad-
vancing some distance the three brigades of Pickett's division
made a half wheel to the left in order to move toward the ob-
jective point. McGilvery's forty guns (Federal artillery)
on the left, with those of the two batteries on Round Top,
opened a terrible fire upon them. As the division neared the
wall, it was joined on its left by Frye's Brigade, and at the

364 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

same time Lowrance's North Carolina Brigade rushed from
its rear and joined Frye's and Garnett at the angle of the
wall. The two guns of Cushing's battery at the wall were
silenced.

"The left of that charging column under Pettigrew and
Trimble, suffered as severely as the right under Pickett.
Great injustice has been done these troops by the prevailing
erroneous impressions that they failed to advance with those
of Pickett.

"Such is not the fact, as they were formed behind Seminary
Kidge they had over 1,300 yards to march under the terri-
ble fire to which they were exposed, while Pickett's Division
being formed under cover of the intermediate ridge, had but
900 yards to march under fire. At first, the assaulting col-
umns advanced en echelon, but when they reached the Em-
mettsburg road, they were on a line, and together they crossed
the road. The left of Pettigrew's command becoming first
exposed to the fearful enfilading fire upon their left flank
from the Eighth Ohio, and other regiments of Hay's Division
and of Woodruff's Battery and other troops, the men on thp+
part of the line (Brockenborough's Brigade) either broke to
the rear or threw themselves on the ground for protection.

"But Pettigrew's other brigades, Davis, Marshall andFrye,
with the brigades of Lowrance and Lane, under Trimble, ad-
vanced with Pickett to the stone wall and there fought desper-
ately. As the assaulting column reached the wall, Wilcox's
Alabama and Perry's Florida Brigade to the right, marching
according to order, but becoming separated from Pickett,
had resumed the march to the left, and were now advancing
from the top of the crest, from behind which Pickett had
emerged, directly towards McGilvery's batteries and the
Third Corps, btit received by a severe fire from Stannard's
Vermonters, who had changed front again, and exposed to a
severe artillery fire and seeing the commands of Pickett, Pet-
tigrew and Trimble repulsed, they withdrew under cover of
the hill. Thus ended this reckless and ever renowned effort
to carry Cemetery Hill by direct assault in the face of 100
cannon and the Federal Army."

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 365

Quoting from Major Jones' report, he says:

"About 2 o'clock we were ordered to advance. It was an
open field about three-quarters of a mile in width. In
moving off there was some confusion in the line, owing to the
fact that it had been ordered to close in on the right on Pick-
ett's division, while that command gave way to the left. This
was soon corrected, and the advance was made in perfect or-
der. When about half across the intermediate space the ene-
my opened on us a most destructive fire of grape and canister.
When within about 250 or 300 yards of the stone wall behind
which the enemy was posted, we were met by a perfect hail
storm of lead from their small ar'ms. The brigade dashed on
and many had reached the wall when we received a deadly vol-
ley from the left. The whole line on the left had given way,
and we were being rapidly flanked, and with our thinned
ranks and in such a position it would have been folly to stand
against such odds.

"After this day's fight but one field officer was left in the
brigade, and regiments that went in Avith Colonels came out
commanded by Lieutenants."

A member of the Twenty-sixth Regiment thus describes the
charge :

"As soon as the fire of the artillery ceased, General Pct-
tigrew, his face lit up with the bright look it always wore
when in battle, rode up to Colonel Marshall, in command of
the brigade, and said: 'Now Colonel, for the honor of tne
good Old JSTorth State. Forward.' Colonel Marshall promptly
repeated the command, which taken up by the regimental
commanders, the Twenty-sixth marched down the hill into
the valley between the two lines. As the forward march con-
tinued, our artillery would occasionally fire a shot over the
heads of the troops to assure them that they had friends in
the rear.

"The brigade had not advanced far when the noble Mar-
shall fell, and the command of the brigade devolved on Major
Jones, of the Twenty-sixth, while that of the regiment on
Captain S. W. Brewer, of Company E, a man who proved on

366 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

that day as he has often since, that he was thoroughly quali-
fied to lead.

"The Confederate line was yet unbroken and still perfect,
when about half a mile from their works the enemy's artillery
opened fire, sweeping the field with grape and canister ; but
the line crossed the lane (Emmettsburg road) in good order.
When about 300 yards from their works the musketry of the
enemy opened on us, but nothing daunted the brave men of
the Twenty-sixth pressed quickly forward and when the regi-
ment reached within about forty yards of the enemy's works,
it had been reduced to a skirmish line. But the brave rem-
nant still pressed ahead and the colors were triumphantly
planted on the works by J. ii . Brooks and Daniel Thomas, of
Company E, when a cry came from the left, and it was seen
that the entire left of the line had been swept away.

"The Twenty-sixth now exposed to a front and enfilade fire,
there was no alternative but to retreat, and the order was ac-
cordingly given. Captain Cureton, of Company B, and oth-
ers, attempted to form the shattered remnants of the regiment
in the lane (Emmettsburg road) but pressed by the enemy,
the attempt was abandoned.

General Pettigrew had his horse shot under him during the
charge, and though woiinded (bones of his left hand shattered
by a grape shot) he was one of the last men of his division to
leave, and was assisted off the field by Captain Cureton,
whom he ordered to rally and form Heth's division behind the
guns for their siipport. Pettigrew's brigade promptly re-
sponded and formed when told where to go.

"By night a very good skirmish line had been collected and
the gallant old Twenty-sixth had 67 privates and 3 officers
present on the night of 8 July, 1863, out of 800 who went
into battle on the morning of 1 July. In this enumeration
the cooks and extra duty men and others who had been armed
are not counted. These 70 officers and men remained to sup-
port the artillery that night and all next day."

As of historical interest, I append the losses of Pickett's,
Pettigrew's and Trimble's Division on this third day's fight
at Gettysburg.

Twenty-Sixth Regiment.

367

Pickett's Division —
Garnett's Brigads, 8, 18, 19, 28 and 56 Virginia Regis . . .
Armistead's Brigade, 9, 14, 38, 53 and 57 Virginia Regts.
Kemper's Brigade, 1, 3, 7, 11 and 24 Virginia Reg^s

Pettigrew's Division-
Archer's Brigade

Pettigrew's JBrigade . . .
Davis' Brigade

Trimble's Division-
Lane's Brigade

Scales' Brigade

S3

(D

— O

402

574
462

1438

330
300

244

874

264
125

389

be

539
648

317

1499

112
228
160

500

176
85

261

Adding the killed and wounded of Pettigrew's Brigade on
the third day's fight, viz., 300 ; to its killed and wounded on
the first day's fight, viz., 1,105 ; and it makes a total loss of
1,405 killed and wounded sustained by these four ITorth Car-
olina Regiments, which is within 33 of the loss in killed and
wounded sustained by the fifteen Virginia Regiments of
Pickett's Division.

PICKETT OB PETTIGEEW.

Quoting again from the author of "Gettysburg, Then and
Now" : "But why call this Pickett's charge ? In this as-
sault there were engaged forty-two Confederate Regiments.
In Pickett's Division there were 15 "Virginia Regiments. In
Pettigrew's and Trimble's there were 15 ISTorth Carolina Reg-
iments, 3 Mississippi, 3 Tennessee, 2 Alabama and 4 Vir-
ginia Regiments. In addition to the artillery fire, they
(Pettigrew and Trimble) encountered 9 Regiments of ITew
York, 5 of Pennsylvania, 3 of Massachusetts, 3 of Vermont,
1 Michigan, 1 Maine, 1 Minnesota, 1 New Jersey, 1 Connect-
icut, 1 Ohio, and 1 Delaware, in all 27 regiments.

368 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

"Some prominent writers, even historians like Swinton
and Lossing, have said that the left of the line (Pettigrew's
and Trimble's Divisions) did not advance as was expected,
and that it was because these troops were not of the same
'fine quality' as those upon the right; that they were raw
and undisciplined, etc., etc. Yet, but two days before, these
same soldiers of Pettigrew and Trimble had fought around
Eeynold's Grove (McPherson's woods) for six hours in a
struggle with the First Corps that is unsurpassed for bravery
and endurance, and where so many of their numbers had
fallen. There were in fact no better troops in the Confed-
eracy than they. Is history repeating herself ? If the event
is correctly recorded, there were at Thermopylas 300 Spar-
tans, YOG Thespians, and 300 Thebans. It is said the lat-
ter went over to the enemy, but the Thespians died to a man
at the pass with the Spartans. Yet for nearly twenty-four
centuries. Epic song and story have well preserved the mem-
ory of the Spartans, while the devoted Thespians are for-
gotten."

IJSrCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE.

On the first day while the Twenty-sixth Eegiment was in
line awaiting the order to charge the enemy in McPherson's
woods, Lieutenant-Colonel Lane, who had been up all the
night previous in charge of the division skirmish line, and had
eaten but little, but had drunken freely of muddy water, was
seized with an intolerable naiisea and vomiting. Colonel
Lane thus speaks of the incident: "I asked permission of
Colonel Burgwyn to go to the rear. The latter replied : 'Oh,
Colonel, I can't, I can't, I can't think of going into this battle
without you ; here is a little of the best French brandy which
my parents gave me to take with me in the battle ; it may do
you good.' I took a little of it under the circumstances, though
I had not drunk any during the war, and I may add, neither
had Colonel Burgwyn. In a few minutes I was somewhat
relieved and said: 'Colonel Burgwyn, I can go with you.'
With his usual politeness, he replied : 'Thank you. Colonel,
thank you.' Continuing the conversation, he said: 'Colonel,
do you think that we will have to advance on the enemy as

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 369

they are? Oh, what a splendid place for artillery. Why
don't they fire on them ?' He saw and realized the very de-
cided advantage their position gave them over us."

James D. Moore, private in Company F, was the 85th man
of his company shot on the first day's fight. A ball passed
through his leg. When taken to the field hospital the sur-
geon said he had been fighting cavalry, as the wound was,
made by a carbine 44 calibre, and not by an Enfield rifle, 56-
calibre. After the war Moore went to live in Indiana at a
place called Winnaniac. He there met a man named Hayes
who was a member of the Twenty-fourth Michigan Regiment
and in the battle of Gettysburg. Hayes had lost his Enfield
rifle on the forced march of the night before, and as his regi-
inent was going into action on the morning of 1 July,
he picked up a carbine dropped by one of Buford's cavalry,
and used it during the fight. It was the only carbine in the
Twenty-fourth Regiment and just before he retreated, when
the colors of the regiment charging him was fifteen or twenty
paces distant, he fired in their direction. Moore at the time
was alongside the flag and received Hayes' shot. They be-
came good friends and Hayes was of material assistance to
Moore so long as the latter lived in his town.

When taken from the fleld, Colonel Lane was carried to
the field hospital, a brick house. A wotinded Georgia oflicer,
who was lying near the door of the room in which Colonel
Lane was, had been delirious all the morning. He finally be-
came quiet about 1 p. m. and after a silence of some minutes.
Colonel Lane heard him say in a perfectly rational tone of
voice : "There now, there now. Vicksburg has fallen, Gen-
eral Lee is retreating and the South is whipped. The South
is whipped." He ceased speaking and in a few moments an
attendant passed by and said he was dead. General Lee did
not retreat from Gettysburg until the evening of the 4th of
July, and Vicksburg was not surrendered until the 4th of
July.

It is stated in Volume 67, page 514, Official Records Union
and Confederate Armies, that on 4 July, 1863, at 6 :35 a. m.,
General Lee proposed to General Meade "to promote the com-
24

370 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

fort and convenience of the officers and men captured by the
opposing amiies, that an exchange be made at once." At
8 :25 a. m., General Meade replied : "It is not in my power to
accede to the proposed arrangement."

COLONEL LANE ESCAPES CAPTUEE.

When the army retreated from Gettysburg, the wounded
were sent off in long trains chiefly of the wagons which Gen-
eral Stuart had captured in his raid around Meade's army.
These invited the attack of the enemy's cavalry, and many
wounded Confederate officers and soldiers were in this way
captured before the army got across the Potomac river.

The wagon train in which Colonel Lane was carried, was
one of those attacked. He at once got out of the wagon,
mounted his horse and made his escape, though he was at the
time unable to speak or to receive nourishment in the nat-
ural way. He was unable to take any nourishment for nine
days, owing to the swollen and inflamed condition of his
throat and mouth, and it was thought impossible for him
ever to get well.

OPFICEES PRESENT AT THE BATTLE.

Posterity will wish to know as much as possible of the per-
sonnel of this regiment, and we append a list of the officers of
the regiment who participated in the battle of Gettysburg.
This we are enabled to do from a very remarkable fact.

As stated above, the proximity of Meade's army was not
known on 30 June, 1863, and on that day the regiment was
mustered as it bivouacked after the day's march. These mus-
ter and pay rolls were made out in triplicate, one to be sent to
the Adjutant General of the army, one to be kept by the com-
pany commander, and one by the Quartermaster of the regi-
ment, who was also the paymaster. Captain J. J. Young, the
regimental Quartermaster from the beginning to the end of
the war, has preserved these muster and pay rolls. The
writer has had access to the same, and now copies from them
the names of the officers of the regiment who were present in
camp on the afternoon of 30 June, 1863, and the number of

TWENTY-SIXTH KEGIMENT.

1. John Tuttle, Sergeant, Co. F.

3. Wm. N. SnellinK, 2d Lieut., Co. D.

3. L L. Polk, Sergeant Major

4. W. W. Edwards, Private, Co. E.

6. J. D. Moore. Private, Co. F. (The 85th
man in his Company wounded at
Gettysburg, July 1st, 1863.)

6. H C. Co£Eey, Private, Co. F. (The

86th man in his Company wounded
at Gettysburg, July 1st, 1863.)

7. Laban Ellis, Private, Co. E.

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 371

those present for duty in each company as shown hy its mus-
ter and pay roll for that day.

FIELD AND STAFF.

Haeey King Buegwyn^ Jr., Colonel.
John Randolph Lane, Lieutenant-Colonel.
John Thomas Jones, Major.
James B. Joedan, Adjutant.
Llewellyn P. Waeeen, Surgeon.
William W. Gaithee, Assistant Surgeon.
Joseph J. Young, Quartermaster.
Phineas Hoeton, Commissary.
MoNTFOED S. McRea, Sergeant Major.
Benjamin Hind, Hospital Steward.
Abeam J. Lane, Quartermaster Sergeant.
Jesse F. Peeguson, Commissary Sergeant.
E. H. HoENADAY, Ordnance Sergeant.

COMPANY OFFIC^ES PEESENT.

Company A — Captain, Samuel P. Wagg; First Lieuten-
ant, A. B. Duvall ; Second Lieutenant, J. B. Houek ; Junior
Second Lieutenant, L. C. Gentry; present for duty, 97.

Company B — ^Captain, Wm. Wilson; First Lieutenant,
Thos. J. Cureton; Second Lieutenant, W. W. Richardson;
Junior Second Lieutenant, Edward A. Breitz; present for
duty, 92.

Company C — Captain J. A. Jarrett ; First Lieutenant, W.
Porter ; Second Lieutenant, ; Junior Second Lieuten-
ant, R. D. Horton ; present for duty, 80.

Company D- — Captain, J. T. Adams; First Lieutenant,
Gaston Broughton; Second Lieutenant, J. G. M. Jones;
Junior Second Lieutenant, Orren A. Hanner; present for
duty, 79.

Company E^ — Captain, S. W. Brewer; First Lieutenant,
John R. Emerson; Second Lieutenant, W. J. Lambert;
Junior Second Lieutenant, Oran A. Hanner; present for
duty, 104.

Company F — Captain, R. M. Tuttle ; First Lieutenant, C.

372 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

M. Sudderth; Second Lieutenant, ; Jumoi'

Second Lieutenant, J. B. HoUoway; present for duty, 91.

Company G— Captain, H. C. Albright; First Lieutenant,
J. A. Lowe; Second Lieutenant, ; Junior Sec-
ond Lieutenant, Wm. G. Lane; present for duty, 91.

Company H— Captain, ; First Lieutenant,

M. McLeod; Second Lieutenant, George Willcox; Junior
Second Lieutenant, J. H. McGilvery ; present for duty, 78.

Company I— Captain, N. G. Bradford ; First Lieutenant,
M. B. Blair; Second Lieutenant, J. C. Grier; Junior Sec-
ond Lieutenant, J. G. Sudderth ; present for duty, 74.

CoMPAifY K — Captain, James G. McLauchlin ; First Lieu-
tenant, Thomas Lilly; Second Lieutenant, \

Junior Second Lieutenant, J. L. Henry ; present for duty, 99.

The total number present for duty was 885.

Of those absent, Captain James D. Mclver of Company H,
Second Lieutenant A. B. Hays of Company F, and Second
Lieutenant A. K. Jordan of Company G, were absent on de-
tached duty, Second Lieutenant Wm. L. Ingram of Company"
K, was on sick furloiigh, and Second Lieutenant J. M. Har-
ris of Company C, who was subsequently captured at Bristoe
Station (14 October, 1863) is marked "absent with leave."

Of the above list those killed or mortally wounded in the
two days' fighting, were as follows : Colonel, H. K. Burgwyn ;
Captains S. P. Wagg, Wm. Wilson ; Lieutenants, John E.
Emerson, W. W. Richardson, J. B. HoUoway.

All the other ofiicers except Captain Albright and Lieuten-
ants J. A. Lowe, C. M. Sudderth and ii. B. Blair, were
wounded. Adjutant J. B. Jordan and Sergeant-Major M.
S. McRea, of the Regimental Staff, both severely wounded.
Major Jones and Lieutenant T. J. Cureton. were wounded,,
but refused to leave the field.

WOUNDED OFFICERS CAPTURED.

Captains, Bradford and Brewer. I^ieutenants, Brietz,
Broughton, Hanner, McLeod, and Adjutant Jordan.

On 31 August, 1863, while the regiment was in camp near
Orange Court House, it was again mustered. The writer has-

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 373

these rolls before him. In some companies the record of
events since 30 June, 1863 (last muster) is specific; in some,
no details are given other than vi^hat appears opposite the
name of the individual.

Captain Duval, of Company A, reports that his company
went into action at Gettysburg with 92 men and lost, killed
11, and wotinded 66, on the first day, and on the third day,
1 killed. Captain Wagg, and 10 wounded and missing;
total, 88.

First Lieutenant W. J. Lambert, of Company E, says his
company took into the battle 82 men and lost, killed and mor-
tally wounded 18, and wounded 52, on the first day, and on
the second day's fight only two men escaped.

Captain Albright, of Company G, reports the loss of his
company at 12 killed and 58 wounded and missing.

Captain Mclver, of Company H, reports 17 killed and 55
wounded at Gettysburg.

Lieutenant Polk, of Company K, says he recrossed the
Potomac at Falling Waters with 16 men, having crossed that
river in June on the way to Gettysburg, with 103, rank and
file.

Captain Tuttle, of Company F, declares that every man
was killed or wounded in his company that he took into the
battle.

The following is tlie number killed and wounded and miss-
ing at Gettysburg, ascertained from the reports as given on
the muster rolls of the companies, dated 31 August, 1863 :
"Killed and mortally wounded, 139. Wounded and miss-
ing, 535."

This enumeration omits some wounded who had returned
to duty prior to 31 August, 1863, the date of the muster.

The muster rolls for 30 June, 1863, make the aggregate
present for duty, enlisted men, 885 ; allowing 10 per cent,
for extra duty and details, it would leave about 800 muskets
taken into battle at Gettysburg on the first day. Of this
number 708 were killed, wounded and missing as the losses
in the first and third day's fighting at Gettysburg. Over 88
per cent — and of the officers, 34 out of 39 were killed or
wounded. Over 87 per cent.

374 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

coloe beaeees at gettysbueg.

It is possible at this late day that the name of some gallant
soldier who carried the flag of the Twenty-sixth Eegiment
during the battle of Gettysburg may be omitted from the list
below, but every effort has been made to include in this hon-
orable mention all entitled, for no one took the^flag in that
battle without the certainty of being shot down, and not one
escaped.

The color guard consisted of a Sergeant and eight pri-
vates. After these nine had fallen, the others were volun-
teers.

FIEST day's I-IGHT^ 1 JTJLY^ 1863.

Colonel, H. K. Burgwyn, Jr., killed.

Captain Wm. W. McCreery, killed.

Private Franklin Honeycutt, Company B, killed.

" John E.. Marley, Company Gr, killed.

" William Ingram, Company K, killed.
Lieutenant-Colonel John E. Lane, wounded.
Lieutenant Greorge Willcox, wounded.
Color Sergeant J. Mansfield, wounded.
Sergeant Hiram Johnson, Company Gr, wounded.
Private John Stamper, Company A, wounded.

" G. W. Kelly, Company D, wounded.

" L. A. Thomas, Company F, wounded.

" John Vinson, Company G, wounded.

thied day's fight^ 3 JULY^ 1863.

Sergeant W. H. Smith, Company K, killed.
Private Thomas J. Cozart, Company F, killed.
Captain S. W. Brewer, Company E, wounded.
Private Daniel Thomas, Company E, wounded.

As First Sergeant James M. Brooks, Company E, and
Daniel Thomas, the latter carrying the flag, reached the en-
emy's works, the Federals called out to them, "Come over on
this side of the Lord," and took them prisoners rather than
fire at them.

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 375

LITTEE BEAEERS AT GETTYSBtTEG.

These men kept right up with the regiment. I have only
been able to locate the following name^ :
Private Weill B. Staton, Company B.

" Jackson Baker, Company D.

" John A. Jackson, Company H.

FALLING WATERS DEATH OF GENEEAL PETTIGEEW.

On the night of 4 July, 1863, General Lee withdrew his
army from confronting Meade at Gettysburg, and Heth's
Division marched to Hagerstown, where it entrenched. "On
the evening of 13 July," says General Heth in his ofScial re-
port, "I received orders to withdraw at dark and move in the
direction of Falling Waters. The night was dark, roads
ankle deep in mud and raining. It took twelve hours to
march seven miles. On reaching an elevated and command-
ing ridge of hills, one mile from Falling Waters, I was or-
dered by General A. P. Hill to put my division in line of bat-
tle on either side of the road and to put Pender's Division in
rear of mine in column of brigades. At this point we halted
to let the wagons and artillery get over the river. About 11
a. m. 14 July, 1863, received orders to move Pender's divis-
ion across the river following Anderson's Division. About
15 or 20 minutes after getting these orders, and while they
were in execution, a small body of cavalry, numbering 40 or
45, made their appearance in our front. They were at once
observed by myself and General Pettigrew, and several mem-
bers of my staff as well as many others. On emerging from
the woods the party faced about, apparently on the defensive.
Suddenly facing about, they galloped up the road and halted
some 175 yards from my line of battle. From their manoeu-
vering and the smallness of their numbers, I concluded it was
a party of our own cavalry pursued by the enemy. In this
opinion I was sustained by all present. The troops had been
restrained up to this time from firing by General Pettigrew
and myself. Examining them critically with my glasses, I
discovered they were Federal troops, and the command was
given to fire. At the same time the Federal officer gave the

376 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

command to charge. The squad passed through the intervals
separating the epaulments for the artillery and fired several
shots. In less than three minutes all were killed or captured,
save two or three who are said to have escaped. General Pet-
tigrew, who had received a wound in one of his hands (left)
at Gettysburg, was unable to manage his horse which reared
and fell with him. It is probable when in the act of rising
that he was struck by a pistol ball in the left side, which, un-
fortunately for himself and his country, proved fatal. Thirty-
three of the enemy's dead were counted, and six prisoners fell
into our hands and a stand of colors."

The cavalry mentioned above was a portion of the Sixth
Michigan, commanded by Major P. A. Weber.' "Seeing only
that portion of the enemy behind the earthwork," says Gen-
eral Kilpatrick in his report of the affair, "Major Weber
gave the order to charge."

General Kilpatrick admits a loss of thirty killed, wounded
and missing, including the "gallant Major P. A. Weber,
killed." It would seem that General Heth and the rest were
excusable for their hesitation as to which side this cavalry
force belonged. 'Tis true, they were dressed in the Federal
uniform, but many Confederate scouts wore the Federal uni-
form. It was known that General Lee was crossing his army
into \"irginia, at Williamsport ford and at Falling Waters on
a pontoon bridge, and that the cavalry had orders to protect
the crossing of the infantry at these places. But for an un-
fortunate mistake on the cavalry's part in thinking all had
crossed, whereby those who were to intervene between the
enemy and Heth's rear guard had been withdrawn and had,
themselves, crossed at Williamsport above, this sad disaster
could not have occurred.

A member of the Twenty-sixth regiment, who witnessed
the unfortunate affair says : "Some (referring to the Fed-
eral cavalry) were knocked off their horses with fence rails.
General Pettigrew after he fell, endeavored to shoot the Yan-
kee who shot him, but his pistol missed fire, and IST. B. Staton,
private of Company B, seized a big stone and crushed the
Yankee in the breast, killing him."

As soon as the surgeons examined General Pettigrew's

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 377

wound they saw the only hope for his life was to keep him
perfectly quiet, and proposed to take him into a barn near
by. To allow this, General Pettigrew obstinately declined,
saying "he would die before he would again be taken pris-
oner." He was then put on a stretcher, and in hopes his life
by this way might be saved, he was carried by four men who
were regularly relieved by fresh details, all the way to Bun-
ker Hill, a distance of 22 miles, occupying parts of two
days. Frequently during the march he would say to the sol-
diers as he would notice their sympathetic countenances:
"Boys, don't be disheartened. May be I will fool the doc-
tors yet." He lingered in the house of a Mr. Boyd, at Bun-
ker Hill, Va., vmtil 17 July, 1863, and at about half past six
in the morning, died quietly and without pain. General
Lee, riding by his side as he was carried on the litter to Bun-
ker Hill, expressed great sorrow at his being wounded. Gen-
eral Pettigrew replied "tliat his fate was no other than one
might reasonably anticipate upon entering the army, and
that he was perfectly willing to die for his country."

To the Rev. Mr. Wilmer, afterwards Bishop Wilmer, of
Louisiana, he avowed a firm persuasion of the truths of the
Christian religion and said that in accordance with his belief
he had, some years before, made preparation for death.

On the morning of Friday, 24 July, 1863, the coffin con-
taining his remains, wrapped in the flag of his country, and
hidden under wreaths of flowers and other tributes of femi-
nine taste and tenderness, lay in the rotunda of the Capitol at
Raleigh, where within the year had preceded him his compa-
triots, Branch and Anderson. From Raleigh, he was taken
to his old home, Bonarva, Tjake Scuppernong, Tyrrell County,
and there he is buried near the beautiful lake whose sandy
shores his youthful feet were wont to tread. We would pause
here to remark how mysterious are the dispensations of Prov-
idence, that it should be denied to James Johnston Pettigrew
to die on the field of Gettysburg, and be decreed that he must
meet his end in a petty skirmish with cavalry two weeks later.

Many prisoners were taken on the retreat from Hagers-
town to Falling Waters, hecause of the exhausted condition
of the men and the incessant pursuit of the Federal cavalry.

378 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

The troops at Falling Waters had to cross a pontoon bridge.
The Confederate cavalry having retreated across at Williams-
port, there were none to protect the infantry of Heth's divis-
ion as it crossed at Falling Waters. The enemy's cavalry
pressed them on front and flank, and there was more or less
demoralization at the last.

Captain Oureton, of Company B, witnessed this incident.
A Federal cavalryman took position near the Maryland end
of the pontoon bridge and as the stragglers came along he
would demand their surrender. In this way some fifty or
sixty men had surrendered to this one cavalryman, when a
member of the Twenty-sixth Regiment passing along, was
halted and his surrender demanded. The Twenty-sixth Reg-
iment man raised his gun and taking aim said : "Damn you,
you surrender." The Federal said "all right," and threw
dovrai his gun. He was taken prisoner and with the fifty or
sixty who had surrendered to him, was marohel across the
bridge by the Tar Heel. Captain Cureton was the last man
to get on the pontoon bridge as it was cut loose from its Mary-
land end and swung into the river. From a thousand to fif-
teen hundred stragglers were left on the Maryland side by this
premature cutting loose of the bridge, and fell into the ene-
my's hands.

BBISTOE STATION, 14 OCTOBEK, 1863.

After the return to Virginia from the Gettysburg cam-
paign. General Lee stationed his army in and around Orange
Court House. While here on 7 September, 1863, General
Wm. W. Kirkland was appointed to the command of Petti-
grew's Brigade, and remained in command until the battle of
Bristoe Station, where he was wounded.

In a letter from General Lee to President Davis, dated 17
October, 1863, he thus describes this unfortunate engage-
ment : "With a view of bringing on an engagement with the
army of General Meade, this army marched on the 9th instant
by way of Madison Court House and arrived near Culpepper
on the 11th. The enemy retired towards the Rappahannock.
We only succeeded in coming up ^ with a portion of his rear
guard at this place (Bristoe Station) on the 14th instant,

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 379

■when a severe engagement ensued, but without any decided
or satisfactory results."

In his eagerness to attack the retiring enemy (Third Army
Corps) General A. P. Hill overlooked the presence of the
Second Corps posted behind the railroad embankment in a
cut ; and when the brigades of Cooke and Kirkland made the
attack, they were suddenly confronted by the Second Corps
posted as above stated, and were driven back with severe loss.
In his report of the engagement. General A. P. Hill says : "In
conclusion I am convinced I made the attack too hastily; at
the same time a delay of half an hour and there would have
been no enemy to attack. In that event I believe I should
equally have blamed myself for not attacking at once."

The losses sustained by Kirkland's brigade in this action :

Regiment. Killed. Wounded.

Eleventh 4 11

Twenty-sixth 16 83

Forty-fourth .23 63

Porty-seventh 5 37

Fifty-second 2 25

Total 50 219

WINTER OF 1863-'64. — the snow ball battle.

The Army of ISTorthern Virginia winter-quartered in and
around Orange Court house.

"At the first heavy fall of snow, it was suggested that there
should be a sham battle between Cooke's and Kirkland's Bri-
gades, and snow balls be the weapons used. The two brigades
paraded facing each other on opposite sides of a ravine. Col-
onel Wm. MacRae, of the Fifteenth North Carolina Regi-
ment, commanded Cooke's Brigade; as to the name of the
commander of Kirkland's, the writer is not advised. At a
given signal the battle began. At first the men contented
themselves with using snow, and all was fun and frolic ; but
as the contest waxed more animated and each side struggled
for mastery, the passions of the combatants became aroused
and the excitement of actual battle seized them; hard sub-

380 North Carolina Troops. 1861-65.

stances, frequently stones, were grabbed up with the snow and
made into a ball that had the stinging effect of the genuine ar-
ticle on the one hit, and several received injuries of a serious
nature. Colonel MacRae was pulled from his horse and
roughly handled, and the combat only ended with the exhaus-
tion of the participants, each side agreeing it should be con-
sidered a drawn battle. This affair caused some bitterness
between the brigades, which took time and comradeship, bat-
tles, privation and sufferings to destroy."

About the middle of November, 1863, Colonel Lane having
sixty days longer leave of absence, visited his regiment. He
thus writes of his visit: "I found the regiment so low in
spirits and few in number that the day I reached camp, was,
I believe, the saddest day to me of all the war. I realized
then, as not before, the deaths of my Colonel, Harry Bur-
gAvyn, of our General, Pettigrew, and so many other officers
and friends in the regiment.

"Regretting so much to see the gallant old regiment go
down, notwithstanding the fact that I was entirely unable for
active service, I reported myself for duty, when I was com-
missioned as full Colonel of the Twenty-sixth Regiment, to
date from 1 July, 1863. I went to work with all the will I
could possibly bring to bear to recruit, drill and equip my
regiment and restore it to something like its former numbers
and efficiency."

Major John T. Jones had been promoted Lieutenant-Colo-
nel, after the battle of Gettysburg, and at one time com-
manding the brigade, had been in command of the regiment
from Gettysburg until Colonel Lane's return. Captain Jas.
T. Adams, of Company D, on his return to the regiment after
his recovery from his woimd received at Gettysburg (first
day) was promoted to Major. The commissions of all bear-
ing date 1 July, 1863, in recognition of the heroic conduct
of the regiment on that day. The captaincy of Company D
was held open awaiting the return of First Jjieutenant Gas-
ton H. Broughton, wounded and captured in the third day's
fight at Gettysburg. Orderly Sergeant John A. Polk, of
Company K, promoted Second Lieutenant after Gettysburg,
where he was wounded, was appointed acting Adjutant, vice

Twenty-Sixth Rkgiment. 381

Adjutant Jordan, wounded and captured at Gettysburg.

Continuing our quotations from Colonel Lane's letter : "I
was informed by General Kirkland that if consolidation of
regiments were effected, that the Twenty-sixth Regiment was
named as one to be consolidated. I tised every influence at
my command to avert the threatened consolidation, and
through the noble concert of action of the officers of the regi-
ment, I had the proud satisfaction of seeing our efforts
crowned with success.

"Such was the harmony, energy and regimental pride of
the officers and men, and so well did they work together to
promote its interests, enlivened by such soul-inspiring music
as only Captain Mickey's band could furnish, that by the first
of May, 1864, the regiment numbered 760 strong; and so
well was it drilled that General Heth pronounced it to be
one of the 'best drilled regiments in the Army of Northern
Virginia.' The improvement in the moral and religious con-
dition of the regiment that winter was very remarkable, more
good being effected by the work of the Chaplains and their as-
sistants than during all the previous years of the war."

Many deserters returned, gave themselves up and ever af-
terwards made good soldiers, and by 5 May, 1864, this
old Twenty-sixth Regiment that had been bereft of so many
of its best officers and men at Gettysburg, and Bristoe Station,
that it came near losing its separate existence by being merged
into another, proudly marched down the plank road at the
head of Heth's division to the

battles of the wildeeness and spottsylvania coukt

HOUSE.

On 4 May, 1864, General U. S. Grant, now in command of
the armies of the United States, with General Meade in im-
mediate command of the Army of the Potomac, crossed the
Rapidan at Ely and Germania fords.

General Lee marched two corps to oppose him. Ewell's
(Second Corps) by the old turnpike, and Hill's (Third
Corps) by the Orange plank road.

Says General Lee in his report of the battle : "Ewell and
Hill arrived in the morning in close proximity to the enemy's

382 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

line of march. A strong attack was made upon Ewell, who
repulsed it, capturing many prisoners and four pieces of ar-
tillery. The enemy subsequently concentrated on Hill, who,
with Heth's and Wilcox's Divisions, successfully resisted re-
peated and desperate assaults. Early on the morning of
6 May, as these divisions were being relieved, the enemy ad-
vanced and created some confusion. The ground lost was re-
covered so soon as the fresh troops got into position and the
enemy were driven back. Afterward we txirned the left of
his front line and drove it from the field. Lieuten ant-Gen-
eral Longstreet was severely wounded."

A member of the regiment thus writes of this battle :

"ISTever did a regiment march more proudly and deter-
minedly than the Twenty-sixth, when it headed the column of
Kirkland's Brigade for the battle of the Wilderness. Beach-
ing the ground early 5 May, 1864, we passed General Lee and
his Staff. Our regiment was engaged all the first day, and suc-
ceeded in driving back the enemy and holding him in check ;
but informed we would be relieved during the night by men
of Longstreet's Corps, we did not take proper precaution and
were surprised by the enemy, who at daybreak next morning
(6 May) with great vigor, renewed the attack of the previous
afternoon, and our brigade came very near being stampeded.
And again the regiment met with serious loss in prisoners
and killed and wounded."

Colonel Lane being wounded in the thigh on the evening
before, Lieutenant-Colonel Jones was now in command of
the regiment, and while gallantly rallying his men and lead-
ing them in a charge, was mortally wounded. He asked As-
sistant Surgeon W. W. Gaither, if the wound was mortal.
When told it was, with a yearning expression he replied:
"It must not be. I was bom to accomplish more good than I
have done." Later on will be found a sketch of this noble,
gallant young soldier who died ere his prime, but left a projid
record behind him. Continuing our quotation : "The regi-
ment succeeded in holding the lines and at the critical mo-
ment, Longstreet came up with his magnificent corps in the
most perfect order I ever saw, marching his forces against

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 383

Grant like boys going to a frolic. He hurled back the enemy
and getting in their rear and left flank, was driving them in
great confusion from the field, when, like Stonewall Jack-
son, General Longstreet fell, shot down by some of his own
men (part of Mahone's Brigade) and the pursuit was stopped.
After Lieutenant-Colonel Jones was wounded, Colonel Lane
returned to duty, his wound not proving very severe.

"Lee and Grant noM' moved along on parallel lines fronting
each other like two great monsters, and the night of 7
May, found Lee's army well in line, fronting Grant, with
Longstreet's Corps, commanded by Anderson on the right,
Ewell on the left, and Hill in the center, the Twenty-sixth
Regiment being near the centre bf Hill's Corps, placed it
about the centre of the army.

THE EEBEI- TELL.

"About 8 p. m., on the night of 7 May, it became rumored
that Grant's army was moving to his left, and had lost hope
of reaching Richmond by the overland route. The rebel yell
was raised at some point on the right of the line; at first,
heard like the rumbling of a distant railroad train, it came
rushing down the lines like the surging of the waves upon the
ocean, increasing in loudness and grandeur; and passing, it
would be heard dying away on the left in the distance. Again
it was heard coming from the right to die away again on the
distant left. It was renewed three times, each time with
increased vigor. It was a yell like the defiant tones of the
thunder storm, echoing and re-echoing. It caused such dis-
may among the Federals that it is said their pickets fired and
ran in."

During the night General Lee put his army in motion for
Spottsylvania Court House, and arrived just in time, as the
enemy came in sight about 9 a. m. next morning (8 May).

The 10th was a day of vigorous battle, the enemy made in-
cessant attacks on the First Corps (Andersons), but were
continually repulsed Avith great slaughter. During the night
of the 11th, the artillery protecting Johnstons Division at the
salient was withdrawn to be ready to move to the right, when
at dawn of the 12th, Hancock's Corps attacked and captured

384 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

it, and most of Johnston's Division and twenty guns. It
has been stated that Johnston was surprised by the enemy on
this occasion. This he denies. In his report of the affair
he says : "On the night of 11 May, in riding around my
lines, I found the artillery leaving the trenches and moving
to the rear. About 12 p. m. I communicated to Lieutenant-
General Ewell my belief that I would be attacked and re-
quested the return of the artillery. There was no surprise ;
my men were up and ready for the assault before the enemy
made their appearance."

A member of the Twenty-sixth Eegiment writes :

"At the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, the Twenty-
sixth was detached from its regular place in the line and sta-
tioned about fifty yards from the Cotirt House to be in readi-
ness to support any point which might be strongly assaulted.
While we were yet lying there, General Lee came riding by on
his war horse, Traveler. Grant's artillery opened fire and
it seemed impossible that General Lee cotild escape in the
storm of shot and shell which was centered iipon him. As
quick as a flash the members of his staff placed themselves
around him to protect him with their own bodies. Such was
the sentiment in the entire army. Each one was willing to
give up his life to save that of the Commander-in-Chief. The
troops were visibly affected, as General Lee with his staff,
still svirrounding him, rode off. This incident manifested
the love, reverence and respect in which General Lee was held
by his soldiers."

At a critical time in the carapaign it was extremely diificult
to get com for the artillery horses. Three farmers living a
few miles up the river tendered General Lee two thousand
bushels of corn, but the trouble was, how to get it, as it was
necessary to send a wagon train for it and the road lay for a
greater part of the distance in close proximity to the lines of
the enemy. As an escort for this wagon train, General Lee
ordered that some regiment should be selected to whose ofiicers
the men yielded unquestioned obedience, and upon whom
they had entire reliance. The Twenty- sixth Regiment was
selected for this hazardous service; the corn was safely

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 385

brought into camp and the hungry artillery horses fed,
making it possible to move the guns, and thus relieving the
army from a threatened disaster.

BEIGADIEE-GENERAL WM. MACKAE.

On his recovery from the wound received at Bristoe Sta-
tion, General Kirkland was in command of the brigade until
he was again wounded on 2 June, 1864, when Colonel Wm.
MacRae, of the Fifteenth North Carolina Regiment, of
Cooke's Brigade, was made Brigadier-General, and assigned
to the command of Kirkland's Brigade 27 June, 1864. Gen-
eral MacRae is thus spoken of by officers of the regiment :

"General MacRae soon won the confidence and admiration
of the brigade, both officers and men. His voice was like that
of a Woman ; he was small in person, and quick in action. To
him history has never done justice. He could place his com-
mand in position quicker and infiise more of his fighting
qualities into his men, than any officer I ever saw. His
presence with his troops seemed to dispel all fear, and to in-
spire every one with a desire for the fray. The brigade re-
mained under his command until the surrender."

Another officer thus writes :

"General MacRae assigned to the brigade changed the
physical expression of the whole command in less than two
weeks, and gave the men infinite faith in him and themselves,
which was never lost, not even when they grounded arms at
Appomattox."

FEOM THE WILDBBITESS TO EICHMOITD.

On all the line from the Wilderness to Richmond and Pe-
tersburg, General Lee acted on the defensive. He suffered the
enemy to attack him, and in every instance the result proved
the wisdom of his doing so. General Lee had not a man to
lose unnecessarily. There were no reserves for him to call
upon to fill his depleted ranks. ISTot so his adversary.
As a matter of historical interest, I will quote briefly from

25

386 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

some of General Grant's dispatches to General Halleck at
Washington, D. 0., giving the losses in his army on this
march to Richmond :

"4 May, 1864: The crossing of the Rapidan effected.
Forty-eight hours will now demonstrate whether the enemy
intend giving battle this side of Richmond." It has been
shown that in less than twelve hours from the date of this dis-
patch Lee had inflicted a severe repulse upon Grant's army.

"6 May, 11:30 a. m. : We have been engaged with the
enemy in full force since early yesterday. I think all things
are progressing favorably. Our loss to this time I do not
think exceeds eight thousand.

"7 May, 10 a. m. : Our losses to this time in killed,
wounded and prisoners will not exceed twelve thousand.

"11 May, 1864 : We have lost up to this time, eleven gen-
eral officers, killed, wounded and missing, and probably
twenty thousand men.

"26 May, 1864: Lee's army is really whipped. The pris-
oners we now take show it, and the action of his army shows it
unmistakably. A battle with them outside of their intrench-
ments cannot be had. Our men feel that they have gained
the morale over the enemy and attack with confidence." A
few days later. General Grant's tone is different.

"5 June, 1864: Without a greater sacrifice of human life
than I am willing to make, all cannot be accomplished that I
had designed. I have, therefore, resolved upon the follow-
ing plan : Move to the south side of James river."

It is now well known that so disheartened was the army
of the Potomac by its fearful losses in killed, wounded and
missing from the crossing of the Rapidan to and including
the battle of Cold Harbor, June 1-3, 1864 (the official reports
make this loss over forty thousand), that at the latter battle
the soldiers refused to obey the orders to attack the Confed-
erate lines. (In this last battle the Federals lost over ten
thousand), and General Grant in his testimony before the
Congressional Committee investigating the cause of the fail-
tire at the Mine explosion (at Petersburg 30 July, 1864) gave
it as one of the explanations for the failure, the detail of

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 387

white troops rather than Ferrero's Division of negroes, to
make the assault, the white troops being demoralized from
their life in the trenches and losses in battle.

From Spottsylvania Court House to the North Anna, at
Hanover Junction, Cold Harbor, on the lines between Rich-
mond and Petersburg, the Twenty-sixth was always prompt to
respond to all orders. General Grant, like Wm. Taylor's
snake, would "wire in and wire out, and frequently left us
still in doubt, whether he was coming in or going out."

INCIDENTS OF THIS CAMPAIGN.

On two occasions while on the picket line between Spott-
sylvania Court House and Richmond, Colonel Lane's life was
probably saved by the vigilance of his men.

On one occasion Private Laban Ellis, of Company E, see-
ing a Federal soldier taking aim at the Colonel, fired so quick
that his ball struck the Federal's gun as it went off and
knocked it from his shoulder, whereupon the latter surren-
dered and said to Colonel Lane : "Your man saved you." On
another occasion, as Colonel Lane, with Ira !N'all, also of
Company E, were making a reconnoissance of the ground in
their front, ISTall spied a man a few feet away with his gun
leveled upon the Colonel. Without taking time to raise his
gun to his shoulder, ISTall fired and brought the Federal down,
killing him.

It would be impossible to state in detail all the engage-
ments in which the regiment participated along this line.
General Grant attempted to go around us, over us, and under
us (explosion of the mine, 30 June, 1864), but was foiled in
every attempt. Two of the most brilliant victories in which
MacRae's Brigade played a conspicuous part were the en-
gagements at Davis House, 19 August, and Reams Station,
25 August, 186J^. In General Lee's reports of these actions,
he thus writes 20 August, 1864: "General Hill attacked
the enemy (Fifth Corps) yesterday afternoon at Davis
House, three miles from Petersburg, on Weldon Railroad,
defeated him and captured about 2,700 prisoners, including
one Brigadier-General, and several field officers."

388 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

26 August, 1864: "General A. P. Hill attacked the enemy
in his entrenchments at Eeams Station yesterday evening and
at the second assault, carried his entire line. Cooke's, Mac-
Rae's and Lane's Brigades (under General Connor), and
Pegram's artillery, composed the assaulting column. Hill
captured nine pieces of artillery, twelve colors, 2,150 prison-
ers, 3,100 stand of small arms and 32 horses."

So altogether creditable was the conduct of these three
North Carolina Brigades as to call forth from General Lee
a letter to Governor Vance, dated 29 August, 1864, in which
he says: "I have frequently been called upon to mention
the services of the North Carolina soldiers in this army, but
their gallantry and conduct were never more deserving of
admiration than in the engagement at Eeams Station, on the
25th instant. The brigades of Generals Cooke, MacRae and
Lane, the last under the command of General Connor, ad-
vanced through a thick abatis of felled trees under a heavy
fire of musketry and artillery and carried the enemy's works '
with a steady courage that elicited the warm commendation
of their corps and division commanders, and the admiration
of the army. If the men who remain in North Carolina
share the spirit of those they have sent to the field, as I
doubt not they do, her defense may be securely entrusted in
their hands."

INCIDENTS IN THE BATTLE MAJOR GENERAL HETH A JOINT

COLOR BEARER.

The troops selected to carry the enemy's works in the early
part of the fight having been repeatedly driven back, Heth's
Division was ordered to their assistance. The division was
drawn up in line of battle with the skirmishers in front.

Lieutenant D. C. Waddell, of Company G, Eleventh North
Carolina Regiment, relates this incident to the writer. Lieu-
tenant Waddell was in command of the skirmishers on that
part of the line. Major-General Heth walked out to his line
and ordered him to send a man back to the main line and
bring a regimental flag. The messenger returned with the
color-bearer of the Twenty-sixth Regiment. General Heth
demanded the flag. The color-bearer refused to give it up,

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 389

saying: "General, tell me where you want the flag to go and
I will take it. I won't surrender up my colors." The Gen-
eral again made the demand, and was met by the same refusal,
when taking the eolor-bearer by the arm, he said : "Come on
then, we will carry the colors together." Then giving the
signal to charge by waving the flag to the right and the
left, the whole line with a yell, started for the enemy's works.
The abatis protecting the enemy's lines was interlaced with
wire in places, but charging through and over and around it
all, the Confederate line rushed up to the works, and Gen-
eral Heth, and his co-color-bearer, planted the flag on the en-
trenchments behind which lay the enemy, most of whom
thereupon surrendered. Thomas Minton, of Company C,
from Wilkes County, was the name of this gallant color-
bearer. He was subsequently killed with his colors in the
action near Burgess Mill, 27 October, 1864. This gallant
soldier was also wounded at Gettysburg.

This courageous assault was necessarily attended with con-
siderable loss in killed and wounded. Coloned Lane was
again so unfortunate as to be wounded. He was struck by a
piece of shell in the left breast just over the heart, fracturing
two ribs and breaking one and tearing open the flesh to the
bones, making a fearful wound six inches long and three
wide, from which it was thought he would surely die. But
about the first of JSTovember he Avas again back with his com-
mand ready for duty.

Among the other officers of the Twenty-sixth Regiment
killed in these almost daily engagements with the enemy, was
Captain Henry C. Albright, of Company G. He fell mor-
tally wounded at the head of his company in repulsing an
attack on the Vaughn Roads, 29 September, 1864. It would
seem he had a presentment of his death. Captain Albright
had been in every engagement and battle in which his regi-
ment participated from New Bern, up to that day, and es-
caped from even a slight wound. On the day he was wounded
he remarked to a friend : "Oh, how I dread this day." He
was carried to the Winder hospital, insisting that he be placed
in the ward where his soldier boys were, rather than in the
Officer's hospital. He lingered until 21 October, 1864. He

390 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

was carried home and buried in his family grave yard at
Pleasant Hill, Chatham County. A handsome monument
marks the spot.

He was succeeded by First Lieutenant A. K. Johnson, who
was such a martinet that the boys called him "Bob Ransom."
lew companies in the Confederate army had better officers
than Company G. Lieutenant-Colonel James T. Adams was
now in command of the Twenty-sixth, and remained so until
Colonel Lane returned to duty as stated above.

Heth's Division being on the extreme right of the Confed-
erate line defending Petersburg, were among the troops first
to be called upon to resist any flank movement on the part of
General Grant; and there was fighting almost daily along
their front and flank.

At Burgess Mills, 27 October, 1864, where Hancock lost
1,482 in killed and wounded ; on Warren's expedition with
the Fifth Corps to destroy Weldon bridge when he was met
and driven back at Belfield 7-1 2 December, 1864 ; in the severe
engagements at Hatcher's Run, 5-6 February, 1865, with
Warren's Corps (Fifth) and Gregg's Division of cavalry, in
which Warren admits a loss of 1,376 killed and wounded and
missing ; in all these actions MacRae's Brigade was actively
engaged and maintained its high prestige to the end. Of the
suffering borne without murmuring, and fortitude displayed
by these heroic soldiers, when every one realized the cause
was lost and the end must soon come, I quote from General
Lee's report of this Hatcher Run fight, dated 8 February,
1865 : "Yesterday, the most inclement day of the winter,
the troops had to be retained in line of battle, having been in
the same condition the two previous days and nights. I re-
gret to be obliged to state that under these circumstances,
heightened by the assault and the fire of the enemy, some of
the men were suffering from rediiced rations and scant cloth-
ing, exposed to battle, cold, hail and sleet. I have directed
Colonel Cole, chief commissary, who reports that he has not
a pound of meal at his disposal, to visit Richmond and see if
something cannot be done. If some change is not made, and
the Commissary Department not reorganized, I apprehend
dire results. The physical strength of the men, their cour-

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 391

age, services, must fail under this treatment. Our cavalry
has to be dispersed for the want of forage. I had to bring
Wm. H. F. Lee's Division forty miles Sunday night to get
him in position." President Davis endorses this report as
follows: "This is too sad to be patiently considered, and
cannot have occurred without criminal neglect or gross in-
capacity. Let supplies be had by purchase or borrowing, or
other possible mode."

APPOMATTOX, 9 APRIL, 1865.

On 28 March, 1863, General Fitzhugh Lee was ordered to
move his division of cavalry, then on the extreme left of the
Confederate lines in front of Richmond on the north side of
the James river, to Sutherland's Station on the south side of
the railroad, 19 miles from Petersburg, which he reached
on the 29th, and next day marched towards Dinwiddle Court
House, via Five Forks.

On 29 March, 1865, General Lee advises Secretary of War,
General John C. Breckenridge, that "the enemy have crossed
Hatcher's Run with a large force of cavalry and infantry and
artillery."

On 1 April "that General Pickett, with three of his own
and two of General Johnson's (Bushrod) Brigades, supported
the cavalry under General Fitz. Lee, at Five Forks ; that Gen-
eral Pickett forced his way to within less than a mile of Din-
widdle Court House, but later a large force, believed to be the
Fifth Corps (Warren's), with other troops, turned Pickett's
left and drove him back on the White Oak Road and separa-
ted him from General Fitz. Lee, who was compelled to fall
back across Hatcher's Run ; General Pickett's present position
not known."

On 1 April, Longstreet was ordered with two of his divis-
ions to the south side, and General W. ~S. Pendleton, chief of
Artillery, was ordered at 8 p. m. to withdraw all his guns,
which he in his report says, "was accomplished with great suc-
cess, only sixty-one gTms and thirteen caisons of the 250 field
pieces belonging to the army on the lines near Richmond and
Petersburg remained behind."

On 2 April (received at 10:40 a. m.) General Lee dis-

392 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

patches President Davis : "I see no prospect of doing more
than hjlding our position here till night." Later on same
day (rjceived at 7 p. m.) : "It is absolutely necessary that
we should abandon our position tonight, or run the risk of
being cut off in the morning."

General E. S. Ewell in his report, says : "At 10 a. m. Sun-
day (2 April, 1865), received message to return to the city
of Eichmond, and on doing so received the order for the evac-
uation and to destroy the stores that could not be moved. A
mob of both sexes and all colors soon collected, and about 3
a. m. (3 April) they set fire to some buildings on Gary street,
and began to plunder the city. I then ordered all my staff
and couriers to scour the streets and sent v?ord to General
Kershaw, whose command was garrisoning Fort Gibner, on
the lines north of Eichmond, to hurry his leading regiment
into town. By daylight the riot was subdued, but many
buildings which I had carefully directed should be spared,
had been fired by the mob. By 7 a. m. the last troops had
reached the south side, and Mayo's and the railroad bridges
were on fire. I am convinced the burning of Eichmond was
the work of incendiaries."

On the afternoon of 6 April, Lieu1i*nant-General Ewell
and Major-General G. W. C. Lee, and their commands, were
captured.

On the night of Y April General Grant sent a note to Gen-
eral Lee, asking his surrender, to which General Lee replied,
the time for surrender had not come. General Lee was still
in hopes he could reach Appomattox Court House and there
obtain supplies, and thence push on behind the Staunton
river, and eventually unite with General Joseph E. John-
ston somewhere in JSTorth Carolina. General Lee, with the
remnant of his army, reached the neighborhood of Appomat-
tox Court House on the evening of 8 April, but Sheridan's
cavalry had gotten there first, captured the trains with the
supplies, and obstructed Lee's further advance.

On the morning of the 9th, General Lee sent a flag of truce
to General Grant, asking for an interview, and the same
morning the two Generals met in the house of Mr. Wilmer
McLean, in the village of Appomattox Court House, and the

Twenty-Sixth" Regiment. 393

terms of tlie surrender were agreed upon. Tliese were that
the men and officers were to be paroled on a pledge not to take
up arms again until properly exchanged. The officers were
to retain their side arms, private horses and baggage. Those
enlisted men who owned the artillery and cavalry horses or
mules they were using, were also allowed to retain them.
General Grant saying he supposed "most of the men in the
ranks were small farmers who would need their horses to put
in a crop to carry themselves and families through the next
winter." It required several days to parole those surren-
dered, (some escaped to join Johnston's army and refused to
surrender) and then, in groups and squads, or one by one,
the paroled men dispersed to reach their homes as best they
could. Thousands of them were penniless Many had hun-
dreds of miles to travel, without money or means of transpor-
tation, but there was no rioting or outrage as they moved
through the land, everywhere desolated and despoiled, to find
their homes, in many cases, laid waste and destroyed. The
same constancy and devotion to their country which had sus-
tained them amid battle and strife imparalled, nerved them
to face courageously tljis dark time of defeat and disappoint-
ment and to do their -best to retrieve the widespread ruin of
their beloved South."

In these last days of the war, the Twenty-sixth Regiment
sustained severe losses in killed and wounded. Lieutenant
J. W. Richardson was killed at Reams Station, and at Five
Forks (1 April, 1865) Captain Thomas Lilly, who had suc-
ceeded Captain J. C. McLauchlin as Captain of Company K,
and been put in command of the brigade sharpshooters, was
killed. He was one of the best officers in the regiment. Col-
onel Lane, during the winter of 1864-5, suffered much from
his wounds, especially the one in the neck and face, and about
the middle of March went to the hospital at Salisbury for
treatment. He was there when General Lee surrendered,
and on 2 May, 1865, was paroled at Greensboro, IST. C, with
Johnston's army.

Lieutenant-Colonel Adams took command of the regi-
ment after Colonel Lane went to the hospital, and except a
few days on the retreat when he was temporarily in command

394 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

of the brigade, was with his regiment. In his absence Cap-
tain T. J. Cureton, of Company B, commanded the Twerrty-
sixth, and surrtmdered the regiment at Appomattox. Lien-
tenant-Colonel Adams, however, signing the paroles.

WUMBEES PAROLED AT APPOMATTOX.

On 1 March, 1865, the Brigade Inspector reported the
strength of MacRae's Brigade, present and effective for the
field:

Ofiicers ^^

Enlisted men 1,119

Total .- 1,1T4

The capitulation rolls at Appomattox showed :

Enlisted

Heth's Division. Ofiicers. Men.

Major-General Harry Heth and Staff 15 ...

John E. Cooke's Brigade TO 490

Joseph R. Davis' Brigade 21 54

Wm. MacRae's Brigade 42 400

Wm. McCounel's (formerly Archer's and

Thomas') " 54 426

The rolls for the entire army surrendered by General Lee :

Enlisted
Officers. Men.

General Headquarters 69 212

Infantry 2,235 20,114

Cavalry 134 1,425

Artillery 184 2,392

Miscellaneous 159 1,307

Total 2,781 25,450-28,231

The number surrendered by the several regiments of Mac-
Rae's Brigade:

Eleventh Regiment, commanded by Colonel Wm. J. Mar-
tin, 74 muskets.

TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.

1 J D Mclver, Captain, Co. H. 4. W. W. Gaither, Assistant Surgeon.

2 Thomas Lilly, Captain, Co. K, 5. George Wilcox, 1st Lieut., Co. M.

3' Jas C McLauchlin, Captain, Co. K 6. Orran A. Hanner, 1st Lieut., Co. E,
7. J. G. Jones, 1st Lieut., Co. D.

Twenty-Sixth Eegiment. 395

Twenty-sixth Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel
J. T. Adams, 120 muskets.

Forty-fourth Regiment, commanded by Major C. M. Sted-
man, 74 muskets.

Forty-seventh Regiment, commanded by Captain J. H.
Thorpe, 72 muskets.

Fifty-second Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel
E. Erson, 60 muskets.

There was but one regiment in Heth's division that sur-
rendered more muskets than did the Twenty-sixth, and that
was the Fifteenth North Carolina Regiment, in Cooke's Bri-
gade, which surrendered 122 muskets. In Major Moore's
"Roster of JSTorth Carolina Troops" the aggregate of num-
bers enrolled in the Twenty-sixth Regiment is put down as
1,898, which is more than was enrolled in any regiment fur-
nished the Confederate armies from North Carolina, accord-
ing to said Roster.

EECAPITULATION OF THE COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF THE

EEGIMENT.

(The field officers and captains are mentioned in the order
of the date of their commissions ; but the Lieutenants alpha-
betically, and their relative rank is not set out, as it is impos-
sible in all cases to give. )

Colonels — Z. B. Vance, H. K. Burgwyn, Jr., John R.
Lane.

Lieutenant Colonels — LI. K. Burgwyn, Jr., John R.
Lane, John T. Jones, James T. Adams.

Majors — Abner B. Carmichael, IST. P. Rankin, James S.
Kendall, John T. Jones, James T. Adams.

Adjutants — James B. Jordan. Acting at different times
as Adjutant, Lieutenants John A. Polk, A. R. Johnson, Wm.
N. Snelling.

SuEGEONS — Thomas J. Boykin, Llewellyn P. Warren.

Assistant StEGEONS — Daniel M. Shaw, Wm. W. Gaither.
Acting at different times as Assistant Surgeon, Captain W.
S. McLean, Lieutenant George C. Underwood.

Regimental Quaeteemastee — Captain Joseph J. Young.

396 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

Eegimental Gommissaey — Captain Kobert W. Goldston,
Fhineas Horton.

Seegeant Majoes— L. L. Polk, Montford S. McEae,

John E. Moore.

QuAETEEMASTEE Seegeant — Abram J. Lane.

Gommissaey Seegeant — Jesse F. Ferguson.

Oednance Seegeant — E. H. Horhaday.

Hospital Stewaed — Benjamin Hind.

Chaplains— Kev. Robert H. Marsh, Eichard Nye Price,
Styring S. Moore, John Huske Tillinghast.

Company A — Captains, A. N. McMillan, Samuel P.
Wagg, A. B. Duvall. Lieutenants, A. B. Duvall, J. M. Du-
vall, L. C. Gentry, J. B. Houck, James Porter, George E.
Eeeves, Jesse A. Eeeves.

Company B — Captains, J. J. C. Steele, William Wilson,
Thomas J. Cureton. Lieutenants, A. Brietz, Taylor G.
Cureton, Thos. J. Cureton, Calvin Dickinson, Wm. M. Es-
tridge, John W. Eichardson, Wm. W. Eichardson, Wm. Wil-
son.

Company C — Captains, A. B. Carmichael, A. H. Horton,
Thos. L. Ferguson, J. A. Jarrett. Lieutenants, Wm. W.
Hampton, John M. Harris, A. H. Horton, Eufus D. Horton,
Phineas Horton, J. A. Jarratt, Wm. Porter.

Company D — Captains, Oscar E. Eand, James T. Adams,
Gaston H. Broughton. Lieutenants, James T. Adams, Gas-
ton H. Broughton, James G. M. Jones, James B. Jordan,
Wm. Snelling, James W. Vinson, M. J. Woodall.

Company E — Captains, W. S. Webster, Stephen W. Brew-
er. Lieutenants, Stephen W. Brewer, Bryant C. Dunlap,
John E. Emerson, Orran A. Hanner, Wm. J. Headen, W. J.
Lambert, E. H. McManus.

Company F — Captains, N. P. Eankin, Joseph E. Ballew,
Eomulus M. Tuttle. Lieutenants, Joseph E. Ballew, Abner

B. Hayes, John B. HoUoway, E. N. Hudspeth, Alfred T.
Stuart, Charles M. Sudderth, E. M. Tuttle.

Company G — Captains, W. S. McLean, John E. Lane, H.

C. Albright, A. E. Johnson; Lieutenants, H. C. Albright,

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 397

A. R. Johnson, Wm. G. Lane, J. A. Lowe, John E. Matthews,
Samuel E. Teague, George C. Underwood.

Company H — Captains, Wm. P. Martin, Clement Dowd,
J. D. Mclver, M. McLeod. Lieutenants, Clement Dowd,
Robert W. Qoldston, J. H. McGilvery, James D. Mclver, M.
McLeod, George Willcox.

Company I — Captains, Wilson A. White, John T. Jones,
N. G. Bradford. Lieutenants, M. B. Blair, N. G. Bradford,
John Carson, Rufus Deal, S. P. Dula, J. C. Greer, John T.
Jones, J. G. Sudderth.

Company K — Captains, James C. Carraway, John C. Mc-
Lauchlin, Thomas Lilly. Lieutenants, Wm. C. Boggan, J.
L. Henry, Wm. L. Ingram, James S. Kendall, Thomas
Lilly, John C. McLauchlin, J. A. Polk.

The casualties in the regiment among the above officers
from first to last were as follows :

KIIiLED.

Colonel H. K. Burgwyn, Jr., Lieutenant-Colonel John T.
Jones, Major Abner C. Carmichael, Captains Albright, Lilly,
Martin, Wilson and Wagg; Lieutenants J. M. Duvall, Deal,
Emerson, Hayes, Henry, HoUoway, John W. Richardson,
William W. Richardson, C. M. Sudderth, Teague, Wood-
all— 19.

WOUNDED.

Colonel John R. Lane, Lieutenant-Colonel James T.
Adams, Adjutant James B. Jordan; Captains Bradford,
Brewer, Broughton, Oureton, A. B. Duvall, Jarrett, Mc-
Lauchlin, McLeod, McMillan, Tuttle; Lieutenants Brietz,
Estridge, Gentry, Green, Hanner, R. D. Horton, Houck,
Hudspeth, Ingram, J. G. M. Jones, Lambert, W. G. Lane,
Lowe, McGilvery, McManus, Polk, Porter, Snelling, Will-
cox— 32.

Many of the above were wounded more than once.

CHIEF SAMUEL T. MIGKEY^S BAND.

A history of the Twenty-sixth Regiment would not be
complete without an account of its band, regarded as one of

398 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

the best in the Army of JSTorthern Virginia. It was recruited
chiefly from Salem, JST. 0., and most of its members belonged
to a band in that town prior to the war. Samuel Timothy
Mickey, of Salem, was the leader, and the names of the other
members are as follows: A. P. Gibson, J. A. Lineback, H.
A. Siddell, W. H. Hall, Julius A. Transon, Charles Traji-
son, A. L. Hauser, A. Meinung, W. A. Lemly, D. T. Grouse,
J. 0. Hall, W. A. Eeich, D. J. Hackney, Edward Peterson.
Only one of them died during the war, viz., A. L. Hauser.

Captain Mickey still leads a band in Salem, and is a pros-
perous mechanic. W. A. Lemley is the president of the
Wachovia National Bank, of Winston, N. C, and J. D.
Hackney is a Baptist Preacher.

The band was recruited for Wheeler's Battalion, but at the
capture of that command at Roanoke Island, Captain
Mickey went to New Bern to seek employment. He thus de-
scribes his first meeting with Colonel Vance : "I was sitting
in the lobby of the Gaston House, New Bern, when a man
wearing a Colonel's uniform came in with a loaf of bread
under each arm. This was Zeb Vance. I spoke to him and
told him my errand. Colonel Vance replied: 'You are the
very man I am looking for. You represent the Salem band.
Come to my regiment at Wood's brick yard, four miles below
New Bern.' Next morning (March, 1862~), I went down to
the camp, was met by Captain Horton, of Company C, and
as the result of my visit, the band was engaged and at first it
was paid by the officers." The members being musicians of
unusual cultivation and intelligence, under Captain Mickey's
indefatigable labors, the band soon acquired great celebrity
and was in constant demand for serenades and military
parades. On the Sunday before Gettysburg, at Fayetteville,
Pa., Chaplain Wells preached before the Brigade. His text
was "The Harvest is past, and the Summer is ended and we
are not saved." It was an eloquent discourse and made a
great impression. After the services were over, and the
band returned to its quarters, the drummer (W. A. Eeich) re-
marked : "Boys, I believe we are going to lose our Colonel in
the next fight. Did you notice his looks during the ser-
mon?" Captain Mickey replied: "Yes, I did; he looked

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 399

right serious." As appears above in this history their Colo-
nel was lost to them in the next fight.

Captain Mickey thus writes of Gettysburg : "The Yankees
were in three lines on the hill pouring volley after volley on
our men as they came through the fields. The color guard
were all shot down, the colors fell fourteen times. Colonel
Burgwyn was shot down with the colors, and Captain Mc-
Creery of General Pettigrew's staff, was also killed with the
colors. General Pettigrew said the men of the Twenty-sixth
shot as if they were shooting at squirrels; that their shots
counted. After the first day's battle, Colonel Marshall, com-
manding the brigade, sent an order for the bands of the
Twenty-sixth and Eleventh Regiments to report to his head-
quarters, that the men were anxious to hear some music. The
two bands played numerous pieces which seemed to enliven
and cheer the soldiers. While the bands were playing, they
were shelled by the enemy, and as they left a shell burst just
where they had been standing.

"On the retreat from Gettysburg to Bunker Hill, the band
serenaded General Lee and other officers. After the serenade
to General Lee, Colonel Taylor, his Adjutant General, came
out of his tent and made a little talk. Thanked the band for
the serenade, and said he didn't know how they would get
along without bands ; that they cheered up the men so much ;
that he noticed the style of our music was different from that
of the other bands in the army." Mr. W. H. Hall was cap-
tured near Green Castle on this retreat.

Just before the campaign of the Wilderness opened. Colo-
nel Lane took his band in a four-horse wagon to serenade Gen-
eral Lee at night. The Colonel was invited into General
Lee's tent while the music was playing. General Lee re-
marked that we would not be idle many days ;• that Grant was
making preparations to cross ; and General Lee then said if he
could only strike him with his center, he though he would be
able to make him recross in a way not so pleasant as was his
coming over. "I can re-enforce from each wing," said Gen-
eral Lee.

Later on in the conversation, General Lee remarked: "I
don't believe we can have an army without music."

400 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

During the Spring of 1862-'63, and the winter of 1863-'64,
the band was granted a furloiagh and gave several concerts in
different parts of the State, and everywhere met with the most
enthusiastic reception. They played at Governor Vance's
first inauguration.

The band remained with the regiment to the end and was
captured on the retreat from Petersburg and taken to City
Point, and thence to Point Lookout. They were finally re-
leased, and Captain Mickey reached home (Salem) on 3
July, 1865.

desertions.

A few words on this subject is of historical interest. Ex-
cept in the closing days of the struggle, there were few, if any,
desertions to the enemy. There were numerous cases of ab-
sence without leave, btit the parties did not mean to desert
their colors. Impelled by an irresistible yearning to see those
they had left behind in their humble homes, they would go
home without leave, but when this longing was gratified, they
would voluntarily rejoin their commands and do as loyal ser-
vice as any.

It became finally necessary to visit the death penalty in
instances, as an example to deter others. Sergeant Andrew
Wyatt, Company B, and some ten others of the regiment on
10 December, 1862, deserted while the regiment was sta-
tioned at Garysburg, IST. C. They started for their homes in
the Western part of the State, biit were arrested at a crossing
on the Koanoke river. The Sergeant was court-martialed,
convicted and condemned to be shot. While in camp near
Magnolia, IST. C, January 1863, he was taken out in a wagon
to the place of his execution, where the brigade was dravim up
in a three-quarter square to witness the shooting. The pris-
oner was blindfolded, ordered to Imeel down by the freshly
dug grave, the firing squad stood with their guns at a "ready"
and the ofiicer was reading the sentence, when an orderly rode
up with an order from General French, commanding the de-
partment, granting a pardon. Subsequent to his conviction
the ofiicers of the regiment became satisfied that the Sergeant
only intended to go home and see his family, and then return

Twenty-Sixth Eegiment. 401

to his command, and on their request, his life was spared.
Sergeant Wyatt was killed at Gettysburg, bravely doing his
duty in that famous first day's battle.

While at Hanover Junction in June, 1863, Colonel Lane
was president of a general court-martial. Several of his reg-
iment had been tried for desertion and sentenced to be shot,
and were awaiting their execution. Among them was John
Vinson, a member of Colonel Lane's old company (Company
G). When the regiment started for Pennsylvania these pris-
oners were marched at the rear of the regiment under guard.
Riding by their side one day, Colonel Lane remarked to
them : "Are you in sympathy with the South, and if permitted
to do so, will you help us fight in this next battle ?" They
said: "We will. We only wished to go home to see our
folks." General Lee informed of this, ordered them restored
to duty, and no soldiers fought better at Gettysburg. John
Vinson was wounded with the colors of the regiment, having
volunteered to carry them. S. T. Dula, of Company I, was
recommended by Major Jones for promotion for gallant con-
duct at Gettysburg, where he was wounded.

After the return to Virginia, he deserted, but voluntarily
returned to the regiment after an absence of two or three
weeks. Major Jones sent for him and said to him: "What
in the world did jou mean by doing this. Yoti have put me
in a devil of a fix." Dula replied that "he heard his wife had
had a little one, and he could not resist going home to see it."
He was allowed to go on duty, and was killed at Bristoe Sta-
tion, leading the charge.

Governor Vance was most energetic in getting these "absent
without leave" men to return to their commands. He issued
several proclamations on the subject. In the proclamation
dated 27 January, 1863, he promised to use his influence with
the authorities to pardon all those who would return to duty
voluntarily. Many returned to their commands in response
to this proclamation, and General Lee writes Governor Vance
under date of 26 March, 1863 : "I at once remitted the pen-
alties inflicted by the courts, and restored the men to duty. I
also directed that no charges should be preferred against sol-
26

402 NoETH Caeolina Troops, 1861-'65.

diers who returned to duty under the promises contained in
your proclamation."

Governor Vance ordered the militia officials to assist the
Confederate authorities in arresting those who continued to
remain away without leave. On one occasion there was a
fight between his militia officers and some deserters resisting
arrest, in which one of the militia was killed. The deserter
who did the killing was arrested and a habeas corpus was sued
out before Chief Justice Pearson, of the State Supreme
Court, who discharged the prisoner on the ground that the
militia had no authority to arrest a deserter from the Confed-
erate army. This first proclamation was followed by two
others dated 11 May and 24 August, 1864. In this last one,
Governor Vance gives this notice : "Warning is hereby given
that in all cases where either Civil Magistrate or Militia,
or home guard officers refuse or neglect faithfully to per-
form their duties in the arrest of deserters, upon proper evi-
dence submitted to me, the Executive protection extended
to them under Acts of Congress (Confederate) shall be with-
drawn, as I cannot certify that officers. Civil or Military, who
refuse to perform their duties are necessary to the administra-
tion of laws which they will not execute."

MOEALE OF THE COITrEDEEATE SOLDIEE.

In his Personal Memoirs, General Grant, writing of the
conduct of the Confederate troops as late as 6 April, 1865,
three days before the surrender at Appomattox, uses these
words: "There was as much gallantry displayed by some of
the Confederates in these little engagements as was displayed
at any time during the war, notwithstanding the sad defeats
of the past week." On that day (6 April, 1865), Colonel
Washburn with two regiments of infantry and eight of cav-
alry, under Colonel Eead, of General Ord's Staff, with or-
ders to destroy the liigh Bridge over the Appomattox river
near Farmville, returning from the expedition, met the ad-
vance of a detachment of the Confederate army on its retreat
marching in the same direction. Colonel Washburn gave the
order to charge. It was unsuccessful. Colonels Washburn
and Eead were mortally wounded, nearly every officer and

Twenty-Sixth Eegiment. 403

most of the rank and file were killed or wounded, and the
balance were captured.

Finally as his reasons for surrender, General Lee says:

"On the morning of 9 April, 1865, there were. 7,892 organ-
ized infantry Avitb arms, 6.3 pieces of artillery, and 2,100
cavalry. We had no subsistence for man or horse, and it
could not be gathered in the country, and the men deprived of
food and sleep for many days were worn out and exhausted."

A member of the regiment thus writes under date of 3 Au-
gust, 1900: "The morale, the elan, the physique of the
TAventy-sixth, has not been equalled. My greatest glory is
that I was so intimately associated with its history."

We will bring this history to a close by a short biographi-
cal sketch of some of those through whose labors and- military
skill the regiment was brought to that state of high efficiency
which enabled it to accomplish stich feats of arms as will for
all time set it apart as one of the most famous military com-
mands in the annals of war.

The youthfulness of the officers of the regiment was re-
markable. Colonel Burgwyn's class at the Virginia Military
Institute was not to have graduated until June, 1861, but
was graduated in April previous, to enable its members to of-
fer their services in the war then inevitable between the
United States and the ]Srew Confederacy of Southern States,
organized at Montgomery, Ala., February, 1861.

Lieutenant-Colonel John T. Jones was to have graduated at
Chapel Hill (University of the State) in June, 1861, but
volunteered in a company organized at Chapel Hill in the
Spring of 1861, that became Company D, of the Bethel Reg-
iment.

Captains Wilson, Albright, Tuttle, and McLaughlin, also
left college prior to their graduation, to join the army.

Colonel Vance Avas thirty-one years old and Colonel Lane
twenty-six when they volunteered. Lieutenant-Colonel
Adams had barely attained his majority when he was elected
Third Lieutenant in the Wake Guards, and Captains Wilson,
Lilly, Broughton, Cureton, Duvall, and the company officers.

404 ISToETH Carolina Troops^ 1861-'65.

almost withoTit exception, were under twenty-five years of age
when they volunteered.

COLONEL ZEBTJLON BAIRD VANCE.

The civic career of this distinguished citizen of JSTorth
Carolina appears in so many publications we will confine our
remarks entirely to his military record. A member of the
regiment thus speaks of him as a soldier : "I remember well
the first time I ever saw him. He had no appearance in the
world of a soldier; his hair was long and flowing over his-
shoulders, and he was wearing a little seal skin coat, from
which I jiidged him to be a Chaplain. He had not long been
absent from the hustings of Western JSTorth Carolina, and had-
but little experience in war as Captain in the Fourteenth
Regiment. When he came to the camp he soon began to dis-
play the same qualities which made him so popular all over
our State.

"In the first place he had the keenest sympathy with hia
men. They soon came to feel that Colonel Vance loved them^
and made their troubles his own. In the next place, Colonel
Vance was able to inspire his men with the belief that he had
confidence in them. These two essentials to a good com-
manding officer were, perhaps never possessed by any man to-
a greater degree than by Colonel Vance.

"In drill and discipline. Colonel Vance was at first defi-
cient. I mention this not in any way to discredit him, for'
his life as a politician had given him no opportunity to de-"
velop these essentials in the character of an officer.

"I mention the fact to show the wisdom he displayed in
the matter, for wlien he saw his regiment deteriorating, he
recognized his deficiency and set about to correct it. He
turned to his Lieutenant-Colonel, Harry King Burgwyn, who
had been trained at the Virginia Military Institute, and was
a very master of drill and discipline. He put himself and
his subordinates under the tutorship of this brilliant young
officer. The result was most" satisfactory. Colonel Vance
and many of his officers soon became well schooled in the
methods of drill and discipline, and his regiment became al-
most a perfect instrument of war, devoted to their com-
mander. In battle I always marked him as cool and coura--

J.E.Lane. H. K. Burgwyn. Z.B.Vance.

Three Clolonela of the 26th N. C. Regiment.

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 405

geous. When duty called Vance from the army to be Gov-
ernor of North Carolina, in the most trying period of the war,
he had gained much from his career as Colonel of the Twen-
tv-sixth that I believe he found valuable in his future duties.
He had a sympahtetic knowledge of the needs of the Con-
federate soldier, the war wrought into his sinews; he knew
how with all his kindness to deal firmly with men and affairs.
He was a better Governor for having been Colonel."

COLONEL IIAEBY KING BUEGWYNj JE.

A short time after the death of this young officer, born 3
October, 1841, probably the youngest of his rank in the Con-
federate army — obituary notices appeared in the Raleigh pa-
pers. From one of them we copy : "It would be unjust to the
liAang no less than to the memory of the young hero and
martyr who now sleeps beneath the sod of a distant and for-
eign State, were the death of Colonel Harry King Burgwyn,
Jr., permitted to pass with the brief notice of his fall pub-
lished in a late number of this paper.

"The life, career and death of young Burgwyn, convey a
lesson to the youth of this Confederacy which cannot be too
well studied and thoroughly profited by. He was the eld-
est son of Henry King Burgwyn, Esq., of ISTorthampton
County, in this State, his mother was Miss Anna Greenough,
of Boston, Mass., and had barely attained the age of twenty-
one years when he attested his love for his country by the sac-
rifice of his life on the altar of its liberties. ■ Born to the en-
joyment of affluence, he might, as too many of our youth do,
have been content to grow up in idleness and luxurious ease.
But such a life had no charms for him. Blessed with a fine
capacity and docile disposition, he well availed himself of the
abundant means of education afforded him by his parents.

"His education preparatory to his entrance into the Univer-
sity of the State, was partly from private tutors in the family
and at Burlington, JSTew Jersey, and at West Point, where he
was a private pupil of Foster, — now the Yankee General at
T^ew Bern. Leaving West Point, he entered the University
of his State, and graduated with the highest honors (1S59).
At this period he might, as the phrase goes, have been consid-

406 ISToRTii Caeoi.ina Troops, 1861-'65.

ered 'educated.' ISTot so, however, thought his father. Fore-
seeing the difficulties which have culminated in a war between
the South and the "JSTorth, and desirous that his son should be
prepared for usefulness in every emergency, he placed him
in the Virginia Military Institute, where he was when hos-
tilities commenced. Of the course of young Burgwyn in
that institution an idea may be formed from the following
letter from the now lamented Stonewall Jackson:

"Lexington, Va., April 16, 1S61.
SiE : — The object of this letter is to recommend Cadet H.
K. Burgwyn, of North Carolina, for a commission in the ar-
tillery of the Southern Confederacy. Mr. B. is not only
a high-toned Southern gentleman, but in consequence of the
highly practical as well as scientific character of his mind,
he possesses qualities well calculated to make him an orna-
ment not only to the artillery, biit to any branch o£ the mili-
tary service. T. J. Jackson,

Prof. Nat. Phil, and Instr. Va. M. I.
To L. P. Walker, Secretary of War.'

"The discriminating and sagacious judgment of the pro-
fessor has been fully attested by the career of the pupil from
the moment he entered the service to the day on which he met
a soldier's fate on the bloodiest field of the war, as with colors
in hand, he was leading his men on to victory. When New
Bern fell, he was the last man of his regiment to cross the
creek on the retreat — having refused to enter the boat until
all were safely passed over. On this occasion young Bur-
gwyn was Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment, the Colonel
being the present Governor, Vance.

"From this State we follow the subject of our narrative to
the bloody fields around "Richmond, winding up with the ter-
rific fight at Malvern' Hill, in which his regiment was unsur-
passed for heroism by any troops on the field.

"On the resignation of Colonel Vance, when he became Gov-
ernor-elect of the State, young BurgAvyn was promoted Colo-
nel, and soon thereafter we find him again in service in his
native State. In the critical campaign in Martin County,
when the enemy were threatening disastrous consequences to

Twenty-Sixth Kegiment. 407

the region of the Roanoke river, we find Colonel Burgwyn
performing signal services, especially in the engagement of
Eawls' Mills, where he displayed a cool judgment and indom-
itable courage of which a veteran of many years standing
might have been protid. In all the course of this career, so
well calculated "to turn the head" of one so young. Colonel
Burgwyn displayed a modesty so commendable that he
silenced the tongue of envy and won the confidence of his
brothers in arms. When on Governor Vance's resignation, it
was suggested that he was too young, for the Colonelcy, Gen-
eral D. H. Hill wrote of him: 'Lieutenant-Colonel Bur-
gwyn has shown the highest qualities of a soldier and officer,
in camp and on the battle field, and ought by all means to be
promoted.'

"As we have seen, Colonel Burgwyn did receive the promo-
tion and subsequently was strongly recommended for the
higher command of Brigadier-General.

"We have thus given a brief sketch of the career of one
whose death in the very outset of manhood prompts the ques-
tion, 'If he was such in the gristle, what would he not have
been in the bone ?' "

His last words after sending a farewell to his parents and
family were : "Tell the General my men never failed me
at a single point." "Felix non solum claritate vitae, sed
etiam opportunitate mortis."

In a letter from Major George P. Collins, Brigade Quarter-
master, written from the battle field and dated 3 July, 1863,
and addressed to Colonel Burgwyn's father at Raleigh, !N". C,
he thus describes the end : "Captain J. J. Young (Regimen-
tal Qiiarterm aster) has undertaken to give you the sad news
of your son's death, but I cannot let the opportunity pass
without expressing my deep sympathy with his bereaved par-
ents and family, as well as testifying to the gallant and sol-
dierly manner in which he met his death. He was one of
eleven (afterwards ascertained to be fourteen) shot bearing
the colors of his regiment, and fell with his sword in his hand,
cheering his men on to victory. The ball passed through the
lower part of both lungs and he lived about two hours. Among
his last words he asked how his men fought, and said they

408 NoETH Caeolina Troops, 1861-'65.

would never disgrace him. He died in the arms of Lieuten-
ant Louis G. Young (Aide de Camp to General Pettigrew)
bidding all farewell and sending love to his mother, father,
sister and brothers." He was buried under a walnut tree (a
gun case answering for a cofRn) by Major Collins and Cap-
tain J. J. Young, assisted by M. F. Boyle, of Company B,
the regimental mail carrier, and by Jesse T. Ferguson, of
Company C, the regimental Commissary Sergeant. In the
Spring of 1867 his remains were brought from Gettysburg,
and re-interred in the Soldier's Cemetery at Raleigh, where
he rests in the midst of his comrades who wore the gray, and
who, like him, gave up their lives in the defense of a cause
they believed holy and just. A handsome monument erected
by his parents marks the grave.

On 20 October, 1897, a portrait of the "Three Colonels of
the TM'enty-sixth Eegiment," on one canvass, was presented
to the State with appropriate ceremonies. The presentation
took place during Fair Week, and was held in the Central
Hall of the main building at the Fair grounds.

COLONEL JOHlSr EANDOI.PH LANE.

This battle scarred veteran still lives (April, 1901) in vig-
orous manhood. He was born in Chatham County, 4 July,
1835, and is a direct descendant from Colonel Joel Lane,
of Wake County, from whom the land on which the City of
Ealeigh is located was bought. General Joe Lane, the Vice-
Presidential candidate in 3860 on the Breckinridge and Lane
ticket, was his near relative.

Pie enlisted as a private in Company G and soon became
Corporal. On the resignation of his Captain in the Fall of

1861, he was elected over the heads of all his commissioned
officers, to conmiand the company. He was re-elected Cap-
tain at the reorganization of the regiment in the Spring of

1862. At the battle of New Bern, Captain Lane was com-
plimented for bravery and coolness under fire, and in the
night attack on 25 June, 1862, iipon his regiment while on
picket, referred to in the body of this history, his company
was one of the three which stood firm under such a trying
ordeal.

On the promotion of Lieutenant-Colonel Burgwyn, to the

Twenty-Sixth Eegiment. 409

Colonelcy, the position of M^ajor also being vacant, owing to
the death of Major Kendall, Captain Lane was promoted
over several senior captains to be Lieutenant-Colonel. After
Gettysburg, he was made full Colonel, his commission bore
date of 1 July, 1863, in recognition of his heroic conduct on
that battle field. Seeing his Colonel fall, he immediately as-
sumed command, and realizing that if the death of their Col-
onel was known it would have a depressing effect upon the
men, he did not impart it to the regiment, but inspired his
men with the cheering words that fell from the lips of his
stricken commander, and seizing his flag, calls upon his men
to follow him. All depended now on Colonel Lane. There
is a line of the enemy yet to be broken, and there is only a
handful of his men left to do the work. We have seen how
the crisis was met and the glorious victory and its cost. Gen-
eral Pettigrew anxiously watching the contest, when he
saw the enemy giving way on their last line before this des-
perate charge of the regiment, with Colonel Lane at the head,
exclaims: "It is the bravest act I ever saw." As described
in the body of this article. Colonel Lane was thought to be
mortally wounded, but escaping capture, he returned to duty
in the Fall of 1863. Wounded at the battle of the Wilder-
ness, 5 May, 1864, he refused a furlough. Again wounded
in right leg at Yellow Tavern, south of Petersburg, in sum-
mer of 1864, but refused to leave the field. At Reams' Sta-
tion -25 August, IS 64, he was wounded in left breast, just
over the heart by a piece of shell, fracturing two ribs and
breaking one, and tearing open the flesh to the bone. Sup-
posed to be mortally wounded, he wonderfully recovered and
returned to duty ISTovember, 1864; remained in command
until broken down by exposure and suffering from his
wounds, he went to the hospital for treatment, and was at
Danville, Va., when the remnant of his heroic regiment sur-
rendered at Appomattox. He was paroled at Greensboro, ]^.
C, on 2 May, 1865, and returned to liis home to take up the
struggle for a living he had laid aside four years before.

Since the war Colonel Lane has become a prosperous mer-
chant and large land oWner in his native county, all accumu-
lated by his untiring energy, business ability and thrift. He

410 XoETii Caeot.tna Troops, 18C1-'65.

is conspicuous for his liberality and devotion to the old com-
rades of his immortal regiment.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JOHN THOMAS JONES.

Was born in Caldwell Coimty, N. C, on 21 January, 1841.
In 1857 he entered the University of ISTorth Carolina and
there remained until the breaking out of the V7ar between the
States. During his senior year, and just prior to his gradua-
tion, he volunteered as a private in the Orange Light In-
fantry commanded by Captain R. J. Ashe, which company
became Company D in the "Bethel" Regiment. He was with
his regiment at the battle of Big Bethel, and after its term of
service expired, came home to Caldwell County and engaged
actively in enlisting that body of men which became known
to fame as Company I, of the Twenty-sixth l^orth Carolina
Regiment of Infantry. Was elected Second Lieutenant, and
upon the reorganization of the regiment for the war, was
elected Captain; was promoted to be Major of the regiment
when the noble Harry Burgwyn became Colonel, and after Col-
onel Bnrgwyn's glorious death, became Lieutenant-Colonel in
place of Colonel Lane, who succeeded the gallant Burgwyn.

He passed through all the battles and combats in which his
regiment was engaged, distinguishing himself especially at
Rawls' Mills and Gettysburg. In the latter battle he re-
ceived a wound, but he declined to leave the field, and com-
manded the regiment after the fall of Colonels Burgwyn and
Lane, and was in command of the brigade at the close of
the charge on the third day. At the great battle of the Wil-
derness, 6 May, 1864, after the wounding of Colonel Lane, he
assumed command and was mortally wounded leading his reg-
iment in a charge against overwhelming numbers. When
told by Assistant Surgeon W. W. Gaither that his wound was
mortal, says the Surgeon : "With a most yearning expression
he replied, 'It must not be. I was born to accomplish more
good than I have done.' "

After the battle of Gettysbiirg, where his younger brother,
Walter, a private in Company I, was killed, Lieutenant-Colo-
nel Jones, then Major, was for some time in command of the
brigade, all the other field officers present at the battle having

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 411

been killed or wounded. His remains, with those of his
brother, rest in one grave in the family cemetery in the beau-
tiful "Happy Valley" in Caldwell County. The John T.
Jones Camp, U. C. V., of Lenoir, N. C, is named in honor
of this brave soldier and meritorious officer. The friendship
between Colonel Jones and Colonel Burgwyn was so marked
that subsequent to their deaths one of the officers of the regi-
ment composed some beautiful lines on "Colonels Harry,
and John," likening them to Jonathan and David.

DESERVING OF SPECIAL MENTION.

Lieutenant-Colonel James T. Adams. This meritorious
officer rose from Second Lieutenant in Company D, from
Wake County, to be Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment, and
during the last days of the war was in command of the regi-
ment and on the retreat from Petersburg, was at times in
command of the brigade.

lie was wounded through the hip at Malyern Hill and seri-
ously through tlie shoulder at Gettysburg, and except while on
furlougli from wounds was never excused from duty. At
Spottsylvania Court House, the brigade was ordered to drive
the enemy from their position which menaced General Lee's
rear and communications with Richmond. "The enemy had
made a breastwork out of a fence in a piney old field and
chinked the cracks between the rails with dry pine straw. As
the brigade neared them, the enemy set fire to the fence and
old field which burnt rapidly. Nothing daunted^ the Con-
federates charged through the flames and over the burning
fence, and drove their opponents in discomfiture from the
field."

At Hancock's defeat at Burgess' Mill, on the Boydton
plank road south of Petersburg, 27 October, 1864, Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Adams in cornmand of the regiment, acted with
such conspicuous gallantry as to call forth the warm com-
mendation of his brigade commander. General William Mac-
Rae. The brigade Avith other troops were ordered to dis-
lodge Hancock, who had cut through the Confederate lines.
The brigade charged the enemy in its front, drove him from
his position, capturing a battery. The troops on our left

412 ]Si'oKTH Caeolina Teoops, 1861-'65.

failed to carry the lines in their front and the Federals closed
in behind MacEae's Brigade and completely cut them off
from their friends. The brigade reformed, about faced and
charged, forcing their way through and in a hand to hand
■fight captared a battery and carried it out with them. In
this action, the color-bearer of the Twenty-sixth Kegiment was
either shot down in the charge or got beyond eyesight in the
dense swamp and undergrowth through which the men
charged, and after it was oyer, the order was given to fall in
on the colors of the Forty-fourth Regiment. Colonel Adams,
who had lingered behind to see what had become of his color-
bearer, ran oiit between the lines, and thinking his men a
little downcast at losing their colors, he jumped up on a
stump and called out, "Twenty-sixth, rally on your com-
mander. He is here if his colors are lost." The men re-
sponded with a cheer.

At the brilliant victory of Reams' Station, after Colonel
Lane was wounded, Lieutenant-Colonel Adams took com-
mand and was ever thereafter present with his regiment until
its surrender at Appomattox, where he signed the paroles of
his command.

Since the war Colonel Adams has resided in Wake County,
a prosperous man in his business, respected and esteemed
by all.

Dr. Thomas J. Boykin was Surgeon of the regiment, and
remained with it until Colonel Vance's election as Governor,
when he became Brigade Surgeon of Ransom's Brigade, and
later was 'appointed State agent and sent to the Bermuda
Islands, to handle blockade supplies for the State.

Dr. Boykin was born in Sampson Cotmty, N. C, in 1828,
ed^icated at AVake Forest College, and graduated at the Med-
ical Department of the University of Pennsylvania. Prac-
ticed his profession in Kinston and Clinton, but removed to
ISTebraska Territory about the year 1856. Was elected a
memlier of the upper branch of the Territorial Legislature.
Immediately after the fall of Fort Sumter, (14 April, 1861)
he returned to his native State and was appointed Surgeon
of the Twenty-sixth Regiment.

Assistant Surgeon William W. Gaither. This officer who

TwKNTY-SlXTH ReGIMENT. 413

most faithfully and acceptably served with the regiment until
Uecemter, 1864, when he was promoted to be Surgeon of the
Twenty-eighth North Carolina Eegiment, graduated from
the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, in the class of
1860. Enlisted as a private in the "Hibriten Mountain-
eers," which became the afterwards famous Company F, in
the Twenty-si-xth Regiment. At first, serving as Hospital
Steward, he was soon commissioned Assistant Surgeon, as-
signed to the regiment and put in charge of the hospital at
Carolina City, below New Bern.

At Gettysburg,, Dr. Gaither was ail night getting the
wounded from the field of the first day's fight and worked
with them all the next day and night. On the afternoon of
the third day, went to the regiment in line of battle. Under
date of 5 September, 1900, Dr. Gaither writes: "I was on
the field, saw the futile charge on the Cemetery wall, and the
recoil. I got only three of the slightly wounded. When we
got to Hagerstown, I went to sleep and slept for two entire
days, so utterly exhausted I was."

Not one of the wounded who crossed the Potomac, but re-
turned to duty sooner than any who before or after stopped in
hospital. Fourteen patients marched all night in a big rain
twelve miles, sick from three to twelve days with malarial
fever, and none reported sick next morning. The doctor nar-
rates this incident: "D. L. and R. C, members of Company
I, from Caldwell County, had been fighting off and on during
the day. About evening R. C. says to D. L., 'Demps, I'll
hurt you directly,' and proceeded to knock him down and
pulled out his right eye ball. D. L. did not even report sick.
Two days after T found him lagging a little in the rear and
asked him what was the matter. He said: 'R. C. had pulled
his eye out, but it was all right now." While in camp at
Garysburg, N. C, Fall of 1862, two patients with smallpox
in third day of eruption, came to Surgeon's call wanting to
know what caused the breaking out. They were not isolated
and there were no new cases in the regiment, but more intense
inflammation in all vaccinated arms.

In the winter of 18 63-' 64, while the army was in winter
quarters around Orange Court House, Va., the number of
men absent without leave at home became a matter of serious

414 North Cabolina Troops, 1861-'65.

consideration, and the best way to put a stop to it was can-
vassed among the officers. There were several publications
in the newspapers on the subject, and Assistant Surgeon
Gaither wrote a set of resolutions which were passed by the
officers in meeting, which attracted general notice and were
universally approved as the best presentation of the situation
that appeared.

Captain Joseph J. Young, A. Q. M. This gentleman
had an unique experience as a soldier. He was the regimen-
tal quartermaster from the beginning to the close, and no
command was ever blessed with a better one. He was wrap-
ped up in his regiment and he could not do too much for
them. He has kept copies of the regimental muster and pay
rolls of the regiment which he treasures as among his most
valuable possessions to be bequeathed to his children. In
the latter months of the war when the number of the regimen-
tal quartermasters was reduced to two to a brigade, he and
Captain John Gatlin, Fifty-second Regiment, were retained
for MaoKae's Brigade, and thus in addition to the care of
his regiment, the brigade also received the benefit of Cap-
tain Young's valuable services and experience, and he always
acted brigade quartermaster in the absence of Major Collins.

It was Captain Young's timely information, carried to
Colonel Vance at the Captain's great personal risk, during
the battle of IsTew Bern, which advised Colonel Vance of the re-
treat of the other troops in time to enable the Colonel to with-
draw the Twenty-sixth Eegiment from the works and escape
capt\ire. We have seen how prompt Captain Young is to
write his old Colonel the day after the battle of Gettysburg,
of the glorious record this regiment made on that gory stained
field ; and, as he began his military career with them, so at the
end he was one of his immortal regiment to surrender at Ap-
pomattox,.

Captain Young was born in Wake County, 1 January,
1832, and in May, 1861, he enlisted in Captain O. R. Band's
Company 1), in the Twenty-sixth Eegiment; was appointed
by Colonel A''ance Quartermaster of his regiment.

Tn December, 1864, Captain Young was sent to Eastern
North Carolina to collect and forward supplies to Lee's army.

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 415

Adjutant James B. Jordan was born in Raleigh, N. C, 8
June, ISyO). He was in business in Tennessee when on the
secession of South Carolina, he returned to his native State
and was elected First Lieutenant in Company I), of the
Twenty -sixth Regiment and at the organization he was ap-
pointed Adjutant.

This position he held with honor and distinction until in
the third day's fight at Gettysburg, he was seriously wounded,
taken prisoner and carried to Johnson's Island, where he
was detained as a prisoner until the close of the war.

In 1888, he was made Clerk of the Circuit Court of Volu-
sia County, Florida, which position he held at his death, 27
April, 1899.

Captain Samuel P. Wagg, Company A. This gallant
young officer was killed in the charge of Pettigrew on the
third day at Gettysburg, within a few feet of the enemy's
works. When the call for troops was issued at the breaking
out of hostilities, he promptly enlisted in the first company
that was organized in his county (Ashe) and was elected its
First Sergeant. At the reorganization of the regiment in the
Spring of 1802, he was elected Captain and was ever at his
post of duty. Captain Wagg was buried on the field.

Captain Thom,as J. Cureton, Company B. This officer
succeeded to the command of Company B on the death of
the gallant Captain William Wilson, killed on the first day's
fight at Gettysburg.

Lieutenant Cureton was himself wounded on the third day
in the shoulder, but declined to leave the field, and assisted
in reforming the brigade as its shattered remnants recoiled
from the assault on Cemetery Heights.

Captain Cureton was again wounded at Hanover Junction
on 23 May, 1864, while in command of the skirmish line, but
returned to dutj in December, 1864, and remained with his
regiment until the close, and much of the time was in com-
mand of it on the retreat to Appomattox, when Colonel
Adams was in command of the brigade.

Before the war. Captain Cureton was a farmer, living in
Union County, 'N. C. His grandfather owned the property
in the Waxhaw settlement, North Carolina, where Andrew

416 NoKTH Cal-oi-ina Teoops, 1861-'65.

Jackson was born, and where Captain Cureton's father was
born. Since the war, Captain Cureton has resided in Char-
lotte, X. C, and Fort Mills, S. C, engaged in business as a
cotton merchant, and now lives at Windsor, S. C.

Captain Stephen W. Brewer, Company E, was born in
Chatham County 26 September, 1835; enlisted in Company
E, Twenty-sixth i^orth Carolina Regiment; was elected
Third Lieutenant when the company was organized, and at
its reorganization in the Spring of 1862, was elected Cap-
tain.

After the first day's fight at Gettysburg, in which his com-
pany lost 18 killed and mortally wounded, and 52 wounded,
he led the twelve remaining into the third day's fight, that
historic, but disastrous charge of Pickett and Pettigrew, and
lost all but two killed and wounded. Captain Brewer was
shot down, badly wounded, carrying his regiment's flag and
fell near the enemy's line.

He was captured at Greencastle, Md., on the retreat from
Gettysburg, and was confined as a prisoner of war in differ-
ent Federal prisons, chiefly at Johnson's Island, Ohio, until
March, 1865, when he was paroled.

In 1880 Captain Brewer was elected Sheriff of Chatham
County, and re-elected four successive terms. He died 1
March, 1S97.

Brave in battle, gentle in peace, charitable and honorable
in all his dealings, beloved and respected by all who knew
him, he was a model citizen, and has left a good name that
his children can justly claim as their proudest heritage.

Captain Joseph R. Balleio, Company F, who became Cap-
tain of Company F on the promotion of Captain Kanldn, as
Major ; was born 20 April, 1832, in Burke County. In 1852
he went to California via Charleston and Panama.

It required 130 days to make the trip. In 1859 he re-
turned to I^Torth Carolina, making the return trip in 22 days.
On the breaking out of the war, he was elected First Lieuten-
ant of Company F, Twenty-sixth Regiment.

Captain Romulus Morrison Tuttle, Company F, famous
as having commanded a company which at the battle of Get-
tysburg, out of 91 rank and file taken into action, had every

Twenty-Sixth Eegiment. 417

man killed or wounded, himself among the number
(wounded) ; was born in Lenoir, Caldwell County, N. C, 1
December, 1842, and left school in July, 1861, to join the
army ; was successively Orderly Sergeant, First Lieutenant,
and Captain of Company F, Twenty-sixth JSTorth Carolina
Regiment.

Was wounded four times in the four years service, viz : At
Gettysburg, 1 July, 1863, right limb seriously fractured be-
low the knee, which has never gotten entirely well; at the
Wilderness, 5 May, 1864, centrally in the breast by minie
ball, a flesh wound only — here his company lost 19 out of 26
men' taken into action; Avest of Petersburg by a four-ounce
canister ball in left breast, causing an ugly contusion and
great suffering; and on 30 September, 1864, on the Squirrel
Level road, south of Petersburg, in left forearm by minie
ball, shattering the larger bone and necessitating a resection
of three or four inches.

At the reorganization of the regiment for the war, April,
1862, Orderly Sergeant Tuttle was elected First Lieutenant,
and on the resignation of his Captain, Jos. R. Ballew, in the
Fall of the same year, he was promoted to the Captaincy.

After the war this battle scarred veteran, but mere youth
in years, returned to college to complete his education, and in
June, 1869, graduated at Davidson College, IST. C.

He now (April, 1901) has charge of the Collierstown Pres-
byterian Church, near Lexington, Ya.

Captain Henry Clay Albright, Company G. This gal-
lant young officer, born 12 July, 1842, left college to enter the
army as Second Lieutenant of Company G, Twenty-sixth
Sorth Carolina Regiment, and on Captain John R. Lane's
promotion to be Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment, Lieuten-
ant Albright was made Captain of the company.

He was a "wonderfully good officer" is the testimony of his
regimental commaiider. He passed unscathed through all
engagements and battles, though present with his regiment all
the time, until the spirited engagement of 29 September,
1864, on the Vaughan road, south of Petersburg, he was mor-

418 XoRTii Caeoijna Troops, 1861-'65.

tally woimded, and on 27 October he died in the Winder hos-
pital.

Oapiain William Wilson, Company B, was killed at Get-
tvsbnrg on the first day's fight gallantly leading his men up
the hill and through McPherson's woods. Left school to
join the army, and in June, 1861, was elected First Lieuten-
ant of Company B, Twenty-sixth North Carolina Regiment.
At the reorganization of the regiment in April, 1862, he was
elected Captain. lie would have achieved higher command
had he survived the fateful battle of Grettysburg. He was
buried on the field by the side of his Colonel. They were
stricken about the. same tiiue and fell within a few feet of
each other.

Captain William Pinckney Martin, Com,pany li, was born
4 October, 1817. He was elected a delegate to the proposed
Constitutional Convention 28 February, 1861; but as the
calling of the Convention was defeated, he did not take his
seat. His was the first company that vokmteered from his
county. It became Company H, Twenty-sixth Regiment.
He was shot in the head at the battle of New Bern just be-
fore the regiment had orders to retreat, and was buried on the
field.

Captain James D. Mclver, Company II, was born in
Moore County, N. C, 14 December, 1833; graduated from
Davidson College in J\me, 1859 ; volunteered in the first
company raised in his county, and was elected Second Lieu-
tenant in July, 1861. This company became Company H,
in the Twenty-sixth ISTorth Carolina Regiment.

On the resignation of Captain Clement Dowd in the Spring
of 1862, Lieutenant llclver succeeded him as Captain of the
company and remained in the regiment until the Fall of
1863; was in all the battles in which his regiment was en-
gaged up to that time, except the battle of Gettysburg, at
which time he was absent on furlough. Captain McTver was
a most gallant and competent officer, and his leaving the regi-
ment was much regretted. After the war he was Coimty So-
licitor, member of the Legislature in 1876, Solicitor of his
District in 1878-1886, Judge Superior Court 1890-1898.

Captain James C. McLauchlin, Company K. This ac-

Twenty-Sixth Regiment. 419

couiplished officer became Captain of his company in the re-
organization for the war, April, 1862. He was wounded at
Malvern Hill and again at Gettysburg, this last time so
severely that it disabled him for service in the field, and he
resigned from the regiment to accept lighter duty. Since the
war for more than twenty years and at the present (April,
1901) Captain McLauchlin has been Clerk of the Superior
Court for Anson, his native county.

Captain Thomas Lilly, Company K, who succeeded to
the command of his Company, K, on the resignation of Cap-
tain McLauchlin, was also wounded at Gettysburg. He rose
from Corporal and became recognized as one of the best of-
ficers in the brigade. He had command of the sharpshooters
of the brigade, and fell mortally wounded 25 March, on the
lines at Petersburg.

Lieutenant Orren Alston Manner, Company E, enlisted
38 May, 1861, at the age of 18 as a private, in Company E,
Twenty-sixth North Carolina Regiment; was wounded at
Malvern Hill 1 July, 1862 ; promoted to Second Lieutenant
of the company in October, 1862 ; severely wounded at Get-
tysburg 1 July, 1863, and captured on the retreat of the
Confederate army ; carried first to hospital at David's Island,
New York, then to prison at Johnson's Island, Ohio, where
he remained until paroled in March, 1865. Has been a
member of the General Assembly in 18Y2, 1874, and 1880.

Lieutenant Hanner was one of the bravest and best subal-
tern officers of the regiment. He and his Captain (S. W.
Brewer) were both wounded and captured at Gettysburg, and
the First Lieutenant, John B. Emerson, was mortally
wounded at the same time. Captain Brewer's and Lieuten-
ant Hanner's imprisonment prevented their being promoted
to the positions of Major and First Lieutenant respectively.

First Lieutenant Gaston H. Broughton, Company D, was
born in Wake County, 1838, enlisted in Company D, 1861,
was promoted First Lieutenant 28 April, 1862, was wounded
at the foot of the stone wall in the third day's charge at Get-
tysburg and remained a prisoner till the end of the war. He
has been a farmer and a goad citizen since the war and is
now custodian of the Supreme Coujrt building in Raleigh.

420 jSToeth Cakolina Teoops, 1861-'65.

Lieutenant James 0. M. Jones, Company D, was born
near Holly Springs, Wake County, on 19 July, 1839.
He enlisted in Company D, Twenty-sixth Kegiment. At
first a Sergeant, at the reorganization in April, 1862, he was
elected Second Lieutenant of the company.

At Gettysburg, Lieutenant Jones was severely wounded in
the hip. Through the kindness of Captain Young, Lieuten-
ant Jones and his Captain (Adams) managed to get on a
four-horse wagon loaded with wheat, and got safely to the
Potomac river, and thence to the hospital at Eichmond. He
returned to duty 19 December, 1863, at Orange Court House,
and took command of the company, his senior (Brough-
ton) being prisoner of war, wounded and captured at Get-
tysburg. On 10 May, 1864, at Spottsylvania Court House,
Lieutenant Jones was again wounded in the left breast, and
would have been killed but for a daguerrotype of his sweet-
heart in his left breast pocket which deflected the ball. This
lady he subsequently married. He returned to duty in Sep-
tember, 1864, and remained in command of his company
until in the action at Biirgess Mill, south of Petersburg, on
2Y October, 1864, he was taken prisoner and confined at Fort
Delaware until Jime, 1865, when he was liberated.

Lieutenant George Willcox, Company H, was born 17
June, 1835. He enlisted in Company H, Twenty-sixth
]^orth Carolina Regiment. At the reorganization of the reg-
iment for the war in the Spring of 1862, he was elected Sec-
ond Lieutenant of the company and remained as such until
the Fall of 1864, Avhen he was appointed Captain of Com-
pany H, in the Forty-sixth Worth Carolina Regiment, of
Cooke's Brigade, in the same (Heth's) Division.

Captain Willcox was in all the battles and actions in which
his command was engaged during the war, except at Malvern
Hill, and when he was absent on wounded furlough. In the
first day's fight at Gettysburg, he was badly wounded while
carrying the flag of his regiment (see account of the battle in
this sketch) ; was captured, but resciied on the retreat and
returned to his command in time to take part in the battle
of the Wilderness, in which battle he was again severely
wounded, this time through the shoulder.

TwENTT-SlXTH ReGIMENT. 421

Returning to duty, he joined his regiment in the trenches
around Petersburg, and was captured in the action at Bur-
gess Mill 27 October, 1864, but escaped from the enemy dur-
ing the night and rejoined his command. He represented
Moore County in the Legislature of 1885-'86 ; also Moore and
Randolph coimties in the Senate in 1891-'92. Captain Will-
cox had three brothers in the war, he being the eldest. The
next in age to him, W. M. Willcox, was a Lieutenant in Lid-
dell's Brigade, Pat Cleburne's Division, General Bragg's
army, and was killed at the battle of Ohicamauga (September
19-20, 1863) ; Robert P. Willcox, another brother, was a
member of Company H, Twenty-sixth North Carolina Regi-
ment, arid though several times wounded, survived the war
several years. The youngest brother Herman Husband Will-
cox, as stated above, was killed at Gettysburg.

Lieutenant Wm. N. Snelling, Company D, enlisted on 10
June, 1861, in Company D, Twenty-sixth North Carolina
Regiment. At the reorganization of the regiment, in the
Spring of 1862, he was made Orderly Sergeant, and after
Gettysburg, he was promoted to be Third Lieutenant. At
this battle, every one of his company officers were killed or
wounded, and Third Lieutenant Marion J. Woodall being
killed, Sergeant Snelling was promoted Second Lieutenant,
to date from 5 July, 1863, and placed in command of the
company.

Lieutenant Snelling was twice wounded, once in the left
breast and once in the leg. Except when recovering from
these wounds, and once on a thirty days' furlough. Lieutenant
Snelling was with his regiment, frequently detailed to act as
Adjutant, and always ready for duty. He was with his regi-
ment when it surrendered at Appomattox, and during the last
few months of the war he was in command of Companies A. C
and D, consolidated. Lieutenant Snelling made out the mus-
ter and pay rolls of his company from the beginning to the
end, and would have received higher promotion, but from
the fact that his Captain remained a prisoner of war after
his capture at Gettysburg, and there was no vacancy.

Leonidas L. Polk, Sergeant-Major, was born in Anson
County in 1887, and was of the same family as Colonel

422 NoETH Caboi-tna Troops, 1861-'65.

Thomas Polk, President James K. Polk and Lieutenant-Gen-
eral (Bishop) Leonidas Polk. In 1860 he was a member of
the Lower House of the General Assembly. In 1862 he en-
listed in Company K, Twenty-sixth North Carolina Troops,
and was soon appointed Sergeant-Major. In 1863 he was
promoted to a Lieutenancy in the Forty-third North Carolina,
and was severely wounded at Gettysburg. In 1864 he re-
signed upon being elected to the Legislature. In 1889-1892
he was president of The National Farmers' Alliance and died
11 June of the latter year and is buried in Oakwood Ceme-
tery, Raleigh, ISF. C.

Private W. W. Edivards, Company E, was born 22 Octo-
ber, 1841, was in most of the battles in which the regiment
was engaged; was wounded at Gettysburg, but returned to
duty in time to take part in the battle of the Wilderness, May
1864, and the almost daily engagements with the enemy on
the retreat to Richmond.

On one of these occasions, in front of the regiment was A
school house occupied by the enemy's sharpshooters. It be-
came necessary to drive them away and Colonel Lane called
for volunteers for the dangerous work. Among those who
responded was Private Edwards. Taking a few of his
comrades with him, he crept up to the ho\ise and by a well
directed fire, drove the enemy out of this house and the men
were no more annoyed from that part of the line. After the
war Mr. Edwards became associated in the publication of the
Messenger at Siler City, and under the nom de plume of
"Buck," became one of the most popular writers in the State,

THE END.

There is not a statement contained in this history that has
not been obtained from official records, or from those who
were actors in the events narrated. The mere recital of the
story without embellishment is glory enough. Probably it
will be vouchsafed to no soldiers in the future to suffer such
a loss in open battle as the Twenty-sixth sustained at Gettys-
burg. There is no record in the past of such sustained hero-
ism on a field of battle. Such being the case, it was meet
and proper that the facts should be set out in detail, that

TwENTT-SixTH Eegiment. 423

honor should be given where honor was due. Such heroism
as the Confederate soldier displayed cannot be in vain. Some
good to the world must come from such sacrifice.

Nothing less than sublime confidence in the Justice of the
Cause could inspire humanity to such deeds of glory, such
endurance, such patriotism, and I close this history, paying
this tribute to the private Confederate soldier, quoting the
words of another :

"Let it be remembered there are other reasons than money
or patriotism which induce men to risk life and limb in war.
There is the love of glory and the expectation of honorable
recognition ; but the private in the ranks expects neither ; his
identity is merged in that of his regiment; to him, the regi-.
ment and its name is everything ; he does not expect to see his
own name appear upon the page of history, and is content
with the proper recognition of the old command in which he
fought. But he is jealous of the record of his regiment and
demands credit for every shot it faced and every grave it
filled.

"The bloody laurels for which a regiment contends will al-
ways be awarded to the one with the longest roll of honor.
Scars are the true evidence of wounds, and regimental scars
can be seen only in the record of the casualties."

"The men of the Twenty-sixth Regiment would dress on
their colors in spite of the world."

In the preparation of this sketch, great assistance has been
furnished by many of my surviving comrades and especially
acknowledgment is due to Captain W. H. S. Burgwyn, Thir-
ty-fifth North Carolina Troops, the brother of our lamented
Colonel Harry Burgwyn. Captain Btirgwyn is the historian
of the Thirty-fifth Regiment, in which he served with great
honor, and also of Clingman's Brigade, in which he later
served with distinction as a staff ofiicer. In the late Spanish
War (1898) he showed he retained the military instincts of
his family by again entering the service as Colonel of the Sec-
ond North Carolina Regiment.

Geoege C. Undeewood.

MaKLBy'B MiLLB, N. 0.,

9 April, 1901.

TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.

1. John R. Cooke, Colonel. 4. Jas. A. Graham, Captain, Co. G.

2. Geo. F. Whitfield, Colonel. 5. Robert D. Patterson, 2d Lieut., Co. G.

3. Jos. C. Webb, Lieut. -Colonel. 6. John B. Baker, Sergeant, Co. X.

7. Jas. L. Cooley, Corporal. Co. G.

TWENTY- SEVEflTH REQIMEfiT.

By JAMES A. GRAHAM, Captain Company G.

The regiment afterwards known as the Twenty-seventh
ITorth Carolina Infantry, was first organized as the Ninth
North Carolina Volunteers with the following companies,
viz. :

Company A — Orange OuardSj Orange County — Captain,
Pride Jones.

Company ^-—Guilford Grays, Guilford County — Captain^
John Sloan.

Company C — Goldsboro Rifles, Wayne County — Captain,
M. D. Craton.

Company D — Goldsboro Volunteers, Wayne County —
Captain, J. B. Whitaker.

Company E — Wilson Light In,fantry, Wilson County —
Captain, Jesse S. Barnes.

Company F — Pitt Volunteers, Pitt County — Captain, G.
B. . Singletary.

Company G — Marlboro Guards, Pitt County — Captain,
W. H. Morrill.

Company H — Dixie Rifles, Wayne County — Captain,
Strong.

Comi'any I — North Carolina Guards, Lenoir County —
Captain, G. F. Whitfield.

Company- K — Tuckahoe Braves, Lenoir County — Captain,
W. F. Wooten.

The officers of this regiment were ordered to meet in ISTew
Bern on 22 June, 1861 — I think it was — to elect field officers.
On 9 June Companies A, B and C were taken from the regi-
ment and other companies substituted in their places, viz. :
Captain K. H. Drysdale's Company, from Greene County;

426 JSTojjTH Caeolina Teoops, 1861-'65.

Captain R. T. Barden's Company, from Wayne County, and
Captain W. P. Ward's Company, from Jones County. On
22 June the regiment organized by electing Captain G. B.
Singletary, Company F, Colonel ; Captain Pride Jones, Lieu-
tenant-Colonel; Captain Strong, Company H, Major. Im-
mediately after this organization. Companies D, E and H,
and Captain Drysdale's company, volunteered for the war —
the regiment being only twelve months volunteers^ — and were
assigned to some of the regiments of State Troops, the Third
and Fourth, I think.

This left a battalion of only six companies, of which Col-
onel G. B. Singletary was elected Lieutenant-Colonel. Soon
afterwards, the "Perquimans Beauregards," Captain Wm.
JSTixon, was added to it, and some time in September, 1861,
the Orange Guards, Guilford Greys and Goldsboro Rifles
were again assigned to this regiment, which was then called
the Seventeenth ISTorth Carolina Volunteers, and was consti-
tuted as foUoAvs:

Company A — Goldshoro Rifles — Captain, M. D. Craton.

Company B — Guilford Greys — Captain, John Sloan.

Company C — North Carolina Guards — Captain, G. F.
Whitfield.

Company D — Tuckahoe Braves — Captain, W. F. Wooten.

Company E — Marlboro Guards — Captain, Wm. H. Mor-
rill.

Company F — Perquimans Beauregards — Captain, Wm.
JSTixon.

Company G — Orange Guards — Captain, Joseph C. Webb.

Company H — Pitt Volunteers — Captain, R. W. Single-
tary.

Company I — Captain, W. P. Ward, from Jones County.

Company K — Captain, B. T. Barden, from Wayne
County.

At the organization of this regiment in September, 1861,
Lieutenant-Colonel G. B. Singletary was elected Colonel;
Captain John Sloan, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Lieutenant
Thomas C. Singletary, of Company E, Major. Seven com-
panies of the regiment were then camped at ISTew Bern, and

Twenty-Seventh Kegiment. 427

the other three — Companies A, B and G — ^were on detached
service at Fort Macon, where they remained until 28 Feb-
niary, 1862. Colonel G. B. Singletary having resigned, an
election was ordered in December, 1861, when Lieutenant-
Colonel John Sloan was elected Colonel; Major T. C. Sin-
gletary, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Adjutant John A. Gilmer,
Jr., Major. February 28, 1862, the three companies from
Fort Macon joined the remainder of the regiment, then
camped at lort Lane on the ISTeuse river, beloAV New Bern.
The regiment remained in camp at this place till 14 March,
1862, when it took part in the battle of E"ew Bern, occupying
the extreme left of the line, with its left resting on Weuse
river. As the fighting was principally upon the right and
right-centre we were not much engaged, having only some
skirmishing and sharpshooting. I deem it due to the regi-
ment, however, to state that twenty-seven of the men who
worked Latham's battery, which was in the middle of the
fight and gained great credit, were from this regiment, having
'been detailed for that service by order of Brigadier-General
L. O'B. Branch, then commanding at ISTew Bern. These men
were detailed by me, as Adjutant of the regiment, by order
of General Branch, and were from Companies D, C, E, F and
H. A certain number of men in each company had been
ordered to be drilled in light artillery, and Lieutenant Brown,
of the artillery, was attached to the regiment for that pur-
pose. How well these detailed artillerists did their duty
is evidenced by the fact that about two-thirds of them were
either killed or woimded. Upon the retreat, we were or-
dered to fall back to the railroad depot in New Bern. There
we reformed, and, .after the last train had left, and when the
enemy Avere landing in the Fair Grounds from their gun-
boats, we continued our retreat up the railroad, being the last
regiment to leave New Bern, so far as I saw, and reached
Kinston late at night. Here we remained in camp until 31
May, 1862. Lieiitenant-Colonel Thos. C. Singletary having
resigned, Captain B. W. Singletary, of Company H, was
elected Lieutenant-Colonel.

At the reorganization of the regiment, 16 April, 1862,
Major John Ti. Cooke, Chief of Artillery on General Holmes'

428 N"oRTH Cakolina Teoops, 1861-'65.

stafi, was elected Colonel ; E. W. Singletary, re-elected Lieu-
tenant-Colonel, and John A. Gilmer, Jr., re-elected Major.
About the same time, or a little before, Brigadier-General
Eobert Kansom was assigned to duty at Kinston, and we were
placed in his brigade. 31 May, 1862, we took the train for
Virginia, and about noon of 1 June, reached Richmond. As
we neared the city the guns of the battle at Seven Pines
could be distinctly heard. Immediately on reaching the
depot we were ordered double-quick to the battlefield, and
passing rapidly through Richmond we pressed on towards the
firing, anxious to take part in the fray, as the old saying is,
"spiling for a fight." Before we reached the battlefield, how-
ever, the battle of Seven Pines was over.

We were assigned to J. G. Wallcer's Brigade and moved
to Drewry's Bluff, where we remained throwing up breast-
works, drilling, etc., until 26 June, when we took up the line
of march for the seven days fight around Richmond. We-
formed a part of the reserve under General Holmes and were
not actively engaged in any of those memorable battles,
though often near enough to the combatants to hear every
word of command, and to feel the force of the enemy's fire.

On Monday, during the battle at Frazier's Farm, we were
moved to near Malvern Hill, and it was generally understood
among us that we were to attack that stronghold. For some
reason this was not done, and ^ve lay nearly the whole after-
noon in a piece of woods, subjected to a very severe shell-
ing from seven gunboats and l^hirty-four pieces of light
artillery. As the enemy did not know our exact position,
and had to send their shot and shell at random, our loss
was not very heavy. About sundown a large force was
landed from the ,gunbo?its, and as soon as it , was dark we
were withdrawn and placed in position a few miles up the
road. The next evening we were moved to Malvern Hill
and placed in position in a skirt of woods just on the edge
of the battlefield. Here we reniained until the battle was
over. Though not actively engaged, yet we were in>a posi-
tion equally trying, as we got the benefit of the shells of
the enemy which passed over the heads of the troops en-

Twenty-Seventh Kegiment. 429

gaged, and burst among the trees under which we were lying,
and we were expecting every mimite to be ordered forward
to take our part in the dreadful carnage. The next night
it being reported that the enemy were crossing the James,
we were ordered back to our camp near Drewry's Bluff. It
had now been raining for nearly forty-eight hours and the
roads, cut up by the wagons and ambulances, were nearly
impassable. Broken down as we were by continuous march-
ing and loss of sleep, the march was a hard one. When we
were within a mile or two of camp our Colonel — the gal-
lant Cooke — ever mindfuUof the welfare of his men, direct-
ing us to make our way to camp, dashed ahead and aroused
the men who had been left there, and when we came up had
a roaring log fire in front of almost every tent, which was
very consoling to us, muddy, wet and tired as we were. By
siich little acts of kindness as this, as well as by his gallantry
and daring, it was that he endeared himself to his men and
made them ready and willing to go wherever he would say
Avithout a murmur or complaint.

Kemaiuing at Drewry's Bluff till G <Tuly, 1862, we were
then moved, with the Second Georgia Battalion of our bri-
gade, to Petersburg, and then on the 8th to Fort Powhatan,
on the James river below City Point. At daylight on the
morning of 11 July, five companies of the Twenty-seventh,
with two companies of the Georgia Battalion, and Brem's
and French's Tjight Batteries, were placed in ambush on
the high bltifi" on the James river, with orders to fire upon any
boat that might pass. About 8 o'clock a. m., the "Daniel
Webster," a river steamer, was seen approaching. As she
passed a Federal gunboat stationed ioxir or five hundred yards
below us, her captain inquired, "Any danger ahead?" The
reply came from the gunboat, "No danger, go ahead."
Hardly was this answer given when the boom of our artil-
lery gave a different aspect to affairs. The first gun, fired
by Colonel Cooke, disabled the bow gun of the gunboat and
kept her from doing miich damage, as she had to turn around
every time she fired. Four pieces of out artillery played
upon the gunboat, and the other six, with the infantry, upon
the steamer, riddling her cabin and hull. She, however,

430 North Carolina Teoops, 1861-'65.

putting on all steam made her escape, and we never knew,
certainly, the amount of damage done or the number killed
or wounded on the boat. Very soon the gunboats from Har-
rison's Landing came down, and the woods were really alive
with shot and shell for a mile along the bank of the river.
Before they reached that point, however, we had drawn off
our artillery, which we had put in position by hand, and
were safe on our way to camp. The next day the other five
companies of the Twenty-seventh and the rest of the Greorgia
Battalion tried the same game. A day or two afterwards
the enemy threw a force across the»river to prevent any more
raids of this sort.

We spent the remainder of the summer around Petersburg
and picketing up and down the James river, and formed
part of the support of the artillery which shelled McClellan
out of his camp at Harrison's Landing on the night of 15
August, 1862. Reaching this point on the evening of the
14-th we were unable to get the artillery into position that
night, and were compelled to keep concealed during the next
day, as the enemy had' their balloons and other appliances
for observing our position, in full play. On the night of the
15 th forty-nine pieces of artillery, out of one hundred and
fifty that we bad with us, were placed in position along the
banks of the James river, and at 1 o'clock a. m., opened
fire on McClellan's camp on the opposite bank of the river.
Erom what I learned from an artillery officer engaged in this
shelling — the infantry being held in reserve about a mile
from the river — it looked like a grand city ; the lights of the
shipping and the camps forming one brilliant panorama. Be-
fore twenty shots were fired these lights had disappeared and
"darkness reigned supreme." After firing for about an hour
the artillery was withdrawn, and was soon rumbling past us
on its way back to Petersburg. About daylight the last gun
passed us, and we took up the line of march. When we had
gone about five miles — it being then about 8 o'clock a. m. —
the enemy fired their first gun, and in a few minutes it
sounded as if the whole thunders of the heavens had broken
loose at that point, but we were far out of range. We re-
mained at Petersburg — with the exception of a few days pick-

Twenty-Seventh Regiment. 431

eting at "Merchant's Hope" church, where we had a slight
skirmish with the enemy — until 26 August, 1862, when we
moved, via Richmond to Rapidan Station, Va.

Here we remained till 1 September, 1862, when we started
on the first Maryland campaign — General Robert Ransom's
Brigade having been previously assigned to our division, and
our Brigadier, J. G. Walker, having command of the division,
while Colonel Manning, of the Third Arkansas Regiment,
commanded our brigade — and formed the rear guard of the
Array of [Northern Virginia. Our provost guard, with Lieii-
tenant Coleman, of the Thirtieth Virginia, as Provost Mar-
shal, and Lieutenants J. A. Graham, Twenty-seventh !North
Carolina; Lowe, Third Arkansas, and Temple, Thirteenth
Virginia, as assistants, were charged with keeping up strag-
glers of the whole army. Acting thus as rear guard we were
not engaged in any of the battles of ISTorthern Virginia in
that campaign. We crossed the Potomac at Nolan's Ferry,
near Leesburg, Va., 8 September, 1862,, and joined the main
army near Frederick City, Md., the next day, and were at-
tached to liongstreet's Corps. We camped near Bucket
Town, Md., and remained there all day of the 9th. On the
night of 9 September, 1862, our division was sent to the
mouth of Mouocacy river to destroy the aqueduct where the
canal crosses. This we were unable to do for want of proper
tools, and, from after events, it appeared that the movement
was but a feint to draw off the attention of the enemy while
the corps of "Stonewall" Jackson and the division of Mc-
Laws started on their march to surroimd Harper's Ferry.
About daylight on the morning of 10 September we were
drawn off and placed in line of battle some four or five miles
distant, in front and in full view of another portion of the
Federal army posted in a strong position upon a range of
hills, or little mountains, to the east of Bucket Town.

Here we remained in line of battle all day. As soon as
night came we started in the direction of Frederick City, but
after going about two miles we countermarched and took the
road for "Point of Rocks." Just as we were countermarching
a squad of Federal cavalry dashed up to us and immediately

432 jSToeth Caeolina Tboops, 1861-'65.

wheeled and retired before we could fire. They were evi-
dently scouting, and came upon us before they knew it.

As the portion of our column which they struck was
moving in the direction of Frederick City, they were no doubt
deceived as to our movements which, I think, accounts for our
not being pursued during the night.

After a rapid march and very few halts we reached and
crossed the Potomac at "Point of Rocks" just as day was
breaking on the morning of 11 September.

ISIo one, except our division commander, knew whither
we were bound, and many an inquiry was made as to where
our course would- lead. After a short halt to cook rations,
we again started, and by inquiry of a citizen learned that
we were on the road to Harper's Ferry, and some twenty
miles distant from it. In reply to another inquiry, made
an hour after, we learned that we were on the road to Lees-
burg and a mile further from Harper's Ferry than when we
last asked. Several times during the day our course was
repeatedly changed and we would first approach and then
move oft' from Harper's Ferry.

That night we camped near Hillsboro, in Loudon County,
Va., and next morning, the 12th, passed throtigh the village
noted for the number of its pretty girls, if for nothing else ;
and about 12 o'clock the division, with the exception of three
regiments, went into camp at the foot of Loudon Heights,
on the eastern side of the mountain. Of these three regi-
ments the Forty-sixth North Carolina was sent to guard a
pass around the base of the moimtain on the bank of the Po-
tomac, and the Twenty-seventh North Carolina and Thirtieth
Virginia began the ascent of the mountain.

Tired as we were this ascent was very difficult, as we had
several times to leave the road to avoid being seen by the Fed-
eral troops in and around Harper's Ferry, and make our way
through the thick mountain undergrowth, oftentimes having
to clear a way with hatchets or knives. About 5 p. m., we
took possession of Loudon Heights. McLaws' Division had
by this time taken possession of Maryland Heights, on the
opposite bank of the river, and "Stonewall" Jackson's Corps
already occupied Bolivar Heights, a range of low hills run-

Twenty-Seventh Regiment. 433

aing from the Shenandoah to the Potomac, to the west and
southwest of the town ; so it was completely encircled. We
immediately endeavored to open communication with Jack-
son and McLaws by means of our Signal Corps. Very soon we
were answered by McLaws, but being unable to get any answer
from Jackson a courier on horseback was dispatched to him,
who, on returning, about 9 p. m., informed us that he was in
position. Soon after we had gained possession of the heights
the enemy opened fire upon us from their batteries on the
hills beyond the town. One shell burst immediately over our
heads, but did no damage; and another passing clear over
the mountain fell in our division camp, some three miles dis-
tant. About 10 o'clock p. m. we were relieved by the Forty-
sixth and Forty-eighth North Carolina Regiments and re-
turned to camp, taking a short cut down the side of the moun-
tain instead of the circuitous but more even, route by which
we ascended.

Next day the batteries attached to our division were carried
up by hand and placed in position upon the top of the moun-
tain and did good work in the battle of the 15th, when the
garrison was compelled to surrender. As soon as the surren-
der was known we crossed the mountain and started for
Sharpsburg, camped near Hall Town that night, and starting
before day crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown on the
morning of the 16th and went into camp near where the bat-
tle of the next day was fought. Before day on the morning
of 17 September, 1862, we were moved and placed in line of
battle on the extreme right of the Confederate lines, our left
resting upon the yard of a man whose name I did not learn,
who, to prevent our getting water, broke off his pump-handle
and destroyed his pump, so that we were compelled to fill our
canteens from a mud hole in his stable lot or do without
water. Most of us filled from this mud-hole, and I can
testify that, while not as fresh and sweet as some I have seen,
yet in the heat and strife of that day its filth was almost for-
gotten and it served very well to quench thirst. We re-
mained in this position till about 8 :30 o'clock a. m., when
we were ordered to the left centre. After double-quick-

28

434 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

ing one and a half or two miles we were placed in line about
one mile to the left of the town of Sharpsburg.

The Twenty-seventh JSTorth Carolina infantry, Colonel
John K. Cooke, and the Third Arkansas, Captain Eeady com-
manding, were detached from the rest of the division and
fought as a little brigade by themselves under the command
of Colonel Cooke of the Twenty-seventh North Carolina;
Colquitt's Georgia Brigade being some 500 yards to our right,
and the rest of our division about the saoue distance to our
left. Forming in a corn field we advanced under a heavy
fire of grape and canister at a quick step, up a little rise, and
halted at a rail fence, our right considerably advanced. Cap-
tain Greenough's battery, attached to General Kershaw's Bri-
gade was placed on our left, but was soon withdrawn. After
holding this position for half an hour or more our front was
changed ; the left retiring about ten steps and the right thrown
back considerably, so as to be upon a line with the other
troops. In the meantime we had suffered heavily and, I
think inflicted equally as much damage upon the enemy. The
Yankees getting possession of a piece of woods upon our left,
Companies F, K, and G, the three left companies of the
Twenty-seventh, were directed to center their fire upon that
point ; and right well did they do their work, as it appeared
upon an examination of the field next day that the enemy
were piled two or three deep in some places. About 1 o'clock
p. m., the enemy having retired behind the hill upon which
they were posted, and none appearing within range in our
front. Colonel Cooke ordered us to fall back some twenty
steps in the corn field and lie down, so as to draw them on ; he
in the meantime, regardless of personal danger from sharp-
shooters, remained at the fence beside a small hickory tree.
After remaining there some twenty minutes the enemy at-
tempted to sneak up a section of artillery to the little woods
on our left. Colonel Cooke, watching the movement, or-
dered the four left companies of the Twenty-seventh North
Carolina up to the fence and directed them to fire upon this
artillery. At the first fire, before they had gotten into
position, nearly every horse and more than half the men fell,
and the infantry line which had moved up to support them

Twenty-Seventh Regiment. 435

showed evident signs of wavering. Colonel Cooke seeing
this, and having received orders to charge if opportunity of-
fered, ordered a charge. Without waiting a second word of
command both regiments leaped the fence and "went at them"
and soon we had captured these guns and had the troops in
front of us in full retreat. A battery posted near a little
brick church upon a hill (the Dunkard church, so often re-
ferred to in accounts of this battle, which was situated on the
"Hagerstown Pike" and just to our left and front), was play-
ing sad havoc with us, but thinking that would be taken by
the troops upon our left, who we supposed were charging with
us, we still pursued the flying foe'. !N"umbers of them sur-
rendered to us and they were ordered to the rear. Two or
three hundred took shelter behind a lot of haystacks, and fast-
ening white handkerchiefs to their muskets and bayonets, held
them out offering to su.rrender. We pushed on, and soon
wheeling to the right drove down their line, giving them an
enfilade fire, and succeeded in breaking six regiments, which
fled in confusion. Only one Federal regiment, that I saw,
left the field in anything like good order. After pushing on
in this way, we found ourselves opposed by a body of the en-
emy behind a stone wall in a com field. Stopping to con-
tend with these we found that we were almost out of ammu-
nition ; the cartridges which we had captured on the field, and
of these there was a large quantity, not fitting our guns.

Colonel Cooke, learning this fact, and seeing that we were
not supported in our charge, ordered us to fall back to our
original position. This, of course, was done at double-quick.
As we returned we experienced the perfidy of those who had
previously surrendered to us and whom we had not taken
time to disarm. They, seeing that we were not supported, at-
tempted to form a line in our rear and in a few minutes
would have done so. As it was, we had to pass between two
fires, a part of the troops having been thrown back to oppose
our movement on their flank and these supposed prisoners
having formed on the other side. A bloody lane indeed it
proved to us. Many a brave man lost his life in that retreat.
At some points the lines were not sixty yards distant on either

436 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

side of us. Arriving at our original position both regiments
halted and were soon reformed.

In this retreat we were very materially aided and protected
by Cobb's Brigade, then commanded by Colonel William
MacRae, of the Fifteenth North Carolina Eegiment.

I deem it proper to state here that the colors of the Twenty-
seventh Eegiment in this action were carried by William H,
Campbell, a private of Company G, from Orange County, N.
C, who afterwards fell at Bristoe Station, and that he was
for the greater part of that time the foremost man in the
line, and when ordered by Colonel Cooke to go slower, as the
regiment could not keep up with him, replied, "Colonel, I
can't let that Arkansas fellow get ahead of me."

I will also state that soon after we started the charge, some
drunken officer on horseback, (who or of what command I
'never learned), rode in front of the Twenty-seventh North
Carolina, then commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel E,. W. Sin-
gletary, and pulling off and waving his hat, yelled out, "Come
on, boys; I'm leading this charge." Lieutenant-Colonel Sin-
gletary immediately ran up to him (the regiment being then
at double-quick) and replied, "You are a liar, sir; we lead
our own charges."

As soon as the regiments could reform behind their rail
fence, they opened fire with the few cartridges they had left
and soon checked the advance of the enemy who did not
come beyond the line which they had occupied in the morn--
ing. In a short while all our ammunition was exhausted.
Colonel Cooke sent courier after courier for ammunition, but
still none was sent. Four or five times during the afternoon
General Longstreet sent couriers telling Colonel Cooke to
hold the position at all hazards, that "it was the key to the
whole line." Colonel Cooke's reply was always, "Tell Gen-
eral Longstreet to send me some ammunition. I have not a
cartridge in my command, but vrill hold my position at the
point of the bayonet."

The rail fence, which was our only protection, was rid-
dled with bullets and torn with shot and shell and our men
were falling fast, but still the Twenty-seventh North Carolina

Twenty-Seventh Regiment. 437

and the Third Arkansas flinched not. Imbued with the cour-
age of their commander, they stood firm to their post.

For about two hours and a half they held the position lit-
erally without a cartridge. This fact is mentioned in Gen-
eral E,. E. Lee's report of the first Maryland campaign, and
also in Dabney's Life of "Stonewall" Jackson. In all the
trying times of that day the Third Arkansas Regiment was
side by side with the Twenty-seventh North Carolina, and
yet, I never see them mentioned in accounts of the battle.
Even Longstreet fails to mention them in a late article, in
which he pays a great compliment to the Twenty-seventh
North Carolina. It was a gallant regiment, commanded in
that fight by Captain J. W. Eeady, and was with the Twenty-
seventh in every move. Between 4 and 5 o'clock in the af-
ternoon we were relieved (I think by the Third North Car-
olina and a Louisiana regiment), and were moved about a
mile to the rear to get ammunition and fresh water. After
resting about half an hour we were marched again to the front
and placed in position just behind and in support of the
troops who had relieved us. Here we were subjected to a
severe shelling, but had no chance to return the fire. The
day had been a long one, but the evening seemed longer ; the
sun seemed almost to go backwards, and it appeared as if
-night would never come. As soon as it became dark we were
moved to the left, rejoined our division, and with them biv-
ouacked upon the battlefield.

The regiment entered the battle with 325 officers and men
and lost in killed and wounded 203, about 63 per cent. One
company (G) went in 30 strong and had but five left at the
end of the day. Another (Company E), with an average
company and a full complement of officers, lost its Captain,
First Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant killed, and two-
thirds of its men killed or wounded. This regiment re-
mained with its division on the battlefield all day of the 18th
and retreated with the Army of Northern Virginia on the
night of the 18th, crossing the Potomac at Shepherdstown
about daylight on the morning of the 19th, marched from
there to Martinsburg, Va., where it remained till the last of
September, and then moved via Bunker Hill to Winchester.

438 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

Eemaining there till the latter part of October we then
moved via Millwood to Paris and Upperville on the Bine
Eidge mountains. After spending several days at these
places, and making a raid to near Aldie and capturing a lot
of beef cattle and flour we moved via Salem, Va., to Culpep'
per Court House, thence to Cedar Eun and then to Madison
Court House, Va. After leaving Madison Court House, we
moved via Orange Court House to Fredericksburg, Va.,
reaching the latter place about the end of ISTovember, 1862.

The march to Fredericksburg was a hard one, as in conse-
quence of the change of position from the extreme left to the
centre at Sharpsburg we lost our knapsacks and blankets,
having piled them up by companies as we entered the fight
and being unable, on acount of the change of position, to get
them, as we intended, on 18 September, and many of our
men, besides being short of clothing, were also barefooted.

During the month of ISTovember, and before we reached
Fredericksburg, our Colonel, John E. Cooke, though the
junior Colonel of the brigade, was, for gallantry, promoted
to Brigadier-General, and assigned to the command of our
brigade in place of General J. G. Walker, who had been trans-
ferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department. The brigade
was also changed ; the regiments from other States being as-
signed to brigades from their respective States, viz. : the
Thirtieth Virginia to Corse's Brigade, the Third Arkansas to
Eobertson's Texas Brigade, and the Second Georgia Battal-
ion to Wright's Brigade. The Fift-eenth North Carolina,
formerly belonging to Cobb's Brigade, was assigned to our
brigade, which then comprised the Fifteenth, Twenty-sev-
enth, Forty-sixth and Forty-eighth North Carolina Eegi-
ments.

Upon the promotion of Colonel Cooke, Lieutenant-Colonel
Singletary having resigned on account of wounds. Major
John A. Gilmer, Jr., was promoted to Colonel; Captain G,
F. Whitfield, Company C, to Lieutenant-Colonel, and Cap-
tain Joseph C. Webb, Company G, to Major,

We were engaged in the first battle of Fredericksburg,
Va., 13 December, 1862, and fought behind the rock wall at
Marye's Heights, on the telegraph road, just opposite the

Twenty-Seventh Regiment. 439

town. On account of the protection afforded by this wall
our loss was slight, while the damage done the enemy in our
front was terrible.

There seems to be an attempt on the part of all writers to
put Cooke's North Carolina Brigade in reserve, and not at
the rock wall, in the battle of Fredericksburg, and even Long-
street, who commanded that part of the line, says, in a late
magazine article, that Cooke was in reserve.

Yet, I know the fact to be that Cooke was wounded while
talking to General Cobb, of Georgia, who was killed at the
rock wall; that Colonel Saunders, Forty-sixth !N"orth Caro-
lina, was shot in the mouth while charging down the hill to
the ivall, and that Lieutenant S. P. Wier, Forty-sixth North
Carolina, was killed and Colonel John A. Gilmer, Twenty-
seventh North Carolina, was wounded at the roch wall.

These oflGlcers were with their commands and at the rock
wall.

January 3, 1863, we were ordered South, and after stop-
ping for some time at Petersburg, Ya., Goldsboro, Burgaw
and Wilmington, N. C, reached Charleston, S. C, 22 Feb-
ruary, 1863. The next day we proceeded to Pocataligo, S.
C, and in a few days afterwards to Coosahatchie. Here
we remained till 26 April, 1863, when we were ordered to re-
turn to North Carolina. After halting a few days at Wil-
mington and Magnolia we proceeded via Goldsboro to Kin-
ston, and formed a part of the troops that drove the Fed-
erals back into New Bern after their attack on Ransom's
Brigade at Gum Swamp in May, 1863. We pursued them
within eight miles of New Bern; then, after demolishing
some of their block houses with our artillery, returned to
camp. About the first of June, 1863, we returned to Vir-
ginia and expected to go on the Gettysburg campaign as a
part of Heth's Division, but when we reached Richmond our
brigade was, at the request of General Elzey, then command-
ing there, stopped at that place, and Davis' Mississippi Brig-
ade assigned to Heth's Division in our stead.

We spent the summer of 1863 at Richmond and Freder-
icksburg and points between those places, being moved from

440 North Cakolina Troops, 1861-'65.

place to place to meet and repel threatened attacks of the en-
emy.

During this summer we assisted in repelling an attack
made by the Federal General Getty with quite a considerable
force at the bridge over the South Anna river on the Eich-
mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad.

We were also engaged in a severe skirmish near the
"White House," when we, with Ransom's ISTorth Carolina
Brigade, met "Beast Butler" and his command and checked
one of their many attempts to move "on to Richmond."

About the first of October, 1863, we moved to Gordonsville,
Va., and on the morning of 8 October, took up the line of
march — having been reassigned to Heth's Division — ^with the
Army of Northern Virginia in the attempt to cut Meade's
army off. Passing near Salem, Va., and other towns in that
section, we reached Warren ton, Va., on the evening of 13 Oc-
tober, 1863. Leaving this place next morning we reached a
little place called Greenage about 10 o'clock a. m. Here we
found the eampfires of the enemy Still burning and evident
signs of their departure in haste. Throwing out our skir-
mishers some 200 yards ahead we proceeded at a rapid pace,
almost double quick, in pursuit of the foe. Guns, knap-
sacks, blankets, etc., strewn along the road showed that the
enemy was moving in rapid retreat, and prisoners sent in
every few minutes confirmed our opinion that they were flee-
ing in haste. It was almost like boys chasing a hare. Though
the march was very rapid not a straggler left the ranks of our
regiment, every man seeming in earnest and confident in the
belief that we would soon overtake and capture a portion of
the Federal army before us with their wagon train. After
moving at this rapid rate for about three hours or more we
were filed to the right and placed in line of battle on the right
of the road, Kirkland's North Carolina Brigade taking posi-
tion on the left of the road.

Soon the comiuand 'Forward" was given. Advancing
some 400 or 500 yards through a dense forest we halted near
a little branch in a hollow place in some cleared ground.
The Forty-sixth North Carolina, Colonel Hall, was on the ex-
treme right of our brigade, the Fifteenth North Carolina, Col-

Twenty-Seventh Regiment. 441

onel William McRae next, the Twenty-seventh North Caroli-
na, Colonel Gilmer, next and the Forty-eighth North Caroli-
na, Colonel Walkup, on the left, with their left resting on the
road.

We could then see about two brigades of the enemy upon
a hill a little to our left and about 600 or 800 yards in front,
while their wagon train was rapidly moving. off. About this
time a heavy fire was opened by the enemy, in a pine thicket
upon our right flank. Just then a courier came from Gen-
eral Heth to General Cooke, with orders from General A. P.
Hill, our corps commander, to advance. At the same time a
courier from Colonel Hall, commanding the right regiment
of our brigade, reported that the enemy had driven in his skir-
mishers on his right flank.

General Cooke immediately sent to General Heth and told
him there was a heavy force of the enemy on his right flank
and he must have it protected before he could advance, and
at the same time directed the courier from Colonel Hall to
tell him to throw out two companies on the right and feel the
force of the enemy. Very soon a courier returned from
General Heth with orders for General Cooke to advance, and
about the same time a courier from Colonel Hall reported
that he had thrown out the two companies as ordered, who
were immediately driven in, and that the enemy were in very
heavy force on his right flank. About this time Captain John-
son, of the Engineers, of General Lee's staff, rode up, and upon
seeing the situation, remarked to General Cooke that he would
go to General Hill for him. Very soon after he left, and be-
fore he had time to reach General Hill, a courier came direct
from General Hill to General Cooke with the order: "Gen-
eral Cooke, General Hill says advance at once." General
Cooke replied, "Well, I will advance, and if they flank me, I
will face my men about and cut my way out," and immedi-
ately gave the command "Forward !"

Just then, our artillery, posted upon a high hill on our ex-
treme left, opened upon the enemy in view and they fled in
confusion. At the same time the Federals, driven up the
railroad by Early's Corps, had arrived in our front, and they
immediately formed line behind the railroad embankment.

442 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

We advanced at quick-step up a little hill, and, passing
through a skirt of pines on its summit, came in full view of
the enemy. They seemed to have formed a trap for us, their ar-
tillery being posted on the opposite hill some twelve hundred
yards distant, with some few troops appearing as a support
for them, and their skirmishers being on the opposite side of
the railroad and beyond the line of battle, which lay concealed
behind the embankment of the railroad. When we had ad-
vanced some fifty yards, the Twenty-seventh JSTorth Carolina,
which had always been drilled in the quick-step, was some
twenty yards in advance and was ordered to halt till the other
regiments came up. Just then we perceived that the line
of battle of the enemy was behind the railroad. As they
fired up the hill nearly every one of their shots told. Just
at that moment General Cooke, commanding brigade, and
Colonel Gilmer, Twenty-seventh ISTorth Carolina, were both
shot down, severely wounded. The command of the brigade
then developed upon Colonel Hall, Forty-sixth JSTorth Car-
olina, and Lieutenant-Colonel Whitfield took command of our
regiment. We were suffering terribly, and Lieutenant-Colonel
Whitfield seeing this, hurried down the line to meet Colonel
Hall, who was coming up from the right, and told him that
he would lose all his men if they remained where they were,
and he must either move them back or make a charge. Colo-
nel Hall replied, "I expect we had better charge." Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Whitfield understood this as an Order, and gave
the command for the Twenty-seventh to charge, and we were
soon double-quicking down the hill, our men falling at al-
most every step. The point from which we started the charge
was distinctly marked ; at least four, and in some cases ten,
men from each company lying dead or wounded in that line.
The other regiments of the brigade, seeing us charging, ad-
vanced at quick-step to our support. When we came within
about forty yards of the railroad, the enemy arose and gave us
a volley which cut down more than half the remainder of our
regiment. Color-bearer Sumner, Sergeant of Company F,
fell at this fire, but before the colors touched the ground they
were caught by Corporal Barrett, Company E, one of the
color-guard. Before he had gone ten steps he was shot down.

Twenty-Seventh Regiment. 443

As he fell, Corporal Story, Company B, and Eichards, Com-
pany G, both also of the color-guard, caught the flag. Cor-
poral Story carried it during the balance of the fight and,
for his gallantry upon this occasion was afterwards appointed
Ensign of the regiment, under act of Congress authorizing
color-bearers of regiments to be appointed Ensigns with the
rank of Lieutenant. After going within twenty steps of the
enemy's line, Major Webb, who had been thrown in command
of the regiment after the wounding of Lieutenant-Colonel
Whitfield, seeing that we were the only regiment charging in
our brigade, ordered us to fall back. A murderous trip in-
deed it was up that hill, and but for the action of the Fif-
teenth North Carolina, who, by orders of their Colonel — the
gallant William MoRae, afterwards Brigadier-General — fell
back by companies, pouring a continuous fire upon the enemy,
so as to keep them down to some extent, but few of ua would
have escaped. As it was, our loss was severe. Out of 416
officers and men carried into the action, 290 were killed or
wounded, leaving only 126. Of 36 officers in the fight, but
three remained unhurt. It may be well enough to state here,
though not exactly connected with the history of this regi-
ment, that Cooke's Brigade lost in that battle 700 men, and
Kirkland's Brigade 560, making 1,260 as the loss upon our
side, while it was reported that the enemy's loss was only 35.
The battle only lasted about forty minutes of actual fight-
ing, and I doubt if such carnage was ever known in the same
length of time.

We fell back beyond the brow of the hill and immediately
reformed. A battery of artillery, from Alabama, was or-
dered into position at the brow of the hill in our rear after
we began the charge ; but neither our Brigadier nor any other
officer in command knew anything of it, and as we closed in
to the right in falling back we saw nothing of it, and were
very much surprised the next day to learn that one of our
batteries had been captured. Although our whole corps was
right at hand, not a single regiment or brigade was sent to our
assistance, but these two North Carolina brigades were left
to contend alone, with the whole Second Corps and one divis-
ion of the Fifth Corps of the Federal Army. As I passed

444 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

back, wounded, from the battlefield I met our troops along the
road resting, while we were fighting such fearful odds. One
incident of this fight I will mention, which shows the cool-
ness of some men under all circumstances. We had just
drawn new clothing — ^gray jackets and blue pants — and our
men, anxious to keep their clothing bright and new, had most
of them put on their old clothes during the march and had
them on at this fight. As we were falling back up the hill,
Private Laughinghouse, of Company E, from Pitt county,
finding his knapsack too heavy, determined to throw it away,
but as he did not wish to lose his new clothes — ^having his old
ones on — he stopped, changed clothes imder this heavy fire,
and then picking up his blanket and gun, made his way up
the hill unhurt. Another incident worth mentioning is this :
Sergeant Fleming, Company H, came to Major Webb the
morning after the fight and told him that his gun had kicked
so much the evening before that his shoulder was almost use-
less. Major Webb, looking at him, remarked, "Why, ain't
you shot ? There's a hole in your coat." Upon examination
it proved that he was indeed shot through the shoulder and in
the excitement of the fight had not noticed it at .all.

The enemy retreated during that night and the next day we
buried our dead upon the field. The day following, after
sending off all oiir wounded in ambulances and wagons, we
started back towards Pichmond and assisted in tearing up the
railroad as far down as Rappahannock Station. Crossing
the Rappahannock river, we went into camp and remained
until 4 November, the enemy, having relaid the railroad
track, advanced and we fell back to Culpepper Court House.

A few days afterwards we retired across the Rapidan and
picketed along that river above Rapidan Station until 28 No-
vember, when Meade with his army, having crossed below
the junction of the Rapidan and Rappahannock, we were,
with the remainder of our army, moved to meet him at Mine
run. We had quite a skirmish that evening, losing several
men. The next day we were held in reserve and afterwards
were moved from point to point along the line wherever
troops seemed to be needed, until the morning of 3 December,
when the skirmishers of our brigade were ordered to feel the

Twenty-Seventh Regiment. 445

enemy's position. As we advanced we found that the enemy
had fled during the night, leaving their bivouac fires burning
and their camping places filled with plunder which they had
taken from houses of citizens living in the vicinity. A few
prisoners whom we captured, told us that the retreat began
about 2 o'clock a. m., and that then the army was far out of
our reach and perhaps across the river.

Returning to camp we' continued our picket duty along the
Rapidan until 4 February, 1864, when being relieved by
Kirkland's Brigade, we moved back to our winter quarters a
few miles below Orange Court House. We had hardly got
settled in them when it was reported that the enemy were ad-
vancing, and we were on Y February ordered to return to the
river to. resist their crossing. After spending two days and
nights of bitter cold weather on the banks of the Rapidan, we
returned to camp and remained unmolested, enjoying the
first winter quarters we had seen in two years, until 1 March,
when our rest was again broken into. The enemy having
started some of their cavalry on a raid through Madison,
Green and the adjoining counties, threw a large force of in-
fantry across the river to Madison Court House as a support
for them.

Our corps was ordered to drive them off. Leaving camp
about an hour or two before day on the morning of 1 March,
we reached Madison Court House in the afternoon after a
toilsome march over muddy roads, and found that the enemy
had fled some two or three hours before.

Next morning we returned to camp, and as some of our
men were barefooted, their feet cut by the sharp edges of
the frozen ground, left their bloody tracks along the route.
I had read of our soldiers in the Revolutionary war leaving
their tracks marked with blood, but had always regarded it as
rather too highly painted a picture until I saw the same thing
in this instance, and then I could realize it. After reaching
camp we remained in perfect quiet until 4 May, 1864, when
we started for the Wilderness, where the memorable cam-
paign of 1864, commenced. As we left our bivouac on the
morning of 5 May, near where the battle of Mine Run had
been fought the winter before, Kirkland's Brigade was

446 NoKTH Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

thrown in front and we acted as his support. About 11
o'clock our brigade relieved Kirkland, he becoming our sup-
port. We were then driving the enemy down the plank road
leading from Orange Court House to Fredericksburg — only
cavalry as yet appearing in our front — and continued to
drive them back till about 3 o'clock p. m. when, on reaching
Brock road, where it crosses the plank road, we found the
main body of the enemy. Immediately our whole brigade
was thrown into line, the Fifteenth and Forty-sixth ilSTorth
Carolina being on the right of the road, and the Twenty-sev-
enth and Forty-eighth North Carolina on the left. Very
soon the battle opened in earnest, and we had to contend
against large odds till near sundown, when we were relieved
by Kirkland's Brigade. The troops engaged on our side up
to near sunset numbered, by actual calculation, 3,000, while
the enemy were said to have brought forward 40,000. Our
loss was severe; I am unable to give the loss of the Twenty-
seventh, but out of 1,753 in the brigade for duty, as appeared
by the report of the Inspector General made the day before,
about 1,080 were killed or wounded. After being relieved by
Kirkland, we were moved to the rear, and after dark that
night were moved about one and a half or two miles back
to a hill, where the line of battle of our army was es-
tablished.

The next morning (6 May, 1864), soon after sunrise, the
enemy advanced, and were soon in full charge upon our lines.
The troops both to the right and left of us, having no protec-
tion, broke and fled. Our brigade, thanks to the breastworks
which they had thrown up contrary to orders the night be-
fore, held their ground, as did Williams' Battery from ISTorth
Carolina, commanded by Capt. Arthur B. Williams, a gallant
young officer from Fayetteville, for whom we were the sup-
port. Just as we were flanked on each side and almost ready
to retreat, from force of circumstances, Anderson's Corps
came up and the gallant charge of the Texas Brigade was
made. As they neared the position held by our brigade. Gen-
eral Lee, our revered commander, rode to the front and called
out that he would lead the charge. This, of course, was op-
posed by every true soldier, and when he insisted upon going

Twenty-Seventh Regiment. 447

to the front his horse was seized by the soldiers and officers,
who told him he must go back or they would not go forward.
This fact was given me by the Major of our regiment — a gal-
lant officer — who was wounded within fifteen steps of Gen-
eral Lee just as his horse was seized to prevent his going for-
ward.

As I was severely wounded at the battle of the Wilderness
5 May, and did not return to duty until 12 September, I am
unable to give any detailed account of the movements of the
regiment during the summer campaign of 1864.

I have tried to supply this blank, but have been unable to
get any account of our movements from officers and men to
whom I have written and I can find no publications from
which I can get the desired information.

Even the "Records of the Rebellion" gives a very meagre
account of this memorable campaign.

During this campaign this regiment took part in many
battles, skirmishes, etc., and I very much regret that a history
of them cannot be given.

We were engaged in the battles of Wilderness, Spottsylva-
nia Court House, Gary's Farm, Pole Green Ch^irch, Cold
Harbor second, Weldon Railroad, Reams Station, and others.

About the middle of July, 1864, we found ourselves in the
trenches before Petersburg.

August 24 we were moved from the trenches and took up
the line of march from Reams Station on the railroad be-
low Petersburg — having been told before we started, that
as we had been in front in nearly all the fights during the
summer, we should simply be "lookers-on in Venice" on this
occasion. Soon after reaching Reams Station a charge was
made upon the enemy's works by certain of our troops. They
failing to capture them, General A. P. Hill ordered for-
ward Cooke's, McRae's and Lane's North Carolina Brigades.
A part of our brigade (Cooke's) having to pass through the
open field and the other through undergrowth and fallen
trees. General Cooke ordered his two left regiments, the
Twenty-seventh and Forty-eighth JSTorth Carolina, forward
first, and when they had gotten sufficiently advanced directed
the other two, the Forty-sixth and Fifteenth, to advance.

448 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Upon striking the enemy's works we found they would not
give way, and a hand-to-hand fight across the breastworks en-
sued for a minute or two. Three times Captain Shade
Wooten, Company C, finding one of the enemy poking his
gun up to shoot him, grabbed a handful of dirt -from the em-
bankment and dashed it in the eyes of his opponent and thus
saved his life. This state of affairs was ended when the
Forty-sixth and Fifteenth North Carolina, which charged
through an open field at double-quick, reached the works when
the brigade went over in line. I have it from the mouth of
General Cooke, our Brigadier, that the first colors seen at the
works were those of the Twenty-seventh North Carolina, car-
ried by Sergeant Eoscoe Richards, Company G. The enemy
immediately fled in confusion, and turning their own artil-
lery, which we had captured, we endeavored to use it upon
them, but owing to the want of friction primers, etc., it was
useless to us. The troops engaged on our side numbered
1,750, and after taking the enemy's works we found ourselves
in possession of over 2,100 prisoners, besides thirteen pieces
of artillery, which we forwarded that night to the headquar-
ters of our Corps Commander, General A. P. Hill.

In General Lee's dispatch to the War Department he states
that the charge was made by Coohe's, McRae's and Lane's
North Carolina Brigades. Our loss was severe in proportion
to our numbers. The Twenty-seventh North Carolina only
numbered seventy, or about that, certainly not over, ^.fter
this engagement. One company I know had only one cor-
poral and two men at the end of that fight. This was, un-
doubtedly, the most brilliant dash — for indeed it was a
dash — of the war ; and be it remembered that North Caroli-
nians, alone, were engaged in it. After this fight we re-
turned to our position in the trenches, where we remained
until the latter part of September, 1864, when we were moved
further to the right. 20 September, 1864, leaving the
trenches we were moved to the right, and on the next day took
part in a skirmish — about half a fight — just below Bat-
tery 45.

After this our brigade (Cooke's) occupied the extreme
right of our lines, being moved still farther to the right as

Twenty-Seventh Regiment. 449

the lines were extended to meet the movements of the enemy,
and other troops put in to fill the vacancy until we reached
Hatcher's Eun near Burgess' Mill about 1 December, 1864.
On 15 October, 1864, "I saw a letter from General R. H. Chil-
ton, Inspector General on General Lee's staff, to General
Cooke, in which — although the letter was written principally
on other matters — he stated that General Lee looked upon
Cooke's ISTorth Carolina Brigade as the brigade and Cooke as
the Brigadier of his army.

27 October, 1864, the enemy attempting to turn our. right
flank again, we moved still to the right, having to march
two miles behind our breastworks half bent, in order to keep
out of view of the enemy's sharpshooters who were within
seventy-five yards of our works, and made it almost certain
death for any man to show his head above the works.

That night we were relieved and moved up the creek
(Hatcher's Run) to Burgess' Mill, and were told that next
morning at daylight we would have to charge the enemy
across the creek. The only means of crossing was a narrow
country bridge, about twelve feet wide, and it was not at all
a pleasant prospect to think of having to cross that place in
front of the enemy's artillery, posted on a hill about 100
yards off, and their sharpshooters and skirmishers within
twenty steps of the bridge. Just at daylight on the morn-
ing of 28 October, our sharpshooters were ordered forward,
and it was most welcome intelligence to us to hear their shout
as they marched up the hill and entered the enemy's works
which had been abandoned during the night. Again Grant
had failed in his flank movement and had returned to his
camp.

This was considered the end of the campaign of 1864.

Our brigade entered the campaign with 1,Y53 muskets for
duty, as was shown by the report of our Inspector General,
made 4 May, 1864, and lost up to this time 1,Y86 killed,
wounded and missing. Of course, in order to make up this
number some men must have been wounded more than once,
each time of wounding counting as a separate loss, and others
who were absent, sick or on furlough at the beginning of the
29

450 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

campaign, had returned. During that time we had only lost
thirty-five prisoners, everyone of whom were captured from
our skirmish line; not a single prisoner having been taken
from our line of battle; nor had we in 'that whole campaign
yielded an inch of ground to the enemy, always coming out
victorious or, at least, holding our own.

Returning soon after to our position on the left of Hatch-
er's Eun, a mile and a half helow Burgess' Mill, we put up
winter quarters and remained quiet, performing picket duty
and drilling, till 8 December, 1864, when the Second Corps
of the Federal army having started on a raid to Belfield, on
the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad, our corps was ordered
to oppose them. Leaving camp on the evening of 8 Decem-
ber we marched until about 2 o'clock a. m., when we bivou-
acked. The weather was bitter cold and that night it snowed
and sleeted, making the marching very rough. When we
came within a few miles of Belfield we found that the enemy
had retreated and we were ordered back to Jarrett's Station
to try and intercept them. Just as we reached this point we
found the enemy's cavalry passing. Immediately throwing
forward our artillery, under the gallant Pegram, and putting
Cooke's Brigade in line for support, we prepared for action.
As we were in the woods the enemy did not see us and charged
upon the artillery just as it got into position; but our skir-
mishers, posted about a himdred yards in front of the artil-
lery, soon showed them that they were supported. The en-
emy were driven back without a gun being fired from the line .
of battle, and as they retreated we pursued. Crossing the
railroad we pushed on for some three miles, hoping to inter-
cept their infantry who were going up the Jerusalem Plank
Road. When we reached this road we learned that they had
passed about three hours before. As it was about dark we
bivouacked for the night and next morning started on our re-
turn to camp, which we reached on the afternoon of 13 De-
cember. Our rest was not again broken into until Sunday,
5 February, 1865, when Grant, making another of his for-
ward movements, was within 600 or 800 yards of our works
before his movements were seen. Immediately the "long

Twenty-Seventh Regiment. 451

roll" was beaten and we were in line in a few minutes behind
our works.

About the middle of the day Gordon's Corps having been
brought to our side of the creek, Davis' Mississippi Brigade,
which held a position about a mile to our left, was marched
down to our position and relieved us. We then started up
the line, Cooke's Brigade being in the lead, and after going
a mile and a half or two miles, crossed our works and moved
to the front.

Several times, as we passed up the lines, the question
was asked, "What brigade is that?" and when we answered
"Cooke's North Carolina," the reply always came back, "Oh,
yes ! you are the fellows that have got up such a reputation
for fighting. You'll get enough of it yet before you are done.
They'll keep you in front until the enemy cuts you to pieces."

Passing a mile or more to the front, we turned to the right
and formed line of battle. Our skirmishers being immedi-
ately thrown out were soon moved to the right to protect the
flank, which left the skirmishers of some other brigade in our
front. Soon the order to advance was given, and after going
a short distance we struck the enemy's skirmish line. The
skirmishers in our front gave back through our line, and we
had to drive the enemy's skirmishers with our line of battle
for more than half a miie. When we struck the enemy's line,
posted behind a little earthwork upon a hill in a field beyond
the wood through which we had advanced, the order was given
to charge. As we started up the hill and were within sixty
yards of their works, the command, "Dress to the left," which
had been given all the time, was repeated, and finding that
the brigade on our left did not come to time we fell back to
the edge of the woods and took position behind a fence.
Again the order to advance was given, and again starting up
the hill and getting near enough to the enemy to see their
knapsacks over the small embankment, behind which they
were lying flat, flnding that our left was unsupported we were
ordered back. After a short while, the enemy making a
strong demonstration on our right flank, we were ordered to
fall back. When we reached our reserve line, about half a
jnile to our rear, we halted, and soon after fresh troops were

452 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

ordered forward, Cooke's Georgia Brigade taking the place of
ours. As they advanced, the three left companies of the
Twenty-seventh Worth Carolina (Companies H, G and B)
thinking the command was given by our Brigadier, went for-
ward with them and fought through the remainder of the af-
ternoon, losing several men. After dark we returned to our
breastworks, and upon reaching them found that we had been
fighting not more than six hundred yards from and directly
in front of our camp. Why we were moved two miles up
our line and then to the front to take the lead in the charge
immediately in front of our position, which was then held
by other troops, I never could understand. The next morn-
ing (6 February, 1865), we again moved to the front and
passing quietly, about daylight, along a path on the bank of
the creek, formed a line some five hundred yards in front of
our works. We lay here in line of battle all day to prevent
the enemy from crossing the creek and turning the flank of
Gordon's Corps, who were driving them from their side of
the creek. Although the enemy were very near we had no
engagement except a little skirmishing and picket firing.
Returning to camp that night we enjoyed about six weeks of
quiet and rest.

On the night of 24 March, 1865, orders were given for ua
to march. Leaving our sick and disabled to hold our picket
line we took the road for Petersburg— eight miles distant — ■•
not knowing whither we were bound beyond that point.
Reaching Petersburg about midnight we bivouacked near the
Water-works. Next morning about daylight the artillery
opened fire and soon it was reported that our troops had
carried the enemy's line and had possession of their works.
We were hurried into the trenches to take the place of the
troops who had advanced.

Soon after reaching the works we saw large bodies of the
enemy moving up their line from their left — our right — both
on foot and on the railroad, and soon our troops who had
charged were driven back, and we learned that the attempt to
carry "Hare's Hill" had failed. Our position being just
to the right of the troops engaged we had, for the first time
during the war, an opportunity of seeing a fight in which we

Twenty-Seventh Regiment. 453

did not take part. The view, at a distance, looks worse ttan
the reality seems while you are actually in it. - About 2
o'clock p. m. we were ordered back to camp. Before reach-
ing it, however, we perceived by the firing that there was a
fight going on at that point, and on arriving at our camp
found the enemy in possession of our picket line. They
had charged it in the morning and captured it from our sick
and disabled. McOomb's Alabama Brigade was then thrown
into our lines and, charging, retook the picket line and placed
a heavy force there. In the afternoon the enemy, charging
with a heavier force, retook it from them just before we ar-
rived. General Cooke calling out our sharpshooters — -100
men — ordered them to move quietly down the bank of the
creek, until they reached the picket line and then to flank it
and charge down it. As they raised the yell for the charge,
the reserve, or Second Corps of sharpshooters, started from a
gap in our works and soon the whole of the picket line of our
brigade was again in our possession. Next morning, (26
March)' our sharpshooters were relieved by a regular picket
line. The enemy had in the meantime established their
picket line, during the night, within fifty yards in front of
the left of our line, while on our left they were on a line with
us, the troops on our left having failed to recapture their
picket line. The next night our line was thrown back a little
on the left so as to prevent any flank or enfilade fire, and thus
we remained until Thursday, 30 March, 1865, when several
attacks were made upon our picket line, then commanded by
Captain John A. Sloan, of Company B, Twenty-seventh
North Carolina, but we still held our own. Next day, how-
ever, after frequent attacks by a large force, our pickets were
compelled to yield and fall back to the main line.

The next morning, Saturday, 1 April, about two hours be-
fore day, Companies G and H, Twenty-seventh North Caro-
lina, with a detachment from each of the other regiments of
our brigade, and the Twenty-sixth Mississippi Battalion,
were ordered forward to drive the enemy out of our picket
line and to take possession of it and hold it. A double line
of skirmishetrs, from another brigade, was in our front when
we advanced. When near where our picket line had been we

454 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

found nothmg in our front but the enemy. It was pitch dark
and seeing the men quietly around the fires, we supposed oui*
skirmishers had captured them, when, all at once, when we
were within twenty yards some one near one of the fires called
our in regular Irish brogue, "Where do you belong ?" "To
the Forty-eighth !" was the reply. "Forty-eighth what?"
"Forty-eighth North Carolina !" was the answer. Immedi-
ately the poor fellow was shot down. The rest of us at that
place dropped behind some earthworks or pits which we
found there, thinking it was our own men, who had captured
the pits and were firing upon us by mistake. The other troops
with us had turned to the right at a little branch, about 200
yards back, and only four companies were here present. Soon
the fire from six or eight pits to the right and left of us was
poured in upon us ; and we saw that it was enemies instead
of friends who were firing upon us ; but in the dark they did
but little damage. What became of the skirmishers in our
front who were to take the line which we were to occupy we
never knew. We found Yankees alone at any point where
we struck the line. Finding we had no support, and know-
ing that four companies could not capture a picket line more
than half a mile long, we withdrew quietly as soon as the
firing slackened. Soon after we returned to our line Captain
McKinney of the Forty-sixth North Carolina, commanding
our sharpshooters, who were only ordered to protect the right
fiank, reported, by courier, to Greneral Cooke that he had cap-
tured four pits and wanted reinforcements. Immediately
our detachments were ordered forward again, but before we
had proceeded far, another courier announced that Captain
McKinney had been compelled to give up the captured pits
and we were not needed. All that day (1 April), we had a
continuous picket and sharpshooter contest with the enemy,
losing several men who seemed to think they could not be hit
and exposed themselves unnecessarily. Just before day we
were relieved by Davis' Mississippi Brigade, and crossing the
creek took position in Fort Euliss. Here the enemy were on
three sides of us — our only protected side being that from
which we had just moved — and as soon as day opened they
began to fire upon us with both infantry and artillery. Our

Twenty-Seventh Regiment. 455

breastworks were prepared in such a way as, to some extent,
to meet these flank fires; but they did not always suit, as
some of our men were killed during that morning by shots
which, striking a limb above them, glanced directly down-
ward inflicting death wounds.

We could distinctly hear the shouts of the troops fighting
between us and Petersburg, and our feelings would rise or
fall in proportion as we would hear the Confederate "yell" or
the Yankee "huzza" in the ascendency. After a while the
"huzza" seemed to prevail, and soon a courier. Private W. A.
Hayes, Company G, Twenty-seventh North Carolina, came
rushing into our fort. Very shortly afterwards we were or-
dered out of our works and in a few minutes were on the re-
treat from Petersburg.

After moving some four or five miles we threw out first one
regiment and then another as skirmishers to retard the en-
emy, who were pressing us hard, and on arriving at Suther-
land's Tavern, a station on the Southside road, about ten
miles from Petersburg, we formed line of battle and threw up
breastworks of the rails and other stuff we could find near at
hand, adding such dirt as we could dig up with our bayo-
nets, tin cups, plates, etc. Soon the enemy charged us, but
were repulsed with heavy loss, and, as they started back, our
sharpshooters, rushing forward, captured many prisoners.
These prisoners told us that the next charge would be made
by the negro corps, supported by the Second, and that they
would show no quarter. We told them that, having whipped
the whites, we could whip the negroes.

The fighting was heavy till about 4 o'clock p. m., when
the enemy, largely outnumbering us, turned our left fiank
and we were compelled to retreat. Falling back about four
or, five miles the Thirteenth, Twenty-second, Twenty-seventh
and Forty-ninth North Carolina Regiments were thrown out
to keep the enemy in check, while the balance of our troops —
Cooke's, Scales' and McRae's ISTorth Carolina Brigades, and
McGowan's South Carolina Brigade, the troops on the right
of the break in our lines, forming the corps — endeavored to
cross the river so as to join the main army, from which we
had been cut off by the break. Finding that we could not

456 North Carolina Troops, l861-'65.

cross, these regiments were recalled and we pursued our way
up the river until 2 o'clock that night, when we halted for
rest.

ISText morning, 3 April, we started at sunrise and, march-
ing to Deep Creek, which point we reached about 9 a. m., we
stopped to let our wagon train get far enough ahead for its
safety, and also attempted to throw a temporary bridge, upon
which we might pass over the creek, which certainly deserved
its name "Deep" at this point, for though not very wide, yet
twenty-nine feet would not reach its bottom. About 2 o'clock
the cavalry, who had been our rear guard, came rushing in
and reported that the enemy were advancing rapidly and
were near at hand. McGowan's Brigade was ordered to cross
this temporary bridge, then but half prepared, and the
balance of our troops took the route which the wagons had
gone, and crossed at a ford some three miles above. Before
we crossed the creek the enemy were in full view, but did not
approach near enough to attack us. Passing on, we desired to
cross the Appomattox river at Goode's Bridge, but finding
that the waters were very high, and some 200 or 260 yards
beyond either end of the bridge, we turned up the river, and,
as night came on, camped near Ordinary, at the cross-
roads near Goode's Bridge. As soon as we went into camp
orders were given us to be prepared to march at a moment's
notice, and couriers were sent out to find a place where we
could cross the river so as to join General Lee's army.

About 1 o'clock that night we got orders to march, and,
after passing through by-roads and open fields, about 3 o'clock
a. m., 4 April, 1865, came upon Anderson's Georgia Brigade,
the leading brigade of General Lee's army, which had crossed
the Appomattox upon a pontoon bridge, where the whole
army was then crossing. Passing down the line we halted
about daylight in a grove in front of the residence of Dr.
Southall. Soon after sunrise our beloved General-in-Chief,
P. E. Lee, was seen approaching. Upon the suggestion of
Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph C. Webb, commanding our regi-
ment, we rose as he neared us, and every man raised his hat
and gave him three cheers. To rejoin our main army, after
having been cut off for three days, was indeed like getting

Twenty-Seventh Regiment. 457

home from a distant voyage, and I don't think I ever saw men
more rejoiced at anything than we were at being again with
our comrades. Directly after we had cooked a little rations
and eaten our breakfast, it was proposed, as we had been so
badly cut up during the fights before the breaking of our
lines, and on the retreat, and numbered only about seventy
men for duty, that we should reorganize and form a battalion
of two companies. This was discussed and determined upon
in a full meeting of the officers and non-commissioned officers
of the regiment. The officers were to give up, temporarily,
their rank, and become non-commissioned officers, if neces-
sary, and the non-commissioned officers to go into the ranks.
In accordance with this understanding the regiment was con-
solidated into two companies, known as the First and Second
companies. Lieutenant-Colonel Jos. 0. Webb commanded
the battalion. Major Calvin Herring took command of the
First Company, and Captain John A. Sloan, Company B, the
senior Captain, took command of the Second company.

I give a list of the officers and non-commissioned officers of
the two companies, and regret that I am unable to give a list
of the privates also :

FIEST COMPANY.

Captain ; Calvin Herring, Major.

Lieutenant ; Shade Wooten, Captain Company C.

First Sergeant; H. F. Price, Captain Company H.

Second Sergeant; G. W. Jones, First Lieutenant Com-
pany D.

Third Sergeant; N". L. Whitley, Second Lieutenant Com-
pany A.

Fourth Sergeant; Jno. G. Parker, Second Lieutenant
Company A.

SECOND COMPANY.

Captain ; John A. Sloan, Captain Company C.
Lieutenant ; Robert W. Joyner, Captain Company E.
First Sergeant; Jas. A. Graham, Captain Company G.
Second Sergeant; McG. Ernul, First Lieutenant Com-
pany E.

458 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

Third Sergeant; E, B. Gibson, Second Lieutenant Com-
pany B.

Fourth Sergeant; S. A. Whitley, Second Lieutenant Com-
pany H.

This organization was maintained until the surrender. A
requisition was immediately made upon the Ordnance Ser-
geant for guns to supply the officers who had just gone tem-
porarily into ranks. This is the only instance that I heard
of during the war of a reorganization of this sort. It shows
a determination to stick by anything they undertake that
is characteristic of North Carolinians.

That night we encamped at Amelia Court House, Va.,
and the next morning, just as we were leaving camp, the
enemy attacked and began burning our wagon train, some
two miles distant. Our brigade was ordered, with other
troops, to drive them off, and going up the road at a quick
pace we soon passed burning ammunition wagons with shells
bursting, and cartridges popping continually. Then we
came to the provision train where roasted hams and nicely
browned crackers could be seen among the ruins, but we had
no time to stop to taste these tempting morsels.

Before we had caught up with the enemy they had given
up this work of destruction and fled, our only spoils being
about a dozen prisoners who were too drunk to stick to their
horses and had fallen off. One of them showed to what good
purpose a rock can sometimes be put, as he was knocked off
his horse by a rock thrown by one of the teamsters, and from
his appearance that day I expect he yet bears the scar, and
can testify that that teamster made a "centre-shot."

We were then moved back to our position in the main
army and continued with it, fighting by day and flanking
and retreating by night.

On Thursday, 6 April, 1865, the enemy again attacked
our wagon train, some two or three miles in the rear of the
main line of our army, which was then actively engaged,
and our brigade having been acting as reserve that day, the
Forty-eight and Twenty-seventh North Carolina were or-
dered to drive the enemy off. The two regiments numbered

Twenty-Seventh Regiment. 459

just ninety-four muskets. When we reached the position to
which we had been ordered we found the wagon train on
fire, and that we were opposed by a brigade of cavalry with a
battery of artillery. Forming line we attempted to advance,
but were met by a deadly fire and soon found ourselves
flanked on both sides by a portion of this cavalry who were
dismounted and fought as infantry. Retreating to prevent
this, we were charged by the mounted men before we had
gone two hundred yards. Knowing that it was foolish to
run from men on horseback we immediately fell to the ground
and taking advantage of any little shelter that we could get,
gave them a fire. They soon retired and the dismounted men
advanced flanking us; the same thing was repeated two or
three times until we reached a skirt of woods some five hun-
dred yards from where we first met them. Just at this time
a full regiment of cavalry came to our support, and General
Pendleton, who had come up, dismounted about half of them
and ordered us forward again. The enemy having burned a
good portion of our train, readily gave way before us. Just
as we reached the wagon train, orders were sent us to rejoin
our brigade at once and to take care that the enemy did not
cut us off. Throwing out some ten or twelve of our men as
skirmishers upon our flanks, we started on our return, leaving
the cavalry in our rear. Before we had gone a mile our own
cavalry, closely followed by the Yankees came charging
through us, and before we could form the line the Yankees
were upon us. Taking to the woods, which were quite dense
at that point and full of ravines, so that the cavalry must
keep the road, we opened fire upon them and had quite a lit-
tle guerrilla fight for a few minutes. Wlien they retired we
rejoined our brigade, and that nigbt when rations were issued
we got a quart of corn per man, instead of meal, as the wagons
burned were the provision train of our division. We soon
learned to fry corn with a little fat meat so as to make it pal-
atable. This fight was near Rice's Station, Va.

The next day we passed through Tarmville, Va., and our
brigade, having been for more than a day the rear guard of
the infantry of the whole army, was here relieved by Scales'
North Carolina Brigade. It was not much of a relief, how-

460 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

ever, as the enemy, having crossed the river both above and
below the town, pressed us closely and their shots fired at
Scales' line passed through our ranks. At one time during
the evening it seemed as though we were almost completely
surrounded. Our brigade, and I suppose it was the same
with the other troops, was ordered from place to place in
quick succession to meet threatened attacks. I saw one sight
that afternoon which showed what a trusted and beloved com-
mander could do with troops. Our wagon train was in a
long lane in full view of the hill on which we were then
posted. With it was a large number of sick, wounded and
stragglers from all the brigades in the army, not one in ten
of them being armed. The Federal cavalry charged it, when
General Lee giving the command for them to forward, a full
line of battle as it were started forward from the wagons,
teamsters, sick, wounded and all, joining in it, and the en-
emy iled. Those who happened to be armed remained out as
skirmishers until they were relieved by other troops. After
the enemy were driven off we moved on and our regiment had
no more fighting before the siirrender. Saturday night (6
April, 1865) we camped within about three miles of Appo-
mattox Court House, Virginia.

Leaving camp an hour or two before day next morning we
were moved farther to the front, and about daylight, a little
meal having been issued to us for the first time in four days,
we halted to cook rations. Before our bread was half done
we were ordered forward again. Passing rapidly up the
road, which was filled with wagons and ambulances, we soon
came upon a Federal battery, fully equipped and driven by
their own men, in the midst of our wagon train. We did not
understand this at first, but soon learned that it had been
captured that morning by our troops at the front and sent in.
As we approached Appomattox Court House we could plainly
see the Federal line of battle on the hill at the Court House
and beyond. Turning to the right we were placed in line of
battle on a hill opposite them and some eight hundred yards
distant, and expected to have to advance in a few minutes.

About 9 o'clock a. m., it was whispered among our men
that a surrender was to be made. All talk of this kind was

Twenty-Seventh Regiment. 461

soon hiished up by the officers. We still could not under-
stand why we did not charge until about 12 o'clock, when
we found out that we had indeed surrendered.

During the afternoon we learned the terms of surrender —
that we would be paroled and allowed to go home.

Next morning General Lee's farewell address to his troops
was read to our regiment.

We remained in this position till Wednesday, 12 April,
1865, when we marched over near the Court House and
stacked our arms in front of the enemy. Having received
our paroles we started that evening for home, the men of
the different companies forming into squads took the nearest
route to their OAvn sections, and the Twenty-seventh Regi-
ment of North Carolina Troops passed out of existence.

We had served during the four years of our existence
under Brigadier-Generals Robert Ransom, R. C. Gatlin, L.
O'B. Branch, J. G. Walker, W. S. Walker and John R.
Cooke; Major-Generals D. H. Hill, T. H. Holmes, Elzy, and
H. Heth, and were at different times attached to the corps of
"Stonewall" Jackson, Longstreet, Anderson and A. P. Hill,
most of our services being in the corps of A. P. Hill.

Appended is a list of officers and men of the regiment who
were present and surrendered with General Lee at Appomat-
tox Court House on 9 April, 1865 :

Lieutenant-Colonel, Joseph C. Webb ; Major, Calvin Her-
ring; Adjutant, Thaddeus E. Pittman; Surgeon, E. Lloyd
Howard; Sergeant-Ma j or, William E. Ward; Ordnance-Ser-
geant, Andrew D. Lindsay.

Company A — First Lieutenant, John G. Parker ; Second
Lieutenant, M. Lafayette Whitley; First Sergeant, Richard
B. Parker ; Corporal, Simon B. Kilpatrick ; Privates, Larry
Aycock, Joseph Peacock, George W. Steagall, Richard Ward,
John T. Roberts (courier).

Company B — Captain, John A. Sloan ; First Sergeant,
Thomas J. Rhodes ; Sergeant, Joel J. Thom ; Privates, Peter
M. Brown, Lewis N. Isley, James H. Hardin, Walter Green
(courier), E. Tonkie Sharp, W. A. McBride, George Lemons,
Silas C. Dobson; Musician, Samuel M. Lipscomb.

462 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

Company C — Musician, John H. Suggs ; Privates, L. H.
Fields, Jesse Grant, Henry Grant, Thomas Perdue and Rich-
ard Sutton.

Company D— First Lieutenant, George W. Jones ; Second
Lieutenant, Cornelius Harper; First Sergeant, Henry S.
ISTunn ; Sergeant, J. E. Howard ; Corporal, J. E. Gray ; Color
Corporal, S. H. Kornegay; Privates, A. B. Blizzard, James
Quinn, Samuel Strowd, James H. Thomas, Curtis Worley,
James Davis, Jesse Hardy.

Company E— Captain, Eobert W. Joyner; First Lieu-
tenant, McG. Ernul; First Sergeant, John E. Mxon; Ser-
geants, John E. Tyer, Albert S. Carr; Corporals, Eobert J.
Lang, Frank M. Kilpatrick ; Color Corporal, John Wallston ;
Privates, Samuel E. Cason, William Corbett, Wm. Bryant
Edvs^ards, Eufus E. Grimmer, William Gearner, Eichard
Harris, E. Isley, Matthew Jones (orderly), Peter H. Sum-
mers.

Company F — Private Eobert Lanning. This company
was on detached service in North Carolina and surrendered
with General Joseph E. Johnston's army.

Company G — Captain, James A. Graham; Third Ser-
geant, R. Eichards; Third Corporal, M. Adams; Musicians,
W. H. H. Burroughs, S. A. Dickson; Privates, J. Boggs, W.
Brown, J. IST. Faucett, W. A. Faucett, A. W. Hedgepeth, S.
L. Nelson, W. H. Nunn, D. C. Parks (Commissary Ser-
geant), C. M. Parks (hospital steward), E. Sharp, J. A.
Smith, S. G. Strayhorn, J. F. Thompson, William Thomp-
son, G. W. Waddell, T. F. Ward, S. K. Woods, W. D. Woods,
W. A. Hayes.

Company H — Captain, Henry F. Price; Sergeants, John
E. EoUins, J. H. Little ; Corporals, William C. Burney, Eob-
ert Flemming; Privates, A. Forbes, William H. Humber,
Matthew James, E. James, Peter Lawrence, T. Ed. Ean-
dolph, Erastus Eountree, A. Bevil, William H. Stancil, Gus-
tavus H. Evans (courier)'.

Company I — Privates, George Eoberson, William Lovitt,
J. E. Miller, John Dees, Julius Mills, V. Oivils.

Company K- — Captain Benjamin Parks; Corporal, Ben-

Twenty-Seventh Regiment. 463

jamin S. Best; Privates William Bardin, E. M. Sauls,
Stephen W. Pate, Willie Thompson.

SuTLEB — Joseph J. Burgess. Total, 117.

James A. Graham.

Washington, D. C,

9 April, 1901.

TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.

1. James H. Lane, Colonel. 4. Robert Gibbon, Surgeon

2. Samuel D. Lowe, Colonel. 5. F. Milton Kennedy, Chaplain

3. W. H. A. Speer, Lieut.-Colonel. 6. Geo. S. Thompson, Captain, 6 M

7. Nicholas Gibbon, Captain Commissary.

TVmTT-ElQHTH REGIMEfiT.

By BRIGADIER-GENERAL .1. H. LANE.

At the request of Judge Walter Clark, I have prepared
this sketch of my old regiment, the Twenty-eighth North Car-
olina.

It has a splendid record and I do not feel equal to such a
theme. I have done my best in the way of a chronological
summary of its brilliant achievements. My object in inter-
spersing it freely with unpublished reminiscences — personal
incidents of my own knowledge — is to make it more interest-
ing to the general reader. It required both time and labor
to get up the sketch, and yet it has been a great pleasure to
me to do it.

The Twenty-eighth North Carolina Regiment had the fol-
lowing field and staff officers during the war :

Colonels— James H. Lane, Samuel D. Lowe.

Lieutenant-Colonels — Thomas L. Lowe, Samuel J).
Lowe, William D. Barringer, William H. A. Speer.

Majobs — Richard E. Reeves, Samuel D. Lowe, William
J. Montgomery, William D. Barringer, William H. A. Speer,
Samuel N. Stowe.

Adjutants — Duncan A. McRae, Romulus S. Folger.

Ensign — First Lieutenant, J. Pinkney Little.

Seegeants-Majok — Milton A. Lowe, J. T. Lowe, W. R.
Rankin.

Captains — A. Q. M. : George S. Thompson, Durant A.
Parker.

Quaeteemastee Seegeants — Edward Moore, J. O.
Kelly, T. C. Lowe. /

Captain — A. C. S. : Nicholas Gibbon.

CoMMissAEY Sergeant — ^W. A. Mauney.
30

466 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

SuEGEONS — Eobert Gibbon, W. W. Q-aither.

Assistant Suegeons — F.- IST. Luckey, E. G. Barkam,
Thomas B. Lane, M. L. Mayo.

Hospital Stewaeds — John Abernathy, L. J. Barker.

Oednance Sergeant — Gabriel Johnston.

Chaplains — Oscar J. Brent, F. Milton Kennedy, D. S.
Henkel.

This regiment, numbering about 900, was organized at
High Point, IST. C, 21 September, 1861, as appears from the
following communication :

Camp FishbEj
High PoinTj September 21, 1861.
Lieutenant-Colonel James'H. Lane:

Deae Sie : You were unanimously elected Colonel of the
Twenty-eighth North Carolina Volunteers this evening.
This regiment is composed of the following companies, en-
listed for twelve months :

Company A- — -Surry County — Captain Reeves, (Major-
elect).

Company B — Gaston County — Captain Edwards.

Company C — Catawba County — Captain Lowe, (Lieuten-
ant-Colonel-elect) .

Company D — Stanly County — Captain Montgomery.

Company E — Montgomery County — Captain Barringer.

Company F- — YadJcin County — Captain Kenyon.

Company G — Orange County — Captain Martin.

Company H — Cleveland County — Captain Wright.

Company I — Yadhin County — Captain Speer.

Company K — Stanly County — Captain Moody.

You will see that most of us are "mountain boys" and we
trust that we do not disgrace the home from which we come.
It would afford us great pleasure and satisfaction to have for
our leader an officer so well and so favorably known for brav-
ery, courtesy and professional attainments as Lieutenant-Col-
onel Lane, of the gallant "Bethel" Regiment. Permit us to

TWBNTY-EIGHTH RkGIMENT. 467

express our personal hope tliat we may receive a favorable re-
ply as soon as possible and to subscribe ourselves
Your obedient servants,
S. ¥. Stowe,

Major Commanding Post;
William J. Montgombet^

Captain Company D ;
G. B. Johnston^
First Lieutenant Company G;
Committee in Behalf of the Twenty-eighth Eegiment.

Immediately after organizing, the regiment was ordered to
Wilmington, JST. C, where it remained under General Joseph
R. Anderson, commanding the "Cape Fear District," until
the fall of New Bern. During its stay in that kind and
hospitable town it performed post duty and guarded various
bridges on the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad. It was kept
under rigid discipline ; and that it was well drilled and prop-
erly cared for will appear from the following extracts from
the Wilmington Journal :

"On a recent visit to the camp of the Twenty-eighth Regi-
ment we were pleased to see, that a complete town of neat
wooden tenements has taken the place of the canvas village
of the latter part of the summer and fall, affording conven-
ient and comfortable quarters with chimneys, for the men,
houses for the stores and other purposes. We found nearly
all finished, with the exception of some of the officers' quar-
ters, Colonel Lane's among the number, these being left to
the last, as, being less crowded, the necessity was not so press-
ing. * * *

"Almost as we go to press the Twenty-eighth moves down
Second street, with steady tramp, the long line of their bayo-
nets gleaming in the sun, and the firm bearing of the men
indicative of determination and giving promise of gallant
service when called upon. The drill and marching of the
regiment are, to our feeble notions, as good as could be de-
sired by regulars. If there is less of the pomp and circum-
stance of war with our plainly arrayed troops than with the
fancy corps raised in Northern cities, experience has shown

468 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

that there is more of the pride that will stand and will not
run unless it be forward. Colonel Lane may well be proud
of his regiment."

On 28 of October, 1861, the regiment numbered 970 all
told.

It reached 'New Bern 14 March, 1862, just as the troops
were withdrawing and it helped to cover their retreat. It fell
back with them through mud and rain to Kinston, where it
remained until it was ordered to Virginia. Soon after reach-
ing Kinston it was assigned to the brigade commanded by
General L. O'B. Branch. It at once renewed its work of re^
organizing for the war which it had so gloriously begun in
Wilmington and completed the same 12 April, 1862. The
following from a correspondent was published at the time in
the Ealeigh Journal:

"It is with no ordinary emotions of joy and pride that I in--
form you, and through your paper the public, that the Twen-
ty-eighth North Carolina Regiment has 'reorganized for the
war.' Six companies reorganized before we left Wilming-"
ton. Last week the four remaining companies reorganized,
and on Saturday we had an election for field oificers, when
Colonel Lane and Lieutenant-Colonel Lowe were elected to
their former positions by acclamation. For Major we had
some warm balloting. Several were nominated. After sev-
eral ballotings. Captain Samuel D. Lowe was elected. I
noticed that the Captains were very popular with the First
Lieutenants. Perhaps the recent laws of succession in office
had some influence.

"It makes us very proud to know that we are the first North
Carolina regiment to reorganize. The regiment is very
large, now numbering 1,250 men.

"Considering that our original term of service would not
have expired till 21 September, and being the first North
Carolina regiment to re-enlist and reorganize, we think very
modestly, that we are entitled to some favors. We have no
rifle companies. We would be glad to have two, though we
are not disposed to grumble, and will cheerfully do the best
we can.

Twenty-Eighth Regiment. 469

"We are now realizing the privations and hardships of
camp life. We often think of our comfortable quarters and
the kind-hearted people of Wilmington. Some of the fair ones
of Wilmington, I suspect, are remembered with more than
ordinary feelings of friendship.

"We see nothing, hear nothing and know nothing, here,
but to obey orders. A man has to be very patriotic, on good
terms with his fellow soldiers, and on prodigiously good terms
with himself, to see much enjoyment here ; but so long as our
country needs our services, we will be contented in her service
wherever it may be."

This regiment, numbering 1,199 for duty, was ordered to
Virginia 2 May, 1862. It was armed with old smooth-bore
muskets from the Fayetteville arsenal, badly altered from
flint to percussion. It soon threw them away and supplied
itself with more serviceable and more modern weapons gath-
ered on the bloody battlefields in that grand old State.

On reaching Virginia it was ordered at once to Gordons-
ville. It remained there and at Rapidan Station doing
picket duty only for a short time. With the rest of the bri-
gade it was next ordered to join Jackson in the Valley; but
on reaching the foot of the Blue Eidge, it was ordered back
to Hanover Court House. On 26 May it was marched
through mud and rain to "Slash Church." At that time the
regiment had in it "many recruits just recovering from the
diseases incident to the commencement of camp life." La-
tham's Battery reported to General Branch from North Caro-
lina the evening before the brigade left Hanover Court
House "with only half enough men for the efiicient service of
the guns and with horses entirely untrained."

On Tuesday morning, 2Y May, General Branch ordered
the Twenty-eighth Regiment and a section of Latham's Bat-
tery, under Lieutenant J. R. Potts, to Taliaferro's Mill to
capture, if possible a reported marauding party. ISTo one
was found at the mill, and as the enemy were reported ad-
vancing on the "Old Church" road it promptly retraced its
steps, marching left in front, with flankers, and an advance
guard was thrown out. On reaching the pine thicket in

470 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

front of Dr. Kinney's on the direct road to Kichmond, a
squad of Federals stepped into the Taliaferro's Mill road in
front of the command. The Colonel suspecting an ambush,
halted his regiment, faced it by the rear rank and wheeled it
to the right into the thicket. It handsomely cleaned the
thicket of the enemy. On reaching the road in front of Dr,
Kinney's it charged, with rebel yells, the Twenty-fifth New
York Eegiment, concealed in Kinney's field of standing
wheat, and almost annihilated it in front of Martindale's Bri-
gade, drawn up in line of battle and strongly supported by
artillery. It was not known then that the regiment had
been cut off by an overwhelming force of infantry, artillery
and cavalry under General Fitz John Porter. It was with'
drawn and reformed, in the open field, on the Hanover Court
House side of Kinney's dwelling. Potts' artillery was also
ordered into position, and never were two guns served more
handsomely. The unequal contest was kept up for over fouf
hours, inflicting greater damage than was sustained; and
when it was found that the enemy was flanking the regiment
in both directions, it was withdrawn in good order to Hanc
ver Court House. On reaching St. Paul's church beyond the
Court House where the road forks, and finding the enemy's
batteries in position and the road to Ashland in their posses-
sion, it was ordered to take the fork to Taylorsville under a
shelling. Knowing the cavalry was pursuing in force, it
was thrown from the road to the field to take advantage of
the cross-fences. On reaching a thin strip of woods beyond
the railroad, it was ordered back into the road, and directed
to move as rapidly as possible to Taylorsville, while Potts un-
limbered his Parrott gun in the middle of the road. The
other gun had been abandoned at Kinney's, most of the
horses having been killed or badly wounded. This bold piece
of strategy on the part of the Colonel and the Lieutenant of
artillery intimidated the enemy's cavalry, caused them to
form line of battle on the other side of the railroad, and ena-
bled the Twenty-eighth Eegiment to make its escape. Al-
ready exhausted from exposure to inclement weather, from
hunger, from fighting and marching, it was three days before
the regiment, by a circuitous route, rejoined the brigade on

Twenty-Eighth Regiment. 471

the right bank of the Ohickahominy where it was wildly and
joyfully received. It was highly complimented hy Generals
Lee and Branch for its splendid behavior in this masterly re-
treat. The former was heard to remark that it was a wonder
to him the whole command had not been killed or captured.

Company G, which was cut off from the regiment at Kin-
ney's, can never forget how their brave, but frail and delicate
young Captain, George B. Johnston, afterwards the accom-
plished Adjutant General of the brigade, swam the river to
escape the enemy and then swam back rather than appear to
have deserted his men ; how he marched as a prisoner of war
from Kinney's Farm to West Point in his wet clothes ; how
he was confined on Johnson's Island ; how he read the Epis-
copal service regularly to his fellow prisoners there ; how he
endeared himself to all in his captivity ; how he was joyfully
welcomed back to camp ; and how, a physical wreck, he was
soon forced to return home to die. A nobler, braver, purer
Christian hero never lived.

From this battle at Kinney's Farm, or Hanover Court
House as it is generally called, to the surrender at Appo-
mattox Court House, the history of the brigade is the history
of the regiment. It bore on its battle-flag the name of every
battle in which the brigade participated.

Before the fights around Richmond, Branch's Brigade was
assigned to General A. P. Hill, and became a part of the
famous "Light Division." The Twenty-eighth Regiment
was with its brigade when it was the first, in those seven
days' fights, to cross the Chickahominy at "Half Link," and
cleared the wayfor the crossing of the rest of the "LightDivis-
ion" at "Meadow Bridge." When it reached Mechanicsville,
on 26 June, it was ordered to support a battery on the left of
the road. Next morning it was subjected to a short but
severe artillery fire. On reaching Cold Harbor, on the 27th,
it and the Seventh North Carolina were ordered to the left of
the road where it behaved very handsomely, its own Colonel
being wounded on the head and Colonel Campbell, of the
Seventh, killed with the colors of his regiment in his hands.
At Frazier's Farm, on the 30th, it was on the right of the
Thirty-seventh North Carolina Regiment. After driving

472 North Caeolina Troops, 1S61-'65.

the enemy's infantry, it and the Thirty-seventh gallantly
charged the artillery in their front, when its Colonel was shot
in the face and Colonel Lee, of the Thirty-seventh, was
killed. It was not actively engaged at Malvern Hill on 1
July. It was, however, ordered forward in the afternoon to
support the forces engaged, and was under a very heavy artil-
lery fire until some time after dark. It carried 480 into those
bloody fights and sustained a loss of twelve killed and 146
wounded.

It encamped below the city of Richmond for a short time
and was then ordered, 29 July, to Gordonsville, near which
place it remained until just before the battle of Cedar Run, 9
August, in which it bore a very conspicuous part. Many of
the men wiped their guns out as they advanced under the
hottest fire; and when infantry and cavalry had been re-
pulsed and General Jackson appeared on the field in its front,
the men wildly cheered him and called to him to let them
know what he wished done and they would do it. The loss
in this fight was 3 killed and 26 wounded.

In this battle, after the enemy had been repulsed and the
regiment had crossed the road to connect with General Talia-
ferro's conmiand, the Colonel chided a member of Company
F for falling out of ranks. When the soldier replied that he
was no coward, but was exhausted and could go no further,
the Colonel took off his canteen, handed it to him, and told
him to take a "stiff drink" and rejoin his company. Not
long after, as the Colonel was passing down the line, compli-
menting his men for their gallantry, that brave fellow stepped
out of ranks, saluted and said : "Colonel, here I am. I tell
you what, that drink you gave me just now has set me up
again, and I feel as though I could whip a whole regiment of
Yankees." Everybody was in a good humor, and of course
everybody laughed.

At the shelling across the Rappahannock on 24 August, the
Twenty-eighth was sent to the support of Braxton's and Da-
vidson's batteries ; and a part of the regiment was thrown for-
ward with instructions to prevent, if possible, the destruction
of the bridge across the river, near Warrenton White Sulphur
Springs.

TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.

1. E. P. Lovell, Captain, Co. A. 4. Moses I, Eudy, Captain, Co.D.

2. E. D. Ehyne, Captain, Co. B. 5. Thos. V. Apperson, Captain, Co. F.

3. T. Jas. Linebarger, Captain, Co. C. 6 E. Graham Morrow, Captain, Co. G.

7. Gold Q. Holland, Captain, Co. H.

Twenty-Eighth Regiment. 473

The most laughable fight was at Manassas Junction, 27
August, when Jackson got in Pope's rear, and the brigade
chased Taylor's New Jersey command into the swamps of
Bull Run. One of the Twenty-eighth was very much aston-
ished, after jumping over a bush from the railroad embank-
ment, to find that he had also jumped over a Yankee crouched
beneath. Another was still more astonished when he got on
all-fours to take a drink of water, to find that a fellow had
sought safety in the culvert. He was an Irishman, and after
he had crawled from his hiding place, he created an uproar
by slapping the Tar Heel on the shoulder and remarking:
"You got us badly this time. Come, let's take a drink."
Both of them "smiled" out of the same canteen.

At Manassas Plains on 28 August, this regiment was under
a heavy artillery fire while supporting a battery.

On the 29th it fought with great coolness, steadiness and
desperation on the extreme left of Jackson's line. It was
subjected to a heavy artillery fire the next day, the 30th, and
there was heavy skirmishing in its front until late in the af-
ternoon. Its loss was 5 killed and 45 wounded.

The battle of Ox Hill, near Fairfax Court House, was
fought 1 September, 1862, in a pouring rain. The Twenty-
eighth was on the left of the brigade and fought splendidly,
though many of its guns fired badly on account of the mois-
ture. It was here that General Branch, when he made
known the fact that he was nearly out of ammunition, was
ordered "to hold his position at the point of the bayonet."
The Twenty-eighth, cold, wet and hungry, was ordered to do
picket duty on the battlefield that night, without fires.

This regiment was with the Army of ISTorthern Virginia
in its march into Maryland ; and the first day after crossing
the Potomac, 5 September, it feasted on nothing but green
corn browned on the ear before fires made of the fences in
the neighborhood. This was not the first time the regiment
had indulged in such a repast.

On 14 September it was with the brigade when it climbed
the cliffs of the Shenandoah at midnight, and lay concealed
next morning on the left and rear of the enemy in their
works on "Bolivar Heights" in front of Harper's Ferry,

474 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

ready and eager for the order to assault, which order was
never given, as the enemy surrendered under the concentra-
ted fire of the Confederate batteries.

It was in that memorable rapid march from Harper's Ferry
to Sharpsburg. On reaching the right of the battlefield, the
afternoon of 17 September, General A. P. Hill dashed up,
and in person ordered it at a double-quick up the road to the
left, leading to the town, to defend an unsupported battery
and drive back the enemy's skirmishers who were advancing
through a field of com.

Two days afterward, 19 September, it constituted a part
of the rear guard of General Lee's army when he re-crossed
the Potomac.

At Shepherdstown, on 20 September, when the Confeder-
ates could not use their artillery, it gallantly advanced "in the
face of a storm of round shot, shell and grape," and glori-
ously helped to drive the enemy precipitately over the bank
of the Potomac, where so many were killed attempting to
cross the river at the dam above the ford.

Here the regiment was compelled to lay all day on the Vir-
ginia shore; and the enemy, from the opposite side of the
river, fired artillery at every individual soldier who dared
expose himself. When Colonel Lane, then in command of
the brigade, General Branch having been killed at Sharps-
burg, called to a litter to know who had been wounded and
received the reply, "Lieutenant Long, of your regiment," he
approached and expressed the hope that the Lieutenant was
not seriously hurt. The latter replied : "I have been shot in
the back; the ball has gone through me and I am mortally
wounded." Taking his Colonel's hand, he put it inside of
his shirt on the slug which was under the skin of his breast,
and added: "I am a young man. I entered the army be-
cause I thought it right, and I have tried to discharge all my
duties." Then that young hero, with his Colonel's hand still
on that fatal slug, asked in a most touching tone : "Though I
have been shot in the back, will you not bear record, when I
am dead, that I was always a brave soldier under you ?"

After this fight the regiment went into camp near Castle-
man's Ferry, or Snicker's Gap, in Clarke County, Va., where

Twenty-Eighth Regiment. 475

it remained for some time doing picket duty in snow storms
and freezing weather. It subsequently camped near Win-
chester, where it remained until Jackson's Corps moved to
Fredericksburg, 22 November. There it remained but a
short time, and then took part in the great battle near that
town, 13 December, 1862. It held an advanced, open, unfor-
tified position on the railroad, and fought with great coolness
and gallantry, using all of its ammunition, including that
from the boxes of its dead and badly wounded. All this,
when the right flank of the brigade had been turned by a
large force of the enemy going through that unfortunate open-
ing and catching the intended support for the brigade with
its arms stacked. After handsomely repulsing two lines of
battle in its front it was forced to retire before the third. Its
loss was 16 killed and 49 wounded.

In this fight Private Martin, of Company C, coolly sat on
the track and called to his comrades to watch the Yankee
colors, then fired and down they went. This was done re-
peatedly. Captain Lovell, of Company A, the right com-
pany of the regiment, stood on the track all the time, waving
his hat and cheering his men ; and strange to say, neither he
nor Martin was struck.

After the battle when Captain Holland, of Company H,
congratulated General Lane on his escape, he added : "And
I am indebted to a biscuit for my OAvn life." Running his
hand into his haversack, he drew forth a camp biscuit about
the size of a saucer, cooked without salt or "shortening" of
any kind, and looking like horn when sliced — something that
an ostrich could not digest — and there was a Yankee bullet
only half imbedded in that wonderful biscuit.

It was here that First Lieutenant W. W. Cloninger, of
Company B, as he lay at the field hospital, called Abernathy
to him and asked him why he had been neglected so long.
When told that he was mortally wounded, and the Surgeons
considered it their first duty to attend to those whose lives
might be saved, he replied : "If I must die, I will let you all
see that I can die like a man." Folding his arms across his
breast, that hero, far away from his loved ones, lay under

476 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

that tree in Yerby's yard, and, without a murmur, quietly
awaited death.

At 6 :30 o'clock on the morning of the 12th, when the bri-
gade was ordered to its position on the railroad, it passed the
refugees streaming to its rear from that old historic town.
As delicate women with infants in their arms and helpless
little children clinging to their mothers' dresses, all thinly
clad, went by, some of those brave and chivalrous North Car-
olinians called out: "Look at that, fellows. If that will
not make a Southern man fight, what will ?"

The regiment spent that winter at "Moss Neck," below
Fredericksburg. There it did picket duty on the Kappa-
hannock, and helped to corduroy the roads when they became
impassable, sometimes having to clear away the snow to lay
the logs.

In the Spring of 1863, when the enemy renewed his dem-
onstrations at Fredericksburg, it occupied the second line
of works near Hamilton's Crossing.

In the battle of Chancellorsville it accompanied Jackson in
his flank movement; and on the night of 2 May it was on
the left of Lane's Brigade when formed for the night attack.
After Jackson was wounded and the night attack abandoned,
it was withdrawn from the left of the plank road and placed
on the extreme right of the brigade, with its own right rest-
ing on a country road leading from the plank road to a place
called "Hazel Grove." About midnight General Sickles,
with two strong lines of battle, made his much lauded attack,
and was repulsed by the Twenty-eighth and Eighteenth, and
a part of the Thirty-third North Carolina Regiments, chiefly
by the Twenty-eighth. A number of prisoners, including
field and company officers, were captured. Company E, of
the Twenty-eighth, also captured the colors of the Third
Maine Regiment.

Early next morning the Twenty-eighth, with the rest of
the brigade, made a direct assault on the enemy's works and
carried them, but could not hold them, as the brigade's siip-
port had broken in its rear, and it was attacked by fresh
troops before General Ramseur could come to its assistance.
It subsequently joined in the charge which drove the enemy

TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.

1. Milton A. Lowe, 1st Lieut., Co. H. 4. J. M. Grice, Sergeant Co 0

f 5;^;Apperaon,Ist Sergeant, Co. F. B. L. C. Turner, Sharpshooter."
3. W. A. Mauney, Commissary Sergeant. 6. W. A. Martin, Private, Co. C
I . John A. Abernethy, Hospital Steward.

Twenty-Eighth Regiment. 477

from "Fairview" and the "Chancellorsville House," where
it was much amused at that great cavalier, General Stuart,
singing "Old Joe Hooker, Get Out of the Wilderness," while
the battle was raging. Its loss was 12 officers and 77 men.

Later, having replenished itself with ammunition, it went
to the support of General Colquitt, on the extreme left. There
it witnessed the most harrowing scene of the war. The
woods, already filled with sulphurous smoke, had been set on
fire by the enemy's shells. The dropped rifles of the dead
and wounded and the enemy's shells with imperfect fuses,
exploded in every direction as the flames swept over them;
the dead of both armies were being burnt to a crisp and the
helpless Federal wounded begged to be taken out of the line
of the rapidly approaching and devouring fire. The brigade
itself was forced to halt to let the flames sweep over the
ground where it was ordered to form, and when it did form
the ground was uncomfortably hot. That night it literally
slept in ashes under those charred scrub oaks; and when it
was ordered back next day, it afforded great amusement to its
more fortunate comrades, for never was there seen in any
army a dirtier and blacker set of brave men from the General
down. As General Lane lay in the ashes that night a pretty
little Yankee dog, branded "Co. K," persisted in making
friends with him. In all the subsequent movements of the
troops in Jackson's Corps that little dog kept his eye on the
"Little General" and followed him back to camp where he
became a great pet at brigade headquarters. He proved to
be a splendid little fighter.

After this battle the regiment returned to "Camp Gregg"
at "Moss IsTeck," below Fredericksburg, where it remained
until 5 June, 1863.

Crossing the Potomac at Shepherdstown on 25 June, it
reached Gettysburg 1 July. It behaved as it had always
done in the first day's fight at that place, when Lane's Bri-
gade was ordered from the centre of A. P. Hill's line to "the
post of honor" on the right to protect that fiank of the army
from the enemy's cavalry while we fought his infantry in

front.

On 2 July it was under a heavy artillery fire several times

478 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

during the day, and its skirmishers displayed great gallantry.

It took a very conspicuous part in the so-called Pickett's
charge on 3 July. The brigade occupied the left of the im-
perfect second linej and when Davis' Brigade was repulsed
andBrockenborough's did not get beyond the position occupied
by General Thomas, it moved handsomely forward with the
rest of "Lane's brave fellows" who took the position of those
two brigades on the extreme left of the first line. Though a
column of infantry was thrown against its left flank and the
whole line was exposed to a raking grtillery fire from the
right, it advanced in magnificent order, reserving its fire in
obedience to orders, was the last command to leave the field
and it did so under orders. Its loss was IS killed and 92
wounded.

On the 12 th it formed line of battle near Hagerstown,
Maryland, threw up breast-works and skirmished with the
enemy until the night of the 13th. The retreat from Hagers-
town, through mud and rain, was worse than that from Get-
tysburg which was "awful." Some fell by the wayside from
exhaustion, and the whole command was fast asleep as soon
as halted for a rest about a mile from the pontoon bridge at
"Falling Waters." On the morning of the 14th Lane's Bri-
gade alone covered the crossing at "Falling Waters" and Cap-
tain Crowell, of the Twenty-eighth, commanded its skirmish-
ers. After all the other troops were safely over the Potomac
the whole brigade retired in splendid order and the enemy
opened with his artillery just as the bridge swung loose from
the Virginia shore.

On returning from Pennsylvania the regiment camped for
a short time at Culpepper Court House, and was then or-
dered to Orange Court House, where it did picket duty on
the Eapidan at Morton's ford. It was next ordered to Lib-
erty Mills as a support to the cavalry which was engaged at
Jack's Shops. There it spent most of the winter doing picket
duty on the Eapidan river and the Standardsville road.
Once during that winter it had a terrible march, through sleet
and snow, to Madison Court House, trying to intercept some
of the Federal cavalry raiders.

At Bristoe Station, 14 October, this regiment was under

Twenty-Eighth Regiment. 479

fire but not actively engaged. There it helped to tear up the
railroad, something at which it had beconae expert. As early
as the middle of October, 1862, General Jackson compli-
mented the brigade for the thorough manner in which it de-
stroyed the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at ISTorth Mountain
Depot, where, beyond the cavalry pickets, it tore up about ten
miles of the track ; and the men amused themselves when the
rails on the burning ties were red hot by tieing "iron cravats"
around the adjacent trees. The depot was not burned at that
time because the wind would have endangered private prop-
erty.

It remained in camp at Brandy Station until the enemy
captured a large portion of the two brigades under General
Early beyond the Rappahannock, on 7 November. When the
corps formed line of battle near Culpepper Court House on
8 November, the regiment was with the brigade when it was
ordered back on the Warrenton road, where it repulsed a
cavalry charge with slight loss. After that it returned to
its old and comfortable quarters at Liberty Mills.

When General Lee confronted Meade at Mine Run, 27
November, 1863, the weather was intensely cold and the suf-
ferings of the men were great. Not being allowed to have
fires on the skirmish line, the men were relieved every half
hour. The Twenty-eighth was a part of the troops with-
drawn from the trenches at 3 a. m. on 2 December and moved
to the right to make an attack, but at daylight it was found
that Meade had withdrawn.

Late in the afternoon of 5 May, 1864, the Twenty-eighth
went gallantly to the support of the hard-pressed troops in
the Wilderness when Colonel Venable, of General Lee's staff,
said to Colonel Palmer, of General A. P. Hill's: "Thank
God ! I will go back and tell General Lee that Lane has just
gone in and will hold his ground until other troops arrive
tonight." The brigade did more than hold its own ; it drove
the enemy some distance. The troops did not arrive that
night as was expected, and next morning those brave men
were compelled to retire before the overwhelming force of
the enemy. The regiment lost 4 officers and 84 men.

The Twenty-eighth also did its part nobly on the morning

480 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

of 12 May at Spottsylvania Court House when Johnson's
front was broken, and "Lane's North Carolina veterans
turned the tide of Federal victory as it came surging to the
right." It was also with the brigade the afternoon of the
same day, when, under General Lee's orders and in his pres-
ence, it crossed the works in front of Spottsylvania Court
House, and in that brilliant flank movement handled Bum-
side's corps so roughly and relieved Johnson's front. Its
losses in these two engagements was 5 officers and 121 men.

On the afternoon of the 21st it moved to the right of the
Court House and made a reconnoisance, in which Lieutenant
E. S. Edwards was killed and two men wounded.

At Jericho ford on 23 May, the Twenty-eighth advanced as
far as any of the troops engaged, held its ground until re-
lieved that night and removed all its dead and wounded. Its
loss was 2 officers and 28 men.

On 31 May, at Storr's farm on Totopotamoi Creek, near
Pole Green Ch\irch, it was engaged all day in heavy skir-
mishing and was under a terrible artillery fire.

At the Second Cold Harbor it behaved as gallantly as it
did at the first. It also behaved with its accustomed brav-
ery at Riddle's Shop, 13 June; action three miles southeast
of Petersburg, 22 June; action in front of Petersburg, 23
June ; Gravel Hill, 28 Jnlj ; Fussell's Mills, 16 and 18 Au-
gust, and Reams Station 25 August. In the last named bat-
tle it had to crawl through an almost impenetrable ahutis un-
der a heavy fire of musketry and artillery. Captain Hol-
land, of Company H, was among the first to mount the works,
and seeing that they were still manned and but a few of his
own men were up, he yelled oiit, "Yanks, if you know what
is best for you, you had better make a blue streak toward sun-
set." They made the streak and the men often laughed and
said Grant would have to send Hancock back North to re-
cruit his command. General Lee, in speaking of this fight
to General Lane, said that the three North Carolina brigades,
Cooke's, MacRae's and Lane's, which made the second as-
sault, after the failure of the first by other troops, had by
their gallantry not only placed North Carolina, but the whole
Confederacy under a debt of gratitude which could never

TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.

1. S. S. Bohannon, Captain, Co. I.

2. Thos. B. Lane, Assistant Surgeon.

3. James M. Crowell, Captain, Co. K.

4. Romulus S. Folger, Adjutant.

5. J. P. Little, 1st Lieut, and Ensign.

Co. C.

6. M. A. Throneburg, 1st Lieut,, Co. O,

7. M. M. Throneburg, 2d Lieut., Co. C.

Twenty-Eighth Regiment. 481

be repaid. In writing to Governor Vance about the same
battle, he said: "They advanced through a thick abatis of
felled trees under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery and
carried the enemy's works with a steady courage that elicited
the warm commendation of the corps and division command-
ers and the admiration of the army."

At Jones' Farm, on the right of Petersburg, on 30 Sep-
tember, this regiment was second to none in bravery. In
this fight both lines were advancing when they met. To the
delight of all this battlefield was rich in oil cloths, blankets,
knapsacks and the like. Some of the knapsacks, judging
from the appearance of the straps, were cut from the shoul-
ders of their owners in their hasty retreat under a murder-
ous fire, accompanied with that well known "rebel yell."

I^ext morning the regiment advanced with the other troops
and helped to drive the enemy from the works at the Pegram
House, which were held in the rain, until dark, when it re-
turned to the works near the Jones House. It soon after
went into winter quarters in rear of these works.

During that winter the Twenty-eighth constituted a part
of the force sent against the Federal cavalry raiding on the
Petersburg & Weldon Railroad. On that march it not only
rained but it snowed and there was a high, bitter cold wind,
and the men suffered intensely. The troops reached Jar-
ratt's Station to find that the enemy had retired.

This regiment lay all night in the streets of Petersburg
as a part of the intended support for General Gordon in his
attack on Fort Steadman. After Gordon had retired the en-
emy swept the whole Confederate picket line from Hatcher's
Run to Lieutenant Run, and the Twenty-eighth performed its
part in helping to keep him out of the main line of works in
front of its winter quarters. He got possession, however, of a
commanding hill to the left of the Jones House from which he
could fire into the huts. ISText day General Lee ordered Gen-
eral Lane to dislodge him. Gen-eral Lane, who was in com-
mand of the division at the time, did so at daylight the fol-
lowing morning, with all of the sharpshooters of the division
under Major Wooten, of the Eighteenth I^orth Carolina Regi-
31

482 North Cakolina Thoops, 1861-'65.

ment, supported by his own brigade, and the Twenty-eighth
again had its part to perform.

On the night of 1 April when Grant made his final attack
at Petersburg, Lane's Brigade was cut in two by an over-
whelming force. The Twenty-eighth was forced to fall back,
fighting, to the plank road and then to the Cox road ; and it
finally succeeded in rejoining the rest of the brigade in the
inner line of works where it fought until night, when Peters-
burg was evacuated. On the afternoon of the 3d it crossed
the Appomattox at Goode's bridge, bivouacked at Amelia
Court House on the ith and formed line of battle between the
Court House and Jetersville on the 5th and skirmished with
the enemy. Next day while resting in Farmville, it, with
the rest of the brigade, was ordered back to a hill to support
the hard-pressed cavalry ; but before reaching the hill the or-
der was countermanded. It moved back through Farmville
and sustained some loss from the enemy's artillery while
crossing the river near that place. That afternoon it formed
line of battle, faced to the rear, between one and two miles
from Farmville, where there was more fighting, and the rem-
nant of General Lee's army seemed to be surrendered. During
the night it resumed its march, and on the morning of 9
April, while moving to its position on the left of the road
near Appomattox Court House, it was ordered back into a
woods and directed to stack arms, as the Army of Northern
Virginia had surrendered.

The tattered and starving remnant of this glorious North
Carolina Regiment surrendered at Appomattox, consisted of
17 officers and 213 men, some of the latter being detailed,
non-arms-bearing, sent back to be surrendered with their
command.

The aggregate in this regiment during the entire war was
1,826. After Colonel Lowe resigned and Lieutenant-Colonel
W. H. A. Speer was killed at Reams Station, the regiment
was frequently commanded by Captains E. F. Lovell, T. V.
Apperson and T. J. Linebarger, the latter being in command
at the surrender.

Twenty-Eighth Regiment. 483

addendum to the sketch of the twenty-eighth north
caeolina teoops.

After the death of Colonel Speer, all of the officers present
addressed the following communication to the Secretary of
War:

Camp Twenty-eighth IST. C. Eegm't, Lane's Brigade,

Near Petersburg, Va., Sept. 26, 1864.
Oeneral Samuel Cooper, A. & I. G., Richmond Va. :

General: Our regiment, the Twenty-eight 'N. C. T., is
without a Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel, and its Major, S.
JI". Stowe, is physically disqualified for active field duty. The
Major has been but little with his command, and when with
it, has done but little duty. He admits himself that he has
been unable to walk half a mile at any one time for the last
six months.

It is the wish of the undersigned that we should be com-
manded by an officer of undoubted bravery, intelligence, edu-
cation and general efficiency, and we therefore very respect-
fully ask that Captain E. J. Hale, Jr., the A. A. G. of this
Brigade, be appointed Colonel ard assigned to the command
of our regiment. We have -witjiessed Captain Hale's gal-
lantry in action and know that he is an accomplished officer
in every respect.

S. N". Stowe^ Major Commanding Regiment.
R. S. FoLGEE^ Adjutant.

E. F. LovELL, Senior Captain.
Thos. V. Appeeson, Captain Co. F.
G. G. Holland^ Captain Co. H.
A. W. Stone^ Captain Co. K.

G. W. McCauley, Captain Co. G.

F. M. E'lxoN, Lieutenant Co. A.
H. A. EtTKEE^ Lieutenant Co. D.

J. G. Teuelove, First Lieutenant Co. F.
J. M. Staeling, Second Lieutenant Co. F.
D. F. MoEEOW^ Lieutenant Co. G.
-M. A. Thoenbtjeg^ Lieutenant Co. C.
S. A. Yodel, Lieutenant Co. I.
R. D. GemonDj Lieutenant Co. B.

484 NoETH Caholina Tkoops, 1861-'65.

J". W. Williams, Lieutenant Co. O.
T>. B. SwiiTK, Lieutenant Co. H.
S. T. Thompson, Lieutenant Co. I.

This petition was approved and recommended by Briga-
dier-General Lane, Major-General Wilcox and Lieutenant-
General A. P. Hill.

The "legal impediment" that Captain Hale was "not of
the regiment" prevented his being commissioned at the time
Colonel under the law for promotion for "valor and skill."
The impending campaign ending at Appomattox prevented
further action in the matter.

Captain Hale was subsequently appointed Major, A. A. &
L General under the staff law that finally passed Congress,
and received the President's signature.

James H. Lane.
Auburn, Ala.,

9 April, 1901.

TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT.
1. E. B. Vance, Colonel. 8. J. H. Stradley, Captain, Co. H.

TVENTT-NINTH REGIMENT.

By brigadier-general ROBERT B. VANCE.

This regiment was organized at Oamp Patton, Asheville,
N. 0., in the summer of 1861. The companies came into
camp in the following order :

Company A — Captain, Wm. C. Walker, Cherokee County ;
rirst Lieutenant, J. S. Anderson, Clay County ; Second Lieu-
tenant, W. B. Nelson, Cherokee County.

Company B — Captain, Wm. B. Creasman, Yancey Coun-
ty ; First Lieutenant, Wm. A. Eay, Yancey County ; Second
Lieutenant, David M. Ray, Yancey County.

Company C — Captain, Jas. M. Lowry, Buncombe County ;
First Lieutenant, Malachi W. Reeves, Madison County ; Sec-
ond Lieutenant, John W. Gudger, Buncombe County.

Company D — Captain John A. Jarvis, Madison County;
First Lieutenant, Arthur A. Dewese, Madison County ; Sec-
ond Lieutenant, Wm. H. Brown, Madison County.

Company E — Captain, Hiram Rogers, Haywood County ;
First Lieutenant, Wm. B. Ferguson, Haywood County; Sec-
ond Lieutenant, John A. Teague, Haywood County.

Company F — Captain, Wm. A. Enloe, Jackson County;
First Lieutenant, Jas. A. Thompson, Jackson County; Sec-
ond Lievitenant, Jas. Oonley, Jackson County.

Company G — Captain, M. Chandler, Yancey County;
First Lieutenant, Wm. D. Williams, Yancey County; Sec-
ond Lieutenant, E. H. Hampton, Yancey County.

Company H — Captain, Robert B. Vance, Buncombe
County; First Lieutenant, John H. Robeson, Buncombe
County; Second Lieutenant, Wiley F. Parker, Buncombe
County.

Company I — Captain John C. Blaylock, Mitchell County ;

486 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

First Lieutenant, James S. Garland, Mitchell County ; Sec
ond Lieutenant, David M. Young, Mitchell County.

Company K — Captain, B. S. Proffitt, Yancey County;
First Lieutenant, B. G. Whittington, Yancey County ; Sec-
ond Lieutenant, Jas. C. ProfStt, Yancey County ; J. E, Neill,
Assistant Quartermaster.

The election of officers occurred in Camp Patton in Sep-
tember, 1861, which resulted as follows:

P. B. Vance, Colonel, of Buncombe County.

Wm. C. Walker, Lieutenant-Colonel, of Cherokee County,

Thos. F. Gaednee^ Major, of Yancey County.

John E. Hoey^ Adjutant, of Cleveland County.

The vacancies in the companies were filled by the election
of John H. Robinson, Captain Company H ; J. Stanhope An-
derson, Captain Company A.

The regiment was then put into camp in Camp Vance, near
Sulphur Springs, IST. C, where it was drilled until 28 Octo-
ber, 1861. From thence it was ordered to Raleigh and
camped near the old depot in that city. The companies were
armed then with the old flint muskets changed to percussion
cap muskets, except Captain Anderson's (Company A),
which was supplied with the Mississippi rifle without bayo-
nets. The command was then ordered to East Tennessee to
guard the bridges from Bristol to Chattanooga, leaving Ral-
eigh 25 November. In February, 1862, it was ordered to
Cumberland Gap and went into garrison iTnder Colonel
James E. Raines, of the Eleventh Tennessee. At this
point the command was under fire frequently, the right
resting on the top of the mountain above the Harlan road,
and the left reaching to Fort Pitt. The camp of the
Twenty-ninth being the highest point for observations, Ma-
jor-General Ste^^^enson ordered Colonel Vance daily to
sweep the view with his field glass from the mountain on
the side next to Yellow creek, and along the Harlan road.
Early on 24 March the Colonel carefully scrutinizing the
country in front, observed the flash of a bayonet. Then
closer view disclosed a column of men advancing up

Twenty-Ninth Regiment. 487

the ridge in the direction of Fort Pitt. The guards were
at once doubled, but while we were looking to the front Gen-
eral DeOourcy, of Ohio, with 1,600 men, was moving on our
extreme right. The guards came in and the firing was lively.
On the top of the mountain, above Fort Pitt, we had a big
gun called "Long Tom." With that we opened on them.
Presently Colonel Vance sent Lieutenant Dewese and Lieu-
tenant Rollins with company D, around the side of the moun-
tain. They opened a hot and unexpected fire on DeCourcy,
and he was driven from the mountain. Next morning we ex-
pected fighting, but when we felt the woods the enemy was
gone.

In September, 1862, the command was sent to hold Baptist
Gap in the direction of Knoxville. While there the regi-
ment was ordered, in company with the Thirty-ninth North
Carolina, to cut off a detachment of Federals which had
marched in the direction of a gap still nearer Knoxville, but
before the regiments reached the cross roads the Federal
command had retiirned to the gap. When the command got
back to Baptist Gap 15 September, the Federals had driven
in the picket line on the mountain and killed Lieutenant
Astoogatogch, of Thomas' Legion. The Twenty-ninth and
Thirty-ninth, Colonel David Coleman, were thrown forward
into the thick undergrowth in columns of companies,
marching by the flank, so as to deploy when the enemy was
found, but he had retired on, our approach. On 19 Septem-
ber, in the early morning, the Twenty-ninth crossed
through Baptist Gap and moved down the valley,
capturing a hospital camp. This movement was made to
get in the rear of Cumberland Gap, but General George
W. Morgan, commanding at, the Gap, had moved out
in the night and had escaped by the Goose creek salt works.
Our Major-General Stevenson pursued to within the vicinity
of the salt works, where he halted, rested and retraced his
steps, passing into Kentucky via Danville, Lancaster, Har-
rodsburg, etc., to Frankfort.

From there we moved, on Saturday night, to Versailles,
from which point on Sunday we could hear the guns at Per-
ryville. Without multiplying words, let it be said that the

488 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

regiment was marched back through Cumberland Gap, and
Knoxville to Lenoir Station, Tenn., and from there it was
sent on a mission to McMinnville. While there, on Christ-
mas day, orders were received to march at once to Murfrees-'
boro, which order was obeyed promptly. We arrived on the
battleiield and camped on Stone's river on the night of 30
December, 1862. Next morning, before day, we forded
Stone's river and took possession on the extreme left of the
army. Only Wharton's cavalry was on the left of us. Gen-
eral Raines, on his large, black horse, at once rode down the
lines and complimented the regiment. He was splendidly
dressed and was full or ardor.

The command had just fairly got dressed when the word
was given — forward, and at that early hour of the morning
the division in which we moved began a right half wheel un-
der Haines, McCown and Hardee. Not a gun was yet fired.
A little while before the crack of day, no doubt there was
a quiver in the two great armies extending four miles on the
bank of the river. The Twenty-ninth brought on the battle.
About a hundred yards from where we had stood in line, we
encountered a fence about 15 feet in height. While the
fence was being laid down for the Colonel to ride through
and the men were climbing it, the sharp report of a rifle broke
the stillness. Waldrop, of Captain Dewese's company, was
on top of the fence. The minies from the hostile ranks
killed him, and he was the first that day to fall in the South-
ern army, so far as we could ascertain. The fire was then
opened by the Twenty-ninth and by the next until the firing
extended four miles to our right, and the hiss of minies was
incessant, while presently boom, boom rang the big guns on
our right. Ere long we sighted a section of artillery, and the
regiment charged. The guns were shotted, but the gunners did
not have time to fire, and the ofiicer in charge broke to run.
Captain Jno. A. Teague, however, soon overhauled him, put
his hand on his shoulder and stopped him. The Federal Cap-
tain said, "You've got me," "Yes," replied Teague, " but
you gave us a mannerly race." The section of artillery was
sent to the rear, and about 10 a. m. we were drawn up in line
to inspect the cartridge boxes. We then had about ten

Twenty-Ninth Regiment. 489

rounds per man. Then, without any skirmish line General
Raines started us down through the open woods. He had
just said, "I will bet my black horse on the Twenty-ninth,"
when a line of blue coats arose almost in our faces and fired,
when alas, the gallant and impetuous soldier, General Raines,
was killed, the ball cutting the gauntlet of his right hand and
passing into his heroic breast. The black horse galloped for-
ward into the ranks of fire and I saw him no more.

Color-Sergeant John R. Rich, of Asheville, says this noted
black horse from which "General Rains" was killed, was
seen again, probably not by "General Vance," but by him-
self and others. That in less than an hour after charging
intO' the Yankee lines, in a counter-charge made by the en-
emy, a Federal ofiicer, seemingly of some rank, was mounted
upon him and he, too, was shot (by our men) and falling,
the horse continued forward into the ranks of the Eleventh
Tennessee and was captured by the men of this regiment;
possibly the only instance during the war in which an officer
of rank, on either side, was killed from the same horse in the
same battle. Color-Sergeant Rich was so small and so young
that he was not allowed to enlist regularly, but like many oth-
er boys of our dear Southland, would not be deterred by little
obstacles of that kind, but followed along with the battle,
without gun, and when the first man in ranks fell he grabbed
his gun and went to shooting. A little later the color-bearer
being killed, he voluntarily caught up the flag and carried it
almost continuously to the end.

The regiment charged, and the Federals fell back through
a dense cedar thicket. When the Twenty-ninth North Caro-
lina and the Eleventh Tennessee got through what General
Withers calls "the cedar pedregal," they were confronted by
three lines of battle with Napoleon guns between the regi-
ments. The fire was terrific, the tree tops falling all around.
Colonel Vance's horse was killed in this fire, the shell going
into his body near the left stirrup leather. Sixty of the
Twenty-ninth North Carolina were killed and wounded in a
few minutes. Adjutant Joljn E. Hoey was struck with a
spent ball. At this moment Major Bradshaw, of the Elev-
enth Tennessee, reported to Colonel Vance that Colonel Gor-

490 NoKTH Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

don, of the Eleventh, was perhaps mortally wounded, and that
their ammunition was expended.

The last statement proving true with the Twenty-ninth,
Colonel Vance ordered the two regiments to fall hack ; about
a half mile back they found General Hardee with the artil-
lery. The cartridge boxes were filled, and (general Hardee
ordered us to return to the line of battle at the same point we
left it. The undergrowth was so thick that the Twenty-ninth
got separated from the Eleventh Tennessee and reached the
line alone, further to the left than where it had fought. An-
other Oonfedeirate regiment was lying under a fence and the
shells were crashing through the woods. General Bushrod
Johnson rode up to the regiment and ordered Colonel Vance to
charge the battery. The Colonel said, "Well sir, if you will
get that regiment from behind the fence, and put it under my
command, I will make the charge."

The regiment refused to come out, and while the effort was
being made to induce them to do so, a shell was exploded in
the fence, killing and wounding 18 of the men. Vance then
drew his own men into line at the edge of the field, and started
across it towards the battery, the fiying shells seeming un-
comfortably close. Just at that moment General McNabb,
of Arkansas, came out of the woods with five regiments. He
rode up to the Colonel of the Twenty-ninth and said : "Where
are you going V The Colonel said "to charge that battery."
He answered and said "you can't do that, it is' protected by
three lines of battle. Hook on to my brigade." This was
done. The line of battle was then reformed, Raines' Bri-
gade resting on General Manny's left. Here we remained
in line of battle until after General Breckenridge's fearful
battle on our right. Then, while Rosecrans was falling back
towards Nashville, we fell back, first to Murfreesboro and
then to Shelbyville, Tenn.

NOTES 03? THE BATTLE OF MUEFEEESBOEO.

In the heat of the fire, Private David Patton, of the "Bun-
combe Life Guards," was killed by a shell which took his head
off, and it lodged in the f qrk of a small tree.

While the regiment was in camp at Versailles, Ky., the

Twenty-Ninth Regiment. 491

Colonel of the Twenty-ninth got his meals at the house of Col-
onel Cotton, of the Sixth Kentucky (U. S.)- Mrs. Cotton was
very bright and said she would make her Colonel shoot ours if
they met. Our Colonel said : "We will shoot high on your
account," but sadly enough, he was killed in front of our
lines on the field of Murfreesboro or Stone's river.

After the fire had slackened on 31 December, 1862, our
men saw a Federal Lieutenant-Colonel between the lines,
seemingly fearfully wounded. At the risk of their lives our
people formed a squad and went after him. The balls fell
around them, but not one was struck.

When the wounded man was brought to headquarters, he
warmly expressed his admiration of the brave men who had
brought him oS the field. "If I live," said he, "you shall
hear from me," but as we never heard, it is supposed that for
him had beaten "the soldier's last tattoo."

After drilling for a time near Shelby ville, Tenn., General
Bate, since United States Senator from Tennessee, took com-
mand of the brigade and it was ordered 12 May to the siege of
Vicksburg, not under the command of Colonel Vance, but un-
der the command of Colonel W. B. Creasman who succeeded
Vance, the latter while sick with typhoid at Shelbyville, being
appointed Brigadier. Colonel Creasman, with the Twenty-
ninth, was ordered to Yazoo City 1 June, which place we held
until after the fall of Vicksburg, being driven out by the gun
boats and a division of troops 13 July.

The regiment then marched across the country 150 miles,
joining General Johnston's army at Martin, Miss., 23 July,
1863, and thence was sent to Meridian, Miss., by rail 27
July. On 24 August, 1863, the regiment was sent to Chatta-
nooga, arriving 30 August, and was attached to Ector's Brig-
ade, Walker's Division, D. H. Hill's Corps, in Bragg's Army.
In the great battle of Chickamauga, fought 19 and 20 Sep-
tember, 1863, the regiment distinguished itself. It was
heavily engaged both days. Its losses were 80 killed and
wounded and 30 missing. On 23 September Ector's Brigade
was ordered back to Meridian, arriving there 2 October, 1863.
On 5 December the regiment was sent to Brandon, Miss.

In Spring of 1864 the Twenty-ninth North Carolina was

492 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

in Ector's Brigade in irencli's Division of Polk's corps.
June, 1864, the Thirty-ninth North Carolina was added and
henceforward those two regiments with four Texas Kegi-
ments constituted that brigade. The brigade took part in
all the battles of that army down to Atlanta. At Latimer
House the Twenty-ninth lost 54 and at Smyrna 37, though
the losses were not generally reported owing to the steady
fighting. General Ector was wounded and lost his leg 27 July,
1864, but the brigade continued to bear his name to the end.
General W. H. Young took command. The Twenty-ninth dis-
tinguished itself at AUatoona 5 October, 1864. It carried into
battle 138 and lost 54, 12 being killed, but it took the enemy's
breastworks. A graphic report by Major E. H. Hampton
ia to be found in Vol. 77, Official Records Union and Con-
federate Armies, page 821. The brigade was in Hood's army
on the march to Nashville but was on detached service at the
battle of Franklin, 30 November, 1864. On 10 December,
1864, Colonel David Coleman of the Thirty-ninth North
Carolina was in command of the brigade and held it till the
surrender. In the spring of 1865 it was in the army com-
manded by General Dabney H. Maury in the defence of Mo-
bile. Its conduct is highly spoken of in General Gibson's
report 16 April, 1865, to be found 103, Official Records
Union and Confederate Armies at p. 318. After sharing
in the defence and fate of Mobile the brigade, containing the
two North Carolina and four Texas regiments and still
commanded by Colonel David Coleman was withdrawn to
Meridian, Miss., where it was when General Dick Taylor
surrendered that Department 4 May, 1865. The men were
paroled a few days later.

The Confederate soldier was famous for his wit. The
Twenty-ninth had her share. The Colonel took Private Joe
Sams to a point beyond "Long Tom," on the top of the Cum-
berland mountain, and placed him on picket. "Now," said
the Colonel, "if anyone approaches you from the direction of
the camp, Joe, halt them; but if from the woods towards
Cumberland Ford, shoot and run." Joe said : "Colonel, you
shall hear from Joe if they come the wrong way of the
leather." While we were besieging Cumberland Gap in the

Twenty-Ninth Regiment. 493

fall of 1863, and had a line of circumvallation around the
gap, a noted man from Madison approached the guard line.
The sentinel cried "halt, who comes there?" The old man
said "a man with seven sons in the Confederate army, and
you can't keep me out." Thereupon he boldly walked into
the lines.

Lieutenant-Colonel W. C. Walker was killed by the bush-
whackers. Lieutenant-Colonel Gardner died of consumption
during the war. Colonel Creasman has departed this life
since the war, and two of his sons, stalwart, powerful men,
have recently been connected with the police at Asheville.

Captain M. Chandler and Lieutenant-Colonel B. S. Prof-
fitt both sleep the sleep of the just. Lieutenant-Colonel
James Marion Lowry resides on Sandy Mush in Buncombe,
and it is his annual custom to gather his men, "The Bold
Mountain Tigers," in happy reunion at the "old camp
ground" on Turkey Creek. Captain John C. Blayloek dwells
in Mitchell, near the foot of the famous Blue Ridge. Cap-
tain J. Stanhope Anderson has often represented his county.
Clay, in the General Assembly. Captain John A. Jarvis
moved to Georgia and Captain John A. Teague to Texas,
where he died a faithful soldier and a good man.

Captain Hiram Rogers lives on Fine's creek, Haywood
County. Captain Wallace Rollins,* it is well known, resides
in Asheville. Captain Wiley F. Parker died in the member-
ship of the M. E. Church, being a minister of that Church.
Captain John H. Robeson died also in the harness, being
a minister of the M. E. Church, South. Captain W. A.
Enloe lives in Jackson County, respected and honored by his
neighbors. Captain Jos. Stradley, of Beaverdam, was the
last Captain of Company H, succeeding Captain J. A. Bre-
vard, and he succeeded Captain Wiley T. Parker.

Time fails the present writer to bring forward, in loving
remembrance, the Lieutenants, subalterns and privates of
this honored regiment. Many of these faithful men are yet
spared to us, and our hearts are stirred when we meet them,

*Capt. Eollins "passed over " to the enemy and served as Major in
Kirk's Regiment. — Ed.

494 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

as we did last summer, in happy reunion. Many, according
to the comon lot, sleep the sleep that knows no waking. "No
sound can awake them to glory again." Annually we gather
around their last resting places, when they are in reasonable
reach, and drop a flower and a tear ; and when we turn from
these, to us, hallowed mounds, we muse and feel there is
"port after stormy seas, and after toil is sleep — after war is
ease — after life is death. These are the things that please."

EoBEBT B. Vance.
Alexandek, N. C,

26 April, 1897.

THIKTIBTH REGIMENT.

1. F. M. Parker, Colonel. 3. W. M. B. Moore, Captain Co F

2. A. D. Betts, Chaplain. 4. T. M. Fitts, Captain, Co. B ' '

5. W. C. Drake, Captain, Co. B

THIRTIETH REQIMENT.

By colonel F. M. PARKER.

This regiment was organized at Camp Mangum on 7 Octo-
ber, 1861, by the election of:

F. M. Pakker, Colonel, of Halifax.

Walter F. Draughak, Lieutenant-Colonel, of Cumber-
land.

James T. Kbll, Major, of Mecklenburg.

The Staff was as follows :

BucKNER D. Williams, Acting Quartermaster, of War-
ren.

John Collins^ Assistant Commissary of Subsistence, of
Warren.

Henry Joyner^ Surgeon, of Halifax.

Charles G. GebgorY;, Assistant Surgeon, of Halifax.

Kev. a. D. Betts, Chaplain, of Harnett.

E. M. Carter, Adjutant, of Davie.

The Captains during the war were:

Company A — From Sampson; James C. Holmes, Gary
F. Williams. Enlisted men, 140.

Company B — From Warren; W. C. Drake, Weldon E.
Davis. Enlisted men, 120.

Company C — From Brunswick; Joseph Green, David C.
Allen. Enlisted men, 143.

Company D — From Wake and Granville; Eugene Gris-
som, Charles W. Allen. Enlisted men, 139.

Company E — From Duplin; John C. McMillan. En-
listed men, 75.

Company F — From Edgecombe; F. G. Pitt, W. M. B.
Moore, S. K. Moore. Enlisted men, 140.

Company G — From Granville; Kichard P. Taylor, J. A.
Barnett. Enlisted men, 128.

496 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

CoMPAKT H — From Moore; W. M. Swann, Jesse J.
Wicker. Enlisted men, 146.

CoMPAisrT I — From JSTash; William T. Arrington, J. J.
Harriss. Enlisted men, 167.

Co.MPAiTY K — From Mecklenbjtirg ; James T. Kell, B. F.
Morrow, J. G. Witherspoon, W. E. Ardrey. Enlisted men,
144.

The above numbers are tbe total enlisted during the war
as appears by Moore's Roster, though that cannot be deemed
entirely accurate.

The First Lieutenants were :

Company A— W. W. Sellers, L. M; White.

Company B — B. D. Williams, J. M. Brame, W. E. Davis,
J. H. Nicholson.

Company C— D. C. Allen, E. J. Greer, S. W. Bennett.

Company D— S. J. Allen, C. N. Allen, S. S. Abemathy.

Company E — Cornelius Johnson, I. J. Johnson.

Company F— W. M. B. Moore, G. K. Harrell, S . R.
Moore.

Company G — Rush J. Mitchell, J. W. Padgett.

Company H — Archibald A. Mcintosh, Henry J. McNeil.

Company I — Elias Dunn, J. J. Harriss, B. B. Williford,
K. W. Arrington.

Company K— B. F. Morrow, C. E. Bell, N. D. Orr, W.
E. Ardrey.

The Second Lieutenants were :

Company A — Cornelius Patrick, C. T. Stevens, A. F.
Lawhom.

Company B — J. M. Moore, J. J. Laughlin, J. S. Foote.

Company C — S. C. Thorpe, L. D. Cain, J. H. Dosher, J.
R. Swain, E. R. Ruark.

Company D — G. S. Abernathy, Allen Bently, C. M.
Rogers, W. J. Gill, J. E. Ferrell, M. L. Rogers.

Company E — W. J. Boney, Daniel Teachy, D. T. McMil-
lan, J. C. Carr, J. W. Ellis, S. B. Newton.

Company F— J. W. Pitt, Charles Vines, L. D. Eagles, S.
R. Moore.

Company G — J. A. Barnett, W. A. Brooks, R. F. Clair-

Thirtieth Regiment. 497

borne, Alex. Crews, Ira J. Connell, J. T. Fulford.

Company H — D. W. Mcintosh, F. M. Moore, J. J.
Wicker, L. H. McLeod, A. J. Jackson, A. H. Brown.

Company I— C. W. W. Woodward, Tom Tisdale, S. R.
Perry.

Company K^ — J. T. Downs.

After the organizatign the regiment was ordered to Fort
Johnson, District of the Cape Fear, commanded by
Brigadier-General Joseph K. Anderson. The time at this
camp was occupied in drilling and instructing the men in the
duties of the soldier. After a few weeks the Thirtieth was
ordered to occupy Camp Wyatt, near Fort Fisher.

Remaining in this camp the entire winter, the Thirtieth
was ordered to Wilmington to be forwarded to reinforce the
troops at New Bern, but that place having fallen, the Thir-
tieth was held at Wilmington, and occupied different camps
in the vicinity.

General S. G. French having succeeded General Anderson,
ordered the Thirtieth to Onslow and Jones, with instructions
to check the raids and depredations of Burnside's cavalry,
then occupying ISTew Bern. The force detailed for this work
was the Thirtieth North Carolina Infantry; Captain A. D.
Moore's battery of light artillery, the Scotland ISTeck Mounted
Rifles, Captain A. B. Hill and Captain Newkirk's company
of cavalry, the whole under command of the Colonel of tlie
Thirtieth. The two companies of cavalry had preceded the
other troops, and were picketing within a few miles of New
Bern, Burnside's headquarters. This movement was of ben-
efit to our people in that section by keeping the enemy con-
fined to a narrow limit.

While in Onslow, on 1 May, 1862, by act of Congress, the
Thirtieth, with all other troops, was reorganized. This
brought many changes to the regiment. MajorKell was elected
Lieutenant-Colonel in place of Draughan. Lieutenant W.
W. Sellers was elected Major. The Thirtieth lost a worthy
officer in the person of Lieutenant-Colonel Draughan.

Soon after the reorganization the Thirtieth was ordered
back to Wilmington, and from thence to Richmond, Va.
32

498 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

The Thirtieth was actively engaged in the battle of Seven
Pines on 31 May, 1862. While the loss in numbers was not
great, yet the disabling, for the balance of the war of Eugene
Crrissom, Captain of Company D, was a serious loss to the
regiment. Captain Grissom was an officer of superior abil-
ity.

Soon after this, the troops were brigaded by States. The
Second, Fourth, Fourteenth and Thirtieth North Carolina
troops constituted a brigade, commanded by General George
B. Anderson, of North Carolina, and was placed in the divis-
ion of General Daniel H. Hill, of North Carolina — ^truly a
North Carolina command and they never forgot it.

Anderson's brigade was actively engaged in the seven days'
battle around Richmond, from Mechanicsville to Malvern
Hill. This battle was badly managed ; the troops were sent
in by detail of brigades.

When Anderson's brigade had driven the Yankee infantry
from their front, on which a battery of twenty-one guns was
playing, Sergeant-Major Lawhorn, of the Thirtieth, in-
formed his Colonel that his own and a part of the Fourteenth
North Carolina Regiment, were the only troops engaged in
that charge. The Sergeant-Major was directed to proceed
down the line and ascertain this fact fully and report. Soon
he returned and verified his first statement.

Thereupon the Thirtieth was withdrawn in good order to
avoid the murderous fire of the battery alluded to, and not
more than 300 yards from our position. We remained on
the same ground where we had formed for the charge. On
this field the lamented Arrington, Captain of Company I,
was killed. The loss of the regiment was severe.

It is seldom that a cooler piece of impudence is witnessed
than was on this charge. Corporal Pipkin, of Company A,
the color company, a most excellent soldier, while advancing
at charge bayonets, with his right hand, scooped up a pair of
new cavalry boots, which were tied together, threw them
across his left arm, without taking his eye from the point of
his bayonet, or without breaking his alignment. Gallant fel-
low, he neither brought out his boots or his life. He fell be-
fore advancing ten paces farther.

Thirtieth Regiment. 499

At the battle of Gaines' Mill Lieutenant-Colonel Kell was
disabled by wounds from a fragment of shell to such an extent
as to render him unfit for active duty for the rest of the war,
thus losing the services of a gallant, meritorious officer.

Adjutant Carter having resigned, Frederick Philips, of
Edgecombe, was appointed Adjutant, and commissioned 5
July, 1862.

Dr. F. M. Garret, of Edgecombe, was commissioned Sur-
geon of the Thirtieth North Carolina Troops, on 23 August,
1862, in place of Surgeon Henry Joyner, resigned.

After remaining in camp near Richmond, D. H. Hill's
division marched to join the army in Northern Virginia, and
reached the field of Second Manassas the day after that battle
had been won.

With the Army of Northern Virginia, we crossed into
Maryland. At the battle of South Mountain, 14 September,
1862, the division did the hardest service of any one day of
the war. Hill's small division kept at bay tl^e entire army of
McClellan until nightfall, when we moved in the direction of
Sharpsburg.

Anderson's Brigade occupied different positions on the
field of Sharpsburg, on 15 and 16 September, 1862. On the
night of the 16th, we occupied the historic "bloody lane," and
held it during the battle of the iTth, until driven by a direct
and cross fire from either flank. The terrible slaughter of
the enemy in our immediate front, as witnessed by our own
men, who were taken prisoners when we changed front, tells
of the good work done by our brigade. The Thirtieth held
the right of the brigade, and was much exposed by reason of
our position on the crest of the hill.

While the firing was very hot, Courier Baggarly, from
brigade headquarters, reported to me that General Anderson
was wounded and had left the field; that he was unable to
find Colonel Tew, of the Second North Carolina, the Senior
Colonel of the brigade, and that he made this report to me,
being next in command. I then instructed my Adjutant,
Lieutenant Phillips, to proceed cautiously down the line, ob-
serve what was going on, and if possible, to find Colonel Tew,
and carry to him Baggarly's report.

500 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Lieutenant Philips undertook this perilous duty, receiv-
ing several shots through his clothing, came in hailing diS"
tance of Colonel Tew and reported to that officer. And to be
sure that his message was understood, asked Colonel Tew to
give him some intimation that he was heard. Colonel Tew,
who was standing erect, lifted his hat and made Philips a
polite bow, and fell immediately from a wound in the head.

While Lieutenant Philips was returning, he received a
severe wound on the head, which caused him to leave the
field, much to the loss of the command. I at once attempted
to go to the left of the brigade, and had not proceeded ton
paces, when I was struck by a minie ball on the head ond
was taken from the field. In a recent correspondence Vi'ith
an officer of the Sixty-fourth ISTew York Regiment, he si'.ja
"I remember very well what a warm reception you gave us,
when you left the Bloody Lane, and we moved in."

I have never witnessed more deliberate nor more destruc-
tive firing. I cautioned my men to hold their fire until I
should give the command, and then to take deliberate, cool
aim ; that I would not give the command to fire until I could
see the belt of the cartridge boxes of the enemy, and to aim at
these. They obeyed my orders, gave a fine volley, which
brought down the enemy as grain falls before a reaper.

It was from a wound received on this field, that ISTorth Car-
olina suffered a great loss in the death of General George B,
Anderson. The State gave no finer soldier to our cause.

Before the campaign of 1863 opened Stephen D. Ramseur,
Colonel of the Forty-ninth JSTorth Carolina Infantry, was
promoted to Brigadier-General, and assigned to the brigade
of the lamented Anderson.

Though the skirmishers of the Thirtieth were actively en-
gaged at Fredericksbiirg and the regiment itself was under
a heavy shelling, Chancellorsville was the next field upon
which the prowess of the regiment was shown. The two days
preceding the battle of 3 May, 1863, Eamseur's Brigade was-
very actively engaged in heavy skirmishing. The move-
ments, where the ground would allow it, were made by reo-u-
lar brigade drill.

The brigade was in the famous flank movement of Jackson

THIRTIETH REGIMENT.

1 W. T. Arrington, feaptain, Co. I. 3. Lawson Knott, 1st Corporal, Co G

a Joseph "W. Badgett, 1st Lieut.. Co. G. 4. William C. Peed, Private, Co. D
5. James M. Hobgood, Private, Co, G.

Thirtieth Regiment. 501

striking Howard's Corps of Dutchmen in reverse, and en-
joyed the sight of their tumbling over their works running
for dear life and repeating that ominous word "Shackson!
Shackson!"

While in line of battle on the early morning of 3 May,
1863, Eamseur rode up to the Colonel of the Thirtieth and
instructed him to take his regiment to the support of Major
Pegram's battery, which was then threatened, and with or-
ders to remain with the battery as long as there seemed to be
any danger ; then to rejoin the brigade, or act upon his own
responsibility, at the same time furnishing him with a
courier.

After remaining in support of Pegram until that officer
thought the danger had passed, the Thirtieth was moved in
the direction of heavy firing, suppposed to be Ramseur's.
Proceeding about half a mile the regiment received the fire of
the enemy from behind breastworks constructed of heavy
timber, which we charged and captured.

Moving in the same direction, we struck another force of
the enemy, which were attacking Ramseur's flank. These we
drove from the field, capturing many prisoners, thus relieving
our comrades who had distinguished themselves so gallantly
on that part of the field.

In this advance the Thirtieth reached a point very near
General Hooker's headquarters.

Being so far in advance of our troops. General Stuart, who
then commanded the Second Corps, opened two pieces on us,
which made it very uncomfortable until Captain Randolph,
of Stuart's staff, rode near enough to our position to distin-
guish us and so reported to his chief. We were glad to re-
join our brigade. They, as well as the Thirtieth, had suf-
fered terribly in killed and wounded.

Among the many promotions which Chancellorsville gave,
^ot one was more worthily bestowed than that which fell upon
R. E. Rodes. By request of General Jackson, Rodes' com-
mission as Major-General, was dated from the field upon
which he had won it. He was assigned to D. H. Hill's divis-
ion.

We cannot part with our old division commander, General

502 North Carolina- Tkoops, 1861-65.

Hill, without indorsing his high standing as a soldier and
a Christian gentleman. He had endeared himself to his com-
mand very warmly.

The advance of the Army of ISTorthern Virginia into Penn-
sylvania was made not long after the battle of Chancellors-
ville. Eamseur's Brigade occupied Carlisle barracks. In
moving to the field of Gettysburg we constituted the rear
guard of Rodes' division train, which threw us on that field in
the afternoon of the first day. Our position was on the left
of Eodes' line. We found the enemy behind stone walls,
from which we drove them into and beyond the town of Get-
tysburg. The fighting was of a desperate character, and our
losses were heavy. On the second and third days Eamseur's
Brigade was not seriously engaged and recrossed the Potomac
with the army.

During the winter of 1863-64 the following changes in the
staff of the Thirtieth were made: Adjutant Philips, who
had received a disabling wound at Kelly's Ford in November,
1863, was appointed Captain and assigned to duty in the
spring of 1864 as Assistant Quartermaster in place of Wil-
liams, promoted. The regiment thus lost an excellent Adju-
tant, but duplicated a No. 1 Assistant Quartermaster. P.
W. Arrington, of Northampton, was appointed Adjutant in
place of Phillips, promoted.

No regiment was more fortunate in the efficiency of its
staff than was the Thirtieth.

The Winter was spent on the Rapidan, the line of the two
armies.

On 4 May, 1864, movements began which brought on the
battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania and others. In all of
these, the Thirtieth shared the fate of Eamseur's Brigade',
which was hard marching and hard fighting. The charge
of the brigade on 12 May, driving the Yankees from three
lines of works, is historic. The loss of the Thirtieth in this
charge was heavy, both in officers and men. The losses on
19 May, as also at Second Cold Harbor were serious. On 19
May, the Colonel of the regiment received a wound which
disqualified him for active field service. The regiment was
subsequently commanded by the Senior Captain present, gen-

Thirtieth Regiment. 503

erally by that fine soldier, Captain D. 0. Allen, of Com-
pany C.

In the pursuit of the Federal General Hunter down the
Valley of the Shenandoah, Captain Allen being absent from
indisposition, the Thirtieth was ably commanded by Captain
F. M. Fitts, who had been recently promoted on account of
gallant conduct on the field. No braver nor more dashing
an officer ever led men than was Captain Fitts.

An irreparable loss to the regiment should have been no-
ticed sooner. In an engagement at Kelly's Ford in l^ovem-
ber, 1863, the regiment was commanded by Lieutenant-Col-
onel Sellers, who acted with his wonted coolness and courage,
but being outnumbered and exposed to a plunging fire of
artillery from the high banks of the Rappahannock, the regi-
ment was badly cut to pieces. On this field Colonel Sellers
offered his young life on the altar of his country. As gentle
as a, lovely woman, as brave as the bravest, his loss was a sad
one to his State, to the army, and particularly to his own
regiment. He commanded the respect and love of the entire
command.

During the campaign of 1864, General Ramseur was pro-
moted to Major-General. His old brigade was, after that,
commanded by that accomplished, chivalrous soldier, Gen-
eral W. R. Cox, formerly Colonel of the Second North Car-
olina Troops. Cox's Brigade constituted a part of General
Early's command in the Shenandoah Valley, and in the
movement on Washington. In this campaign the loss of the
Thirtieth was very heavy. Among the officers who were
killed in battle was Captain Moore, of Company F. When
Moore fell, there was not a more gallant soldier left in the
Army of Northern Virginia.

The history of a brigade is generally the history of the
regiments composing it. The reports of the general officers
of the army bear evidence of the efficiency of Ramseur's Brig-
ade. A prominent writer of our State, himself an accom-
plished gentleman and soldier, in writing of this brigade,
speaks of it as the "Ironsides of the army." The lamented
Ramseur in parting with his old Brigade to assume a higher

504 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

command, appealed to his immediate superiors "to tell our
countrym^en how we did our duty."

Our Great Captain, the spotless Lee, emphasized this ap-
preciation of our services on the last day at Appomattox. As
Cox's Brigade swept by him to the charge, with steady step
and unbroken line, he voluntarily exclaimed: "God bless
old ITorth Carolina." This is glory enough for any body of
troops.

ADDENDA.

The Thirtieth ITorth Carolina was not actively engaged in
the battle of Fredericksburg 13 December, 1862. D. H.
Hill's Division was guarding the Kappahannock near Port
Eoyal, some twenty-five miles below Fredericksburg. It
was moved by a forced march on the night of the 12th, so as
be in position when the battle was joined. After occupying
respectively, the third, second and first lines, without an op-
portunity of drawing trigger, the brigade petitioned General
Jackson to be allowed to remain one day longer on the first
line. The request was granted, but Burnside had been so
terribly beaten on the 13th that he recrossed the river at
night. Our brigade furnished 100 sharpshooters which did
fine work in the battle of the 13th. The brigade was ably
commanded by that gallant soldier, Colonel Bryan Grimes,
of the Fourth North Carolina, later one of the distinguished,
and justly so. Major Generals of the Army of N"orthern Vir-
ginia.

The Thirtieth was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Kell,
an ofiicer of gallantry and force, whose previous wounds
caused this to be his last service during the war.

LETTEE FEOM CAPTAIN D. C. ALLEN.

Much has been written about what command fired the last
gun at Appomattox.

In a recent letter Captain D. C. Allen, who was Senior
Captain commanding the Thirtieth North Carolina Troops
for the last few months of the war, and who is as gallant a
man as ever drew a blade, and who is entitled to the fullest

Thirtieth Regiment. 505

credit for any statement lie may make, writes : "I have seen
several pieces in the papers about the last guns fired at the
surrender.

"I remember that at Raleigh during the session of the Leg-
islature right after the vi^ar, Governor Vance delivered his lec-
ture 'AH About It/ and stated that Grimes' Division fired the
last gun. General Grimes was present, also General Oox. I
was seated between them. General Oox contended that it was
his Brigade that had the honor, and asked me to decide the
matter, and go with him and tell Vance to correct it. I told
Cox that it was our old Regiment and Company D from
Wake that fired the last guns, and also explained the same to
Vance. His reply was that it made no difference, as we all
belonged to Grimes' Division. General Cox wrote a long
article in a ISTorthem paper claiming the honor for his
brigade, sent me a copy and said it looked too small to give
the credit to a regiment or a company, though the fact re-
mains that under Cox's order to take my regiment and sup-
port a battery then firing. General Cox took the rest of the
brigade from the field of action while I remained and fired on
the enemy advancing in my front ; they halted and lay down,
and immediately another line advanced on my flank, when I
changed front and fired another round, the enemy halting
and laying down flat.

"Neither line returned my fire. Then I received orders to
join my command. I think the Federals were informed of
the surrender, or they would have wiped us from the earth.

"I heard the late D. K. IMacRae in his lecture during the
time he was gathering facts for President Davis' book, give
our command the credit of the last fire."

D was from Wake and Granville. Always ready, always
willing to do any duty, and they always did it well.

Fbancis M. Paekee.

Enfibld, N. C.,

9 April, 1901.

THIRTY-FIEST REGIMENT.

1. J. V. Jordan,' Colonel. 3. E. K. Bryan, 1st Lieut, and Adjutant

^. Daniel G. Fowle, Lieut-Colonel. 4. Geo. F. Darden, 2d Lieut., Co. K.

5. Isaac H. Stegall, 1st Sergeant, Co. A.

THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT.

BY

ADJUTANT E, K. BRYAN and
SERGEANT E. H. MEADOWS, Co. K.

The Thirty-first Eegiment was organized 19 September,
1861, with the following Meld, Staff and Company officers:

J. V. JoEDAN, Colonel, Craven County.

Daniel G. Fowle, Lieutenant-Colonel, Wake County.

Jesse Johnston Yates^ Major, Hertford County.

Petee Ctjstis^ Surgeon, Craven County.

W. J. BusBEE, Assistant Surgeon, Wake County.

And the following Company officers :

Company A — Oondery Godwin, Captain; W. H. Hart-
man, First Lieutenant; Tiabon Stegal, Second Lieutenant;
Moore J. Seably, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company B — Edward E. Liles, Captain; J. G. Bradly,
First Lieutenant; C. B. Lindsey, Second Lieutenant;
Stephen Crump, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company C — Andrew W. Betts, Captain ; Leinster Utley,
First Lieutenant; Thomas H. Wray, Second Lieutenant;
Andrew IST. Betts, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company D — Langdon Cheves Manly, Captain; Henry
B. Jordan, First Lieutenant ; Kuffin L. Bryant, Second Lieu-
tenant ; Joseph W. Holden, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company E — Jesse Miller, Captain; John W. Hughes,
First Lieutenant; John H. Berry, Second Lieutenant; Jos.
W. Allison, Junior Second Lieutenant

Company F — Chas. W. Knight, Captain, S. J. Latham,
First Lieutenant ; S. W. Morrisett, Second Lieutenant ; S. A.
Hyman, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company G — Julian Picot, Captain; Isaac Pipkin, First
Lieutenant; John A. Slaughter, Second Lieutenant; S. B.
Pool, Junior Second Lieutenant.

508 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Company H — Willie D. Jones, Captain ; Fabius H. Perry,
First Lieutenant ; Walter Debnam, Second Lieutenant ; Wil-
liam Pulley, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company I — John A. D. McKay, Captain ; Cornelius H.
Coffield, First Lieutenant ; William A. Pierce, Second Lieu-
tenant; William Pearspn, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company K — Joseph Whitty, Captain; E. J. Bowen,
First Lieutenant ; Thos. H. Gaskins, Second Lieutenant ; Jos.
D. Ballinger, Junior Second Lieutenant.

As thus organized, the command proceeded to Roanoke
Island, N. C, arriving there on 12 December, 1861. On
21 December that part of North Carolina east of Chowan
river, together with the counties of Washington and Tyrrell,
was, at the request of the proper authorities of North Caro-
lina, constituted into a Military District under Brigadier-
General H. A. Wise, and attached to the command of Major-
General Huger, commanding the Department of Norfolk.
The military defence of Eoanoke Island, and its adjacent
waters, consisted of Fort Bartow, the most southern of the de-
fences on the west side of the island, a sand fort well covered
with turf, having nine 21-pound guns mounted and
Fort Blanchard, on the same side of the island, two and a
half miles distant from Fort Bartow, a semi-circular sand
fort, turfed and mounting four 32-pound guns ; on same side
and about 1,200 yards from Fort Blanchard was Fort Huger,
a turfed sand fort, running along the line of the beach and
closed in the rear by low breastworks, it mounted eight 32-
pound guns and two rifle 32-pound en barbette, and two
small 32-pound en barbette on the right. About three miles
from fort Bartow on the east side of the island was a battery
of two 32-poimd guns, at Midyett's Hammocks, in the centre
of the island. About three miles from Fort Bartow and one
mile from Midyett's Hammocks was a redoubt, or breastwork,
thrown across the road — 70 or 80 feet long with embrasures
for three guns, on the right of which there was a swamp and
on the left a marsh, the redoubt reaching nearly between
them and facing to the north. On the Tyrrell side, on the
main land, nearly opposite Fort Huger, was Fort Forrest,
mounting seven 32-pound guns.

Thirty-First Regiment. 509

In addition to these defences on the shore, and on the
island, there was a barrier of piles, extending from the east
side of Fulker Shoals, towards the island, the object of which
was to compel vessels passing on the west side of the island to
approach within reach of the batteries, but up to 8 February,
there was a span of 1,700 yards open opposite Fort Bartow.
Some vessels had been sunk, and piles driven on the west
side of Fulker Shoals, to obstruct the channel between that
shoal and the main land. The above composed all the de-
fences, either upon the land or water adjacent. See Map,
Vol. I, page 390, of this work.

The entire military force stationed on the island prior to,
and at the time of the engagement, consisted of the Eighth
Regiment, North Carolina State Troops, under command of
Colonel H. M. Shaw, a most gifted and gallant officer. The
Thirty-first Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers, com-
manded by Colonel J. V. Jordan, known as a faithful officer
and fine disciplinarian. Also three companies of the Sev-
enteenth Regiment North Carolina Troops, under the com-
mand of Major G. H. Hill. After manning the forts we had
only about 800 effective men for duty. The entire command
under Brigadier-General Wise, who upon 7 and 8 February,
was at Nag's Head, four miles distant from the island, con-
fined to a sick bed and entirely disabled from participating in
the battle which was imminent. The immediate command,
therefore, devolved on Colonel Shaw. On the night of 6
February, a detachment of artillery was sent to Ashby Land-
ing and the remainder of the forces were stationed in the
vicinity of Ashby. On the morning of the 7th, the enemy's
fleet passed by both of the landings, and proceeded toward
Fort Baxtow, and a detachment of infantry stationed at
Pughs, immediately fell back to the vicinity of Ashby land-
ing and joined the detachment then all under the command of
Colonel J. V. Jordan.

In the Sound between Roanoke Island and the main land,
upon the Tyrrell side. Commodore Lynch, with a squadron
of seven vessels, had taken position, and at 11 o'clock the
enemy's fleet, consisting of about thirty gun-boats and schoon-
ers, advanced in ten divisions. The advance and attacking

510 North Caeolina Teoops, 1861-65.

divisions, again sub-divided, one assailing Lynch's squadron
and the other firing upon the fort, with 9, 10 and 11-inch
shell, spherical case, a few round shot and every variety of
rifled projectiles. The fort replied with but four guns,
which were all that coxild be brought to bear. After the fore-
most vessel was struck several times, the fleet fell back so as
to mask one of the guns of the fort, leaving only three to reply
to the fire of the whole fleet. The bombardment was con-
tinued throughout the day and the enemy retired at dark.
Lynch's squadron sustained the position most gallantly, and
only retired after exhausting all their ammunition and
having lost the steamer Curlew, and the Forrest disabled.
Fort Bartow sustained serious damage from the fleet, but the
injuries were partially repaired by the next morning. About
3 :30 o'clock on the evening of the 7th, the enemy sent from
transports about twenty-five men in a launch, apparently to
take soundings, who being fired upon retreated, whereupon
two large steamers having in tow each thirty boats filled with
troops, approached the island under protection of their gun-
boats, at a point north of Ashby's Landing, known as Hay-
mond's, and effected a landing ; the point selected was out of
reach of our field pieces at Ashby, and also defended by a
swamp from the advance of our infantry and under cover of
shot and shell from the vessels. Our whole force then with-
drew to the redoubt or breastworks, and placed in battery
three field pieces, under command of Captain Schimmer-
horn, and Lieutenants Kinney and Seldon. Two companies
each from the Eighth and Thirty-first North Carolina Reg-
iments supported this battery.

Three companies of Wise's Legion were deployed as skir-
mishers, the remainder of the infantry about three hundred
yards in rear of the redoubts as a reserve. The enemy landed
some 15,000 men with artillery, and at T o'clock a. m. on the
8th, opened fire upon the redoubt, which we replied to im-
mediately with great spirit, and the action soon became gen-
eral, continuing without interruption for five hours, when
the enemy succeeded in flanking each wing of our forces.

The order was given by Colonel Shaw to spike the guns
of the battery and retire to the northern end of the island;

Thirty-First Regiment. 511

this movement necessitating the abandonment of Forts Bar-
tow, Blanchard and Huger, after destroying ammunition, and
disabling the guns. The enemy now taking possession of the
redoubts and forts and pursuing our troops to the northern
end of the island, deployed so as to surround our small force.

Colonel Shaw finding himself surrounded by this greatly
superior force, had either to make an idle display of courage
in fighting at such an immense disadvantage, or to capitulate
and surrender as prisoners of war. He wisely determined
upon the latter course. Our loss, killed, wounded and miss-
ing, was 285. We were paroled by the enemy. The term of
enlistment expired about September, 1862, and about this
time we were exchanged.

The regiment was reorganized at Camp Mangum, near
Ealeigh, N. C, 18 September, 1862, with the following Field
and Staff officers:

J. V. JoEDAN, Colonel.

E. E. LiLES, Lieutenant-Colonel.

J. A. D. McKay, Major.

W. H. Battle, Surgeon.

W. J. Btjsbee, Assistant Surgeon.

W. E. Pool, Assistant Surgeon.

W. E. Hughes, Assistant Surgeon.

E. K. Bbyan, Adjutant.

John Giriojsr, Sergeant-Major.

C. B. Beale, Sergeant-Major.

John J. Cox, Quartermaster.

J. B. LiNDSEY, Quartermaster Sergeant.

C. H. EoBiNsoN, Quartermaster Sergeant.

C. C. Claek, a. C. S.

H. B. Lane, A. C. S.

E. H. Meadows was Commissary Sergeant after the resign
nation of C. C. Clark, and afterwards was an assistant to
Major Gage, Brigade Commissary of Subsistence.

It will be understood that these officers served at different
periods of the regiment's history, which is also the case with
the company officers, whose names will follow, frequent pro-

512 North CARquNA Troops, 1861-65.

motions and resignations rendering it very difficult to note
the particular dates of each commission :

CoMPAKTY A — ^W. H. Hartman, Captain ; Samuel P. Col-
lins, Captain ; Samuel P. Collins, First Lieutenant ; John A.
Forte, First Lieutenant; W. H. Freeman, Second Lieuten-
ant; John L. Forte, Second Lieutenant; George W. Thomp-
son, Second Lieutenant ; John C. Barnes, Second Lieaitenant.

Company B — Chas. B. Lindsey, Captain ; Jas. Y. Bradley,
Captain; E. H. Streeter, First Lieutenant; M. T. Ballard,
Second Lieutenant ; Junius A. Liles, Second Lieutenant ; J.
B. Sidney, Second Lieutenant.

Company C — W. J. Long, Captain ; Thos. H. Wray, First
Lieutenant; J. C. Williams, Second Lieutenant; Thos. H.
Goodwin, Second Lieutenant.

Company D — Puffin L. Bryant, Captain; Benj. Walton,
First Lieutenant; S. H. Bryan, Second Lieutenant; W. G.
Williams, Second Lieutenant.

Company E — J. F. Allison, Captain; John BL. Hughes,
First Lieutenant; John H. Berry, Second Lieutenant;
Joseph W. Allison, Second Lieutenant.

Company F — Stephen W. Morrisett, Captain ; Samuel A.
Hyman, First Lieutenant ; Jos. T. Waldo, First Lieutenant ;
Arthur B. Knight, Second Lieutenant; Julius Perkins, Sec-
ond Lieutenant.

Company G — Julian Picot, Captain; Isaac Pipkin, Cap-
tain ; Simeon B. Pool, First Lieutenant ; John D. Gatlin, Sec-
ond Lieutenant ; John L. Everett, Second Lieutenant.

Company H — James E. Todd, Captain; John W. Smith,
Captain; John W. Smith, First Lieutenant; Robert W. Deb-
nam. Second Lieutenant ; A. V. Horton, Second Lieutenant.

Company I — Allen B. Parker, Captain ; William A. Du-
van. Captain ; W. A. Prince, First Lieutenant ; Wm. Pearson,
First Lieutenant; E. H. Williams, First Lieutenant; Wil-
liam 0. Tutor, Second Lieutenant; Allen B. Parker, Sec-
ond Lieutenant ; Daniel McL. Jones ; Second Lieutenant ; W.
J. Bother, Second Lieutenant.

Company K — Jos. Whitty, Captain; E. J. Bowen, First
Lieutenant; George F. Darden, Second Lieutenant; Wm. E.
Gardner, Second Lieutenant.

Thirty-First Regiment. 513

After remaining several weeks in camp of instruction at
Camp Mangiim, the regiment was ordered to Kinston, JST. C,
about 14 December, 1862, and with the Eighth NortJi Caro-
lina and Colonel Pool's Regiment and Colonel Nethercut's
Regiment, Starr's and Badham's ArtiUery, proceeded towards
New Bern to make a feint in order to attract the enemy, who
were in the vicinity of the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad,
near Tarboro, N. C. We proceeded as far as Deep Gully and
drove in the enemy's pickets, they making a feeble resistance.
Colonel H. M. Shaw commanded the expedition. The en-
emy covered their retreat by destroying the bridge at Deep
Gully (seven miles from New Bern) which prevented our
further pursuit; we had accomplished the purpose intended.
The regiment then marched to Greenville, where it remained
about twenty-four hours, finding no enemy in our front,
marched back to Kinston, N. C, where we went into camp.
The regiment was then ordered to Wilmington, N. C, after
remaining there some days, we were ordered to White Hall,
on ISTeuse river, IST. C, and participated in the battle which
took place there on 16 December, 1862. In that engagement
a portion of the regiment was withdrawn under fire by Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Liles without orders. But at that tim.e we
were not yet well under discipline, and ofiicers sometimes
acted independently. After the engagement we were or-
dered to Wilmington; about this time (date not exactly re-
membered) this regiment, together with the Eighth, Fifty-
first and Sixty-first, was formed into a brigade, commanded
by General Thomas L. Clingman, Statesman and Soldier,
than whom a more fearless and gallant soldier never drew
sword. We were then sent to Charleston, S. C, partic-
ipating in the various attacks on James Island and doing
heavy picket duty and skirmishing with the enemy. We
were then ordered to Savannah, remaining there a few days,
during which time the attack on Fort McAllister was made ;
this regiment acting as a reserve, in rear of the fort ; after an
unsuccessful attempt by the enemy they withdrew, having
accomplished nothing.

The regiment was now moved to James Island again, the
33

614 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

health of the conmiand was such, many being stricken down
with a virulent type of fever, that it was considered necessary
to change the encampment and we moved to Mount Pleasant,
opposite Charleston, from which place we patrolled and
picketed the Sullivan Island Beach, and were frequently de-
tailed as a part of the garrison at Battery Wagner, on Mor-
ris Island, against which the most determined efforts of the
enemy were now directed. This regiment was about this
time ordered to report to General Hood at ISTashville, Ten-
nessee, but the order was countermanded, and we were then
ordered to Virginia, but proceeding as far as Wilmington
that order was countermanded.

After being in the vicinity of Wilmington a few days, we
were returned to Charleston, and on 18 July, were a portion
of the gallant garrison which defended Battery Wagner from
the assault of the entire Yankee force on the Island, said to
be 9,000 men, our force; amounted to about 1,600 men. This
was one of the most sanguinary battles of the war, taking
into consideration the disparity of numbers, and the advant ■
age of the enemy with their fleet, consisting of iron-clad
vessels, monitors- and mortar fleet, as well as land batteries of
heavy rifled guns, which opened bombardment on the fort at
early morning and kept it up continuously until after dark,
at which time, by a signal of a rocket thrown up from the
shipping, the cannonading ceased, and the infantry front
line consisting of 3,000 men, made the assault. The reserve
of 6,000 did not sustain it, seeing their comrades thickly
strewn over the plains dead and dying, they faltered and
could not be gotten to the front. The number killed and
wounded on our side was small, as we were protected by
breastworks, the enemy's loss was very heavy, figures not re-
membered, more than 300 prisoners were taken. The next
morning the enemy sent in flags of truce from their army
and navy, and asked to bury their dead and care for their
wounded, which was accorded by General Beauregard, the
truce to last until 4 o'clock p. m.

The picket line, as originally held by us, was occupied at
cessation of the truce. We were relieved from garrison duty
at Battery Wagner on the night of the 19th and returned to

Thirty- First Regiment. 515

Sullivan's Island, remaining on picket duty there until the
winter of 1863, when we were ordered to Virginia, forming
a portion of General R. F. Hoke's division, encamped at Jor-
dan Farm, near Petersburg. From Petersburg we were
ordered to Ivor Station near the Blackwater river, where we
remained until tlie campaign of 1864. During our stay there
the enemy ascended with the steamer Smith Briggs up to
Smithfield, Isle-of-Wight County, Virginia, and landed a
marauding expedition, composed of 150 infantry, 25 cavalry
and two mountain howitzers. Four companies of the Thirty-
first Regiment, commanded by Captain Pipkin, one section
of Sturtevant's Battery, and one squadron of cavalry went in
pursuit of the enemy, arriving just in time to head them off
from the steamer, which was waiting for them. We had a
sharp fight through the woods and through the streets of the
town. The enemy were in a full run for their boat, but too
late. Captain Sturtevant, by a well directed shot (the second
shot from one of his pieces) sent a round shot through the
steamer's steam chest, which disabled her, and at once the
white flag was run up by the steamer and the entire expedi-
tion captured and the steamer (General Butler's flagship)
was burned. It was told us by the prisoners we took that
only one man escaped, and that was Captain Lee, the com-
mander of the expedition. He swam to the marsh and
jsecreted himself, thus making his escape (it was said with a
bullet wound in his arm). This was the most complete vic-
tory of its size and importance that ever crowned the efforts
of any troops. After which we rejoined the brigade at Peters-
burg, doing picket duty at City Point, when we were ordered
to Drewry's Bluff and participated in that battle, occupying
the right centre of the line, with balance of Hoke's Divis-
ion. This battle was not unlike the battle of Inkemaan with
respect to the severity of the action, the great slaughter, and
the murkiness and cloudiness of the day, these conditions
rendering it difficult at times to distinguish friend from foe.
It is a matter of history that President Davis, alluding to
the charge of the Thirty-first and Fifty-first Regiments on
that occasion, remarked that it was the most gallant charge
he ever vyitnessed. A distinguished writer to the editor of a

516 North Carolina Troops, 186l-'65.

Eichmond paper of that date, says "the charge made by the
Thirty-first and Fifty-first Regiments on the enemy's lines,
was most gallantly made, eliciting high compliments from
both Generals Hoke and Clingman." From Drewry's Bluff
the pursuit of the enemy, who were still commanded by Gen-
eral Butler, was continued t6 Bermuda Hundred, where we
threw up an entrenched line of works, occupying them until
30 May, 1864; picket fighting and the frequent repulse of
assaults on our lines were the order of the days and nights.
On the morning of the 31st we took the cars for the battlefield
of Cold Harbor, where we arrived in the afternoon of that
day, and were thrown out as a reserve for some cavalry skir-
mishers (Stuart's dismounted), who were engaged with the
enemy's infantry, our cavalry line being greatly outnum-
bered, retired, forced by the enemy, who pursued them until
coming within rifle range of our men who, by well directed
shots, retarded their advance in our front; but we having so
short a line (only 600 or YOO men), were soon flanked on
our right, the enemy's skirmishers lapping entirely across our
front and rear. Under this enfilade fire we retired to a point
about one mile to our rear, and threw up such hasty breast-
works during the night as could be done with the poor facili-
ties at hand. They were made mostly with the aid of bayo-
nets, tin plates, etc. This was to be the attacking point of
the memorable and bloody battle of the second Cold Harbor,
known in history as one of the most sanguinary conflicts of
the war.

The attack was made on Clingman's Brigade, of Hoke's
Division, about 3 o'clock p. m., 1 June, 1864. The enemy
advanced not only in line of battle, but on our left wing in
heavy column, masked by the line of battle in front.. This
attack was signally and repeatedly repulsed with great loss
to the enemy, in the entire front of our (Clingman's) Brig-
ade. On the left flank of the brigade was the Eighth, then
Fifty-first Eegiment, then Thirty-first Regiment and Sixty-
first from left to right, as designated; the heaviest attack
was on our left, where the enemy attacked in cohimn. There
was an interval between our brigade and a brigade on our
left, in consequence of a swamp intervening between the two,

Thirty-First Regiment. 517

which was considered impassable, therefore not protected
by breastworks or troops; in this interval the enemy's heavy
columns pressed forward and effected a lodgment, which then
enfilading our line, compelled the Eighth and. Fifty-first Reg-
iments to fall back.

They were, however, quickly formed in line of battle par-
allel to the original one, with the Thirty-first and Sixty-
first Raiments, which had repelled all the enemy in their
front. The brigade was under a constant fire from the enemy
while being thus formed in a new line of battle across the
open field, parallel to the original line. While it was so doing
the Twenty-seventh Georgia Regiment, of General Colquitt's
Brigade, came up from our right and handsomely advanced
with us ; the enemy were then, after a hard struggle, driven
back and the whole of our original line was re-occupied, but
the position on our left (the interval) remained in possession
of the enemy without any attempt to retake it. General
Clingman, in a report dated 5 June, 1864, says that his
brigade lost in battle, within a period of three weeks next
preceding that date, 1,172 men.

The following is taken from (Cold Harbor, 1 June, 1864)
Jefferson Davis' History of Confederate States, p. 400 :

"The carnage on the Federal side," writes General Taylor,
"was fearful. I well recall having received a report from
General Hoke after the assault. His Division (our Division)
reached the army just previous to the battle. The ground in
his entire front, over which the enemy had charged, was lit-
erally covered with their dead and wounded, and up to that
time Hoke had not had a single man killed. ITo wonder that
when the command was given to renew the assault, the Fed-
eral soldiers sullenly and silently declined. The order was
issued through the officers to their subordinate commanders,
and from them through the wonted channels ; but no man
stirred, the immobile lines thiis pronouncing a verdict, silent,
yet emphatic, against further slaughter.

"The loss on the Union side in this sanguinary action was
over 13,000, while on the part of the Confederates it is doubt-
ful whether it reached that many hundred. General Grant
asked for a truce to bury his dead, after which he abandoned

518 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

his chosen line of operation, and moved his army so as to
secure a crossing to the south side of James river."

General Clingman's entire staff were either killed or
wounded during the afternoon of that day, and the writers
were both wounded; Adjutant Bryan, while acting on the
staff of General Clingman, conveying orders on the field,
which rendered him unfit for duty several months, and Ser-
geant E. H. Meadows, commanding his company, very seri-
ously, incapacitating him for further active military duty,
(Lieutenant G. F. Darden, who had been in command of his
company, having been wounded the day previous. )

The regiment was now ordered into the trenches at Peters-
burg, and participated in all the hard fought battles in that
vicinity. In the battle of Fort Harrison, one of the severest
actions occurring on that front, Clingman's Brigade, and par-
ticularly the Thirty-first Regiment, suffered terribly, so that
when one of the writers, Adjutaxit Bryan, returned to the
Regiment only a few days after this battle (date not remem-
bered) he found the entire Regiment consisted' of only about
sixty men, commanded by First Lieutenant Williams, the
ranking officer present. The command was ordered to Wil-
mington to participate in the defense of Fort Fisher 13 Jan-
uary, 1865. They took no part in the action, however, as
General Bragg and General Hoke concluded that the situa-
tion was extremely hazardous, as the enemy had already
landed and thrown up works entirely across the peninsula,
which were manned by heavy lines of infantry, which, to-
gether with their navy, which covild sweep the beach with can-
ister and grape at short range, would in all probability have
virtually annihilated the division. We fell back to Sugar Loaf
and engaged the enemy as they advanced, checking them, and
afterwards falling back to Wilmington and through the city
to the Northeast branch of the Cape Fear, which we crossed
on pontoons, the advance of the enemy arriving at the south
bank just as our last troops had gotten across the river, and
our pontoons cut loose.

We now marched to Goldsboro and Smithfield, where we
waited the advance of Sherman from Fayetteville. The
clash of arms came now again at Bentonville, N. C, 19

Thiety-Fibst Regiment. 519

March, 1865. For two days General Johnston held in check
Sherman's 70,000 men, with not more than 20,000 of all
arms. After two days' successful resistance Johnston, find-
ing the Federals in overwhelming force concentrated on three
sides of him, withdrew that night towards Ealeigh. The re-
treat was continued to High Point, N. C, and at the quiet lit-
tle village of Bush Hill, ahout two miles from High Point,
the command was surrendered to General Sherman, our
paroles being dated 1 May, 1865.

E. K. Beyan,
E. H. Meadows.
New Been, N C,

9 April, 1901.

Since completing the sketch of the Thirty-first Regiment,
my attention- has been called to the following item taken from
Vol. 125, "Rebellion Records." At page 815 to 818, is a
list of medals given for capturing flags belonging to Confeder-
ate regiments. Among other North Carolina regiments is the
following: "Sergeant Joseph B. Kemp, Company D, Fifth
Michigan, captured the flag of the Thirty-first North Carolina
Regiment — tearing it from its staff, which was retained by
the color-bearer, at the Wilderness 6 May, 1864."

Now this statement is utterly untrue from beginning to
end — it being a physical impossibility to capture the flag of
a regiment which was not in the battle, and which was at the
time of said battle, for some weeks, both before and after said
battle, several hundred miles distant. At the time of this
battle the Thirty-first regiment was in front of Petersburg,
Va., where it remained until Butler advanced from Bermuda
Hundred in his "on to Richmond." The Thirty-flrst Regi-
ment, together with our entire brigade, met Butler's forces
in the general fight at Drewry's Bluff, and utterly routed him
and drove him back to Bermuda Hundred, all of which is well
known as a matter of history. Butler telegraphed on 7 May
that he had destroyed many miles of railroad (President
Davis' History, page 389). So this is conclusive, as our'regi-
ment was left by Gen. Clingman to guard Petersburg while
the balance of the brigade were with General Hoke near New

520 JSToETH Caeoliita Teoops, 1861-'65.

Bern, and our regiment (the Thirty-first) only left that
neighbourhood when General Hoke was recalled to meet But-
ler's forces in their effort to reach Richmond. It would be
well for Sergeant Joseph B. Kemp, Company D, Fifth Mich-
igan, to be more careful as to his claims.

Our flag was surrendered with the Regiment at Bush Hill,
N. C, 1 May, 1865.

E. K. Betaw.

THIRTY-SECOND REGIMENT.

1. E. C. Brabble, Colonel. 3. W. L. London, Captain, Co. I.

3. Wm. H. Battle, Surgeon. 4. Calvin A. Little, Corporal, Co. E.

5. H. A. London, Courier, Co. I.

THIRTT-SECOfID REGIMENT.

By henry a. LONDON, Private Company I.

The Companies composing the Thirty-second Eegiment of
North Carolina troops were organized in the following
counties :

Company A, in Tyrrell.
Company B, in Camden.
Company C, in Northampton.
Company D, in Northampton.
Company E, in Catawba.
Company F, in Catawba.
Company G, in Bertie.
Company H, in Nash.
Company I, in Chatham.
Company K, in Franklin.

Although this regiment was not organized until the year
1862, yet every company in it had volunteered in 1861 and
had been in active service for nearly a year. For instance,
Companies I and K had been organized in the Spring of
1861, as soon as the first call for vohmteers had been made
by Governor Ellis, and were attached to the Fifteenth Eegi-
ment from which they were transferred in July, 1862, to the
Thirty-second Eegiment. While attached to the Fifteenth
Eegiment these two companies participated in Magruder's
Peninsula campaign, and in the battles around Eichmond,
in which they suffered heavy losses. The other companies
had at first been attached to other commands, but in the Fall
of 1861, six of these companies were organized into the "First
Battalion of North Carolina Volunteers," with Captain Wil-
liam T. Williams, of Nash, as Lieutenant-Colonel, and Cap-
tain E. C. Brabble, of Tyrrell, as Major. This battalion
was stationed near Portsmouth for several months, and in

622 ]Sr,OETH Caeolina Teoops, 1861-'65.

February, 1862, was ordered to Murfreesboro and i^ther
places in the eastern part of North Carolina, where it re--
mained until May, when it returned to "Virginia. After its
return to Virginia the battalion was stationed at Suffolk,
Petersburg and Drewry's Bluff, at the latter place remaining
several weeks in the summer of 1862. While there the com-
panies composing this battalion, with the others above named,
were organized into the Thirty-second Regiment with E. 0.
Brabble as Colonel, William T. Williams, Lieutenant-Colonel,
and D. G. Cowand, of Company A, as Major. Lieutenant-
Colonel Williams, a few months thereafter, resigned and,
Major Cowand succeeding him, Henry Gr. Lewis, also of
Company A, became Major. And at one time the singular
coincidence occurred (probably not in any other regiment in
either the Confederate or Union army) of every field officer
and every staff officer of this regiment — from Colonel Brab-
ble to Sergeant-Major Hardison — all being selected from the
same company. And again it was another singular coinci-^
dence that all these officers were members of the same (Epis-
copal) Church, and to their credit be it recorded that with
one exception, not one of them ever tasted spirituous liquors.
Probably no regiment in the Confederate service was more
fortunate in its field and staff officers, and the influence and
example of such sober, moral and religious officers had a most
salutary and beneficial effect upon the whole regiment, both
in camp and in battle. Colonel Brabble was a strict disci-
plinarian, yet humane and very considerate of the comfort of
his men, so that they all implicitly obeyed his orders and had
Qntire confidence in him, and in the midst of battle were un-
der perfect control. After his untimely death (he was killed
at Spottsylvania in May, 1864) he was succeeded by Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Cowand, who was as modest and gentle as a
m.aiden and yet as brave as the bravest — the model of a Chris-
tian soldier. For the last six months of the war Colonel Cow-
and commanded the brigade, to which the Thirty-second Reg-
iment belonged, and the regiment was without a field officer,
for Major Lewis had been wounded and captured at Gettys-
burg and was not released until after the close of the war.
The first Adjutant of the regiment was Dr. R. H. Parker,

Thirty-Second Regiment. 523

who was made Assistant Surgeon in 1863, and Sergeant
Francis A. Boyle, of Company A, was promoted to fill tlie
vacancy.

The brigade to which the Thirty-second Regiment was at-
tached was commanded by General Junius Daniel, who un-
doubtedly was one of the very best of Lee's Brigadiers. The
other regiments of this brigade were the Forty-third, the
Forty-fifth, the Fifty-third and the Second ISTorth Carolina
Battalion, and this brigade remained unchanged throughout
the war, and was as fine a body of troops as ever marched to
battle. It was fortunate in its commanders, for after the
lamented death of General Daniel (who was killed at Spott-
sylvania) it was commanded by General Bryan Grimes until
he was promoted to the command of Bodes' Division, and
then (as before stated) by Colonel Cowand until the sad sur-
render at Appomattox.

The Thirty-second Regiment, with the other regiments of
Daniel's Brigade, was stationed near Petersburg and Drew-
ry's Bluff during the fall of 1862 and did not take part in the
Maryland campaign. During this period the brigade was
thoroughly drilled and attained as high a state of efiiciency
and discipline as any brigade in the Confederate array, as
was so conspicuously displayed in next year's bloody cam-
paign, culminating at Gettysburg. In December the brigade
went into winter quarters near Drewry's Bluff, but in a short
time (on 3 January, 1863), was removed tO' the eastern part
of this State, where it remained until 17 May. Although the
regiment while in this State was not engaged in any battle,
yet it rendered very arduous and effective service and partici-
pated in a few skirmishes. It was stationed near Kinstmi
for several weeks, but took an active part in the unsuccessful
expeditions against JSTew Bern and Washington. The failure
of the expedition against New Bern (early in March) was
through no fault of Daniel's Brigade, as was testified to by
General D. H. Hill (who commanded the expedition) in his
official report, in which he says that the part taken by Dan-
iel's brigade "was highly satisfactory." This brigade did its
full duty in the expedition against Washington, ~N. C, in
April, and the Thirty-second Regiment is said to have been

524 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

stationed on duty nearer to that town than any other Confed-
erate troops. The failure of both of these expeditions was
due chiefly to the inferior artillery and defective ammunition
used by the Confederates, as is clearly shown in General Hill's
official report, published in Volume XVIII of the "Official
Records of the Union and Confederate Armies." The troops
endured many hardships on these expeditions, frequently
marching for miles in swamps knee-deep in water and sleep-
ing (?) in their wet clothes when halted at night. On the
march to Washington, and when only a few miles distant, the
Thirty-second Regiment passed a country (Episcopal) church
in which the congregation was then assembled, holding their
joyous Easter services (for that day was Easter Sunday) and
the devout and faithful chaplain of the regiment (Rev.
Joseph W. Murphy) obtained permission to stop long enough
to join in singing one hymn, and then sturdily marched on.
How strange a contrast — ^here was a congregation quietly wor-
shipping in their parish church, and passing by was a body
of armed soldiers marching to battle !

On 17 May, 1863, the Thirty-second Regiment, with the
other regiments of Daniel's Brigade, left Kinston and went
to Virginia, and remained until the close of the war a part of
the Army of "Northern Virginia, sharing in all its glory and
victories as well as its hardships and disasters. Daniel's
Brigade was attached to Rodes' Division, which had no supe-
rior in either the Confederate or Union army, and was then
composed of Ramseur's (North Carolina) Brigade, Iverson's
(North Carolina) Brigade, Battle's (Alabama) Brigade, and
Doles' (Georgia) Brigade. Its commander, Major-General
Robert E. Rodes, of Alabama, was one of Lee's most trusted
officers and was one of the most competent, considerate and
courageous officers in the Confederate army. His untimely
death (killed at Winchester, 19 September, 1864) was a
grievous loss.

Shortly after Daniel's Brigade reached Virginia General
Lee began his preparations for the campaign that culminated
in the battle of Gettysburg, and in this ever memorable cam-
paign the Thirty-second Regiment was most conspicuously
complimented and covered itself with imperishable glory. It

Thirty-Second Regiment. 525

was among the first troops to cross the Potomac in the inva-
sion of Pennsylvania, and was among the last to recross on
the retreat. On 21 June, Eodes' Division reached Carlisle,
the town farthest North ever occupied by any Confederate
troops, and occupied the United States barracks at that place.
Large supplies of cattle, horses, grain and flour were ob-
tained at Carlisle and on the march to that place, but no pri-
vate property of the citizens was forcibly taken. In his of-
ficial report General Rodes stated with proper pride that the
good behavior of his troops "astonished the people along the
line of march. These latter very generally expected to be
treated by us with the wanton cruelty generally exhibited by
their troops when they are upon our soil. As a general rule
they apparently expected to see their houses burned down
and all their property carried off or destroyed." This of-
ficial testimony as to the conduct of Confederate troops when
on the enemy's soil should be a source of pride to every
Southerner.

It was while the Confederates were enjoying their much
needed rest at Carlisle, that the Thirty-second Regiment was
honored and complimented in a most notable and conspicuous
manner. Yes, it was there at Carlisle that this regiment
was complimented, out of all the regiments in the Confeder-
ate army, with the distinguished honor of being presented
and entrusted with the first flag or standard made according
to the design adopted by the Confederate Congress a few
weeks previous. Congress had adopted, conditionally, a new
design for the Confederate flag, and an elegant new flag, made
according to that design by the ladies of Richmond, had been
sent to General Lee for his approval and for him to present
to the regiment most worthy of receiving and carrying it.
Accordingly General Lee sent it to Lieutenant-General Ewell
(who then commanded Stonewall Jackson's old corps), and
General Ewell sent it to Major-General Rodes (his favorite
division commander) and General Rodes passed it on to his
most favored Brigadier, General Daniel, and he ordered it
to be presented to the Thirty-second Regiment. The presen-
tation ceremonies were of a most enthusiastic character and
were appropriate to the high honor so worthily conferred.

626 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

The troops, who were encamped at Carlisle, were assembled
in the lovely grounds belonging to the United States barracks
to witness the presentation, which was attended with much
speech-making and enthusiastic rejoicings. Oh ! it was a
grand occasion — in such striking contrast to the sad scenes
witnessed by the same soldiers, two days thereafter, on the
blood-stained heights of Gettysburg. Yes, the bright eyes
of our brave boys, which then sparkled with joy and hope,
were soon glazed with the stony stare of death ; and their joy-
ous shouts and cheers, so eagerly and so proudly greeting the
new flag of the young Confederacy, were so soon changed to
dying groans and expiring gasps.

This flag was then hoisted above the roof of the barracks
and unfurled to the breeze. And thus it was that North
Carolinians can boast that it was the flag of one of their regi-
ments that waved defiantly on the enemy's soil at a point
farther North than any other Confederate flag during the
whole war.

That the Thirty-second Regiment was well worthy of so
distinguished an honor was quickly and fully proved by the
superb manner with which it bore that flag in the three days'
battles around Gettysburg. Before entering into the details
of the regiment's conduct at Gettysburg it may be proper to
mention here the very great compliment paid it by one who
was so competent to compliment. About two weeks after the
battle of Gettysburg, and while encamped at Darkesville, in
Virginia, several Confederate generals by chance met in
General Daniel's tent, and after a general discussion of the
campaign. General Stephen D. Eamseur remarked that the
finest thing he saw during the whole battle "was the conduct
of that regiment that carried into the fight that flag with the
long white tail to it."

"And," continued General Eamseur, "they marched as
steadily as if on dress parade, and when commanded to re-
treat, marched back as steadily as ever under a most galling
fire." Thereupon General Daniel said: "Yes, that was one
of my regiments," referring to the Thirty-second, for the
new flag carried by it, at a distance, appeared to have a "long
white tail," as described by General Eamseur.

TniRTY-yEcoND Regiment. 527

As stated above, Rodes' Division reached Carlisle on 27
June, and, after resting two days, intended on the 30th to ad-
vance on Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania — "a step
(as General Eodes stated in his report) which every man in
the division contemplated with eagerness." But all their
eager hopes were doomed to disappointment, for on the 30th
they were ordered to re-join the balance of Lee's army, then
supposed to be at Cashtown, and they marched that day 22
miles, bivouacking at Heidlesburg. jSText day, 1 July, they
were ordered to hasten to Gettysburg, in the vicinity of
which they arrived shortly after midday and were surprised
to find that a bloody battle had . begun. The part taken by
the Thirty-second Regiment in this battle — or rather three
days' battles — was officially reported by its Colonel, and his
report is published in Vol. XXVII of the "Ofiicial Records
of the Union and Confederate Armies," as follows :

Daekesville, W. Va., 19 July, 1863.

Captain : I would respectfully report the part taken by
the Thirty-second Regiment ISTorth Carolina Troops in the
action of 1, 2 and 3 July, at Gettysburg, Pa.

On the first day, about 2 :30 p. m., the regiment was drawn
up on the right of the brigade, and, advancing, met the enemy
about 4 o'clock. At the time the regiment became actively
engaged, it was near a railroad cut, the right supported by a
regiment of Davis' Brigade. Beyond the cut was a large
stone barn, where the enemy was strongly posted. He had
also planted on a wooded hill between us and town a battery,
which thoroughly commanded the ground, in otir front and
about the barn.

The brigade made an advance to dislodge him from the
barn, but the cut in front of the other regiments was too dif-
ficult for them to cross, and the Thirty-second fell back for
want of support.

After a short, time this regimeoit charged up to the bam
and dislodged the enemy ; but being iinstipported on the right
and left, and the battery on the hill opening a terrific fire
vipon it, it again fell back near the cut. The rest of the brig-

528 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

ade having now changed direction, so as to advance without
hindrance, the Thirty-second moved up beyond the bam, and,
waiting a few minutes for the troops on the right, advanced
near the edge of the town, where it joined the other regiments
and rested for the night. In its advance it took a consider-
able number of prisoners ; how many I did not stop to ascer-
tain. Its loss during the day was 78 — ^none of them as pris-
oners.

The second day, the Thirty-second was posted behind the
Theological Seminary, as a part of the support to our bat-
teries. It sustained a very heavy fire from the enemy's artil-
lery, and lost many men.

The third day the regiment, with the rest of the brigade,
moved to the left and front, to the northeast of Gettysburg,
and being drawn up in line, advanced to the foot of Gulp's
hill, upon which the enemy was posted. It had sustained a
very galling fire from artillery and sharpshooters, losing
many men and doing little injury to the enemy. Then, in
pursuance of orders, it moved farther to the left, and formed
on the right of the Forty-third Regiment North Carolina
Troops, to hold an intrenchment that had been captured. It
here lost several men, but, having the enemy at advantage, it
did good execution upon him. From this position it fell
back, by orders, about 5 p. m., and a little before midnight it
withdrew with the rest of the troops to the range of hills west
of Gettysburg.

During the engagement the conduct of the regiment was
all I could desire, there being very little time during the three
days when it was not perfectly tmder my control. Both of-
ficers and men, with scarcely an exception, did their duty
faithfully and unflinchingly. Where all behaved so well it
is difiicult to discriminate, yet justice requires that I should
mention Captain William L. London. To his skill and gal-
lantry is greatly due whatever of service the regiment may
have rendered in the battle.

During the three days' fighting the regiment lost in killed
and wounded 147 officers and men. Of the 14 reported miss-

Thirty-Second Regiment. 529

ing two have since joined the regiment and two others have
been heard from, and are not in the enemy's hands.
I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. C. BeabblEj
Colonel Commanding Regiment.
Captain W. M. Hammond, Assistant Adjutant General, Dan-
iel's Brigade.

The above official report of Colonel Brabble is a short and
simple narrative — plainly but truly told — modest like him-
self and yet it records the courage and conduct of troops un-
surpassed in the annals of war. All of Daniel's Brigade
was especially complimented by General Rodes in his official
report, and General Daniel in his report was very compli-
mentary of the Thirty-second Regiment, highly praising its
"great courage and steadiness." As more than three-fourths
of Rodes' Division were North Carolinians, it will be grati-
fying to the State pride of Carolinians to read now the fol-
lowing extract from General Rodes' official report :

"I cannot, however, close this portion of my report without
expressing my pride and admiration of the conduct of the
men and officers of this division from the time it left Grace
church until our return to Virginia. Better marching, less
straggling, hardships more cheerfully borne, conduct in an
enemy's country more commendable, and more generally
marked by gentlemanly and soldierly characteristics, and,
finally, better behavior in battle, than was exhibited by this
division during that period has not been, and I believe will
never be, exhibited by any other troops in the service. By
their conduct at Gettysburg I claim it won the expression
from the general commanding the army, who saw their at-
tack on 1 July, 'I am proud of your division.' "

Daniel's Brigade entered the battle of Gettysburg with
2,100 men, and lost in killed and wounded 7T8 — as heavy
a loss as any two of Pickett's famoiis brigades-7-and it did
not fail to carry every position of the enemy which it as-
saulted.

After the retreat of Lee's army to Virginia the Thirty-
second was not engaged in any battle until the Spottsylva-
34

630 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

nia battles in May, 1864, but participated in a few skir-
mishes and was stationed much of the time near the Rapidan
river, where nothing of especial interest occurred. But this
period of comparative rest was followed by a campaign that
was probably the most arduous, the most bloody and the mopt
exciting recorded in the annals of war. Yes, on 4 May,

1864, the Thirty-second Regiment with all the troops of
Kodes' Division moved from their camps on the Rapidan,
and were either marching or fighting (and frequently both)
nearly every day from then until the surrender on 9 April,

1865. They began their long series of battles on 5 May,
being quite heavily engaged on that day. They were more
or less engaged on the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th, and on the 10th
the Thirty-second Regiment suffered heavily, among its killed
being its Colonel, the brave and noble Brabble, and a large
number of its oiEcers and men. This loss was occasioned by
the enemy breaking through Doles' (Georgia) Brigade, which
was stationed on the right of the Thirty-second, thereby ex-
posing that regiment to a deadly fire, but reinforcements soon
came to the rescue and the exultant enemy was driven back.
This was a most critical and trying occasion to the Thirty-
second, but it was fully equal to it and its steadiness and cour-
age prevented a serious disaster.

The next day (the 11th) it rained hard all day and there
was no fighting, but on the 12th was probably the most des-
perate fighting during the war, when the enemy at early dawn
captured the salient in our works occupied by General Ed-
ward Johnson's Division, and in checking their advance
(which came so near being a crushing disaster) Daniel's and
Ramseur's Brigades (all North Carolinians) fought with
such unsurpassed courage and pertinacity as to deserve and
receive the personal thanks of General Lee himself.

An accurate and full description of that day's fighting by
those two brigades should be written and published in pam-
phlet form, and a copy be placed in the hands of every North
Carolinian, because that fighting has never been surpassed in
any battle of ancient or modern times. There it was that
the lamented Daniel was killed and Ramseur severely
wounded early in the day, and yet, notwithstanding the loss

Thirty-Second Regiment. 531

of their commanders, those brigades bravely and unflinch-
ingly fought on, hour after hour, against greatly superior
numbers.

After its desperate fighting on 12 May, the Thirty-second
Begiment was comparatively quiet imtil the 19 th, when it
joined in a flank movement around the enemy's right and
was quite heavily engaged on that afternoon. In these bat-
tles at Spottsylvania, during those bright May days, the
Thirty-second Regiment lost over one-half of its men in
killed, wounded and captured, as indeed did all of Ewell's
Corps to which it belonged, and this but the beginning, the
first month, of almost an entire year's continuous fighting.

And now begins the famous "Valley" campaign, beginning
so brilliantly and ending so disastrously. On 13 June, 1864,
the Thirty-second Regiment, with the other regiments of the
brigade, moved from their camp near Cold Harbor and pro-
ceeded to Lynchburg. The bTigade was now known as
Grimes' Brigade, as Colonel Bryan Grimes, of the Fourth
Regiment, had been promoted and assigned to the command
of Daniel's old brigade, a most worthy successor, and also one
of the best and bravest officers in the Confederate army. On
arriving at Lynchburg (then threatened by the enemy under
General Hunter) the brigade prepared for an immediate at-
tack, but the enemy retreated precipitately, and then com-
menced the "New Market Races," the Confederates chasing
the fleeing Federals to the very gates of Washington. At
Lexington our troops passed by the grave of their old com-
mander, Stonewall Jackson, with reversed arms and uncov-
ered heads — a sad and touching tribute of their love and ad-
miration. Our troops reached Harper's Ferry on 4 July,
and the Thirty-second Regiment there assisted in doing garri-
son duty and in loading wagons with the quartermaster's and
commissary supplies captured at that place. After leaving
Harper's Ferry Grimes' Brigade moved in the direction of
Frederick City, and at the battle of Monocacy was not ac-
tively engaged, being held in reserve. On 11 July, after a
very rapid and most fatiguing march (thirty miles in one
day) over a dusty road that was almost suffocating and under
a blistering July sun, the brigade arrived in front of the for-

532 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

tifications around Washington and in sight of the dome of the
Federal capitol. This brigade was the front infantry brig-
ade of Early's army, and its sharpshooters approached nearer
Washington than any other Confederate troops, an incident
of the war that North Carolinians have cause to boast of-
After some skirmishing, the fortifications were found to be
too formidable and strongly defended to be captured, and
no assault was made. The men were utterly exhausted by
their continuous and fatiguing march, and were physically
unfit for fighting. Fortunately for the Federals, and proba-
bly the salvation of Washington, they had just been rein-
forced by the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps, which arrived at
Washington just in the "nick of time." The Confederate in-
fantry did not exceed 10,000, and it would have been worse
than folly for that force to attack four times their number
strongly entrenched, and, therefore. General Early (who com-
manded the Confederate troops on this expedition), after a
consultation with his division commanders, decided to return-
to Virginia. General Lee had not intended or expected
Early to capture Washington, but merely to threaten that
city, and this was done most effectively, and, if he could have
arrived there only one day earlier, he might have entered that
city and planted the Confederate flag on the dome of the Cap-
itol!

Early's army retired in perfect order and safely returned
to Virginia, and then began a series of skirmishes and fights
which continued almost daily for several weeks. On 19 July
Gritaes' Brigade fought quite a severe battle with a largely
superior force of the enemy, near the Shenandoah river, and
drove them back but at a considerable loss.

Again on the 24th, near Kernstown, the Thirty-second Reg-
iment met the enemy and the latter retreated in great confu-
sion, throwing away everything that could impede their
flight. For the next few weeks this regiment was kept moving
back and forth — up and down the valley — one day pursuing
the enemy and the next day falling back, almost a daily round
of skirmishes. In the battle near Winchester, on 19 Sep-
tember, Grimes' Brigade acted most gallantly, capturing the
enemy's position which it was ordered to attack and holding:

Thirty-Second Regiment. 533

it until late in the afternoon, when it was ordered to fall
back, because the troops on the left had given way. Its
courage and steadiness were again conspicuously displayed
on 22 September at Fisher's Hill, when the cavalry on our
left gave way in confusion and for some time the Forty-fifth
and Thirty -second Regiments and the Second Battalion (all
of North Carolina) successfully fought the whole force of the
enemy Avithout other aid, and did not retire until nearly sur-
rounded and fired at in front, flank and rear. Only old sol-
diers can appreciate what a trying position was this.

Again in the disastrous battle of Cedar Creek on 19 Octo-
ber, the Thirty-second Regiment sustained its well merited
reputation for that "great courage and steadiness," which
General Daniel had so highly complimented in his report of
the battle of Gettysburg. In this battle the Thirty-second
Regiment was deployed as sharpshooters and moved forward
most gallantly, and followed the enemy through Middletown.
A brilliant victory seemed won, and the enemy appeared to be
utterly routed, but, in the afternoon after our troops had re-
mained inactive for several hours, the enemy returned with
heavy reinforcements and completely turned the tide of vic-
tory. When the enemy returned and attempted to charge the
position held by Grimes' Brigade, General Grimes promptly
ordered a counter-charge which his men, with a yell, quickly
made and drove the enemy back in great confusion. In a
short time, however, our troops on the left had given way in
much disorder, and then Grimes' Brigade was ordered to fall
back. This was the last battle of much importance fought by
the Thirty-second Regiment in this wonderful "Valley Cam-
paign."

The week before Christmas Grimes' old brigade, and the
other brigades of the division now called Grimes' Division,
moved from the Valley and went into winter quarters at
Swift Creek, about three miles from Petersburg. There the
wearied, battle-scarred survivors of the terrible campaign of
1864 enjoyed a brief rest. On 5 February they marched in
a cold sleet to Burgess' Mill, on Hatcher's Run, but arrived
too late to participate in the fight that took place near there
on that day, in which General Pegram (who had married only

534 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

a few days before) was killed. After remaining there a day
they returned to their winter quarters, but were not allowed
to remain long, for on the 15th they broke up camp and were
moved to Southerland's Station, about twelve miles from
Petersburg, on the extreme right of Lee's extended lines.
There they relmained four weeks and then were stationed in
the trenches in front of Petersburg, Grimes' Division occupy-
ing the line of fortifications from near the famous "Crater"
on the left to Battery No. 45 on the right. No one, who him-
self has not experienced a soldier's life in the trenches around
Petersburg, can understand or appreciate the hardships then
endured by Lee's half-starved soldiers. The trenches were
usually knee-deep in mud, the men always on the alert and
ready for an attack, one-third always on picket duty, in the
rifle pits, one-third kept awake at the breastworks every night,
and only one-third off duty at a time and they sleeping on
their arms and with accoutrements on, as best they could,
amid the continuous firing along the picket line. All night
long the pickets kept up an incessant firing, the sound resem-
bling at a distance the popping of firecrackers, and the flash
of the rifles illuminating the darkness like fire flies on a surh-
mer's night, while now and then a mortar shell would grace-
fully glide through the air and explode with a deafening roar.
And yet those brave men endured all this, day after day and
night after night, without a murmxir, and on 25 March made
one of the most desperate attacks of the war.

On that day General Lee made his last and final effort to
break through the coils of Grant's encircling army. It was a
desperate undertaking, and came well-nigh being successful.
At one point in front of Petersburg, near Hare's Hill, the
breastworks of the two armies were only about one hundred
yards apart, and General Lee determined to make a sudden
sortie at this place and capture the enemy's line. Just be-
fore day-dawn the sharpshooters of Grimes' Division — about
three hundred men — with unloaded muskets and a profound
silence, leaped over our breastworks, dashed across the open
space in front, surprising and capturing the enemy's pickets
before they could give the alarm, and had mounted their
breastworks and were upon the enemy before they could real-

Thirty-Second Regiment. 535

ize their situation. A Brigadier General and 500 men were
sent back as prisoners, and the remainder of the division fol-
lowed the sharpshooters and occupied the enemy's works.
Other troops, among whom were Ransom's and Lewis' North
Carolina Brigades, had at the same time captured other por-
tions of the enemy's works, and a brilliant victory seemed
within our grasp, but it was only the meteor's flash that illu-
mines for a moment and leaves the night darker than be-
fore. The expected reinforcements, Pickett's Division, did
not come to their support, and the enemy soon collected a
force, greatly outnumbering ours, and poured so destructive
a fire upon our men that they were withdrawn after a most
stubborn fight of two hours.

In this short but sanguinary fight the Confederate loss was
quite heavy, Grimes' Division alone losing 478 officers and
men. .The Thirty-second Regiment suffered severely, among
its killed being its temporary commander, Major J. W. Rier-
son, of the Fifty-third Regiment.

The end was now rapidly drawing near. Just before day
on Sunday morning, 2 April, the enemy captured an exposed
point in our line, called Rune's Salient, occupied by Battle's
Alabama Brigade, and attempted to extend their line up our
breastworks, but were promptly met and checked by the Thir-
ty-second and the other regiments of Daniel's old brigade.
The fighting here was most stubborn and desperate, being at
close range, almost hand to hand. A single incident will for-
cibly illustrate this. T. S. Riggsbee, of Company I, (as
brave a boy as Chatham county every sent to the Confederate
arimy) jumped up on top of the breastworks so as to get a bet-
ter chance to shoot at the advancing enemy, and, after firing
his own gun, fired the guns of several of his comrades as they
were rapidly handed up to him, until he himself was shot
down and killed by the enemy only a few feet distant. At
one time so desperate was the fighting here that, within a few
minutes' time, the flag staff of this regiment was. shot in two
three different times while being held by the color-bearer,
James E. Burke, of Company L, who each time would grasp
the broken staff and defiantly flaunt the flag at the enemy.

The Thirty-second Regiment not only held its ground all

536 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

that day, but drove the enemy back some distance," and only
withdrew after nightfall when all our troops were ordered to
retire, and then commenced that terrible retreat to Appomat-
tox Court House. The incidents of that memorable retreat
need not be recorded here, but the Thirty-second Kegiment,
with all of Grimes' Division, did its full duty. Always at
the post of danger, protecting the rear of Lee's retreating
army, they well sustained to the last their "great courage and
steadiness," which General Daniel had noted at Gettysburg.
Now stubbornly resisting the advance of superior numbers
ilushed with victory, now turning like a. wounded lion upon
its pursuers and charging desperately and putting to flight
a too confident foe, and now toiling along over muddy roads,
famished with hunger, exhausted with constant marching
day and night, almost stupefied with the want of sleep, those
men proved themselves to be heroes indeed — ^the equals of
any the world has ever seen.

And now we come to the last sad scenes at Appomattox,
and how vivid they seem even now after the lapse of thirty-six
years ! The Thirty-second Regiment, now reduced to a mere
handful, a skeleton of its former self, arrived at the village
of Appomattox Court House shortly before daylight on that
fateful Sunday, 9 April, and after a brief halt, joined in
that last memorable charge, driving the enemy nearly a mile.
But all in vain, for they were soon ordered back and in a
short time it was sadly whispered that General Lee had sur-
rendered. This could scarcely be believed at first, and when
it was ascertained to be true, strong men wept, and hattle-
scarred veterans trembled with emotion too deep for utter-
ance.

That afternoon General John B. Gordon made a speech to
the troops assembled in a hollow square. On Wednesday
morning our little band started home, and the Thirty-second
Regiment ceased to exist, but the memory of its gallantry, its
glorious record, and its heroic deeds should live forever !

Heney a. London.

PiTTSBOKO, N. C,

9 April, 1901.

THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT.

1. Lawrence O'B. Branch, Colonel. 4. Jas. A. Weston, Major.

2. Clark Moulton Avery, Colonel. B. Richard B. Baker, Surgeon.

3. Joseph H. Saunders. Lieut-Colonel. 6. Thomas W. Mayhew, Major

7. Jas. A. Summers, Captain. Co. A.

THIRTY THIRD REQIMENT.

By major J. A. WESTON.

The Thirty-third Kegiment was organized at the old fair
grounds at Ealeigh, in September, 1861. It was a war regi-
ment from the beginning, and not a twelve months' volunteer.
The Field and Staff Officers during its service were as fol-
lows:

Colonels — Lawrence O'Brien Branch, Clark M. Avery,
Robert V. Cowan.

Lieutenant-Colonels — Clark M. Avery, Robert F.
Hoke, Robert V. Cowan, Joseph H. Saunders.

Majors — Robert F. Hoke, William Gaston Lewis, Robert
V. Cowan, Thomas W. Mayhew, Joseph H. Saunders, James
A. Weston.

Adjutants — Spier Whitaker, John Poteat.

Ensigns — Daniel W. Moore, James W. Atkinson.

Seegeants-Majoe — ^W. H. Angeilnan, William H. Gib-
son.

Captains^ A. Q. M. — Joseph A. Engelhard, John R. Sud-
derth, John Poteat.

Captains, A. C. S. — Adolphus Gibson, Dr. R. A. Hauser.

Quaetermastee-Seegeant — Francis A. Butner.

Commissary Sergeants — John P. Nicholson, Edward W.
Burgess.

Surgeons — Dr. Richard B. Baker, Dr. J. F. Shaffner, Dr.
E. G. Higginbotham.

Assistant Surgeon — Dr. John A. Vigal.

Chaplain — T. J. Eatman.

Ordnance Sergeant — John S. Midyett.

Hospital Stewards — Dr. Sylvester D. Davis, Dr. John
P. ISTicholson.

Musicians — Edwin 0. Dull, Chief Musician; Lewis A.
Hartman, Will N. Butner, Reuben J. Crater, Oliver J. Legh-

538 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

man, Eobert M. Jones, Yirgil P. Miller, Wiley 0. Parker,
Levin J. Stripe, John A. Williard, William Williford, Gib-
son L. Miller, Eobert F. Watson, John A. Kimbrough. A
most useful body of men. They were accomplished musi-
cians, and in addition to their regular duties, which they per-
formed faithfully, they rendered from time to time, as cir-
cumstances required, very efficient aid in the Hospital De-
partment.

The regiment ^^^as composed of the following companies :

CoMPAiTT A — Iredell County — Captains: Eobert V.
Cowan, Joseph H. Saunders, Henry H. Baker, James A.
Summers ; First Lieutenants : George Gibson, Hugo A. Hill,
Joseph H. Saunders, Henry H. Baker, James A. Summers,
Wilson H. Lucas, transferred from Company F; Second
Lieutenants : Hugh A. Hill, Joseph H. Saunders, Henry H.
Baker, Philemon H. Sasser, Hugo A. Hill, James A. Sum-
mers, Columbus L. Turner, Thomas A. Cowan, M. Whaler.

non-commissioned ofpicbes.

Sergeants — Hugo A. Hill, James A. Summers, Isaac A.
Barrett.

Coepoeals — David P. Kelly, David Troutman, Columbus
L. Turner.

Company B — Edgecombe Covnty — Captains: Frederick
H. Jenkins, Theophilus C. Hyman, Eichard H. Gatlin,
Thomas H. Gatlin, Ebenezer Price ; First Lieutenants : The-
ophilus C. Hyman, Eichard H. Gatlin, Thomas H. Gatlin,
Harrison P. Lyon ; Second Lieutenants : Eichard H. Gatlin,
Francis D. Foxhall, Thomas H. Gatlin, Peyton T. Anthony,
Harrison P. Lyon, Lewis H. Lawrence.

non-commissioned offioees.

Seegeants — Levi H. Purvis, Bervin Stevenson, James H.
Jenkins, Weldon S. Hunt, W. Benely.

Coepoeals — Thomas L. May, William C. Davenport, Wil-
liaim F. Horde, John Andrews.

Company C — Cabarrus County — Captains: Jeremiah M.
Kestler, David M. Cozine, John D. Fain; First Lieuten-

Thirty-Thied Regiment. 539

ants : John A. Gibson, Thomas J. Moore, Francis B. Craige ;
Second Lieutenants: William A. Patterson, David M. Co-
zine, William J. Kriminger, Willoughby F. Avery, L. R.
Koss, Solomon Stoup, William H. Gibson, Alvis B. Howard.

KTOIT-COMMISSIONED OFFICEES.

Seegeants^L. R. Ross, Daniel M. Moore, Solomon
Stoup, Joseph A. Patterson.

CoEPOBALS — William J. Kriminger, Alexander L. Myers,
Jefferson Pile, Joseph P. Misenheimer.

Company D — Wilkes County — Captains : Oliver T. Parks,
James M. Hunt; First Lieutenants: James M. Hunt, John
W. Happoldt ; Second Lieutenants : Major F. Joines, Thomas
J. Pender, G. W. Weaver, W. T. Mclntyre.

NOlSr-COMMISSIONED OFFICEES.

Seegeants — G. W. Weaver, James Lane, Rufus Love,
Wesley Duncan, F. C. Pardew.

CoEPOEALS — John Childers, B. F. Gamble, Jonathan
Darnell, Thomas Brook.

Company E — Gates County — Captains: William T. Par-
ker, George W. Sanderlin; First Lieutenants: Riddick Gat-
ling, Joseph D. Boushall, Lewis H. Babb; Second Lieuten-
ants: Joseph D. Boushall, Williattn K. Babb, John C. E.
Cooper, John Caldwell, Exum Lewis.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICEES.

Seegeants — Joseph D. Boushall, William K. Babb,
George W. Sanderlin, Lewis H. Babb, John C. E. Cooper.

CoEPOEALS — Haunce Hays, William Brinkley.

Company F — Hyde County — Captains : Thomas W. May-
hew, James A. Weston ; First Lieutenants : James A. Weston,
James W. Gibbs; Second Lieutenants: James W. Gibbs,
Samuel C. Watson, Joseph Swindell, Joseph W. Tate, trans-
ferred from Nineteenth Regiment.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICEES.

Seegeants — Wilson H. Lucas, Joseph Swindell, William
T. Farrow, Robert F. Watson, Robert Jennett.

540 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

CoEPOBALS — Benjamin W. Eastwood, Joseph B. Gibbs,
Timothy A. Murray, Samuel S. Gibbs.

Company G — Cumberland County — Captains: Robert
Wooten, John D. Callais, William J. Callais ; First Lieuten-
ants: John D. Callais, William J. Callais, Joseph C. Mills,
John F. McDonald ; Second Lieutenants : Eichard F. Eppes,
William H. Massey, John W. Wooten, William J. Callais,
Joseph C. Mills, John F. McDonald.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

Sehgeants — John F. McDonald, Lewis A. Nixon, David
Bone, John C. Davis, J. J. Phillips.

CoBPOEALs — John Bradshaw, Evans A. Cannady, Lewis
H. Moore, John McNate.

Company H — Hyde County — Captains: William M. B.
Swindell, Eiddick Gatling ; First Lieutenants : Wilson T.
Farrow, George W. Sanderlin, Isaac L. Farrow; Second
Lieutenants: John W. Williams, James W. Hayes, Isaac L.
Farrow, George W. Sanderlin, F. T. Lehman, George H.
Snow, William E. Carawan.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

Sergeants — Isaac L. Farrow, William E. Carawan,
Caleb S. Boomer, William Emory, William Gaskill.

CoBPOEALs — G. W. Jackson, T. W. Guthrie, Edward Gas-
kins, T. W. Williams.

Company I — Forsyth County — Captains: George C.
Stowe, Willoughby F. Avery, transferred from Company C ;
George W. Sanderlin ; First Lieutenants : Eobert H. Hauser,
John N. Anderson ; Second Lieutenants : John N. Anderson,
B. Y. Eayle, W. Lee White, L. H. Goslin.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICEES.

Sebgeants — W. Lee White, Peyton T. Lehman, Lafay-
ette H. Goslin, James H. Conrad, Edwin C. Dull.

CoEPOEALs — W. W. Anderson, John P. JSTicholson, J. J.
Marshall, William E. Stone.

Company K — Greene County — Captains: Andrew J. Me-

Thirty-Third Regiment. 541

Intyre, Henry F. Granger, James T. Walton ; First Lieuten-
ants: Henry F. Granger, William S. Taylor, Henry J. Mc-
Koy, Jahies T. Walton, John G. Eencher; Second Lieuten-
ants : Allen Croome, William S. Taylor, James T. Walton.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

Seegeants — Henry J. McKoy, William M. Kennedy,
Thomas Q. Dale, Benjamin C. Beaman, Henry S. Taylor.

CoEPOEALS — James Bartlett, Absalom Taylor, Mark P.
Taylor, James S. Hughes.

NEW BEEN.

' After staying several weeks at the fair grounds in Raleigh,
the regiment removed to Camp Mangum, where it remained
until it was ordered to New Bern, in the winter of 1861-'62.
Two companies (B and F) had previously been detached for
special duty in Hyde county, and were, with two companies of
the Seventh Regiment (D. and E), placed under the com-
mand of Major E. D. Hall, of the Seventh. They left Hyde
county in February, 1862, and joined the regiment a few
days later at the fair grounds in ISTew Bern. In the battle
of ISTew Bern 14 March, 1862, the regiment bore a conspicu-
ous part. It did more hard fighting and remained longer on
the field of battle than any other command. The first inti-
mation we had of Burnside's approach was on Wednesday,
the 12th, about 4 p. m. At dark it was reported to General
Branch that "twelve vessels had anchored below the mouth
of Otter creek, and about forty-five were ascending the river
in their rear." The Thirty-third and Seventh Etegiments,
which, with the Nineteenth Regiment (Second Cavalry),
constituted the reserve, crossed the Trent river about
daybreak on Thursday, the 13th, and were placed in
position about two miles from the main line, at a point
where the Atlantic & North Carolina Railroad cuts the
public road from Beaufort. Thursday was spent in
making preparations for the coming fray. The men were
"spoiling fox a fight." They were anxious to feel the fire of
the enemy. During the greater part of the day the Federals
kept up a continuous shelling, but did very little execution.

542 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

Colonel Campbell, of the Seventh, was placed in command
of the right wing. Greneral Burnside, who knew Colonel
Campbell, as they were both graduates of West Point, sent
Colonel Campbell the following message:

"Reub, quit your foolishness, and come back to the Union
army." Colonel Campbell replied:

"Tell General Burnside to go to the devil, where he be-
longs."

Colonel Lee, of the Thirty-seventh, was put in command of
the left wing. General Branch exercised a general superin-
tendence of the whole line, but was in immediate command
of the centre and the reserve. At daybreak on the 14th, the
regiment was up, alert, and eager for the fight. We had
spent a rather uncomfortable night, as it began to rain about
dark, and continued to rain slowly all night. Still, there
were no complaints, no murmurings. Every one seemed to
be anxious to do his duty to his country and to his God. Col-
onel Avery made a short talk to his regiment, full of fire and
patriotism, to which the men responded with the utmost heart-
iness and enthusiasm. A little after 7 o'clock the battle be-
gan. The firing was brisk and continuous between the river
and the railroad, and gradually extended to our right. The
troops between Fort Thompson, on the river, and the railroad
— a distance of one mile — ^were, beginning at Fort Thompson,
the Twenty-seventh ISTorth Carolina, Colonel Gilmer; the
Thirty-seventh North Carolina, Colonel Lee; the Seventh
ISTorth Carolina (which had been ordered to the front line)
temporarily in command of Lieutenant-Colonel Haywood;
the Thirty-fifth North Carolina, Colonel Sinclair, and a
battalion of militia under Colonel H; J. B. Clark. Latham's
Battery was stationed near the Thirty-seventh, and four
pieces of Brem's Battery (Company C, Tenth North Car-
olina) were on the railroad. Between the railroad and
the Weathersby road, on our extreme right, was Colonel
Vance, Twenty-sixth North Carolina Regiment, a com-
pany of unattached infantry, and two dismounted cav-
alry companies, A and E, of the Nineteenth North Caro-
lina (Second Cavalry). Two pieces of Brem's Battery
were stationed on the Weathersby road to guard our

Thirty-Third Regiment. 543

extreme right. The entire force from the railroad to the
Weathersby road — a distance of a mile and a half — numbered
less than 1,000 men. Some portions of the line were wholly
unguarded. General Foster, of the Union army, opened the
battle by a fierce assault upon 'the Confederate left. General
Keno almost at the same time attacked Vance on the right of
the railroad. General Parke was held in reserve near the
railroad. For soone time Foster made little impression upon
our left wing, but Keno, finding a break in the Confederate
line at a brickyard near the railroad, between the militia and
Vance's left, immediately occupied it, and turning to his
right, attacked the militia under Colonel Clark. The militia
fled inglorioxisly from the field. The Thirty-fifth assailed in
flank, "very quickly followed their example." General
Branch and his staff tried hard to rally them, but their utmost
efforts proved unavailing. Meanwhile, the reserve under
Colonel Avery, of the Thirty-third, was ordered to the front,
and, with the left wing of the Twenty-sixth, made a bold and
resolute stand. They kept the enemy in their immediate
front in check for more than three hours. The troops on our
left between the railroad and Fort Thompson had retreated
before an overpowering force and the Federals, pouring into
the gap thus made, had advanced a considerable distance in
our rear before the Thirty-third ceased firing. Indeed, they
ceased firing only when their ammunition was exhausted.
Two couriers dispatched by General Branch to Colonel Avery
ordering him to retreat, had failed to reach him, and the
Thirty-third in maintaining the contest for so long a time
was simply obeying orders.

Colonel Clark, of the Twenty-first Massachusetts Regi-
ment, pays a high compliment to the Thirty-third and Twen-
ty-sixth. In his official report he says: "These two regi-
ments (the Thirty-third and Twenty-sixth) were the best
armed, and fought the most gallantly of any of the enemy's
forces. They kept up an incessant fire for three hours, until
their ammunition was exhausted, and the remainder of the
rebel forces had retreated."

General Branch says: "The conduct of the Thirty-third
was all that I could desire. It moved into action with as

544 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

much promptness and steadiness as I ever saw in its ranks
on dress parade, and its fire, with Eiifield rifles, was terrific.
Colonel Avery, Lieutenant-Colonel Hoke and Major Lewis
did their duty fully against an overwhelming force. Its gal-
lant Colonel was captured at his post."

There were many instances of private bravery and devo-
tion. Lieutenant-Colonel Hoke says : "Private David Phi-
f er, of Cdmpany A, was killed while carrying a message from
Major Lewis to Colonel Avery, and Private Dolchite, of the
same company, threw away his clothing in order to swim the
creek and save his gun. He is a boy 16 years of age."

In this battle the Federals had at least 12,000 men (Gen-
eral Branch says 13,000, with a reserve of 7,000) and the
Confederates had not more than 4,000. It was a severe en-
gagement. The casualties in the Thirty-third were as fol-
lows : Killed, 32 ; wounded, 28 ; prisoners, 144. The losses
were unusually heavy. Oiir regiment lost about three times
as many in killed and wounded as any other regiment that
was engaged in the battle. Some of our bravest and best
men found bloody graves in their first and only battle.

Among the killed were William Palmer, John M. Shuler,
Samuel Whitaker, Company A; John H. P. Bryan, Riley
Bullock, Wiley Whitley, Company B ; Charles R. Carter,
Cotapany E ; Samuel E. Weston, Oliver S. Neal, William H.
Sadler, Company F; J. W. Faircloth, William McDonald,
D. Reynolds, Company G ; George W. Griffin, Peter T. Lein-
bach, Company I; Robert Turnage, Sergeant Benjamin C.
Beaman, Company K. Noble men. They died facing the en-
emy.

After the battle of New Bern the Thirty-third Regiment,
with the other troops, fell back to Kinston. All of the troops
at Kinston were subsequently thrown into two brigades. The
First Brigade was commanded by General Robert Ransom,
and the Second by General Branch. The Seventh, Eigh-
teenth, Twenty-eighth, Thirty-third, and Thirty-seventh
Regiments were assigned to the Second Brigade, 31 March,
1862. The brigade retained this name until it went to Vir-
ginia. It was then called the Fourth Brigade until the War
Department ordered the brigades to be designated by the

Thirty-Third Regiment. 545

names of their cominanders. It was thereafter called
Branch's Brigade until the death of General Branch at
Sharpsburg, 17 September, 1862, and thenceforth was Lane's
Brigade.

The Twenty-eighth Eegiment left for Virginia 2 May,
1862. The Thirty-third, with the other regiments of the
brigade, followed two days later, reaching Gordonsvillc 5
May, at night. The regiment remained there about ten days.
It was then ordered to join Jackson in the valley, but it went
no farther than the foot of the Blue Ridge. "The brigade,"
says General Lane, "was marched backwards and forwards
between the foot of the mountains and a little town called
Criglersville to deceive the enemy whose signal station was in
full view, and whose flag was kept constantly waving during
the day." The brigade was suddenly ordered back to Gor-
donsville, and from that point it was moved quickly to Hano-
ver Court House, where it stayed a short time, doing picket
duty in the neighborhood.

SLASH CHUECH.

May 26th, the regiment was marched to Slash Church, or
Hanover Court House. The mud, in places, was almost knee
deep, and the weather extremely disagreeable, but the men
were cheerful and confident. The battle of Hanover Court
House was fought 27 May. The Confederate" forces engaged
were Branch's Brigade, the Twelfth North Carolina, Colonel
Wade; Forty-fifth Georgia, Colonel Hardeman — two regi-
ments temporarily attached to Branch's Brigade — and La-
tham's North Carolina Battery, which had arrived the day
before the battle. This battery was far from being in prime
condition. The horses were altogether untrained, and there
were not half enough men to serve the guns efficiently.
Still it did magnificent work. The Thirty-third, under Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Hoke, rendered admirable service, and added
no little to the fighting reputation it had already acquired.
The Twenty-eighth Regiment also won imperishable laurels
in this engagement by hard fighting and by a skillful retreat,
though cut off from the remainder of the brigade. General
McDowell was expected to reinforce McClellan in his opera-
35

546 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

tions around Eichmond, but General Branch "stood in tlie
-way for an adversary against him," and the Federal com-
mander resolved to crush him at a single blovi^. On the 27th
General Fitz John Porter moved against the Confederate
force with his right wing, numbering about 12,000 men,
while Branch had about 4,000. But never did troops behave
better. Branch's resistance was so obstinate and his move-
ments so masterly that we are not surprised at the statement
of General Porter, made the day after the battle, that
"Branch's force comprised about 8,000 men" — nor at the be-
wilderment of General Webb, who, writing as late as 1881,
says: "Branch's command must have been about 10,000
strong." In his congTatulatory address to his brigade. Gen-
eral Branch says : "At Slash Church you encountered the
division of General Porter and a part of the division of Gen-
eral Sedgwick. You repulsed the enemy's attack, and boldly
advancing attacked him with such vigor that after six hours'
combat you withdrew in perfect order to prevent being sur-
rounded in the night — the enemy not daring to follow you be-
yond the field of battle."

General Lee wrote to General Branch: "The report of
your recent engagement with the enemy at Slash Church has
been forwarded by Major-General Hill. I take great pleas-
ure in expressing my approval of the manner in which you
have discharged the duties of the position in which you were
placed, and of the gallant manner your troops opposed a very
superior force of the enemy. I beg you will signify to the
troops of your command which were engaged on that occa-
sion my hearty approval of their conduct."

The brigade lost in killed and wounded 243, officers and
men. After the battle of Slash Church, the regiment went
into camp on the right bank of the Chickahominy, some dis-
tance above Seven Pines, on the Brook turnpike, about three
miles from Eichmond, and did picket duty until the begin-
ning of the seven days' fights around Eichmond. About this
time Branch's Brigade was assigned to General A. P. Hill's
Division, and thus became a part of the justly famed "Light
Division" of Stonewall Jackson's Corps. 25 June the
regiment was ordered to be ready to move, with three days'

Thirty-Third Regiment. 547

rations, at 5 p. m. Five companies ■which were doing picket
duty at Crenshaw Bridge, were under the command of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Hoke; the remaining five were in charge of
Major Cowan, and marched with the brigade, which was
ordered to cross the river at the Telegraph bridge. On Thurs-
day, 26 June, General Branch, having deceived the enemy as
to his purpose, by masking his troops in the woods, crossed
the Chickahominy at 11 a. m. — the first brigade to cross —
and moved down the river to drive the enemy from his works,
so as to allow the remainder of the division to cross. We
had some brisk skirmishing with the enemy, but not much
hard fighting. We found overcoats, blankets, cooking uten-
sils, etc., scattered promiscuously along the route. Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Hoke, with his five companies, joined us about 1
p. m. We marched to Mechanicsville, reaching that point
about an hour before dark, under a most galling fire of shot
and shell. About 10 p. m. the firing ceased, and the regi-
ment rested upon its arms. Early the next morning (the
27th) the fight was resumed. General D: H. Hill flanked
the Federals and they fled, leaving everything behind them —
shoes, hats, canteens, haversacks, etc. About 12 m. we were
ordered to march in the direction of Gaines' Mill, on the
Chickahominy. We reached Gaines' Mill about 4 p. m.,
during the progress of a severe engagement, and were imme-
diately ordered to the front, where we remained four hours,
driving the enemy a distance of two miles. This fight was
hotly contested, and the Thirty-third deserves high praise for
the vigor and firmness with which it attacked the enemy and
dislodged him from his intrenchments.

Here Colonel Campbell, of the Seventh, was killed, while
proudly leading his men into action with the regismental
colors in his hands. General Branch says of him: "He
might justly be classed among the ^bravest of the brave.'
* * * Honorable as a man and skillful as an officer, his
loss to the brigade is irreparable."

During the hottest part of the fight at Cold Harbor an
amusing incident occurred. Colonel Lane, of the Twenty-
eighth (afterwards General Lane) was struck on the head by
a minie ball. Coolly stopping, he turned to Sergeant Mil-

548 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

ton A. Lowe, his color-bearer, and, bending down his head,
said with the utmost sang froid, "Sergeant, is my scalp cut ?"
Sergeant Lowe, as brave and as cool as General Lane himself,
examined his head carefully, and said: "No, Colonel, it is
only scorched a little."

feasee's faem.

On the 28th we were not engaged. The enemy had been
driven across the Chickahominy, and we were ordered to be
ready, with two days' rations to march at daylight the next
morning. On the 29th we recrossed the river and marched
down James river a distance of twelve or fifteen miles. On
the 30th the regiment again moved down the river and about
3 p. m., the presence of the enemy was made known to us by a
heavy firing of shot and shell. We were instantly ordered to
the fighting line. The men moved into action at a double
quick with deafening yells, across an open field — a distance
of 500 yards — with no protection whatever. The enemy's
batteries were strongly supported by infantry, and they kept
up a deadly and incessant fii-e. It was one continuous roar.
Besides, we were enfiladed by a merciless fire of artillery-
But nothing could stop the Confederates. On they pressed
with determined treatd, with unfaltering purpose, regardless
of the fire in front or on the flank, resolved to win the victory,
or fill a gory grave. The enemy soon yielded the field, and
we pursued them nearly a mile. This was the battle of Era-
ser's Farm.

1 July we remained quiet until 6 p. m., at which time we
were ordered to march to the support of General D. H. Hill
at Malvern Hill. In this fight we were not engaged, but
were under a continuous and heavy fire of shot and shell.
2 and 3 July we pursued the enemy, but his speed was so
great we found it was impossible to overtake him. We then
bivouacked for several days, but the enemy did not disturb
us. Lieutenant-Colonel Hoke said: "I am proud of the
Thirty-third."

At Fraser's Farm, Colonel Lee, of the Thirty-Seventh,
was killed. He was an excellent man, and an accomplished
officer. In a congratulatory order, General Branch says:

Thirty-Third Regiment. 549

"In the late brilliant operations below Eichmond, you were
the first brigade to cross the Chiokahominy, you were the first
to meet the enemy, and the first to start him on that retreat in
which the able combinations of our General-in-Chief allowed
him to take no rest until he found shelter under the guns of
his shipping."

General Porter, of the Federal army, bears this testimony
to the valor and staying qualities of Branch's Brigade, and
the other brigades of the peerless "Light Division :" "Dash-
ing across the intervening plains, floundering in the swamps,
struggling against the tangled brushwood, brigade after brig-
ade seemed to melt away before the concentrated fire of our
artillery and infantry ; yet others pressed on, followed by sup-
ports as dashing and as brave as their predecessors."

In obedience to orders, the names of the following engage-
ments were inscribed on the battle flag of the Thirty-third, to-
wit : New Bern, Slash Church, Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill,
Fraser's Farm and Malvern Hill. The casualties in the last
four battles were: Killed, 8; wounded, 52. Malvern Hill
was a death trap. McClellan's entire army was concentrated
there. The position was one of great natural strength and it
was rendered almost impregnable by military genius of the
highest order. The hand of a master in the art of war was
everywhere visible. Still, it could have been taken if the
Confederate troops had moved simultaneouly against it. But
they did not, though they fought with dauntless spirit and
bravery. They failed, and McClellan escaped. The war
might have ended at Malvern Hill.

CEDAR ETJN.

After the battles around Richmond the brigade encamped
near that city for a short time, and was then sent to Gordons-
ville (29 July) at which place it remained until a few days be-
fore the battle of Cedar Run, which was fought 9 August.
The march to the battlefield was rapid and exhausting. We
reached there on the afternoon of the 9th, and were immedi-
ately ordered into action on the left of the road leading to
the run. The order of formation from right to left was as
follows: Thirty-seventh — its right resting on the road —

550 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Twenty-eighth, Thirty-third, Eighteenth and Seventh. Four
of the regiments, Thirty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, Thirty-third
and Eighteenth, moved briskly forward through a tangled un-
dergrowth, in perfect order, as on dress parade, and com-
pletely routed the enemy. The Seventh by some means be-
came detachd from the brigade, and did not advance with
the other regiments. While moving to the front we met the
celebrated Stonewall Brigade, retreating in some confusion —
General Branch says, "fleeing as fast as they could" — closely
followed by the enemy. Our brigade coolly opened ranks to
allow the fugitives to pass, then closing up in compact line
pressed gallantly on, in nowise disturbed by the terror-
stricken cries of the runaways, or by the fire of the enemy in
front. The enettny had already flanked General Taliaferro's
Brigade which was on our right, and which had fallen back
in considerable disorder.

General Branch says: "My brigade poured volley after
volley into the enemy who broke and fled precipi-
tately through the woods and across the field." The
Federal cavalry now made a gallant charge upon Tal-
iaferro's Brigade, which had partially rallied after
Branch had driven the enemy from their flank, but the com-
bined fire of Taliaferro in front and Branch on the flank,
broke up the column, and sent it flying bads to the rear. Gen-
eneral Branch wrote: "My officers and men behaved flnely.
Such was their steadiness that I was able to preserve my line
unbroken throughout the day." There can be no doubt what-
ever that this victory was mainly due tO' the courage, firm-
ness and endurance of Branch's Brigade. The Stonewall
Brigade and Taliferro's were simply broken in pieces, and
the enemy, with loud and confident cheers, was driving them
pell-mell before him. "At this critical moment," says Gen-
eral Jackson, "Branch's Brigade met the Federal forces,
flushed with temporary triumph, and drove them back with
terrible slaughter through the woods." General A. P. Hill
says: "Winder's (Stonewall's) Brigade, immediately in
front of Branch, being hard pressed, broke, and many fugi-
tives came back. Branch was immediately ordered forward,
and passing through the broken brigade, checked the pur-

THIKTY-THIRD REGIMENT.

1. John D. Fain, Captain, Co. C. 4. Willou(rhby F. Avery, Captain, Co I

2. Oliver T. Parks, Captain, Co. D. 6. Spier Whitalier, 1st Lieut, and Adit'

3. Josepti C. Mills, Captain. Co. G. 6. Francis B. Craige, 1st Lieut., Co C

7. Wilson T. Farrow, 1st Lieut., Co. H.

Thirty-Third Regiment. 551

suit, and in turn drove them back and relieved Taliaferro's
flank." General Jackson appeared in our front after the
battle was over and was most enthusiastically cheered. Sut-
ton, historian of the Eighteenth, says : "General Jackson rode
out in front of our brigade, and 'dropped' his hat in silent ac-
knowledgment of our deed in holding so important a point,
which the old Stonewall Brigade had failed to do." It was
a grand sight — Stonewall Jackson the Great, baring his sun-
crowned head in our presence, l^o one that saw it can ever
forget it. What a theme for a painter.

One is reminded of an incident given in Taylor's "De-
struction and Keconstruction." General Jackson, at the
beginning of a battle placed his servant, Jack, at a point
which the General thought would be safe from the enemy's
fire, and told him to stay there. The enemy, however, unex-
pectedly attacked the place where Jack was, but Jack never
stirred, although bullets were raining thick and fast around
him. At night, while, sitting around the camp fire. General
Jackson rose, went to Jack, and, taking him by the hand,
shook it for a long time, without saying a word, in "silent ac-
knowledgment" of his heroic deed. At Cedar Run we had
six killed and thirty wounded. Here was killed Captain
Swindell, of Company H. He possessed high soldierly qual-
ities, and was greatly beloved by his company and regiment.
12 to 20 August we were encamped near Orange Court
House. Sunday, 24 August, the Thirty-third and Twenty-
eighth were ordered to support Braxton's and Davidson's Bat-
teries, in order to prevent, if possible, the destruction of the
bridge across the Rappahannock, near the Warrenton White
Sulphur Springs. The two regiments were exposed to a
severe and protracted cannonade during the whole day. 27
August we marched to Manassas Junction. Soon after we
reached that place the enemy was seen approaching in line of
battle. It proved to be Taylor's ISTew Jersey Brigade. We
laid a trap for them, but our artillery fired too soon, and we
failed to capture them. As soon as the artillery opened upon
them the entire command broke and fled precipitately. We
pursued them some distance beyond Bull Run. We captured
a large number of prisoners. On our march to Manassas

552 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

Junction we had nothing to eat but roasting ears, and we
inarched so fast that we were told by an artillerist that if we
went much farther, the battery would be left behind, as Jack-
son's "foot cavalry" had broken down the horses. On the
28th at Manassas Plains, the Thirty-third helped to support
a battery in an open field with no cover and it rendered very
efficient service. On the 29th the brigade moved to the sup-
port of General Gregg, who was in the woods on our right.
The Thirty-third was next to the Twenty-eighth, which was
on the extreme left, and it fought splendidly. General Lane
says : "The Thirty-third under Colonel Hoke fought well in
the woods, and once gallantly advanced into the open field in
front, and drove the enemy back in disorder." This was
a terrific fight. General Lane says: "Never have I wit-
nessed greater bravery and desperation than were that day
displayed by this brigade." There were many hand-to-hand
fights.

30 August, the Thirty-third was ^mder a furious artil-
lery fire, and was engaged in heavy skirmishing. Regimen-
tal loss, 1 killed, 7 wounded. The Thirty-third was in the
engagement at Ox Hill, near Fairfax Court House 1 Sep-
tember, and fought with its usual intrepidity. This was one
of the severest engagements of the war. It rained heavily
during the entire battle. We used every round of ammuni-
tion, but General Branch ordered us to hold our positions at
the point of the bayonet. We did so until dark, when the
brigade fell back to the field in rear of the woods. The Fed-
eral infantry used a great many explosive balls. Regimental
loss, 1 killed, 16 wounded. General Branch writes: "I
would not have believed without actual experience that flesh,
blood and muscle could stand what we have stood — ^marching,
fighting and starving, almost incessantly night and day. l^o
brigade in the service has been in as many battles, and done
so much hard service as mine." 3 September we marched
through Leesburg, crossed the Potomac on the 5 th and
reached Frederick City on the 6th, where we remained sev-
eral days.

Thirty-Third Regiment. 553

haepee's feeet.

The first day after we crossed the Potomac General Jack-
son ordered General Branch to send his men into a corn field
near by to fill their haversacks with roasting ears. JTo second
order was given. We recrossed the Potomac at Williamsport,
and on the evening of the 14:th marched down the Winchester
and Harper's Ferry road, and that night routed the enemy
from the cliffs of the Shenandoah. The next morning found
us on the flank, and in rear of Bolivar Heights, where the en-
emy were plainly visible in their works. Loudon Heights
were occupied by Walker's Division, and Maryland Heights
by McLaw's, thus completely investing the place. Our ar-
tillery opened a terrific fire upon the enemy. In the morn-
ing of the 15th several white flags were displayed, and we
marched in and took possession without further resistance.
We remained at Harper's Ferry and witnessed the surrender
of 11,000 men, who marched out and stacked arms in rear of
the works on Bolivar Heights. On 17 September we made a
rapid and exhausting march to Sharpsburg, reaching that
point in the afternoon at 3 :30 o'clock, in time to take an ac-
tive part in the fight. Without a moment's rest, though we
had marched seventeen miles almost at a double quick. Gen-
eral Branch moved into line of battle, and fought with a cour-
age and tenacity rarely equalled, and never surpassed. Branch,
Gregg ap.d Archer saved General Lee on that day from an
overwhelming defeat. General Longstreet says that General
Burnside was outflanked, staggered and driven back by
the gallant and crushing attack of A. P. Hill's Brigades.
General A. P. Hill writes : "With a yell of defiance. Archer
charged them, retook Mcintosh's guns, and drove them back,
pell-mell. Branch and Gregg, with their old veterans,
sternly held their ground, and pouring in destructive volleys,
the tide of tlie enemy surged back." Here the South sus-
tained an irreparable loss in the death of General Branch.
"He had with his command," says Major John Hughes, "just
swept the enemy before him, and driven them in such confu-
sion and dismay, that all firing had ceased in his immediate
front, when Generals Gregg and Archer directed his attention

554 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

to a V-shaped column of the enemy that was advancing against
the troops on his left. He stepped forward and formed with
these Generals a little group, which evidently attracted the
attention of some sharpshooter on the other side. For, just
as he was raising his glasses to his eyes, a single shot was
fired, and a bullet was sent to do its deadly work, which,
striking him in the right cheek, passed out back of his left
ear, and he fell dying into the arms of the faithful and gal-
lant Major Englehard, of his staff, than whom ISTorth Caro-
lina sent no truer man to the front. His death was regarded
as a public calamity."

He was the truest of patriots. He loved his country with
deathless affection, and there was no sacrifice, however great,
that he would not have made for the good of his people. His
moral power was very great. Like Sir Galahad, his "strength
was as the strength of ten because his heart was pure."

At the time of his death General Branch was one of the
ablest and most accomplished soldiers of his rank in either
army — Union or Confederate. He would have honored and
advanced any position within the gift of the Confederate
Government. General A. P. Hill, his immediate superior,
says of him :

"The Confederacy has to mourn the loss of a gallant soldier
and an accomplished gentleman, who fell at the head of his
brigade, Brigadier-General L. O'B. Branch, of North Caro-
lina. He was my senior brigadier, and one to whom I could
have entrusted the command of the division with all confi-
dence." His men loved him and almost idolized him. He
died as a soldier would wish to die, facing the enemy, in the
discharge of his duty. Had he not been killed, he would un-
doubtedly have been appointed a Major-General.

SHAEPSBITEG.

Sharpsburg was a battle of almost unprecedented severity.
No action, perhaps, was ever more keenly debated. The
fierce vigor and determination evinced by both sides was due
to the finding by the enemy of General Lee's celebrated order
No. 191, known as the "Lost Dispatch," which revealed to

Thirty-Third Regiment. 555

McClellan General Lee's plans in detail, conveyed other im-
portant information, and caused blood to flow like water.
McOlellan promptly availed himself of the knowledge thus
gained, and put his army in motion "to cut the enemy in two
and beat him in detail." Was the order lost at Lee's head-
quarters ? Or did the courier lose it ? Was there careless-
ness ? Or was there treason ? God only knows. It is cer-
tain General D. H. Hill himself did not lose the order. Lee's
loss at Sharpsburg almost exceeds belief. It amounted to
nearly one-third of his army. Regimental loss, 3 killed, 16
wounded.

After the death of General Branch, Colonel Lane, of the
Twenty-eighth, assumed command of the brigade. On the
18th the brigade was not engaged. The Federals had been
so roughly handled that they were glad enough to let us
alone. That night (the 18th) and the following morning
we crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown. Branch's Bri-
gade (Lane), Archer's and Gregg's constituting the rear
guard, were the last to cross, and were shelled as they reached
the Virginia shore. These brigades maintained their ground
until every wagon and every ambulance had crossed, and
Lane's rescued some wounded Georgia soldiers whom the
men of their own command had basely deserted.

The battle of Shepherdstown was fought 20 September. We
were ordered to support Pender, who, with Gregg and
Thomas, was in the front line. Lane, learning that Pender's
Brigade was flanked, on its left, moved rapidly to the
left, unmasked Pender and routed the enemy from the
field. We pursued them, drove them precipitately
into the river where many of them were drowned, and
held our position until dark, although we were furiously
shelled during the entire day. It was altogether an infantry
fight on our side, as owing to the nature of the ground General
Hill could not use his artillery. The weather was extremely
hot, and the sufferings of the men were great. Regimental
loss, 10 wounded. After the battle of Shepherdstown we went
into camp near Snicker's Gap, and subsequently, near Win-
chester. By command of General Jackson in person we
marched to Hedgesville, and tore up a large portion of the

556 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

track of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Colonel Lane was
appointed Brigadier-General 1 JSTovember, 1862, and was as-
signed to Branch's Brigade, which he had commanded since
the death of General Branch.

FEEDEKICKSBUEG.

22 JSTovember we left Winchester, crossed the Bine Ridge
with the remainder of Jackson's Corps, and took part in the
battle of Fredericksburg on 13 December. The Thirty-third
Regiment occupied a position on the railroad, in the centre of
the brigade, the Twenty-eighth and Thirty-scYenth being on
its right and the Eighteenth and Seventh on its left. That
morning while getting ready to march to our unfortified posi-
tion on the railroad. General Jackson suddenly appeared in
our front with his cap pulled down over his forehead, almost
hiding his eyes. The troops cheered him wildly. He gave
us a sharp, searching, but not unkindly look, raised his cap,
and rode rapidly on. His eyes seemed to be on fire, sO' eager
was he for the fray. On the right of Lane was Archer, whose
right rested on Hamilton's Heights. Lane's Brigade was
thrown forward a little, and was therefore the first to feel the
shock of the enemy. Pender was on our left, but somewhat
in the rear. About 1 p. m. the fog lifted, and the enemy in
overwhelming numbers could be plainly seen, making vigor-
ous preparations for the attack. In a short time they began
to advance under a terrific shelling of the Confederate bat-
teries. They were staggered by the murderous fire of our ar-
tillery, but soon recovering, pressed bravely on. Our picket
line retired slowly and in perfect order before the enemy.
Captain Riddick Gatling, who was in charge of the picket
line, was complimented for the bravery and coolness which he
displayed. A high hill was in our immediate front, about 75
yards distant, which hid the advancing enemy from our view.
Colonel Avery asked General Lane, who was in the edge of
the wood, about 50 yards in our rear, if he might advance his
regiment to the brow of the hill, so as to anticipate the en-
emy's attack. General Lane replied: "ISTo, Colonel, hold
your position at all hazards." The enemy came surging on,
firing rapidly, the balls falling thick and fast around us, but

Thirty-Thikd Regiment. 557

we were unable, on account of the hill, to return the fire. In
a few moments the enemy reached the top of the hill, and the
Thirty-third poured into them a well-directed and destructive
volley. Considerable confusion was observed in their ranks,
and we thought they were about to retreat ; but they reformed
and started again, the Confederates meanwhile keeping up a
continuous and deadly fire. The enenny's line was broken
in several places, and Colonel Avery ordered a charge, but
not being supported, and seeing that our brigade was fianked
on the right, he was compelled, in obedience to instructions,
slowly to fall back; to the wood in our rear. We re-formed,
and again attacking the enemy, drove them back over the
railroad and re-established our line. On our right, between
Lane and Archer, was a miry swamp about 200 yards wide,
which was left without any protection whatever, General
Hill doubtless thinking the place was impenetrable. But de-
termined men can go anywhere, and the Federals went
straight through this swamp, shouting and yelling like mad-
men. At the other end of the swamp they came upon Gregg's
Brigade, which was intended as a support to Lane. They
surprised it completely, and killed General Gregg in the
melee. About dark we were ordered to move quietly to the
railroad. We formed a line of battle on the railroad near the
spot we had occupied in the morning. The orders were whis-
pered down the line, and we were directed to make as little
noise as possible. We remained in that position about half
an hour, expecting every moment to be ordered forward. We
then moved back to the woods, a little in our rear, and biv-
ouacked for the night. The next morning Major Englehard
rode over to the Thirty-third to inquire about his friends, of
whom he had many in that regiment. I saw him coming on
his white horse, and I walked out about thirty yards from
the regiment to meet him. "Major," said I, "what was the
meaning of that movement yesterday about dark?" "Well,"
said he, "I will tell you. It was General Lee's intention to
make a night attack. A council of war was held in the af-
ternoon, at which General Jackson strongly advocated a night
attack, but most of the Generals violently opposed it. Gen-
eral Lee finally decided to make it, and orders were issued to

558 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

that effect. But the Generals opposed to the night attack
persuaded General Lee to call a second council of war, and
in that council General Jackson was overruled, and the or-
ders were countermanded. General Hoke — than whom, (if
we except Lee and Jackson) there was no more gallant nor
skillful officer in either army — assures me that Jackson did
wish to make a night attack; that he (Hoke) received orders
to that effect, and had begun to execute them, when he was re^
called from the field. JSTotwithstanding all denials, emanating
from high sources, the proof is unquestionable and decisive.
The testimony of Dr. Hunter McGuire puts the matter be-
yond all dispute. Dr. McGuire says : "At Fi'edericksburg,
after Burnside's repulse, Jackson asked me how many hand-
ages I had. I told him, and asked why he wanted to know.
He said that he wanted to have a piece of white cloth to tie
on each man's arm so that his soldiers might recognize each
other in a night attack, and he asked to be allowed to make
such an attack, and drive his foe into the river or capture
him. Subsequent events demonstrated that he knew the state
of things within the hostile lines, and would have accom-
plished his purpose." It is now well known that the Fed-
eral army was utterly demoralized, and that Jackson would-
have captured or destroyed it. As Napoleon was fond of say-
ing— "not a man of them would have escaped." The casu-
alties in the regiment were 9 killed, 32 wounded. After this
great battle we went into winter quarters at Moss Neck, below
Fredericksburg and did picket duty on the Rappahannock.
The Federals were on the opposite side of the river, and we
could easily hear their brass bands playing their national airs.
The winter was severe, and the roads almost impassable. We
helped to "pole" them, and put them in good condition. Gen-
eral Jackson's headquarters were near the Thirty-third Eeg-
iment.

One fine morning. Lieutenant Morrison, one of Jackson's
aides, came over to the Thirty-third and said to Captain Wil-
loughby Avery, "General Jackson is walking about his tent
this morning like a caged lion. The Yankee music across
the Rappahannock greatly annoys him." "Napoleon," he

Thirty-Third Regiment. 559

says, "would not have permitted this. The enemy ought to
be driven into the Potomac."

CHANCELLOESVILLE.

While at Moss l^eek General Lane was presented with a
sword and General's sash, and a fine saddle and bridle, the
gift of the officers of the Brigade, as a slight testimonial of
their esteem. Colonel Barber, of the Thirty-seventh, pre-
sented them in a neat and graceful speech.

In April, 1863, the enemy began to make demonstrations
in our front, and we were ordered to occupy the second line
of works near Hamilton's Crossing. 1 May the brigade
was in the famous flank march to Chancellor sville.
At night we formed line of battle not far from that
place throwing forward a heavy line of skirmishers. The
next day (2d) about dark we were ordered to advance to the
front for a night attack. Jackson had swept the Federals
before him like a whirlwind and he was anxious to complete
the victory. The Thirty-third was deployed as skirmishers
across the plank road, and the line of battle in rear was as
follows : Seventh and Thirty-seventh on the right and Eigh-
teenth and Twenty-eighth on the left — the left of the Thirty-
seventh and the right of the Eighteenth resting on the road.
The Thirty-third thus occupied the post of danger, but it was
also the post of honor. A small force of the enemy succeeded
in getting in between the skirmish line (Thirty- third) and
the Seventh Regiment on our right. Lieutenant-Colonel
Smith, (One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania)
came up to the Seventh vsdth a "white handkerchief tied to a
stick, to learn, as he said, whether we were friends or foes."
He said he did not wish to surrender. The simpleton imag-
ined General Lane would allow him to return; and when,
subsequently, his whole command was captured, he had the
presumption to contend that the Confederates had acted in
bad faith.

About 8 o'clock in the evening Generals Jackson and Hill
with their staff officers and couriers, rode past the Eighteenth
on the plank road, and turned into the woods on the left, in
front of the Eighteenth. It was dark, and the Eighteenth

560 North Cakolina Troops, 1861-65.

did not know who they were. The cry of Yankee cavalry
was raised, and the Eighteenth fired, in obedience to orders,
and General Jackson fell mortally wounded. It was a crush-
ing blow. Our sun had set — the glory of the centuries.^ Jack-
son wlas a giant of giants — a soldier of Napoleonic genius for
war.

Dr. McGuire tells us that at Malvern Hill when a portion
of our army was beaten, and to some extent demoralized. Hill,
Ewell and Early came to tell him they could make no resist-
ance if McClellan attacked them in the morning. "It was
difficult to wake General Jackson, as he was exhausted and
very sound asleep. I tried it myself, and after many efforts
partly succeeded. When he was made to understand what
was wanted, he said, 'McClellan and his army will be gone
by daylight,' and went to sleep again. The generals thought
him mad, but the prediction was true." Jackson's mind
leaped like lightning to an infallible conclusion. That was
the perfection of genius.

When Jackson and Hill were wounded, the night attack
of course was given up, and another disposition was made of
the troops in front. The Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth
were withdrawn from the left of the road, and the left wing
of the Thirty-third was withdrawn as skirmishers. _ The
right of the brigade was thrown back about midnight, and the
order from right to left was, Twenty-eighth, Eighteenth
Thirty-third, Seventh, Thirty-seventh. A little after mid-
night, Sickles, with two strong lines, attacked our right with
spirit and vigor. The Eighteenth, Twenty-eighth and left
wing of the Thirty-third repulsed him handsomely. In- a
short time Sickles renewed the attack, but was again driven
back with great slaughter. On Sunday, 3 May, the brigade
charged the enemy in their intrenohments, and completely
routed them, though they were vastly superior in numbers.
Some of the troops passed over the breastworks, and took sev-
eral prisoners. Biit the works could not be held, for the en-
emy had twenty-nine pieces of artillery near the Chancellor
House which at once opened a terrific fire of shell, grape and
canister, and it was not possible for flesh and blood to stand
the withering, concentrated fire of these Federal batteries.

Thirty-Third Regiment. 561

Besides, our support failed us, our right was turned, and
fresh troops were advancing against us. Under these cir-
cumstances. Colonel Avery, in obedience to instructions, or-
dered a retreat. We reformed a little in our rear, refilled
our cartridge boxes and moved into the woods to the left of
the plank road in order to support General Colquitt, whose
ammunition had almost given out. We remained in line all
night, with heavy skirmishing in front. General Lane says :
"Never have I seen men fight more gallantly, and bear
fatigue and hardships more cheerfully. I shall always feel
proud of the noble bearing of my brigade in the battle of
Chancellorsville, the bloodiest in which it has ever taken part,
when the Thirty-third discharged its duties so well as skir-
mishers and with the Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth gal-
lantly repulsed two night attacks made by vastly superior
numbers, and when the Seventh and Thirty-seventh vied with
each other as to who shoiild first drive the Federals from
their works."

General Heth, who commanded the Light Division after
A. P. Hill was wounded, says : "Lane's Brigade, supported
by McGowan's Brigade, and, ("ostensibly") by the Fortieth
and Forty-seventh Virginia Regiments, advanced and charged
the enemy, who was supported by twenty-nine pieces of ar-
tillery. I cannot conceive of any body of men ever being
subjected to a more galling fire than this force. The brig-
ades of Lane, McGowan and a portion of Heth's (Colonel
Brockenborough commanding) notwithstanding, drove the en-
emy from their works, and held them for some time; btit
were finally compelled to fall back." Captain Saunders in
his official report as commander of the regiment — Colonel
Avery being wounded — makes honorable mention of Lieu-
tenant Price, of Company B, and Lieutenant Farrow, of
Company H. He also states that the conscripts fought very
heroically, side by side with the old veterans. Major Mayhew,
of the Thirty-third, was mortally wounded in the third day's
charge. His death, which occurred a few days afterward,
was a heavy blow to our regiment. He was a brave and skill-
ful officer, and was greatly beloved by the regiment. He was
originally Captain of Company F, Hyde County, which was
36

562 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

composed of as brave and true men as ever lived. I knew
Major Mayhew well. A gentler, nobler, more loyal heart
never beat in the breast of man. God rest his soul. In
the battle of Chancellorsville Lane lost nearly one-third of his
command. Our regimental loss was, killed 28, wounded 105.
Among the killed were Captain John D. Callais, Com-
pany G; Lieutenants Joseph D. Boushall and William K.
Babb, Company E ; and Sergeant Weaver, Company D —
good men, and sturdy, faithful soldiers.

GETTYSBTJKG.

After the battle we returned to our old camp at Moss Neck,
and remained there until 5 June. After the death of Jack-
son A. P. Hill was made Lieutenant-General, and was as-
signed to Jackson's old corps. Pender was put in command
of the Light Division, in the place of A. P. Hill. 25 June
we crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown. 1 July we left
Cashtown, advancing towards Gettysburg on the left of the
road in the following order from right to left — Seventh,
Thirty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, Eighteenth, Thirty-third —
right of the Seventh, resting on the road. We encountered
the enemy and drove them back some distance. After we
had marched about a mile we were ordered to the right of the
road, and formed on the extreme right of our division, which
was also the right of the army. About 4 p. m. we came up
with the enemy in force, and after severe fighting the brigade
consisting of the Thirty-third, Eighteenth, Twenty-eighth
and Thirty-seventh, (the Seventh having been detached to
fight the cavalry) drove them back in gallant style. 2 July
the regiment was not engaged though we were exposed to a
severe and continuous shelling. In the famous charge on 3
July the brigade formed the left of the second or supporting
line, and the Thirty-third was on the left of the brigade.
Scales' Brigade was on our right, and both brigades (Lane's
and Scales') were temporarily under the command of Major-
General Trimble. The attacking column consisted of Pick-
ett's Division on the right and Heth's Division (Pettigrew)
on the left. Wilcox's Brigade was to march in rear of Pick-
ett's right to guard the flank, and Heth was supported by

Thirty-Third Regiment. 563

Lane's and Scales' Brigades. Longstreet's and Hill's Artil-
lery and part of Swell's were to open fire simultaneously,
and tlie attacking column was to advance under the combined
fire of these Confederate batteries. General Lee says "the
batteries were directed to be pushed forward as the infantry
progressed, to protect their flanks and to support their at-
tack closely." If this had been done the battle would have
been ours. But the ammunition was exhausted before we
started. This fact General Lee says, was unknown to him.
One hundred and fifteen Confederate guns opened fire about
1 o'clock. Eighty Federal guns replied to them. This artil-
lery duel continued for two hours when the fire on the Fed-
eral side slackened and almost ceased. The attack began
about 3 p. m. The assaulting column moves steadily on un-
der a hot and heavy fire both of musketry and artillery.
Owing to the nature of the ground, the formation of the lines
and the character of the enemy's works, (the stone fence, etc.)
Pickett's men come first upon the enemy. They hold their
ground for a time, but it is almost impossible to live under
such a tempest of fire. Pickett staggers and falls back. Davis
of Pettigrew's command, falters and flees. Lane and Scales
leap to the front. They overtake Pettigrew and the two lines
(Pettigrew and Trimble) then become one (Major Saunders)
and the advance is continued. They reach the stone wall.
Pettigrew is broken in pieces and leaves the field. Lane and
Scales fight on. Their right and left are wholly unprotected.
Pickett and Pettigrew are gone. The Federal fire (artillery
and musketry) is concentrated upon these two matchless bri-
gades. They mount their breastworks. A furious volley is
poured into them by the second Federal line. They retreat,
not in disorder, but as General Trimble says, "sullenly
and slowly, in almost as good order as they had
advanced." Peerless soldiers. In the procession of the cen-
turies doubtless we might find equal courage and devotion
in the annals of war, but the instances have been at long in-
tervals. Von Moltke, the German, says our army was a
"mob." Triton of minnows ! Oh that Stonewall Jack-
son could have had him in his front about six
hours. He would have gone down in history by the side

564 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

of Burnside, Pope and Nathaniel P. Banks. We can-
not wonder at Trimble's language to Lane : "If tlie troops
I had the honor to command today (Lane's aaid Scales^
Brigades) couldn't take that position, all hell can't take it."
General Trimhle denies that he used the profane language at-
tribiited to him by General Lane, but says he "used some em-
phatic expression of commendation," etc. There are men
who, as Wellington says, never even "stumble on the truth."
A certain writer, whose name I am glad I do not know, says :
"The right (Pickett) behaved gloriously; the left (Petti-
grew) faltered and fled. Each body acted according to its
nature, for they were made of different stuff ; the one of com-
mon earth, the other of finest clay. Pettigrew's men were
North Carolinians, Pickett's were superb Virginians." This
man ought to be sent to the insane asylum. I cannot reply
to such childish twaddle. Has this man ever read Lee's gen-
eral order as to the conduct of certain troops ? I forbear.

General Trimble, who commanded Lane's and Scales' Brig-
ades on the third day, says : "We passed over the remnant of
their line (Pettigrew's) and immediately after some one close
by my left sung out, 'three cheers for the Old North State,'
when both brigades (Scales' and Lanes') sent up a hearty
shout, on which I said to my aid, "Charley, I believe those
fine fellows are going into the enemy's line." My men
(Lane's and Scales' Brigades) were the last to leave the field.
This I know as I rode in the line between the two Brigades
(Lane's and Scales') from the start down to the Emmetts-
burg road, passing over the wreck of Lleth's Division (Pet-
tigrew's). Before my line recoiled under a concentrated fire
from my front and left, I looked to the right where Pickett's
men had been seen to advance and beheld nothing but isolated
and scattered remnants of that splendid line. * * *
Thus I am sure that my command continued the contest some
time after Pickett's force had been dispersed. General Trim-
ble in these statements is substantially supported by Gen-
eral Lane and Colonel Avery, of the Thirty-third. These of-
ficers say the "whole right had given way" before Lane's
Brigade left the field. General Trimble says further : "No
one acquainted with the fact can, for a moment, doubt the

THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT.

1. James M. Hunt, 1st Lieut.. Co. D. B.

S. John G, Justice, 1st Lieut, and Adjt. 6.

3. James W. Gibbs, 2d Lieut., Co. F. 7.

4. Isaac L. Farrow, 2d Lieut.^ Co. H. 8.

Major F. Joines, 2d Lieut., Co. D.
George H. Snow, 1st Lieut., Co. H.
Wilson H. Lucas, 1st Lieut, Co. A.
James W. Atkinson, Color Sergeant
Co. G.

Thirty-Third Eegiment. 565

intrepid bravery and splendid bearing of Pickett's men ; they
did all that any men could do under the circumstances, but
others did as well, went as far or farther, fought longer, and
lost as heavily."

General Lane says : "General Thomas, who could see from
his position in the road every thing that was going on, in-
formed me that Brockenborough's Brigade, which was on
the left of Heth's (Pettigrew's) Division, did not advance
further than the road, and that Davis' Brigade, which was
next to it, pushed forward, in advance of the general line, and
was driven back. The remaining brigades of Heth's (Petti-
grew's) Division were Pettigrew's and Archer's. As soon
as Pettigrew's command gave back Davis', Lowrance's
(Scales) Brigade and my own, without even having halted,
took position on the left of the troops that were fighting
(Pettigrew's Brigade and Archer's.) That is, we occu-
pied that part of the fighting line formerly held by Davis,
of Pettigrew's (Heth's) Division. My brigade was now
the extreme left of the attacking force, and the Thirty-
third Begiment was on the left of the brigade. I never
saw, even in drill, a more beautiful line than my brigade
kept as it advanced under that murderous fire. The field
was open — no troops in front of us, and it was our yell,
as we joined the front line that caused General Trimble to
make that remark, "I believe those fine fellows are going into
the enemy's line." The men reserved their fire in accord-
ance with orders, until within good range of the enemy, and
then opened with telling effect, repeatedly driving the can-
noneers from their pieces, completely silencing the guns in
our front and breaking the line of infantry which was formed
on the crest of the hill. We advanced to within a few yards
of the stone wall. Some of my right had gone over the fence,
yelling furiously. My left, under Colonel Avery, was here
very much exposed, and a column of infantry was thrown
forward by the enemy in that direction which enfiladed my
whole line. When I ordered Colonel Avery, in obedience to in-
structions from General Longstreet, to face to the left for the
purpose of meeting the fianking column of the enemy, he re-

566 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

plied : "My God, General, do you intend rushing your troops
into such a place unsupported, when the whole right has given
way?" I looked to the right and saw that it was as he
stated ; no line of battle was any where visible on the right.
Colonel Avery had already reached the fence and his men
were firing and cheering. My brigade, I know, was the last
to leave the field, and it did so by my order." Major Joseph
H. Saunders, of the Thirty-third, says : "Just before I was
,shot, I distinctly remember seeing a Yankee color-bearer just
in front of the left of the regiment get up and run away,
trailing his flag and followed by his regiment, so that there
was nothing to keep our regiment from going into the ene-
my's ranks. I see from the "Virginian" that Captain Young
states Lane's and Scales' Brigades did not reach the point at-
tained by Pettigrew's. As to this point I can be perfectly
positive as we overtook the first line, and the two lines (Petti-
grew and Trimble) then became one, and the advance was
continued. There can be no mistake about this."

Colonel Lowrance, commanding Scales' Brigade, says:
"We silenced the pickets in our front. * * ■ * ISTow all
had apparently forsaken us. The two brigades (Lane's and
Scales') now reduced to mere squads, not numbering in all
800 men, were the only lines to be seen upon that vast field,
and with no support in view, the brigade retreated."
There can be no doubt that Pettigrew's old brigade and
Archer's maintained the contest a short time after Davia
had fled, but Lane and Scales continued to fight some
time after Pettigrew and Archer had been swept from
the field. Thus it is undisputable that Lane and Scales
went to the front and stayed there some minutes firing and
cheering, after Pettigrew and Pickett had entirely disap-
peared. In thus remaining on the field of battle and con-
tinuing the fight after all the other troops had retreated, they
were exposed to a raking artillery fire on both flanks, and to
a blinding, overwhelming artillery and musketry fire in front.
In the language of General Trimble — a gallant old hero — -
we "maintained our ground after they (the other
troops) had been driven back." Our brigade, too, retreated
in obedience to orders (unlike the troops of Pettigrew and

Thirty-Third Regiment. 567

Pickett) not in disorder, but "sullenly and slowly, in almost
as good order as they had advanced." There is nothing supe-
rior to it in all history. It is the crowning glory of these
two incomparable brigades. Match such heroism if you
can — surpass it you cannot.

But, on the other hand. Captain Young, aide-de-camp to
General Pettigrew, says : "Our brigade (Pettigrew's) gave
way, and simultaneously with it the whole line. The sup-
ports, under Major-General Trimble, did not reach as far as
we had." This account differs wholly from the statements
made by General Trimble, General Lane, Colonel Avery,
Major Saunders and Colonel Lowrance. Thus by the testi-
mony of unimpeachable witnesses we prove that Trimble's
men (Lane and Scales) went as far as or farther than any
other troops engaged — that they were the last to leave the
field — that Trimble continued the contest, unaided, for some
time after Pickett's and Pettigrew's men had been driven
from the field, exposed, all the while, to a crushing musketry
and artillery fire on both flanks and in his front. Pickett
and Pettigrew's men broke and fled without orders. Lane's
and Scales' North Carolinians stayed on the field until they
were ordered to retreat, and they "marched back slowly and
sullenly in almost as good order as they had advanced." If
on this bloody day Pickett and Pettigrew had remained on
the field and supported Lane's and Scales' Brigades, the re-
sult might have been different. The casualties in the regi-
ment were 10 killed, 53 wounded. The brigade loss was 660
out of an effective total of 1,355. Major Joseph H. Saun-
ders, of the Thirty-third, a capital soldier and a true man,
was seriously wounded in the third day's charge. He was
near the stone wall, and, with a cheer, was leading his men
against the enemy, when he fell, shot through the face, and
remained unconscious for several hours.

Among others who here laid down their lives in defence of
all that was dear were Lieutenants H. H. Baker and Thomas
A. Cowan, of Company A. They were manly men, and fear-
less soldiers. July 4 it rained hard all day and that night,
unmolested, we began our retreat through mud and water.

568 North Carolina Troops, l861-'65.

EETE.EAT TO VIEGIZSTIA.

July 11 we formed line of battle at Hagerstown, where we
remained until the 13th. We had frequent skirmishes with
the enemy, but no actual engagement. On the night of the
13th we left Hagerstown. It was very dark and rainy, and
we fared worse, if possible, than we did on the retreat from
Gettysburg on the night of the 4th. By command of Major-
G-eneral Heth, who was temporarily in command of the Light
Division, Lane's Brigade formed the rear guard at Falling
Waters on the 14th, and it alone held the bridge, though re-
peatedly attacked, until every man had crossed. It then
slowly retired, in perfect order, vigorously shelled by the en-
emy. General Heth was charmed with the gallant bearing
of the brigade. He said to General Lane : "In covering the
retreat you have done nobly. I expected your whole brigade
would be killed, wounded or captured." General Pettigrew —
the Sir Philip Sidney of the South — wns killed at Falling
Waters.

After , crossing the Potomac the brigade encamped near
Culpepiser Court House for some days, and then moved to
Orange Court House, and did picket duty at Morton's Ford
until Stuart's fight at Jack's Shop on 22 September. We
were then ordered to Liberty Mills as a support to Stuart's
Cavalry, but when we reached that place the fight was over.
General Stuart had defeated the enemy. We went into win-
ter quarters at Liberty Mills and did picket duty beyond the
mills, and on the Stanardsville road.

General Pender died of the wound which he received at
Gettysburg. General Lee pays him the highest compliment
in his power when he says : "We would have succeeded" (at
Gettysburg) "had Pender lived." Shortly after Pender's
death Wilcox was assigned to the command of the "Light
Division." While in camp at Liberty Mills a great many
furloughs were granted, and every effort was made to lighten
the burdens of the men who, at so great a sacrifice, had so
gallantly upheld the honor of our arms.

During the winter we made a very trying march through
snow and mud to Madison Court House. Our object was

Thirty-Third Regiment. 569

to catch some Federal cavalry raiders, but we had poor suc-
cess.

In October the Federal commander, General Meade,
moved towards Washington along the Orange & Alexandria
Railroad — apparently unwilling to fight General Lee on the
Rappahannock. At the unfortunate battle of Bristoe Sta-
tion, 14 October, Lane's Brigade formed line of battle, with
bullets whistling all about them, but did not engage the en-
emy, though expecting every moment to be ordered to the
fighting line. Darkness seems to have put an end to the un-
equal conflict. Our brigade helped to tear up the railroad,
and we did the work thoroughly. October 25th we encamped
at Brandy Station, and remained there several days. No-
vember 7th Hoke's (Colonel Godwin) and Hay's Brigades
suft'ered heavily while doing picket duty near Rappahannock
Station. They were completely surrounded and most of
them were captured. The next morning, 8 November, the
brigade fell back, formed line of battle near Culpepper Court
House, and repulsed the enemy's cavalry charge, sustaining
but little loss. On the 9th we went back to our old camp at
Liberty Mills.

MINE EUN.

At Mine Run, 2 Decernber, we were drawn tip in line of
battle, preparatory to a night attack, but at daybreak we dis-
covered there was no enemy to fight. During the night he
had quietly decamped. The weather was intensely cold, no
fires were allowed, and the men suffered no little in the
trenches and on the skirmish line. At the battle of the Wil-
derness, 5 and 6 May, 1864, the brigade greatly distinguished
itself. It was ordered to the fighting line about 5 p. m. (5
May) when our troops in front, fighting Hancock, a skillful
and determined officer, could hardly hold their ground. Col-
onel Venable, of General Lee's staff, said to Colonel Palmer,
of A. P. Hill's Corps, "Thank God, I will go back and tell
General Lee that Lane has just gone in and will hold his
ground until other troops arrive tonight." Lane did hold
his groxmd, and actually drove back the enemy, greatly supe-
rior in numbers, a short distance at the point of the bayonet.

570 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

We remained in the woods in mire and mud until about 9 p.
m. — the two lines, Federal and Confederate, being but a
few yards apart. We could almost hear the Federals breath-
ing. Colonel Davidson, of the Seventh, in the darkness (and
it was very dark), lost his bearings, and stumbled on the Fed-
erals. They quietly put out their hands and drew him in.
j^ot a word was spoken.

Lieutenant Isaac L. Farrow, Company H, lost his life in
this battle. He was a good soldier, always at the post of
duty.

About 9 p. m., in obedience to orders we withdrew from
this position, and bivouacked on a hill in our rear, expecting
to be relieved by Longstreet at daybreak the next morning,
but for some reason Longstreet failed to appear at the ap-
pointed time. A little before sunrise, we settled down to a
good breakfast cooked from Yankee rations captured the even-
ing before, when, suddenly, sharp and rapid firing was heard
in our front, followed by the hasty retreat of our skirmish
line. We formed line of battle as quickly as possible behind
some improvised breastworks of logs and dirt. In a
minute, as it seemed to me, the enemy in large force was
upon us. Colonel Avery walked up and down the line en-
couraging our men, both by actions and words. He was but
a few feet from the writer of this sketch. I said to him:
"Colonel, get down behind the breastworks. You will be
killed if you walk about in that way."

"ISTo, no," said he, "it will make the men fight better."

We stayed the onset for a few minutes, but no fire could be
hotter, and we were compelled to retreat. The trees were
literally shot to pieces.

I never saw Colonel Avery again. He received five
wounds that morning, and died a glorious death a few weeks
afterward. He was a brave and faithful ofiicer, a true
friend, and the knightliest of men. General Lane says of
this fight: "We opposed this force for a short time (the
Thirty-third fighting like heroes) but could not long stand
the terrible fire in our front and flank." The casualties in
the Thirty-third, 5 and 6 May, were : Killed, 3 officers and 40
men ; wounded, 5 officers and 50 men ; missing, 38 men.

Thirty-Third Regiment. 571

spottstlvania.

At Spottsylvania Court House, 12 May, there can be little
doubt that Lane's Brigade saved Lee's army from a terrible
defeat. Johnson's line at the Salient had been broken and the
Federals were pouring into the huge gap thus made in our
ranks, when Lane's Brigade arrested their progress on the
right. I never saw such heroism as was then displayed, both by
officers and men. It was impossible to surpass it. The Fed-
erals were advancing in overwhelming numbers and with
deafening yells, but Lane's Brigade, so placed that it could
attack them in front and on the flank, not only held its
ground, but it advanced beyond the entrenchments, over the
fallen timber, and drove the enemy a considerable distance
to the rear. General Lane himself rode up to the brigade
when the fire was hottest, his lips quivering with the glow
and ardor of battle, and said to us: "You must hold your
ground ; the honor and safety of the army demand it." Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Cowan, of the Thirty-third, seized the colors
of his regiment, and with a loud shout rushed upon the foe.
The Thirty-third followed him, and swept everything before
them. The other regiments of the brigade behaved with
equal intrepidity, and the army was saved. That fight alone
would make Lane's Brigade immortal. General Lane, in his
official report, says : "It is impossible for me to speak in too
high terms of my command in repulsing this terrible attack
of the enemy — men could not fight better, nor officers behave
more gallantly; the latter, regardless of danger, would fre-
quently pass along the line and cheer the men in their glorious
work. We justly claim for this brigade alone the honor
of not only stemming, but rolling back this tide of Federal
victory which came surging furiously to our right." Colonel
Venable, of Lee's staff says: "They (the Federals) were
checked by General Lane, who, throwing his left flank back
from the trenches, confronted their advance." An English
war correspondent thus writes to his paper in London:
"Lane's North Carolina veterans stopped the tide of Federal
victory as it came surging to the right." General Early's
testimony is to the same effect.

572 North Carolina Troops, 186]-'65.

oapt0eed thkee flags.

In the fight in the afternoon of the same day (12 May) in
front of the works to the left of the brick kiln, the brigade
fought well, and won high praise from Greneral Lee himself.
The object was to relieve Ewell by attacking Burnside's flank
and rear. The brigade moved forward cheerfully and
quickly and soon drove the enemy out of the oak woods, and
captured a battery of six guns, b^it were unable to bring them
off. We struck Burnside's flank and rear and took him com-
pletely by surprise. Our sudden and sharp attack demoral-
ized him. Lane captured nearly 400 prisoners and three bat-
tle flags. General Early says: "Lane's attack on the en-
emy's flank and rear contributed materially to the repulse of
the assaulting column, as it was thereby thrown into much
confusion. Mahone's Brigade (Colonel Weisiger) had been
ordered to support Lane, but it got lost in the woods and never
fired a gun, except at Lane's Brigade." General Lane says:
"The infantry firing in our rear was, for a short time, more
severe than that in front, as Mahone's Brigade poured such a
fire into us that Lieutenant-Colonel Cowan and Lieutenant-
Colonel McGill had to rush back and ask them not to fire into
friends." General Mahone rode up to the Thirty-third and
said to Colonel Cowan in a sharp, piping voice: "Go right
straight back. I will take great pleasiire in reporting you
to General Lee ; you have left my brigade in the woods to do
all the fighting." And yet Colonel Weisiger (Mahone) got
lost in the woods, never fired a gun at the enemy, biit fired
several guns at his friends, and was actiially led out of the
woods by that gallant soldier, Captain E. J. Hale, of Lane's
Brigade. I do not think this important battle, as General
Early says it was, is mentioned in the Confederate Military
History. Colonel Venable writes : "General Lee directs me
to acknowledge the receipt of the flags captured by Lane's
Brigade in its gallant charge of yesterday, and to say that
they will be forwarded to the Honorable Secretary of War,
with the accompanying note and the names of the brave cap-
tors." The casualties in the regiment were : Killed, 4 men ;
wounded, 2 officers and IT men. Erom the 13th to the 20th

Thirty-Third Regiment. 573

oJ^'May, we were not seriously engaged, though the regiment
sustained a slight loss from sharpshooting and shelling. Our
sharpshooters were commanded by Captain J. C. Mills, of
Burke, and they were of very great service to the regiment.
Captain Mills was a model officer — brave, cool, resolute and
of excellent judgment.

On 21 May, the regiment made a reconnoissance to the
right of the court house, but sustained little loss. The battle
of Jericho Ford was fought 23 May. Professor Hill (Con-
federate Military History) says : "Lane's North Carolinians

* * * became entangled in a river-side fight with the
Federal line posted on a crest." This account is (uninten-
tionally) misleading. The facts are these: Lane's men
moved into the battle with steadiness and resolution. They
drove back the enemy to his original position, at the point of
the bayonet, maintained their ground, removed their dead
and woimded and were not relieved until 11 o'clock at night,
long after the firing had ceased. True, the regiment on the
right of the Thirty-third gave way, but every man of the
Thirty-third remained firm. The enemy on our right ad-
vanced towards the gap made by the fleeing regiment, and
the Thirty-third was thus exposed to a front and flank fire,
but it did not waver, nor hesitate, but boldly charged the en-
emy, drove him back to his works and. steadfastly held their
ground until relieved at 11 o'clock that night, long after the
battle was over. General Lane says: "These three regi-
ments of my brigade, the Thirty-third, Eighteenth, Twenty-
eighth (the Seventh was on detached duty) fought very gal-
lantly. They drove the enemy back to a commanding posi-
tion near the river, held the groimd over which they fought,
removed all their dead and wounded, and were not relieved
by Davis' Brigade until 11 o'clock that night, at which time
the firing had ceased." The casualties in the regiment were :
Killed, 5 men; wounded, 2 officers and 27 men; missing, 4
men

In the battle of Jericho Ford the writer of this sketch, then
Captain of Company F, and Lieutenant James W. Gibbs, of
Company F — a most worthy soldier- — were badly wounded.
The doctors said : "Captain Weston must die, it is impossi-

574 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

ble for him to live." I heard them say it, and it made me
mad. I said to them : "If you think I am going to die you
are very much mistaken. I have no idea of dying."

VAEIOUS ENGAGEMENTS.

On 31 May, our sharpshooters had a brisk encounter vs^ith
the enemy near Starr's .Farm, on the Totopotomy creek, and
the entire brigade vs^as exposed to a severe fire both of in-
fantry and artillery, though not engaged in actual fighting.
We lost several men, killed and wounded. 2 June we
marched to Cold Harbor, and were placed in the second line.
In the afternoon we supported Wharton's Brigade in its suc-
cessful assault on Turkey Eidge. Subsequently, we occupied
a position on the right, between Wharton and Thomas. The
regiment fought with its wonted gallantry. Here Greneial
Lane was severely wounded and Colonel Barry, of the Eigh-
teenth, took charge of the brigade. The casualties in the reg-
iment from 24 May to 3 June were : Killed, 1 man ; wound-
ed, 1 man.

June 13th at Riddle's shop, we remained in line of battle
for a considerable time, but were not seriously engaged. 22
June, at Well's farm, three miles southeast of Petersburg,
the regiment helped to drive back the enemy, who was en-
deavoring to get possession of the Weldon Railroad. 23
June, while relieving Mahone, the brigade was exposed to a
merciless fire of musketry and artillery. It was at close
range, and very severe, but our men were so seasoned and dis-
ciplined-that they never flinched.

Between the 1st and middle of July the regiment moved
to the north side of the James, and on 28 July took part in
the action at Gravelly Hill. In this engagement (Gravelly
Hill) Adjutant Spier Whitaker particularly distinguished
himself. He was complimented in general orders for his gal-
lant and officer-like conduct on the field of battle. Lieutenant
Whitaker was a valuable ofiicer — clear-headed, cool and cour-
ageous. At the battle of Fussell's Mill, on the Darbytown
road, 16 to 18 August, the brigade was conspicuous for its
steadiness and its courage. Commanded by Colonel Barber, of
the Thirty-seventh, the brigade captured from a determined

Thirty-Third Regiment. 575

enemy the intrenchments on the Darbytown road, from which
other troops had been routed, in the presence of General Lee.

At Eeams Station, 25 August, Lane's Brigade achieved a
signal success. About 2 p. m. a Georgia Brigade and Scales'
attacked Hancock fiercely, but they were driven back in dis-
order. About 5 o'clock, Cooke, Lane (General Conner), and
MacRae went to the front to make a second attack. The brig-
ade moved forward promptly over fallen trees, brushwood
and other obstructions, with a ringing rebel yell, and the Fed-
eral line was ours. The enemy fled in the greatest confu-
sion. An attempt to recapture the works resulted in utter
failure. The railroad was saved. General Lane, in his his-
tory of the Twenty-eighth Regiment, says "General Lee, in
speaking of this fight to General Lane, said that the three
ISTorth Carolina brigades. Lane's, Cooke's and MacRae's,
which made the second assault, after the failure of the first
by other troops, had by their gallantry not only placed l^orth
Carolina, but the whole Confederacy, under a debt of grati-
tude, which cotild never be repaid." What praise could be
higher ? General Lee wrote to Governor Vance : "They
(Lane, McRae and Cooke) advanced through a thick abatis of
felled trees imder a heavy fire of musketry and artillery, and
carried the enemy's works with a steady courage that elicited
the warm commendation of the corps and division command-
ers, and the admiration of the army."

At Jones' farm, 30 September, the brigade (General Lane
in command), was on the right of the road, and the Thirty-
third was on the right of the brigade. The enemy tried to
flank us on our right. Colonel Cowan ordered the men to lie
down at the bottom of a hill, and when the enemy got opposite
our colors, the Thirty-third rushed to the top of the hill and
poured so heavy a fire into the enemy that he quickly fled,
leaving his dead and wounded behind him.

Colonel William M. Barber, of the Thirty-seventh, was
killed 30 September. He was an ofiicer of unusual merit
and promise.

Next day, 1 October, the Thirty-third was in the fight at
the Pegram House, and helped to drive the enemy from his
incomplete works, and held them until dark. It then re-

576 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

turned to the works near the Jones House, where in a short
time it went into winter quarters.

December 8th the brigade was sent to drive off the cavalry
force which was endeavoring to destroy the Petersburg &
Weldon Railroad, but on reaching Jarratt's Station, we found
the enemy had retreated. The weather was exceedingly
cold, and the sufferings of the men were intense. The bri-
gade was ordered to support the attack on Fort Steadman,
and it performed its part nobly in helping to repel the deter-
mined assault made on the main line of the Confederate works
near our winter quarters. General Lee ordered General
Lane to attack the enemy, who had taken position on a hill
near the Jones House. General Lane dislodged him by the
efficient aid of his sharpshooters, commanded by Major
Wooten, joi the Eighteenth. Major Wooten was one of the
best officers in the service. The sharpshooters were sup-
ported by the brigade. The winter in the trenches at Peters-
burg— 1864-'65 — was a most trying one in many respects.
The chaff was winnowed from the wheat.

On the night of 1 April the brigade was shelled continu-
ously until daybreak the next morning. The regiments in
the works from right to left were in the following order:
Twenty-eighth, Thirty-seventh, Eighteenth, Thirty-third.
The Seventh was on detached dtity. The men were placed
from six to ten paces apart — a mere skirmish line. Against
this weak force Grant hurled his crushing masses, at day-
break the next morning. We foiight desperately, but our
thin line was pushed back by sheer force of numbers until it
was broken in pieces. We then retreated behind our winter
quarters and continued the contest, each man for himself. A
part of the regiment fell back to the plank road under Colonel
Cowan and a part to Battery Gregg, under General Lane.
Battery Gregg was fiercely attacked and fell after a most
heroic resistance. Color Sergeant Atkinson, of the Thirty-
third, after the Federals had mounted the parapet, and were
yelling f urioiisly, left the fort, and made for the rear, waving
his flag defiantly at the astonished enemy. The Federals
fired at him repeatedly, but he escaped unhurt. It was a
daring deed that will live in history. Our men cheered him

Thirty-Third Regiment. 577

long and loudly, even after he had reached the Confederate
works. In this fight General A. P. Hill was killed. He
was a cool, gallant, sagacious officer. Under his leadership
the Light Division won an undying fame. Here, too, fell
Captain John D. Fain, of Company C. Colonel Cowan,
Captain Fain and myself were standing in a group, watch-
ing the movements of the enemy. Presently we heard that
unmistakable thud, and Captain Fain fell heavily forward,
mortally wounded. He begged iis to take him off the field,
but it was impossible to do so at that time. In five- minutes
he was dead. I never knew a purer man. He was the soul
of honor — so gentle, so manly, so heroic that no one could
help laving him. We held the inner line of works until
night, when Petersburg was evacuated, and we began our last
retreat.

April 3 we crossed the Appomattox at Goode's bridge, and
on the 5th had some brisk skirmishing with the enemy near
Amelia Court House. ISTear Farmville, while crossing the
river, the enemy opened fire upon us with his artillery, and
we lost a few men. We had nothing to eat. It was impossi-
ble to procure any food, and the enemy was keeping closely
upon us. We marched grimly, resolutely on, not dreaming
the end was so near.

SUEEENDEE.

April 9 we were ordeired to occupy a position on the left
of the road, near Appomattox Court House, and on the fight-
ing line. While we were moving to this position at a double
quick we were suddenly halted and a Federal officer came
from the front and rode down our line. Pie smiled, as he
rode quickly on, but it was the wickedest smile I ever saw on
any man's countenance. ■ The report quickly spread that
General Lee had surrendered. We could not believe it and
the officers vehemently denied it. General Lane, however,
assured us the report was true, and we bowed to the inevita-
ble. Lieutenant Mclntyre, of the Thirty-third, said to me:
"Major, let's not surrender. Let's cut our way through."
Presently he whispered : "Won't you have a drink of qui-
37

578 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

nine whiskey ?" Lieutenant Mclntyre was a brave and use-
ful officer. That night we lay down on the ground and shed
bitter tears, feeling that we had no home and no country.

The next morning an order came from General Lane,
directing Colonel Cowan to make a formal surrender of the
Thirty-third Regiment. Colonel Cowan and I were sitting
under a large oak tree. Colonel Cowan read the order,
jumped up, his eyes flashing fire, and said: "I won't sur-
render." Then, turning to me, he said : "Major Weston, take
charge of the regiment." He mounted his horse and rode off
to the rear. I never saw him again. Colonel Cowan was
a brave and most efficient officer. Like General Hoke, he
was a bom soldier. After Colonel Cowan left I took charge
of the regiment. We marched across the creek, stacked arms
in rear of the regiment which preceded us, and returned to
our bivouac. The following officers surrendered at Appomat-
tox:

James A. Weston, Major; Spier Whitaker, Jr., Adjutant;
Hiddick Gatling, Captain Company H; George W. Sander-
lin, Captain Company E ; William J. Callais Captain Com-
pany G; W. T. Mclntyre, First Lieutenant Company D;
Joseph C. Mills, First Lieutenant Company G; John W.
Wooten, Second Lieutenant Company G ; John A. Vigal, As-
sistant Surgeon; T. J. Eatman, Chaplain. Ten officers and
108 men surrendered to the enemy, but they surrendered with
honor. According to Moore's Eoster of North Carolina
Troops, the whole number^ — the aggregate — in the Thirty-
third Eegiment during the entire war was 1,600. A regi-
ment of "mighty men" — men of heroic mould and loftiest
patriotism. Avery, Walton, Mills, Happoldt, Tate of
Burke; Cowan, Summers, Hill, Turner, Hallman, Sherrill,
of Iredell ; Jenkins, Gatlin, Hyman, Price, Lyon, Lawrence,
of Edgecombe; Cozine, Fain, Gibson, Moore, Craige, Ross,
Misenheimer, Stoup, of Cabarrus ; Parks, Hunt, Joines, Mc-
lntyre, Weaver, Childers, Pardew, of Wilkes; Sanderlin,
Gatling, Boushall, Babb, Cooper, Lewis, Caldwell, of Gates •
Mayhew, Gibbs, Watson, Lucas, Swindell, Oarawan, Farrow
Weston, Midyett, Jennett, Eastwood, Murray, Williams
Boomer, Gaskill, of Hyde ; Massey, Callais, McDonald, Woot-

Thirty-Third Regiment. 579

en, Bradshaw, MclSTate, Atkinson, Brock, of Cumberland; An-
derson, White, ISTicholson, Goslin, Conrad, Marshall, of For-
syth; McKoy, Kennedy, Beaman, Bartlett, Dale, of Green;
Snow, Sasser, of Wake; Hoke, of Lincoln; Whitaker and
Baker, of Halifax; Tlencher, of Chatham; Saunders, of
Orange — I cannot enumerate them — men of whom any peo-
ple in any age or country might well be proud.

A word as to the morals of our command. The Thirty-
third Regiment was not especially noted for its piety, though
its soldiers were among the best men on earth. They had no
religion "to speak of," as Bishop Griswold used to say, but
they were very regular in their attendance upon divine ser-
vices, and no men could be more respectful, more attentive or
more reverent. Our chaplain. Rev. Thomas J. Eatman, was
a godly man, and his influence for good was largely felt, and
most gratefully acknowledged.

The writer begs leave to make his best acknowledgments to
General James H. Lane for invaluable aid in the preparation
of this sketch. General Lane was a most capable officer —
hard working, painstaking, accurate and thorough. He neg-
lected no duty. He was always in the right place at the
right time, ready "to do or to die." His men loved him and
trusted him. They had the utmost confidence in his judg-
ment and skill. He had in a remarkable degree the genius
of common sense, and his superiority as a brigade commander
was shown on many a hard-fought field. May Heaven's best
blessings rest upon him.

I am also indebted for much useful information to Adju-
jant Spier Whitaker, of Raleigh; Captain Joseph C. Mills,
of Burke; Colonel J. T. Johnson, of Catawba; General
Robert F. Hoke, of Raleigh; Dr. Richard B. Baker, of
Catawba; Mrs. . L. O'B. Branch, of Raleigh; Major
James H. Foote, of Wilkes ; Miss Ann Saunders, of Raleigh ;
Dr. J. F. Shaffner, of Forsyth ; Sergeant J. P. Little, of Ca-
tawba; Major William M. Robbins, of Iredell; Captain Jas.
A. Summers, of Tennessee, formerly of Iredell; Lieutenant
John W. Happoldt — an excellent soldier — of Burke; Lieu-
tenant Columbus L. Turner, of Iredell; Captain J. T. Wal-
ton, of Gaston, and Mrs. Robert H. Jones, of Raleigh.

580 NoKTH Carolina Tboops, 1861-'65.

Our Surgeons, Doctors J. F. Shaffner and John A. Vigal,
were the kindest and best of men. They were ideal Surgeons
— capable, honest, firm, sympathetic, self-sacrificing, coura-
geous and unremitting in their attentions to the sick and
wounded, oftentimes exposing themselves to imminent peril
in the discharge of their official duties. By such unflinching
heroism and devotion to duty they won the undying gratitude
of the entire command. Dr. Richard B. Baker was an able,
conscientious surgeon, the equal in every respect of Drs,
Shaiiner and Vigal, but after the battle of JSTew Bern he waS
transferred to another command.

Amid the gloom of our defeat we found that among the
Federal soldiers there were some big-hearted men. An officer
of the Thirty-third said to a Federal Commissary: "Give
me some bread for my men, for they have had nothing to eat
for three days." "I can't do it," said the commissary, "but
walk about the tent carelessly and fill your haversack with
crackers and loaf sugar, and your canteen with whiskey, and
I won't see you." The officer did it.

I shall always have a soft place in my heart for the mem-
ory of General Grant. He treated us with great kindness
and consideration, and did much, very much, to blunt the'
sting of defeat. It is his best, his greatest, monument.

The Southern soldiers were the equals, in every possible
respect, of any soldiers that ever fought for God or man. The
world must bow before such men. We failed only becauser
it was impossible to succeed.

"It is not in mortals tO' command success.
We did more, we deserved it."

James A. Weston.-
Hickory, N. C,

9 April, 1901.

THIRTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.

1. Eli H. Miller, Lieut. -Colonel.
8. A. Q. Walters, Captain, Co. E.

3. W. B. Lowranoe, Captain and Adit.

4. T. D. I.attimore, 2d Lieut , Co. F.

THIRTY-FOURTH REQinmT.

By T. n. LATTIMORE, Second Libutrnant, Company F.

The Thirty-fourth Eegiment of ISTorth Carolina Troops
was composed of the following companies :

Company A — Ashe County — Captain, S. IST. Wilson.

Company B — Rutherford and Cleveland Counties — Cap-
tain, John Edwards.

Company C — Rutherford County — Captain, M. 0. Dick-
erson.

Company D — Rowan County — Captain, William A.
Houk.

Company E — Lincoln County — Captain, John F. Hill.

Company F — Cleveland County — Captain, Abram G.
Walters.

Company G — Mecklenburg County — Captain, William
R. Myers.

Company H — Cleveland County — Captain, Samuel A.
Hoey.

Company I — Rutherford County — Captain, James 0.
Simmons.

Company K — Montgomery County — Captain, David R.
Cochran.

The regiment was organized at High Point, on 26 October,
1861, and during its existence was successively officered as
follows :

Colonels — CoUett Leventhorpe, Richard H. Riddick,
William L. J. Lowrance.

Lieutenant-Colonels — William A. Houk, Charles J.
Hamarskold, John L. McDowell, George T. Gordon, George
M. Norment, Eli. H. Millei', H. W. Abernethy.

Majoes — Martin Shoffner, William A. Owens, Eli H.
Miller, Joseph B. McGee, Francis L. Twitty, Geo. M. Clark.

Chaplain — A. R. Bennick.

582 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

Adjutants— James Kiddick, William B. Lowrance.

Assistant Quaeteemasters— Joseph B. Carrier, John
W. Clark.

SuEGEON — John F. Miller.

Assistant Suegeon — B. B. Williams.

Seegeant-Majoes— Charles B. Todd, George AtweU, H.
H. Rickerts, O. Sergeant, W. W. Hargrove.

QuAETEEMASTEE— T. B. Twitty, Hospital Steward.

Deum Majoe — F. Bonrgin.

We spent the winter of 1861 at High Point and Raleigh
under rigid discipline, drilling hard, and having diseases
which our mothers, in their kindness and watchfulness, had
kept us from in our boyhood, to-wit, measles, mumps, whoop-
ing-cough, etc.

The Spring of 1862 found us at Hamilton, IST. C, on the
Roanoke river, "playing war." Colonel Leventhorpe had us
to believe that we could sink all the gun-boats that could come
up that river. Later we went to Goldsboro, where we re-en-
listed for three years or "during war," at the request of the
Confederate Congress, under an act, called by some, "The
Conscript Act." Up to this time we thought we had seen
something of war, crossing swamps and streams where there
were no bridges, but we found out later how little we knew
of the actual hardships of long and continuous war.

From Goldsboro we went to Fredericksburg, Va., and for
the first time were attached to a brigade and had a "sure
enough" General to command us, and could really see the en-
emy from our picket posts.

Well, we couldn't persuade the Yankees to fight us, and
having no order to disturb them, we struck camp and marched
back to Richmond, where we were attached to Pender's Brig-
ade, composed of the Thirteenth, Sixteenth, Twenty-second,
Thirty-fourth and Thirty-eighth North Carolina Regiments.

The history of this brigade tells the history of each regi-
ment up to the end of the war. As an individual member
I am not ashamed of any part of its history, and would be
willing to apply the test of comparison with any brigade in
the Army of Northern Virginia.

Thirty-Fourth Regiment. 583

On 26 June, 1862, being a part of A. P. Hill's Light Divis-
ion, we were ordered across the Chickahominy, and at Me-
chanicsville, where we had our first experience in real war,
we were very anxious to fight ; but some of us had serious mis-
givings as to how we would act when the test came. After
being formed into line of battle we marched in the direction
of the enemy and came in sight of him just before dark. We
had been taught that the proper thing to do was to raise the
"rebel yell" and charge, which we proceeded to do, and
found ourselves in a creek not far from the eneray's works.
In this fight our regiment lost 8 or 10 killed and 15 or 30
wounded. Late at night the brigade was withdrawn and re-
newed the attack at daylight on the morning of 27 June,
when the enemy retired toward Gaines' Mill.

In the engagement at this last place Pender's Brigade was
among the first troops to open the fight. Here many of us
saw General Lee for the first time, who rode up while the
brigade was being formed into line of battle, whereupon Gen-
eral Pender called the attention of his men by saying to them
"the eyes of your chieftain are upon you." The writer of
this sketch witnessed every principal engagement of the Army
of Northern Virginia from this time to the end of the war,
but in no other battle in the long succession was the mus-
ketry to be compared to that of 27 June, 1862, at Gaines'
Mill. The fighting continued till after dark when the Con-
federates were victorious, but at a fearfiil cost. The Thirty-
fourth Regiment lost heavily in killed and wounded. Among
the killed were some of the bravest men that ever shouldered
a musket or drew a sword. Here fell Captain Walters, one
of nature's noblemen. At the same time 14 of his men were
killed and 25 wounded. Other companies of his regiment
lost equally as heavily. Colonel R. H. Riddiek was severely
wounded. "Moore's Roster" says he was killed here, but this
is a mistake ; he was killed at Ox Hill.

On 28 June, with sad hearts over the loss of- so many com-
rades, we set out in pursuit of the enemy. On the 30th, at
Frazier's Farm, Pender's Brigade was in the thickest of the
fight, charging and capturing a battery of artillery, which
was pouring a fearful fire into us, and driving them entirely

584 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

from the field. In this fight the Thirty-fourth Eegiment
sustained a terrible loss. Among the killed I recall from
memory were Lieutenants Parks and Cowan, of Company D,
and Shotwell, of Company C, all brave young men. Lieuten-
ant Parks on reaching the battery, laying his hand upon a
gun, remarked, "This is my cannon," and was killed in-
stantly.

The Thirty-fourth was not actively engaged in the battle
of Malvern Hill on 1 July, but was under heavy artillery
fire for several hours.

After these battles we camped below Eichmond for several
weeks, after which time we were ordered to Gordons-
ville where we were placed under the command of Gen-
eral Stonewall Jackson, who on 9 August, J 8 62 — a
very hot day — marched out to Cedar Run, where General
Pope was in waiting. Pender's Brigade was on the extreme
left and drove the enemy from his position with compara-
tively small loss to the Confederates. After dark, the brig-
ades still being in line of battle in an open field, a mounted
Federal rode up within a few steps of our line and inquired
what troops we were. An ofiicer stepped forward to receive
him, and approaching nearer, the Federal fired at him with
his pistol. He wheeled and putting spurs to his horse dashed
away. From three to five hundred shots were fired at the
fleeing Yankee, but to no effect, so far as we could see. I
mention this incident to show that the Northern army had
some brave men and the Confederates some poor marksmen,
especially when shooting by starlight.

The next movement of the regiment was with Jackson on
his famous "flank" movement. Subsisting almost entirely
on green corn, we reached Manassas Junction 27 August, and
were engaged in driving the enemy across Bull Bun, after
which we had a grand feast from the abundant supply cap-
tured at Manassas Junction. After a few hours' needed rest
we marched back to Manassas Plains, and were engaged al-
most continiiously on 29 and 30 August in resisting the as-
savilts of the enemy, and we were in the last charge that swept
the enemy from the fleld late Saturday afternoon. The last

Thirty-Fourth Regiment. 585

fighting done at Second Manassas was by Pender's Brigade,
after dark near the field hospital of the Federals.

At the battle of Ox Hill, 1 September, 1862, this regiment
suffered severe loss. The battle was fought during a pouring
rain. Among the lost. Colonel R. H. Riddick and Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Eli H. Miller fell mortally wounded. Both were
brave and efficient officers. Their loss to the regiment was
irreparable. Colonel Riddick had been in the Mexican war
and was a fine disciplinarian.

The next day we took up our march to Maryland, and
crossing the Potomac at Leesburg, Va., rested a few days at
Frederick City, proceeded from there to Williamsport, re-
crossed the Potomac on the night of 14 September and drove
the enemy into their works on Bolivar Heights, in front of
Harper's Ferry, thereby enabling the Confederate artillery,
undercover of darkness, to be placed in a position which caused
the enemy to surrender early on the morning of 15 September.
We took 11,500 prisoners and 76 pieces of artillery. The
Thirty-fourth was placed in charge of the pontoon bridge and
was entrusted with t|ie counting and discharging of the pris-
oners, after conducting them to the Maryland side of the
river. We then moved by rapid march to Sharpsburg and
reached that point in time to take part in the last fighting
done by the right of Lee's army. The regiment at this time,
owing to hard marching and exhausting fighting, was a mere
skeleton. In the battle of Sharpsburg there were but four
commissioned officers in the whole regiment. One of these.
Lieutenant Bassinger, was killed.

On 20 September our regiment assisted in driving back
the Federal force which followed Greneral Lee into Virginia,
killing many of them at Shepherdstown, who were attempting
to recross the river on a dam.

After this the regiment was allowed rest and for the first
cime in six weeks to change their clothing, not having seen
our wagon train with baggage since leaving Orange Court
House. ISTothing worthy of note occurred until November,
^hen the regiment marched with Jackson's corps to Freder-
icksburg. It was actively engaged in the great battle of
Fredericksburg 13 December, 1862, where it is said 12,000

586 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

of the enemy were killed or wounded in thirty minutes. The
Thirty-fourth occupied an unfortified position on the railroad,
fighting under a galling fire from the enemy. Besides the un-
usual number of killed and wounded, there was great suffer-
ing from intense cold, being exposed tO' -^e bitter December
weather without fire. The remainder of the winter was spent
at Moss ISTeck, below Fredericksburg, doing picket duty on
the Rappahannock.

During this winter, which was so rigorous, even to those in
comfort, many of the soldiers, for want of shoes for their
frost-bitten feet, covered their feet with green beef hides.
Owing to scarcity of provisions they were more sorely tried
during this winter, but were not discouraged, and when the
spring of '63 opened they were ready to meet the enemy
with their accustomed zeal and courage. The Thirty-fourth
was with General Jackson on his great flank movement at
Chancellorsville, and was at the head of the brigade on the
plank road, and near the spot where the murderous bullets
took from us our beloved hero. After a long exposure to a
frightful cannonading on the plank road the brigade was
formed on the left, the right resting on the same road. Early
on the morning of the 3d the brigade assaulted the enemy
behind his works, built during the night, and after hard
fighting, he was completely routed and driven out. During
the fight the woods caiight on fire from the explosion of hos-
tile shells. The scene was sickening — the dead and wounded
on both sides were burnt to a crisp. ]!^umbers were so charred
that their comrades could not recognize and identify them.
After seeing the survivors of the Federal army safely over
the Rappahannock, the regiment returned to camp at Moss
Neck, where it remained until 5 June, 1863, when it set out
on the march to fatal Gettysburg; was engaged and suffered
heavy loss on the second day of July. Among the killed
being the gallant and highly esteemed Major George M.
Clark, of Montgomery county.

The brigade was now known as Scales', General Pender
having been promoted, and fought on the right of the Cham-
bersbtirg road and was exposed to a deadly enfilading fire
from artillery on the left and infantry in front, from be-

Thirty-Fourth Regiment. 587

hind breastworks. For the first time in its history, the brig-
ade was repulsed by this thunderous fire, but nothing daunted
the men leaped to the fray on the third day and were in the
famous charge about which so much has been written. Our
brigade was in the second line under General Trimble, march-
ing into the struggle with magnificent appearance, but was
repulsed and driven back in disorder, as was every other com-
mand engaged in that destructive charge. Some of the
Thirty-fourth Regiment were captured at the enemy's works.
The retreat from Gettysburg to Hagerstown, Md., cannot be
described. The soldiers were so completely covered with
mud that the color of their clothing could not be distinguish-
ed. We remained at Hagerstown two or three days, subsist-
ing on very short rations, but all the time skirmishing with
the Yankees. On the night of 13 July the retreat was re-
sumed toward Falling Water, our whole march being through
mud and rain.

The Thirty-fourth was formed in line of battle about one
mile from the pontoon bridge, and was among the last troops
to cross the river. Many were captured near the bridge,
some crossing after the artillery duel began across the river.
The writer and two men were all that escaped of his com-
pany. What remained of the regiment camped for a short
time at Culpepper Court House, and was engaged in a cavalry
fight on — August; had several men captured, and was then
ordered to Orange Court House, where it did picket duty in
the winter of '63 and '64.

The regiment received many recruits during this winter,
mostly men between forty and forty-five years, who, with rare
exceptions, made poor soldiers, and fell far short of filling the
places of those who had been killed or disabled. Candor com-
pels the admission that this grand old regiment toward the
close of the war was not what it had been from the beginning,
and without presuming to speak for others, the same may be
said of all regiments which had seen like service. The regi-
ment was at Bristoe Station in October, 1863, but was not ac-
tively engaged. However, it assisted in tearing up the rail-
road leading to the Rappahannock river, and was in line of
battle at Mine Run for several days in the latter part of 'No-

588 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

vember, 1863, and suffered intensely from the freezing
weather.

At the Wilderness on 5 May, 1864, the regiment, with the
brigade, fought on the right of the plank road, holding their
position till night against a strong opposing force. Early
next morning we were surpised and driven back by an over-
whelming number of the enemy and what seemed to be an im-
minent defeat was averted by the timely arrival of Greneral
Longstreet's corps.

The regiment was engaged and did good service at Spott-
sylvania Court House. The loss in this battle was compara-
tively light, as most of the fighting was from behind breast-
works.

At the engagement near Hanover Jimction, on 23 May,
1864, the regiment was engaged and lost severely. Three
color-bearers were shot down, but the brave band held their
position, and buried their dead and carried off the wounded.

At the Second Cold Harbor the regiment occupied the posi-
tion on the right at Turkey Kidge. However, it was not ac-
tively engaged, but was exposed for a long time to the rapid
fire of the enemy.

On 13 June we were in the engagement at Riddle's Shop,
and for more than a mile drove the enemy in a running fight.
The regiment took part in the battle near Petersburg on 22
June. At Reams' Station, 25 August, Scales' Worth Caro-
lina and Anderson's Georgia Brigades made the first assault
on the enemy's works and were repulsed with considerable
loss, the right of the line being exposed to a frightful enfilad-
ing fire of artillery and musketry; but, while feeling the
sting of defeat in our attack, with swelling hearts we wit-
nessed the gallant charge of Cook's, MacRae's and Lane's
Brigades. Excepting some small skirmishing this last fight
ended the campaign of 1864, and the regiment went into win-
ter quarters at Battery No. 45, near Petersburg. During the
winter the regiment made a forced march, through rain, sleet
and snow, to Bellfield Station, on the Petersburg & Weldon
Railroad. The object of the march was to look after a raid-
ing party of Federal cavalry. On our arrival we found that
they had retired. This also was a winter of intense suffer-

Thirty-Fourth Regiment. 589

ing among the soldiers. Almost destitute of provisions and
clothing, many of them deserted and crossed the line to the
enemy. On 25 March the Thirty-fourth was thrown for-
ward to support the picket line, which was about one mile in
front of the main line of works. Superior numbers forced
us to fall back to the works, losing considerably in killed,
wounded and captured.

On 1 April, 1865, the regiment with the brigade, occupied
a position on the right, south of Hatcher's Run. We learned
soon after daylight that the Confederate lines between us and
Petersburg had been broken. After this saddening news the
regiment repulsed a force of Federal cavalry and then re-
treated to Southerland's Station, where a portion of Heth's
and Wilcox's divisions hastily constructed breastworks from a
rail fence behind which we repulsed two desperate assaults
of the enemy, killing and wounding a large number, and cap-
turing a stand of colors and many prisoners. Discovering
that we were vastly outnumbered we fell back to the Appomat-
tox river. There was no way of crossing the river except in a
small boat which was scarcely sufficient to carry the higher
officers.

The regiment marched all night and reached Amelia Court
House the next day. At this time the ranking officer was
Lieutenant-Colonel George ISTorment, of the Thirty-fourth
Regiment, from Mecklenburg county. Here we joined the
main army and General Lee provided for us the much-needed
rations. The regiment, with the brigade, protected the rear
of the army at Farmville, marching several miles in line of
battle, beating back the enemy's cavalry, and was the last to
cross the river. As we went out from the river a heavy artil-
lery fire was poured down upon the regiment. On the morn-
ing of 9 April the brigade was moving into line near Appo-
mattox Court House, and was in range of the enemy's mus-
ketry, when orders were passed along the line to cease firing.
All understood what it meant — the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia was to surrender. We then fell back to an open field,
near the famous apple tree.

The Confederate soldiery which had cast their fortunes
with the destiny of the South, had suffered untold and inde-

590 North Carolina Troops, ]861-'65.

scribable hardships and privations, but when their grand
chieftain rode in among them and announced the terms of sur-
render, the agony of soul and the depth of suffering exceeded
anything ever before endured in the cruel war. In the vast
array of ragged braves, whose courage and zeal had carried
them to the very mouths of the bronze war-dogs of the enemy,
not a dry eye could be seen anywhere. It seemed that they
preferred to make one last charge and become engulfed
in death, the last long sleep, to the painful duty of giving up
their tattered flag which had waved over them in so many
victories ; but all was over, and the remnant of two hundred
officers and men marched out and stacked their trusty mus-
kets, laid down their bullet-pierced flag, never again to be
unfurled in the rage of battle. Thus ended the great drama
in which the Thirty-fourth played no mean part. The regi-
ment deserves a more extensive history than this sketch,
which has been written almost entirely from memory ; which
must necessarily have dimmed with the recession of thirty
odd years ; and the writer regrets that he has not had access to
records from which to give the casualties of each battle in
which the regiment was engaged.

T. D. Lattimoee,
Shelby, N. C,

9 April, 1901.

THIETY-FIFTH REGIMENT.

1. M W. Ransom, Colonel. 6. Wm. H. S. BurRwyn, Captain, Co. H.

S. John G Jones, Colonel. 6. Robert B. Peebles, Adjutant.

3. J. T. Johnson, Colonel. 7. David G. Maxwell, Captain, Co. H.

4. Simon B. Taylor, Lieut.-Colonel. 8. P. J. Johnson, Captain, Co. K.

9. Walter Clark, 1st Lieut, and Adjutant.

THIRTT-PIFTH REGIMEfiT.

By WILLIAM H. S. BURGWYN, Captain, Company H.

This regiment was organized at Camp Mangum, near Ral-
eigh, N. C, 8 November, 1861. Its ten companies were re-
cruited in the following counties mentioned in order of Cap-
tain's commissions, viz. :

Company H, from Mecklenburg county, 3 September.
Company A, from Onslow county, 6 September.
Company B, from McDowell county, 11 September.
Company C, from Moore county, 12 September.
Company D, from Chatham county, 20 September.
Company E, from Person county, 25 September.
Company F, from Union county, 4 October.
Company G, from Henderson county, 5 October.
Company I, from Wayne county, 11 October.
Company K, from Catawba county, 15 October.

The Captain (John M. Alexander) of the Mecklenburg
company, resigned on 1 October, 1861, prior to the regimen-
tal formation (8 November, 1861.) The date of Captain
Hugh M. Dixon's commission, who succeeded him, was 10
October, ranking only the Captains of the companies from
Wayne and Catawba, and therefore the Mecklenburg com-
pany became Company H in the regimental organization, in-
stead of Company A.

According to "Moore's Roster of North Carolina Troops"
the total rank and file of these ten companies from first to
last aggregated as follows :

Company A, 136 ; Company B, 133, Company C, 130,
Company D, 147 ; Company E, 196 ; Company F, 128 ; Com-
G, 123 ; Company H, 188 ; Company I, 133, and Company
K, 156. Total, 1,4T0.

There were few officers or men in the regiment of distin-

592 North Carolina Troops, LSGl-'HS.

guished political position. The rank and file were chiefly
farmers and small merchants, comparatively very few were
owners of slaves ; but they were all descended from ancestors
whose fortunes and blood had been freely spent in the war
of the revolution ; they volunteered in obedience to the call
of their State to resist invasion ; they came with a firm deter-
mination to do their full duty. How heroically they per-
formed this duty will more fully appear in the following
sketch.

FIRST organization OF THE REGIMENT.

As the law was at the time for organizing the Confederate
volunteers in North Carolina, the enlisted men elected their
company officers, viz: Captain, one First and two Second
Lieutenants. These company officers elected their field officers,
viz. : Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel and Major. The Colonel
appointed the regimental staff, viz. : Surgeon, Assistant Sur-
geon, Quartermaster, Commissary and Adjutant.

The election for field officers was held on 8 November,
1861, at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh, under supervision of
that gallant officer and cultured gentleman. Major James
Iredell, commandant of the camp, subsequently elected Major
of the Fifty-third North Carolina regiment, and killed
at Spottsylvania.

This election resulted as follows :
Rev. James Sinclair, Colonel.
Marshall D. Ceaton, Lieutenant-Colonel.
Oliver Cromwell Petway^ Major.

Colonel Sinclair was the Chaplain of the Fifth North
Carolina Regiment. It was reported that at the battle of the
First Manassas, 21 July, 1861, Chaplain Sinclair had acted
with conspicuous bravery ; assisted in rallying his regiment ;
and been complimented by General Longstreet and presented
with a sword by that officer. These rumors, believed at the
time, though false in fact, doubtless had some influence in
securing his election, but it was subsequently apparent,
that even in those stirring times, when patriotism was
ablaze, and men were eager to get to the front, and only

Thirty-Fifth Regiment. 593

wanted good leaders, there was opportunity for trading
votes.

Colonel Sinclair appointed as Regimental Surgeon, Cap-
tain James R. Ellis, of Company K; as Assistant
Surgeon, Second Lieutenant Cader G. Cox, of Company A;
as Quartermaster, First Lieutenant Wm. M. Black, of Com-
pany C, and as Commissary, First Lieutenant John T. Ken-
nedy, of Company I. T. J. Gates was appointed Adjutant.

Lieutenant-Colonel Craton was at the time of his election
Captain of Company A, in the Twenty-seventh ISTorth Caro-
lina Regiment, from Wayne county, and Major Petway was
the Adjutant of the camp of instruction where the regiment
was organized. He had been appointed to that position by
Major Iredell's predecessor in command of the camp. Major
Harry K. Burgwyn.

Major Gliver Cromwell Petway was a cadet at the Vir-
ginia Military Academy at the breaking out of the war. He
was descended from the noted Crowell family of Halifax
county, ISTorth Carolina, whose ancestor was a brother of Gli-
ver Cromwell, after whose death and the restoration of Charles
the II, the family migrated to North Carolina, and dropping
the letter "m" went ever afterward by the name of "Crowell."

Major Petway was admirably qualified for the position,
and labored most faithfully to bring his regiment to a high
state of efiiciency. In his untimely death at Malvern Hill, 1
July, 1862, while gallantly leading his regiment, his Colonel,
Matt. W. Ransom, having been painfully wounded, the Con-
federacy lost one of its most meritorious young ofiicers.

The regiment remained at Camp Mangum, perfecting its
drill and discipline, until 3 January, 1862, when, at the re-
quest of General Gatling, commanding the Department, it
was sent to ITew Bern to take part in the defense of that strat-
egetically important city.

BATTLE OF NEW BEEN.

Having captured Roanoke Island (10 February, 1862)
General Burnside, early in March following, made his attack
on New Bern. That distinguisheid statesman, patriotic citi-
38

594 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

zen and subsequently accomplished soldier, Brigadier-General
L. O'B. Branch, whose death at Sharpsburg (17 September,
1862) cut short a career that gave promise of being one of the
most brilliant in the military annals of the State, was in im-
mediate command of the Confederate troops.

General Branch formed his line of defense at right angles
to the river, beginning at Fort Thompson on the ISTeuse, and
extending it across the country to near Brice's creek, his
troops being placed as follows : from left to right, commenc-
ing at the fort, viz. : Twenty-seventh, Thirty-seventh, Seventh,
Thirty-fifth ISTorth Carolina Eegiments, Militia, Twenty-
sixth jSTorth Carolina Kegiment with the Thirty-third North
Carolina Regiment in reserve. The batteries of Latham and
Brem, six pieces each, supported this line. About midway,
the line was intersected by the railroad from ISTew Bern to
Morehead City. At this point of intersection there was a
brickyard.

The Confederate line on the right (west) of the railroad,
instead of being a prolongation of that on the left (east), in
order to avail of some supposed natural advantages of the
ground and a small stream, was formed to the rear about one
hundred yards up the railroad, in the direction of New Bern.
This brickyard was in this interval, and had there been time,
would have been defended by earthworks and artillery. The
afternoon before the battle. Lieutenant James A. Bryan, ord-
nance officer on General Branch's staff, since so favorably
known in the State, brought down several pieces of artillery,
with ammunition and cartridges, with orders to Colonel H.
J. B. Clark, commanding the militia, to have the same
mounted. Had this order been carried out the next day's bat-
tle might have resulted differently.

The militia under Colonel Clark was posted at the brick-
yard to defend this interval ; on its left was placed the Thirty-
fifth Eegiment under command of Colonel Sinclair.

Burnside attacked early on the morning of 14 March, 1862.
After the battle had progressed for some time in a manner
encouraging to the Confederate commander, the enemy, per-
ceiving the weakness of the Confederate line at the brick-
yard, made a spirited attack at this point. The militia

Thirty-Fifth Regiment. 595

•'broke and fled." This demoralized the troops on their left,
and the enemy seizing the opportunity, advanced through
this break in the Confederate line.

The Thirty-fifth Regiment, according to General Branch's
official report, "quickly followed the example of the militia,
retreating in the utmost disorder."

The enemy now rushed his troops through the abandoned
works and enfilading the Confederates on either side, forced
them to retire; but not without a stubborn resistance from
five companies of the Thirty-seventh Regiment sent to replace
the fled militia; from the Thirty-third regiment sent to the
support of the Thirty-fifth and from the left wing of the
Twenty-sixth Regiment under command of its gallant Major,
Abner B. Carmichael, who here lost his life. With his center
pierced and the enemy now firing into his lines from the
rear. General Branch ordered a retreat upon New Bern;
and, after destroying the bridges across the river and the mili-
tary supplies in the city, continued his retreat upon Kinston,
where reinforcements were received and the troops re-organ-
ized during this and the subsequent month.

That it was attributable to want of leadership the Thirty-
fifth Regiment did not behave better on this, its first field of
battle, is established by the fact, that in every subsequent
battle of the war in which it was directly or remotely con-
nected, it never failed to act in such a manner as to deserve
and win the encomiums of its commanding officers ; and that
the conduct of their Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel at New
Bern was such as to cause the officers to lose all confidence in
their military capacity to lead them, is evidenced by the fact
that at the reorganization of the regiment (10 April, 1862),
neither of these officers were re-elected ; while the one who had
shown both capacity and bravery, the youthful Petway, was
advanced higher in command and elected Lieutenant-Colonel.

The rank and file of the regiment felt keenly the conduct of
their commanding officers and the injustice done th^m by this
want of leadership, and were impatient for any opportunity
to redeem themselves.

On the retreat to Kinston, when troops were called for to
act as a rear guard, Company D, of the regiment volunteered

596 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

its services. Says Colonel Sinclair in his official report of
the battle: "Special praise is due to Company D, com-
manded by Captain Lassiter, for the alacrity with which they
volunteered to defend our retreating columns when the ene-
my's cavalry was reported to be upon us." This gallant of-
ficer, Captain Hardy J. Lassiter, from Chatham county, was
soon to yield up his life on the battlefield, for he was killed
while leading his company in that memorable charge on Mal-
vern Hill (1 July, 1862).

On lY March, 1862, the Thirty-fifth regiment was made
a part of French's brigade, and on 9 April it was assigned to
a brigade to be commanded by Brigadier-General Robert Ran-
som, Jr., who had shortly before been ordered to North Caro-
lina to assist in reorganizing the troops assembled at Kin-
ston. The Thirty-fifth regiment was ever afterwards at-
tached to this famous brigade ; well might it say, in the words
of the Trojan Hero: "Magna, pars fui."

KBOEGANIZATIOlSr FOE THE WAR.

After five months of service and battle experience, the of-
ficers of the regiment were much better qualified to select a
commanding officer than when at Camp Mangum.

They realized how important, not only for their good name
but for their safety as well, it was to have a cool, brave, expe-
rienced and resourceful man at their head ; and after the ma-
turest deliberation, they unanimously chose as their Colonel,
Matt. W. Ransom, at the time Lieutenant-Colonel of the First
North Carolina State Troops, and then in command of his
regiment at Kinston.

This accomplished man and gallant soldier now known
to the country as an eminent statesman and brilliant orator,
who for more than twenty-one years represented his State in
the United States Senate and latterly minister plenipoten-
tiary of his country at the sister republic of Mexico, was then
known to his people as a young man who had graduated from
his State University with distinguished honors; had been
elected Attorney General when but a few years out of college,
member of the Legislature and rapidly taking rank as an ora-

Thirty-Fifth Regiment. 597

tor and advocate ; who had been selected as one of three com-
missioners to proceed to Montgomery and represent his State
before the Congress of the new Confederacy ; who had volun-
teered among the first, and appointed to high conmiand in a
regiment enlisted for the war, and in the short time of his
military service had won the confidence of his superiors and
admiration of his men. It was greatly feared by the officers of
the Thirty-fifth Regiment that Colonel Ransom would decline.
His friends urged him to do so. His own regiment was loath
to part with him. Major-General Holmes, the Department
Commander and his personal friend, advised him not to ac-
cept, stating among other reasons, that the Colonel of
the regiment would be sure to lose his life. That for the next
battle or two the regiment would feel the demoralization of its
conduct at New Bern and probably require to be rallied and
its commander to greatly expose himself and he would njost
likely be killed. This suggestion of his friend and com-
mander decided the matter, but not as General Holmes
wished. Thanking the General for his friendly interest, Col-
onel Ransom remarked that he had been in doubt about ac-
cepting the place, but "your statement of the situation
makes plain my duty in 'the premises." Leaving General
Holmes' presence Colonel Ransom notified the committee that
he would accept the position.

When it became known that Colonel Ransom was to leave
them, the officers of his old regiment presented him with a
handsome sword as a testimonial of their respect and esteem.

As before stated. Major Petway had been unanimously
elected Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain John G. Jones, of
Company E, was elected Major, thus completing the reorgani-
zation of the regiment as it re-enlisted for the war.

Colonel Ransom appointed his regimental staff, viz. : As
Surgeon, Dr. Chas. J. O'Hagan, at that time Assistant Sur-
geon of the First Cavalry, appointed by General Robert Ran-
som, Jr., then Colonel of that famous command; as Quarter-
master, Captain Nicholas M. Long, who subsequently re-
signed and was succeeded in December, 1862, by Captain
Joseph M. Rogers ; as Commissary, Dr. Chas. J. Gee, and as
Adjutant, Mr. Nelson, of Wayne county, who had been a

598 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

cadet at West Point. This gentleman resigned in July
1862, and was succeeded by Lieutenant Walter Clark.

Adjutant Walter Clark, since so favorably and well known
as a learned lawyer, accomplished jurist, publicist, editor and
author, was a cadet at Colonel Tew's Military Academy at
Hillsboro when the war broke out. Leaving the academy in
June, 1861, at the age of 14 he joined the Twenty-second reg-
iment, J. J. Pettigrew, Colonel, as drill master, accompanied
the regiment to Virginia, and was stationed at Evansport, on
the Acquia Creek.

In November of the same year he is again drill master at
Camp Mangum and acting as Adjutant of the Thirty-fifth
Regiment just then being organized. When the regiment
was ordered to New Bern he returned to Colonel Tew's
academy, and 1 August, 1862, was appointed by Colonel
Ransom Adjutant of his regiment, and joined the command
as it was entering upon the Maryland campaign of 1862. Was
with the regiment in that campaign and at Fredericksburg
acting with gallantry and efficiency in the battles of Sharps-
burg and Fredericksburg. On the return of the brigade to
North Carolina in February, 1863,, he resigned and went
to Chapel Hill, where he graduated 2 June, 1864. Was
elected Major of a battalion of iive companies of Junior Re-
serves the day after his graduation and 3 July 1864, was
elected Lieutenant-Colonel of the Seventieth North Carolina
Regiment, probably the youngest officer of that rank in either
army, being then 17 years of age.

In May, 1862, Captain Hugh M. Dixon, of Company H,
resigned and First Lieutenant David G. Maxwell was pro-
moted to be Captain and Silas C. Hunter and J. R. Baker
made First and Second Lieutenants respectively of the com-
pany.

SEVEN" PINES AND MALVEEN HILL.

Until ordered to join General Jos. E. Johnston's army de-
fending Richmond, Ransom's brigade remained in and
around Kinston, N. C, perfecting its drill and discipline and
defending our lines in eastern North Carolina. It -will not

Thirty-Fifth Regiment. 599

be considered out of place here to refer to our brigade com-
mander, General Eobert Eansom, Jr.

This distinguished soldier from the Old ISTorth Stat© was
born at the home of his ancestors in Warren county. He
chose the military as his profession, and was educated at
West Point. Selecting the cavalry as his arm of the service,
he had risen to be a Captain in the Second Dragoons when
the war broke out.

At once resigning from the United States army on the se-
cession of ISTorth Carolina, he determined to flash his sword in
defense of his native State, and offered his services to Gov-
ernor Ellis; was appointed Colonel of the First Cavalry,
which became under his management one of the best drilled,
most efficient and the finest looking cavalry regiment in the
army of Northern Virginia. It never lost under its several
successive commanders this proud distinction.

Appointed Brigadier General, he was sent at once to Kin-
ston, after the fall of New Bern, to help reorganize the troops
in camp there, and was put in command of a brigade, ever
afterward to bear his name. Applying the same administra-
tive ability and rigid discipline to his infantry brigade that
he had exercised towards his cavalry regiment, the brigade
rapidly became welded into a well drilled and disciplined
command, ready and eager to see more active service in the
great theatre of war then raging around the capital of the
Confederacy. This wish of the commander and of his brig-
ade was soon to be gratified, and in June, 1862, Brigadier-
General Robert Eansom, Jr., with his brigade, was ordered to
Virginia and assigned to Huger's Division. The brigade as
now organized, was composed of the Twenty-fourth, Twenty-
fifth, Twenty-sixth, Thirty-fifth and Forty-ninth North Car-
olina Eegiments.

From 25 to 28 June the brigade was involved in some sharp
minor engagements with General Philip Kearney's division
on the Williamsburg road in the neighborhood of King's
School House on the scene of the battle of Seven Pines. It
was part of Magruder's command, though it belonged regu^
larly to Huger's division, which assaulted Malvern Hill at
the close of the day, 1 July, 1862.

600 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

Speaking of this assault, General D. H. Hill says, and
General Hill never was lavish of his praise :

"I never saw anything more grandly heroic than this ad-
vance after snnset of the nine brigades under Magruder's or-
ders. Unfortunately they did not move together, and were
beaten in detail.

"As each brigade emerged from the woods from fifty to one
hundred guns opened upon it, tearing great gaps in its ranks ;
but the heroes reeled on and were shot down by the reserves at
the guns which a few squads reached."

In this charge the Thirty-fifth Eegiment lost both its com-
manders. Colonel Kansom was twice wounded, first through
the right arm rendering it powerless, and then in the right
side by a piece of shell.

Turning over the command to Lieutenant-Colonel Petway,
Colonel Ransom lay upon the field only to hear in a few
minutes that his gallant Lieutenant-Colonel was killed lead-
ing the regiment up the hill.

Here also fell, with many others, Captain Hardy J. Las-
siter, of Company D, heretofore mentioned.

Probably no regiment of Magruder's command suffered
more in killed and wounded on this ever-memorable assault
than the Thirty-fifth, and being its first battle after New
Bern, then and there established its reputation for unsur-
passed fortitude and intrepidity in battle ; a reputation main-
tained from Malvern Hill to Appomattox.

Major John G. Jones now became Lieutenant-Colonel and
Captain John M. Kelly of Company C, was promoted to be
Major, and Pirst Lieutenant Evander McN. Blue to be Cap-
tain of the company.

MAEYLAITD CAMPAIGN OF 1862.

When General Lee's army left Richmond to meet the Fed-
eral general. Pope, at the Second Manassas, Ransom's brig-
ade remained with the troops left behind to defend Rich-
mond and Petersburg, and to assist in the construction of
the fortifications around those cities. Colonel Vance of the
Twenty-sixth Regiment, having been elected Governor of
North Carolina, at his request and others, his old regiment

Thirty-Fifth Regiment. 601

on 26 August, 1862, was transferred to Martin's and subse-
quently to Pettigrew's brigade, and in the spring of 1863
the Fifty-sixth North Carolina Eegiment, Paul F. Faison
Colonel, was assigned to take its place, and thereafter, Ean-
som's Brigade was composed of the Twenty-fourth, Twenty-
fifth, Thirty-fifth, Forty-ninth and Fifty-sixth North Caro-
lina Regiments.

On 27 August, 1862, the brigade left Richmond en route
to join Lee's army, then invading Maryland, and with Walk-
er's brigade, composed of the Twenty-seventh, Forty-sixth,
Forty-eighth North Carolina, the Third Arkansas, and the
Thirtieth Virginia Regiments, under command of Brigadier-
General J. G. Walker, formed "Walker's Division" during
this campaign.

We reached the Potomac River 7 September, 1862, and
waded through at Cheek's Ford, where it was about a quarter
of a mile wide and waist deep. There was great enthusiasm,
and as the men would step on the Maryland shore they gave
the "rebel yell."

After marching as far as the Monocacy River, we were or-
dered back to blow up the aqueduct over the canal, and on
the 11th recrossed the Potomac at Point of Rocks, and, march-
ing in the direction of a little town called Hillsboro, on the
Harper's Ferry road, we reached and occupied Loudon
Heights on 14 September. The batteries of our division
from those heights shelled the enemy in Harper's Ferry until
that place surrendered on the 15th. That same day we
marched twelve miles toward the Shenandoah, and that night
at 1 a. m. started for Shepherdstown, and at 1 a. m. on the
16th crossed into Maryland, wading the Potomac for the
third time within nine days.

BATTLE OF SHAEPSBUEG.

At 3 a. m. on 17 September, 1862, we were aroused and
marched to take our position in line for what was to be one
of the great battles of the war. Our brigade was first moved
to the extreme right of Lee's army, but about 9 a. m. it was or-
dered to the left to support Jackson.

Quoting from "Confederate Military History," Vol. 4:

602 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

"The second stage of the battle was now reached. Hooker
has retired, Mansfield has been brought to a stand; Jack-
son, worn and exhausted, has rested; Hood's brigade has
been so cut to pieces that when its dauntless commander was
asked, 'where is your brigade ?' he answered : 'Dead on the
field.' D. H. Hill's three brigades have been drawn in and
only a small force guards the Confederate left — not enough
to stop a brigade, when Sedgwick and Sumner in the lead
with his three brigades, moved towards the Dunkard Church.

"Just then, Walker at the head of his six North Carolina,
one Arkansas and one Virginia Regiments, charged head-long
upon the left flank of Sedgwick's lines. Taken at such dis-
advantage and in spite of the heroic bravery of Sumner and
Sedgwick the division was driven off to the north with terri-
ble loss."

Says General Eobert Eansom in his ofiicial report of the
battle : "About 9 a. m. we were ordered to the left to support
Jackson. Passed along the rear of our entire line of battle
and arrived about 10 a. m. near the woods which the com-
mands of Hood and Early were struggling heroically to hold,
but gradually and sullenly were yielding to the irresistible
weight of overwhelming numbers."

In his ofiicial report General Walker says : "General Ran-
som's brigade having driven the enemy through and from
the woods with heavy loss, continued with his own brigade
and Colonel Hall's Forty-sixth North Carolina Regiment to
hold it for the greater portion of the day, notwithstanding
three determined infantry attacks, which each time were re-
pulsed with great loss to the enemy, and against a most per-
sistent and terrific artillery fire, by which the enemy hoped,
doubtless, to drive us from our strong position, the very key
of the battlefield. His hopes, however, were not realized.
True to their duty, for eight hours our brave men lay upon the
ground taking advantage of such undulations and shallow
ravines as gave promise of partial shelter, while this fearful
storm raged a few feet above their heads, tearing the trees
asunder, lopping off huge branches and filling the air with
shrieks and explosions, realizing to the fullest the fearful sub-
limity of battle.

Thirty-Fifth Regiment. 603

"During this time, in the temporary absence of General
Kansom to post the Twenty-fourth regiment, which had gone
too much to the left, the enemy made a furious attack with
heavy masses of infantry upon the position occupied by Gen-
eral Ransom.

"Colonel Ransom, of the Thirty-fifth ISTorth Carolina, in
temporary command of the brigade, not only repulsed the en-
emy, but pursued him across the field as far as the post and
rail fences, inflicting upon him so severe a punishment that
no other attempt with infantry was made on the position
during the day." In this charge, Lieutenant-Colonel E. A.
Palfrey, of the Nineteenth Massachusetts, and two other offi-
cers, were captiired by Adjixtant Clark and Lieutenant (after-
wards Captain) S. G. Howie, of Company F. Colonel Pal-
frey, who was wounded, had a beautiful sword with an in-
scription that it had been presented to him by the town of
Concord, and he asked that it might be preserved. He was
exchanged, became a General and wrote a work, "Antietam
and Fredericksburg." After the war he wrote General Ran-
som (then in the United States Senate) in regard to his
sword, who had it traced up and returned to him.

The Thirty-fifth Regiment nobly bore its part in this try-
ing ordeal. Early in the action while advancing on the en-
emy, the regiment had to surmount a strong post and rail
fence. Subjected to a heavy fire of artillery and small arms,
while forming for the charge after getting over the fence, the
regiment apparently was in some confusion. Fearing his
men were wavering, Colonel Ransom, who was on horseback,
with his right arm in a sling, spurred to the color-bearer and
called for the flag. This was seized by one of the young of-
ficers of the regiment and handed to the Colonel, who, calling
upon the men to be firm and follow him, went forward.
Without hesitation the regiment advanced and drove the en-
emy from its front with great loss ; and at no time during the
battle was there any wavering or hesitation.

During a lull in the battle General Jackson, with General
J. E. B. Stuart, visited our lines, which were in the famous
"West Woods." General Jackson had on an old worn uni-

604 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

form, his slouch hat was pulled down over his eyes, and he
was riding a mighty sorry-looking claybank horse.

He rode up to where Colonel Kansom was standing and
said he wanted him to advance and take a battery that was in
sight. Colonel Eansom replied he would do so if he ordered
it, but that he was afraid he would fail. Jackson replied
he had just witnessed his charge upon that battery and he
thought if he would try again he could take it. Colonel Kan-
som replied he had tried it and when he got on top of the hill
he saw what he thought was the greater part of McClellan's
army behind it. Jackson asked : "Have you a good climber
in your command ?" Colonel Kansom called for volunteers,
and Private Wm. S. Hood, Company H, jumped up and said
he could climb. Jackson picked out a tall hickory tree and
told him to go up it. Hood pulled off his shoes in a jiffy
and went up like a squirrel. When he got near the top Jack-
son, sitting on his horse, under the tree, asked him: "How
many troops are over there." Hood uttering an exclama-
tion of amazement, replied : "Oceans of them." Jackson
sternly said: "Count the ilags, sir!" Hood began: "One,
two, three, four, etc., etc." General Jackson repeating after
him the numbers until he had counted thirty-nine, when Jack-
son said: "That will do, come dovsTi, sir." All this time the
enemy's sharpshooters were firing at Hood.

General Jackson then turned to Colonel Kansom and asked
him what made him charge that battery with all those troops
defending it. Colonel Kansom answered that he saw a very
large body of troops preparing to charge him, which he could
not resist, and he determined to charge them first as the best
means of preventing their attack; but he did not know the
strength of the enemy until in the charge he reached the hill
where the battery was and saw the force of the enemy be-
hind it.

As he was leaving General Jackson gave orders to renew
the attack when "the rattle of his small arms should be
heard," as he expected to attack the enemy on his left flank.
This attack was never made.

In recognition of his daring. Private Hood was made or-
derly to General Kansom immediately after the battle, and

Thirty-Fifth Regiment. 605

faithfully discharged his duties as orderly for the brigade,
until at the assault on Fort Steadman, 25 March, 1865, he
was killed charging the enemy's works.

Among our killed in this battle was the dashing Captain
Walter M. Bryson, of Company G. Lieutenant John J. Case
succeeded him as Captain. Lieutenant Case was at home, a
poor tailor, barely making a living ; he had no social position
and was quite ignorant of letters. He was popular with
his men, but not esteemed among his fellow officers because of
his record at home. At this battle, his conduct was so con-
spicuously gallant as to attract Colonel Ransom's attention.
He proved himself to be the gamest of the game, and was pro-
moted Captain against the protest of a number of the officers,
Colonel Ransom being his staunch advocate.

When this sketch appeared in the papers, it being the
request of Judge Clark that these histories should be pub-
lished in the newspapers so that errors might be detected and
corrected prior to their final publication in the State's his-
tory, it brought a communication from Captain D. G. Max-
well, of Charlotte, which is so interesting and does such jus-
tice to a gallant young Confederate soldier boy. Private Wm.
S. Hood, that the writer has concluded to incorporate Captain
Maxwell's communication as part of the record of the regi-
ment, and as a personal tribute to the young soldier with
whom he had the honor to serve in the same company.
Says he :

THIETT FIFTH AT SHAEPSBTJEG.

"In Sunday's (13 August, 1899) issu.e of the Raleigh Post
was published a sketch of the Thirty-fifth North Carolina
Regiment in the war between the States, by Colonel W. H. S.
Burgwyn, in which there are several incidents of the battle of
Sharpsburg in regard to Colonel Matt. W. Ransom, Adjutant
Walter Clark, First Lieutenant W. H. S. Burgwyn and Pri-
vate William S. Hood, of Company H, that Colonel Burgwyn
neglects to mention. Modesty prevents him from making a
personal allusion, and as to the others doubtless he had for-
gotten, but General Matt. Ransom has not forgotten them, for
in a conversation with the writer a few years ago he said that

606 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

he distinctly remembered the incidents, and I am confident
that Judge Walter Clark ("Little Clark," as he was en-
dearingly called by the men of the regiment, a mere boy, bare-
ly 16 years old, and Adjutant) has not forgotten them, for he
has a memento engraved upon one of his hands which will
never efface from his mind the scenes of that bloody day.

When going into the fight that morning the field officers
had all dismounted except "Little Clark," who persistently
sat in his saddle when a big mountain private, I think from
Company B, ran forward and pulled the Adjutant from his
horse, exclaiming: "Git off'n this horse, you darned little
fool, you'll git killed," when a minie ball struck Clark on the
hand, the mark of which I think can be seen today. Just
prior to this, our regiment had filed throiigh a gap and
in forming line of battle by changing front forward on the
first company, in their eagerness to get into line several com-
panies became entangled and seemingly confused, when Col-
onel Matt. W. Eansom called for the colors. Being in com-
mand of the two color companies (C. and H) I ordered Stew-
art, the color-bearer (a veteran of the Mexican war) to give
the colors to Colonel Eansom. His reply was, "I'll be d — d
if I do it." Then Burgwyn and I took the colors from him
and Lieutenant Burgwyn carried them forward and gave
them to Colonel Eansom, who was still mounted on his horse
in front of the regiment, ajad called to Lieutenant-Colonel
John Gr. Jones to tell his wife and children, if killed, that he
carried the colors of his regiment in this charge. Fortu-
nately, however, Colonel Eansom was not wotmded in this
fight, although exposed and under fire nearly the whole day.
Late in the afternoon, when we had charged and driven the
gunners from the battery on the hill in our front and could
not hold it on account of flank batteries that seemed to con-
centrate their fire upon the abandoned battery, we retreated
to our original position, about 300 yards, at foot of a hill in
the woods. In a few minutes thereafter a Yankee officer,
mounted on a bob-tail horse, rode up to the abandoned bat-
tery, apparently to view our position, when I suppose 100
guns were fired at him. He sat unconcernedly upon his
horse, when Colonel Eansom cried out : "Cease firing ; don't

Thirty-Fifth Regiment. 607

shoot that brave man!" The Yankee officer, wheeling, re-
treated as deliberately as he had come. A short time there-
after, the firing having ceased in our immediate front and be-
fore Private Hood, of my company, had volunteered to climb
the tree for General Jackson, Colonel Matt. W. Ransom came
to my company (we were all lying down) and ordered me to
detail the best man in my company to go forward and ascer-
tain the position and movements of the enemy. Immediately
young Hood sprang to his feet and asked permission to go,
and as he struck a "turkey trot" across the field with his gun
at a trail, I could see a smile of admiration upon the face of
the old Roman when he asked the name of the boy soldier, and
commanded me to lie down, and to report to him upon Hood's
return. Hood was gone for at least an hour (which was a
long time imder such circumstances), so long that Colonel
Ransom and T were both uneasy as to his fate. Finally Hood
returned and gave such a satisfactory statement as to all that
he had seen, that Colonel Ransom complimented him and or-
dered him to return to his company. Hood told me that on
the field among the dead and wounded he found a Federal
field officer badly wounded and crying for water. He gave
the officer his canteen of water. The officer offered to give
Hood his gold watch and chain and all the money he had to
carry him within our lines for treatment. Hood told him
that it was an impossibility; but when he encountered the
Yankee pickets he informed them of this officer's condition
and proposed to conduct them to the place where the officer
was lying, which proposition was readily accepted. The of-
ficer was laid upon a stretcher and carried within the Federal
lines. Hood could easily have been captured, but his magna-
nimity and kindness towards this wounded officer gained for
him the admiration of the Federal pickets, who treated him
kindly, gave him coffee and allowed him to return to his com-
mand. (Could any but American soldiers have done this ?)
A short time after Hood's return General Jackson asked
Colonel Ransom for a man to climb a tree. Hood again vol-
unteered, as Colonel Burgwyn states, except that he did not
"take his shoes off in a jiffy," from the fact that he had no
shoes on his feet, they being so sore he could not wear any.

608 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

He was not only barefooted but ragged, dirty and lousy. His
condition, however, was not an exception, as "there were
others."

After our retreat across the Potomac, on the morning of
20 September, Lieutenant Burgwyn and I were calling upon
some officers of the regiment and when returning to our com-
pany Orderly Sergeant Campbell informed us that General
Robert Eansom had called for me and left an order for Pri-
vate Hood to report to him. Soon thereafter we resumed our
march towards Martinsburg, Va. I saw nothing more of
Hood until late in the afternoon, when General Robert Ean-
som was passing our regiment at the gallop, Hood following
him, mounted upon one of General Ransom's horses with
spurs on his bare feet. He lifted his old greasy cap and
saluted iis as he passed. He remained with General Eansom
as a courier until Colonel Matt. W. Ransom was promoted to
Brigadier-General, with whom he remained until killed at
Fort Steadman, 25 March, 1865. He was buried on the field
clothed in one of General Ransom's uniforms.

Both of the Generals Ransom were very much attached to
Hood and every time General Matt, was wounded Hood ac-
companied him to the hospital and to his home and remained
with him until able to return to his command. He was a
handsome boy, only 16 years old when enlisted; black eyes,
long black hair, fair skin, indeed a noble type of a Southern
lad. He wrote a beautiful hand and the writer often had
him detailed to assist in making out reports, pay rolls, etc.
He was a son of A. I. Hood, of Clear Creek Township, Meck-
lenburg county, who moved to Tyler, Texas, soon after the
war. D. G. Maxwell,

Late Captain Co. H, Thirty-fifth IST. C. Regiment.

Charlotte, E". C, 10 January, 1900."

On 18 September our brigade occupied the same woods we
held on the day before, and late that night we silently re-
treated, to the Potomac, crossing at Shepherdstown, and
marched in the direction of Martinsburg ; and from there to
the neighborhood of Winchester, where we remained in biv-
oxiac until 23 October. While here, in recognition of his

Thirty-Fifth Regiment. 609

gallantry and abilities as an officer, and as an expression of
their respect and esteem, the officers of his brigade, on 20 Oc-
tober, presented General Robert Ransom with a magnificent
horse.

Colonel Ransom, who had not fully recovered from the ef-
fects of his wounds received at Malvern Hill, was obliged
to go home for treatment, and on 14 October, at dress parade,
he made an eloquent speech to his men, complimenting them
for their fortitude on their many weary marches since the
campaign opened, and for their bravery in the late battle, and
commended them to the favorable consideration of their brig-
ade commander with the assurance that he would return at
the earliest moment.

MILLWOOD, PARIS, UPPEEVILLE.

On 23 October, 1862, we broke camp and marching through
Culpepper Court House and Madison Court House, we ar-
rived near Fredericksburg on 23 JSTovember, where we went
into camp to await the pending battle at that place. While
on this march, orders were received to discharge all men un-
der 18 and over 40 years of age, and some fifty men were
sent home in this way.

BATTLE OF FEEDEEICKSBUEG.

At 4 a. m. 11 December, 1862, we heard the two signal
guns which it had been agreed upon would announce that
General Burnside had commenced his attack, and we hur-
riedly took up our march for the line of battle.

In this battle Brigadier-General Robert Ransom, Jr., com-
manded a division consisting of his own and Cooke's Brigade.
This latter brigade was composed of the Fifteenth, Twenty-
seventh, Forty-sixth and Forty-eighth ISTorth Carolina Reg-
iments.

To General Ransom was assigned the defence of the posi-
tion on Marye's and Willis' Heights, occupied by the Wash-
ington artillery. At the foot of these heights ran a road with
a stone wall on the side facing the city, from which direction
liie enemy advanced to make their attacks. Behind this

39

610 North Cabolina Troops, 1861-65.

stone wall Cobb's brigade was placed, with Eansom's Divis-
ion supporting him, posted in rear and in close supporting
distance of the batteries on Marye's and Willis' heights. The
Twenty-fourth North Carolina Regiment was placed on the
right of Cobb's Brigade behind the wall and the Twenty-fifth
North Carolina Regiment advanced to the crest of the hill.

From about 11 a. m. until dark the enemy made his as-
saults to carry these heights.. In no one of them was he suc-
cessful. His loss was fearful.

At one time it became necessary to supply Cobb's men
with ammunition, and two regiments of Cooke's Brigade,
Twenty-seventh and Forty-sixth North Carolina, were sent to
his support, and near the close of the contest the Twenty-fifth
North Carolina Regiment "took position, shoulder to shoul-
der," with those brave men behind the stone wall, which Gen-
eral Bumside had attempted so many times during the day,
with desperate gallantry, to capture.

The Confederate army in this battle, owing to its defensive
fight, did not suffer in proportion to the enemy, and the loss
in the Thirty-fifth North Carolina Regiment was not large in
numbers, but the deaths of the "modest, but brave and manly"
Major John M. Kelly, of Lieutenant W. H. Holt of Company
D, and of Lieutenant John H. Conley, of Company B, were
greatly deplored.

Captain James T. Johnston, of Company K, now became
Major by virtue of his seniority, and his First Lieutenant,
Philip J. Johnston, was promoted to be Captain of the com-
pany.

After returning to our camp. General Robert Ransom, on
18 December, called the officers of his brigade to his tent to
solicit their charity for the people of Fredericksburg. The
general headed the list with one hundred dollars, one-third
of his month's pay. This generous example of their com-
mander was generally followed by the officers of the brigade.
I am not aware of an instance of like generosity on the p^rt
of a Confederate brigade.

WINTER OF 1862-1863.
On 3 January, 1863, the brigade at daybreak took up its

Thirty-Fifth Regiment. 611

march, ostensibly, for a new camp. The men started out
loaded down with camp impedimenta and winter quarters fix-
ings, but marching past the site selected for the camp, we
halted only after a fifteen mile march. As we marched,
one by one, the planks, breadtrays, stools, water buckets, etc.,
etc., were grudgingly discarded until at the end of the day's
march, while our impedimenta was gone, our hearts were
light with the hope that we were on the way to JSTorth Caro-
lina. This proved to be true, for after marching through
Richmond we took the cars at Petersburg for Kenansville, N.
C, our destination.

On the return of the brigade to Worth Carolina, Adjutant
Walter Clark resigned, and on 13 May, 1863, Lieutenant
Robert B. Peebles, of Company E, Fifty-sixth North Caro-
lina Regiment, was appointed by Colonel Ransom to suc-
ceed him.

When the war broke out Lieiitenant Peebles was a student
at the State University ; was easily among the brightest men
in one of the largest classes that had ever been in the insti-
tution, taking the first distinction in all his studies. Having
completed his junior year, he at once joined the company
that was being raised in his county (Northampton) and was
appointed Orderly Sergeant, and soon promoted to be Sec-
ond Lieutenant; he remained with the company until ap-
pointed adjutant of the Thirty-fifth Regiment. From this
time on until the surrender at Appomattox, when he was
Captain and Assistant Adjutant General on General Matt.
W. Ransom's staff, he practically was never absent from duty,
participating in every battle or skirmish in which his regi-
ment or command was engaged, and always acting in such a
manner as to inspire the confidence of his superiors and win
the admiration of his men.

No duty was too arduous and no detail too perilous for him
to undertake, and on the first opportunity he received de-
served promotion, and succeeded as chief of the brigade staff,
the lamented Captain Sterling Gee, killed at Five Forks, 1
April, 1865.

On that dreadful night of 17 June, 1864, when the enemy,
after carrying our outer lines advanced to capture Petersburg,

612 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'66.

and the fall of the city seemed assured, Kansom's Brigade
was ordered to the support of General Wise. About mid-
night it became the duty of the Thirty-fifth Regiment to
charge and drive the enemy from the captured works. Here
the regiment sustained dreadful loss. Its Colonel, J. Gr-
Jones, was killed, and the larger part of the regiment killed
and wounded, and many captured.

Adjutant Peebles not knowing, in the darkness and con-
fusion, who was in command, assumed to act himself, and
after a hand to hand encounter at breastworks, several hun-
dred of the enemy surrendered to less than one-half that num-
ber of the survivors of the Thirty-fifth.

Again, at the assault on Fort Steadman (25 March, 1865)
and in the retreat from Petersburg, Adjutant, now Captain
Peebles, was conspicuous for his gallantry and soldierly bear-
ing. Since the war Captain Peebles has achieved enviable
distinction as a successful lawyer and is a recognized leadei*
in the Democratic party of his State.

Ransom's Brigade in the spring of 1863 was in the De-
partment of North Carolina, General D. H. Hill command-
ing, and stationed at different times at Goldsboro, Kinston
and Wilmington. While in bivouac at Kinston (14 April,
1863) and guarding the roads leading from New Bern at
Core Creek, Gum Swamp and Wise's Fork, complaint was
made by a lady that some of her chickens had been stolen by
the soldiers. The men having been identified as belonging to
a company of the Thirty-fifth Regiment the Captain of that
company was ordered to have the chickens paid for. This in-
cident is an ilkistration of how careful the Confederate au-
thorities were to prevent depredations by the soldiers.

About the first of June, 1863, the brigade was ordered to
Virginia and camped near Petersburg, and later was sent to
work on the fortifications at City Point.

At this time General Robert Ransom was promoted to be
Major-General, and on 15 June Colonel Matt. W. Ransom,
who had been unanimously recommended by the officers of
the Twenty-fifth, Thirty-fifth, Forty-ninth and Fifty-sixth
Regiments of the brigade as his successor, was promoted Brig-
adier-General over the three senior Colonels in the brigade.

Thirty-Fifth Regiment. 613

On his return to camp that day, the officers of the regi-
ment called on General Ransom in a hody to express their
congratulations on his deserved promotion and their regrets
at losing him as their commander. The Surgeoi., Dr.
O'Hagan, was our spokesman. After the gentlemen
had left his tent, General Ransom remarked to a friend that
he was so much embarrassed by the complimentar}'
things said of him by the eloquent doctor that in his reply
he "made the meanest speech of his life."

Lieutenant-Colonel Jones now became Colonel, Major
Johnston Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain S. B. Taylor, of
Company A, Major by seniority of rank; First Lieutenant
Henry W. Humphrey was promoted to be Captain of the
company.

At this time Captain David G. Maxwell, of Company H,
who had volunteered among the first and had held the posi-
tions of Second and First Lieutenant and Captain of his
company, and was greatly endeared to his men and respected
by his brother officers, was forced to resign from ill health,
the medical examining board unanimously approving the
same. Captain Maxwell's departure was much regretted by
officers and men, not only of his company, but of the entire
regiment.

First Lieutenant Wm. H. S. Burgwyn was promoted to be
Captain of the company, which position he held until trans-
ferred in January, 1864, to the staff of Clingman's Brigade.

ENGAGEMENT AT BOON^S MILL^ N. C.

In July, 1863, Ransom's, Jenkins' and Cooke's Brigades
were in Ransom's (Robert, Jr.) division. Department of
Richmond.

While the battle of Gettysburg was being fought (1-3 July,
1863) this division was at Bottom Bridge under General D.
H. Hill to meet the enemy advancing on Richmond from
Williamsburg, Va.

While in camp near Petersburg, Va., on 27 July, 1863,
the advance of Coionel Spear from Winton on Weldon, being
known, Ransom's Brigade was ordered to Garysburg.
The Thirty-fifth regiment left that same afternoon on the

614 North Qakolina Troops, 1861-65.

mail train, arriving that night. General Eansom left the
same night on an engine. Reaching Garysburg at daybreak,
he found there a section of artillery with two guns, which he
ordered down to Boon's Mill, distant seven miles, where the
main road from Jackson to Garysburg and Weldon crosses
the swamp. Four companies of the Twenty-fourth regi-
ment, in command of Lieutenant-Colonel Harris, had pre^
ceded him to the miU.

Detailing Captain Burgwyn, of Company H, Thirty-fifth
Eegiment, whose home was in the county, to mount a squad of
his company and go on a scouting expedition, there being no
cavalry near at hand, early in the morning of 28 July, 1863,
General Eansom, with his staff, proceeded to Jackson, distant
ten miles, to obtain information of the enemy's movements.
About 12 :30 p. m. he left Jackson to return to Boon's Mill
to make disposition to meet Colonel Spear, who was reported
rapidly advancing. When General Eansom had gotten about
half a mile distant a great shout was heard in the direction of
Jackson and, stopping to ascertain the cause, the enemy's cav-
alry were seen charging over the hill about 150 yards dis-
tant.

It was now a question as to whose horses were the fastest, as
two miles or more lay between the Confederate commander
and his men, who were taking their ease, ignorant of the per-
ilous situation of their General. The horses of the General
and his staff being fresh the enemy did not gain on them,
though in reach of and subject to the enemy's fire all during
the pursuit.

Dashing at full speed across the bridge, General Ransom
called out to have the planks taken up and the men to fall in
ranks. The enemy, seeing the situation and more or less
disorganized from the pursuit, halted to reform their columns
for attack. This gave time for the Confederate infantry,
most of whom were bathing in the mill pond, to get their guns,
and in a few minutes order was restored and our lines estab-
lished. The enemy now brought up his artillery and for an
hour or more shelled the Confederate position. Dismount-
ing his cavalry. Colonel S. P. Spear attempted an advance
down the road to the mill, which was met by a quick fire from

Thikty-Fifth Regiment. 615

our men and this advance checked. About this time Lieuten-
ant Vassar, of the Macon Light Artillery, with two guns, ar-
rived from Garysburg, which were put in position behind
some earthworks erected by General French the year before.
They at once opened fire. By this time the fight was hot.
The enemy now attempted to carry our position by an at-
tack on the right and left flanks, and succeeded under cover
of the thick swamp undergrowth in getting their men directly
in our rear across the pond, which curves here nearly at right
angles. This movement was promptly met by advancing the
artillery to the front and shelling the woods with grape and
canister and by a brave fire from the infantry. The fight
had now lasted some five hours. Foiled in his expectation to
surprise the Confederates and reach the Weldon bridge with-
out serious opposition. Colonel Spear late in the evening
withdrew and during the night retreated through Jackson,
whence he came. This repulse of Colonel Spear, whose force
consisted of a "brigade of cavalry and nine pieces of artil-
lery," with a supporting force of infantry at Winton, 'N. C,
by not more than two hundred Confederate infantry with
two pieces of artillery, was not only a brilliant military
achievement of the greatest moment, as a defeat of the Con-
federates would have resulted in the destruction of the rail-
road bridge over the Roanoke at Weldon, which was one of
the main lines of railroad connecting Richmond and the
South, and in the occupation by the enemy of a large section
of the richest portion of the State, from which the Confeder-
ate government largely drew its supplies ; but also preserved
this section of North Carolina ever afterwards from the en-
emy's presence. The crops of 1863 and 1864 were saved to
the people as if no war was raging near them, and the slave
population remained quietly at work on the plantations
during the balance of the war.

This victory, coming so soon after his promotion, was
doubly gratifying to General Ransom's friends, and the fact
that his home lay less than two miles distant, whence the
sound of the guns and the noise of the battle were trem-
blingly listened t6 by his delicate wife and small children, af-
fords a striking illustration of the nature of this contest

616 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

waged by the Southern people, in which truly it may be said
they were fighting "for their altars and their fires, God, and
their native land."

While the fighting was going on at Boon's Mill the Thirty-
fifth regiment had been sent to defend another road leading
to Garysburg and Weldon, and next day this regiment joined
in the pursuit of Colonel Spear in his retreat to Winton.

While Colonel Spear was on his cavalry raid, Major-Gen-
eral Foster was at Winton with an infantry command sent
from ISTew Bern in support of Colonel Spear; and had the
latter succeeded, General Foster would have followed with
his infantry to have made permanent the occupation of the
country which his cavalry had overrun.

In the winter of 1863-'64 Eansom's Brigade was assigned
to the Department of North Carolina xmder Major-General
George E. Pickett. The Thirty-fifth Kegiment during this
time was on outpost duty at Hamilton, on the Koanoke, some
sixty miles down the river from Weldon.

On 9 March, 1864, "General Kansom with his brigade and
a cavalrj"^ force, drove the Federals from Suffolk, Va., cap-
turing a piece of artillery and quartermaster stores of much
value."

CAPTTJEE of PLYMOUTH, N. C.

Ransom's Brigade with the Eighth N'orth Carolina Begi-
ment of Clingman's, and Hoke's and Terry's Virginia Brig-
ades, and Forty-third ISTorth Carolina Eegiment, were the in-
fantry assigned Brigadier-General B. F. Hoke in his expedi-
tion to capture Plymouth ; he was ably assisted also by the
ironclad ram Albemarle, built at Halifax, on the Boanoke,
and commanded by Captain J. W. Cooke. The Albemarle was
not finished when the time came tO' move, but this energetic
and able naval ofiicer had his forges blazing and carpenters
putting the last work upon the ship as it steamed down the
river to take part in the fight.

On 20 April, 1864, General Hoke stormed and carried the
Federal works, but not without heavy loss. Ransom's Brig-
ade alone losing 87 killed and more than 500 wounded. The
loss of the Thirty-fifth was the greatest sustained by any reg-

Thirty-Fifth Regiment. 617

iment. It fell to the lot of this regiment to assault the for-
midable fort on the eastern front of the town. It was taken
from its regular place on the left of the brigade and placed in
the center so as to strike this work.

During the night of 19 April, General Eansom forced the
passage of Coneby Creek, a narrow, but deep stream, on the
east of the town. Brigadier-General Henry W. Wessels, the
Federal commander, in his report of the battle, says : "After
dark the enemy in strong force succeeded in effecting the
crossing of Coneby Creek below the town and massed his
columns on my left. This disaster is unexplained, and
placed me in a most critical position." Undoubtedly the pas-
sage of this stream was a great tactical move on the part of
the Confederate commander. Diiring the night General
Eansom formed his lines for tlie assault and gave his men a
few hours of much needed rest. When the order to charge
was given, which was at daybreak on 20 April, 1864, officers
and men seemed animated with but one determination, and
that was to be the first troops to enter the fort. Reaching the
deep ditch surrounding the fortifications the regiment rushed
into it and climbing up its sides, bristling with guns, crowded
through the embrasures, over the parapet and wherever they
could find an entrance, and were in possession of the works
before the enemy could recover from the audacity of the at-
tack. During this time the Twenty-fourth and Eighth
Regiments captured a fort on the right on the east front of
the town, and nearer the river. The enemy now retreated
into the houses, making barricades of them and firing from
the upper stories. To dislodge them it became necessary to
capture the works directly on the river bank and then its forti-
fications on the western front.

Reforming his brigade General Ransom successively car-
ried these works, then a fight from house to house took place.
The enemy were at length driven from all their positions,
losing in captured some two thousand prisoners ; the balance
fled to Fort Williams, the main fortification of the town. Gen-
eral Ransom, preparatory to assault, made a reconnoissance of
the place. It was seen to be thoroughly defended by good
guns ; was surrounded by a ditch thirty feet deep and thirty

618 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

feet wide, with a stockade in the center of pine poles ten and
twelve inches in diameter, joined together by iron cables, and
the entrance protected by a massive iron door.

General Kansom now signalled for the Albemarle to come
up, which was below the town, having attacked and destroyed
or driven off all the gunboats in the river, killing Lieutenant
Commander Flusser of the gunboat Miami, and sinking the
gunboat Southfield.

The Albemarle steamed up to the foot of the main street
leading from the river to the entrance of the fort and opened
fire.

The first shot falling short, killed and wounded several
of the Thirty-fifth regiment, which lay across the street a
short distance from the fort, awaiting the order to assault.
This regiment was withdrawn nearer the river and the Albe-
marle again opened on Fort Williams.

After exploding three or four shells inside the work, Gen-
eral Ransom sent Colonel Bearing, acting on his staff, to de-
mand its unconditional surrender.

General Wessels desired to see the officer in command. Gen-
eral Hoke was sent for, and after a brief interview between
them. General Wessels, satisfied that further resistance was
in vain, hoisted the white flag. General Wessels says his loss
in killed, wounded and missing was 2,834.

General Wessels in his official report of the battle, enumer-
ating his forces, says : "There were also present portions of
two companies Second North Carolina volunteers, native
troops, under Captains Johnson and Haggard. * * *
During its siege and in the night a considerable number of
North Carolina soldiers (many of them deserters from the
enemy, and all of them fearing bad treatment in the event
of capture), left their companies without authority, escaping
in canoes, being picked up, as I have understood, by our
boats in the sound."

This was one of the most brilliant minor victories of the
war. Brigadier-General Hoke was telegraphed by President
Davis his promotion to be Major-General. The Legislature
of North Carolina, by formal resolution, thanked. Generals
Hoke and Ransom and Commander J. W. Cooke, of the

Thiett-Fifth Eegiment. 619

"Albemarle," and the ofiBoers and men of their commands
for this great feat of arms, and the Confederate Congress
passed similar resolutions.

General Hoke moving at once on Washington, E". C, the
Federal commander, General Palmer, hastily evacuated the
place, setting fire to the town.

General Hoke then pushed on to 'New Bern; at onfe in-
vested the city, captured its outer works and was preparing
for assault with every prospect of success when, under per-
emptory orders from President Davis and Generals Lee and
Beauregard to return to Virginia, he withdrew his command,
and, making one of the most rapid marches on record, reached
Petersburg on 10 May, 1864.

BATTLE OF DEEWEy's BLUFF.

On 13 May, 1864, while occupying the outer line of works
defending Drewry's Bluff, Ransom's Brigade was attacked
by Butler's advance with overwhelming force.

After gallantly repulsing these attacks, though flanked on
the right and in the rear, the brigade held its own and during
the night withdrew to the main line of defenses. In this
fight Captain Cicero Durham, commanding a battalion of
sharpshooters and known as the "fighting quartermaster of
the Forty-ninth," was killed, and Lieutenant Waverly John-
ston, of General Ransom's staff, painfully wounded. On
the next day while rallying his line of sharpshooters. General
Ransom was badly wounded in the left arm.

The Surgeons at first advised that the limb be amputated,
as the ball had shattered both the bones of the forearm. Gen-
eral Ransom submitted himself to the Surgeons with the in-
junction to save his arm even at the risk of his life. Sur-
geon O'Hagan contended that the arm could be saved. Cut-
ting off the injured ends of the bones he left to nature to
unite the separated ends ; and in due time the Surgeon's prog-
nosis was verified, and though shorter than before, the arm
became serviceable and the use of the hand retained.

Colonel Ransom never displayed his good judgment of men
in a greater degree than when he selected this gentleman as

620 NoETH Carolina Teoops, 1861-'65.

surgeon of his regiment. Dr. O'Hagan was one of the most
skillful Surgeons in the army. In a controversy with Dr.
Hunter McG-uire in October, 1862, Surgeon-General of Jack-
son's Corps, Dr. O'Hagan demonstrated his mastery of his pro-
fession, and his ability as well, to sustain himself in his the-
ory and practice of surgery. After the war, at his home in
Greenville, Pitt county. Dr. O'Hagan practiced with success
and increased reputation, attaining the very highest standing
among his brethren of the medical profession. He was also
a speaker of exceptional grace and eloquence ; of high literary
attainments, ranking with the best belles lettres scholars of
his State.

In the main battle of Drewry's Blufl (16 May, 1864) the
Thirty-fifth regiment formed part of the support to Major-
General Eobert Ransom's command, and bravely did its part
in gaining the victory over Butler.

After the battle of Drewry's Bluff, Ransom's brigade occu-
pied the trenches in front of Butler at Bermuda Hundreds,
and on 20 May, six companies of the Thirty-fifth regiment
were ordered to advance the picket lines. This they did
with wonderful gallantry, but at great loss. Captain Wm.
A. Ellis, of Company I, was killed and Captain Robert E.
Petty, of Company D, dangerously wounded.

When the Surgeon, Dr. O'Hagan, told Captain Ellis he
was dying, he said : "Tell General Ransom I die like a sol-
dier, and please send my body home." This request was
faithfully attended to by his General, who at the time was
lying wounded in Richmond.

At first it was thought that Captain Petty could not sur-
vive. He was shot twice, one ball passing through the body.
Dr. O'PIagan advised him to make his will, as there was little
hope for him. "Why," said Captain Petty, "Doctor I have
no more intention of dying than I have of flying this minute.
I will be back in sixty days fighting these scoundrels." Sure
enough, in sixty days Captain Petty was back with his com-
mand, and as Major Petty had the honor to command the reg-
iment at the final surrender at Appomattox.

A number of the ofiicers and men of the regiment were
killed and wounded while occupying the lines at Bermuda

Thiety-Fifth: Regiment. 621

Hundreds. Among the killed was Orderly Sergeant Wm. H.
Campbell, of Company H, than whom there was not a better
or braver soldier in the regiment.

PETEBSBUEG ON THE NIGHT OF 17 JUNE^ 1864.

After his defeat at Cold Harbor General Grant deter-
mined to capture Petersburg by rapidly transferring his army
to the South of the James before General Lee could detect his
intentions. On 13 June, 1864, he detached General W. F.
Smith with the Eighteenth Corps, who reached Bermuda
Hundreds on the 14th, and by next morning began his attack
on Petersburg.

To oppose these troops, only Wise's Brigade and some tran-
sient forces, the whole amounting to not more than 2,400
effective men, were available. These embraced a small cav-
alry force under General Dearing and Archer's militia ; but
these militia proved themselves rivals in valor of the veter-
ans by whose side they fought. All day this handful of men
resisted the attack of 16,000 of Grant's troops, but late in
the evening they were driven from their position, and the
enemy carried the line of redoubts from Nos. 5 to 9. Had
this success of General Smith's corps been vigorously pushed
Petersburg must have fallen.

At 9 :30 a. m. on 15 June, Beauregard telegraphed Bragg
to send him Ransom's Brigade. The brigade was then at
OhafSn's Bluff. It was ordered to report to General Beaure-
gard at once, and marching all night reached Petersburg
about sunrise on the 16th. Arriving in sight of the inner
line of the works defending Petersburg the enemy were seen
advancing upon the same. At a run, through a storm of shot
and shell, the Confederates succeeded in getting to the works
just in time to meet the enemy's charge and drive them back.
The Thirty-fifth regiment were among the first of the brigade
to arrive, and repulsed two assaults of the enemy.

Hancock now reinforces Smith, and Beauregard orders
Johnson's division from the lines of Bermuda Hundreds.
Burnside's corps is now added to the Federal attacking col-
umns. Hancock, now in command, his forces augmented to
53,000, in the afternoon of the 16th attacked all along the

622 ISToETn Caeoli^a- Teoops, 1861-'65.

line held by 10,000 Confederates. Night closed the unequal
contest with the lines still firmly held by Beauregard. During
the night Warren's Corps, 17,000, reinforced the enemy.
Early on lY June the fighting was renewed. Assault after
assault was made only to be repulsed until just at dark a part
of the Confederate line was pierced and Battery 14 was cap-
tured by Leslie's Division of the ISTinth army corps. About
11 p. m., Eansom's Brigade was ordered to the support of
Wise, who had been driven from the salient occupied by his
brigade.

Ransom's Brigade was ordered to charge and re-establish
the line, l.'he Thirty-fifth Regiment struck the heel of the
salient, formed in the shape of a horse shoe and received the
enemy's fire both from the front and flanks. Reaching
the works a hand to hand combat took place, the men fighting
with only the parapet of the rifle pits separating them.

Here the colors of the Thirty-fifth Regiment were captured
by Corporal Young, of the First Michigan, but the Thirty-
fifth captured three fiags from the enemy. The loss of the
regiment was very heavy.

It carried into action 28 ofiicers and nearly 500 men, and
brought out 8 ofiicers and less than 200 men. Its gallant
commander, John G. Jones, was shot down early in the
charge ; rising he advanced a few feet, when he fell a second
time. Calling for help, he was again going forward ; when
shot a third time he fell to rise no more.

The gallant and chivalrous Captain Thomas J. Blackwell,
of Company B, was here killed, many others killed and wound-
ed and a number captured. Captain Philip J. Johnson, of
Company K, mounted the breastworks, and in a hand to hand
encounter with a Federal Major, was shot in the hand, caus-
ing his sword to fall from his grasp ; he was now at the mercy
of his antagonist, when one of Captain Johnston's men shot
the Federal officer through the head. Ordering some imag-
inary reinforcements to advance, in stentorian tones, Captain
Johnston called upon the enemy to surrender, or all be killed,
and some 300 came over the works and gave themselves up.

During the night. General Beauregard withdrew to a new
and shorter line of defenses nearer the city. In the death

Thiety-Fifth Regiment. 623

of Colonel Jones the regiment sustained a loss almost irrepar-
able. He had been a student at Wake Forest College; was
a Baptist preacher before he entered the army ; was without
any military training, awkward and unsoldierly in his car-
riage; but of unsullied character and indomitable courage.
His military aptness was of slow growth, but developed as
he gained experience until at his death he was recognized as
one of the best soldiers of his rank in the army. Prior to the
battle of Sharpsburg, his courage was questioned; as, unfor-
tunately for his reputation, he was excused on account of
sickness and was not present at the battles in which his regi-
ment had been engaged prior to the Maryland campaign of
1862. At Sharpsburg his conduct was altogether creditable ;
and thenceforth he won the confidence of his superiors and of
his men. It was currently believed in the regiment, that
while stationed at Kenansville, I^. C, in the winter of 1863
and 1864, he met a young lady of very high social position
and great personal charms; he became much interested in
her, but did not presume to declare his passion until he had
won her by "the dajigers he had passed," and that he only
waited until he could wear the wreath of a Brigadier-General
on his collar, when he would solicit her hand.

Lieutenant-Colonel J. T. Johnston and Major S. B. Tay-
lor now became respectively Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel
and Captain Robert E. Petty, of Company D, Major of the
regiment. First Lieutenant G. W. Freeman was promoted
to be Captain of Company B.

On 18 June, 1864, General Meade made the last of his
series of assaults to carry the fortifications defending Peters-
burg. He had now the larger part of his army confronting
the Confederate lines, something like 70,000 men. These lat-
ter had been reinforced, and there were now about 20,000
Confederate troops to resist the attacks of these seventy thou-
sand.

The assault was made by the commands of Warren, Bum-
side, Bimey and Martindale. "At noon came the grand
attack, which was promptly repulsed. At 4 p. m. the Fed-
erals tried it again, but met with signal defeat." General

624 North Oaeoliita Troops, 1861-'65.

Grant now issued an order for the cessation of further at-
tacks, and the siege of Petersburg commenced.

THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER.

Ransom's brigade constructed the breastworks at the Cra-
ter and were in the trenches on the left of the salient occupied
by Pegram's Battery and Elliott's South Carolina Brigade
at the time of the explosion of the mine (30 July, 1864).

The Twenty-fifth and Forty-ninth Regiments of the Brig-
ade were drawn out of the works to assist in repelling the
advance of the enemy now pouring through this interval in
the Confederate defenses ; and subsequently they united with
Mahone's Division in driving the Federals out of the cap-
tured works back to their lines.

During this time the Thirty-fifth Regiment extending its
front to occupy the space vacated by the withdrawn troops, re-
pelled the several assaults of the enemy as they attempted to
carry our works adjacent to those destroyed by the explo-
sion.

It will be interesting here to state that the colors of the
First Michigan were captured at this battle by Sergeant J.
W. Connell, of Company F, Twenty-second South Carolina
Regiment. It will be remembered that the flag of the Thirty-
fifth regiment had been captured by this Michigan command
the night of 17 June, as previously stated.

SIEGE OF PETERSBURG.

The last act in the drama was now to be played. The
Army of Northern Virginia, between 5 May and 31 Decem-
ber, 1864, had inflicted a loss of more than 108,000 killed,
wounded and missing, on the army of the Potomac, sustain-
ing itself a loss of 40,000 ; but how it would end was now
apparently only a question of time. In the siege of Peters-
burg, the Thirty-fifth Regiment performed its full duty.
For eight months and more "it lived in the ground, walked in
wet ditches, ate its cold rations in ditches, slept in dirt-cov-
ered pits." The breastworks of the two armies were in many
places so near that one exposing any part of his person was
sure to be shot at and usually killed or wounded. The picket

Thibty-Fifth Regiment. 625

posts could only be relieved at night by crawling along
ditches to and from them. Mortar shells were incessantly
coming down from above. There was no shelter from sun
or rain. 'No food could be cooked there, but the scanty ration
was brought in bags on the shoulders from the cook yards
sometimes a mile distant.

Frequently it became necessary for General Lee to with-
draw troops from some portion of his line to resist a move-
ment of the enemy against the Petersburg & Weldon and
Southside railroads.

In the latter part of August, 1864, Ransoms's brigade was
ordered to attack and drive back the enemy at the Davis
house. They had to charge some distance through an abatis
of felled trees. The men had to pick their way through the
interlaced timbers and advance without regard to company or
regimental formations.

This advance was so gallantly done as to evoke from
General Lee, who witnessed the charge, the remark: "That
he had often heard of men straggling to the rear, but he had
neyer before seen men straggle to the attack."

FOET STEADMAN HAEe's HILL.

In the assault on Fort Steadman, 25 March, 1865, General
Matt. W. Ransom commanded his own and Wallace's South
Carolina brigade. In his report of this brilliant, but disas-
trous attack. General Lee says: "The two brigades com-
manded by General Ransom behaved most handsomely." The
Thirty-fifth regiment lost largely in killed, wounded and pris-
oners.

Here, Courier Wm. Hood, of Company H, referred to in
the account of the battle of Sharpsburg, was killed. He was
one of the best couriers, prompt to carry orders, under all cir-
cumstances trustworthy and fearless.

"In this assault. Colonel Johnston, Captain S. G. Howie,
Company F, and many others of the Thirty-fifth Regiment,
and about half of Ransom's brigade, were taken prisoners.

40

626 North Cakolina Troops, 1861-'65.

five poeks.

At Five Forks (1 April, 1865) that dark day for the Con-
federacy, the Thirty-fifth regiment, from the beginning of
the fight for four hours, until it ended in what may be called
a wreck, behaved with its accustomed courage amd fortitude.
Here Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor was wounded and captured
and about half of the regiment made prisoners. Colonel
Taylor , who was in command of his regiment and had been
twice previously wounded, received his third wound — a
minie ball fracturing the bones of his right arm, forever
disabling him from its full use.

Captain Sterling Gee, Assistant Adjutant-General of the
brigade, was killed, and Adjutant Peebles, of the Thirty-
fifth Regiment, was promoted on the field to succeed him.

General Ransom had two horses killed under him. The
last horse, a magnificent thoroughbred stallion, when shot,
reared high up in the air and fell, pinioning- his rider beneath
him. With his wounded left arm in a sling. General Ran-
som was powerless and in danger of being crushed under the
struggles of his dying horse, when Captain Johnston, of the
Thirty-fifth, and Captain Sherrill, of the Forty-ninth Regi-
ments, rushed forward and extricated him from his perilous
situation and from capture.

APPOMATTOX.

At last the end came, and on 9 April, 1865, General Lee
surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia ; that "incompar-
able infantry, that array of tattered uniforms, but bright
muskets ;" which will ever live in history and in the hearts of
the Southern people. The list of paroled prisoners of Lee's
army at Appomattox aggregated 28,231, of which Ransom's
Brigade numbered 41 officers and 394 enlisted men ; of these
the Thirty-fifth regiment, commanded by Major Robert E.
Petty, numbered about 80.

CONCLUSION.

Did not space forbid, it would be a pleasing duty to men-
tion by name and circumstance the many instances of indi-

Thirty-Fifth Regiment. 627

vidual heroism and meritorious conduct of the oiEcers and
men of this famous regiment in its three and a haK years of
service in the Confederate army.

Though its discipline was excellent, its drill admirable and
its efficiency always remarkable, of its several commanders
not one was a martinet or a trained soldier. He, who was its
commander from April, 1862, to April, 1865, first as its
Colonel, and then as General, was never known to court-mar-
tial or put an officer under arrest; never had a private pun-
ished or put on extra duty ; never asked for a court-martial in
any case ; never preferred a charge against an officer or pri-
vate. You may ask how was discipline secured and obedi-
ence enforced. The answer is moral force. The rank and
file were of the best material from which to obtain a volunteer
army. They were patriotic, moral, tractable, willing always
to undertake any service, to undergo any hardship; and
though the regiment never had a Chaplain, the command was
conspicuous for the religious tone that prevailed.

The subsequent conduct of those composing the regiment
after they ceased to be soldiers and again resumed civil occu-
pations, has been in harmony with their honorable record as
soldiers. In addition to the references to certain officers and
men that have been made in the progress of this sketch, we
may state that at this present writing (9 April, 1901) Colo-
nel James T. Johnston is a successful and beloved physician
at Hickory, K". C. Lieutenant-Colonel S. B. Taylor is a
prosperous merchant and influential citizen of Onslow.
Major Robert E. Petty, a merchant, at one time in Raleigh
and later at Sanford, has recently died. Captain Henry W.
Humphrey and Lieutenant Brinson Venters, of Company A,
prosperous and respected citizens of Onslow county. Captain
G. W. Freeman, of Company B, a physician of large practice
at Marion. Captain E. McN". Blue, of Company C, for
many years sheriff of Moore County, respected and esteemed
by all. Captain J. W. Philpot, of Company E, a prosper-
ous farmer of Person county ; Captain S. G. Howie, of Com-
pany F, a successful merchant at Monroe. Captain H. M.
Dixon, of Company H, who had the honor twice to command
his company, is a man of great popularity in his county of

628 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Mecklenburg, recognized as one of its best farmers and i
man of great influence in his churcb.

Captain D. G. Maxwell, of the same company, has foi'
thirty-five years or more been a magistrate in Charlotte. In
that flourishing city his decisions are regarded among his-
large clientele as the law and gospel, and if a minister does'
not perform the marriage ceremony, the people do not tbi-nV
themselves properly joined together unless " 'Squire Dave
Maxwell" ties the knot.

Orderly Sergeant James M. Davis, of the same company^
is a leading man in his county, one of its most prosperous
farmers and successful business men.

Captain Philip J. Johnston, of Company K, a merchant at
Lenoir, Caldwell county, a citizen of largest influence and
most highly esteemed.

First Lieutenant Pinkney Warlick, of the same company,
often a member of the State Legislature, a successful man of
affairs near Connelly Springs.

Among the ofiicers and men in this regiment are many
heroes whose name and their deeds are recorded in the Book of
Life. Here — as gems of purest ray are concealed in the
ocean's cave — they may not be known, but a celestial glory
is theirs and at the last great day they will receive their re--
ward.

W. H. S. Btjegwyn.
Weldon, N. C,

9 April, 1901.

THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
cJmm'is8a^.°''P"""' *■"* ^'''"'*''* ^- «• !>• Willfamsoi.,Z Jeut., Co. E.

THIRTY-SIXTH- REQinEfiT.

(second AETILLEBY.)

By colonel WILLIAM LAMB.

The Northern invader had early visited the sea coast of
North Carolina. Hatteras had fallen 29 August, 1861.
Northern emissaries had kindled the flames of disloyalty in
the East, and 18 November, 1861, a convention of delegates
claiming to represent forty-five counties met at Hatteras, re-
pudiated secession, announced their loyalty to the Federal
Union and named one Marble Nash Taylor, Provisional Gov-
ernor of North Carolina. The conduct of these Tories, or
Buffaloes as they were called, was a source of annoyance to
the patriots, but only served to strengthen their loyalty to
their country.

Continued disasters to the Confederate cause came before
the winter had ended. Eoanoke Island was captured 8 Feb-
ruary, 1862, and a few days after the Confederate fleet in
the sounds was dispersed or destroyed. 14 March, 1862,
New Bern was captured, 22 March Morehead City was occu-
pied by the Federals, and on 26 April Fort Macon fell. All
these Federal victories had been won after a gallant resis1>
ance by the Confederates and the loss of many brave officers
and men, carrying sorrow and mourning into many a South-
em home.

10 May, 1862, Norfolk, the inland gateway to the waters
of North Carolina, with its fortifications and navy yard, was
evacuated by the Confederates. Mason and Slidell had been
released by the United States, thus preventing the anxiously
expected recognition by Great Britain.

It was in this dark hour, in the midst of doubt and gloom
in the Old North State, that on 14 May, 1862, the Thirty-
sixth (Second Artillery) Regiment North Carolina Troops,
was organized at Fort Caswell under supervision of Briga-
dier-General Samuel G. French, commanding the district of
Cape Fear.

630 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

The regiment consisted of the following ten companies:

Company A — -King's Artillery — Captain James M. Ste-
venson, from Sampson County.

Company B — Bladen Sktrs — Captain Daniel Munn, from
Bladen County.

Company C — Blocker's Artillery — Captain O. H. Blocker,
from Cumberland County.

Company D — Anderson's Artillery — Captain Edward B.
Dudley, from New Hanover County.

Company E — Columbus Artillery — Captain O. H. Powell,
from Columbus County.

Comi'any F — Pamlico Artillery — Captain Sam. B. Hun-
ter, from Craven and Halifax Counties.

Company G — Lamh Artillery — Captain Potter, from
Brunswick County.

Company H — Clarendon Artillery — Captain Daniel Pat-
terson, from Bladen County.

Company I — Bladen Artillery — Captain John A. Rich-
ardson, from Bladen Coimty.

Company K — Brunsiuich Artillery — Captain John D.
Taylor, from Brunswick County.

Major William Lamb, of C. S. A., was elected Colonel;
Captain John A. Richardson, of Company I, was elected
Lieutenant-Colonel, and John T. Melvin was elected Cap-
tain Company I. Captain John Douglas Taylor, of Com-
pany K, was elected second Major, and William T. Brooks
was elected Captain. January 23, 1864, Major Taylor was
promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in place- of Richardson,
dropped, and Captain James M. Stevenson, of Company A,
was elected Major, and Robert J. Murphy was elected Cap-
tain.

Captain G-eo'. D. Parker, of Missouri, was appointed Ad-
jutant; Captain Robert W. Lamb, of Virginia, Assistant
Quartermaster ; Captain Charles H. Blocker, of Bladen, As-
sistant Commissary; Dr. Spiers Singleton, of North Carolina,
Surgeon, and Dr. Powhatan Bledsoe, of Virginia, Assistant
Surgeon ; Rev. Luther McKinnon, of North Carolina, Chap-
lain.

These companies were serving at different posts in the de-

Thirty-Sixth Regiment. 631

fense of the Cape Fear. Colonel Lamb remained at Fort St.
Philip, Old Brunswick, until 4 July, 1862, when he relieved
Major John J. Hedrick, in command of Fort Fisher and de-
fenses of Confederate Point, including Zeke's Island. The
command was afterwards extended to Masonboro inlet on the
north. Fort Fisher was a small work which, together with
adjoining batteries, mounted seventeen guns, only three of
heavy calibre. Zeke's Island had two 32-pounder8. As a
defense against a Federal fleet they amounted to nothing.

Blockade running into Wilmington had just commenced.
It was first carried on by any light draft, sea-going steamer
that could be procured, and even by small sailing craft, but
this was of short duration. The blockade became so effective
that to run it successfully required courage, nautical skill and
a thorough acquaintance with the coast. The fastest steam-
ers were built in Gi'eat Britain for the purpose, side wheelers,
or double screws, long, low and narrow, visually nine times as
long as wide, and from 400 to YOO tons burden. They were
painted a light gray, mailing them as nearly, invisible as pos-
sible, light lower masts witho'Ut yards, with a small look-out
on the foremast. Smokestacks could be lowered close to the
deck in case of need and, when possible, smokeless coal was
used. 'No light was visible. No precaution was omitted to
prevent discovery. The most skillful sailors were secured as
commanders. Confederate and British naval ofiicers were
engaged when practicable, the latter being on leave under
assumed names. During the war about 100 different vessels
were engaged in running the blockade into Wilmington. Of
these, sixty-five steamers were captured or destroyed. One
thousand pounds sterling was paid the captain and £750 to
the pilot for a successful round trip. Very few were killed
or wounded, although there were many narrow escapes.
Blockade running was of vital importance to the Southern
cause. During the last year of the war Lee's army depended
upon it for subsistence. Wilmington was the last gateway
closed, and New Inlet, defended by Fort Fisher, was the fa-
vorite entrance for blockade runners. Besides the armament
of the fort, light Whitworth guns and field pieces were trans-
ported along the beach as far as Masonboro to protect friendly

632 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'(35.

vessels. The Thirty-sixth Kegiment and their associates in
the garrison saved many steamers and millions of dollars
worth of valuable property, arms, clothing, provisions, etc.,
which composed the cargoes of these steamers and of those
run ashore to prevent capture. Among the many vessels
saved by timely assistance are now recalled the Oomubia,
Don, Venus, Banshee, Ad-Vance, Sumter, Mghthawk,
Kate, Annie ajid Little Hattie. The garrison participated in
the capture and destruction of the United States steamer Co-
lumbia, which got ashore off Masonboro Inlet, 14 January,
1863.

In the engagements incident to the defense of blockade
running, a number of Federal officers and men were killed
and captured and some valuable boats were secured by the
garrison of Fort Fisher.

In the latter part of July, 1863, the British steamship Kate
was run ashore on Smith's Island, some six miles south of
Fort Fisher, and taken possession of by the United States
steamer Penobscot, when a company of the Thirty-sixth, with
a Whitworth cannon detachment proceeded to the island,
drove the enemy off, and re-captured the vessel, just in time
to prevent her being blown up by powder placed in the cabin
with an ignited slow match. Eleven blockaders, the fleet of
both inlets, were driven off by this gun, which on the open
beach was so well served, that nearly every shot took effect
and the blockaders could not afford to be seriously damaged
in the contention over a craft they expected at any moment
would be blown up. Her cargo was saved and all her ma-
chinery removed and sent to Richmond, where it was used in
the ram Texas. The empty hull was gotten off at night and
an attempt made to sail into New Inlet, but becoming
becalmed, three miles from the mound battery, she was cut
out by two Federal blockaders on 1 August, but not until the
enemy's vessels were injured with loss of life and the wound-
ing of some of their men.

In defending the wreck of the Hebe from the attack of the
United States frigate Minnesota and gunboat James Adger,
Private Daniel Holland, of Company B, was killed and sev-
eral wounded 23 August, 1863, five miles north of Fort

Thikty-Sixth Regiment. 633

Fisher. The detachment had a 12-pound Whitworth and a
small field piece behind an improvised sand battery to con-
tend with over fifty heavy guns afloat. An attempt was
made to send boats in to get hawsers fastened to the Hebe to
pull her off, but the Confederates drove them off with mus-
ketry. Three hundred and eight rounds of shot, shell, grape
and canister were discharged by the enemy, who tore up the
beach and finally drove the heroic men from their guns, which
were captured, but not until they had damaged the James
Adger with shot and shell and forced the enemy to destroy
the Hebe. A more gallant fight against overwhelming odds
was not witnessed during the war.

The garrison of the fort were ceaseless in their vigilance
to protect and rescue friendly vessels and property. During
the dark nights and in the early mornings succeeding, suc-
cessful engagements were constantly occurring, accustoming
the men to fearlessly brave the shot and shell of the Federal
vessels. Admiral Porter, in his naval history of the Civil
war, pays a deseirving tribute to the garrison when he says :

"The display of a twinkling light on board one of the gun-
boats, near the bar, was a signal for a general discharge of the
guns at Fort Fisher, and although these shots were more
noisy than damaging, yet a stray shell striking one of the
Federal boats would have knocked it to pieces."

The United States tug "Aster" chased the blockade runner
"Annie" ashore under the guns of Fort Fisher on the night of
7 October, 1864 and was blown up.

The perfect code of signals arranged by the fort with block-
ade runners gave tO' Fort Fisher the enviable reputation en-
joyed by no other sea coast fortification, that while an enemy
could not approach without an assault, no friendly vessel was
ever fired upon, and none ever displayed a signal without an
immediate reply and the setting of the range lights for their
entrance.

During 1864, the ten companies of the Thirty-sixth JSTorth
Carolina had been collected at Fort Fisher, and the works-had
assumed formidable proportions.

On Zeke's Island the two gun battery at the entrance to the
river had been washed away by the action of the tides, but a

634 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

mound battery had been erected sixty feet high on the ex-
treme right of the sea face of the works mounting two heavy
guns.

24 October, 1864, information was received that Wilming-
ton was to be attacked by a large fleet and a supporting army ;
at the same time the garrison was distressed to hear that Gen-
eral Braxton Bragg had assumed command of the district of
the Cape Fear, superseding the brilliant, capable and fear-
less Major General W. H. C. Whiting, who, however, was to
remain second in command.

22 November 1864, Company A, Captain E. J. Mur-
phy ; Company C, Captain K. J. Bradley ; Company D, Cap-
tain Edward B. Dudley; Company G, Captain William
Swain; and Company I, Captain John T. Melvin, under
command of Major James M. Stevenson, left for Georgia, to
join the Confederate forces opposing Sherman's advance to
Savannah.

A contemporary publication December 1864, says:

"At the late battle of Harrison's Old Field, which was an
advance position, fourteen miles from Savannah, Major Ste-
venson was in command with a part of his own battalion,
(Thirty-sixth North Carolina) and parts of the Fiftieth and
Fortieth and Tenth battalions. General Hardee did not in-
tend them to fight the enemy, but merely to hold them in
check for a few hours, but the order to retreat failing to reach
the Major, with his small force he fought the enemy until
flanked by two brigades, by whom he and his whole command
came near being captured, for a Yankee brigade Avas in the
road by which he would have to retreat.

"Major Stevenson, however, seems to have known the
country better than General Hardee's informant, and made
his escape with all his men, except thirteen killed. He also
broiight off all his wounded, his artillery and wagons, and
that same night marched into Savannah and reported in per-
son to General Hardee, by whom he was warmly received
and highly complimented."

20 December, 1864, the Federal Armada commenced gath-
ering off New Inlet. At this time Fort Fisher extended
across the peninsula 682 yards, a continuous work, mounting

Thikty-Sixth Regiment. 635

twenty heavy guns and having two mortars and four pieces
of light artillery, and a sea face 1,898 yards in length, con-
sisting of batteries connected by a heavy curtain and ending
in the mound battery sixty feet high, mounting in all twenty-
four heavy guns, including one 170-pound Blateley rifle gun
and one 130-pound Armstrong rifle gun. At the extreme
end of the point at the entrance to the Cape Eear river was
Battery Buchanan, a naval command with four heavy guns.

When the fleet appeared the garrison consisted of Gompa-
ny B, Captain Daniel Munn; Company E, Captain 0. H.
Powell ; Company F, Captain Sam B. Hunter ; Company H,
Captain Dan. Patterson, and Company K, Captain William
T. Brooks, numbering an effective total of less than 450 of-
ficers and men. The total number in the fort did not ex-
ceed 500 in all the departments. Before the repulse of the
enemy Greneral Whiting and staff arrived with Major James
Eeilly, of the Tenth JSTorth Carolina (First Artillery) and
two of his companies.

The effective total 25 December, 1864, was 1,431 consist-
ing of 921 regulars, about 450 Junior Peserves and 60 sailors
and marines. On the night of Friday, 23 December, an at-
tempt was made by the enemy to destroy the works by ex-
ploding the steamship Louisiana, with 250 tons of powder,
about half a mile from the northeast salient of Fort Fisher.
The explosion did no injury to the garrison or works, al-
though the concussion was felt distinctly at Wilmington, a
distance of twenty miles. The vessel was evidently afloat or
the damage to the fort might have been serious.

At 12 :40 o'clock a. m. 24 December, the fleet consisting of
the ironsides, four monitors and forty-five wooden steam
frigates, sloops and gun boats, commenced a terrific bom-
bardment, surpassing anything ever before known in naval
warfare. For five hours a tremendous hail of shot and shell
was poured upon the works, but with little effect. At 5 :30
o'clock p. m. the fleet withdrew. Strange as it may appear,
no effort to cross the bar and run by the guns was made, al-
though one vessel inside the river would have taken the works
in reverse and compelled a surrender. There were in the
fleet a number of vessels which had been blockade runners.

636 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

that had often entered this inlet. Some 10,000 shot and shell
were fired by the fleet. The fort being obliged to husband
its ammunition fired only 672 projectiles. The last gun was
fired by Fort Fisher on the retiring vessels. In the first
day's fight, one-half of the quarters were hurned, three gun
carriages disabled, a light artillery caisson exploded, large
quantities of the earth work torn and plowed up, with some
revetments splintered, but not a single bomb-proof, or maga-
zine injured. Only twenty-three men were wounded, one
mortally, three seriously, and nineteen slightly. Never since
the invention of gun powder was there so much harmlessly ex-
pended as in the first day's attack on Fort Fisher. Among
the acts of individual heroism, one must be mentioned : When
the garrison flag staff, standing in the parade, was shivered
by shot and shell and the flag had fallen, orders were given
to Captain Daniel Munn, Company B, to raise a flag on the
stafl' on the Mound battery. The halyards had become un-
reeved and it was necessary to climb the staff to fasten the
flag. Private Christopher C. Bland, of Company K, Thirty-
sixth North Carolina, volunteered, climbed the staff under
a heavy fire of the fieet and fastened the fiag. At once a ter-
rific fire was poured on the Mound, and the lower eaad of the
flag being cut loose, that heroic soldier repeated the daring
act, amid the cheers of the garrison, and fastened the flag
securely to- the staff, where it floated triumphantly, although
torn and rent by fragments of shell, until the victory was
M^on.

On Christmas day, at 10 :30 a. m., the fleet having come in,
reinforced by another monitor and some additional wooden
steamers, commenced an incessant bombardment, if possible,
more noisy and furious than that of the preceding day. At
5 :30 p. m., a most terrific enfilading fire against the land face
and palisade commenced, unparalleled in severity. Admiral
Porter reported it at 130 shot and shell per minute, more
than two every second. The men were required to protect
themselves behind the traverses ; the extra men were sent to
the bomb-proofs with orders to rally to the ramparts as soon as
the firing ceased. As soon as this fire commenced, a line of
skirmishers advanced towards the works. When the fire

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BOM.BARDMENT OF FORT FISHER.

Thirty-Sixth Regiment. 637

ceased, the guns were manned and opened with grape and
canister, and the palisade was manned by 800 veterans and
junior reserves, l^o assault was made. Some of the enemy
were killed and wounded and two prisoners were captured.
Our casualties for the day were : Killed, 3 ; mortally
wound, 2 ; severely, 7 ; slightly, 26. In the afternoon both
of the seven inch Brooke rifles, manned by sailors, exploded,
wounding a number of men ; five other guns were disabled by
the enemy and the remaining quarters destroyed. No at-
tempt was made to pass the fort, and none, except the ar-
mored vg^sels, came within a mile of the heaviest guns. The
firing was slower than on the previous days, only 600 shot
and shell being expended, exclusive of grape and canister
charges.

The fort again fired the last gun as the fleet withdrew at
dark. There were only 3,600 shot and shell, exclusive of
grape and shrapnel in the works, and as no attempt was made
to run by the fort the firing was limited to prevent the ex-
penditure of all the ammunition. Except when special or-
ders were given the guns were only fired every half hour. In
the two days the frigates Minnesota and Colorado fired 3,551
shot and shell, almost as many as were in all the batteries of
Fort Fisher. It was this deliberate firing that gave the fleet
the erroneous impression that the guns of the fort were
silenced.

General Butler was severely criticised and retired from ac-
tive service because he failed to capture the works. For this,
he had himself to blame to some extent. On the evening of
25 December, without waiting for ofiicial reports, he listened
to camp gossip and wrote Admiral Porter as follows :

"Gen. Weitzel advanced his skirmish line within fifty
yards of the fort while the garrison was kept in their bomb
proofs by the fire of the navy, and so closely, that three or
four of the picket line ventured upon the parapet and through
the sally port of the work, capturing a horse which they
brought off, killing the orderly, who was a bearea* of a dispatch
from the chief of artillery of General Whiting, to bring a
light battery within the fort, and also brought away from the
parapet the flag of the fort" This absurd statement was sent

638 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'6o.

North and has gotten a lodgment in current history and is
repeated in General Grant's memoirs, although General But-
ler coiTected the error in his official report. No Federal sol-
dier entered Fort Fisher during this attack except as a pris-
oner. The courier was killed and the horse captured within
the enemy's lines, and the flag captured was a company ftag
which was carried away and thrown off the parapet by an en-
filading shot from the navy.

• General Butler could not have captured Fort Fisher Christ-
mas day. The armament and palisades were substantially
uninjured, and the sub-terra batteries were in order. Gen-
eral Whiting was correct when he wrote that but for the su-
pineness of General Bragg the 3,500 men landed would have
been captured on Christmas night, and it is incomprehensible
why he should have allowed the 700 demoralized soldiers who
had to remain on the beach on 26 December to escape unmo-
lested with the 200 junior reserves who had been cowardly
surrendered to them without resistance.

At night on 12 January, 1865, the lights of the returning
fleet were seen to the north of Fort Fisher, and the fact was
telegraphed to headquarters, Wilmington. The five compa-
nies of the Thirty-sixth North Carolina had returned from
Georgia, and this regiment constituted the garrison, about
800 strong. Daylight disclosed an even more formidable
fleet than in the previous attack, with transports carrying
8,500 soldiers; and soon there rained upon fort and beach a
storm of shot and shell which caused both sea and land to
tremble. General Bragg had withdrawn his forces to a
camp -sixteen miles distant, and the enemy again made a frolic
of their landing on the shores of North Carolina.

All day and night on the 13th and lith the fleet kept up a
ceaseless and terrific bombardment. Reinforcements were
sent from the adjacent forts. It was impossible to repair
damages at night. No meals could be prepared for the ex-
hausted garrison, the dead could not be buried vsdthout fresh
casualties. Fully 200 had been killed during these two days,
and only three or four of the land guns remained serviceable.
The Federal army had slowly been approaching up the river-
side protected from observation by thd conformation of the

Thirty-Sixth Regiment. 639

ground. Quite early ou the lith they had possession of
Craig's landing, about a mile from the Fort. In the after-
noon a steam transport, the Isaac Wells, loaded with stores
for the Fort, approached this landing which was plainly in
the enemy's possession. She was fired at to warn her off,
but she came up to the landing and was captured. The Con-
federate steamer "Chickamauga" seeing her stupid surren-
der, fired into her and sunk her. This incident showed that
General Bragg was shamefully ignorant of the condition of
affairs.

From the conformation of the Cape Fear river. General
Bragg could have passed safely from his headquarters at Su-
gar Loaf to Smithville and with a field glass have seen every-
thing transpiring on the beach and in the fort, and in person,
or through an aide, with the steamers at his command, could
have watched every, movement of the enemy, and yet, thirty-
six hours after the battle had begun, and long after Craig's
Landing had been in the possession of the enemy, he sends
into the enemy's lines a steamer filled •with needed stores
that could have gone at night to Battery Buchanan unseen,
and in the day with comparative safety. General Bragg
was requested to attack the enemy under cover of the night
when the fleet could not protect them. He was promised the
co-operation of the garrison, and as our combined force nearly
equaled them in numbers, and the garrison was familiar with
the beach at night, we could have captured a portion if not the
whole force. Strange to say, no response of any kind came,
and the garrison waited in vain for General Bragg to avail
himself of this opportunity to demoralize, if not capture the
besieging forces.

On the morning of the 15th, the fleet which had not ceased
firing during the night, redoubled its fire on the land face.
The sea was smooth and the navy having become accurate
from practice, by noon had destroyed every gun on that face
except one Columbiad, which was somewhat protected by
the angle formed by the northeast salient. The palisade had
been practically destroyed as a defensive line and was so torn
up that it actually afforded cover for the assailants. The
harvest of the wounded and dead was hourly increasing and

640 North Carolina Troops, 1801-65.

at that time there were not 1,200 effective men to defend the
long line of works. The enemy were now preparing to as-
sault ; their skirmish line were digging rifle pits close to our
torpedo lines on the left, and their columns on the river shore
were massing for the attack while their sharpshooters were
firing at every head that showed itself upon our front. At the
same time on the ocean side a column of sailors and marines,
2,000 strong, were approaching, throwing up slight trenches
to protect their advance. On these we brought to bear our
single heavy gun on the land face and the two guns on the
mound.

Shortly after noon General Bragg sent Hagood's South
Carolina brigade, consisting of four regiments and one bat-
talion, about 1,000 strong, under Colonel Graham, from
Sugar Loaf by the river to reinforce the fort, landing them
near Battery Buchanan. The fleet seeing the steamer land-
ing troops, directed a portion of their fire towards her, and
although she was not struck and no casualties occurred, after
landing a portion of the men (two of the regiments), inglori-
ously steamed off with the remainder. iN'ever was there a
more stupid blunder committed by a commanding general.
If this fresh brigade had been sent to this point the night be-
fore, they could have reached the fort unobserved, could have
been protected until needed, and could have easily repulsed
the assault by the army on our left ; but landed in view of the
fleet they had to double-quick over an open beach to the
mound under a heavy fire. When they reached the fort, 350
in number, they were out of breath, disorganized, and more
or less demoralized. They reached our front about thirty
minutes before the attacking columns came like avalanches
on our right and left.

There were engaged in the defence of the fort from 13 to
15 January, the Thirty-sixth North Carolina (2d Art.), ten
companies; Fortieth North Carolina (3d Art.), foiir com-
panies, D, E, G and K; Tenth North Carolina (Ist Art.),
two companies, F and K; First North Carolina Battalion,
Company D ; Third North Carolina Battalion, Company C ;
Fifth North Carolina Battalion, Company D ; Confederate
States naval detachment, sailors and marines; Twenty-first

Thirty-Sixth Regiment. 641

Sovith Carolina Eegiment and Twenty-fifth South Carolina
Regiment.

At 3 :30 o'clock p. m. the lookouts reported that the enemy
were about to charge, and at my request General Whiting tel-
egraphed General Bragg at Sugar Loaf as follows :

"The enemy are about to assault; they outnumber us heav-
ily. We are just manning our parapets. Fleet have ex-
tended down the sea front outside and are firing very heavy.
Enemy on the beach in front of us in very heavy force, not
more than '700 yards from us. Nearly all land guns disabled.
Attack ! Attack ! It is all I can say and all you can do."

The naval bombardment ceased, and instantly the steam
whistles of the vast fleet sounded a charge. "Clamorous har-
bingers of blood and death."

I ordered my aide, Captain Charles H. Blocker, to
double-quick the Twenty-first and Twenty-fifth South Caro-
lina to reinforce Major Reilly, who was in command of the
left, while I rallied to the right of the land face some 500
of the garrison, placing the larger portion of them on top of
the parapet of and adjoining the northeast salient. There
were at least 250 men defending the left, and with the 350
South Carolinians ordered there and the Napoleon and tor-
pedoes, I had no' fears about the successful defense of that
portion of the work.

The assaulting line on the right, consisting of 2,000 sailors
and marines, was directed at the northeast salient at the in-
tersection of the land and sea faces, and the greater portion
had flanked the torpedoes by keeping close to the sea. Or-
dering the two Napoleons at the sally port to join the Colum-
biad in pouring grape and canister into their ranks, I held
in reserve the infantry fire. Whiting stood upon the parapet
inspiring those around him. The sailors and marines
reached the berme and some sprang up the slope, but a mur-
derous fire greeted them and swept them down. Volley after
volley was poured into their faltering ranis by cool, deter-
mined men, and in half an hour several hundred dead and
wounded lay at the foot of the bastion. The heroic bravery
of their officers, twenty-one of whom were killed or wounded,
41

642 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

could not restrain the men from panic and retreat and witli
small loss to ourselves we witnessed what had never been seen
before, a disorderly rout of American sailors and marines.

But it was a Pyrrhus victory. That magnificent charge
of the American navy upon the centre of our works, enabled
the army to effect a lodgment on our left with comparatively
small loss.

As our shouts of triumph went up at the retreat of the
naval forces, I turned to look at our left and saw to my
amazement several Federal battle flags upon our ramparts.
General Whiting saw them at the same moment, calling on
those around him to pull down those flags and drive the en-
emy from the works, rushed towards them followed by the
men on the parapets. It was in this charge that the fear-
less Lieutenant Williford was slain.

In order to make an immediate reconnoissaace of the posi-
tion of the enemy, I went through the sally port and from
outside the work witnessed a flerce hand to hand conflict for
the possession of the fourth gun chamber from the left bas-
tion. The men, led by the fearless Whiting, had driven the
standard bearer from the. top of the traverse and the enemy
from the parapet in front. They had recovered one gun
chamber with great slaughter, and on the parapet and on the
long traverse of the next gun chamber the contestants were
savagely firing into each others faces, and in some cases club-
bed their guns, being too close to load and fire. Whiting was
quickly wounded by two shots and had to be carried to the
hospital. I saw that my men were exposed, not only to the
fire from the front, but to a galling infantry fire from the left
salient, which had been captured. I saw the enemy pouring
in by the river road apparently without resistance.

Ordering Captain Adams, who was at the entrance to the
sally port, to turn his Napoleons on the column moving into
the fort, the gallant Major Mayo having already turned his
Columbiad upon them, I re-entered the work, and rallying
the men, placed them behind every cover that could be found,
and poured at close range a deadlier fire into the flank of the
enemy occupying the gun chambers and traverses than they
were able to deliver upon my men from the left salient.

Thikty-Sixth Regiment. 643

While thus engaged, I was informed by my aide, Captain
Blocker, that the South Carolinians had failed to obey my
order, although their oiEcers pleaded with them, and only a
few had followed their flag and gone to the front ; that the as-
saulting column had made two charges upon the extreme left
and had been repulsed ; that the torpedo wires had been de-
stroyed by the fire of the fleet and the electrician had tried in
vain to execute my orders to explode the mines when the en-
emy had reached the foot of the work ; that, driven from the
extreme left, the enemy had found a weak defense between the
left bastion and sally port in their third charge, and had
gained the parapet, and, capturing two gun chambers, had
attacked the force on the left on their flank, simultaneously
with a direct charge of another brigade, and that our men,
after great slaughter, had been compelled to surrender just as
we had repulsed the naval column ; that to add to the discom-
fiture of the Confederates, as soon as the Federal battle flags
appeared on the ramparts. Battery Buchanan had opened
with its two heavy guns on the left of the work, killing and
wounding friend and foe alike. This was rather dishearten-
ing, but I felt if we could hold tlie enemy in check until dark,
I could drive them out, and I sent a telegram by him to Gen-
eral Bragg imploring him to attack, and that I could still save
the fort.

General Bragg in his official report does gross injustice to
the garrison when he says : "The army column preceded by
a single regiment approached along the river and entered the
work on that flajik almost unopposed."

General Terry says in his report that 100 sharpshooters
with Spencer repeating carbines, were sent forward to within
seventy-five yards of tlie work and dug pits for their shelter,
and "as soon as this movement commenced the parapet of the
fort was manned and the enemy's fire both of musketry and
artillery opened." The assaulting column consisted not of a
regiment, but of Curtis' brigade, supported closely by two
other brigades, a total of not less than 5,000 troops.

The enemy were unable to enter by the river road, and
some of the most desperate fighting done in the work was in
the space between the left bastion and the river shore.

644 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

Notwithstanding the capture of a portion of the work and
several hundred of the garrison, the Confederates were still
undaunted and seemed determined to recover the captured
salient and gun chambers.

We had taken one of these in the charge led by Whiting,
and since we had opened on their flank we had shot down
their standard bearers and the Federal battle flags had dis-
appeared from our ramparts ; we had become assailants and
the enemy were on the defensive, and I felt confident we
would soon drive them out of the fort. Just as the tide of
battle seemed to have turned in our favor, the remorseless-
fleet came to the rescue of the faltering Federals. Suddenly
the bombardment which had been confined to the sea face
during the assaults, turned again on our land front and with
deadly precision. The iron clads and frigates drove in oui'
two Napoleons, killing and wounding nearly all the men at
these guns, which had been doing effective service at the en-
trance to the sally port. They swept the recaptured gun
chamber of its defenders, and their 11 and 15-inch shells-
rolled down into the interior of the work, carrying death and
destruction in their pathways. They drove from the para-
pets in front of the enemy all of my men except those so near
that to have fired on them would have been slaughter to their
own troops.

Nor was this all. We had now to contend with a column
advancing around the rear of the left bastion by the river
into the interior plane of the fort. It moved slowly and cau-
tiously, apparently in column of companies and in close
order. I met it with an eii'ective infantry fire, my men using'
the remains of an old work as a breast work and taking ad-
vantage of every object that would offer cover, for we were-
now greatly outnumbered. The fire was so unexpected and
so destructive, combined with the shells from Battery Buch-
anan, on the massed columns of the Federals, that they halted
when a quick advance would have overwhelmed us. Giving.
orders to dispute stubbornly any advance, I went rapidly
down the sea face and turned the two mound guns and two
Columbiads on this column in the fort. Unfortunately these'
were the only ones available. I brought back with me to the"

Thirty-Sixth Regiment. 645

front every man, except a single detachment for each gun.
On my return I found the fighting still continuing over the
same traverse for the possession of the gun chamber, despite
the fire of the fleet. As the men would fall others would take
their places. It was a soldiers' fight at that point, for there
could be no organization ; the officers on both sides were load-
ing and firing with their men. If there was ever a longer
or more desperate' hand to hand fight during the war, I have
never heard of it. The Federal column inside had not ad-
vanced a foot, and seemed demoralized by the fire of the ar-
tillery and the determined resistance of the garrison. More
than a hundred of my men had come with me, and I threw
them in front with those already engaged. Going to the
South Carolinians who were in a position to flank the enemy,
I appealed to them to rally and help save the fort. I went to
the sally port and had Adams' two JSTapoleons brought out and
manned, and opened on the enemy. I went along the gal-
leries and begged the sick and slightly wounded to come out
and make one supreme effort to dislodge the enemy. As I
passed through portions of the work, the scene was indescriba-
bly horrible. Great cannon broken in two, their carriages
wrecked, and among their ruins the mutilated bodies of my
dead and dying comrades. Still no tidings from Bragg ! The
enemy's advance had ceased entirely ; protected by the fleet,
they still held the parapet and gun chambers on the left, but
their massed columns refused to move, while those in their
rear, near the river, commenced entrenching against any as-
sault from us. I believed a determined assault with the bay-
onet would drive them out. I had sent word to our gunners
not to fire on our men if we became closely engaged with the
enemy. The head of their column was not over 100 feet
from the portion of our breastwork where I stood, and I could
see their faces distinctly while my men were falling on either
side of me.

I passed quickly down the rear of the line and asked of-
ficers and men if they would follow me; they all responded
fearlessly tliat they would. I returned to my position and
giving the order, "charge bayonets !" sprang upon the breast-
works, waved my sword, and, as I gave the command "for-

646 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

ward, double-quick, inarch," fell on my knees, a rifle ball
having entered my hip. The brave Lieutenant Daniel K.
Perry fell mortally wounded at my side. We were met by a
heavy volley, aimed too high to be very effective; but our
column wavered and fell back behind the breastwork. A
soldier raised me up and I turned the command over to Cap^
tain Munn, who was near me, and told him to keep the en^
emy in check and that as soon as my wound was bandaged,
I would return. Before reaching the hospital I was so weak
from the loss of blood that I realized that I could never lead
my men again. In the hospital I met G-eneral Whiting suf'
fering uncomplainingly from his wounds. He told me that
Bragg had ignored his presence in the fort and had not
noticed his messages.

Perceiving the fire of the garrison had slackened, I sent
my Adjutant, John IST. Kelly, for Major James Reilly, next
in command, (Major Stevenson, who died shortly after in
prison, being too ill for duty). Reilly came and promised me
that he would continue the fight as long as it was possible, and
nobly did he keep his promise. I again sent a message to
Bragg begging him to come to the rescue. Shortly after my
fall the Pederals made an advance, and capturing several
more of the gun chambers, reached the sally port. The
column in the work advanced and was rapidly gaining ground
when Major Reilly, rallying the men, including the South
Carolinians, drove them back with heavy loss. About 8
o'clock my aide came to me and said the supply of ammuni-
tion was exhausted and that Chaplain McKinnon and others
had gathered all from the dead and wounded and distributed
it ; that the enemy had possession of nearly all the land face,
and it was impossible to hold O'Ut much longer and suggested
that it would be Avise to surrender, as a further struggle would
be a useless sacrifice of life. I replied that while I lived, 1
would not surrender as Bragg would surely come to our rescue
in time to save us. General Whiting declared that if I died
he would assume command and would not surrender. I have
been blamed for unnecessarily prolonging the fight, but when
it is remembered tliat I had promised the noble women of
Wilmington who had visited the fort after our Christmas vie*

THIRTY-SIXTH EEGIMENT,
1. Robert J. Murphy, Captain, Co. A. 3 E L Pai<!nn ist T io.l^ n„ a

8. O. H. Powell, 6aptainfco,E._ _ t ^ t Huo?eA'fst Lfeui!. "co F

R 1,7 ri T^ • , „v, . Hunter, 1st Lieut., Co. F.

6. W. C. Daniel, 2d Lieut., Co. F.

Thirty-Sixth Regiment. 647

tory, that their homes should be protected by my garrison,
and that General Lee had sent word that if the fort fell he
could not maintain his army, (and that meant the loss of our
Cause), is it to be wondered that I felt it my sacred duty,
even after I was shot down, to appeal to officers and men to
fight in defense of the last gateway to the South, as long as
there was a ray of hope ?

I had a right to believe that the troops which General Lee
sent to our assistance would rescue us, and if Bragg had or-
dered Hoke to assault with his division late that afternoon,
we would have recovered the works. I have positive infor-
mation that so determined was our resistance that General
Terry sent word to General Ames, commanding the three
brigades assaulting us, to make one more effort, and if un-
successful, to retire. General Abbott, who commanded a
brigade, and who lived in ISTorth Carolina after the war, told
Captain Braddy that at one time during our fight, only one
colored brigade held Bragg's army in check, and they were
so demoralized that five hundred veteran troops could have
captured them. But an. all wise Providence decreed that our
gallant garrison should be overwhelmed.

In less than an hour after I refused to surrender, a fourth
brigade, (three were already in the fort), entered the sally
port and swept the defenders from the remainder of the land
face. Major Eeilly had General Whiting and myself hur-
riedly removed on stretchers to Battery Buchanan where he
proposed to cover his retreat.

When we left the hospital the men were fighting over the
adjoining traverse and the spent balls fell like hail stones
around us. The remnant of the garrison then fell back in an
orderly retreat along the sea face, the rear guard keeping the
enemy engaged as they advanced slowly and caiitiously in the
darkness as far as the mound battery, where they halted.
Some of the men, cut off from the main body, had to retreat as
best they could over the river marsh, while some few unarmed
artillerists barely eluded the enemy by following the sea-
shore.

When we reached Battery Buchanan there was a mile of
level beach between us and our pursuers, swept by two 11-

648 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

inch gnns and a 24-pound6r, and in close proximity to the
battery a commodious wharf where transports could have
come in safety at night to carry us off.

We expected with this battery to cover the retreat of our
troops, but we found the guns spiked and every means of
transportation taken by Captain R. F. Chapman of our navy,
who, following the example of General Bragg, had aban-
doned us to our fate. The enemy threw out a heavy skirmish
line and sent their fourth brigade to battery Buchanan, where
it arrived about 10 o'clock p. m. and received the surrender of
the garrison from Major James H. Hill and Lieutenant
George D. Parker. Some fifteen minutes before the surren-
der, while lying on a stretcher near General Whiting outside
of the battery witnessing the grand pyrotechnic display of the
fleet over the capture of Eort Eisher, I was accosted by Gen-
eral A. H. Colquitt, who had been ordered to the fort to take
command, I had a few minutes hurried conversation with
him, informed him of the assault, of the early loss of a por-
tion of the works and garrison, and that when I fell it had
for a time demoralized the men, but that the enemy was
equally demoralized by our unexpected resistance, and I as-
sured him if Bragg would even then attack, a fresh brigade
landed at Battery Buchanan could retake the work. It was
suggested that the general should take me with him as I was
probably fatally wounded, but I refused to leave, wishing to
share the fate of my garrison, and, desiring that my precious
wife, anxiously awaiting tidings across the river, should not
be alarmed, spoke lightly of my wound. I asked him to
carry General Whiting to a place of safety as he came a vol-
unteer to the fort. Just then the near approach of the en-
emy was reported and Colquitt made a precipitate retreat,
leaving O'ur belg-ved Whiting a captive, to die in a Northern
prison.

One more distressing scene remains to be chronicled. The
next morning after sunrise a frightful explosion occurred.
My large reserve magazine which my ordnance ofSoer, Cap-
tain J. C. Little, informed me contained some 13,000 pounds
of powder, blew up, killing and wounding more than a hun-
dred of the enemy and some of my own wounded officers and

Thirty-Sixth Regiment. 649

men. It was an artificial mound, covered with luxuriant
turf, a most inviting bivouac for wearied soldiers. Upon it
were resting Colonel Alden's One Hundred and Sixty-ninth
New York regiment, and in its galleries were some of my suf-
fering soldiers. Two sailors from the fleet, stupefied with
liquor, looking for plunder, were seen to enter the stmcture
with lights and a few moments after an explosion occurred.
The telegraph wires, between a bomb proof near this maga-
zine across the river to Battery Lamb, gave rise to the impres-
sion that the Confederates had caused the explosion, but an
official investigation traced it tO' •these drunken soldiers.

So stoutly did our works resist the 50,000 shot and shell
thrown against them in the two bombardments that not a mag-
azine or a bomb proof was injured, and after the land arma-
ment with palisades and torpedoes had been destroyed, no
assault could have succeeded in the presence of Bragg's force,
had it been under a competent officer. Had there been no
fleet to assist the army at Fort Fisher the Federal infantry
could not have assaulted it until its land defences had been
destroyed by gradual approaches.

For the flrst time in the history of sieges, the land defences
of the work were destroyed, not by an act of the besieging
party, which looked on in safety, but by the concentrated fire,
direct and enfilading, of an immense fleet, poured upon them
for three days and two nights without intermission until the
guns were dismounted, torpedo wires cut, palisades breached,
so that they afforded cover for the assailants and the slopes
of the work rendered practicable for assault.

I had half a mile of land face and one mile of sea face
to defend with 1,900 men, for that is all I had from first to
last in the last battle. I have in my possession papers to
prove this statement ; I knew every company present and its
strength. This number included the killed, wounded and
sick. If the Federal reports claim that our killed, wounded
and prisoners showed more, it is because they counted as a
part of the garrison those captured outside of the works who
were never in Fort Fisher or estimated them from inaccurate
reports. I have challenged the correctness of the absurd
claim of their having taken over 2,000 prisoners, and the

650 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

War Kecord office has aeknowleged it was guess work. The
error doubtless occurred from the fact that Bragg reported
the garrison as consisting of 110 commissioned officers and
2,400 men, or 2,510, he having charged us with 1,000 men
sent 15 January under G-raham, only 350 of which landed;
650 taken from 2,510 leaves 1,860. Add detachment of
sailors and marines, and it gives about 1,900.

To capture Fort Fisher, the enemy lost by their own state-
ment, 1,445 killed, wounded and missing. ISTineteen hun-
dred Confederates with forty-four heavy guns, contending
against 10,000 men on shore and 600 heavy guns afloat, kill-
ing and wounding almost as many of the enemy as there
were soldiers in the fort, and not surrendering until the last
shot was expended. Should not North Carolina gratefully re-
member them?

With the fall of Fort Fisher and the capture of its garri-
son, the services of the gallant Thirty-sixth North Carolina
Regiment were not ended. It was reserved for Lieutenant-
Colonel John D. Taylor, and a detachment of this regiment,
who were absent on leave when the fort was taken, to cover
themselves with glory as a part of the famous "Red Infantry"
at the battle of Bentonville.

After the evacuation of Forts Caswell and Campbell, on
reaching Fort Anderson, Colonel Simonton was ordered to
join his brigade and all the troops were placed under Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Taylor, who was attached to Greneral Hagood's
brigade. They remained at Fort Anderson about thirty
days, the fort being shelled the latter part of the time by the
Federal fleet.

After several times checking the advance of Coxe's troops,
the Confederates fell back to Wilmington, reaching there 21
February, 1865, and next day, 22 February, they evacuated
Wilmington as a part of General Hoke's division.

They then marched to Kinston to check Schofield's advance
from New Bern. After participating with General Hill in
an engagement at Cobb's Mill, they marched through Golds-
boro, to Bentonville, in Johnston county, where they joilied
the army under General Joseph E. Johnston. Here, the last
great battle of the war was fought, beginning Sunday, March

Thirty-Sixth Regiment. 651

1865. Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor fearlessly led a charge and
captured the breastworks, although defended by a largely su-
perior force. He led 267 rank and file, including a detach-
ment of the Thirty-sixth North Carolina Regiment, and came
out with only 115. Every officer was killed, wounded or cap-
tured save two. Colonel Taylor lost his left arm; Captain
Brooks, of Company K, his right arm; Colonel Hunter, of
Company F, wounded, but not seriously. I have not learned
if any other officers of our regiment were present. In that
magnificent charge Captains Taylor, Rankin and McDougal,
of MacRae's Battalion, were mortally wounded.

Officers who had served in the army of iN'orthem Virginia
said it was the hottest infantry fight they had ever been in ex-
cept Cold Harbor. Thus in the closing act of the fearful
drama of our Civil War, the glorious Thirty-sixth North
Carolina added with their copatriots to the undying fame of
the Confederate soldier.

When in the coming years the historian shall write of the
peerless valor and self-sacrificing patriotism of the soldiers
of this grand old Commonwealth, none will stand higher and
brighter on the pages of history, than the Thirty-sixth North
Carolina Regiment.

William Lamb, Colonel.
Norfolk, Va.,

9 April, 1901.

JSToTE.- — Among the defences of Wilmington was Fort
Fisher, protecting the northern channel of the Cape Fear
river, at New Inlet. The fort was the strongest work of the
Confederacy. It was built by Colonel Lamb after plans of
his own, approved by Generals French, Beauregard and Whit-
ing. Its model is now kept at West Point, as one of the tri-
umphs of military engineering; the only other model of the
kind at the Academy is the Malakoff redoubt from Sebastopol.
It was inside of Fort Fisher the brave General Whiting
fell. — Editoe.

C^-C. ^O^-Sl/ cL-'fT?---" .'

JBH t^'X <^>^^i^S

THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT,

o w •^^ S"M•''S^ "^^P'^'"'.*^"- ?; 5- R- M. Staley, 1st Lieut., Co. F

^- ^v,T; ^ H''^°i^°,"v?''-P'?">,^°;,^- ^- ■«'■ Lewis Battle, 2d Lieut., Co. D.

3. Chas. T. HaiRh, 1st Lieut Co. B. 7. Iowa M. Royster. 2d Lieut. Co G

4. Octavius A. Wiggms, 1st Lieut.. Co. E. 8. John T. Forrester, 2d Lieut Co F

9. Edward A. T. Nicholson, 2d Lieut., Co. E. •. v.u. i:.

THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.

By OCTAVIUS A. WIGGINS, 1st Lieutenant, Company E.

This regiment, which was destined to figure so conspicu-
ously in the Army of Northern Virginia, was organized by
Colonel Charles C. Lee at High Point, N. 0., the Field Of-
ficers all receiving their commissions on 20 Noveanber, 1861.
Its organization was as follows:

Chaeles C. Lee^ Colonel.

Wm. M. Baebee^ Lieutenant-Colonel.

John Gt. Beysoh-^ Major.

Wm. T. Nicholson, Adjutant.

RoBEET M. Staton, Ensign.

E.OBEET M. Gates, Assistant Quartermaster.

John O. Alexandee, Quartermaster Sergeant.

H. D. L. Stowe, Assistant Commissary.

A. L. Stough, Chaplain.

James Higeeson, Surgeon.

Company A — Captain, John Hartsog.

Company B — Captain, Jonathan Horton.

Company C — Captain, Jam.es M. Potts.

Company D — Captain, John B. Ashcraft.

Company I>— Captain, Wm. Y. Farthing.

Company F — Captain, Charles IST. Hickerson.

Company G — Captain, John G. Bryant

Company H — Captain, Wm. P. Rankin.

Company I — Captain, John K. Harrison.

Company K — Captain, John Roes.

On the completion of its organization it was moved to 'New
Bern, E". C, where it received its baptism of fire on 14
March, 1862, in battle at that place. Lieutenant-Colonel
Barber commanded it. Colonel Lee being assigned to the com-
mand of the left wing of General Branch's army. Although

654 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

fighting under great disadvantage, the regiment behaved vrith
great credit to itself and showed plainly of what material it
was composed, reinforcing most beautifully Colonel Camp-
bell, of the Seventh, whose lines were first broken. It is well
to state in the beginning that the greater part of the regiment
was composed of haxdy mountaineers, as fine looking body of
men as ever marched to the tap of a drum. Outnumbered
at every point, the small army of General Branch was com-
pelled to fall back to Kinston and after a short rest the Thir-
ty-seventh was taken to Falling Creek.

On 31 March, 1862, General L. O'B. Branch's Brigade
was organized, consisting of the following regiments : The
Seventh, Colonel Eeuben P. Campbell; Eighteenth, Colonel
James D. Kadcliffe ; Twenty-eighth, Colonel James H. Lane ;
Thirty-third, Colonel Clark M. Avery; and the Thirty-sev-
enth, Colonel Charles C. Lee. This noted brigade, composed
entirely of JSTorth Carolina troops, was then sent to Virginia,
where it remained until the final sad ending at Appomattox,
unbroken in its organization. It proceeded directly to Gor-
donsville, where it remained several days, was then ordered to
join General Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley. After
marching two days orders were received tO' counter-march to
Gordonsville, and from there to the vicinity of Hanover
Court Housa On Tuesday, 2Y May, General Branch fought
the battle of Hanover Court House with his brigade against
the entire corps of Fitz John Porter. The brunt of this bat-
tle falling upon the Thirty-seventh and Eighteenth Eegi-
ments. The Thirty-seventh fought only as brave men could
fight, against overwhelming odds, driving the enemy from
its front and forcing him to take shelter in the dense woods
under the protection of his batteries. The regiment held its
ground from 1 p. m. until night, when General Branch fell
back to Ashland. One of the most remarkable incidents hap-
pened in Company G, from Alexander County, that occurred
in any company in the Confederate Army during the entire
war. There were four brothers in the company named Eobi-
nett; three of them, William P. Robinett, Joel B. Eobinett,
and John C. Eobinett, were killed upon the field. Earely
in history can we find where a single family made such a sac-

Thirty-Seventh Regiment. 655

rifice upon the altar of its country. At Mechanicsville,
Gaines' Mill, Frazier's Farm and Malvern Hill the regiment
responded protmptly to every call for dangerous service and
its loss of 138 men in these various engagements tells of its
fidelity to duty. At the battle of Frazier's Farm, on 30
June, the regiment lost its beloved Colonel, Charles C. Lee,
while gallantly leading it on to victory. It is sufiicient to say
General D. H. Hill, under whom Colonel Lee served as Lieu-
tenant-Colonel in the old Bethel Regiment, regarded him as
one of the finest officers of the South. Lieutenant-Colonel
Barber was then promoted tO' the Colonelcy of the regiment.
After forcing McClellan to Harrison's Landing, the regi-
ment returned to the neighborhood of Richmond for a few
days and then to Gordonsville. On 9 August it moved rap-
idly to Cedar Run and arrived with the brigade just in time
to check the advance of Pope's army. Early and Taliaferro
were yielding ground when we rushed upon the field and
quickly formed into line, and by well-directed volleys, sent
the over-confident enemy back across the field in confusion to
the shelter of the works. Just then the Federal cavalry made
one of the most brilliant and gallant charges that was made
by cavalry, upon infantry, during the entire war. The
Thirty-seventh, with the whole brigade, reserved its
fire until the column came in point-blank range, when it
poured a withering volley into it, sending it back in "confu-
sion worse confounded." This cavalry charge was never for-
gotten by the regiment ; it always expressed the desire to re-
ceive a similar one. The loss of the regiment in this action
was 2 killed and 13 wounded.

SECOND MANASSAS.

Longstreet's Corps having joined Jackson, General Lee
sent the latter upon his wonderful flank movement to Pope's
rear. The Thirty-seventh was one of the regiments that kept
pace with the "Foot Cavalry," covering more than fifty miles
in two days, its fare being principally green com gathered
by the wayside. At Manassas Junction it was one of the
regiments that charged Taylor's New Jersey Brigade across
Bull Run on 27 August, completely annihilating it. Moving

656 North Carolina Troops, l«6l-'65.

back to the Junction it feasted sumptuously for several houra
upon the captured stores, then took its position with Jackson's
forces behind the unfinished railroad cut to await the coming
of Pope's army. On the 28th it made its appearance and
formed in three lines of battle — came on like the waves of the
ocean; several well directed volleys hurled them back, but
quickly reforming, they came again and again until night put
an end to the terrible slaughter. This was kept up upon the
29th and 30th; the Thirty-seventh manfully held its posi-
tion, although at times it would scarcely have a round of am-
munition left to the man.

Generals A. P. Hill and Branch could often be seen dis-
mounted urging their men to hold their ground at the point
of the bayonet. The loss of the Thirty-seventh in the three
days' fighting was 13 killed and 6Y wounded.

Pope falling back towards Washington, Jackson again cut
him off at Ox Hill on 1 September, and a fierce battle en-
sued. A chilling rain-storm drenched the men to the skin,
causing the muskets to choke and fire badly. The regiment
here again bore its part nobly, losing 5 killed and 18 wounded.
The firing ceased at dark as if by mutual consent.

The Thirty-seventh endured the hardships of the first
Maryland campaign and from Frederick City it recrossed the
Potomac at Williamsport and was part of the force that in-
vested Harper's Ferry from the Virginia side. It was one of
the regiments that scaled the heights overlooking the Shenan-
doah, river and took position on Bolivar Heights, where on
the following morning, 15 September, it witnessed the sur-
render of the garrison in Harper's Ferry. It remained with
A. P. Hill's Division to receive the surrender and made that
memorable forced march to the battlefield of Sharpsburg on
17 September, just in time to hurl back the victorious forces
of Bumside across the Antietam. In this battle the Thirty-
seventh fought behind a stone fence, and its loss was only 4
men woimded, but it was called upon to mourn the loss of its
brigade commander. General L. O'B. Branch, who was then
so rapidly rising in militao-y prominence and was so dearly
beloved by his troops.

Thirty-Seventh Regiment. 657

At Shepherdstown it was one of the regiments that crossed
the large com field in the face of a withering artillery fire
and helped drive the enemy back across the Potomac with
slight loss, only 4 wounded ; this action took place on 20 Sep-
tember. It was one of the regiments detailed to tear up the
Baltimore & Ohio Eailroad from Hedgesville to ISTorth Moun-
tain Depot, and did the work well. For several weeks the
regiment did picket duty while encamped near Snicker's Gap.

About 1 ISTovember, General McClellan's army crossed the
Potomac and proceeded via Warrenton in the direction of
Fredericksburg. Longstreet's Corps soon left the valley and
took position near Culpepper Court House. Jackson's forces
remained in the Valley watching the Federal army under
General Burnside, who had succeeded General McClellan,
until it was clearly evident it was moving on Fredericksburg ;
Jackson then, by a series of rapid marches, concentrated his
troops in the vicinity of Guinea Station.

FEEDEEICKSBUEG.

On 12 December, Lane's Brigade took its position in line
of battle behind the Richmond and Fredericksburg railroad
cut, a short distance South of Deep Run. The following
day, 13 December, 1862, the battle of Fredericksburg was
fought. The Thirty-seventh Regiment was upon the right of
Lane's Brigade, with its right resting upon a marshy swamp
where no troops were placed. On the opposite side of this
swamp Archer's Brigade held the railroad. The field was
enveloped in fog which concealed the enemy's movements, but
the air was very conducive to sound and we could plainly
hear the commands of the ofiicers as they were forming their
lines for the assault. At 9 o'clock a line of battle advanced
from under cover of the river bank, but was driven back by
our artillery and Lane's skirmish line. About noon the fog
lifted and heavy columns of the enemy were throwu into the
unfortunate gap between Lane and Archer ; while the Thirty-
seventh had cleared its front almost with the first volley, we
could plainly see the enemy rushing across the railroad on our
right. Colonel Barber then deflected his three right com-
42

658 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

panies and formed them, to the rear at right angle to^ the
track. The regiment made a bloody and gallant struggle to
hold its position, but Archer's left and Lane's right were
forced to give back upon our reserves, who drove the enemy
back across the railroad with great slaughter and re-estab-
lished our lines. The loss of the regiment is not known to
the writer, except that it was very great.

After the battle the regiment went into winter quarters at
Moss JSTeck, about eight miles farther down the river, where
it remained and did picket duty, with the other four regi-
ments of the brigade, the remainder of the winter.

CHANCELLOESVILLB.

On 29 April, 1863, the familiar boom of cannon comes
wafted on the spring breezes from the direction of Fredericks-
burg. Its increasing sound soon convinces us that the cam-
paign of 1863 had opened and we must bid adieu to pleasant
and comfortable quarters and face grim war in all its horrors.
We could not foresee that our noble old regiment was to be
called upon to bear its bloody part in two of the bloodiest and
hardest contested battles ever fought upon the American Con-
tinent, before the year would end. Large columns of sol-
diery could be seen moving from their camps, all converging
upon the direct road to Fredericksburg. A few hours march
and we take our position in the second line of battle upon
these historic hills. We could only see about 30,000 of the
enemy in the plain below and knew our struggle would be in
another direction. On 1 May, at daylight, we marched for
Chancellorsville, but took no part in driving Hooker back to
his fortifications at that place. Skirmishers were thrown
out on arriving there, and we occupied the front line during
the night. On 2 May the regiment started early in the morn-
ing, with Jackson's Corps, on that wonderful and world re-
nowned flank movement of General Stonewall Jackson around
Hooker's army in broad daylight, the grandest movement ever
made by any general upon the chess board of warfare. On
reaching the turnpike in rear of Hooker's army, Rodes' and
Colston's Divisions were formed into line of battle and put in
motion, the Thirty-seventh Regiment led Hill's division

Thirty-Seventh Regiment. 659

which was in column on the pike, consequently we were al-
most in the second line. General Jackson rode at the head
of the regiment and all eyes were upon him. Our lines soon
struck Hooker's rear and a running fight was kept up until
night, or about sun set, when A. P. Hill was ordered to the
front. As the Thirty-seventh led Lane's Brigade, which
was the leading one of the division, as a matter of course, we
got the brunt of artillery fire, the most unmerciful ever known
upon one single point of any battlefield, for the enemy had
collected 43 pieces of cannon to stop Jackson's onslaught and
were firing on Hill's men as they approached Fair View.
Fortunately for us, it lasted but a short time, when we were
moved down the road about one hundred yards and took pos-
session of the enemy's inner or last breastworks, those immedi-
ately around Chancellorsville House, without firing a gun.
This shows clearly the panic-stricken state Hooker's right
wing was in. The brigade was formed with the Thirty-
seventh on the right of the road, the Seventh on its right, the
Eighteenth on the opposite side, or left of the road, the Twen-
ey-eighth on the left of the Eighteenth ; the Thirty-third de-
ployed as skirmishers covering the entire front of the brigade.
Rapid firing was continuous on the skirmish line until long
after General Jackson was wounded, but no serious effort
made to retake the works ; so the poor, weary men, crouched
down behind the works to rest and "bitterly think on the mor-
row."

General J. E. B. Stuart, who took command of the corps
after Jackson and A. P. Hill were wounded, moved his line
forward early the next morning, 3 May. During the night the
Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth were moved to our right —
placing the whole of Lane's brigade upon the right of the
turnpike ; we moved forward as if upon parade and the bloody
work commenced ; we drove the enemy from the woods and
took possession of the little works they had thrown up during
the night and held them until relieved by other troops. Col-
onel Barber in his official report says : "During the entire en-
gagement my officers and men behaved gallantly. Lieuten-
ant Charlton C. Ragin, Company K, was killed gallantly
commanding his company. The annexed tabulated state-

660 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

ment will show that my total loss is as follows : One officer
killed, 19 officers wounded; 35 men killed, 175 wounded; 8
missing. I do not hesitate to say that it was the bloodiest
battle Siat I have ever witnessed." The regiment always, to
the very end of the war, regarded this battle as the bloodiest
and hardest contested of all its experience. Its position was
more exposed to the enemy's artillery than any other regi-
ment in the entire corps, and its loss far greater than that of
any other.

After the enemy was defeated at every point and driven
across the river the regiment returned to its old camp at Moss
Neck, where it enjoyed one more month of rest and enjoy-
ment. After the death of our beloved General, Stonewall
Jackson, there was a reorganization of the army, dividing it
into three corps, our brigade being placed in Pender's Divis^
ion of the Third Corps, commanded by General A. P. Hill.
On tlie morning of 6 June the Thirty-seventh Kegiment, for
the third time, occupied the old line of battle at Fredericks-
burg, where the Third Corps remained watching a portion of
the Federal army that had crossed the Rappahannock, until
the 15th. The enemy having recrossed the river our corps
commenced its march northerly in pursuit of the First and
Second Corps.

THE GETTYSBTJEG GAMPAIGST.

By rapid forced marches the regiment crossed the Potomac
on the 25th and reached Fayetteville on the 27th, where it
rested until the 30th, when it resumed its march and arrived
upon the battlefield of Gettysburg on the morning of 1 July,
and formed line of battle in rear of Heth's Division, which
was then heavily engaged. Our brigade was on the right of our
division and the Thirty-seventh Regiment on the right of the
brigade, consequently we were the extreme right of the ad-
vancing column. Company G, under Captain Hudson, was
deployed as skirmishers on our rightflank to guard against the
enemy's cavalry. The whole line moved gallantly forward and
secured possession of Seminary Ridge, the brigade extending
from the McMillan House to near the Fairfield road on the
left. It was not otherwise engaged during the day. We

Thirty-Seventh Regiment. 661

held this position all day on the 2d under a severe artillery
fire, but were not actively engaged. Our Major-General, W.
D. Pender, received his mortal wound upon this day. On
the morning of the 3d, Lane's and Scales' North Carolina
brigades were sent, under command of Major-General Trim-
ble, to the right to reinforce Longstreet ; after getting in our
position our new commander rode down the line and halted
.at different regiments and made us little speeches — saying he
was a stranger to us and had been sent to command us in the
absence of our wounded general, and would lead us upon
Cemetery Hill at 3 o'clock. About 1 o'clock p. m., the re-
port of a cannon far to the right was heard and was quickly
answered by one of Earl's far away to the left; these were
signal guns which announced the opening of one of the sever-
est artillery duels the world has ever known. The earth
fairly shook for two hours, then the .firing ceased almost as
suddenly as it had commenced and the infantry moved for-
ward. It was a grand sight, as far as the eye could see to the
right and to the left two lines of Confederate soldiers with
waving banners pressing on into the very jaws of death.
Trimble's command was the second line in support of Petti-
grew. Lane upon the left and Scales upon the right.
In a few minutes after the start we were obliqued rap-
idly to the left to take the place of Brockenborough's
Brigade, which had broken; over the Emmettsburg road
we went and rushed for the stone wall, the line all the
while seemed to be melting away. When the order
came to retire, those who were spared did so in perfect
order — never anything like a panic, as some people think —
and halted at the position from which we had started. Our
loss was severe, especially in ofiicers. We regret not having
the official list of casualties at hand, but well remember the
loss in killed of the following officers: Major Owen N.
Brown, Lieutenants I. M. Royster, Lewis Battle, Dorothy,
John P. Elms, W. IST. Nichols and Wm. Mickle.

We held our position all day on the 4th, no movement being
made on either side, and commenced the retreat soon after
dark and marched all night through a drenching rain. Lane's
Brigade led the Third Corps on the march during the 5th,

662 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

the Thirty-seventh Regiment again leading the brigade, Gen*
erals Lee and A. P. Hill riding just in front of us the entire
day. On the 6th we reached Hagerstown, bivouacked three
days, then formed line of battle and entrenched, but Meade
did not dare attack, to the great disappointment of the Con-
federates, for they wanted revenge and felt sure we would
get it. On the night of 13 July the army crossed the Poto-
mac ; on the morning of the 14th while Heth's and Pender's
Divisions were waiting at Falling Waters to cross the river,
the men being nearly all asleep, a squad of cavalry dashed up
and mortally wounded General Pettigrew. The Thirty-
seventh, with the brigade, was formed in line and did some
very nice skirmishing, holding back a force that threatened
our rear until the wagon train and all the troops had passed
over the river, when it crossed on the pontoon bridge. The
Thirty-seventh was one of the last, if not the very last, to
cross. While at Hagerstown on 10 July, Lieutenant Thomas
L. ISTorwood, of Company A, who had been shot through the
breast and captured at Gettysburg, came marching into camp
disguised in the most ridiculously looking and fitting coun-
tryman's suit of clothes imaginable, having secured it at Get^
tysburg in one of the houses around the hospital, and al-
though suffering greatly from his wound, he managed by
his wit and cunning to- march through the Federal lines and
into ours ; he was then sent to the headquarters of General
Lee and took a cup of coffee with that distinguished person-
age. He was considered one of the finest officers of the
Thirty-seventh. The regiment fell back with the army and
reoccupied the lines of the Rapidan, going into camp near
Orange Court House and doing picket duty at Morton's Pord.

Colonel Barber in a report made about this time to the Ad-
jutant-General of ISTorth Carolina, says :

"The regiment has lost one hundred and fifty men killed,
seventy who have died of wounds, three hundred and two
who have died of disease, and three hundred and thirty-
two have been wounded and recovered. Total loss killed
and wounded, five hundred and fifty-two; to which add
three hundred and two who have died of disease, and we
have a total Of casualties amounting to eight hundred and

Thirty-Seventh Regiment. 663

fifty-four men. Fourteen commissioned officers of this reg-
iment have been killed or mortally wounded, and ten others
permanently disabled by wounds. This does not embrace
the names of those officers who have been wounded but were
not disabled by their wounds. There are but six officers in
this regiment who have not been wounded, and a large num-
ber (both officers and men) have been wounded several times.

IS'otwithstanding the heavy loss of my regiment in battle I
now have present four hundred and forty-two officers and
men, and am able to give the enemy a good fight whenever it
is necessary."

In that splendid campaign of strategy, when Lee pushed
Meade back from the Rappahannock to Centreville, this regi-
ment moved with the brigade and formed line of battle at
Bristoe Station on the 14th, but was not in the bloody battle
that took place. On the return of the army to the Rappa-
hannock, it was detailed to destroy the Orange and Alexan-
dria Railroad. Perhaps it may be of interest to know how
this was done. The rails were ripped up and pens made of
the cross-ties, the rails then laid on the pens which were set
on fire, the irons soon become red hot in centre, when half a
dozen soldiers would seize each end and run to a telegraph
post, or tree, and play circus by running rapidly around it —
bending the rail three or four times around the post. We
then went into camp on the Rappahannock, near Brandy Sta-
tion, where we remained several weeks, then took up the
march to the old lines on the Rapidan. While on the march
the Thirty-seventh was hurried rapidly back to assist our cav-
alry which was being driven back by the Federal cavalry;
the regiment was formed on the left of the Warrenton road
and a battery placed on the right, as our cavalry came rush-
ing back closely followed by the Yankee cavalry. The battery
opened and the Thirty-seventh, from its concealed position,
poured a murderous volley into them. It was a sudden and
bloody check. The Thirty-seventh pursued them several hun-
dred yards down the road until not one could be seen, it then
rejoined the brigade and with it returned to our old camps
at Liberty Mills, on the upper Rapidan, and went into winter
quarters, but General Meade not content to allow the cam-

664 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

paign of 1863 to end without another struggle, crossed at the
United States and Germania Fords and we marched to Mine
Eun and fortified strongly across Meade's front. This was on
26 JSTovember, and the army remained here several days. The
suffering of the poorly clad men from cold was intense — ^be-
yond anything ever experienced by the Army of Northern
Virginia. A regular blizzard prevailed the whole time it re-
mained there. The enemy failed to attack, but recrossed
the river and the regiment, with the brigade, returned to its
camp.

The only event of interest that occurred during the winter
was an exciting snow ball battle; a short description may be
of interest. The Thirty-third, under Lieutenant-Colonel R.
V. Cowan, marched from its camp to that of the Seventh and
captured it without a battle. The two then proceeded to the
camp of the Eighteenth and demanded its surrender, which
was immediately given. Colonel Cowan then sent a challenge
to the Thirty-seventh and Twenty-eighth for battle. These
two regiments accepted the challenge and' formed line of
battle under command of Captain W. T. Nicholson, on the
edge of a hill in front of our camps, threw out skirmishers
and waited ; the enemy soon appeared across an open field
witli a strong line of skirmishers in front, and the battle
opened by their driving our skirmish line in, the three as-
saulting regiments came to the attack beautifully, but one
volley from the Twenty-eighth and Thirty-seventh drove
them back down the hill ; again they returned and again were
driven back. Eallying in the valley, they re-formed and
made a vigorous assault, breaking our center driving us into
our camps, where we retreated to our shanties and surren-
dered to a pot of rice, bacon and com bread. Our winter
quarters life at dear old Liberty Mills was by far the most
pleasant we ever had, the young officers enjoying the society
of the beautiful young ladies of whom there were many in
Orange County. All pleasures have an ending and ours ended
on 4 May, 1864, when we turned our faces towards the east
to meet General Grant with his mighty host. We bivouacked
that night near Vidiersville and resumed the march on the
morning of the 5th. About 12 o'clock the heavy boom of

Thirty-Seventh Regiment. 665

cannon in front told us that the enemy had been met. Contin-
uing our march we soon came upon the enemy's dead in great
numbers on either side of the road. As we entered the Wil-
derness heavy firing was heard in front of us, on the right of
the plank road. Our division, then commanded by Wilcox,
formed in line of battle, swept through the Wilderness,
obliquely to the left, for about two hundred yards, captur-
ing about two hundred prisoners ; we were then withdrawn,
with the division, to the Plank road to assist Heth's division
which was then hard pressed by overwhelming numbers. The
Thirty-seventh was the rear regiment of the division, and as
it was leaving the Plank road it was reported that the enemy
was approaching from the left of the road; it was detained
there and did not take part in the engagement that evening,
but lay still, watched and listened to the heaviest musketry
it had ever heard ; as Wilcox went in the whole Wilderness
roared like fire in a canebrake. At nightfall the Thirty-
seventh joined the brigade a short distance tO' the right of
the road. JSTone of the brigades seemed to be in line — some reg-
iments isolated entirely from their brigades- — in fact, no line
at all, but just as they had fought. In this disorganized fix
we received the heavy attack of Hancock on the morning of 6
May — the men were willing to fight, but had no chance, 'twas
"confusion worse confounded." The Thirty-seventh was
borne gradually back by other disorganized troops luithout
firing a gun. One hundred yards or so in rear we struck a
road down which Longstreet's men were coming at doiible-
quiek, as we passed through their ranks they could not resist
the temptation of giving us a little chaffing. Some wanted
to know if we belonged to General Lee's army. We didn't
look like the men they had left here — "we were worse than
Bragg's men." These old veterans of Longstreet wheeled into
line and the tide of battle turned, the Yankees were driven
far back into the Wilderness. The Thirty-seventh, which
was never disorganized or confused, formed with the brigiide
on the left of the Plank road and fortified, remaining there
until the night of the 8th, when we took up the march for
Spottsylvania Court House, arriving there about 12 o'clock
on 9 May.

666 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

spottsylvania couet house.

The brigade formed with the Thirty-seventh on the right,
then the Seventh, Thirty-third, Eighteenth and Twenty-
eighth, and commenced immediately to fortify. On the
evening of the 10th we were withdrawn (the whole brigade)
and double-quicked to the left to re-establish our lines that
had been broken, but this was done before we arrived, so we
returned to our fortified position in front of the Court House.

The 11th passed without any fighting anywhere on the line,
but at daylight on the 12th the enemy attacked heavily at the
salient, which Johnson's Division held, breaking and captur-
ing almost his entire division. They then swept up the lines
towards our brigade, capturing part of the Twenty-eighth
and Eighteenth. The four regiments on the left of the Thir-
ty-seventh then swung back and formed at right angle to
that regiment, the enemy advanced in heavy force up the
line, receiving a severe oblique fire from the Thirty-seventh
and the direct fire from the rest of the brigade, which drove
them from the field. The entire brigade then alvanced several
hundred yards over the works, but. were soon ordered back,
and finding other troops occiipying the works, we were or-
dered back to the Court House. General Lee, with several
general ofiicers, sat on their horses just in front of us. Cap-
tain W. T. JSTicholson, of Company E, Thirty-seventh Regi-
ment, who then commanded the sharpshooters of the brigade,
was sent for and reported to General Lee in person. General
Lee directed him to take his corps of sharpshooters across
the works and ascertain, if possible, how far the enemy's left
extended. Nicholson exhibited extraordinary bravery and
intelligence — advanced beyond his men, procured the neces-
sary information, hurried back and reported to General Lee ;
the regiment, with the brigade, was ordered over the works
and several hundred yards from them formed at right angles
to our works. As we advanced to cross the works a battery
was playing upon us. One shell exploded in Company D,
Thirty-seventh regiment, killing the Captain and eight men.
General Lee was riding very close to us at the time. General
Mahone's brigade of Virginians formed just in rear of us;

Thirty-Seventh Regiment. 667

we advanced as soon as formed; as the Thirty-seventh
emerged from the oak woods through which we had advanced,
a battery planted in an open field not more than one hundred
yards o£E, opened upon us with grape and canister. This sud-
den and bloody surprise was calculated to break the sturdiest
veterans, but it had no effect upon the Thirty-seventh, except
the loss of many of its brave men.

The writer now begs to chronicle an act of bravery which
surpassed anything he witnessed during the entire war. As
this fire was received by the Thirty-seventh, Lieutenant
Charles T. Haigh, of Oorapany B, rushed twenty odd yards
in front, with hat in one hand and sword in the other, shout-
ing to his men to come on. Other officers, inspired by his
noble example, rushed forward with him and led the regi-
ment to the battery, not a gun being fired until we reached it,
when halting, it poured in one volley, killing every man at
the battery. It was the only instance which came under the
observation of the writer where a charge was led by officers.
We read often of such things, but they seldom happen ; they
generally remain in rear of their men to keep from being
shot by them. Wheeling to the left from the battery and
fighting with desperation, poor Charley Haigh fell dead by
the side of the writer, the bravest of the brave. Let us
drop a tear to the memory of that noble boy who now sleeps
upon that bloody battlefield.

Wheeling still farther to our left we strike Burnside's
troops, who had charged our works and been defeated. Then
and there in those oak woods a scene with clubbed musket and
bayonet took place which was too horrible to describe. Every
one was trying to fight his way back to our works. Our brig-
ade captured three stands of colors, two of them by the Thirty-
seventh. General Lane says in his official report: "First
Lieutenant James M. Grimsley, Company K, Thirty-seventh
Regiment, with a small squad of men, had the honor of cap-
turing the colors of the Seventeenth Michigan and about
thirty prisoners. Lieutenant Grimsley is a very brave man.
Lieutenant O. A. Wiggins, Company E, Thirty-seventh Reg-
iment, was captured by the enemy, but by his boldness, suc-
ceeded in making his escape and brought off with him the

668 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

flag of the Fifty-first Pennsylvania Regiment and several
prisoners. Private J. H. Wheeler, a brave soldier of Com-
pany E, Eighteenth Regiment, is entitled to the credit of
capturing the battery flag. The charge of the Thirty-seventh
North Carolina Regiment upon a battery of six guns, was
one of the grandest sights I ever saw."

The loss of the regiment in this engagement was 4 oflacers
killed, 3 wounded ; 18 men killed, 30 men wounded ; 2 officers
missing, 38 men missing. Officers killed: Captain H. C.
Grady, Company D ; Lieutenant E. A. Carter, Company A ;
Lieutenant C. T. Haigh, Company B ; Lieutenant B. A.
Johnston, Company C. Officers wounded: Ensign R. M.
Stanley, Captain D. L. Hudson, Company G ; E. H. Russell,
Company I. Officers missing: Colonel Wm. M. Barber,
Lieutenant J. D. Brown, Company C. From the 12th to the
20th the regiment lost 6 men wounded, one man killed ; Cap-
tain W. T. Nicholson was badly wounded in the shoulder by
a piece of shell on the 14th. On the afternoon of the 21st
we moved to the right, beyond our works, and formed line of
battle, charged the enemy's breastworks and captured
them. The regiment had one officer wounded and two men,
officer wounded Lieutenant O. A. Wiggins, Company E.
The following order was read to the brigade on the 13th:

Headquaetees Aemy Noetheen Vieginia^

On Battlefield.
Major-General C. M. Wilcox, Commanding Division:

Geneeal : General Lee directs me to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of the flags captured by Lane's Brigade in its gallant
charge of yesterday, and to say that they will be forwarded to
the honorable Secretary of War, with the accompanying note
and the names of the brave captors.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

0. S. Venable^
A. D. 0.

From Spottsylvania the regiment marched with the brig-
ade to Jericho Ford, where it fought the battle of that name,
losing one man killed, two officers and nineteen men wounded,

Thirty-Seventh Regiment. 669

two men missing. Officers wounded : Lieutenant J. B. Som-
erville, Ooinpany B; Lieutenant J. M. Grimsley, Com-
pany K.

From 27 May to 1 June the regiment was continually
marching and skirmishing, losing seven or eight men. Officer
wounded: Lieutenant A. F. Yandle, of Company I, on 3
June. As all official records of losses sustained after 3 June
were destroyed, no further attempt will be made to give
minute descriptions of the movements of the regiment, but
simply state it sustained its good name to the end. At Friz-
zell's Mill, Deep Bottom and on the Weldon road, it fought
bravely and was in the grand charge made by the three vet-
eran North Carolina brigades 25 August on Hancock's en-
trenched position at Reams' Station. The Thirty-seventh
always contended that it was one of the first regiments that
carried the entrenchments. The next real engagement was
at Jones' Farm, where we lost our beloved Colonel, Wm. M.
Barber, who fell while talking to the writer of this sketch,
just before our lines advanced. We advanced and drove the
enemy over a mile back when night put an end to the battle.
It was a bloody affair, but little mention has ever been made
of it as few troops were engaged ; it took place on 30 Septem-
ber, 1864. The next day, 1 October, the brigade advanced
with Major Wooten's Corps of sharpshooters in front. Major
Wooten managed in some way to slip past and capture about
300 prisoners, we took possession of the enemy's breastworks
and held them all day, but were subjected to an annoying
skirmish fire; the Thirty-seventh had several men killed by
them. During the action on 30 September the regiment
behaved most beautifully, not once halting until ordered to
do so at night. About the middle of JSTovember the regiment,
with the brigade, built little shanties in rear of the works near
the Jones House to make themselves as comfortable as possi-
ble through the winter, a strong picket line being kept in front
day and night. On 8 December the regiment marched with
the brigade, to Jarrett's Station to meet a demonstration of
the enemy in that direction, but returned without a battle.
This march was one of the most trying the regiment ever ex-
perienced. It snowed and rained and sleeted the whole time,

670 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

the ground being so slick after the sleet that it was impossible,
almost, to stand. Men conld often be seen marching on the
sleety ground with no shoes on. On the night of 24 March,
1865, Lane's Brigade moved through Petersburg and took po-
sition to support Gordon in his attack on Hare's Hill. We
were not engaged, but the position held by the Tbirty-seventh
subjected it to a merciless artillery fire for several hours. We
returned to our position and the next day our skirmish line
having been taken General Lane was ordered to re-establish it.
We did so about daylight the next morning, having one ofl&cer,
Lieutenant Bro^vn, and several men of the Thirty-seventh
wounded. On 1 April the troops on our right were with-
drawn and sent to Five Forks. To fill the gap made vacant
by their withdrawal the brigade was deployed in skirmish
line ten paces apart behind the works; just as day was break-
ing on 2 April our poor, little weak line, was assaulted by
three lines of battle. After a stubborn resistance, we were
overpowered and our lines taken, the regiment losing five
officers, Captains W. T. Nicholson, Hudson and Petty, Lieu-
tenants Tankersley and Ross. The line was forced back to
Fort Gregg; a part of the Thirty-seventh, with other troops,
undertook to defend the fort. It made a splendid defence,
but after hours of hard fighting it yielded to overwhelming
numbers and all were captured. That night the regiment
fell back with General Lee's army and surrendered with it
at Appomattox under the command of Major Jackson L. Bost.

Thus closed the career of one of the most gallant regiments
that left the State of North Carolina, or any other State, for
the scene of war. Organized by one of the finest officers of
the State and brought up to that high standard of discipline
necessary in all organized bodies, she maintained it to the
last. Always ready, never murmuring, she covered herself
with glory upon upwards of one hundred bloody battlefields.

When the lines were broken on the morning of 2 April,
the brave senior Captain of the regiment, W. T. Nicholson,
was killed. He had been with the regiment from the begin-
ning and had participated in thirty odd battles. The writer,
who as First Lieutenant, would have succeeded to the Cap-
taincy, was captured. He received a scalp wound, the m-uzzle

Thirty-Seventh Regiment. 671

of the gun being in such close proximity to his head as to blow
powder into his face, nearly destroying his eyes and knocking
him senseless upon the ground. Of course he was captured
and reaching the enemy's lines, he found many of his friends
there who had been captured at the same time. The wound
proved to be of small consequence and his friends set them-
selves to work picking the powder from his face, which they
succeeded in doing very nicely. The prisoners were then
sent to City Point and from there to Washington. The next
day a train load of officers was started for Johnson's island,
when near Harrisburg, Pa., in the dead hours of the night,
the writer jumped from the window of the car while it
was running at the rate of forty miles an hour. Why he did
not break his neck, the Lord only knows, but he was not even
hurt, except a few scratches on the forehead where it plowed
in the sand. Fortunately for him, he had on a suit of clothes
made of an old gray shawl, such as the students at Chapel
Hill wore before the war, cutting off the brass buttons from
the coat and vest and substituting wooden pegs, he was in
perfect disguise and passed as a laborer, working a day or so
at once place, then moving farther south, until he reached
Baltimore, thence by steamer to/Richmond, but too late to do
any more fighting for G-eneral Lee had surrendered. He pro-
cured a parole and started for his home in Halifax County, N.
O. ; when near Garysburg, in Northampton County, he met a
regiment of negro soldiers who had gone from ]S"orf oik to Wel-
don to put telegraph wires in fix, or rather tO' escort the tele-
graph i men; about a dozen stragglers stopped him and robbed
him of the money he had made in Pennsylvania and Mary-
land; then one concluded to kill him, leveled his gun and
pulled trigger, but one of his companions knocked his gun up
just at that instant, the ball passing over the writer's head,
again blowing his face full of powder. They then left him
to his fate. This was the last gun the writer ever heard
fired by a Yankee soldier.

I have attempted not to mention the name of any living
person in the body of this sketch. While so many vied with
one another and struggled so hard upon many a bloody field,
it seems unjust to single out one from among so many brave

672 North Cakolina Teoops, 1861-'65.

men to give special praise, and yet I feel I would be derelict
of my duty if I neglected to mention the meritorious conduct
of one who, upon every battlefield without a solitary excep-
tion, was the most cool, collected person it was my privilege
to know during the war. This was Lieutenant-Colonel Wm.
G. Morris, of Dallas, IST. C. I do not know even now whether
he is living or not.

"Honor to whom honor is due" is a true maxim, and it be-
hooves us now to let posterity know in what light, we, his old
comrades, regarded him. By common consent we "dubbed"
him the Marshal Ney of the gallant old Thirty-seventh. A
little story is told of him at Chancellorsville. On the even-
ing of 22 May, while the regiment was undergoing a most
unmerciful artillery fire and had thrown itself flat on the
edge of the turnpike, he remained standing on the road, his
friends in the meantime urging him to lie down, which he re-
fused to do. Soon a piece of shell struck him on the foot.
"See that," he exclaimed. "If I had been lying down like you
darn fools, it would have hit me on the head."

This recalls another little incident which happened at the
same time and afforded me a great deal of amusement, but
may not be such to those who may read it unless they knew
the parties. I will therefore attempt a short description of the
principal one. While this terrible artillery fire was going
on, one of my company commenced praying. We all perhaps
did the same, but not quite so conspicuously as he did. He
went down low and loud, long and strong. He prayed for all
he was worth. When the firing ceased and we took our posi-
tion in the road ready to move, a squatty little fellow named
George Patrick, almost as broad as he was long, with a face
something like a dinner plate and red as a turkey's snout, and
a mouth almost from ear to ear, made a little speech. It ran
about thus : "Gentlemen, I want to tell you all something,
and I want these ofiicers to remember it. I'm never gwine to
stay in another such place as that. You may shoot me if you
want to, but if you take me in another place like that, I'm
a-goin' to leave, but gentlemen, didn't Mitchell pray ?" then
opened that big mouth and laughed as if there was no such
thing as cannon balls. "Pat" was a great pet with us, one of

Thirty-Seventh Regiment. 673

the best soldiers in the company ; but would under all circum-
stances have his fun. He passed through the entire war,
was in every battle the regiment was engaged in, without re-
ceiving a scratch. *

Memory often takes me back to those trying days and I
fight my battles over and shed my tears in silence over the
many dear fallen friends, shattered hopes and cruel misfor-
tunes. The world does not know of what material the Army
of General Lee was composed, and I regret to say the genera-
tion in the South that has grown up since the ending of that
bloody struggle regard it with either indifference or as a
fortunate ending. This of course is mortifying indeed to
those who struggled so hard and so long for what they knew to
be right. Yes, we fought in the conviction that we were de-
fending those inalienable rights guaranteed by our forefath-
ers. I often think those who now sleep upon far away battle
fields are the most blessed, because they never realized the
mortification of a subjugated people.

After leaving our position under the terrible bombard-
ment at Hare's Hill, we were informed of the death of our old
comrade, Captain Edward T. jSTicholson. Captain JSTichol-
son had left us in the early part of 1863 by promotion on
Genera] Lane's staff as I. G. and was aftenvards transferred
to General Eobert D. Johnston's Brigade as A. A. G.

Closely connected with him for years at college and in the
army, I can truthfully say now, thirty-six years after his
death, that I have never yet known that man who in my hum-
ble opinion, has reached that high standard of morality that
Edward T. ISTicholson possessed. In seven short days fol-
lowed the death of his noble brother. Captain William T.
JSTicholson. The writer of this sketch knew him intimately.
We had fought upon twenty odd battle fields together, and it
was my privilege and duty in the heat of battle, while re-
ceiving instructions from him, to watch him closely, and in
all of these conflicts, no matter how trying the circum-
stances, never saw him lose his balance. He was a man
"bom to command men," and had he lived he would have
proved a great factor in adjusting political affairs during re-
construction days.
43

674 North Carolina Troops. 1861-'65.

JSTo'W I wish to say one word of praise of the noble men
who fell at Gettysburg. Major Owen IST. Brown, the bravest
of the brave, idolized it might be said by his regiment, gave
up his life there and planted close to him in one
grave are those three noble graduates of Chapel Hill — 'Iowa
M. Royster, Lewis Battle and William Mickle. Poor
Koyster, how well do I remember his coming to me as we
were about to advance and showing me a hole in
his pants, and telling me he was shot through the thigh, but
he intended to keep on with the command. There
are few men who would not have gone to the rear, but not
so with Royster. I can see him now in his new uniform
with flashing sword, he cheered his men on apparently totally
oblivious of the fact that a shrapnel bullet had already passed
through his right leg, on he rushed until the last drop of his
manly blood was spilt upon his country's altar. Children
of the South, can jon hear of these noble feats of your coun-
trymen without having your hearts swell with pride?

General James H. Lane, our Brigade commander,
was all that a true soldier could be upon a battlefield. Noth-
ing could excite him and when he put his troops in battle
he always went with them. Always enjoying good health
and miraculously escaping a mortal wound, he kept close with
his brigade and passed through as many battles as any person
in the Confederate army, dearly beloved by his entire brigade.

It is with much diffidence that I submit this sketch, for I
feel as if I have not done justice to the grand old regiment. I
now place my humble wreath of immortelles at the shrine of
the noble men who composed the gallant old Thirty-seventh.

OcTAvius A. Wiggins.
Wilmington, N. C,

9 April, 1901.

THJRTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.

1. John Asbford, Colonel 2. Robert F. Armfleld, Lieut.-Colonel.

3. IVFiles H. Cowles, 1st Lieut, and Adjutant.

THIRTY-EIGHTH REQIMENT.

By lieutenant-colonel GEORGE W. FLOWERS.

The Thirty-eighth Eegiment of IS'orth Carolina Troops
was formed of volunteers who enlisted for twelve months, and
was organized" at Camp Mangum, near Ealeigh, N. C, lY
January, 1862, under the command of Major J. J. Iredell,
commander of the post. The regiment was composed of the
following companies:

Company A — Spartan Band, Duplin Counij — A. G.
Moseley, Captain ; First Lieutenant, D. Gr. Morrisey ; Second
Lieutenant, Alsa J. Brown; Junior Second Lieutenant, D.
]£■ Pearsall.

Company B — Men of Yadkin, Yadkin County — C. L.
Cooke, Captain; First Lieutenant, E. F. Armfield; Second
Lieutenant, A. W. Blackburn; Junior Second Lieutenant,
L. F. Haynes.

Company C — Sampson Farmers, Sampson County — Peter
B. T'roublefield, Captain; First Lieutenant, E. F. Allen;
Second Lieutenant, John F. Wilson ; Junior Second Lieuten-
ant, Hinton J. Hudson.

Company D — Sampson Plowhoys, Sampson County — Jno.
Ashford, Captaia; First Lieutenant, E. Bell; Second Lieu-
tenant, A. D. King; Junior Second Lieutenant, H. C. Dar-
den.

Company E — Richmond Boys, Richmond County — Oliver
H. Dockery, Captain; First Lieutenant, S. M. Ingraham;
Second Lieutenant, D. G. McEae ; Junior Second Lieutenant,
M. W. Covington.

Company F — Catawba Wildcats, Gatawha County —
Joshua B. Little, Captain; First Lieutenant, D. McD.
Yount; Second Lieutenant, H. L. Eoberts; Junior Second
Jjieutenant, F. D. Eoseman.

676 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Company G — Rocky Face Bangers, Alexander County^
G. W. Sharpe, Captain; First Lieutenant, John E. Rhein;
Second Lieutenant, George W. Flowers ; Junior Second Lieu-^
tenant, James W. Stephenson.

Company H — Uwharrie Boys, Randolph County — ISToah
Eush, Captain; First Lieutenant, L. D. Andrews; Second
Lieutenant, J. IST. Keames; Junior Second Lieutenant, N.
H. Hopkins.

Company I — Cleveland Marksmen, Cleveland County — ■
0. P. Gardiner, Captain ; First Lieutenant, G. Blanton ; Sec
ond Lieutenant, D. Magness; Junior Second Lieutenant, O-
Beam.

Company K — Carolina Boys, Cumberland County — M*
McR. McLaughlin, Captain ; First Lieutenant, Angus Shaw ;
Second Lieutenant, A. M. Smith ; Junior Second Lieutenant,
D. A. Moore.

The regiment was organized (Company K being absent),
by electing William J. Hoke, Lincoln County (Captain of
Company K, Bethel Regiment), Colonel; Captain Oliver H.
Dockery, Richmond County, Lieutenant-Colonel; Captain
George W. Sharpe, Alexander County, Major.

The following officers were then appointed :

HoEACE L. Robaeds^ Lincoln County, Quartermaster.

Benjamin H. Sumnee^ Lincoln County, Commissary.

Miles M. Cowles, Yadkin County, Adjutant.

Petee W. Young^ Granville County, Surgeon.

J. Stuaet Devane^ Duplin County, Assistant Surgeon.

D. M. McIntyee, Duplin County, Sergeant Major.

Maeion Roseman^ Catawba County, Quartermaster Ser-
geant.

William C. Webb, Cleveland County, Commissary Ser-
geant.

John 0. Watees, Cleveland County, Color Sergeant.

CoLOE GuAED, J. J. Johnson, Company H ; S. B. Herriiig,
Company C ; F. A. Clifton, Company C ; J. H. Irving, Com-
pany G; D. A. Black, Company K.

Rev. Julian P. Faison, Chaplain, Company A.

Lieutenant R. W. Capell was elected Captain of Company

Thirty-Eighth Regiment. 677

3E, to succeed Captain Dockery; Lieutenant John E. Khein,
Company G, was elected to succeed Captain Sharpe ; George
M. Yoder, Company F, was elected Second Lieutenant to
succeed H. L. Eobards; George W. Flowers, Company G,
was elected First Lieutenant to succeed Lieutenant, Ehein ;
Oliver H. Patterson, Second Lieutenant, to succeed G. W.
Flowers; D. G. McEae, Company E, was elected Second
Lieutenant, to succeed Lieutenant Capell.

On 10 February, 1862, the regiment was ordered to pro-
ceed to Washington, N. C. ; but on reaching Goldsboro the or-
der was changed and the regiment ordered to Halifax, thence
to Hamilton. On 12 February, under orders from General
Gatlin, the troops returned to Halifax, and then proceeded
to Weldon to defend the bridge at that point, reaching Camp
Leventhorpe on the east side of the river, near Garysburg,
on the 14th. The regiment remained here until the 18th,
when it was ordered to Camp Floyd, on the west side of the
river, neao* Weldon. While in Camp at this place there was
much sickness and many deaths. On the 21st the regiment
was ordered to Camp Vance, two miles east of Goldsboro, on
the Wilmington & Weldon Eailroad, and on the 22d was air
tached to the Third .Brigade, Army of JSTorth Carolina, com-
manded by General Joseph E. Anderson. This brigade was
composed of the First South Carolina Eegiment, Colonel
Hamilton; Thirty-fourth ISTorth Carolina, Colonel Leven-
thorpe ; Thirty-eighth North Carolina, Colonel Hoke ; Second
Georgia Battalion, Captain Doyle; Third Louisiana Battal-
ion, Lietitenant-Colonel Bridford. On 8 April, the Forty-
fifth Georgia, Colonel Hardiman, and on 10 April, Forty-
ninth Georgia, Colonel Lane, were attached to the brigade.

While here the troops received news of the passage of the
conscript law, which gave some dissatisfaction, because they
thought it unfair to hold twelve-month troops for a longer
time, but after careful consideration they cheerfully acqui-
esced. On 18 April, 1862, General Holmes, in command at
Goldsboro, ordered the regiment at Camp Mason to re-organ-
ize for the war. The result was as follows :

Thos. S. Kenan, Colonel, (did not accept) ; Wm. J. Hoke
elected on 24th.

678 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

R. F. Aemfield^ Lieutenant-Colonel.

L. D. AndeewSj Major.

Company A— A. G. Mosely, Captain; D. D. Morrisey,
First Lieutenant; N. E. Armstrong; Second Lieutenant; A.
J. Brown, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company B — 0. L. Cook, Captain; A. W. Blackburn,
First Lieutenant; L. F. Haynes, Second Lieutenant; J. B.
Hare, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company C— J. T. Wilson, Captain; R. F. Allen, First
Lieutenant; Hinton J. Hudson, Second Lieutenant; J. W»
Darden, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company D — John Ashford, Captain; E. R. Bell, First
Lieutenant; H. C. Darden, Second Lieutenant; J. W. Dar-
den, Jvinior Second Lieutenant.

Company E — D. C. McRae, Captain; S. M. Ingram, First
Lieutenant ; Alfred Dockery, Second Lieutenant ; M. T. Cov*
ington. Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company F — D. McD. Yount, Captain ; F. D. Roseman,
First Lieutenant; J. A. Yount, Second Lieutenant; Alonzo
Deal, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company G — G. W. Flowers, Captain; 0. H. Patterson,
First Lieutenant; W. A. Stephenson, Second Lieutenant;
Abner Harrington, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company H — W. L. Thornburg, Captain ; J. IST. Keames,
First Lieutenant ; Marley Cranf ord. Second Lieutenant ; Al»
exander Murdock, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company I — O. P. Gardiner, Captain ; B. F. Hunt, First
Lieutenant; O. P. Beam, Second Lieutenant; W. C. Webb,
Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company K— M. M. McLaughlin, Captain ; Angus Shaw,
First Lieutenant; A. M. Smith, Second Lieutenant; D. A.
Monroe, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Miles M. Cowles, Adjutant.

W. R. Edwards^ Quartermaster (17 June, 1862).

B. H. Sumnee, Commissary.

J. L. AndbewSj Ordnance Sergeant.

During the war, in addition to those mentioned, the regi*
ment had the following field officers:

Colonel, John Ashford; Lieutenant-Colonel, John Ash-

Thirty-Eighth Regiment. 679

ford, George W. Flowers; Major, Jolm Ashford, M. McR.
McLaughlin, George W. Flowers, J. T. Wilson; Adjutant,
David M. Mclntyre; Ensign, Wesley F. Mathewson; Ser-
geant-Major, Agrippa S. Hardister; Chaplain, Whitfield S.
McDiarmid.

At the time of the election Colonel Kenan was in command
of the Forty-third Regiment as Lieutenant-Colonel, and 24
April received his commission as Colonel of that regiment
and therefore did not accept the command of the Thirty-
eighth. As soon as the reorganization was completed, 24
April, the regiment was ordered to proceed by rail to Rich-
mond, and on the 27th it was ordered to Guinea Station,
where on the 29th it was transferred to the Second Brigade,
General Maxcy Gregg commanding, and ordered to Milford
Station. The regiment was engaged in guarding the bridges
on the Mattaponi, Wild Cat, North and South Anna runs
until 9 May, when it was relieved by Colonel Tansil, Third
Virginia Artillery, and ordered to report to General Gregg
at the Summit. The regiment was called, 12 May, to meet
the enemy, who had crossed the Rappahannock at Hamilton's-
crossing, below Fredericksburg, but the enemy withdrew and
no engagement ensued. This was the first time the regiment
was in line of battle preparatory to fighting. The following
day the troops for the first time fired on the enemy, a number
of whom were in a boat below the city ; all were killed except
two or three, who swam ashore.

About this time the soldiers were deprived of their tents
and much suffering was caused by the extreme cold rains.
The command remained near Fredericksburg until 25 May,
when it set out on a march at sunset in the direction of Han-
over Junction, marching all night and all next day through
mud so that many of the soldiers lost tlieir shoes and almost
gave out from fatigue. The regiment camped ten miles
north Cf Richmond 27 May, and afterwards did picket duty
along the Chickahominy. On 14 June the Thirty-eighth was
transferred to General Wm. D. Pender's Brigade, composed
of the Thirty-eighth North Carolina, Colonel W. J. Hoke;
Thirty-fourth North Carolina, Colonel R. H. Riddick;
Twenty-second North Carolina, Colonel James Conner; Six-

680 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

teenth North Carolina, Colonel McElroy. The Thirteenth
.North Carolina, Colonel A. M. Scales, was attached in the
■winter. Pender's Brigade formed the Sixth of the "Light
Division" commanded by General A. P. Hill. The division
crossed Meadow bridge 26 June, and it was seen from scat-
tered portfolios and other luxuries to which the Southern
soldier was a stranger, that the Yankee picket at that place
had fled with great precipitation. As soon as the Thirty-
eighth had gotten a little beyond Mechanicsville it was saluted
with heavy shelling. A line of battle was formed and the
march continued until the order was given to charge the bat-
tery that was throwing the deadly missiles. The heat was
intense and the double-quick march exhausting, but the
charge was kept up over the open field until the regiment
reached the summit of the last elevation when a farm house,
yard and garden broke the line somewhat. The Yankee bat-
teries were upon the summit of the opposite hill with their
supporting infantry in their intrenchments, and the old field
pines in front cut down and piled across the stumps which
were left, about three feet high, forming an almost impassable
barrier. The Thirty-eighth, alone and unsu.ppprted, charged
down the hill, the long line of infantry playing upon it with a
cross fire. On the soldiers charged, in the face of the fatal vol-
leys, until the obstacles • were reached, when the whole line
stopped and began returningthe fire under every disadvantage.
The men were falling rapidly and it was soon seen that to take
the works was impossible. Captain Thornburg and Adju-
tant Cowles were in front, urging the men forward. The re-
treat was ordered but the noise was so deafening nothing
could be heard. Major Andrews reached Captain Thorn-
burg and Adjutant Cowles and gave them the orders to re-
treat, after which the word was passed along the line and
the retreat up the hill was begun. The enemy continuing
their deadly firing. It was about sunset when the r^ment
reached safely the rear. General Pender in his report says :
"I at once changed the .direction of two of my regiments so
as to bring them to the right of the artillery, and succeeded
in getting in 150 or 200 yards of it before we were opened
upon, but when they did open upon us it was destructive, and

Thirty-Eighth Regiment. 681

the obstacles so great in front, the creek and the mill dam,
that after the Thirty-eighth JSTorth Carolina had reached these
obstacles, and in less than 100 yards of the enemy's rifle pits,
they had to fall back. This regiment here advanced boldly
and maintained its ground well." * * *

I should state, while relating the incidents of this day's
battle, that Colonel Hoke, Thirty-eighth ISTorth Carolina, was
wounded, and had to leave the field. The Adjutant of the
Thirty-eighth was also wounded, but nobly maintained his
post until after dark.

Lieutenant-Colonel Armfield took command as soon as Col-
onel Hoke was wounded, which was soon after getting under
fire. Adjutant Miles M. Cowles received a wovind from
which he soon died, the regiment losing one of its bravest
officers. Lieutenant Covington, Company E, and Lieutenant
Darden, Company D, were killed, and Lieutenants Dan F.
Eoseman, Company F, and Angus Shaw, Company H, were
severely wounded.

In Company G, Captain Flowers and Lieutenant Harring-
ton were severely wounded, and out of 32 men in the com-
pany at the opening of the engagement, 2Y were either killed
or wounded. About 420 men belonging to the regiment were
engaged in the fight, the others being on picket. The loss
was 152 in killed 'and wounded.

Colonel Hoke in his report speaks in highest terms of the
conduct of Captain B. H. Sumner, A. C. S., Sergeant Major
J). M. Mclntyre, John Young, an attache to the regiment,
and Edward Goldsmith, a Drill Master. The Color Bearer,
John O. Waters, was severely wounded, but remained bravely
at the head of the regiment and bore his colors throiigh the
fight, returning them safely. During the night the troops
were collected as well as possible, and it was late before the
Thirty-eighth was gotten together, when the worn-out soldiers
slept on their arms. At early dawn the march was begun,
the regiment passing over the spot where so many men were
lost the evening before. The enemy fled and the Confeder-
ates marched through the deserted camp. General Hill in
his report says: "It was a costly and useless sacrifice, for
early the next morning our troops crossed the mill pond and

882 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

the Federal forces, seeing their position turned, betook them-
selves to hasty flight."

The Federals made a stand at Gaines' Mill, when the
Thirty-eighth was engaged, and the soldiers, though weary
and worn, behaved nobly. About sunset the shouting along
the line announced the fact that the enemy was running and
a victory was gained. After camping on the battlefield over
night, the march was continued. Lieutenant-Colonel Arm-
field being sick. Major L. D. Andrews was now in command.
The regiment was engaged at Cold Harbor and Frazier's
Farm. At the latter place the Confederate troops fought
with unusual bravery, not seeming to realize the presence of
danger, and victory was again gained by the Confederates.
The Southern soldiers were now all jubilant. McClellan'a
"On to Richmond" was now changed to "On to Harrison's
Landing," where the gunboats lay. The pursuit of the en-
emy was continued, and the next engagement was at Malvern
Hill. The battle at this place was a very hard-fought one,
but the Thirty-eighth was not in the thickest of it, and did
not lose very heavily. The enemy continued to flee, and
was pursued to his gunboats at Harrison's Landing. After
remaining there for a few days, the division v(ras ordered to
Richmond, and it remained below that city until 27 July,
when General A. P. Hill's division was attached to Jack"
son's Corps, and marched to Gordonsville, Va. On 7 Au-
gust Jackson moved from Gordonsville to confront General
Pope in the Valley, and on the 9th he fell upon General
Banks' right flank at Cedar Mountain. At one time the
day seemed doubtful. When the foe had well nigh crushed
General Garnet, Branch went gallantly to his rescue, and
with Pender's and other brigades of Hill's Division drove
the enemy headlong from the field. Major Andrews having
been taken sick at Gordonsville, Captain Jno. Ashford was in
command of the Thirty-eighth and received commendation
from General Pender for his coolness and skillfulness in
handling his men. D. M. Melntyre was now Adjutant,
having been promoted on 9 July, for gallantry and efficiency.
On account of ill health Major Andrews resigned his com-

Thirty-Eighth Regiment. 683

mission, and on 21 August Captain John Ashford was pro-
moted to Major.

Jackson made a wide circuit behind the mountains to cut
the Federal communioations at Manassas. On the 26th Pen-
der's Brigade gained a splendid victory over a brigade of the
enemy at Manassas Junction. Jackson's single corps, num-
bering less than 16,000 men, was resisting General Pope's
entire army. On the 28th the command formed line of bat-
tle for the memorable second battle of Manassas, which was
a series of battles for three days. Pender's Brigade took
possession of the bridge' across Bull Bun and engaged the en-
emy across the river. His brigade finally crossed over to the
east side, but the enemy withdrew. The loss was very slight.
On Friday, the 29th, the enemy changed position and was
attempting to interpose his army between General Jackson
and Alexandria. Jackson's troops were arranged along the
Manassas Gap Kailroad, Jackson's Division under Brigadier
General Stark being on the right, Ewell's, under Lawton, in
the centre, and A. P. Hill's on the left. The brigades of.
Thomas, Pender, Archer and Gregg, were on the extreme left.
After Longstreet arrived the enemy changed position and be-
gan to concentrate all its force opposite Hill's division. The
attack was received with great steadiness, and the battle raged
with great fury ; the enemy was frequently repulsed, but on
account of having so many fresh troops the attack was re-
newed. They succeeded in penetrating an interval between
Gregg's and Thomas' Divisions. Pender's Brigade was
placed in the rear of Thomas' with orders to support it. Gen-
eral Pender in his report says : "Finally it seemed to me to
be the time to go to his (Thomas') assistance. I ordered my
brigade forward, moving just to the right of Colonel Thomas.
My men moved forward very gallantly, driving the enemy
back across the railroad cut, through the woods on the oppo-
site side and beyond their batteries in the adjoining field.
A battery of the enemy which was on the right of the woods
as we advanced was flanked by my command and the cannon-
eers deserted their pieces. My line was halted on the edge
of the field in front of the enemy, where I remained some
time, when, being promised support from one of the staff in

684 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

one of Jackson's brigades, I crossed the field to attack the
batteries. My men advanced well, receiving grape from the
batteries; but support being waited for in vain, and seeing
columns on my left and right manoeuvering to flank me, I
withdrew and marched back to the railroad cut; a little to the
right of the position previously held by General Gregg. Gen-
eral Archer very kindly came forward and relieved me until
I could march to the rear and rest my men. I was ordered
to the right to support some one of General Jackson's brig-
ades. I marched across the railroad embankment, moving
obliquely to the left until I had reached the large field again
in which the enemy were found. Finding nothing to do un-
less it was. to attack an overwhelming force of the enemy, sup-
ported very strongly by artillery, I withdrew after receiving
heavy fire of grape and shell. Getting back to the railroad
cut about the point I had reached the evening before, I re-
ceived orders to march, in conjunction with other troops, par-
ticularly those of General Archer, Colonels Thomas and Tal-
iaferro. We all advanced together, taking the enemy, as it
were, in echelon. We advanced steadily, driving the enemy
from the field through the woods. While advancing through
the woods we were exposed to a very heavy enfilade fire from
the right. We continued our advance until after dark, when
we came in contact with a body of the enemy. Each fired a
volley. They ran and we rested for the night. Thus ended
the Manassas fight with me. The brigade, with the excep-
tion of a few skulkers, behaved with great gallantry on both
these days. They could not have behaved better. I cannot
particularize at this distant day, but I well recollect that Cap-
tain John Ashford, commanding the Thirty-eighth, behaved
with great coolness and bravery. I had the misfortune to
lose him on account of a wound in the leg."

Six separate and distinct attacks were made against Hill's
Division and each time repulsed. General Jackson said:
"The three brigades of Archer, Pender and Thomas held to-
gether and drove everything before them, capturing the bat-
teries and many prisoners, resting that night on Bull Run,
and the ground thus won was occupied that night. These
brigades had penetrated so far within the enemy's lines that

Thirty-Eighth Regiment. 685

Captain Ashe, Assistant Adjutant General to General Pen-
der, was taken prisoner that night returning from my head-
quarters to his own brigade."

The regiment received considerable loss. Lieutenant Wes.
A. Stephenson, Oonipany G, Thirty-eighth North Carolina,
a brave soldier, was killed, and Lieutenant Duncan Black was
wounded. For distinguished gallantry displayed in the cel-
ebrated charge. Sergeant R. M. Sharpe, Company G, was pro-
moted to Second Junior Lieutenant. After the wounding of
Captain Ashford, Captain M. McR. McLaughlin was in
command of the regiment. Early next morning, 1 Septem-
ber, the army marched forward and came in contact with the
enemy late in the evening at Ox Hill. The regiment was en-
gaged in this fight, which raged with great fury, but the en-
emy retired from the field. On 4 September the army biv-
ouacked near the Big Spring, between Leesburg and the Poto-
mac, and on the next day the division crossed into Mary-
land, near Leesburg, but on the llth re-crossed into Virginia
at Williamsport. On the next day General White, with
3,000 men, retreated from the town and fell back upon Har-
per's Ferry. The enemy occupied a ridge of hills, known
as Bolivar Heights, extending from the Potomac to the Shen-
andoah. McLaw's Division occupied Maryland Heights
across the Potomac, Walker's Division Loudon Heights on
the right bank of the Shenandoah, and to complete the invest-
ment. General Hill's division was ordered to move along
the left bank of the Shenandoah to turn the left flank of the
enemy and enter Harper's Ferry. The Thirty-eighth was
in the left of the division. Pender, Archer and Brocken-
borough were directed to gain the crest of the hill. General
Pender being entrusted with the execution of this command.
Colonel Brewster was in charge of the brigade, which ad-
vanced to within about sixty yards of the breastworks on the
west point of Bolivar Heights, but the troops were withdrawn.
N'ext morning the brigades of Pender and Thomas marched
to within 150 yards of the works, while the artillery played
upon the enemy. When the artillery ceased, Pender began
to advance, but the artillery opened again, and the enemy
showed the white flag, and surrendered about 11,000 prison-

686 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

ers, 12,000 stand of arms, 70 pieces of artillery, and many-
stores. Captain Mcholas E. Armstrong, Company A, and
Lieutenant Smith, Company K, were severely wounded.

Hill's Division remained to parole the prisoners and send
off the captured goods, and on 17 September, moved to
Sharpsburg, leaving Thomas' Brigade at Harper's Ferry.
At Sharpsburg occurred one of the greatest battles of the
civil war. General Hill arrived in time tO' save the day, but
Pender's Brigade on the right of the division was not actively
engaged, being under fire at long range of musketry.

The division recrossed the Potomac into Virginia on the
night of 18th with tl;e rest of the army, and on the 20th, at
Shepherdstown, were ordered to drive some brigades of the
enemy across the river. The enemy massed in front
of Pender's Brigade and endeavored to turn his left. Gen-
eral Pender became hotly engaged and informing Archer of
his danger he (Archer)' marched by the left flank, and form-
ing on Pender's left, a simultaneous, daring charge was made
and the enemy driven pell mell into the river. Then com-
menced the most terrible slaughter the war witnessed. The
broad surface of the Potomac was blue with the floating
bodies of the slain. But few escaped to tell the tale. By
their own account they lost 3,000 men killed and drowned
from one brigade alone.

General Pender in his report says: "Captain Ashford,
commanding the Thirty-eighth North Carolina at Manassas
Junction and at Manassas, when he was wounded, has entitled
himself to notice as well as promotion by his uniform bravery
and good conduct. Lieutenants A. J. Brown and J. M. Kob-
inson, also of the same regiment, have attracted my attention
more than once, as also Adjutant D. M. Mclntyre." Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Armfield, having returned to the regiment the
day before the battle, was in command and was severely
wounded.

On 13 December, the army met Bumside's army organized
in three Grand Divisions at Fredericksburg, Va. At this
time General Hill occupied the front line of the right of our
army formed of two regiments of Fields' Brigade and the
brigades of Archer, Lane and Pender, the latter being on the

Thirty-Eighth Regimknt. 687

extreme lecft. "The enemy made several attempts to
advance, but -were repulsed." (General A. P. Hill's report).
From the nature of the ground and the entire absence of
all protection against artillery, Pender's Brigade re-
ceived the greatest part of the terrible fire. General. Pen-
der was himself wounded. During the temporary absence
of General Pender, the command of the brigade de-
volved upon Colonel Scales, of the Thirteenth. General Pen-
der, though wounded, resumed the command of his brigade
as soon as his wound was dressed.

After the withdrawal of the enemy the regiment, with Pen-
der's Brigade, went into winter quarters at Camp Gregg, be-
low Fredericksburg, and did picket duty near Moss Creek
church. On 27 December Colonel William J. Hoke rejoined
the regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Armfield, while at home
on furlough, on account of a wound received at Shepards-
town, was elected solicitor, and resigned his position in the
army. Captain John Ashf ord was elected to fill the vacancy.
The following is a copy of General Hill's order :

Headqtjaetees Light Division^

Camp Beanch, Sept. 24, 1862.
Soldiers of the Light Division :

You have done well and I am pleased with you. You
have fought in every battle from Mechanicsville to Shepards-
town and no man can say that the Light Division was ever
broken. You held the left at Manassas against overwhelm-
ing numbers, and saved the army. You saved the day at
Sharpsburg, and at Shepherdstown you were selected to face a
storm of round shot, shell and grape, such as I never before
saw. I am proud to say to you that your services are appre-
ciated by our general, and that you have a reputation in this
army which it should be the object of every officer and pri-
vate to sustain.

A. P. Hill,

Major General.

The regiment remained in camp until 28 April, 1863,
when the command marched in the direction of Fredericks-

688 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

burg, and remained in camp below the city until the evening
of 1 May.

On the morning of 2 May Jackson began his flank march to
Chancellorsville, and after a long and fatiguing journey the
division was placed at right angles to the old turnpike road,
Hill's Division being third in line, Rodes' and Colston's being
ahead of him. Hooker, having thrown up heavy works, west,
south and east, with the Chancellor house behind the centre,
and with the dense thicket in front, was in a position almost
impregnable. The assault on his flank was ordered about 6
o'clock in the afternoon. The Confederates rushed forward,
cheering wildly, and in a few moments the enemy were com-
pletely demoralized and fled. On account of the thickets
the lines had been mingled in confusion and it was necessary
to reform the lines. The third line (Hill's Division) was or-
dered to the front. Pender's Brigade entered the road and
pushed on by the flank until they reached the most advanced
position of the troops. Here in the road the whole brigade
received a most destructive shelling from the batteries near
Chancellorsville. Hill's Division was now in front, and was
engaged in relieving those who had been in the front line
during the evening. On all sides the scattered troops were
gathered around their colors. Jackson, accompanied by his
staff and escort, rode down the road towards Chancellorsville.
In the obscurity of the night they were mistaken for the en-
emy and fired upon and Jackson was mortally wounded. As
soon as the musketry fired the enemy's batteries again swept
the turnpike with shell and canister. Pender massed his
brigade tO' the left of the wood, threw out skirmishers and re-
mained in this position until Sunday morning, 3 May. When
daylight came next morning a private soldier in Company I,
of the Thirty-eighth ISTorth Carolina Regiment, found Jack-
son's gloves in the road where he had dropped them when
shot. They were buckskin gloves with the name of T. J.
Jackson inside the cuffs.

Hill had intended an attack on the enemy as soon as he
had formed his line in front, but soon after Jackson was
wounded he himself was wounded, and the attack was not
made. General J. B. B. Stuart was now in command of the

Thirty-Eighth Regiment. 689

corps. About dawn Sunday morning, 3 May, General Stu-
art renewed the attack, General Heth in command of Hill's
Division taking the advance. The enemy were again charged
in the face of their deadly fire, and twice were their works
taken and twice relinquished. About 10 o'clock the Fed-
eral army was driven by a mighty charge from all the forti-
fied positions, back towards the Rappahannock, with heavy
loss in killed and wounded and prisoners. On accotmt of the
nature of the country, this region being known as the wilder-
ness, rapid pursuit was almost impossible. In the charge
the troops were scattered, and after being gotten together, the
command maintained its position Sunday and Monday, and
on Tuesday evening the enemy re-crossed the river.

General Pender in his report says : "I can truly say that
my brigade fought 3 May with unsurpassed courage and de-
termination. I never knew them tO' act universally so well.
I noticed no skulking, and they never showed any hesitation
in follomng their colors. My list of killed and wounded
will show how manfully they fought on that glorious day.
After having witnessed the fighting of nearly all the troops
that fought on the left of the road I am satisfied with my
own, but by no means claiming any superiority. All that I
saw behaved as heroes. * * *

"Lieutenant-Colonel John Ashford, Lieutenants Alsa J.
Brown and John Robinson, Thirty-eighth North Carolina, the
former part of the time and the latter part of the time in
charge of my sharpshooters, distinguished themselves very
much. Colonel Ashford was remarked for his gallantry by
all, and Lieoitenant Brown continued with or in charge of the
sharp-shooters for several days. He is a young man who de-
serves promotion. He kept his skirmishers so close tO' the
enemy's breastworks on Monday and Tuesday as to pick off
the artillery horses, men working on their trenches, and any
one seen mounted. He drove in other skirmishers on all oc-
casions. I should mention that Major M. McR. McLaugh-
lin, Thirty-eighth North Carolina, was badly wounded while
behaving most gallantly. Adjutant D. M. Mclntyre is also
spoken of for his distinguished conduct."
44

690 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

The loss of the brigade was YOO, the Thirty-eighth North
Carolina losing two officers, Captain McEae and Lieutenant
Hare, killed; 81 officers and men wounded, 16 privates killed,
12 missing. The Confederate Congress passed an act by which
badges might be given to enlisted men, whom the companies
might select as being entitled to them. After the battle of
Chancellorsville the following were given badges :

Company A, Private Jesse A. Nethercutt, Duplin County ;
Company B, Private Thomas Dinkins, Yadkin County;
Company C, Private Benjamin Sutton, Sampson County;
Company D, First Sergeant David A. Thompson, Sampson
County; Company E, Private Wm. J. Hutchesou (killed),
Kichmond County ; Company F, Private Wm. S. Huffman,
Catawba County ; Company G, Private W. F. Matheson, Al-
exander County; Company H, Corporal D. P. Woodburn,
Randolph County (killed at Gettysburg) ; Company I, Pri-
vate Thomas J. Ramsey, Cleveland County; Company K,
Private W. H. McPhail, Cumberland County.

Medals were also recommended to be given to Adjutant
Mclntyre and Lieutenant A. J. Brown.

When A. P. Hill took commaud of Jackson's Corps after
recovering from his wound, Pender, also wounded at Chan-
cellorsville, was promoted to Major-General, and Colonel A.
M. Scales, the Senior Colonel of the brigade, tO' Brigadier-
General. Scales being absent on account of a wound received
at Chancellorsville, Colonel W. J. Hoke was placed in com-
mand of the brigade and continued in command until Scales
rejoined the brigade near the Maryland line. The wound
received by Major McLaughlin prevented him from return-
ing to his command, and Captain G. W. Flowers was elected
Major.

Headqtjaetees Pendee's Beigade,

May 13, 1863.
General Order No. 38.

Upon resuming command of the brigade, it affords me
great pleasure to express to you my high appreciation of your
conduct and services in the late battle of Chancellorsville.
Troops could not have fought better or more gallantly, op-

Thirty-Eighth Regiment. 691

posing aneeessfuUy such fearful odds, strongly posted and
oflFering stubborn resistance, as evidenced by your loss, greater
than that of any brigade in the army in proportion to num-
bers engaged. I may be exacting, but in this instance you
piay rest assured that I am perfectly satisfied. I am proud
to say that your services are known and appreciated by those
higher in command than myself. * * *

W. D. Pendee^

Brigadier General.

0^ the morning of 6 June, 1863, the brigade went into
line below Fredericksburg, in front of the Bernard house, the
enemy being in the Port Royal road and in the valley behind
the house. Colonel Wm. J. Hoke was ordered to advance
his skirmishers and fire if the enemy occupied the Port Royal
road. Lieutenant Alsa J. Brown, afterwards Captain of
Company C, took command, assisted by Lieutenant Robinson,
afterwards Captain of Company B, and the other officers of
the skirmish corps, about 200 men. Instead of feeling, he
charged the enemy and attacked and drove from the road the
Sixth Vermont, killing and wounding about 35, and holding
the road until the enemy re-crossed the Rappahannock.

xifter being encamped for about ten days. Hill's Corps
moved towards Gettysburg, Pender's Division arriving within
eight miles of Gettysburg on the morning of the 30th. At 3
a. m., 1 July, the command took up line of march, Pender's
Division with Mcintosh's battalion of artillery following
Heth and Pegram's battalion of artillery. The field arrange-
ment put Scales' Brigade on the extreme left of the division,
and the Thirty-eighth North Carolina on the left of the brig-
ade, its left resting on the Chambersburg pike. ' The advance
of the enemy was driven back to the hills where their forces
were to oppose the advance of the Confederates. At the first
charge Pender's Division was in the rear. Scales' and
Thomas' Brigades being on the right. The enemy offering
determined resistance, Pender's Division, except Thomas'
Brigade, was ordered to the front. The ammunition of the
advance line having given out, they halted and lay dovsra.
Scales' Brigade soon passed over them with the other brig-

692 NoKTH Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

ades, rushed up the ascent, crossed the bridge and commenced
the descent just opposite the Theological Seminary. The
regiment being on the flank, encountered a most terrific fire of
grape and musketry in front. Every discharge made sad
loss in the line, but the troops pressed on double-quick until
the bottom was reached, a distance of about 75 yards from
the ridge just crossed and about the same distance from the
college in front. By this time the line was badly broken.
Every ofiicer in Scales' Brigade except one. Lieutenant Gard-
man, upon whom the command devolved, was disabled, 400
men killed, wounded and missing. The loss of the Thirty-
eighth was 100 in killed and wounded, or captured. General
Scales and AdjutanlrGeneral Eiddick were wounded, and
Major Clark killed. Colonel Hoke, Colonel Ashford, Colo-
nel Lowrance, Captain Thornburg, acting Major, were
among the wounded. Though wounded, Colonel Lowrance
took command of the brigade and Captain Thornburg, of the
regiment. Some of the companies were without a single of-
ficer. The regiment now was moved to the right of the line,
and throwing out skirmishers to the right and front it re-
mained in this position until morning, it being then about 10
o'clock. Early next morning the brigade was placed on the
right of the artillery. A line of skirmishers under command
of Lieutenant A. J. Brown was thrown out, and was held
against several strong attacks. The Scales Brigade joined
the division on the left again and was joined on to Lane's
Brigade. On the morning of 3 Jijly Scales' Brigade was or-
dered to the right and placed in coromand of General Trim-
ble, and while here suffered greatly from the artillery fire.
The regiment was then ordered forward over a crimson plain.
The Federal lines, as the regiment emerged from the woods
were about a mile in front. The troops were compelled to
cross a fence, and were by this time losing heavily from grape
and canister. The line was somewhat deranged. Captain
Thornburg was disabled. About 150 yards from the en-
emy's line another fence retarded the advance, but the troops
rushed on and reached a third fence on the side of the road.
There was by this time only a skirmish line. The Thirty-
eighth was then only a few feet in front of the enemy's in-

Thirty-Eighth Eegiment. 693

f antry. The enemy rushed out to meet the advancing line,
and a flanking party, concealed in ditches, captured about
thirty men besides killing a large number inside the Federal
lines. Some tried to escape, but were shot down. Every
man in Company A except Adjutant H. C. Moore and Lieu-
tenant A. J. Brown were shot down and these were captured.
Adjutant D. M. Mclntyre, acting Brigade Adjutant-General
of Scales' Brigade, escaped. After the third day's fight the
regiment had only about 40 men, commanded by a First Lieu-
tenant.

The two brigades, Lane's and Scales', were reduced to
mere squads, and after the retreat a line was formed again
where the first line was formed, and the brigade remained
here until the 4th, when the retreat to Hagerstown began,
which place was reached on Y July. On 11 July line of bat-
tle was formed and the regiment remained here until the
night of the 13th, but no fight ensued except skirmishing.
After this the retreat to Falling Water began, Pender's Divis-
ion being rear guard. The Potomac was crossed and Cul-
pepper Court House reached 1 August. The division went
into winter quarters at Orange Court House and the regi-
ment did picket duty on the Rapidan. On 7 February, dur-
ing General Scales' absence, Colonel Hoke commanded the
brigade against an advance of the enemy on the brigade picket
line at Barnett's Ford on the Rapidan, and it maintained its
position until the enemy retired. After the death of Pender,
at Gettysburg, Wilcox became division commander. On the
morning of 4 May the enemy, under General Grant, crossed
the Rapidan at Ely's and Germania Fords. Two corps of
Lee's army moved to oppose him, Ewell's by the tu.rnpike and
Hill's by the plank road. As soon as the Confederate forces
reached the enemy a strong attack was made on Ewell who re-
pulsed them, but soon they returned, massing a heavy force
against Hill. Heth's and Wilcox's Divisions met every as-
sault and successfully resisted them, but the enemy continued
to make attacks until nightfall. Next morning as Longstreet
was relieving Hill, the enemy made an attack which at first
created some confusion, but as soon as the troops recovered
themselves, the enemy was driven back with spirit rarely

694 NoKTH Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

surpassed. At night an attack was made against the enemy,
and they being panic-stricken by the cheering of iJi© Confed-
erate army, a stampede was begun which led to a general
rout. The Third army corps under General Early (Hill
being unwell), left the position at the Wilderness 8 May,

1864, and engaged in the great battles of Spottsylvania Court
House when the Thirty-eighth lost several brave men. The
regiment was in the attack made by General Hill on General
Warren at Noel's Station 23 May, and the skirmishing at
Kiddie's Shop 13 June, and on down to Petersburg which
was reached 18 June.

The following is a resolution of the Confederate Congress,
17 May, 1864:

"The Congress of the Confederate States of America do re'
solve. That the thanks of Congress are eminently due, and
are hereby tendered to the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-eighth
Kegiments of North Carolina Troops, for the promptness and
unanimity with which they have re-enlisted for the war."

Colonel William J. Hoke, from wounds received in battle,
was disabled for field service and was appointed to the post
at Charlotte. Lieutenant-Colonel John Ashford was promoted
to the command of the regiment; Major Geo. W. Flowers to
be Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain J. T. Wilson to be Major.

The regiment was engaged in the hard-fought battle at
Beam's Station 25 August, 1864, when the divisions under
Wilcox, Mahone and Johnson attacked the enemy and cap-
tured about 2,000 prisoners. Hill attacked General Warren at
the Davis house, on the Weldon road, three miles from the
city, 21 August, 1864, defeating him and capturing 2,700
prisoners. The regiment suffered severely in this engagement.
The com'mand remained around Petersburg until 2 April,

1865, when the Confederate lines were pierced in three places.
A few days before the lines were broken, the Thirty-eighth
was sent out tO' reconnoiter, and ascertain the strength of the
enemy in our front. We found their picket line much
stronger than our line of battle, and after a severe engage-
ment, we were compelled to retreat. In this engagement

Thirty-Eighth Regiment. 695

Colonel Ashford was wounded, and turned over the command
to this writer, who retained it until the surrender, signing the
paroles. The Thirty-eighth was ordered out of the works and
was soon thereafter on the retreat from Petersburg. The ene-
my were pursuing the retreating troops very hard, and first
one regiment and then another was thrown out as skirmishers
to retard the enemy. A line of battle was formed and breast-
works were thrown up at Southerland's Farm and when
the enemy made an attack they were repulsed with
heavy loss and several prisoners were captured. The enemy
turned the flank about 4 p. m., and the Southern troops were
again compelled to retreat. Cooke's, Scales' and MaeRae's
iN'orth Carolina Brigades and McGowan's South Carolina
Brigade, the troops on the right of the break in the line,
formed the corps. The North Carolina Regiments, Thir-
teenth, Twenty-second, Twenty-seventh, and Forty-seventh
were thrown out to check the enemy while the other troops en-
thrown out to cheek the enemy while the other troops en-
deavored to cross, hoping to rejoin the main army from which
the brigades had been separated. It was found impossible
to cross and the regiments thrown out were recalled, when
the troops pursued their way up the river until about 2
o'clock at night when they rested. The march was begun at
sunrise the next morning, 3 April, and Deep Creek was
reached about 9 a. m. A halt was made to let the wagon
train get ahead for safety, and an attempt was made to throw
a temporary bridge across the creek in order to cross. The
cavalry had been in the rear guard, and about 2 o'clock they
came rushing up and reported that the enemy were pursuing.
McGowan's Brigade was enabled to cross the bridge, which
was not yet completed, but the other troops followed the
wagons and crossed at a ford about three miles above the
bridge. By this time the enemy were in sight, but no attack
was made. The intention was to cross the Appomattox at
Goode's bridge, but the waters were very high and it was im-
possible to get to the bridge on account of the overflow, there-
fore the troops were marched up the river, and as night came
on went into camp at the cross roads above the bridge.

696 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Couriers were sent out to find a place to cross, in order to
join General Lee's army, and about 1 o'clock the command
was ordered to march. After crossing the river and march-
ing through open fields and by-roads, Anderson's Georgia
Brigade was reached. This brigade was the leading brigade
in Lee's army and had crossed on a pontoon bridge where the
whole army was then crossing. There was great rejoicing
on the part of the soldiers at again meeting their comrades,
from whom they had been separated for three days. The
regiment was halted about sunrise and breakfast was pre-
pared, after which the march was continued to Amelia Court
House, Va., where the night was spent. The enemy next
morning attacked and began burning the wagon train, but
were driven ofi. The retreat was continued, the rear guard
having frequent fights with the enemy. On Friday, 7 April,
1865, Farmville, Va., was reached, and Scales' Brigade re-
lieved Cooke's brigade as rear guard of the infantry. The
enemy having crossed the river, pressed the lines very hard
and consequently the rear guard was engaged in several at-
tacks, and suffered severely. The enemy was driven off,
and this was the last fighting in which the regiment was en-
gaged before the surrender. Saturday, 8 April, the regi-
ment camped about three miles from Appomattox Court
House, Va. As Appomattox Court House was approached
the next morning the Federal line was seen on the hill at the
court house. Line of battle was drawn up and it was ex-
pected that an advance would be made. It began to be ru-
mored that a surrender was made, but nothing definite could
be learned until 12 o'clock, when it was known that Lee had
indeed surrendered. It was soon learned that the soldiers
would be paroled and given permission to return home. Mon-
day morning 10 April, 1865, the farewell address of General
Lee was read to the regiment. All the soldiers of the regi-
ment had the opportunity of shaking hands with General Lee
and hearing him say, "God bless you boys ; I hope we shall
meet again !" After remaining in this position until
Wednesday, 12 April, the regiment was marched over near
the court house, where the arms were stacked in front of the

Thirty-Eighth Regiment. 697

enemy. On the same evening tlie soldiers were furnished
with the following :

Appomattox Court House, Va., ]

April 10, 1866. J

The bearer, , of Co 38th

Regiment of N. C. Troops, a paroleQ prisoner of the Army of Northern
Virginia, has permission to go to his home, and there remain undisturbed.

Jos. H. Hyman,
Colonel 38th N. C. Troops,
Commanding Scales' Brigade.

The Thirty-eighth Kegiment of l^orth Carolina Troops
was disbanded and passed out of existence.

George W. Flowees.

Taylorsvillk, N. C,

9 April, 1901.

THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT.

1. David Coleman. Colonel. 3. Paschal C. Hughes Major

2. Harvey H. Davidson, Lieut.-Colonel. 4. J. D. Harden, Adjutant.

THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT.

By lieutenant THEO. F. DAVIDSON.

It will perhaps be many years — ^beyond the generations
now living — before the popular delusion that the war between
the States had its origin in the existence of negro slavery,
will be dispelled. Notwithstanding the long and most ex-
haustive discussion by the ablest men of the country, for the
quarter of century preceding actual war, of the real ques-
tions— the relative rights and powers of the State and Fed-
eral Oovemments under the National Constitution — and
despite the fact that, since the close of that war, the true is-
sue has again and again been stated and demonstrated, yet,
except by the intelligent, thoughtful and candid portion —
always a small minority — of the people, the great majority
of the people of the Northern portion of the Union believe,
and will carry that belief to their graves, that the greatest
civil and military conflict of the Nineteenth century was
waged for the enslavement, or emancipation, of the negro.
When sentiment invades history it produces as much havoc
as when it influences the other affairs of practical life.

But however much the questions which led to the war may
be misrepresented or misunderstood by the people of this
generation, they were thoroughly understood by the people of
the South when the appeal to arms came; they clearly rec-
ognized that, the very fundamental principles of their gov-
ernment were involved, and upon the decision the form and
spirit of the Constitution, as framed by their fathers, would
be preserved in its integrity, or that the whole system would
be revolutionized.

One of the most significant proofs of the fact that the
status of the negro was not, at the Soutih, regarded as the
issue, was the ardor with which the non-slaveholding portions
of the population flew to arms at the call of their respective

700 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

States, and the fidelity tiiey exhibited for the cause through
four years of struggle, self-denial, suffering, death and social
destruction.

Especially was this true of the Worth Carolina moun-
taineer. In the greater portion of that section of the State
extending from the eastern foot-hills of the Blue Kidge to
the Western boundaries of Clay and Cherokee, the slave-
owners, in 1861, were so rare that the institution of slavery
may be! said, practically, to have had no existence, and yet
that region sent more than fifteen thousand fighting men —
volunteers — into the field. The Sixteenth, Twenty-fifth,
Twenty-ninth, Thirty-ninth, Fifty-eighth, Sixtieth, Sixty-
second, Sixty-fourth, Sixty-fifth and Sixty-ninth Regiments
were composed exclusively of mountain men ; and in addition
they were numerously represented in the "Bethel" — Ninth,
Eleventh, Fourteenth and Nineteenth Regiments, and other
organizations. This estimate does not include a large num-
ber of men from the same territory, who during the progress
of the war were embodied in independent commands, and did
gallant service in the campaigns in Virginia, in the South-
west and in the immediate locality of their homes. These
mountaineers were the descendants of the sturdy, hard-fight-
ing Scotch-Irish, who, to a man, were Whigs in the Revolu-
tion, and by their stubborn resistance of British aggressions,
contributed so much to the establishment of the Independence
of their country.

The men of Western Carolina, whose sublime devotion and
courage, with that of their comrades from other portions of
the South, have made the heights of Gettysburg and Freder-
icksburg and Sharpsburg, the plains of Manassas and Chick-
ahominy, the wilderness of Chancellorsville and Chieka-
mauga, the Valleys of Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee, im-
mortal, had in their veins the blood of the patriots who fought
at Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Yorktown, Savan-
nah, Guilford, Eutaw Springs and Kings Mountain — and,
let it never be forgotten, they fought, and fighting died, for
the same great divine right — the right of a people to ordain
and control their own government.

Of the regiments mentioned, the Twenty-ninth, Thirty-

Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 701

ninth, Fifty-eighth, Sixtieth, Sixty-second, Sixty-foturth>
Sixty-fifth and Sixty-ninth, served in the armies of the South-
west— in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Missis-
sippi, Louisiana, South Carolina and Florida, and several of
them, participated in the last charge at Bentonville.

The survivors of these regiments sometimes fear that the
record and memory of their deeds and those of their dead
comrades may be forgotten and lost in the lustre of the re-
nown of their brethren who served in the Armies of Virginia.
There is some ground for this apprehension.

The fact that the great bulk of the soldiers of North Caro-
lina were sent to Virginia immediately after their enlist-
ment, and remained in that service until the end of the war ;
that the sphere of operations was territorially limited to a
comparatively small area, and was so near the Federal and
Confederate capitals ; that the ultimate decision was believed
to be dependent upon the fate of Richmond ; the geniiis and
fame of Lee, Jackson, Longstreet, Stewart, Hampton and a
host of other captains ; the marvellous deeds of the world re-
nowned soldiers who followed them, — concentrated the atten-
tion of the people of both sides upon that scene and its ac-
tors.

Again, the military records of those troops have been bet-
ter preserved — in fact at the fall of Richmond and surrender
at Appomattox the Federals acquired possession of almost
complete records of the Civil Government of the Confeder-
acy, and its military operations in the East.

On the other hand, the Confederate forces in the armies
of the West were chiefly composed of men from that region ;
the sphere of their operations was vastly more extended, em-
bracing the entire Confederacy west of the AUeghanies and
South of the Ohio and Missouri. With a longer line to de-
fend, it was necessary to make longer marches ; to change the
assignment of Regiments, Brigades and Divisions, and un-
happily, too often, to change commanders.

Because of this the solidarity of organization was to a
great extent lost ; the continuity of record of service was im-
possible, and at the close, in the matter of documentary his-

702 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

tory scarcely anything except official reports of general oper-
ations, was saved for tbe historian.

But NortJi Carolina had no braver sons in the struggle than
those in the eight regiments in the armies of the West. As
glorious as is her record on the fields of Virginia and Mary-
land and Pennsylvania, it is equaled by that made by her
soldiers at Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Shiloh,
Dalton, Eesaca, Nevsr Hope Church, Atlanta and Benton-
ville.

It is well known that the equipment of the Southern troops
in the West, except in the matter of food, was greatly infe-
rior to that in the East. This was not because of favoritism,
but an unavoidable result of conditions which were well un-
derstood at the time.

It is a fact, also, that for the first three years of the war
the Federal armies in the West were far superior to^ those in
the East not only in the ability of their Generals, but in the
personnel of the soldiers. The men who composed them were
drawn from the farms and smaller towns of what was then
called the Northwest, but now known as the Middle-West —
Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois. They were of
pure American stock, many of them with Southern blood,
bold, hardy and as plucky as the fiery Southerner. When
those spirits met in battle the God of War was rampant, and
they who were victorious knew they deserved the victory.
It was only after General Grant was transferred from the
West and began to feed his army with recruits and reinforce-
ments from the veterans of the Ohio, that Lee and his invinci-
ble legions were called upon to- put forth all their skill and
courage.

Lieutenant Cathey, who served in the East xintil about the
end of 1862, when he was transferred with his company to
the Thirty-ninth Regiment, and served in the West until the
close of the war, in his admirable history of the Sixteeqith
Eegiment, points out this fact.

The story is told that, on the eve of the battle of Chicka-
mauga, when Longstreet's Corps arrived on the field, fiuslied
with the glories of its well-earned laurels won in the Vir-
ginia campaigns, one of its men hailed a member of Hardee's

Thikty-Ninth Regiment. 703

Corps with the welcome announcement that he "had come
down to teach the Western man how to fight"- — to which the
latter replied that he was exceedingly glad to see him and
have his help, as there was to be some bloody work to do soon.
And it was bloody work Longstreet's veterans had, with their
Western comrades, for the next two days; time and time
again they were repulsed on the slopes of Dyer's field and
Snodgrass Hill, and it was not until night had fallen on that
Sunday they were able to drive the enemy from the field.
When the battle was over it so happened these men met again^
when Longstreet's man said : "Look here ! Do you folks have
to fight that sort of people all the time ? Why, I never saw
such a fool lot of Yankees ; they don't know when to run."

The writer of this sketch has always regretted that his ser-
vice with his loved comrades of the Thirty-ninth Regiment
ceased in November, 1862, when he was assigned to another
field of action, and never met his old regiment again. He,
nevertheless, never lost his interest in the command and
watched with pride its splendid career as one of the "fight-
ing" regiments of the Confederate Army. And he especially
laments that the task — "a pleasing burden" — of preparing
this imperfect history of the regiment was not undertaken
by some comrade who was with the command until the end ;
who followed the flag in the assault, who stood "elbow to
elbow" in the lines and repulsed the attack, who endured the
march and participated in the glories of his regiment, who
could, not with more pride, but more fullness of detail chron-
icle the deeds and recall the incidents in the life of one of the
staunchest and most intrepid bodies of men that ever faced
a foe. He desires that it shall be kept in mind 'that the
names of the regimental and company officers given herein
are to be referred to the times of the original organizations.
They have been given from memory, from the "Roster of
Worth Carolina Troops" — unfortunately not a very accurate
compilation — and from such information he could gather by
correspondence with survivors of the regiment, now scattered
from the Blue Ridge to the Rocky Mountains. He has con-
sulted that voluminous and undigested publication by the
United States Government, "Rebellion Records" ; but, not-

704 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

withstanding, he can only furnish a sketch — a framework,
upon which he hopes some competent hand may yet construct
an historical edifice more worthy the achievements of our
comrades, living and dead. He is greatly indebted, and is
sure the old soldiers of the Thirty-ninth will join with him in
feelings of gratitude, to Lieutenant John M. Davidson, of
Company C, and now residing at Kingston, Ga., for his rem-
iniscences of the regiment which are appended, as an addition-
al sketch of the regiment. He was promoted from the ranks,
at the reorganization in 1862, and continued in active service
until the close of the Atlanta campaign when, because of i&-
dining health, he was invalided and put on light duty. En-
dowed with a bright mind, a cheerful disposition and unfail-
ing humor, a courageous soul, a tender and warm heart, he
was a general favorite with his comrades, and by his exalted
sense of duty and devotion he attracted the attention and
commanded the respect and confidence of his superiors.

The history of the Sixteenth Eegiment, by Benjamin H.
Cathey, First Lieutenant, Company A, (Vol. I, N. 0. Eegi-
ments, pp. Y51-Y69), contains much interesting and valuable
matter relating to the Thirty-ninth Eegiment — Lieutenant
Cathey's company having been detached from the Sixteenth
and assigned to the Thirty-ninth about the close of 1862.

The flag spoken of there is yet in the possession of J. Wes-
ley Shelton; and at all reunions of the men of the Thirty-
ninth it is carefully unfurled and its tattered folds flung
again on high and saluted with shouts of the grizzled veter-
ans, the old "Rebel Yell," that, in the stirring years gone by,
accompanied it as it swept through smoke and fire in front
of the line; then reverently, tenderly, tearfully often, it is
folded away and committed to the care of its btave bearer.

The Thirty-ninth Regiment was originally a battalion — ■
known as "Coleman's Battalion" — organized at Camp Pat-
ton, Asheville, N. C, in the Summer and Fall of 1861, com-
posed of five oonapanies, Lieutenant-Colonel David Coleman,
of Buncombe county, commanding.

Company A — Cherokee County — Captain, Benton A.
Strange, now residing at Georgetown, Texas ; First Lieuten-
ant, John R. Dyohe; Second Lieutenant, Arthur M. Dyche,

Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 705

subsequently promoted to Captain; Junior Second Lieuten-
ant, Anselra Rogers, now residing in Cherokee county.

Company B — Macan County — Captain, A. W. Bell ; First
Lieutenant, William T. Anderson; Second Lieutenant,
Joshua C. Bird ; Junior Second Lieutenant, William A. Hol-
broke.

Company C — Captain, Harvey M. Davidson, subsequently
promoted to LieutenantrColonel ; First Lieutenant, Samuel
S. C. Mount, subsequently promoted to Captain and killed
at Spanish Fort Mobile, Ala. ; Second Lieutenant, Paschal C.
Hughes ; Junior Second Lieutenant, Sylvester B. M. Farmer,
now residing at Quallatown, Jackson County, IST. C.

Company D — Buncombe County — Captain, Ambrose
Gaines; First Lieutenant, Jackson Shipman; Second Lieu-
tenant, William Allen, subsequently promoted tO' Captain;
Junior Second Lieutenant, Wm. M. Bearden.

Company E — Clay County — Captain, James Began;
First Lieutenant, George E. Bristol, subsequently promoted
to Captain; Second Lieutenant, Albert W. Leatherwood;
Junior Second Lieutenant, James W. Shearer.

Remaining in the Camp of Instruction, awaiting equip-
ments and being drilled, until November, 1861, the battalion
was moved to "Camp Hill," at the southern foot of Gooch
Mountain, five miles north of Asheville, where it continued
until about 1 January, 1862, when, because of the inclemency
of the winter and the lack of tents, it was removed to the old
Reems Creek Campground, now known as Weaverville,
some two miles fiirther north, where in the substantial
wooden "tents" erected by the devout Methodists of that re-
gion, for their annual encampment for the worship of the
"Prince of Peace," the soldiers of the "God of War" found
comfortable quarters, until their arms and other supplies
necessary for active service were received.

Here Companies F and G were organized from the over-
crowded Companies A and C, and from volunteer recruits
which were daily arriving from the Western counties. Na-
thaniel M. E. Slaughter, now residing at Robbinsville, N". C,
became Captain of Company F; John W. Rhea, killed at
45

706 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Murfreesboro, First Lieutenant; Andrew J. Cody, after-
wards promoted to Captain, Second Lieutenant ; and Joel A.
Sawyer, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Paschal C. Hughes, First Lieutenant of Company C, be-
came Captain of Company H, and was subsequently pro-
moted to Major; Felix P. Axley, now residing at Murphy,
]Sr. C, First Lieutenant; Hugh W. Eogers, Second Lieuten-
ant; and Enoch Voyles, Junior Second Lieutenant.

And here also the battalion was further increased by the
arrival of Company H, from Cherokee county. Captain,
David L. Walker ; First Lieutenant, Abraham Booker, subse-
quently promoted to Captain; Second Lieutenant, Miles D.
Kilpatrick; Junior Second Lieutenant, John A. Cotter.

W. A. Pierce was appointed Major, and in addition to his
duties in that position, acted as Adjutant of the battalion.

Early in February the battalion was moved to Knoxville,
Tenn., and ordered to report to General Stevenson, who then
commanded the right wing of Kirby Smith's Corps, Army
of Tennessee, and was confronting the enemy, who with a
strong force from Cumberland Gap and other strong positions
along the Cumberland Mountains was threatening the East
Tennessee Valley. Attached temporarily to General Led-
better's Brigade, the battalion was thrown forward to the
front and took position for a few days at Clinton, Tenn., on
the north bank of the Clinch river, but was soon withdrawn
to the south banlc, where it remained imtil spring. It was
here the command passed that ordeal to which all new organi-
zations are subjected, and which was often as fatal as battle.
The diseases incident to the radical change in the lives of the
men ; deficient hospital arrangements and camp equipments,
prostrated so many of the men that it was sometimes difficult
to secure details for ordinary camp duties. Measles, pneu-
monia, camp fevers and rheumatism became rampant, to
such an extent that before the health of the command had
been restored between seventy-five and one hundred men died,
and in addition a large number were sent home on furlough,
or to hospitals at Knoxville, tO' recuperate.

At this point Company I, of Macon county, was incorpor-
ated into the battalion. Captain, James G. Crawford ; First

Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 707

Lieutenant, John Eeid; Second Lieutenant, Robert H.
Smitli; Junior Second Lieutenant, Rufus S. Siler.

These nine companies, at the reorganization of the Con-
federate forces under the act of Congress, were on 19 May,
1862, organized as the Thirty-ninth Regiment, North Caro-
lina Troops, and as such began a career that made its name
illustrious in the annals of the Western Army, and kept high
the standard of the State of North Carolina from the Ohio to
the Gulf. Subsequently, as already stated. Company A, of
the Sixteenth Regiment, Captain Andrew W. Coleman, was
transferred and became the Tenth company (K) of the Thir-
ty-ninth.

David Coleman was elected Colonel, Harvey H. Davidson
Lieutenant-Colonel, and shortly afterwards Francis A. Rey-
nolds was appointed Major ; S. G. R. Mount, A. Q. M. ;
James D. Harden, Adjutant; Theo. F. Davidson, Sergeant
Major; Alfred A. Hatcher, Surgeon; Lewis Stephens, As-
sistant Surgeon; Allen Ammons, Chaplain.

In the reorganization there were many changes in Com-
pany organizations, which it is impossible now to note.

The campaign in Western Kentucky and Tennessee, in the
spring and summer of 1862, culminating in the battle of
Shiloh, absorbed the attention and concentrated the efforts of
both Federal and Confederate authorities to that region, and
operations in East Tennessee were directed to maintaining
the statu quo. The Thirty-ninth was moved back to Knox-
ville, where, encamped at the old Fair Grounds, it soon recov-
ered its health and continued the work of drill and prepara-
tion for the work before it. During July and August it
was assigned the duty of guarding the bridges, stores and
lines of communication from Bristol to Chattanooga. The
Valley of East Tennessee is wonderfully fertile and was for
the first two years of the war one of the chief sources of food
supplies for the Confederate armies. Its possession was also
regarded as of extreme importance by, both governments, in-
asmuch as it commanded one of the main, and the most direct,
lines of communication between Richmond and the South-
west, and furnished a most advantageous base of operations,
especially against the center of the Confederacy south of the

708 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

mountains. Thus, like the Valley of Virginia, it became
during the entire war a constant battle ground, and almost
every part of it became the scene of most desperate struggles.
Unlike the Valley of Virginia, its population was almost
evenly divided upon the great questions involved. It is
probable more troops were furnished to the Federal army
than tO' the Confederate from this section. The result was
that a most bitter internecine conflict was waged between
these people for four years, with many of the usual incidents
of such unhappy conditions. "Bushwhacking" and all kinds
of warfare, civilized and uncivilized, cruel and unrelenting,
were prevalent; and a campaign in that country was accom-
panied by constant and sanguinary personal encoimters and
feuds. Althovigh more than a third of a century has elapsed,
an unhappy state of things may yet, occasionally, be found
to survive in some localities.

KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN.

In September, 1862, the Kentucky campaign began, the
Thirty-ninth, with their neighbors in the Twenty-ninth,
being pushed forward and posted at Baptist Gap, on the
Cumberland, and on the left of Stevenson's Division, which
was closely pressing General Morgan, who with a strong force,
occupied Cumberland Gap~the key to the whole country. Here
the regiment received its "baptism of fire" ; and it was in con-
sequence of its operations, in connection with the other two
regiments with which it was acting, that General Morgan was
compelled to evacuate Cumberland Gap — theretofore believed
to be practically impregnable — and commenced his flight to-
wards the Ohio. The pursuit was vigorous and doubtlesswould
have been successful, but the pursuing column was withdrawn
and joined in the general advance upon Frankfort and Loiiis^
ville. General Bragg, with the greater portion of the army,
proceeded from his base at Chattanooga via Crab Orchard,
while Smith's Corps (in which the Thirty-ninth was serving,
having at Cumberland Gap been assigned to Raines' Brigade)
advanced by way of Lancaster, Barboursville, Richmond,
Danville, Harrodsburg; Lawrenceburg, and entered Frank-
fort about 1 October.

Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 709

General Bragg had, unfortunately, allowed the Federals,
under General Buell, to escape him at Mumfordville, Ky., and
though closely pursued, they succeeded in reaching Louis-
ville, and there finding heavy reinforcements and abundance
of supplies awaiting him, General Buell speedily resumed
the oifensive. Then began the retrograde movement, result-
ing in the hard-fought and drawn battle of Perryville and
almost daily engagements between portions of each army, ex-
tending until late in October and across the State of Ken-
tticky, and closing with the opposing armies occupying almost
the identical positions as when the campaign opened. Perhaps
no better organized army ever existed than that with which
Bragg entered Kentucky — the troops had become veterans,
were of the flower of the population of the Southwest; had
great enthusiasm for the cause and confidence in their lead-
ers and in each other; and whenever they were permitted to
fight they showed that they were far more than a match for
the enemy. The battle of Perryville was, and perhaps will
always remain, a mystery to most of Kirby Smith's Corps.
All that day with thirty thousand eager fighting men, it lay
inactive on the right of the Confederate line, hearing the
sound of that terrific conflict, witnessing some of the engage-
ment, having the weak, unprotected left wing of the Federals
in front, and yet it was not permitted to fire a gun ! Doubt-
less there was at the time some tirgent reason ; but from that
moment the men began to doubt the ability of their com-
manding General to handle an army, and such feeling is dif-
ficult to remove, and always has a demoralizing effect. On
the next day the corps was moved through Harrodsburg and
drawn up in line of battle a mile or two west of that town.
All day there was lively skirmishing with artillery engage-
ments, but notwithstanding Buell was offered battle, he had
been too badly crippled at Perryville tO' accept the challenge.
The retreat from Kentucky was deliberate. General Buell,
who had by this time a very largely superior force, for some
reason did not attempt to bring on a general engagement, but
contented himself with a series of rear-guard actions', some
of them quite spirited. The Thirty-ninth was in the rear
brigade (Raines') of Smith's Corps, and frequently was

710 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

called upon to aid the cavalry, under General Wheeler, to
check the enemy. A few volleys usually were sufficient, and
the leisurely march would be resumed.

The Confederates brought out of Kentucky enormous quan'
titles of supplies, great herds of cattle, long wagon trains of
flour, meal and bacon ; besides, the teams and cavalry horses
were renewed.

In fact, the army was in these respects in better condition
when it returned to Tennessee than when the campaign be-
gan. It has been urged that General Bragg's anxiety to
avoid the risks of an engagement and the retreat from Frank-
fort, were due to the information he and the authorities at
Richmond had received, that the Federals had organized and
just developed the plan of assailing the Confederate center
from the lines of the Mississippi, the Tennessee and the
Cumberland rivers. This information was correct, and the
change of base, by both armies, transferred the scenes of war*
to Vicksburg and middle Tennessee. Upon return to East
Tennessee the Thirty-ninth encamped at Lenoir's Station, on
the E. T. & G. Railroad, about forty miles west of Knoxville,
where the men for several weeks enjoyed a much needed
rest.

M UEFEEESBOEO.

There being apparently no active service expected before
spring, many furloughs were granted, as it was only a short
distance to the homes of many of the men. In November tbe
regiment was transferred to Reynolds' Brigade. But it soon
developed that there was to be a winter campaign. General
Rosecrans, who had superseded General Buell, was advanc-
ing from Nashville, and Bragg confronted him at Murfrees-
boro, where, on the last days of 1862 and the first of 1863,
the battle of MurfreesborO' — known to the Federals as the
battle of Stone river — was fought. While the Confederates
repulsed the Federals and technically won the fight, as they
kept the field for a few days, the practical substantial victory
was with the Federals, as General Bragg in a few days, fell
back slowly to TuUahoma, at the western base of the Cum-
berland Mountains.

Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 711

The Thirty-ninth Regiment arrived on the field about the
time the engagement began. It seems to have been the only
regiment of Reynolds' Brigade present, and was hastened for-
ward in response to Bragg's urgent demands for reinforce-
ments. Apparently it was thrown intO' the fight as an inde-
pendent command; at any rate, it became hotly engaged at
once. Very soon Colonel Coleman was disabled by a serious
wound in the leg, and carried from the field, and the com-
mand devolved upon Lieoitenant-Colonel Davidson. He too,
was almost immediately wounded, the ball shattering his
right arm, the use of which he never recovered. For some
reason, the explanation of which cannot now be given, the
command of the regiment devolved upon Captain Bell, Com-
pany A. As no official report of the regiment in this en-
gagement was ever made, or if made has been lost, it is dif-
ficult to locate precisely its operations. General Patton An-
derson (Walthall's Brigade) in his report says that "about
noon on 31 December, the Thirty-ninth North Carolina Regi-
ment, having become detached from its command, and all of
its field officers having been killed or wounded, then under
command of Captain Bell," reported to him and was assigned
a place in his brigade, and participated "most creditably in
the subsequent fighting." It is greatly to be regretted that a
fuller account of the conduct of the regiment in this battle
cannot now be furnished. Enough is known, however, to
satisfy us that the r^ment sustained its high reputation.
On that part of the field the Confederates were not only suc-
cessful in repulsing all advances of the enemy, but, assuming
the offensive, drove them for several miles. The heavy loss
in staff ajid field shows the serious work done by the Thirty-
ninth.

In January the regiment was transferred to Manigault's
Brigade, but a few days thereafter was, at the request of Colo-
nel R. B. Vance (who was promoted from the Colonelcy
of the Twenty -ninth after the battle of Murfreesboro), it
became a part of his brigade. General Vance, however, was
soon prostrated by a most serious illness which incapacitated
him for service until the next summer, and he was thus de-
nied the pleasure of leading a brigade in which there were

712 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

the two veteran Worth Carolina regimeaits, the Twenty-ninth
and the Thirty-ninth. General Bate, now Senator from
Tennessee, assumed the command of the brigade.

In the spring of 1863 the Thirty-ninth was a part of the
troops sent to General Jos. E. Johnston in Mississippi, who
was organizing a force to oppose Grant on the Mississippi and
relieve Vicksbtirg. It was in the new field assigned to Me-
ISTair's Brigade, Walker's Division, and participated in all
the operations of that CEtmpaign.

CHICKAMATTGA.

In September following it was ordered to rejoin General
Bragg, who was concentrating in the vicinity of Lafayette,
Ga., to oppose Rosecrans who was again advancing from his
base on the Tennessee. The regiment arrived at Chicka-
niauga on Friday, 18 September, and was at once thrown
forward to the front and immediately became engaged with
the enemy, and during that and the next two days it was in
the front and the hottest part of one of the greatest and best
fought battles, not only of the Civil War, but of modern
times.

Chickamauga was like Gettysburg in the fact that the
struggle continued for three days; that the Confederates as-
sumed the offensive; in the steadiness and fierceness of the
attack and the desperate character of the defence and the ap-
palling losses on both sides ; but in the result conditions were
reversed. JSTotwithstanding the ardor and splendid courage
of the Southern men, they were unable to overcome the enemy
at Gettysburg and were compelled tO' withdraw from the as-
sault and yield the enemy the field. At Chickamauga the
Southerners carried the positions of the enemy, drove him
from the field and back to his base, occupied every inch of
the ground he had held, captured thousands of prisoners and
enormous quantities of arms and other military trophies and
supplies. In short, they won the battle and the campaign.

It is a singular and interesting fact, illustrating the vary-
ing fortunes of this famoxis battle, that in its closing scenes
two North Carolina Regiments, Thirty-ninth and Sixtieth,

Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 713

fighting in different parts of the field, were facing each other,
and not much more than musket shot apart.

farthest at chickamauga.

It was at Chickamauga, on Sunday, the last day of the bat-
tle, and at the supreme moment, that the Thirty-ninth per-
formed an exploit which for dash and soldierly conduct has
no superior in all the annals of war, and which if it had done
no'thing more, before or afterwards, would have entitled it to
the well-earned fame it bore in the armies of the West.

General McNair had been wounded earlier in the day, and
the command of the brigade devolved upon Colonel Coleman.
The brigade was in General Bushrod Johnson's Division,
Longstreet's Corps, and was steadily driving the enemy. A
great portion of the field of Chickamauga, like that of Chan-
cellorsville, was covered by a dense forest. In the advance the
Brigade emerged from the woods into a large open space, now
famous as "Dyer's Field." At the opposite end the Federals
had massed several batteries of artillery, heavily supported by
infantry. One of these batteries was especially effective in its
fire upon the Confederates. Colonel Coleman discovered
as soon as his troops advanced into the open that he was far in
advance of the general line of battle, and that he must retire
or silence this battery. With that quick soldierly instinct
for which he was distinguished, he slightly changed front to-
wards the right and putting himself at the head of the Thirty-
ninth, and instructing the men to shoot down the artillery
horses, he gave the order to charge. The men iiished up to
the very muzzles of the battery and then ensiied, but for a
few moments only, a desperate hand-to-hand encounter. The
Federal infantry soon fell back, but the gunners fought to
the last and most of them were killed or wounded. The en-
tire battery, ten guns, with all its eqimipments, was cap-
tured and sent tO' tlie rear. This is the point and time then
known and ever since called the "Famous Break of the Fed-
eral Center," and was decisive of the battle, though that fact
was not known at the time. In his report, of the battle
(which is inserted in this sketch) Colonel Coleman modestly

714 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

states the facts, leaving out many details whicli are often re-
counted by the old veterans as they gather around their re-
union campfires.

The credit for this remarkable achievement was claimed by
other troops, who came up almost immediately after the cap-
ture of the battery. General Johnson, in his report, refers
to this claim, but says he is unable tO' determine it, as Colonel
Coleman, at the time of writing the report, had been sent with
his brigade back to the Department of the Mississippi and he
had no opportunity to communicate with him ; but he makes
a suggestion which doubtless furnishes the true solution.
There were several Federal batteries in Dyer's Field. While
the one captured by the Thirty-ninth, because of its position
and that of the Confederates, was enabled to do more damage,
the others were not idle and it was one of them which was
captured by the troops of other portions of the Southern line
a short while after the Thirty -ninth had made the "famous
break," which led to the confusion. There was never any
doubt with the men of the Thirty-ninth, or of MclSTair's Bri-
gade, of the facts, and many survivors yet can give incontesta-
ble evidence of them. The matter was, however, histori-
cally settled by the investigation and conclusion of a com-
mission of Confederate and Federal officers, who were actu-
ally engaged in the battle, and who, in 1893, visited the
scene, examined the ground, maps, reports, etc. The result
is contained in a report made to Governor Carr, of North
Carolina, by Colonel Clinton A. Cilley, who was a gallant
Federal officer, and witnessed many of the operations at
Chickamauga, dated 23 November, 1893. It is hoped that
a place in this work will be found for that entire report. So
much of it as refers to the incident just recounted is as fol-
lows :

"Second: The famous break through the Federal center
about noon on Sunday. Here it was, according to the report
of Colonel David Coleman, Thirty-ninth North Carolina,
who towards the close of the day took command of his brig-
ade in consequence of General McNair having been disabled,
that the brigade, under Coleman's command, started across
the open field in the face of the heavy fire and captured nine

Thikty-Ninth Regiment. 715

cannons whicli had been playing on it from an eminence.
Colonel Coleman, with the modesty of the soldier, contents
himself with the simple statement, and says no more.

"The commander of another brigade also claims the honor
of the capture, fortifying his statements by certificates from
various subordinates. The division commander refers to
both reports, but does not decide between them ; he intimates
however, that out of the abundance of captured cannon both
brigades might have taken the number claimed.

"This made it necessary for us to collect all available evi-
dence and subject it to the United States Commissioners the
night before our actual inspection of the ground; reports,
maps and other printed matter, were thoroughly examined
and discussed, and we were assured that should the morning
survey confirm the conclusion arrived at, we would regard
our contention as successful.

"The next day, after establishing the point where the guns
were massed, we walked up the long slope of Dyer's Field,
over which ten or twelve divisions had fought, and a second
comparison of all the evidence available, made on the very
spot of the conflict, so plainly showed the justness of Colonel
Coleman's claim that we were directed to drive down a stake,
marked with the regiment's name, the date and fact of the
exploit, at the location contended for."

The enemy was now driven from every portion of the field
except Snodgrass Hill, where, under the stubborn Thomas,
he concentrated and fortified and for hours siiccessfully re-
sisted the repeated assaults of the Southerners. The loss of
life, especially among the Confederates, was awful. Ceme-
tery Ridge at G-ettysburg, the "Bloody Angle" at Spottsylva-
nia, and "Snodgrass Hill," at Chickamauga, will rank with
the most sanguinary struggles in civilized warfare. When
night came the Federals were yet behind a portion of their
log breastworks ; the Confederates on the slope only a few
yards in front; human effort, apparently, could do no more,
and neither would yield. Under the cover of welcome dark-
ness. General Thomas abandoned his intrenchments and es-
caped to Chattanooga, with the only organized but badly shat-
tered division of the magnificent army Rosecrans had led

716 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

across the spurs of the Lookout Mountain only a few days
before. The Thirty-ninth was in the supporting line at
Snodgrass Hill, and as the struggle approached culmina-
tion, became engaged in the general and final assault, and
with its thin and wearied lines was "in at the death."

Colonel Coleman's report, above refen-ed to, is as fol-
lows:

(From Official Records Union and Confederate Armies, Vol.
51, pp. 499-502.)

Headquarters McIS[air''s Brigade,
Camp Near Eingold, Gta., Sept. 24, 1863.

Sir : — In obedience to Brigadier-General Johnson's order
of yesterday, I have the honor to report the part taken by this
brigade in the late battles:

Shortly before daylight on the 18th instant, this brigade
(Brigadier-G-eneral E. MclSTair), in company with that of
Brigadier-General B. R. Johnson, who commanded the whole
force, left Catoosa Station, on the Chickamauga river, and
marched by way of Ringold by the Lafayette road to the
intersection of the Graysville and Reed's Bridge road. Here
cannonading and sharp skirmishing being heard on the left,
line of battle was formed, with Johnson's Brigade on the
right, and the force swept steadily in this order, with skir-
mishers in front, across the country to the left, the enemy
giving way with scarcely any resistance, to the Reed's Bridge
road, near the bridge. Thence marched, hearing heavy mus-
ketry firing in front, to within one and a half miles of Lee
& Gordon's Mills on the Chattanooga, and Lee & Gordon's
Mills road, where it encamped in line for the night some time
after dark.

On the 19tli, just about 8 a. m., the battle having begun
on the right, the brigade was placed in position in rear of
Gregg's Brigade, with the artillery. Captain Culpepper's three
pieces. At 12 m. the Thirty-ninth North Carolina Regi-
ment, Colonel Coleman, and Twenty-fifth Arkansas, Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Hufstedler, (Colonel Coleman commanding both
regiments), were ordered to support General Gregg. Moved

Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 717

rapidly foi"ward, and getting near Gregg's Brigade (then un-
der a terrific fire) chaxged impetuously with loud cheers,
passing over the left of Gregg's Brigade, and drove the en-
emy in rapid flight through the thick woods, across the Chat-
tanooga road, past the small house 100 yards on, and into the
corn fields beyond, making a distance of, altogether, about
three-quarters of a mile. In the last advance Lieutenant-Col-
onel Hufstedler fell wounded with five balls. Here, though
the enemy to whom we had been opposed in front were in
flight, broken, and in confusion, having sustained a heavy loss
in killed, the two regiments were halted on finding their tired
and weakened line exposed to a fatal flanking fire, especially
on the left, which was unsupported on account of the rapidity
of their advance. With an enemy's battery near by on the
left, and a strong enemy re-enforcement approaching, and
our ammunition neaxly exhausted, the impracticability of
longer holding this advanced and exposed position was imme-
diately manifest and the force was ordered back to the woods.
Here they were reformed, and a fresh line having passed to
relieve them, were marched back to nearly their original posi-
tion tO' await ammunition, where they were joined by the rest
of the brigade, which finally moved forward to the position in
line, where it was encamped for the night between Johnson's
Brigade (on the right) and Hindman's Division (on the

left).

*****■»

On the morning of the 20th, the brigade was placed in
line between Stewart's Ejivision (on the right) and Hind-
man's (on the left), with a slight barricade of branches and
small dead wood in front. Here, at about 9 :30 a. m., the
line repulsed an advance of the enemy. In a few mintites
after, the brigade, advancing with the rest of the line, drove
the enemy steadily and rapidly back, passing over two suc-
cessive lines of temporary breastworks, a distance of about
three-quarteirs of a mile, reaching the comer of the field, at
the opposite end of which were two batteries of the enemy on
a hill commanding the whole advance. General McNair and
Colonel Harper, First Arkansas (dismounted) Rifies, having
just been disabled by wounds (that of the latter ofiicer mor-

718 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

tal), the brigade, already in advance of the line, charged furi-
ously upon the batteries diagonally on the right and captured
them, taking ten pieces, eight of which were immediately
sent with their remaining horses to our rear, and the remain-
ing two, then in the woods, were carried to the rear after-
wards, the ground never having been reoccupied by the en-
emy.

The brigade was now considerably in advance of the line,
though this was rapidly approaching. Our left was still
more exposed by the break made by our diagonal charge.
The enemy were firing from the woods in front, while within
200 yards farther in the woods a large body of tlie enemy
was seen drawn up in good order. With our forces reduced
by our rapid advance and ammunition nearly exhausted, it
was necessary at once to abandon our position. The brigade
retired to the woods, procured ammunition, and took position
in line on the left of Robertson's Brigade.

Here receiving an order from Brigadier-General Johnson,
the brigade (under Colonel Coleman, upon whom the com-
mand had devolved) moved forward and to the left about a
half mile to the support of Johnson's Brigade, which was sup-
porting Robertson's battery, stationed on the brow of a hill
to the right of the Lookout Valley road, at which point our
forces were resisting with diiHculty the determined advance of
the enemy in heavy force. In a few minutes General John-
son ordered our advance, when, passing the line immediately
supporting the battery (which line also advanced), we
charged over the hill upon the enemy, and after a protracted
and obstinate resistance (a brigade on our right and M.ani-
gault's Brigade on the ridge to our left advancing on parallel
lines to us), the enemy were completely driven from the posi-
tion. In this conflict we suffered much from a flanking fire,
arising from tardy support on our left.

The artillery (Captain Culpepper) having assisted in re-
pulsing the enemy, at 9 :30 a. m. was placed in position by
General Law with his battery, and remained there during the
day.

I have great pleasure and pride in saying that the whole
brigade behaved most nobly during the fighting of both days,

Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 719

being uniformly in advance of all others in every onset. Its
losses and its trophies bear ample testimony to its good con-
duct. In another report I propose tO' particularize indi-
vidual instances.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

D. Coleman,
Colonel Commanding Brigade.
To Captain Blakemore, Acting A. A. General.

ENCLOSUEE.

Statement of captures made by McNair's Brigade at
Chickamauga on 18, 19 and 20 September, 1863:

Ten pieces of artillery; several caissons left on the field
and brought off afterwards ; six first-class ordnance wagons ;
six wagon loads of small-arms ammunition; brought off the
field 800 fine rifles; piled up for ordnance wagons 2,000
rifles; brought off the field twenty-six artillery horses; two
stand of colors, one Eighth Kansas, the other not remem-
bered. One was taken from Private Harry Barger, Com-
pany I, Twenty-fifth Arkansas, by force, after capturing it
himself, by an officer, ranking First Lieutenant of Mani-
gault's Brigade. D. Coleman, Colonel,

Commanding McNair's Brigade.

From another enclosure in this report it appears that the
Thirty-ninth had an aggregate of 232 men and 15 officers
present for duty, of whom it lost 100 killed and wounded and
three missing. As the full aggregate present never goes into
line of battle, there always being some sick and details for
cooks, stretcher-bearers and other purposes, the loss of the
Thirty-ninth was certainly over one-half.

Colonel Coleman's report though written with a soldier's
modesty, shows his men were farthest to the front on both
days, and were necessarily so at the crisis, the capture of the
artillery, at the "Break" of the enemy's line. With this
sketch will be inserted, from Official Records of the Union

720 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

and Confederate Armies, Vol. 51, p. 468, the map whicli ac-
companied the report of General Bushrod Johnson and which
shows that the two regiments of McKair's Brigade (com-
manded by Colonel Coleman) were at the furthest point on
the 19th also.

At the close of the Chickamauga campaign the Thirty-
ninth was again sent to the Southwest (Department of the
Gulf) and took an active part in the operations in that region.
As the emergencies of the situations in the wide ten'itory
embraced in that department demanded the regiment was as-
signed to Eeynolds', and finally to Ector's Brigade, Colonel
Coleman commanding most of the time.

EESACA to ATLANTA.

In the spring of 1864, the regiment was again brought
back to ISTorthern Georgia, and joined General Joseph E.
Johnston, who had succeeded General Bragg in the command
of the Army of Tennessee, at Eesaca, on 8 May. It imme-
diately became engaged with the enemy, and from that hour
until the fall of Atlanta, it may be truthfully said the men
of the Thirty-ninth were under fire every day. That long
drawn battle, or series of battles, between Johnston and
Sherman from Dalton to Atlanta has no equal. The strug-
gle between Lee and Grant from Spottsylvania to Petersburg
was in' fierceness of fighting and skill in strategy, perhaps
eqvially as brilliant, but the area of operations was much
more circumscribed and the contending armies much nearer
their base of supplies. The battles of Resaca, Altoona, New
Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek, and many others of only
less magnitude were of the most desperate character, and in
all of them the Thirty-ninth bore an active and honorable
part. Its ranks had become thin, recruiting had long since
become exhausted, but every man in it was a veteran, with
whom fighting had become a habit, and war the normal condi-
tion of life.

Following the fall of Atlanta came General Hood's ill-
starred campaign to ISTashville, in the hope of compelling Sher-
man to recall his army to protect his lines of communication.
But it was too late; the South had expended its strength,

Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 721

while the North -was just beginning to utilize its vast and in-
exhaustible resources.

NASHVILLE.

At the battle of Nashville the Thirty-ninth was on the ex-
treme left of the line, where Lieutenant-General Stewart in
his report refers to its work as exhibiting the "usual intrepid-
ity of this small, but firm and reliable body of men." The
disastrous results of that campaign are known, but in all prob-
ability the privations, the hunger, cold and apparently hope-
less condition of that brave remnant of the gallant army on
that retreat in mid-winter will never be fully known or appre-
ciated except by those who participated in it. Until Nash-
ville, the Thirty-ninth had never met defeat.

SPANISH FOET.

But the end was approaching ; the inevitable was near. Yet
the hearts of these devoted Southern Mountaineers did not
fail. Once more they were ordered to the Department of the
Gulf and there participated in the closing operations of the
war in that part of the Confederacy. It was near Mobile, at
Spanish Fort, in resisting the assaults of the enemy, that the
Thirty-ninth fought its last fight and where a large number
of the few survivors were killed or captured — the remainder
cutting their way through the overwhelming ranks of the en-
emy, only to hear that Lee and Johnston had surrendered,
the Confederacy had fallen, and the Cause for which they had
SO' long suffered and fought, was lost. On 4 May, 1865, at
Meridian, Miss., under the command of that superb soldier
and accomplished gentleman, General Dick Taylor, the men
of the Thirty-ninth laid down their arms and that regiment
ceased to exist. But its glory survives; the memory of its
achievements will never die. When our comrades, who in
such greater numbers swelled the armies of Virginia and
there won eternal fame, recall and record their sufferings, vic-
tories and glories', may they never forget their brethren who
in the distant West and Southwest maintained full high the
fame of the Old North State.
46

722 NoKTH Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

It is a singular fact that, while in the first pitched battle
in which the regiment was engaged all of its field officers were
shot down and carried from the field, they all survived the
war, notwithstanding their constant active service, and the
numerous bloody engagements in which they fought; and
lived to serve their country well in those dark and dreadful
days of Reconstruction which followed — a period in many
respects more trying to our people and requiring more steadi-
ness and moral courage, perhaps, than that of actual hostili-
ties.

David Coleman was born in the county of Buncombe 5
February, 1824, and died in Asheville 5 Marclj, 1883. He
was the son of Wm. Coleman, and his wife, Cynthia Swain, a
sister of Gov. Swain. He was prepared for college at Newton
Academy, near Asheville, an institution celebrated in that
day for its high standard of scholarship, and the character
of the youths who received instruction in it. He then en-
tered the University, where his vigorous mind, his taste for
letters, and his fondness for the classics, soon attracted at-
tention. Shortly before the time when he would have grad-
uated he entered the United States navy and served therein
with distinction until his resignation, about the year 1850,
having attained the position of Lieutenant Commander. He
saw much service abroad, having been attached to the Afri-
can, Mediterranean and South American squadrons. He
was at the siege of Vera Cruz, and the vessel to which Jie
was attached took an active part in the bombardment. Upon
his resignation he returned to Asheville and was admitted to
the bar. His native ability, rare acoomplisbments, accom-
panied by a fine presence and remarkably courtly bearing,
soon secured for him a high place in his profession and in the
public esteem. In 1854 he was a Democratic candidate for
State Senator, and defeated the late Nicholas Woodfin, who
had for many years represented the district and was sup-
posed to be invincible ; but, the "boy from the navy," as his
political opponents called bim, was victorious. In 1856 he
was re-elected, defeating his contemporary, Zebulon B.
Vance, the only defeat Vance ever received in a popular

Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 723

election. In 1858 Coleman and Vance were rival candi-
dates for Congress ; this time Vance being the victor.

Colonel Coleman ardently espoused the doctrine of Seces-
sion, being one of the few leading men in the West who took
that position. At the beginning of hostilities he at once of-
fered his services to the Confederate and State Governments,
and sought duty in the navy, which it was then hoped to or-
ganize. He was appointed to the command of some ship,
the name of which is not now recalled, but the delays in its
equipment and the vigilance of the Federal blockade were too
much for his impatient spirit, and he entered the army, being
appointed Lieutenant-Colonel, and was assigned to the com-
mand of a battalion which afterwards became the Thirty-
ninth Regiment, North Carolina Troops.

After the war he resumed the practice of his profession
and was at once recognized, and so continued to be until the
day of his death, as one of the leaders of the bar in the State.
He was for some time solicitor of the Western circuit, and
with General Olingman, represented the county of Buncombe
in the Constitutional Convention of 1875. He took an active
part in public questions of the day (it is needless to say which
side he espoused) and was, perhaps, the most influential
man, except Governor Vance, in the western portion of the
State. He was the ideal Southern soldier and gentleman,
and the devotion of his men to him was phenomenal. He
never married.

Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey H. Davidson was bom in the
county of Haywood, on 27 March, 1814, and died at his resi-
dence in Clay county on 1 July, 1889. He was the second
son of Wm. M. Davidson, and his wife, Elizabeth Vance, a
daughter of Colonel David Vance, a Revolutionary soldier.
In fact, Colonel Davidson was descended from good figh1>
ing stock on both sides, his grandfather Davidson having
also been a soldier in the Revolution. He was a man of
great strength of mind and firmness of character, and had
the faculty of inspiring confidence and affection beyond that
of most men. His cousin. Governor Vance, once told the
writer that Colonel Davidson had a greater fund and finer
sense of humor than any man he had ever met. These quali-

724 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

ties made him exceedingly popular in every relation of life.
When a young man he emigrated tO' Texas, but soon returned
to his native State and settled in Cherokee county. His peo-
ple soon chose him for their sheriff and continued him in that
position until he entered the Confederate army. After one 6t
two contests opposition to him ceased, as itwas seen to be hope-
less. A fever supervened his wound at Murfreesboro, and
upon the retreat of the Confederates from that field he fell into
the hands of the enemy and was sent to Camp Chase, where
he spent many weary months in captivity. When exchanged
his arm was found to be useless, and his health so impaired
that he could no longer serve in the field, and he resigned.
At the close of the war he resumed his residence on his
farm in Cherokee county, taking an active and leading part
in public matters — representing the county in the General
Assembly of 1865-'67. In 1880 he removed to Clay county
and spent the remaining years of his life in his favorite pur-
suit of agriculture. He died as he lived, an upright, useful
citizen, universally beloved. He left surviving him a large
number of descendants.

Of Lieutenant-Colonel Reynolds, unfortunately, there is
no data of his subsequent career, except that with his father,
General A. W. Reynolds, at the close of the war he went to
Egypt and was for several years in the service of the Khedive.-
He died shortly after his return to America. He was not a
native of North Carolina, but was a graduate of West Point
and an accomplished soldier.

Major Paschal C. Hughes was born in Macon county IS
October, 1834, and died in Cherokee 10 December, 1878,
leaving surviving him his widow (who was a daugh-
ter of Lieutenant-Colonel Davidson), two sons and two
daughters. At the close of the war he studied law, was ad-
mitted to the bar and soon became known through^
out the Western counties as a safe and reliable counselloi'
and faithful business lawyer. His character in every
respect was of the highest; and while he never sought
public honors he always commanded the respect and confi-
dence of all classes of the community. The same stern sense"
of duty and exalted courage which characterized him as *

Thikty-Ninth Regiment. 725

Boldier, marked hie civil life and made him that best of all
citizens — a good and useful man.

Jas. D. Harden, Adjutant of the regiment, was bom in
Alamance county, but at the time of his enlistment in Com-
pany C, of the Thirty-ninth Eegiment, was a resident of
Cherokee county. In the famous charge at Chickamauga, on
Sunday, he was shot through the neck and was left for dead
on the field as his comrades swept forward in the charge; but
after months he was sufficiently restored to return to serrice,
when he was promoted to Quartermaster, and as such faith-
fully served his country in the armies of the West until the
end. He now resides at Cheraw, South Carolina. He mar-
ried the daughter of Judge Mclver, of the Supreme Court
of that State.

The vmter has ventured to give these short and imperfect
notices of the leading spirits of his old regiment. They are
entitled to have their namies and deeds inscribed upon the an-
nals of their people ; and if this sketch shall have contributed
anything to the perpetuation of the glory of the services they,
and the men whom they led, rendered their country in
the times of its greatest need, he will be, in some measure,
reconciled to the imperfections of his efforts.

Theo. F. Davidson.

v4.SHBVILLE, N. C,

4 May, 1901.

ADDITIONAL SKETCH THIRTY-NINTH
REGIMENT.

By first lieutenant JOHN M. DAVIDSON, Company C.

I herewitli give my recollections of the organization and
movements of the Thirty-ninth North Carolina Eegiment.
I know that in many respects it is incomplete, but I trust I
can give to the Veterans' Association of North Carolina some
facts which, perhaps, with what others remember, may be the
means of placing the grand old regiment in the front rank,
where it belongs.

The Thirty-ninth North Carolina Regiment was organized,
as a regiment, at Clinton, Tennessee, 19 May, 1862, accord-
ing to Act of Congress of the Confederate States. Prior to
that time it was known as "Coleman's Battalion," and as
such had been organized and drilled at Asheville, N. C, and
Camp Hill, near Asheville. David Coleman was elected
Colonel, Hugh H. Davidson LieutenantColonel, and shortly
thereafter Frank A. Reynolds was appointed Major. The
regiment remained a while at Clinton, drilling and doing reg-
ular camp dvity, with a Georgia regiment, commanded by
Colonel Jackson, and a section of artillery, General Gauly
Reynolds acting as Brigadier-General. Our first move was
to the fair ground at Knoxville, a portion of the regiment
being detailed to guard bridges on the East Tennessee, Vir-
ginia & Georgia Railway, and from there we went to Lou-
don, Tennessee, where we remained some time. Lieutenant
Hymes, of Louisiana, was made drill-master, and gave us
thorough exercise every day.

CUMBERLAND GAP.

In September, 1862, we received marching orders to pro-
ceed to Cumberland Gap, Tenn. After arriving there the
Twenty-ninth and Thirty-ninth North Carolina, and an Ala-

728 North Carolina Troops, l861-'65.

bama regiment, were ordered to Baptist Gap. Captain Ter-
rell was with us, commanding a company of a hundred Cher-
okee Indians, who did good picket duty. The three regi-
ments were ordered to proceed to another gap, below Baptist
Gap, where the Federals were expected to pass, but as we did
not find them, on the second or third day we moved back to
Baptist Gap, and when nearing the Gap heard heavy firing
by the Indians, and were ordered to double-quick. Upon
arriving at the base of the mountain we were deployed as a
skirmish line and after advancing a short distance, met a
squad of Indians bearing off their Chief and Lieutenant,
mortally wounded, who died that night. The Federals saw
us approaching and retreated across the mountain, without
the fire of another gun. The next day I was placed in com-
mand of Company C to guard Lieutenant Anderson who,
with a detail of a hundred men, was ordered to cut the timber
off the road leading over the Gap, Captain Dyche, of Com-
pany A, and Captain Bell, of Company B, being placed as
guards on the sharp bluffs on either side of the Gap. I had
Company C advanced as pickets, and some of the Indians as
scouts.

We spent an exciting day, as the Federals were in the
valley only a short distance away. Tbe Indian scouts cap-
tured three of their pickets and reported to me with their
prisoners, who were the worst frightened men I ever saw.
Their captors, the Eed Men, wore feather plumes on their
heads, giving them a savage appearance. I ordered the pris-
oners taken to headquarters, after assuring them that the In-
dians would not scalp them. We remained on the moun-
tain several days, doing heavy picket duty, when a courier
brought the news that General Morgan, commanding the
Union army, had evacuated Cumberland Gap. Then came
the bugle call, and we began the race. General E. Kirby
Smith had us on the double-quick (in Raines' Brigade), but
we could not overtake the fleeing army, which gave us the slip
near the Salt works. General Smith then shaped his course
towards Frankfort, stopping a few days at Danville, a beau-
tiful little city in a wealthy and refined community. I was
put in command of Company C, and detailed to guard a very

Ti-iiRTY-NiKTH Regiment. 729

large distillery, owned by a prominent Union man. My in-
structions were to treat him and his family kindly and res-
pectfully, and to protect his property at all hazards. I had
with m© Lieutenants Moss and Hall, and eighty men. We
gave the old man such satisfaction that one day he gave us all
a magnificent dinner. The tables were loaded with turkeys,
chickens, roast pig, etc., which was a great treat to a set of
hungry old Confederate soldiers. We were waited on by his
three daughters, forty of us seated at a time, the other forty
to guard.

IN KENTUCKY.

In a few days the army was on the march to Salvisa ( ?)
and was several hours in advance before we received orders to
move. When the company was formed in line to start the
old distiller mad© a speech of thanks, and filled every man's
canteen vdth fine ol'd rye whiskey, four years old. As we
left we gave three cheers for our kind-hearted host.

Having to march all night, I gave orders for the men to be
very careful with the "good spirit," and let moderation be
their guide. Our tramp during that long night was light-
ened by an occasional sip from the canteens, and as we occa-
sionally overtook some poor old soldier fatigued and broken
down, we would administer a small dose of the rye and in a
little while he would rise and fall into line with a bright step.
When we arrived at Salvisa, in the afternoon, the skirmish
was over and the Confederates were holding the town. Our
command had left ; we could not ascertain by what route, but
proceeding upon the theory that the right hand pike was the
safest we took it. After marching about a mile we were over-
taken by a squad of cavalry, commanded by Major Wash.
Morgan, who were leaving in a hurry as the Federals were
after them. He recognized me and advised me to break for
a thicket near by and hide like partridges until dark, and
then slip across the fields and take the other pike for Har-
rodsburg. Presently the Yankee cavalry came dashing by.
We took a good look at the "blue-coats," but had no disposi-
tion to disturb thean. As soon as darkness came on we
crawled out of the brush, and finding the pike, marched

730 North Caeolina Troops, 1861-'65.

nearly all night, stopping only to take a nap at midnight, and
for a sumptuous breakfast of fat bacon and hard-tack at day-
light, arriving at Harrodsburg the following night. During
the march that day a lady treated us to as much com cake and
buttermilk as we could eat. I acted rather indiscreetly and
ate so much it made me sick, but the soldiers secured a man-
ger for me in the "Hotel de Horse," and soon had me on foot
again. Early next morning the troops began coming in
from the battle of Perryville, that had been fought the even-
ing before. We found our regiment and were soon moving
to Camp Eobinson, crossing the Kentucky river where we had
protection from the high bluffs to resist the approach of the
enemy. The next day being Sunday, our brigade assembled
around some straw piles and were highly entertained by a ser-
mon from Kev. Mr. Wexler, Chaplain of the Twenty-ninth
Regiment. The Yanks, however, did not intend that we
should protract our religious services, and by midnight we
were on the move. As we passed Camp Dick Robinson our
way was brilliantly lighted by the burning of the commissary
stores. Large warehouses filled with bacon were producing a
"meat-teoric" light. Many of the soldiers fixed bayonets and
plunging into the fine blazing hams, shouldered arms and
marched on.

Our next stopping place was Frankfort,* where we were
kept scouting and skirmishing. One evening our brigade
was moved out on the pike near a little place, Shelbyville, I
think, but the Federals only made a feint. While we were
absent the balance of the army was at the capital, making a
Confederate Governor, viz: Governor Haws, of Paris, Ky.
Unfortunately he did not have time to deliver his inaugural
address, as it was unsafe for him to stay long. He was
mounted on a fine Kentucky charger and was honored with
a position in front of the army. As we marched out by the
penitentiary, the band played "Dixie." I thought that if we
were in "Dixie's Land" we should be allowed to "take our

* Note— The occupation and evacuation of Frankfort preceded the bat-
tle of Perryville. Lieutenant Davidson is accurate as to events, but in
tbis instance lias reversed the order of time in which they occurred. — Ed.

Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 731

stand." We passed through a beautiful little town about
midnight, halting for a few moments, and heard a female
call to her neighbor across the street, "Skeedaddle." A
sweet voiced lady spoke to us from a second-story window,
saying that she was for the Confederacy, but that her friend
and neighbor was a Unioiiist and was rejoicing at the Con-
federate retreat.

JSTothing of interest occurred on our march from Ken-
tucky. We passed out as we entered, through Cumberland
Gap, stopping at Lenoir on the East Tennessee, Virginia &
Georgia Railway.

A few days after our arrival at this point, Sergeant-Ma j or
Theo. F. Davidson was relieved from duty, being under age,
and was appointed on General R. B. Vance's staff. Our
next move was to Loudon, Tennessee, only a few miles south
of Lenoir, where we went into camp and remained for some
time, guarding bridges, drilling, etc.

MUEFEEESBOKO.

In the latter part of December w© moved to Murfreesboro,
Tennessee, where the battle of Murfreesboro was fought (30
and 31 December). It was in this fight that our Brigadier-
General (Raines), a brave and gallant soldier, was killed.
During a charge he fell from his horse, and the riderless ani-
mal galloped on into the Federal lines. The Twenty-ninth,
Thirty-ninth and Sixtieth North Carolina Regiments lost
many brave soldiers. Colonel Coleman was severely wounded
in the leg. Colonel H. H. Davidson received a bullet in the
arm, shattering the bone near the elbow. His wound
was so painful that he was thrown into a fever and could not
be moved, and w,as captured by the enemy.

After the retreat the army went into winter quarters near
Shelbyville. Our Brigadier-General having been killed. Col-
onel R. B. Vance, as senior Colonel, was put in command for
a while. Colonel W. B. Bate, of Tennessee, was promoted
to Brigadier-General, and put in command of our Brigade.
General A. P. Stewart commanded our Division of Polk's
Corps. The winter was spent in recruiting, drilling, review-

732 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

ing and camp duty. On one occasion General Polk, in re-
viewing his corps, selected the beautiful flag presented to the
Thirty-ninth North Carolina Regiment by the ladies of Ashe-
ville to be placed at the reviewing stand, which produced a
little envy in the minds of the troops from some
other States. While the regiment, was marching out to take
its place, and William Breedon, the Ensign, was
proudly bearing his beautiful banner, some one called out
"Hurrah for the Tar Heels." As we had not then
learned our new name, the Ensign took it is an insult, and
stepping out of the ranks, stuck his flagstaff up in
the ground and dared those offering an insult to North Car-
olina to step out two at a time and he would whip the entire
regiment. This caused a yell of laughter, and Bree^
don, realizing the joke, raised his banner and marched on.
The corps made a fine display. A large number of ladies
from Shelbyville were present and were delighted with the
movements of the troops.

General A. P. Stewart commanded the Division, issued
orders for a thorough training of the company officers. We
were placed under a West Point officer, who' organized us into
a class, and we had to make "Hardee's Tactics" our constant
companion for some time. We recited every day, and were
then formed into a squad and put through the practical part
of the lesson. We had a good class and as every one did his
best, made good progress in co^mpany and battalion drill.
Our instructor must have reported progress to the General,
for one day as I was drilling the company, General Stewart
and his staff approached. He alighted and walked by my
side for some time, and, when we had completed the move-
ment, ordered a halt and tendered us his thanks for our cor-
rect movements and proficiency. On the day following the
regiment was marched out to the parade ground, as we sup-
posed for our usual drill. Colonel Coleman formed us in
line of battle and gave the commands, "Order Arms, Parade
Rest." We thought him very kind in not trotting us around
that old field, but in a few moments discovered General
Stewart advancing with his staff. They were saluted by the
Field Officers, and after a short consultation. Adjutant Har-

Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 733

den took his position, called attention, and proceeded to read
the following order: "Lieutenant J. M. Davidson, Com-
pajiy O, will take charge of and drill the regiment." I did
not feel the least bit elated over the order, but it had to be
obeyed. I went to Colonels Coleman and Eeynolds for ad-
vice, but they only said take the regiment through any evo-
lution you can. I decided on one of the most beautiful move-
ments in Hardee's Tactics — that of breaking the regiment to
the rear into columns of companies. There were seven or
eight hundred men, divided into ten companies. I was not
honored with a horse and had never attempted to drill more
than a single company. I took my position in front of and
near the centre of the regiment, and gave the command to
move, but omitted to first give the precautionary command.
Of co'urse the order was not obeyed, they could not move,
being at order arms and parade rest. The General, specta-
tors and regiment smiled audibly. Discovering my mis-
take, I gave my voice a high piteh and commanded : "Atten-
tion, battalion, shoulder arms, by the right of companies to
the rear into column, march." All moved out nicely, and I
wheeled them around the old field and attempted to throw
them into line at a double-quick, but while stepping back-
wards my heel struck a little grub or bush, which gave me a
hard fall, my sword flew out of my hand and stuck up in the
ground several feet away. As I went down I yelled, "Halt !"
and General Stewart called out, "Rise, Captain, and try it
again." I succeeded in getting the regiment into line again,
and saluting the Colonel, begged to be relieved of the com-
mand. General Stewart said that as I had done so well, ex-
cepting the fall, he would let me off.

Captain Allen, of Company D, was called out next, and at-
tempted to' go through the same movement, but, unfortu-
nately, gave the command, "By the right of Companies to
the rear, March!" and each Captain marched his company
to the rear until we struck a dense cedar thicket, when some
one yelled, "Down on your marrow bones and charge the
cedar thicket." Captain Allen, who had a feminine voice,
called out in his distress: "Colonel, what is the matter with
the men ?" The Colonel assured him that the men were obey-

734 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

ing his commands. He replied : "Colonel, for God's sake,
stop them and get them out of that thicket." Colonel Cole-
man managed to extricate us, and we were reformed in the
old field again. Captain Allen got along very well with the
remainder of the evolution, and was relieved. General Stew-
art made us a nice speech, thanking us for affording him so
much amusement, and saying that it had been a very pleasant
day, and that it was necessary for soldiers to have a little fun
occasionally. So ended my first and last attempt at battal-
ion drill.

ijsr MISSISSIPPI.

The corps was soon after transferred to the Department of
the Gulf, and went into camp at Meridian, Miss., where it
remained during the winter of 1863. In June, 1863, we
were ordered to YazoO', Miss., and near Canton, Miss., the.
Thirty-ninth was transferred to MclSTair's Brigade, French's
Division. This brigade, with the exception of the Thirty-
ninth, was composed of Arkansas troops, who were good sol-
diers, and they treated the "Tar Heels" so kindly that all the
survivors of the old veterans have a warm place in their hearts
for each other.

From the Big Pond, near Canton, we marched to Bird-
song's farm, near Vicksburg. General Johnston was endeav-
oring to get into Vicksburg to assist General Pemberton in
getting out. On 4 July we were ordered to cook three days'
rations and to move that nigtht at midnight via Edwards' Sta-
tion. During the day we heard continuous and heavy can-
nonading at Vicksburg, and that night as the troops were get-
ting ready for their dangerous march, a courier arrived with
the sad intelligence that General Pemberton had surren-
dered to Grant, and that the Federals were moving on John-
ston. The command was given to march, and slowly and
sadly we started for Jackson, Miss., where we rested for a
few days. Here Johnston made a stand, with Breckin-
ridge's Division on the left, resting on Pearl river, and
French's Division on the right. About 6 or 8 July, Grant
came up with a heavy skirmish line and began shelling, feel-
ing for our lines. Breckinridge's Division was hidden in

Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 735

the chapparal, and a masked battery planted in line with the
railway. Company C, with a portion of the regiment had
been on duty in the trenches for forty-eight hours, and had
been relieved to rest for a short time in a railroad cut, where
we were in perfect safety and had a full view of the masked
battery and our skirmish line. The Federals thought they
had discovered a gap, through which they had but tO' march
to the capital. They advanced in four lines, in perfect or-
der, keeping step as if on dress parade. Just as they
reached the railroad the cotton bales and brush were thrown
from the six fine brass cannon and, the command ringing
out, every piece fired at once. At the same time Breckin-
ridge's men arose like ghosts in front and poured in a heavy
shower of minie balls. The destruction of life was awful;
they fell like grain before the reaper. We in the cut saw it
all. It lasted scarcely fifteen minutes, and over seven hun-
dred dead were left on the railroad track. The survivors
hastily retreated to the timber in their rear. Grant was
pressing us all along the line, shelling the city every night.
It was a grand sight to see the shells passing like blazing me-
teors overhead, with a whizzing sound, as they went on their
deadly missions, crashing into the roofs of buildings and fre^
quently setting a house on fire. In a few days Johnston fell
back across Pearl river, placing torpedoes under the pontoon
bridge. These exploded as the Federals attempted to follow,
and we heard afterwards that many had been killed. Grant
followed us no further after the capture of Jackson, but re-
turned to Vicksburg and we marched unmolested to Bran-
don, Miss.

CHICKAMAUGA.

In September we moved tO' Tennessee to assist General
Bragg, arriving at Ringold on the 17th, and starting at once
for Ohickamauga. We passed over the hills, where heavy
skirmishing was in progress, and crossed Ohickamauga at
Reed's Bridge. General Rosecrans, with his powerful army,
made an attack on the Friday after we arrived. Darkness
put a stop to the fighting, and we slept on our arms that night,
and on the morning of the 18th were in line again. I had

736 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

been acting as Quartermaster for several months, and my
wagon train was at Alexander's Bridge, on the opposite side
of Chickamauga.

While Bragg was holding a council with his Generals un-
der some large pin© trees, about 8 o'clock a. m., the Federal
artillery sent several shells through the tops of the trees, and
the council immediately dispersed, Bragg sending the Gener-
als to their respective commands. Colonels Coleman and
Eeynolds dismounted and the former ordered me to take the
horses to his servant, D. Love, and then proceed to the wagon
yard and have all in readiness to move at a moment's notice.
As I departed with the horses, Colonel Eudler, of the Thirty-
seventh Georgia, marched in by my right flank, faced his
regiment to the front, and gave the command tO' fire. A f eiw
minutes later he was brought out wounded in the foot.

It seems that a gap had been left open to the right of our
brigade, and the Twenty-seventh Georgia was sent in to close
it. Greggs' South Carolina Brigade was in front of Mc-
ISTair's and was being hard pressed. Colonel Coleman, of
the Thirty-ninth ITorth Carolina, and Major Noles, of the
Twenty-fifth Arkansas, saw an opportunity to aid Gregg and,
raising the "Rebel Yell," charged in without orders and suc-
ceeded in driving the enemy back. I witnessed all the first
moves, and could see our brave boys as they charged. My
squad was in a ravine, where we went tO' protect the horses,
and as our lines pressed iorward it gave me an opportunity
to slip across Chickamauga, where I found my teamsters
mounted ajid ready to move.

A young man by the name of Bradley, from Haywood
county, of Company C, had a strange presentiment on the
night before the battle. Only a few moments before the
fight opened he told me that he would be killed by the first
volley, gave me a message for his mother, and bade me good-
bye. I tried to reason him out of his strange illusion, but
he said that he was sure of his fate, as it had all come to him
last night while we were sleeping. That evening I walked
over the ground where our regiment went into the fight, and
not more than ten paces from where he bade me farewell I
found his body, lying near eight or ten others. He had fallen

Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 737

on his face on a large flat rock. I turned him over, unbut-
toned his coat and found that his breast had been pierced by
three minie balls.

The battle raged incessantly all day, ceasing only with
darkness and beginning again next morning, which was Sun-
day. The Confederates charged again and again, and in the
evening carried Snodgrass Hill, scoring a great victory for
the Southern arms. Eosecrans fell back in great confusion
and disorder to Chattanooga.

After the battle our corps was sent back to the Department
of the Gulf. I was detailed as Brigade Quartermaster and
Commissary to keep supplies for the wounded at our field hos-
pital, and remained fourteen days after our command left.
On the day I was relieved I went over the field, and, in com-
pany with several nurses, some of whom had been through it
all, inspected the ground our brigade had occupied. We
counted 237 bodies that had been missed by the burial party,
and my recollection is that the dead were about equally
divided between the Blue and the Gray.

IN MISSISSIPPI^ ALABAMA AND FLOEIDA.

When my work was over I turned in my horse at Ringold
and boarded the train for my command, which I found at
Brandon, Miss., where we remained until about 1 February,
1864, and were then moved to Dog River Factory, near Mo-
bile, Ala., and from thence to^ Pollard, Ala. From there we
were ordered to Yellow River, Fla., near Pensacola Bay, as it
was feared the Federals contemplated a flank movement. We
went into camp about forty miles southeast of Pollard,
on a beautiful plateau overlooking the river. Owing to the
number of rattlesnakes in the vicinity, it was called "Rattle-
snake Camp." We had a battle with the snakes on the even-
ing of our arrival, and killed a dozen or more, several very
large ones. As the ground was covered with pine knots and
logs. Colonel Coleman had bonfires around the guard line all
night, so we could see the reptiles and prevent their getting
too close for comfort. In spite of our care. Captain Mount
and I slept with a little "rattler" that had crawled under our
47

738 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

blanket and was not discovered until necxt morning, when he
was speedily killed.

The country being sparsely settled, we had a heavy picket
line, and orders were issued to fire, without challenge, on
anyone approaching after dark. While officer of the day, I
learned that three of the men were out foraging, and going
to the post where I thought they would try to pass, I notified
the sentinel and Corporal of the Guard to be very careful, and
if they saw or heard two or three advancing, not to fire, but
challenge in a low tone. While giving these instructions I
heard them coming and called out, "Who comes ? Give
your names and company," which they did, and were ordered
to advance. I then explained that by violating my positive
orders I had saved their lives, and that they must keep secret
the fact that they had been out, or I would be court-martialed
for disobedience. That was over thirty-five years ago, and my
conscience has always been clear that I did right in saving the
lives of my comrades.

The glades were full of deer and bees and the river and
lakes abounded in fish. One day Colonel Coleman detailed
three squads of six men, one to hunt deer, one to hunt wild
honey, and the other tO' fish. I was placed on the latter, and
Dr. Hatcher, our Surgeon, was in command. Our inst-ruc-
tions were to report at 6 p. m., at which time all came in
from different directions; the first party with three fine
bucks, the second party marching in single file, each man
with a bucket of choice honey, and our party groaning under
their loads of fish. It goes without saying that we were
greeted with a shout. Dr. Hatcher caught a large turtle,
which we had to make a second trip for. Our spoils were
divided, the turtle going to the headquarters mess and all the
commissioned officers were invited to take dinner with the
Colonel next day, where we feasted on turtle soup. Our
time was spent so pleasantly in Florida that we were loath
to leave, but about 1 May orders were given to cook three
days' rations, and by 5 o'clock p. m. we had bidden farewell
to "Rattlesnake Camp" and were on the road to- Pollard,
forty miles distant, where we embarked on the train and
started north to assist in the Dalton campaign, arriving at

Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 739

Eesaca, on the W. & A. Railroad, 8 May, 1864. (I failed to
Btate that General McWair had been wounded at Chicka-
jnauga, and General Reynolds now commanded our Brigade. )
T\\fo Arkansas regiments, under the command of Colonel
Williamson, that had just come in on the oars, were disem-
barked and started forward on the double-quick. They met

and checked the advance of Division of Hooker's

Corps, and later, being reinforced by Grisby's Kentxickians,
with General Hardee in personal command, repulsed them
completely. All of Reynold's Brigade had arrived by the
9th. Johnston had established his lines with Polk's Corps
on the left, the Thirty-ninth being stationed on the extreme
left, resting on a Bluff of the Oostanaula river. We were
entrenched, protecting a nearby battery. The Federals got
the range of our battery and opened fire, which our battery
returned. Little damage was done to the guns or men, most
of the shells passing overhead, but the artillery horses, sta-
tioned in a hollow in the rear of the line, were nearly all
killed. Heavy skirmishing and cannonading were kept up
during 13 and 14 May. At about 4 o'clock p. m., on the
14th, we and the troops of Polk's and Hood's Corps, were or-
dered to charge. A brush fence had been placed along the
bank of our ditches, which we had tO' climb over. Ensign
Bryson, of Company K, and Sergeant Corbin, of Company I,
and myself, were the first over, Bryson calling for the Thirty-
ninth to rally on the colors. Just as he spoke a cannon ball
took off his arm and he dropped the flag. Sergeant Corbin
was knocked down by the concussion, and I was left standing,
but so shocked for a moment that I had no power to move. In
0, short space the regiment was in line and Sergeant Shelton
(I think it was) picked up the colors. We went at a double-
quick across a field and just before we entered the timber the
command was given to lie down (in order to get our breath),
and then forward we went, catching' up with Captain Craw-
ford, commanding Company I, of the skirmish line. An
Alabama regiment was in front of us. In a few moments we
were in the thick of the fight, and in less than half an hour it
was so dark we could not see, and the enemy's line could be

740 North Carolina Troops, 186] -'65.

traced by the flash of their guns. The roar of the artillery
was deafening, the battle raging along the whole line, and
continuing long after nightfall.

We were contending for a hill west of the town, trying to
prevent the Federals from getting possession of it. Shortly
after nightfall we were ordered back to our trenches. I re-
mained behind to see if the blue^coats would try to take pos-
session of the hill in the darkness. As the regiment moved
away the enemy tried to see how many minie balls they could
send toward us. I never heard such a singing of bullets. I
was standing near a large white-oak stump, behind which I
quickly dropped and made myself as small as possible until
the firing ceased. A number of them then advanced with axes
and commenced cutting down timber and making breastworks*
I was near enough to hear them talk distinctly. As a large
tree came crashing down, I though it a good time tO' move and
made a bee-line for our trenches. Quite a niimber of men
were huddled together recounting what each had done and
seen, and as I came up I heard Colonel Coleman inquire foi*
me. He was told that I was last seen just as we started back,
and he remarked : "Poor fellow, I fear he was killed by that
last heavy volley." Just then I sprang into the middle of the
group exclaiming: "Here I am." "LieutenantDavidson, where
have you been ?'■ asked the Colonel. I replied that I had re-
mained to see if the Yankees would take our hill, which they
had. "Oh, no," said he, "they have not." I told him to step
out and listen and he could hear the sound of axes. "I know
they have it, because I staid behind until they came up,- and
during the fall of a tree made my escape." I said nothing
about hiding behind the stump. He complimented me very
highly for my bravery; and later some one (I never knew
who) wrote to the Atlanta Intelligencer, giving an account of
my "bravery."

Sunday morning, 15 May, we were ordered back and were
engaged all day in heavy skirmishing. Although we had no
works to protect us, we would not allow the Federals to raise
their heads over their new breastworks. A head, hat or band
exposed would be a target in an instant for a dozen rifles. I

Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 741

had a very hard and dangerous' position, being placed in
charge of a detail to keep the regiment supplied with car-
tridges. We used a cave in a bluff near the river for our
magazine, and to reach the line had to pass a point exposed to
the enemy's fire. We vrould start with a haversack full of
cartridges on each shoulder, and make a quick run to a large
poplar tree, our first resting place, where we would stop to
blow, and from thence to a pine log, and then along the line
to the men, where we would distribute the ammunition and
return to the cave on a run. We kept this up all day, and
strange to say not one of the detail received a hurt. That
night we returned to our works, and the army fell back, the
Thirty-ninth being on the extreme left and was the last to
leave. About daylight the Federals discovered that the army
was leaving, and began to shell us. Colonel Coleman gave
the command to break for the bridge and every man save
himself. We had waited a little too long, and the bridge was
on fire in six places. It was a fiery ordeal. The shells
were crashing and bursting overhead, and striking the rail-
way bridge, a short distance above the wagon bridge. We
marched down the W. & A. Railway until we got out of
range of the shells, and presently came to a little stream
at the field hospital. The men were all dirty and thirsty,
with tongues swollen and black from powder, and they
marched into the branch and drank like horses, and then
washed tlieir faces and began to comb their tangled hair as
coolly and unconcerned as though the fighting was over. Most
of the army was at Lay's Ferry. The Federals had flanked
and were endeavoring to cut us off at Calhoun, but General
Johnston kept them in check. We marched down to Cal-
houn, six miles south of Resaca, where we found the Sixtieth
North Carolina Regiment, and I had the pleasure of meeting
several of my old friends from Buncombe county — Colonel
Tom Weaver, Jesse Gilliland, and others. We marched to
Adairsville, ten miles South of Calhoun, and while there the
Federal cavahy approached and engaged ours. I went with
Colonel Coleman and others to an elevation where we could
see the charge and counter-charge.

On 18 May Johnston's army started for Cassville, via

742 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

Kingston, Polk's Corps going by the old Cassville road. At
the latter point the General held a council of war and decided
to make a stand. We were engaged on the 19th, 20th and
21st, but the second or third day the Yankees succeeded in
getting the rang© of our lines and shelled us out of the
ditches, which caused another movement, and the Southern
Army fell back to Cartersville. Major Eagle, of an Ar-
kansas regiment, and I, were put in command of a sham
working party. We had about a hundred men, and kept up
a constant pounding all night. About daybreak, as the bands
were playing "Yankee Doodle and "The Bonnie Blue Mag,"
we skeedaddled. I did not know how we could get tO' Car-
tersville being exhausted with fighting all day and pound-
ing on the breastworks all night, pretending to the "Yanks"
that we were getting ready to give them a warm reception.
After proceeding about a mile we found a regiment of cavalry
and a battery of artillery to act as our rear guard. Several
times the cavalry formed in line, and a piece of artillery
would unlimber and fire a few shells which would check the
Federals, and our poor, worn-out squad would stagger along.
We finally reached Cartersville, crossing the Etowah river,
on a pontoon bridge, and halted in a pine grove near Horse
Shoe Bend, where we breakfasted on hard-tack and bacon and
were told to rest for five minutes. A guard of soldiers
formed around us, and the five minutes were extended to
two hours. We were then marched up the river a few miles
to Cooper's Iron Works, where we found our brigade.

From Cooper's Iron Works we were ordered to Acworth
and were at Powder Springs, on 23 May, 1864. While on the
march, we were transferred from Reynolds' Arkansas Brig-
ade to Ector's Texas Brigade. We were going on the double-
quick to assist G-eneral Pat Clebum in a fight near Dallas,
but on the night of the 23d were halted at JSTew Hope Church,
and next day began fortifying. On 25 May the celebrated
battle of Wew Hope Church was fought, which continued day
and night until the 28th or 30th. On a dark, rainy night we
began leaving. JSTearly half of the men lost one or both shoes
in the mud, which was ten inches deep. In passing over a
slough on a pole bridge I stepped off in the darkness and fell

Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 743

into a pool of mud and water. I was not hurt by the fall,
hut had to carry away a load of Georgia mud with me. How-
ever, as we had been in the ditches several days in mud and
water up to our knees, I considered that a small matter.
Our next halt was at Lost Mountain, where every man was
allowed a jigger of whiskey; but as it was made from
sorghum seed it acted as a fine emetic, and oh ! how sick we
were. It was a pathetic sight to see at least five hundred
men vomiting at the same time, and none able to assist his
comrades. After getting rid of the stuff we soon felt well
again.

About 4 June the enemy appeared, and for several days
there was heavy skirmishing. We moved out between Pine
Mountain and Kennesaw, and it was there, on 14 and 15
June, while establishing the lines, that our beloved corps
commander. General Polk, was struck in the breast with a
cannon ball and killed. The entire corps was greatly dis-
tressed, as he was universally loved by his men. On the same
day he was killed, I was disabled and taken to Marietta. I
never did any more field duty, but spent several months in
the hospitals of Atlanta, Macon, Augusta and Columbia, and
was finally placed on the "Light Duty Roll" and assigned to
duty under Dr. Joel Hall as clerk in the ge.neral hospital at
Salisbury, IST. C, where I remained until Johnston surren-
dered, and I was paroled at Salisbury.

A few days after the surrender, I met my brother-in-law.
Rev. David White, Chaplain of the One hundred and Seventh
Illinois Regiment, and also two nephews, Captain D. Lowry
and Sergeant Robert Vance, of the same regiment. I was
invited to visit them in their camp. Chaplain White was
to preach the farewell address to his brigade the next day.
He requested his Colonel (Colonel Holland) to grant him the
special favor of sitting in the pulpit with him during the
services, and to allow his rebel brother to occupy the seat with
him. The Colonel granted his request and at the tap of the
drum we all three marched to the stand together and took our
seats. It was the first mingling of the Blue and the Gray I
witnessed after the surrender, and I seemed to be the ob-
served of all observers.

744 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

I will now close my imperfect recollections of the history of
the Thirty-ninth Worth Carolina Regiment, which I dedicate
to the Old Veterans of North Carolina, my native State ; and
I pray God's blessings upon every one of them.

God grant that we may all meet again at the last bugle call,
and be crowned as valiant soldiers of the Cross.

John M. DAvrosow.
Kingston, Ga.,

4 May, 1901.

FORTIKTH REGIMENT.

1. John J. Hedrick, Colonel.

2. Geore:e Tait, Lieut. -Colonel.

3. William Blount Rodman, Capt., Co C.

4. T. C. Davis, Sergeant, Co. G.

FORTIETH REQinE/IT.

(third AKTILTjERY. )

By sergeant T. C. DAVIS, Company G.

'"Go, warrior, go, thy country calls thee
Now unto the embattled plain
Where gorgeous plumes and glittering creHts
Are waving o'er the noble slain."

This r^ment was organized at Bald Head (Smith's
Island, ]Sr. 0.,) at the mouth of the Cape Fear river, 1 De-
cember, 1863, from heavy artillery companies organized the
first year of the war, which had been in active service, build-
ing forts, batteries and other defences of ITorth Caroliija
coast and rivers, at Hatteras, the Pamlico, Neuse and Cape
Fear rivers, by the appointment of John J. Hedrick (Major
of Engineers) Colonel; George Tait (Captain of Company
K, formerly Major of the Eighteenth North Carolina) Lieu-
tenant-Colonel; William A. Holland (Captain of Company
G), Major.

The stafE and company officers and their successors by pro-
motion from time to time in the order named as gathered
from memoranda of participants in the operations of the reg-
iment, were:

James B. Hancock^ Adjutant.
Thomas Hill, Surgeon.
Charles A. Mitchell, Assistant Surgeon.
John G. Blouht, Quartermaster.
William D. ISTbal, Sergeant Major.

CAPTAINS.

Company A, from Lenoir County, William Sutton, A. W.
Ezzell. Enlisted men, 124.

Company B, from Beaufort County, William H. Tripp.
Enlisted men, 126.

746 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Company 0, from Beaufort County, W. B. Eodman, John
E. Leggett. Enlisted men, 120.

Company D, from Pamlico County, James S. Lane. En-
listed men, 121.

Company E, from Eichmond and Kobeson Counties, Mal-
com MclSTair, Malcom H. McBryde. Enlisted men, 127.

Company F, from Wilson, Edgecombe and Greene Coun-
ties, Joseph J. Lawrence, Richard H. Blount, John C. Kob-
ertson. Enlisted men, 125.

Company Gr, from Carteret, Lenoir, Wayne, Duplin, An-
son, Chatham, and other Counties, William A. Herring, Wil-
liam A. Holland, George C. Buchan. Enlisted men, 135.

Company H, from New Hanover County, E. D. Hall, Cal-
vin Barnes. Enlisted men, 105.

Company I, from Beaufort County, H. C. Whitehurst.
Enlisted men, 128.

Company K, from Bladen County, George Tait, Daniel
J. Clark. Enlisted men, 132.

PIEST LIEtTTENANTS.

Company A, A. W. Ezzell, John Williams.

Company B, Macon Bonner.

Company C, John E. Leggett, John G. Blount, Ashley
Congleton.

Company D, Adam Barrington.

Company E, Malcom H. McBryde, John S. McArthur.

Company F, Eiehard C. Tillery, Byrd Lancaster.

Company G, Bridgers Arendell, George C. Buchan, Wil-
liam Hassell.

Company H, Joseph Price, James R. Sterling.

Company I, Thomas H. Satterthwaite.

Company K, Daniel J. Clark, James W. Dixon, Charles
L. Bryan.

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

Company A, James Kinsey, John Williams, John Z.
Davis, Robert B. Vause.

Company B, Selby Hardenberg, ISToal B. Hodges, Wil-
liam H. Harrison.

Fortieth Regiment. 747

Company 0, James B. Hancock, John W. Whitley, Ed-
ward Long.

Company D, Henry H. Hooker, John J. Brabble, Peter
M. Briggs.

Company E, John S. McArthur, Archibald J. McJSTair,
John M. MoKinnon.

Company F, Walter Dunn, Eichard H. Blount, John 0.
Robertson, Byrd Lancaster, John L. Pool, William E. Ed-
wards.

Company G, George W. Davis, Stephen Lancaster, Elbert
J. Albertson, William F. Stanley.

Company H, James R. Sterling, James Price, James Mc-
Evoy, Joseph F. Hellen, John H. Hill.

Company I, Alex. McJones, T. A. E. Tuten, Robert Wind-
ley, Seth Bridgman.

Company K, James E. Kelly, Edward W. Wocrten.

COMPANY A.

This company was organized in Lenoir County, 'N. C, in
1861, and ordered to Fort Hatteras, 'N. C, where it remained
and participated in the engagement at that fort on 28 and 29
August, 1861, when it was captured, with the loss of several
men killed and wounded. This company, with the other
prisoners, was transported by steamer to New York and put
on Governor's Island, where it remained about two months,
then transported to Fort Warren, in Boston harbor, where it
remained until exchanged. (It was here that Lieutenant
Kinsey and several of the men died from sickness). One-
half of the company was exchanged and arrived home on
Christmas day, 1861 — the remaining half was exchanged
shortly afterwards ; and again entered the service, (John Z.
Davis was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of
Lieutenant Kinsey) and was ordered to Fort Lane, below
New Bern, on the ISTeuse river, where it remained until New
Bern was captured, 14 March, 1862. Then it fell back to
Kinston, where it received orders to go to Virginia as infant-
ry, but through the efforts of Lieutenant A- W. Ezzell, the or-
der was countermanded by order of General Whiting, and the
company sent to Wilmington in April, 1862, and did provost

748 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

guard duty. During this time Captain Sutton resigned,
and Lieutenant A. W. Ezzell was commissioned Captain of
the company on 15 October, 1862, and Eobert B. Vause was
commissioned Lieutenant to fill the vacancy caused by the
promotion of Lieutenant Ezzell. The company was then or-
dered to Fort Fisher, where it^occasionally skirmished with
the enemy's gunboats, and did picket and garrison duty
and aided in constructing Fort Fisher, until the Fortieth
Eegiment North Carolina Troops was organized, at which
time it was ordered to Bald Head (Smith's Island) N. C.

coMPAiry B.

This company was organized in September, 1861, in Beau-
fort County, E". C, and went in camp at Chocowinity,
where it remained a short time, from there it was sent to
Fort Hill, on the Pamlico river, eight miles below Washing-
ton, where it became a part of the command of the Thirty-
first North Carolina Regiment (Infantry), Colonel Jor-
dan commanding. But as it was infantry, this company
was separated from it, and remained at Fort Hill until 14
March, 1862, when, at the attack on New Bern, it was or-
dered to re-inforce that city; but having to remove the ar-
tillery to Tarboro, was delayed, and arrived at Kinston,
where it met the Confederates falling back from New Bern.
From Kinston it went into camp at Falling Creek, near
Goldsboro, and there remained until ordered to Fort Fisher,
where it arrived in April, 1862, and found one casemated bat-
tery of four or five Columbiad guns of short range, and a
square Sand Fort, armed with 32-pounder, smooth bore guns,
and, from this it became the strongest fortification in the
whole So'Uth.

On Sunday morning, 12 July, 1863, Captains Tripp and
Whitehurst, with their companies, were ordered from Fort
Fisher to cross the inlet and land on the point of beach oppo-
site Zeke's Island and march up the beach to the steamer
"Kate," a blockade runner then ashore on the east side of
Smith's Island and in the possession of the enemy, about six
miles south of Fort Fisher. The order was promptly obeyed
and they marched up the beach under a constant fire from the

Fortieth Regiment. 749

blockading fleet, and with a Whitworth cannon and rifles
drove the enemy off, and recaptured the steamer, saved her
cargo and machinery and sent it across the island to Wilming-
ton, for which labor they received the munificent sum of $12,
in Confederate money, each. This company remained at
Fort Fisher, doing garrison and picket duty, and aiding in
its construction until the Fortieth Regiment iN'orth Carolina
Troops was organized, at which time it was ordered to Bald
Head for duty.

COMPANY c.

This company was organized in September, 1861, at Wash-
ington, ]Sr. C, and was stationed at Swan Point, on the Pam-
lico river, where it remained until the attack of New Bern, 14
March, 1862, when it was ordered to re-inforce that town,
but on arriving at Kinston, met the Confederates falling back
from New Bern. From Kinston it went in camp at Falling
Creek, where it remained until about the first of April, 1862,
when it was ordered to Fort St. Philip, on the Cape Fear
river, where it remained and did garrison and picket duty
until the Fortieth Regiment was organized, at which time it
was ordered to Bald Head.

COMPANY D.

This company was raised in Pamlico County in 1861, and
went in camp on the north side of the Neuse river, where it
did duty at different points until the fall of New Bern, 14
March, 1862, when it withdrew and fell back to Kinston, and
thence to Goldsboro. From there it was ordered to Wil-
mington, where it arrived about the last of March, and the
next day (1 April) it was sent down the Cape Fear river,
with other Artillery companies from the Pamlico and Neuse
rivers. This company with Company G, was sent to Fort
Johnson at Smithville, where it remained some time doing
garrison duty and sharing in the duties of that command,
until ordered to Fort Fisher where it remained and partici-
pated in the building of Fort Fisher, and on the formation of
the Fortieth Regiment, was assigned to it, and ordered to
Bald Head.

750 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

COMPANY E.

This company was raised in Richmond and Robeson
Counties, 22 October, 1861, and ordered to Raleigh. On ar-
rival at Wilmington the order was countermanded, and the
company remained at Wilmington about three weeks, when
it was ordered to Fort Caswell, at the mouth of the Cape Fear
river, for heavy artillery service.

On 23 February, 1863, the warships Monticello and Daco-
tah opened fire on Fort Caswell, which would return fire.
This was continued for some time, when the ships withdrew,
leaving the fort uninjured.

On 12 July, it was ordered to Bald Head to protect the
blockade-running steamer Kate, then ashore back of Smith's
Island, and in possession of the enemy. While marching up
the beach with a Whitworth gun, the fleet opened fire on
it, disabling the carriage of the gun so it had to take a posi-
tion among the sand hills, until Company B, from Fort
Fisher, with a Whitworth gun, came to its relief and drove
the fleet off, and took possession of the steamer.

This company remained at Fort Caswell and did garrison
and picket duty, and shared in all the duties of that com-
mand until the formation of the Fortieth Regiment, when it
was assigned to it and ordered to Bald Head for duty.

This was one of the best companies in the service, and had
in it many descendants of Highlanders who fought under
Lochiel at the fatal battle of Culloden, and who displayed
on the sands of Carolina the war-like spirit of their ances-
tors.

company f.

This company was organized in the fair grounds at New
Bern, N. C, on 28 August, 1861. After remaining there a
few days, was ordered to Fort Macon, N. C, where it re-
mained until 1 November, when it was ordered to Shell
Point on Harker's Island, where it remained doing picket
duty until about 1 March, 1862, and was then ordered back
to Fort Macon, where it remained and did garrison duty,
and participated in the bombardment and was cap-

Fortieth Regiment. 751

tured at Fort Macon, 26 April, 1862, (witli two men
killed) when it was paroled and sent to I^ew Inlet on the
gunboat "Chippewa," and landed at Fort Fisher under a flag
of truce ; from there to their respective homes, where they re-
mained until 4 September, 1862, when they were exchanged
and reorganized at Goldsboro, JST C. ; from there the company
went to Kinston and guarded the different fortifications on
the Neuse river, during General Foster's raid on Goldsboro.
This company participated in the fight at Kinston on 14 De-
cember, White Hall the 16th and Goldsboro the 17th, 1862.
The enemy being defeated fell back to New Bern. It
also participated in Generals Pickett's and Hoke's cam-
paigns in the winter and spring of 1863 ; engaged in the fight
at Washington, N. C, and Deep Gully and skirmished with
the ememy at various points between Kinston and New Bern,
until 16 March, 1864, when it was ordered to Fort Caswell
at the mouth of the Cape Fear river, where it remained about
a month and was then ordered to Fort Campbell, on Oak
Island beach, where it remained until Fort Fisher was cap-
tured. Then it evacuated Fort Campbell and fell back to
Fort Anderson, where it joined the regiment for the first
time.

COMPANY G.

Some one has said that in writing an account of battles or
campaigns, each writer's narrative must necessarily be more
or less personal in its nature ; but I will try to avoid it in this
instance.

This company was organized at Morehead City, JST. C, 16
October, 1861, and went into camp at "Camp Canal," where
it remained until January, 1862, when it was ordered to
Fort Thompson, on the Neuse river, five miles below New
Bern, where it remained and built batteries, did garrison and
picket duty, and participated in the skirmishes on the 13th,
and battle on 14 March, 1862. It was the heavy discharges
of shot and shell from the guns on Fort Thompson that re-
pulsed a heavy column of the enemy while charging on our
line of works (defended by our infantry), and caused them
to fall back under cover of the woods, with a heavy loss. The

752 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

fight on the 14th continued about five hours, when the enemy
concentrated their land forces to the right, out of our sight,
and flanked our infantry, and we fell back to JSTew Bern,
thence to Kinston. There the company was in the general re^
view, and on the 18th was ordered to Goldsboro, where it did
provost guard duty, which was necessary at that time, but nev-
ertheless irksome. On the 28th, it was ordered to Wilmington,
where it remained until 1 April, at which time it was trans-
ported Avith six other heavy artillery companies from thePam-
lico and IsTeuse rivers, and landed at thediffereoitfortifications
on the Cape Fear river. This company was sent to Fort John-
ston, at Smithville, where it built Fort Pender, and fortified
the town in the rear by a line of breastworks and redoubts
from Elizabeth creek to the Cape Fear river, below deep
water point, at the same time drilled, did garrison and picket
duty. While there the company suffered the scourge of yel-
low fever and smallpox, from which quite a large number
died. During the winter and spring of 1863, the company
recruited to 130 men. In addition to other services, this
company kept guard at the signal stations on the coast and
river, to report signals displayed, in order that blockade run-
ners might make a safe entrance in the Cape Fear river, which
was a very important service to the State and Confederate
governments. It was while the company was at Fort John-
son that the steamer Kate, in running the blockade, struck one
of the obstructions (or Yankee catchers, as we called them),
in the inlet at Fort Caswell, and punched a hole in her bot-
tom, from which she sank at Smithville. From her this
company took about ten thousand blankets, besides arms and
merchandise. A short time afterwards the steamer "Scotia,"
while trying to run in port, got aground, and was set on fire,
and burned down to the water. The next day this company
took out of her five thousand pounds of meat and other stores.
This company being raised on the coast and accustomed to the
sea, quite a number of them were detached to go on an expe-
dition with five hundred men to take one of the fast blockade-
running steamers and run the blockade at New Inlet, and run
in at Cape Henry and pass Fortress Monroe to Point Look-
oxit, release our prisoners there (which were said to be about

Fortieth Regiment. 753

22,000) arm those for duty and inarch out through Maryland
and join General Lee's army somewhere in the vicinity of
Washington, D. C. This movement was in agitation in the
latter part of June, 1863, just before the battle of Gettys-
burg, Pa. This matter becoming known to the enemy
through deserters, it was abandoned.

On 12 July this company was ordered to Bald Head, and
was subject to a severe shelling from the fleet, all day (on
Sunday) trying to recapture a blockade runner ashore on
the beach, back of the island- (this steamer was also named
Kate). We did succeed after a detachment of Company E,
from Fort Caswell, and a detachment of Company B, from
Fort Fisher, with Whitworth cannon came tO' our assistance,
in driving away the enemy and saving a portion of the cargo.
There were several of the blockade fleets in action on both
sides of the island, and the flring was severe, those on the
west side being the greatest sufferers, having their gun car-
riage and wheels shot away and several men wounded. We
also rescued the blockade-running steamer Pungo from cap-
ture after being run ashore on Bald Head beach, and saved a
portion of her cargo, also several other steamers whose names
I cannot now recall.

COMPANY H.

This company was organized at Wilmington, 'N. C, in the
spring of 1861, where it remained for a few days, and
was sent to Fort Caswell at the entrance of the Cape Fear
river. There it remained for some time, and was ordered to
Camp Advance, near Weldon, where it was attached to Colo-
nel Tew^s Second Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, and
ordered to Richmond, Va. ; from there to Fredericksburg,
where it remained and did service on the Potomac river and
other points in that State, until the spring of' 1862, when it
returned to North Carolina, with General Holmes' Division,
and was afterwards detached and sent to the Cape Fear river,
and was stationed at several fortifications on that river. It
was at Fort Pender, at the organization of the Fortieth Regi-
ment, and assigned to it as Company H, and ordered to Bald
Head for duty. This company was composed principally of
48

754 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Irishmen, and no better or more loyal men, or better soldiers
could be found in any company. When work or fighting was
to be done, they were always ready, and would go wherever
ordered.

COMPANY I.

This company was organized about the first of February,
1862, at Washington, N. C, was stationed at I'ort Hill, on
the Pamlico river, where it remained until New Bern was
attacked 14 March, 1862, when it was ordered to reinforce
that town. It did not reach there in time, so it went in camp
at Kinston, where it remained until ordered to Fort Fisher,
where it arrived about 1 April', 1862, and became a part of
its garrison. It assisted in building Fort Fisher and shared
in all the duties of that command until the Fortieth Kegi-
ment was organized, when it was ordered to Bald Head.

COMPANY K.

This company was organized in Bladen County, 1 May,
1862, and mustered in service at Wilmington, N. C, and or-
dered to duty at Fort St. Philip (afterwards known as Fort
Anderson), where it remained a short time, and was ordered
to Camp Wyatt, about two miles above Fort Fisher, where it
remained four or five weeks ; afterwards ordered to, and be-
came a part of the garrison of Fort Fisher, where it did gar-
rison and picket duty, protected blockade running as much as
possible, and also assisted in building Fort Fisher and out-
lying batteries, in common with other companies of the
Fortieth and Thirty-sixth Regiments. This company re-
mained at Fort Fisher and shared in all the duties of that
command until the Fortieth Regiment was organized, when
it was ordered to Bald Head for duty.

President Jefferson Davis visited our command in the fall
of 1863. At this instance, knowing all the surroundings, all
the detached heavy artillery companies on the Cape Fear
river and vicinity of Wilmington were sent to Bald Head
(Smith's Island), and organized into the Fortieth Raiment
of North Carolina troops, as above stated. The regiment num-
bered about 1,200 men, which was increased to 1,400. Gren-

Fortieth Regiment. 755

eral Beauregard coinplimente<i it for its fine appearance
and its proficiency in drilling, botli as artillery and infantry.
Petitions were sent to our Major General commanding to
be sent to Virginia to do field service. In reply, General
Whiting stated that "it was a soldier's duty to stay or go
where he was ordered, and that we were just where the gov-
ernment wanted us to be." So we took the rebuke, and
commenced fortifying under the directions of Colonel John
J. Hedriek, who was a good civil engineer, under whom we
built Fort Fisher with seventeen guns and curtains connect-
ing with some outlying batteries, and also Fort Pen-
der, all of which were approved by Generals Beauregard and
Whiting. We built Fort Holmes, with twelve guns, on the
point, opposite Fort Caswell, and a 6-gun battery on the creek,
near the Light House ; these were intersected by strong breast-
works and redoubts, and we also" cleared tWo roads through the
Island in order that we might bring into position whenever
necessary, the Whitworth and Parrot guns which were princi-
pally used to protect blockade-runners while trying to run into
port. (The artillery service at the entrance of the Cape Fear
river, used every means possible to protect- blockade running.
If such service had not existed, and kept the enemy out of his
rear, General Lee's army would have ceased to exist at least
two years before it did). The Whitworth guns mentioned
were a terror to the enemy ; their range was immense, their
accuracy as that of a telescope rifle. ^Nevertheless, the en-
emy would shell us whenever they could. On 6 March, 1864,
we fired upon the blockade steamer Peterhoff while laying
back on the beach, east of the Cape. After firing six shots,
most of them taking effect, she ran out to another blockade
ship, and before they could transfer her supplies she sunk.
In a few days a heavy northeast wind and sea broke her up
and she washed ashore to the beach, which was strewn with
debris of the sunken ship. We gathered up lots of valuables
to us. This was the best shot I witnessed during the war.
Soon after this, at night, a small-sized blockade steamer ran
aground under the guns of Fort Holmes. The tide being
falling, she could not get off before day. To prevent being
captured, the crew set her on fire and made their escape to

756 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

another ship. The next day we got two cannons off of her.
On 1 March while the regiment was at Fort Holmes, with
only a small detail at Smithville, Lieutenant Gushing, with a
boat's crew from the fleet, made a raid at Smithville. He
landed at the salt works wharf about 1 o'clock a. m., taking
with him a negro pilot. He went to Brigadier-General He-
bert's quarters, he being at Wilmington. They captured
Captain Kelly, of his staff, and made their escape, taking
with them their prisoner and the negro pilot, on board the
blockade. After this a river picket, in boats, was kept
between Bald Head and Fort Caswell, with rocket signals
to be displayed at the discovery of any movements of the
enemy. We also kept a picket station on the beach at the
head of "Buzzard Bay," (where "Corn Cake Inlet" now is),
this being a low, narrow, flat beach, where negroes and de-
serters from the antiy would escape to the enemy, by hauling
boats over this beach, then la\mching them into the sea and
go off to the blockade ships. This was done until there could
not be a boat foimd unless it had been kept under guard at
night, anywhere in that section. Governor Vance, who was
a candidate for re-election against W. W. Holden,
visited our command in July, 1864. The regiment went
on review in honor of the great "War Governor." The elec-
tion was held in August following, the result of which was
that Z. B. Vance received almost the entire vote of the regi-
ment; that was this writer's first vote. On 29 October,
1864, Company A, Captain A. W. Ezzell, was ordered to
Fort Anderson, about ten miles above Smithville, on the
Cape Fear river, where it remained until the fort was evacu--
ated 19 February, 1865. On 24 JSTovember, 1864, Oom--
panies B, Captain Tripp; C, Captain Legget; D, Captain
Lane; G, Captain Buchan; I, Captain Whitehurst, of the
Fortieth Regiment, under the command of Major Holland,
with five companies of the Thirty-sixth Regiment under the
command of Major» Stevenson, were ordered to Georgia to
reinforce Lieutenant-General W. J. Hardee, who was then
falling back from Atlanta, Georgia. On reaching Augusta,
the 2Yth, we went forward in the direction of Waynesboro.
That night, about 12 o'clock, a citizen of that town drove up

Fortieth Regiment. 757

to our picket, en route for Augusta, with information, that
the enemy, under the command of General Sherman, had
torn up the railroad between Augusta and Millen, which
cut us off from General Hardee's command. The next day
we returned to Augusta and took the train for Savannah. On
reaching Charleston, S. C, the 29th, we found the city un-
der bombardment from the batteries on Morris Island, which
had been going on over five hundred days, with great damage
to that city. The next day (the 30th) we arrived at Ooosa-
hatchie, S. C, where we were ordered to leave knapsacks
and make a forced march to reinforce General Gustavus W.
Smith at Honey Hill, near Grahamville, S. C, where General
Foster had concentrated a large force of negro troops from
Hilton Head to destroy the railroad and cut off reinforce-
ments from General Hardee, who was then falling back to-
wards Savannah, Ga., but before we had proceeded far we
were ordered back. The enemy having been defeated, fell
back to the TuUaf uiney river, with a heavy loss in killed and
wounded. Thinking that they would make a move against
the railroad at Coosahatchie bridge, under cover of their
gunboats, we sent out a picket down the river banks that
night, and the next day we saw no movements of an advance
of the enemy. We were ordered to proceed on to Savan-
nah, Ga., where we arrived on 2 December, and took the train
on the Georgia Central Railroad and arrived at Rocky Ford,
about fifty miles from Savannah, about night, where we join-
ed General Hardee's corps, which was composed largely of
senior and jimior reserves. Colonel Washington M. Hardy,
of the Sixtieth ISTorth Carolina, was assigned to the com-
mand of the regiment, which was rear guard. Through the
negligence of Wheeler's Cavalry, which were deployed as
scouts, we were-entirely cut off, and would have been captured
had not Major Young's Tenth ISTorth Carolina Battalion come
to our assistance when we had a skirmish with the enemy,
driving them back, with some loss on both sides. General
Sherman's army numbered about 80,000 men of the great
Northwest. Their ancestors, for the large part, were of the
emigrants from North Carolina and Virginia. He had a
fine command, which lay between the Savannah and Ogee-

758 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

chee rivers, which effectually protected his flanks from any
movements that we could make to flank him. We skirmished
with his advanced picket every day, but would have to fall
back as soon as his main army would push forward its flanks
in order to surround us. At the junction of the Charleston
railroad about ten miles frora Savannah, the skirmish be-
came a general engagement, which lasted for some time, with
some loss on both sides. On the 8th, we fell back inside of
a line of works, about five miles above Savannah, which ex-
tended from the Savannah to the Ogeechee river, which we
strengthened by filling up culverts, flooding the water in ouo"
front, also running telegraph wire, fastening it to stumps and
trees, besides palisades and cheveaux de- frise in front of the
regiment to prevent an assault on our works. In this posi-
tion we kept up a fire from our artillery and sharpshooters
from the entrenchments every day, and picketing at night.
This was continued until the 20th about 12 o'clock at night,
at which time our supplies having been exhausted, we evacu-
ated the works and falling back to the city crossed the river
on a pontoon bridge, and made a halt at Hardeeville, S. C.
Our picket that night formed the rear guard, who policed the
city, burned the government warehouse, said to contain five
hundred bales of cotton, and crossed the river about 4 o'clock
a. m., then cut the pontoon bridge adrift and joined our com-
mand at Hardeeville, where we remained until the 25th
(Christmas) when the regiment was ordered to Pocotaligo,
S. C. We moved off at early dawn, and marched all day in
a cold, drenching rain, bivouacking that night at Graham-
ville. The march was resumed the next morning about 5
o'clock and we marched all day through swamps and mud.
The enemy was shelling the Coosahatchie bridge, so we
crossed the Tullaf uiney bridge, and arrived . at Pocotaligo
about dark. About midnight we took the cars for Charles-
ton, where we arrived the next day, and were held as rein-
forcements, in case the enemy who had withdrawn from the
first attack on Fort Fisher, should attack that city. Among
the various forts and batteries at Charleston, was the White
Point battery at the junction of the Ashley and Cooper rivers
on which were mounted two large Blakely guns which car-

Fortieth Regiment. 759

ried six hundred pound rifle shot. These guns were brought in
at "Wilmington on a blockade runner, the "Sumpter," and
shipped to Charleston by railroad. After remaining atCharlea-
ton for a few days, we learned that the enemy had returned to
Fortress Monroe. On the 30th we were ordered to Wilming-
ton, ]Sr. C, where we arrived about lOo' clock p. m., 1 January,
1865, and crossed the ferry in a snow storm and bivouacked
at Camp Lamb. The next day we were transported by
steamer down the Cape Fear river, the five companies of the
Thirty-sixth Regiment to Fort Fisher and the Fortieth to
Fort Holmes.

Permit me to say, right here, that I realized during that
Southern campaign what I always believed, that the great
popular heart was not then, and never had been, in the war.
It was a revolution, of the politicians, not the people; and
was fought at first by the natural enthusiasm of young men,
and kept going by the bitterness of feeling produced by the
cruelties and brutalities of the enemy.

During the Southern campaign, the companies of the
Fortieth Regiment that remained at their respective com-
mands, performed their duties as usual.

At the first attack on Fort Fisher, and during the bom-
bardment, 24 and 25 December, 1864, Companies E and K,
of this regiment, reinforced that command, after which the
enemy's land force re-embarked, and withdrew, leaving Fort
Fisher slightly injured.

Lieutenant-Colonel George Tait resigned his commission
on 11 January, 1865, to take a commission as Colonel of the
S-ixty-ninth ISTorth Carolina Regiment. Colonel Tait was
a good disciplinarian ; he remained detached from the
Fortieth Regiment after it had formed, tO' train, drill and
discipline the officers and men of the Thirty-sixth Regiment
and afterwards drilled and disciplined the Fortieth Regi-
ment. Colonel Tansell, the Inspector-General, pronounced
the Fortieth the best drilled regiment of Confederate soldiers
that he had ever seen. Colonel Tait was a good and brave of-
ficer, and in his rank had no superior in the service.

On 13 January, we were ordered to* reinforce Fort Fisher,
(the second attack). Companies D, E, G, K, of the Fortieth

760 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Regiment, embarked on the steamer Pettaway, and arrived
at Confederate Point about dark, where we landed by wading
waist deep in water to reach the beach, under fire from the
fleet, and took our position at the guns and palisades on the
land face of the fort, where firing was kept up at short inter-
vals, until daylight, when the whole fleet drew up in line and
opened fire on the fort which returned the fire. This was kept
up all day; at night we formed a picket line on the beach,
where we kept up a fire with the enemy until about 4 o'clock
a. m. A most furious enfiladingfire of shot and shell from the
fleet caused us to fall back inside the fort. The bombardment
continued to increase, and about 8 o'clock Sunday morning,
the 16th, the whole fleet opened a more terrific fire upon the
fort. From about 11 a. m. until 3 p. m. the booming of
cannon and bursting of shells was like the roar of heavy peals
of thunder. All the guns on the land face of the fort
were disabled, but two, and the palisades were deanolished,
which left our garrison, of about 1,500 men, almost helpless
when the assault was made upon the fort. This occurred
about 3 o'clock Sunday evening on the right and left both, at
the same time. We were on the right where the marines and
sailors, 2,000 strong, charged, who were repulsed with
heavy loss, after which we were ordered to the left to drive
back the enemy, who had made lodgment on the fort. We
rushed in that direction, led by General Whiting, who com-
manded the troops in person, and drove the enemy from the
traverse and parapet in front and recaptured one gun cham-
ber with great loss, and on the parapet and traverse of the
next gun chamber, the contestants were firing into each oth-
er's faces, and in some cases clubbing their guns, being too
near to load and fire. It was in this charge that General
Whiting was wounded. The fight continued after the en-
emy entered the fort until about 10 o'clock p. m., when the
last traverse was taken and firing ceased. Thus ended the
greatest bombardment ever known in modem warfare. It
was the largest hand-to-hand fight during our civil war, and
the struggle inside the fort was unsurpassed in stubbornness.
Our casualties were not known as the roll was never again
called. Captain Buchan, of Company G, was seriously

Fortieth Regiment. 761

wounded and captured at Battery Buchanan at the point of
beach, and was carried to Point Lookout, thence to John-
son's Island, Ohio, where he remained a prisoner until the
close of the war. Major-General W. H. C. Whiting was
mortally wounded, fell into the hands of the enemy and
died soon afterwards in prison on Governor's Island, ~S. Y.
Colonel Lamb, of the Thirty-sixth Regiment, was also
wounded and captured. The enemy's killed and woundeid
lay thick upon the battlefield, especially in the front
of the Fortieth Regiment, which was in the hardest of the
fight. Surely the valor displayed by North Carolinians in
that effort to hold the last gateway of the South against such
overwhelming numbers, both on land and sea, is glory enough
to perpetuate their names in the annals of this State for all
time. After the battle was over, seeing so many of our com-
rades alive and able for duty, was a cause of deep gratitude
to Almighty God. The next morning (the 16th) the maga-
zine in the fort exploded and killed about two hundred of
the enemy, which was a scene of inexpressible horror. That
evening we were put on board the Steamships De Mollay and
General Lyon, and carried to Northern prisons, the sick and
wounded to Point Lookout, and those able for duty to New
York City, thence transported by railroad to Elmira, N. Y.,
where they remained until after the war, when they were
paroled and sent home. The ofiicers were carried to Gov-
ernor's Island, N. Y., and releaeed on parole there. During
our stay in prison many of our men died from starvation and
exposure.

On 16 January, 1865, Companies B, C, H, and I, of the
Fortieth Regiment, evacuated Fort Holmes and Fort Hed-
rick, on Bald Head, and Company F evacuated Fort Camp-
bell, on Oak Island beach, above Fort Caswell, and were
transported by steamer to Smithville, which was reached
about daylight, remained in the town that day and went out
about two miles from town at night. The next day (the 17th)
they joined Company A, of the regiment, at Fort Anderson,
about ten miles above Smithville, on the Cape Fear river.
The garrison was then composed of six companies of the For-
tieth Regiment and the command from Fort Caswell, number-

762 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

ing in all about 900 men, under the immediate command of
Colonel John J. Hedrick. This fort was a weak affair, mount-
ing only small, short-range guns. We had several skirmishes
with the fleet at this place. On 17 February the enemy, about
10,000 in number, appeared on our right flank, where hard
picket skirmishing was had. The next day a general en-
gagement ensued. The enemy attacked the fort in the rear
with about 10,000 infantry, while Porter with a fleet of six-
teen gunboats and ironclads, lying within a few hundred
yards of the fort, quickly demolished our guns. In the land
attack we held our own against great odds. In this fight
Lieutenant Vause, of Company A, was killed, and Lieuten-
ant Davis, of the same company, was mortally wounded and
died the same day. Lieutenant Bonner, of Company B, was
captured with his skirmish line. This fight was continued
until the next morning, (the 19th). Finding the command
in danger of being cut ofF by a heavy column of infantry in
the rear, they evacuated the fort, carrying off all the light
guns, including the Whitworth cannon, and fell back towards
Wilmington. We took a stand at Town Creek, where we had
quite a little fight, but our casualties were slight. Colonel
Simonton's South Carolina Regiment was captured. From
Town Creek we went through Wilmington towards Mason-
boro sound, formed a skirmish line, and fell back through
Wilmington (the 22d) to Northeast river, where we had a
skirmish with the enemy; from there, fell back to Duplin
Cross Roads ; went into camp at Rockfish creek, remaining
there about a week, and took the train at Teachey's depot to
Kinston to meet the enemy advancing from New Bern, where
we arrived 5 March, and engaged the enemy the next day,
.6th, at Jackson's Mills, between New Bern and Kinston. We
charged the enemy in front and rear and drove them several
miles, and killed, wounded and captured about 2,000 prison-
ers. Our loss was heavy. Among the wounded was the gal-
lant Colonel John J. Hedrick, who was wounded while gal-
lantly leading his regiment in a charge upon the enemy, and
retired from the field, and Major Holland assumed command
of the regiment. On the 8 th we attacked the enemy again in
a fortified position at Wise's Forks, where we charged them,

Fortieth Regiment. 763

but were repulsed with a heavy loss. At this time the
Fortieth Regiment was attached to General Hagood's
South Carolina Brigade. On the 12th we withdrew from
Kinston and marched to Goldshoro, passing through that
town just as the advance of the enemy from Wilmington was
entering ; then to Smithfield, where we went in camp. Troops
from every quarter began gathering, and very soon we had
quite an army to what we before had. Went on to Benton-
ville, where the regiment covered itself with glory as a part
of the Red Infantry, where on a quiet Sunday morning, 19
March, the booming of cannon was heard, and very soon the
sharp crack of the rifles and the vengeful singing of the deadly
minie balls. The fight very soon became general, and we rap-
idly threw up works and in a few hours were pretty well pre-
pared to defend ourselves. As the day grew on, the fight
became desperate, the Confederates generally successful.
Late in the afternoon we attacked the enemy from right to
left, swinging into line and charging over our works on the
enemy's fortified line. Then it was that while struggling
forward in that pine thicket we lost many of our officers and
men, killed and wounded. But at length General Colquitt's
Georgia Brigade on our right gave way, and the enemy mass-
ing on our front, we fell back to our old line, where we
checked their advance. JSTow as to this charge, before it
was made. Lieutenant John H. Hill, of Company H, ad-
vanced with the skirmish line to the front. The regiment
with the brigade, was moved by the left flank before charging
which threw it to the left of the skirmish line, and instead of
being in front of our own command, they were in front of
Colquitt's Georgia Brigade, leaving our front exposed to the
enemy, and when the regiment had charged up to within a
few paces of the enemy's breastworks, they were halted and
dressed to the right, under a heavy fire from the enemy. The
command was obeyed with as much coolness, apparently, as
if on dress parade.

If they had not been halted they would have turned the
enemy's right flank and captured many of their men, but
they were so badly cut up that some of the companies lost all
their officers and had so few men left that companies were

764 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

consolidated (B and I together, and C and H together).
This was a blunder and sacriiice of the lives of brave mem,
which either Generals Hoke, Hagood, or Major Holland
is responsible for. The Fortieth Regiment was attached to
General Hagood's South Carolina Brigade until after the
fight at Bentonville when it was transferred to General ding-
man's ISTorth Carolina Brigade, both of Hoke's Division.

General Hagood, in parting with the regiment, issued an
address to it, which was read on dress parade, in which he
enumerated its services and expressed regrets at parting
with so efficient and gallant a command. The Fortieth Regi-
ment lost heavily and did its full duty in this great fight,
the history of which has never been fully written, it being
at the close of the war. The enemy was reinforced
and had a united command of 110,000 men, while our
army of only 20,000 could not remain longer in position ; and
on the 21st fell back to Smithfield, where it remained until
10 April, when it fell back to Raleigh, Durham and Greens-
boro. The retreat across the State was the only hope to make
a junction with General Lee's army. That hope was not
realized.

Manifesting under defeat the same spirit of fidelity and
endurance which had characterized them in success, the rem-
nant of about 100 ofiicers and men composing this regiment
accepted the fate of war, and awaited the final arrangements
for capitulation; and on 26 April, 1865, surrendered with
General Joseph E. Johnston near Greensboro, N. C. About
1 May they were paroled and dispersed on foot to their far
distant and desolate homes, through a devastated country,
made so by the ravages of the enemy, until it was so poor that
a "jaybird would starve flying over it, unless he carried his
rations."

But there went not back that long roll of

"Brave men who perished by their guns
Though tliey conquered not."

Although there were 4*70,000 Southern 'men (Buffaloes) in
the Northern army, it took 3,000,000 of men with the larg-
est navy on the continent, and the world from which to draw

Fortieth Regiment. 765

their supplies, four years to conquer an army of only 600,000
Southern men, shut in from all communication from the out-
side world. The recollections of such heroism should ever
continue to live in the hearts and minds of our people.

The preparation of this sketch, giving the organization and
outlining the movements of the Fortieth Regiment, (Third
Artillery) l^orth Carolina Troops, is due to the assistance of
John R. Ross, Wm. W. W. Hunter, A. W. Whitfield, A. J.
Brown, Daniel J. Clark, John H. Hill, M. H. McBryde,
members of the regiment.

The material employed was gathered from memoranda,
and such official documents as were accessible.

T. C. Davis.
MoREHEAD City, N. C,

9 April, 1901.

FOETY-FIEST REGIMENT.

1. A. M. Waddell, Lieut.-Colonel.

2. Roger Moore, Lieut. -Colonel.
8. R. S. Tucker, Captain, Co. I.

4. J. Y. Savaee. 1st Lieut.. Co G.

5. Norfleet Smith, 1st Lieut,, Co G.

6. Julian S. Carr, Private, Co. K.

FORTY-FIRST REGIMENT.

(third cavalhy. )

By orderly SERGEANT JOSHTA B. HILL, Company K.

The Forty-first North Carolina Troops was a regiment of
cavalry; in the official enrollment it was thus denominated,
but it was commonly styled and known as the Third Cavalry.
For a great portion of its honorable history it was scattered
over an extended field of operations and served as detached
companies of cavalry.

It should be understood that the system adopted in number-
ing the several regiments does not represent the order of the
organization of the companies in behalf of the defense of the
State and the rights of the Southern people.

For example, ten regiments raised under what was called
the "Ten Eegiment Bill," and enlisted "for the war," as was
stated, were allowed to ante-number all previous volunteer
organizations, most of them having been enrolled for twelve
months, although, as a matter of fact, all finally served
throughout the struggle. The First Volunteers by special
act of the Legislature, was styled the "Bethel" Eegiment. It
was afterwards xmder a new organization known as the Elev-
enth.

Regiments like the Eighteenth and Twentieth had been in
service many months at the forts before being placed in regi-
mental organization; the latter even containing companies
fully equipped before the attack upon Sumter.

In like manner many of the companies which were organ-
ized at Kinston, in the fall of 1862, had already seen large
and faithful service, and it is to be hoped that surviving mem-
bers of these gallant troops, that contributed so much to the
protection of Eastern Carolina, will leave memorials of their
valuable services and chivalrous deeds of daring.

768 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

There was something attractive to the younger Southerner
in the life of a bold dragoon ; especially among those whose
circumstances had made them fearless horsemen, and whose
life in the open air and participation in field sports had ren-
dered them the finest recruits in the world for this form of
military duty.

Of this class, the flower of the young men of the State, were
the various "Dragoons," "Mounted Rifies," and similar
bodies composed who bivouacked from the lower James to the
Cape Fear, content to serve where duty called, under their
bold captains.

The fall of Hatteras and the fate of Roanoke Island early
in the war were unavoidable events, under the circumstances.
Without ordnance to contend against a powerful fleet that
stood without range, and shelled at pleasure a garrison prac-
tically defenseless, the fate of Hatteras was sealed.

But the capture of ISTew Bern ought not to have occurred — '
at least it need not have taken place in 1862, long before the
war was twelve months old, if the authorities at Richmond
had given it help with half the troops uselessly sent down af-
terwards.

But the importance of the position was hardly apprehended
by either side. Certainly a Federal commander of the order
of Jackson, or of Sheridan would have cut the great line of
supply of Lee's army, the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad,
and overwhelmed Wilmington from the rear.

That this was not done, must be attributed largely to the
activity and energy of the Third Cavalry, before and after its
formal organization as a regiment, and the other 'commands
serving in like capacity, or as partizan rangers.

The companies were somewhat unequal in size. As the
war progressed and the Confederate Congress insisted upon
measures of conscription, those arriving at military age fre-
quently volunteered in companies containing friends, or
raised in special localities. Some of these were from towns
or counties in the hands of the enemy, and recruits were not
easily available. Other companies were stationed at posts
favorable for accession to their ranks.

Moore's Roster gives 1,158 men in the ranks of the regi-

FoRTY-FiKST Regiment. 769

ment, tut as the deficiency of that enrollment are well known,
it is probable that the number was not less than 1,200, if not
indeed considerably more.

John A. Baker, of ISTew Hanover, serving on the staff of
Major-General French, at that time in command of the De-
partment of N"orth Carolina, with headquarters at Wilming-
ton, was commissioned as Colonel, 3 September, 1862, of the
Third North Carolina Cavalry, officially designated as the
Forty-first North Carolina Troops.

The remaining Field Officers were not assigned until
nearly a year afterwards, Alfred M. Waddell having been
commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel on 18 August, 1863, and
Roger Moore, Major, on the same date. Previous to that A.
M. Waddell had served as Adjutant, and Captain Roger
Moore as Quartermaster. Both of these gentlemen were
from Wilmington. Upon the resignation of Colonel Wad-
dell, 10 August, 1864, Major Roger Moore was promoted to
Lieutenant-Colonel, and on 9 December, 1864, Captain C.
W. McClammy, of Company A, was promoted to the vacant
Majority. Colonel Moore became commanding officer, as
Colonel Baker, who had been taken prisoner by the enemy,
21 June, 1864, did not rejoin the regiment.

Captain Thomas J. Tunstall, of Mississippi, another of-
ficer who had been serving at headquarters of the Department
of North Carolina, was made Assistant Quartermaster, 19
November, 1862. Benjamin W. Sparks was commissioned
Assistant Surgeon 1 September, 1862, and was from Georgia,
but on 1 February, 1863, Dr. Benjamin M. Walker, of Ply-
mouth, was ordered to the regiment as full Surgeon. Lieu-
tenant John N. Smith, of Texas, served as drill master and
also as acting Assistant Commissary Sergeant. Rev. S. M.
Byrd, of Virginia, was assigned as Chaplain 3 October, 1864.

The following were the non-commissioned staff: Thos.
S. Armistead, Sergeant Major, Plymouth, Washington Coun-
ty; Calvin J. Morris, Quartermaster Sergeant, Bertie Coun-
ty; A. L. Fitzgerald, Ordnance Sergeant, Caswell County;
Neil M. Buie, Hospital Steward, Harnett County; J. W.
Sorey, Chief Bugler, Martin County ; Levi J. Fagan, of Ply-
mouth, Color Sergeant.
49

770 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

The several companies composing the regiment may be
briefly named as follows : (Most of the names of enlisted men
can be found in the honorable roll compiled by order of the
State, and known as "Moore's Roster," but that record, it is
well known, is imperfect, many rolls having perished, which
recorded the changes incident to time and disease and the cas-
ualties of war).

Company A, known originally as the "Rebel Rangers,"
was from New Hanover, and had seven commissioned, nine
non-commissioned oflicers, two musicians and 155 privates;
total, 153. A. W. Newkirk was commissioned as Captain
19 October, 1861 ; C. W. McClammy was promoted to Cap-
tain from First Lieutenant 12 September, 1863, and subse-
quently to Major in 1864, when D. J. Nixon was made Cap-
tain from First Lieutenant. The remaining oiEcers were,
as successively promoted: First Lieutenant, A. C. Ward;
Second Lieutenants, D. J. Nixon, John W. Howard, A. C.
Ward, Louis W. Howard, and Robert C. Highsmith.

Company B, the "Gatlin Dragoons," of Onslow County,
had seven commissioned and ten non-commissioned oiRcers,
and 122 privates; total, 139. E. W. Ward was made Cap-
tain 28 December, 1861, and Bryan Southerland succeeded
him 30 November, 1863, having been promoted from Sec-
ond Lieutenant. The other officers were First Lieutenants
L. W. Humphrey, John W. Spicer, and M. F. Langly; Sec-
ond Lieutenants, Bryan Southerland, (promoted as stated),
J. W. Spicer, David W. Simmons, Stephen H. Merton, D.
Williams, and M. E. Langly.

Company C, the "Caswell Rangers," of Caswell County,
had four commissioned, nine non-commissioned officers, and
87 privates; total, 100. Hannon W. Reinhardt was Cap-
tain, (28 February, 1862) ; First Lieutenant, Jno. W. Hatch-
ett ; Second Lieutenants, Stephen A. Rice and James A. Wil-
liamson.

Company D, the "Highland Rangers," of Harne'tt Coun-
ty, had four commissioned, eight non-commissioned officers,
and 90 privates; total, 102. Thomas J. Brooks, Captain
was commissioned 5 March, 1862 ; First Lieutenant, Gr. W.

Forty-First Regiment. 771

Peaman ; Second Lieutenants, James M. McNeill and W. M.
McNeill.

Company E, the "Macon Mounted Guards," from Lenoir
find Craven Counties chiefly, with members from Pitt and
Chatham, had five commissioned, nine non-commissioned of-
ficers, and 64 privates ; total, 78. W. W. Carraway and L.
H. Hartsfield were Captains, the latter commissioned 7 Oc-
tober, 1861. First Lieutenant, Isaac Roberts; Second Lieu-
tenants, Owen A. Palmer and S. H. Loftin.

Company F, the "Davis Dragoons," from Burke County,
had nine commissioned, six non-commissioned officers (whose
p.ames have been preserved), and 96 privates; total. 111. T.
George Walton was made Captain 7 October, 1861, and suc-
ceeded by Elisha A. Perkins 13 May, 1862. First Lieuten-
ants, Hugh C. Bennett and J. C. Tate; Second Lieutenants,
J. A. Stewart, W. F. Avery, J. Rufus Kincaid, J. A. Conley,
and Henry P. Lindsay.

Company G, the "Scotland Neck Mounted Riflemen,"
from Halifax County, had six commissioned, seven non-com-
missioned officers, and 108 privates; total, 121. Atherton
B. Hill, who was made Captain 9 October, 1861, was suc-
ceeded by Benj. G. Smith promoted from Second Sergeant
First Lieutenant, Norfleet Smith; Second Lieutenants,
George A. Higgs (afterwards promoted to Captain), Theo-
dore B. Hyman, and John T. Savage.

Company H, the "Humphrey Troops," from Onslow
County, had five commissioned, nine non-commissioned of-
ficers, and 85 privates; total, 99. Julius W. Moore was
commissioned Captain 10 December, 1862. First Lieuten-
ants, Thos. B. Henderson and A. G. Hawkins ; Second Lieu-
tenants, Jas. Bryan and B. W. Tl-ott.

Company I, the "Wake Rangers," from Wake County,
had eight commissioned, eleven non-commissioned officers,
and 88 privates; total, 107. Rufus S. Tucker, Qaptain,
was commissioned 18 February, 1862, and on his promotion
as Major and Governor's Aide-deCamp 24 January, 1863,
David A. Roberson was made Captain. First Lieutenants, T.
Jefferson Utley and Joseph M. Bowling ; Second Lieutenants,

772 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

W. W. Clements, J. H. Allison, W. G. Kiddiok, and Allen K.
Rogers ; Bugler, Jesse Winborne.

Company K, the "Clark Skirmishers," of Martin and
Washington Counties, with Beaufort and Pitt contributing,
had six commissioned, ten non-commissioned officers, and
68 privates ; total, 84. Wm. Jordan Walker, Geo. W. Ward
and Fred Harding, who was commissioned 16 May, 1862,
were Captains. First Lieutenants, George W. Ward, Fred
Harding and Wm. Slade; Second Lieutenants, Wm. Slade,
Fred Harding, J. E. Moore and Burton Stilley. Of
this company the writer had the honor of being First Ser-'
geant, having joined its ranks 16 May, 1862.

This completes a review of the personnel of a regiment re-
markable for the high spirit and mental and physical
strength, no less than for the moral worth and patriotic devo-
tion to duty which characterized it. How many of the
names on its official roster and the muster-rolls of the privates
in the ranks were honored for bravery in the service during
the dark years of the war, or have risen to distinction among
those of their fellow-citizens in various sections of the State ?

It has been already intimated that this regiment was a bul-
wark of protection for the great railroad from Weldon to
Wilmington, and all that portion of the thirty counties east
of it, not completely in the hands of the enemy, with their
combined naval and military power in the great sounds.

To many minds the idea of soldierly value is confined to
the fleeting hours of the battlefield, and the efficiency of a
regiment is measured by the number of men cut to pieces or
left on the field, although both may occur through unskillful
management of commanding officers, and may result, per-
haps, in unnecessary, even valueless slaughter.

But there is an infinity of duties besides the actual shock
of pitched battle, on a great scale. Cavalry has been well
termed."the eyes and ears of an army," and well may this be
said of the Forty-first JSTorth Carolina troops. In a
great arc, sweeping from the Cape Fear to the Black-
water, it was the omnipresent guardian of the people. A
large proportion of its troopers were natives of the east and
knew its roads and fords, its swamps and streams. Picket--

Forty-First Regiment. 773

ing an enormous line, protecting the villages and settlements
from forays, gathering supplies, and especially forage for the
needs of the army of Virginia and the garrisons of the forts,
guarding the cross-roads and fords, communicating with
friends in the lines of the enemy and checking his approach
whenever he dared to advance beyond his gun-hoats, this reg-
iment and its gallant brethren of similar commands, though
for a long time denied the laurels that fell upon Stuart and
his bold troopers in their own scene of action, yet daily and
hourly performed service of the most vital importance to the
maintenance of our communications through ISTorth Carolina
and to the protection of one of the most important regions
of the country, if not the capital of the State itself.
■ Propositions to have the regiment assemble at Garysburg
and move northward were repeatedly declined by the State
authorities. But eventually the need of cavalry to reinforce
the right wing of the army in the defence of Eichmond be-
came most urgent. The impartial historian must say that
the importance of maintaining cavalry in full efficiency was
hardly fully realized in the Army of IS'orthern "Virginia. It
was expected to take care of itself, and so it did. But as
supplies grew scarce and horses and men grew gaunt with
hunger, few animals could be found to replace the fiery steeds
of the first squadrons, and such bloody massacres as Bristoe's
and Brandy Station had wiped out whole squadrons, never
to be replaced. It is no wonder, then, that when this regi-
ment finally reached the lines of Petersburg it endured labors
and hardships almost unparalleled even in that dread con-
flict.

On the other hand, with the wealth of the world in money,
men and horses, the Federal cavalry, well trained and sup-
plied with everything possible, was pushed, under Sheridan
and Stoneman, to its utmost effectiveness in the last cam-
paigns.

After the fall of Eoanoke Island in February, 1862, Cap-
tain R. S. Tucker's company, the "Wake Rangers," was sent
to guard Weldon bridge, and afterwards to picket the Tar
from Greenville nearly to Washington. There were at this
time other North Carolina commands on similar duty sta-

774 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

tioned to the south; Evans' troops between New Bern and
Goldsboro, and Captain Nethercutt's cavalry across the Trent
in Jones County.

In November following, Captain W. W. Carraway's com-
pany, the Macon Mounted Guards, were on duty at Kin-
ston, and Captain Ward's company served for some time, af-
ter the capture of New Bern, in picketing the streams of Ons-
low and vicinity.

On 28 September, 1862, Governor Z. B. Vance protested
earnestly against calling off the regiment to Garysburg, and
said that without the protection of the cavalry the finest pro-
vision region of the State would in a few days be desolated.
So much in earnest was he that he was moved to exclaim : "If
it is not the intention of the President to protect us, we must
protect ourselves."

In late October or early November a squad of fourteen
men of Company K, under command of Levi J. Pagan, Color
Sergeant, was sent on picket about ten miles from Plymouth,
which town was largely garrisoned by United States troops.
The darkness of the night, together with a blinding rain, ren-
dered it difficult to perceive the approach of an active battal-=
ion of infantry from the enemy's lines, which suddenly sur-
roimded and captured the squad. Taken on foot to Ply-
mouth and thence by transport tO' New Bern, this small
body of prisoners was held in captivity, though kindly
treated, until paroled 4 December.

A brilliant exploit performed by the "Rebel Hangers,"
Company A, subsequently, is reported by General W. H. C.
Whiting, commanding District of Wilmington. He says,
28 November, 1862, that Captain Newkirk's cavalry and
Captain Adams', with a section of a field battery, captured a
steam gunboat of the enemy on New River. Her crew es-
caped, but her armament, ammunition and small arms were
captured.

Shortly afterwards the "Caswell Rangers," Company C,
rendered brave and efficient service in repelling the raid of
General Foster upon Goldsboro, and was complimented for
i's coclnPFS in pction in the report of Colonel Stevens, of the
Engineers, to General Gustavus W. Smith, commanding.

Forty-First Rkgiment. 775

Another company, that of Captain. Tucker, was in the ex-
pedition under General J. G. Martin, who, with the Seven-
teenth North Carolina Infantry, Adams' Artillery and the
respective cavalry of Walker, Booth and Tucker, made an
attack upon the forces of the enemy at Washington. Tucker
assaulted the town independently, the other companies being
under the command of the gallant Booth, who received a
wound on that occasion that subsequently caused his death.

Captain R. S. Tucker's command performed many difficult
and hazardous feats. They had started at early morning,
their gallant Captain at the head and again and again they
routed and dispersed the enemy, only to meet additional par-
ties stationed to repel Tucker's advance. "Charge !" was the
repeated order, which was so successfully executed that the
loss was slight. Bugler Winbome and a private near the head
of the command having been dismounted, and captured by the
enemy.

A portion of the enemy was completely driven out of the
town in this brilliant engagement, but the heavy artillery of
the gunboats completely commanded the whole of Washington,
which is situated upon the river, and as the occupation by
Confederate forces involved the entire destruction of the
place, without adequate military result, the command deemed
it proper to evacuate and return to original lines.

The Davis "Dragoons," under Captain Perkins, at Big
JSTortheast Bridge, near Jacksonville, met a party of Federal
cavalry, killing one captain and five privates and routing the
biilmice without loss.

Seven companies of the regiment were concentrated for
operations in Eastern North Carolina and on the Virginia bor-
('pr early in 18(i3, and so effectually did the command make
i;s mnrk that Genera] M. Jenkins, Brigadier commanding on
the Bbckwater. proposed a dash of Baker's Regiment of cav-
alry upmi tbc onpiTiy's c-^ip of cavalry on the Windsor road,
four or five milos from Suffolk, Va.

Service along the mrrow Blackwater, guarding its fords
and tributaries, involve' 1 much exposure to malaria and inces-
sant contact with the ene-^iy. Longstreet issued preparatory
orders for his demonstration against Suffolk, 16 April, and

776 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

was particular to direct that wires be stretched across the
roads leading to the strong cavalry camps of the United States
troops.

On the 21st of the same month, by orders from Richmond,
the regiment was attached to Robertson's Brigade, A. IST. V.,
but it was placed almost immediately on detached service on
the Blackwater.

On 11 June, 1863, Captain Milligan, of the Confederate
Signal Corps, announced that with a detachment of the Forty-
First ISTorth Carolina he had burned Dillard's wharf, on
the south side of the river from Jamestown Island. This
was a favorite landing place for predatory incursions of the
enemy. Under date of 18 June, General D. H. Hill reports:
"The Yankees, with ten regiments of infantry, two of cav-
alry and sixteen pieces, have been feebly attempting to cross
the Blackwater for the last five days. They have been re-
pulsed at all points with ease by the forces of General M. Jen-
kins, Colonel John A. Baker and Colonel Alf. Coppens."

The regiment was now in demand in various directions, re-
maining but a brief period at any point. 1 July it was or-
dered to Old Church to intercept raiders coming up the Pe-
ninsula and to watch the Pamunkey. Hard service had left
about two hundred men of the command without horses.

18 July the regiment was made a part of the division of
Major-General Robert Ransom. On the 20th of the month
General Whiting asked for it from General Cooper, saying,
"I need very much an additional force of cavalry, can I not
have Baker's regiment from Petersburg ? On the 22d he ap-
plied for it again to go to General Martin at Kinston to stop
raids of the enemy, but the Union forces having appeared at
Murfreesboro, the regiment was ordered on the 27th to the
Blackwater to check an advance toward Weldon.

In August it was encamped at Ivor, a station on the road
then called Norfolk and Petersburg, now a portion of the
Norfolk & Western line.

It was about this time that newspaper reports, upon the
Gettysburg campaign and others, had been full of extrava-
gant praise for troops of certain other States, but North Car-
olina had been treated with neglect and even gross injus-

Forty-First Eegiment. 777

tice. A proposition was made that official reporters should
accompany the army, or at least that the authentic official re-
ports of officers on the field should be published.

This was brought to the attention of General Lee by the
Hon. J. A. Seddon, Secretary of War, to whom the great com-
mander replied, on 9 September, 1863, in words which
should bring the glow of pride to the heart of every Caroli-
nian. "In the reports of the officers justice is done the brave
soldiers of North Carolina whose heroism and devotion have
illustrated the name of their State on every battlefield in
which the Army of Northern Virginia has been engaged, but
the publication of these reports during the progress of the war
would give the enemy information which it is desirable to
withhold."

In November the regiment was camped near Weldon, but
by the end of the year it was on the ground where it was or-
ganized, reporting, on 31 December, 34 officers and 554 men
present for duty, although the rolls have 971 names.

Early in the new year, 9 January, 1864, it was engaged in
a skirmish near Greenville, N. C. This incident was quite re-
markable. In the darkness of the night. Companies I and
K, which were scouting below Red Banks Church, suddenly
engaged the enemy returning from the church, which they
had set on fire. Amid sharp firing in close contact and the
clash of contending sabres, both columns forced a way
through to their respective lines. Our loss was an officer
and one private killed and several slightly wounded. A
trooper of the enemy, well equipped, imconsciously fell into
our lines, and rode on well satisfied, until at daybreak a vigi-
lant officer. Lieutenant Buck Slade, perceived the stranger's
predicament and divested him of his steed and arms. Sur-
prised and disgusted, the astonished prisoner broke down
completely.

Toward the end of January General Lee sent General Pick-
ett with five brigades to attack and attempt to recapture New
Bern. The Firty-first was a portion of the cavalry ordered
upon the expedition. This cavalry endured great hardships
in breaking up the railroad between Morehead and New Bern,
in passing around the town and in crossing the river. This

778 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

much was accomplished, though the general undertaking was
defeated.

Oh 22 April, Colonel Baker was ordered to report to Gen-
eral Lee for the assignment of the regiment to General J. B.
Gordon's Brigade. But when in camp near Weldon it was
ordered (3 May) by Brigadier-General Walker, toward New
Bern, and it took part in the feint executed by General Hoke
in that section. General Bearing, then commanding all the
cavalry near New Bern, ordered it to Kinston, which was
reached on the evening of 7 May. Thence by Hoke's orders,
it proceeded by the highway to Weldon. The three compa"
nies serving in the Department of North Carolina were or-
dered 2 May to join their regiment, which on the 15th was
ordered to move with Hoke's Division to protect the right
flank in the movement near Petersburg, of Beauregard
against Butler.

General Bragg, then in command at Richmond, complained
to General S. Cooper that Baker's cavalry had been detained
by Beauregard after its orders to protect Richmond, and that
thus the safety of the capital had been jeopardized.

Beauregard answers the complaint as follows, and inciden-
tally expresses his high appreciation of the Carolina troop'
ers:

"General Bragg in his communication has declared that
the Third North Carolina (Cavalry) was detained for three
weeks without the shadow of authority ; and that by the de-
lays occasioned by xinauthorized assiimptions in the move-
ments of troops the safety of the capital has been jeopardized.

"I beg leave respectfully to reply that on 25 April, General
Bragg authorized me to detain Baker's cavalry until the New
Bern expedition should be completed, or until it shoiild be re-
lieved by another. The New Bern expedition terminated 6
May and Colonel Baker with his command, started immedi-
ately to Weldon, which he reached on the 10th and thence to
Petersbiirg where he arrived with a portion of the command
on the 14th. On the same day he proceeded, under my or-
ders, with me to Drewry's Bluff.

"At this time General Butler was threatening the capital
with a force largely superior to my own. There were with

Forty-First Regiment. 779

me including Baker's, but one regiment of cavalry and frac-
tions of two others, viz: the Seventh South Carolina and
a part of the Fifth South Carolina. These, with the Third
North Carolina were essential to the protection of the right
and left flanks of my command. They participated in the hat-
tie of 16 May at Drewry's Bluff, and so far from jeopardizing
the safety of the capital by delay in the execution of orders,
they contributed essential service to its defense. All the
troops which could be spared from the capital were being
sent to me to defend it on the south side, and it did not occur
to me to send forward the regiment to Richmond, merely to
be returned, for the important purposes already indicated.

"Although the enemy was defeated on the 16th, and driven
back to his works at Bermuda Hundred, he still greatly out-
numbered me and held a menacing position dangerous to the
safety of the capital. I did not deem it prudent and wise
therefore, to send it on the 17th to Richmond, but directed
it to watch and protect my flank on James river.

"22 May, Colonel Ferebee, with the Fourth North Carolina,
having relieved Colonel Baker, was ordered immediately to
report to General Bragg at Richmond, and he did so on the
evening of the 23 d. The detention was authorized, I respect-
fully submit, by the exigencies of the case and demonstrated
by the signal service the command rendered on the 16th at
Drewry's Bluff."

He asked for a court of inquiry, but General Lee expressed
himself as satisfied, dismissed Bragg's complaint and refused
a court.

On this occasion Colonel Bnker ren?its tl^nt Ids marches
were thirty miles a day, and that as sonn as nicke's and cour-
iers reached camp under orders at niidnioht. be started at 3
a. m. Little rest was there for the wearied soldier for the
remainder of the bloody struggle.

A few weeks later, 21 June, 1864, the regiment l-^st Coh-
nel Baker by capture. He was considerably in atlv.Tneo of
the regiment, with but one or two men. It is thus told by the
enemy :

780 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

" June 21, 1864, 5 :10 p. m.

"Theo. Lyman to Major-General Meade:

"I have just been to meet General Barlow. About a mile
from the railroad (W. & W. and Petersburg) he engaged dis-
mounted cavalry and two guns ; took the Colonel of the Third
North Carolina Cavalry, who thinks Early is behind on the
railroad."

During the month of August the reorganization of the
field officers took place, as heretofore referred to, and Major
Roger Moore (promoted later to Lieutenant-Colonel) was left
in command. The regiment was now in the brigade of Gen-
erf ul Rufus Barringer, where it remained for the rest of the
war. It was in the division of General W. H. F. Lee, under
command of General Wade Hampton, commanding the corps
of cavalry.

It participated in the brilliant attack on the enemy at
Reams' Station, 25 August, 1864. From General Hamp-
ton's report the following is taken :

"General Barringer, whom I had sent with his brigade to
the east of the railroad, reported that he had met a strong
force of infantry with cavalry. I ordered him to picket the
road strongly and join me with his command at Malone's
Crossing. * * * Colonel Roberts, with his regiment,
charged here one line of the rifle-pits, carrying it handsomely
and capturing from sixty to seventy-five prisoners. * * *
He struck the rear of the enemy, with Barringer's Brigade in
the center of his force. Under a heavy fire of artillery and
musketry the line advanced steadily, driving the enemy into
his works. Here he made a stubborn stand, and for a few
moments checked our advance, but the spirit of the men was
so fine that they charged the breast-works with the utmost gal-
lantry, carried them and captured the force holding them.
This ended the fighting, my men having been engaged twelve
hours. We captured 781 prisoners, 25 commissioned officers,
buried 143 of the enemy and brought off 66 of their wounded.
Our loss was: Total killed, 16; wounded, 75; missing, 3.
Of these Barringer had 10 killed, 50 wounded, 1 missing.

Forty-First Regiment. 781

* * * General Barringer commanded Lee's Division to
my satisfaction, while his brigade commanders, Colonel Davis
and Colonel Cheek, performed their parts vyell."

The following letter from General Lee to Governor Vance,
in reference to this gallant achievement, will live in history as
one of the fairest laurels ever won by sons of the Old North
State. Under date of 29 August, 1864, he writes:

"I have frequently been called upon to mention the ser-
vices of North Carolina soldiers in this army, but their gal-
lantry and conduct were never more deserving of admiration
than in the engagement at Reams Station on the 25th in-
stant.

"The brigades of Generals Cooke, McRae and Lane, the
last under the command of General Connor, advanced through
a thick abatis of felled trees, under a heavy fire of musketry
and artillery and carried the enemy's works with a steady
courage that elicited the warm commendation of their corps
and division commanders, and the admiration of the army.
On the same occasion the brigade of General Barringer bore
a conspicuous part in the operations of the cavalry, which
were not less distinguished for boldness and efficiency than
those of the infantry.

"If the men who remain in North Carolina share the spirit
of those they have sent to the field, as I doubt not they do, her
defense may be securely intrusted to their hands.

"I am with great respect, your obedient servant,

"R. E. Lee,
General.
"His Excellency, Z. B. Vance, Governor of North Carolina."

The dark and gloomy winter, the last of the war, was
approaching. The regiment was now to endure the most ex-
treme hardships of a soldier's life in cold, fatigue, hunger,
pain and anxiety. As the lines drew closer and forage be-
came scarcer, the horses perished and the few must do the
work of many. The middle of November found the Forty-
first, in Barringer's Brigade, encamped near Gladcross' mill,

782 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

four miles southwest of Petersburg, on the Boydton road.
Constant encounters took place on a small scale, and on 9
December in an action near Belfield, the enemy was hand-
somely driven back. General Hampton says in his subse-
quent report (21 January, 1865) :

"The cavalry of the enemy which we met was driven in
rapidly with loss and in confusion, and the infantry of the
rear guard was gallantly charged. * * *

"The pursuit on our part continued during the remainder
of the day, the enemy blockading the road, destroying the
bridges and only fighting at the obstacles he had placed in the
road. At Moore's Mill we drove him from the bridge, and
pushing on, we soon met some cavalry, charging and dispers-
ing them.

"The leading squadron of the Third North Carolina (For-
ty-first) dashed into the main body of the enemy, who were
found preparing to go into camp. Finding their whole force
there I withdrew to Moore's Mill, two miles back, to bivouac.
From this point I notified General Hill of the position of the
enemy. * * * My officers and men behaved admira-
bly— losses small — 250 to 350 prisoners taken. On 1
March, 1865, the official report showed 78 officers and 1,298
men present for duty in Barringer's Brigade, and the fact
that this number is actually more than one-third of the total
cavalry of Lee's army, which was reported at 3,761, is a
proud evidence of the devotion to duty of these gallant men in
the darkest hours. On 27 March the Brigade was at Stony
Creek.

The position of Lee's army is thus described by Swinton,
the fairest historian on the Union side : "The right of Lee's
intrenched line running southwest from Petersburg covered
Hatcher's Run at the Boydton plank road. Thence it ex-
tended for a considerable distance westward, parallel with
Hatcher's Run, and along what is known as the White Oak
road. This line directly covered Lee's main communication
by the Southside Railroad. Four miles west of the termina-
tion of this intrenched front, a detached line running also
along the White Oak road covered an important strategic

FoRTY-FiEST Regiment. 783

point, where several roads from the north and south, converg-
ed on the White Oak rgad, from what is known as the 'Five
Forks.

) »

Swinton further declares of Lee: "From his left, north-
east of Richmond, to his right, southwest of Petersburg, there
were thirty-five miles of breastwork, which it behooved Lee
to guard, and all the force remaining to him was 37,000 mus-
kets and a small body of broken down horses !"

As it became evident that the meagre numbers of Lee could
not longer hold back the immense hosts under Grant, arrange-
ments were quietly made looking to retreat in the only possi-
ble direction, the west.

General Fitz Lee relates that on 28 March he was ordered
from his position on the extreme left of the line north of the
James to Petersburg, and to Southerland's Station, on the
Southside road, nineteen miles distant, on the 29th. There
the division of General W. H. F. Lee, containing Barrin-
ger's Brigade, joined him.

On 31 March they attacked a very large force of the en-
emy's cavalry at Five Forks, killed and wounded many, cap-
tured one hundred and drove them to within half a mile of
Dinwiddle Court House. While Mumf ord held the front W.
H. F. Lee and Rosser went to turn their flank, found a stream
in the way, with strong defences, carried the defences, but
with loss to Lee and Rosser — and Mumford also carried the
works in his front. At Hatcher's Run, a whole corps of Fed-
eral infantry attacked two small brigades of Confederate cav-
alry.

General Fitzhugh Lee further says: "On 3 April I pro-
tected Anderson's rear and skirmished with the enemy's ad-
vance to Amelia Court House." In his language, "At an-
other of the temporary halts upon this march, to check the
enemy in the vicinity of Namozine church, that very excel-
lent North Carolina brigade of W. H. F. Lee's Division, suf-
fered severely. The troops had been placed in motion again
to resume the march. This brigade was the rear of the
column and I was obliged to retain it in position to prevent
the enemy from attacking the remainder of the command.

"While getting in motion, their rapidly arriving forces

784 JSfoRTH- Carolina Troops, -ISGl-'eS. ■

soon augmented the troops it was so gallantly holding in
check, and produced a concentration impossible for it to re-
sist. Its commander, Brigadier-General Barringer, was cap-
tured while in the steady discharge of his duties, and his loss
was keenly felt by the command."

Of this event the Federal Major-General Merritt claims (3
April) : "The command moved forward at daylight and oc-
cupied the forks which the enemy had abandoned during the
night. The First and Third Division (United States)
cavalry marched in pursuit toward Amelia Court House.
Wells' Brigade had a spirited fight with Barringer's Brigade
of rebel cavalry, routing, dispersing or capturin^g the entire
command, including the rebel general himself."

This extraordinary report is more clearly, correctly defined
by official returns from the commanders more closely engaged.
Tavo entire divisions of cavalry were enveloping the retreat
of the Confederates, worn out man and horse, by six day's
marching and fighting. Another and doubtless more correct
report from a Federal commander is the following: "April
3, at night, went on picket at Five Cross Koads (called by
the Confederates Five Forks), distance about twenty miles
from ISTamozine church, and by the aid of Major Young,
Chief of Scouts, captured and brought into our lines General
Barringer and part of his staff, the regiment being detached
from the brigade at the time."

The few faithful horse that were left were invaluable in
prolonging the retreat to Burkeville where Lee expected tO'
meet the train of supplies and ammunition. That by some
fatal blunder, this train had been fired and all hope of succor
for the starving horses short of Lynchburg had to be aban-
doned, is now familiar history.

In his last report General Lee says (Appomattox, 12
April, 1865) : "After successive attacks, Anderson's and
Ewell's Corps were captured or driven from their position.
The latter general, with both of his division commanders,
Kershaw and Custis Lee, and his brigadiers were taken pris-
oners.

"Gordon, who all the morning aided by General W. H. F.
Lee's cavalry, had checked the advance of the enemy on the

Forty-First Regiment. 785

road from Amelia Springs, and protected the trains, because
exposed to his combined assaults, which he bravely resisted
and twice repulsed; but the cavalry having been withdrawn
to another part of the line of march and the enemy massing
heavily on his front and both flanks, renewed the attack about
6 p. m., and drove him from the field in much confusion."

Some of the cavalry escaped with Rosser before the end,
but in the Providence of God the close of the great struggle
had come. At the actual surrender, the whole division of
General W. H. F. Lee numbered but 298 men and officers, of
which Barringer's Brigade had 2 officers and 21 men, total
23, for parole. A few had escaped ; most of them had been
taken, man by man, dismounted from horses which hunger,
disease and wounds rendered incapable of supporting their
starving but dauntless riders.

This narrative does not purport to be a complete history of
the varied experiences of the Forty-first North Carolina
Troops, but is simply offered as a contribution towards an ac-
count of the various marches and battles that illustrate its
eventful career.

I am indebted to the brave and courteous Thomas S. Arm-
istead. Sergeant Major of the regiment from the time of its
organization, for his valuable notes concerning the various
movements and services of the companies detached, or of the
regiment as a whole, from time to time. His recollections
are vivid and lucid, and a more gallant officer never mounted
horse. I am also indebted to the gallant Burton Stilley,
Lieutenant in my own company, K, the "Clark Skirmishers,"
for his recollections of certain casualties in the regiment and
other information. Writing 9 August, 1895, he says:

"While camping at Franklin, Va., on the Blackwater, in
pursuing Schocknett's cavalry toward Suffolk, Lieutenant
Al. Wiggins, of Company G, was killed. His horse becoming
frightened, ran past the rear of the retreating Federal
column.

"In an engagement with Graham's North Carolina Volun-
teers (Union) below Greenville, IST. C, in the night, Lieuten-
ant Camp and Private Ferrall, of Company G, were killed.
In an engagement on Sunday evening, near Hanover Court
50

786 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

House, Sergeant Jeffreys, of Company I (Ealeigh) and Pri-
vate Patrick, of Company H, were killed, and Private L. A.
Jones, of Company K, severely wounded. In an engage-
ment between Richmond and Charles City, near White's Tav-
ern, 17 August, 1864, I was wounded severely and in Sep-
tember, 1894, had my leg amputated and am still suffering.
Also Privates H. M. Patrick and Kenneth Daniels, of Com-
pany K, were killed by the same shell that wounded me." Dr.
Stilley writes in the strain of devotion to the memory of glo-
rious days and noble martyrs.

It has been deemed better to recite the history of the Third
Cavalry from official sources, rather than to attempt to revive
the fading scenes of memory after so many years, especially
as the following circumstances will explain the separation
from my beloved comrades, so keenly felt by the writer.

When the regiment was on duty near Yellow Tavern, Va.,
27 June, 1864, I was sent as Orderly Sergeant in charge
of a party to secure forage. The wagons were only partially
loaded when the enemy suddenly firing upon us, in the mid-
dle of a wheat field, brought on a regular engagement of both
cavalry and infantry. I was shot in the right arm and sent
to the hospital at Petersburg. The result was a long pe^
riod of suffering and inability for service. T. B. Slade was
then promoted to Orderly Sergeant. In January, 1865,
I was detailed as unfit for active service and ordered to
report to Captain Crenshaw at Magnolia. Subsequently,
being in the retreat of Johnson's army before the greatly
superior forces of Sherman, my military service was closed
near New Salem, N. C, when the surrender of General John-
ston near Greensboro, put an end to operations in North Car-
olina.

Many men of distinction in our beloved State are to-day
proud of their membership in the old Third Cavalry, and
others have passed away in the fullness of years. Among
those still living is a gallant young private of Company K,
known throughout the country now, Julian S. Carr, com-
mander of the State Veterans' Association, and who has been
one of the most generous and devoted friends of Confeder-
ate veterans.

FoKTY-FiRST Regiment. 787

It has been said, "To have fought in the cavalry under
Hampton is to be more than a Knight of the Garter." Let
me add — to have been praised by Lee, is to have been hon-
ored by the greatest hero of the world.

J. B. Hill.
Paleigh, N. C,

9 April, 1901.

FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT.

1. John E. Brown, Colonel. 3. T. J. Brown, Major.

S. C. W, Bradshaw, Lieut. -Colonel. 4. W. C. Brown, Surgeon.

5. Jas. E. Crawford, Captain, Co. B.

FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT.

By major T. J. BROWN.

The Forty-second Nortih Carolina Kegiment — Infantry —
was organized at Salisbury, IST. 0., in April, 1862. The
roster of officers was as follows:

FIELD AND STAFF.

Geo. C. GiBBs, Colonel, 22 April, 1862; Florida; resigned
7 January, 1864.

John E. Beown, Colonel, 7 January, 1864; Davie Coun-
ty, promoted from Lieutenant-Colonel.

Chas. W. BeadshaWj Lieutenant-Colonel, 7 January,
1864; Davidson County; promoted from Major.

D. A. Undeewood, Major, 22 April, 1862 ; resigned 20
November, 1862.

Thos. J. Beown, Major, 7 January, 1864; Davie Coun-
ty ; promoted from Captain of Company E.

W. H. H. Geegoey, Adjutant, 22 April, 1862.

J. J. Peathee^ Ensign, 16 August, 1864 ; Lincoln County.

W. C. Beown, M. D., Surgeon, Davie County.

J. W. Wiseman, M. D., Assistant Surgeon, Davie County.

De. Wm. McCoeklEj Assistant Surgeon.

Rev. Samuel J. Hill^ Chaplain, Iredell County.

R. P. Bessent, Quartermaster.

RoBBET McCoy, Quartermaster Sergeant.

J. V. L. RoGEES, Commissary.

OFFICEES.

Company A — C. W. Bradshaw, Captain, promoted; J. BE.
Koontz, Captain, 27 February, 1862, Davidson County;
Jos. Conrad, First Lieutenant, 27 February, 1862, David-
son County; A. E. Sieeloff, Second Lieutenant, 15 May,

790 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

1862, Davidson Ooxmty; J. F. Sink, Second Lieutenant, 26
March, 1862, Davidson County.

Company B — W. H. Crawford, Captain, 30 January,
1862, Eowan County, resigned in 1864, having been elected
to Legislature; J. E. Crawford, Captain, 1864, Eowan Coun^
ty, promoted from First Lieutenant; A. D. Wright, First
Lieutenant, 27 February, 1862, Eowan County; E. W.
Price, Second Lieutenant, 27 February, 1862, Eowan Coun-
ty; J. F. Dodson, Second Lieutenant, 27 February, 1862,
Eowan County.

Company C — D. A. Underwood, Captain, 28 February,

1862, Stanly County, promoted Major 22 April, 1862; J.
A. Howell, Captain, 22 April, 1862, Stanly County, pro-
moted from First Lieutenant, killed at 'Cold Harbor in 1864 ;
Eobt. A. Carter, First Lieutenant, 22 April, 1862, Stanly
County, promoted from Second Lieutenant, promoted to Cap-
tain in 1864; Martin S. Efird, First Lieutenant, 1 October,

1863, Stanly County, promoted from Sergeant; W. A. Mor-
ton, Second Lieutenant, 11 March, 1862, Stanly County; S.
D. Mann, Second Lieutenant, 22 April, 1862, Stanly County,
promoted from Sergeant; D. M. Hartley, Second Lieutenant,
12 September, 1862, Stanly County, promoted from Ser-
geant.

Company D — J. M. Eoark, Captain, 28 February, 1862,
Eowan County, resigned 25 November, 1862 ; E. E. Craw-
ford, Captain, 25 November, 1862, Eowan County, promoted
from First Lieutenant; L. W. Crawford, First Lieutenant,
25 November, 1862, Eowan County, promoted from Second
Lieutenant; E. A. Eusher, Second Lieutenant, 28 February,
1862, Eowan County, promoted, killed at Petersburg; H. L.
Gill, Second Lieutenant, 23 December, 1862, Iredell County,
promoted from Orderly Sergeant.

Company E — T. J. Brown, Captain, 21 March, 1862, pro-
moted to Major; Spencer J. Hanes, Captain, 18 March, 1863,
Davie County, promoted from First Lieutenant ; W. J. Ellis,
First Lieutenant, Davie County ;. J. H. Peebles, First Lieu-
tenant, 21 March, 1862, Davie County, wounded on Chowan,
retired ; M. J. Davis, First Lieutenant, promoted from Sec-
ond Lieutenant; Jas. V. Brock, Second Lieutenant, Davie

Foety-Seconx) Regiment. 791

County; B. T. Naylor, Second Lieutenant, promoted from
Sergeant, Davie County.

Company F — ^Wiley A. Clement, Captain, 21 March,
1862, Davie County; J. H. Clement, First Lieutenant, 1
September, 1862, Davie County; W. C. Willson, Second
Lieutenant, resigned in 1863 on account of wound; C. C.
Sanford, Second Lieutenant, 4 December, 1862, Davie Coun-
ty; W. H. Bailey, Second Lieutenant, 26 June, 1863, Davie
County.

Company G — J. A. Blackwelder, Captain, 15 March,
1862, Eowan County; A. Leazer, First Lieutenant, 15
March, 1862, Eowan County; H. W. Miller, Second Lieuten-
ant, 1 July, 1861, Eowan County, transferred from Sixth
Eegiment and wounded twice; W. L. Atwell, Second Lieu-
tenant, 1 July, 1861, Eowan County, died 1 August, 1864;
C. A. Miller, Second Lieutenant, 5 May, 1862, Eowan Coun-
ty, wounded at Petersburg.

Company H— J. M. Hartsell, Captain, 25 May, 1862,
Stanly County; E. M. Hunnicutt, First Lieutenant, 25 May,
1862, Stanly County; J. Mann, Second Lieutenant, 25 May,
1862, Stanly County; J. B. Turner, Second Lieutenant, 25
May, 1862, Stanly County, wounded.

Company I — J. A. Earnhardt, Captain, 7 March,
1862; H. M. Alford, First Lieutenant; C. L. Harris, Sec-
ond Lieutenant; C D. Eedwine, Second Lieutenant.

Company K — J. Y. Bryce, Captain, resigned ; S. B. Alex-
ander, Captain, 12 July, 1862, Mecklenburg County, pro-
moted from First Lieutenant; B. F. Wilson, First Lieuten-
ant 12 July, 1862, Mecklenburg County promoted from Sec-
ond Lieutenant; Wm. Hendrix, Third Lieutenant, died;
J. H. Wilson, Jr., Third Lieutenant, resigned ; Adam M.
Ehyne, Second Lieutenant, 12 July, 1862, JMecklenburg
County, resigned; W. J. Williford, Second Lieutenant, 12
July, 1862, Mecklenburg Coimty.

Many of the officers of the Forty-second Eegiment had en-
tered the Civil War at its beginning, so that they were well
versed in military science at the time of the organization of
the regiment. Among these were Major T. J. Brown and
Lieutenant J. E. Crawford, of the Fourth Eegiment; Colo-

792 North Carolina Troops, l861-'65.

nel Jno. E. Brown and Captain W. H. Crawford, of the
Seventh Eegiment; Captain W. A. Clement, Captain S. B.
Alexander, Captain E. E. Crawford, Lieutenant A. M.
Ehyne and Lieutenant B. F. Wilson, of the First (Bethel)
Eegiment.

The Forty-second was a splendid aggregation of men, com-
posed of many of the best men of Mecklenburg, Catawba, Ire-
dell, Eowan, Davie, Davidson and Stanly counties. The per-
sonnel was excellent and the troops were well equipped.

Immediately upon organization, the men entered upon
military life and great stress was laid upon thorough drill-
ing in company, regimental and brigade tactics. Eight
readily did the men respond for they had enlisted to do yeo-
man's service for their invaded land.

The camp was located on the Crawford Farm south of Sal-
isbury, and here part of the regiment saw its first active duty
in guarding the Federal prisoners.

About 1 June, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Peters-
burg, Va. Thence it was sent to Lynchburg, Va., to guard
several thousand Federal prisoners — the fruits of Gen-
eral T. J. Jackson's Valley campaign. These were enclosed
in the fair grounds.

At Lynchburg the regiment continued its daily, systematic
drilling under Lieutenant-Colonel Jno. E. Brown, and its
efficiency was largely owing to his untiring efforts. It was a
common saying among the troops that "Colonel Brown would
rather drill than eat."

In the Sixteenth Century there was a word "predie" in the
English navy much stronger than our "ready." It meant
not only ready, but that the ship was cleared and thoroughly
prepared for action. And this was just Colonel Brown's
idea of what the regiment should be — thoroughly prepared
for the terrible struggle before them. By constantly drill-
ing his men, they were indeed made "predie," for never did
his gallant troops miscarry an order through ignorance and
in every way they reflected credit upon their commander.

The Federal prisoners were exchanged and about 1 Au-
gust the regiment was ordered to Eichmond. On the way

Forty-Second Regiment. 793

they met several train loads of Lee's veterans who were being
hurried forward, preparatory to the Maryland campaign.

In Richmond it remained but two days, when it advanced
to Drewry's Bluff. Here, being without rations for thirty-
eix hours, tested the endurance of the men.

The next move was along the turnpike to Petersburg,
where it encamped on the same field with the Forty-fourth
If orth Carolina. General J. J. Pettigrew inspected the For-
ty-Second and highly complimented its soldierly bearing. It
remained here drilling and performed outpost diity at City
Point and Blackwater until late in the fall of 1862.

The next move was to Tarboro, IST. C, to meet the advance
of the enemy from Little Washington, which resulted in a
slight skirmish by the advance guard. The enemy having
retired, the regiment was ordered to Franklin, Va., with
headquarters at Blackwater Church. There it did outpost
duty along the Blackwater from Ivor Station on the Norfolk
& Petersburg Railroad, to Franklin, engaging in skirmishes
with the enemy frequently.

In January 1863, the regiment boarded the train at Frank-
lin for Garysburg, where it was quartered until spring, with
the exception of Companies B, E and F. These were de-
tached and sent under Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. Brown to the
Chowan section of North Carolina to rid the country of the
"Buffaloes." This organization was composed of thieves and
cut-throats who claimed to be Union men and under the pro-
tection of Federal gunboats, had established a fortified camp
on the Dillard Farm. From this point they pillaged the
country, and carried their booty to the entrenched block-
house. Several attempts had been made to wipe out these
Buffaloes, but each one had proven futile. General D. H.
Hill had ordered that their fortifications be destroyed with-
out fail, and this Colonel Brown determined to do at all haz-
ards.

A force of pickets was stationed at Harrellsville, another
near Coleraine, and he established headquarters at Merry
Hill with pickets extending almost to Plymouth. A plan
was soon formed for the capture of the Buffalo camp —
crossing the Chowan just above Edenton after dark.

794 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Colonel Brown started with 150 men in small row-boats to
surprise the enemy at daybreak. The distance (about twenty
miles), however, proved too great, and at dawn his weary
soldiers were not in striking distance, but too near to re-
treat. Calling a council of his officers, it was decided to con-
ceal the men in the woods and watch the enemy's movements
until night, when an attack would be made.

The Buffaloes spent the day — Sunday — in target-shooting
and general carousal. Towards sunset they began going to
their homes, and the pickets, with orders not to fire, picked up
a number of them. However, one fellow spied the pickets,
dashed back to the block-house, and gave the alarm.

Immediately the long-roll rang out, and the plan was frus-
trated for the time being. In a few moments the gunboat
began dropping shells around Colonel Brown's men, and
they set out for camp, crossing the Chowan before day.
Though foiled. Colonel Brown was by no means discour-
aged, and planned another expedition. Within three weeks
he had surprised and captured the camp at daylight. After
driving off the stock and burning the buildings, the men
were withdrawn.

Making for the row boats. Colonel Brown hoped to recross
the river before the Federal gunboats suspected his presence.
These were patrolling the river, and to be caught in the ene-
my's country with one day's rations was a gloomy prospect
to the Confederates. However, the first detachment under
Lieutenant Ellis efi^ected a landing on the Bertie shore,
within easy range of the gunboat. The second, composed
of about fifty men of Company F, with Captain T. J.
Brown, of Company E, and Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. Brown,
was forced to put back into the Rockahock creek. They
were cut off by the gunboat anchoring in the mouth of the
creek. ISText morning 200 Federal cavalry, sent from Gates^
ville, were in hot pursuit, and with the gunboat dropping
shells all around him, Colonel Brown reluctantly aban-
doned his boats and set out to meet 450 Federal marines.
These had landed from the gunboats to assist in Colonel
Brown's capture.

Upon learning that the marines had landed, and were

Forty-Second Regiment. 795

coining up to the row boats, Colonel Brown planned an am-
buscade. But the surprise was for the Confederates, who
were fired upon before they knew the whereabouts of the en-
emy. Colonel ,Brown formed his men on one side of an old
field not more than 150 yards from the Federal troops, who
were concealed in the woods on the other side of the field. The
Confederate advance was as cool as if on dress-parade. The
Federals held their fire until the Confederates were within
60 or 70 yards and then fir^d a volley. Fortunately, their
fire was too high and a storm of bullets sped over the heads of
the Confederates. A charge was made, with the "Rebel
Yell," which struck terror into the hearts of the Federals, and
they fell back into the swamp. Here Lieutenant W. C. Will-
son and Private E. CoUett were wounded, apparently mor-
tally. Both, however, reovered from their woimds. Lieuten-
ant Willson became a minister of the Gospel and still survives.
It was learned afterwards that sixteen Federals were killed
in this fight. Here for the first time the men charged with the
"Rebel Yell," and one Federal marine swore that there
must have been 500 Confederates charging, as no fifty men
could make such an awful noise.

A relief expedition was formed by the men on the other
shore of the river, and Colonel Brown and his men were
brought out in safety by midnight.

This serious affair was not lacking in the ludicrous. Cap-
tain Leggett (a plain boatman) had been carefully
instructed as to the mode of passing the sentry. If chal-
lenged he must answer "A friend," when he would
be penuitted to give an account of himself. Being in cit-
izen's garb and unarmed, undoubtedly he would have been
permitted to pass. Having concealed his boats, he set out
to find a Mr. Davis, who would notify Colonel Brown
that the boats were ready to bring him over. Leggett had not
gone 300 yards before the keen click of a rifle and the sharp
challenge of a sentinel stopped him so suddenly, that he for-
got his instructions. In his extremity he cried out, "Where's
Colonel Brown ?" Fortunately for both sides, Leggett had
fallen into the hands of Colonel Brown's sentinels, who at

796 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

once conducted him into the swamp to Colonel Brown, and
he delivered his welcome message in person.

From Bertie County the Eegiment marched to Eichmond,
Va. On the Darbytown road it threw up a heavy line of
breast-^yorks under many disa'dvantages, being constantly ex-
posed to the enemy's fire, whose repeated charges were re-
pulsed without diflficulty.

During the early part of the fall of 1863, the Forty-second
was stationed at Petersburg. It made many long marches
on the Blackwater under General Koger A. Pryor, watching
the enemy and preventing their committing any depredations
along the eastern coast. It was engaged in many skirmishes
and small battles.

In October the regiment was ordered to Wilmington, N.
C, under General J. G. Martin. Here it was brigaded with
the Seventeenth, Fiftieth and Sixty-sixth North Carolina
Pegiments, all being under the command of General Martin.
They were under the most rigid discipline, and were system-
atically drilled in all the manoeuvres of military tactics.
General Martin was a West Pointer and was noted for the
great efficiency and rapid movement of his troops in brigade
drill.

7 January, 1864, Colonel G. C. Gibbs resigned as Col-
onel, and Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. Brown was promoted to
his position. About 1 February, 1864, General Martin's
Brigade was ordered to Sheppardsvill^, N. C, which was
reached after a long march. 2 February, with the Paris
Battery and a few companies of cavalry, the brigade attacked
the enemy, capturing and destroying his block-house. Driv-
ing in the Federal pickets, a long and gallant charge was
made through thickets and swamps across a plain under a
galling fire. Reaching their last line of trenches, they were
driven into their fort and a general engagement brought on.
They resisted stubbornly, every inch of ground being fiercely
contested, yet they were routed in great dismay and did not
cease running until under the protection of their guns at
Fort Macon. In this fight were captured ten pieces of artil-
lery, seventy-eight prisoners and all the enemy's ammunition
and provisions.

Fobty-Second Regiment. 797

As General Pickett's movement on New Bern was un-
successful, Martin's Brigade was ordered to withdraw from
Sheppardsville, and returned to Wilmington loaded with the
fruits of victory.

In April orders came to proceed to Weldon, N. C, and
then to Plymouth, N". C, to relieve General Hoke, who was
threatening Little Washington. After two weeks the brig-
ade was hurried off via Tarboro to Petersburg, Va., which
was threatened by General Butler on the north side of the
Appomattox.

General Grant crossed the Eapidan with a very large force.
General Butler with a force of 40,000, crossed the James to
Bermuda Hundreds, threatening both Richmond and Peters-
burg. On 17 May the Forty-second was engaged in a battle
near Swift Creek, General Whiting commanding, in which
the enemy was forced back to his base of operations at Ber-
muda Hundreds.

On 20 May under Gen. D. H. Hill, an attack was made on
the Federal breastworks at Bermuda Hundreds. The Forty-
second took part in a gallant charge of long distance, emerg-
ing from a strip of woods in which a line of battle had been
formed on the brow of a hill. Under a heavy fire of artillery
the regiment advanced at double-quick. From breastworks the
enemy's infantry poured a galling fire upon the Confederates,
but on they marched down a valley into an open field in full
view of the enemy, all the advantage of numbers, position,
and fortifications was on the side of the enemy, but he was
driven from his works, over which the flag of the Forty-
second proudly waved. The loss in killed and wounded was
heavy, being more than 15 per cent, of the men engaged.
Among the wounded was Colonel Jno. E. Browa, who re-
ceived a severe scalp wound while reconnoitering the enemy's
position. This occurred just after the capture of the
works. He was carried to the rear under a heavy fire, his
faithful body servant, Dave Brown (colored), assisting in
removing him from the field. He never entirely recovered
from this serious injury, and it contributed largely to his
death in later years. Lieutenant-Colonel C. W. Bradshaw
assumed command of the regiment.

798 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

At Bermuda Hundreds a division was formed, consisting
of the following brigades : Martin's and Olingman's North
Carolina, liaygood's South Carolina, and Colquitt's, of
Georgia. These were under the command of Major-General
E. F. Hoke.

General Grant had ordered Sheridan's cavalry, supported
by Warren's Corps, to seize the heights of New Cold Harbor,
so on 1 June Hoke's Division was ordered to Richmond and
then moved into the fighting line at Cold Harbor.

On the same day, General Anderson, with Kershaw's and
Hoke's Divisions, attacked Sheridan and drove him back to
Old Cold Harbor and secured the heights around New Cold
Harbor and Gaines' Mill — an all-important movement for
the approaching battle. These positions he at once fortified,
for they were the key to Richmond. The troops were halted
under the fire of an unseen enemy, but a line of skirmishers
was quickly thrown out and the enemy's picket line was
driven out of reach.

General Martin formed his brigade en echelon, which en-
abled his command to take the most dangerous position on
the line and hold it under heavy fire. Had it not been for
this well directed movement at the opportune moment, the
brigade might have been repulsed or captured. The skir-
mishers of the Forty-second had captured the crest of the
hill, which position they fortified during the night, using
their bayonets and pans, and were ready for the conflict.

It is stated that General Lee learned that the enemy's main
effort would be directed against Martin's part of the line, and
sent to General Martin to replace his brigade with a brigade of
veterans. To this General Martin replied with his compli-
ments, saying that while his brigade were not veterans, they
were trained soldiers and would hold their part of the line.
That day's conflict showed the stuff the Forty-second was
made of, for they held their line without flinching or waver^
ing.. In this battle the Confederates gained a decisive vic-
tory. In many places in front of the line of battle the dead
and wounded were thick enough to walk on. It is reported
that the enemy lost 10,000 men in twenty minutes.

At the close of the day (3 June) Company E, under Lieu-

Forty-Second Regiment. 799

tenant Ellis, and Company D, under Captain R. R. Craw-
ford, were ordered on the picket line, and a general engage-
ment was brought on at nightfall. The Federals had thrown
up two lines of earth works along and in the woods about
fifty feet apart. As the picket moved forward, Geo. Hanes,
of Company E, of Davie County, was killed. He was only
18 years old and had been with the regiment but a few
months. Company D, in the darkness, caused by the heavy
foliage of the trees at that season of the year (June), mounted
the enemy's breastworks and fell into their lines without
knowing they were so close at hand, so that Lieutenant L. W.
Crawford and eighteen men were captured. Sergeant Jos.
Baker, of Iredell, and Private Moses Thomas, of Mecklen-
burg, captured a Federal soldier and brought him out of
his own line of battle. The Confederate picket was estab-
lished on the field of battle with the dead and dying all
around.

The Confederate line of battle was held until 12 June,
when the enemy moved in the direction of the Chickahominy.
A few hours later the Confederates abandoned their trenches,
and, crossing the Chickahominy, marched by the shortest
route to New Market Heights, near Malvern Hill.

After resting there a day and no enemy appearing, the
James was crossed on a pontoon bridge below Drewry's Bluff.
By a forced march the troops were hurried to Petersburg, ar-
riving there at 2 a. m. lY June, and taking position east of
the Hare House. A line of rifie pits was completed and this
constituted the only defense of the city against the invaders.
The Confederates now numbered about 12,000 men fit for
duty. Next day General Burnside's Corps came up and in-
creased the Federal force to 65,000.

General Hancock, as ranking officer, had assumed com-
mand of the Federals. He threw his entire army in line of
battle, charging the thin line of the Confederates, and after
hard and stubborn fighting he succeeded in breaking through
the lines of Wise's Legion, which was completely exhausted.
They had fought for two days without sleep or rest, and, now
overpowered, fell back.

At this moment Ransom's Brigade came up and drove the

800 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Federals back over the works, thus re-establishing the
broken lines. Two charges were made by the Federals, but
repulsed. Warren's Corps (Federal) about this time ar-
rived, increasing the enemy's force very largely. As yet
General Beauregard had sent no relief to the Confederates,
and this was indeed a trying condition of affairs. But the
thorough discipline and unwavering courage of Ihe men were
almost unconquerable.

General Beauregard's engineers had selected a shorter and
better line of defense of the city (Petersburg), as the Con-
federate force was not sufficient to hold the old and longer
line. The picket line was put under the command of Major T.
J. Brown, who was instructed to hold the old line of defense
until the army could take position in the new line in front of
the city. This he did, the move beginning about midnight
and being completed at daybreak, when the picket line was
withdrawn. As they fell back, they were constantly skir-
mishing with the enemy. During the morning the Federals
attacked in solid columns, about 100 yards apart, advancing
in the open field. The Confederates had only one line of bat-
tle to withstand their repeated attacks. The Forty-second
held a high position on the brow of a hill alongside of the ar-
tillery and received the constant fire of the enemy's artillery
and infantry. At this time their loss was quite heavy.

Very fortunately General Longstreet's Corps came up to
the relief of the Confederates, reducing the great odds against
them.

General Grant, defeated in his attempts to capture Peters-
burg by fighting, began to starve out the Confederates by
his overwhelming numbers of troops. The hardships through
which the men had to pass were far greater and more dis-
astrous than the battles they had fought. It was simply
awful.

The Confederate line of battle was enfiladed on the flank
by a direct fire of the enemy. Shells were falling all around
constantly. The troops were on picket duty or defending
the breastworks every night. There was no shelter from
heat or cold, except an oilcloth stretched on four upright
sticks. The graveyard was in the rear and the dead were

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FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT.

1. S. B. Alexander, Captain, Co. K. 3. R. R Crawford, Captain, Co. D

S. Jacob H. KooDtz, Captain, Co. A. 4. Spencer Hanes, 1st Lieut., Co. E.

5. A. Leazer, 1st Lieut., Co. G.

Forty-Second Regiment. 801

buried daily. There were no arrangemeiits for cooking on tlie
line and all food was cooked and brought from the rear, or
eaten raw. On this line the regiment spent nearly four
months, alternating weekly with Colquitt's Brigade, in order
that the men might rest and wash their clothes.

The duty of the Forty-second was to defend the salient on
Hare's Hill — the most difficult and dangerous position on
the entire line. It was exposed to the constant fire of the
mortars, with no chance to retaliate. Their endurance was
most severely tried, but they displayed the fortitude so char-
acteristic of the North Carolina troops, for they never fal-
tered nor wavered. At this point Captain Spencer Hanes
received a severe wound, which afterwards caused his death.
Lieutenant Rusher was mortally wounded. The loss in the
regiment was very heavy.

About two days before the "Crater" explosion, the regi-
ment was on the exact spot, defending that portion of the
line. On the day it occurred (30 July) it had been ordered to
this point again, but the order was countermanded before the
position could be taken. At the time of the explosion, it
was on the left (at Hare's Hill) repulsing the charges of the
Federals, and, being in a position to enfilade their line, a
deadly fire of rifle. balls was poured into them by us.

In October the regiment was sent north of the James to aid
in the reduction of Fort Harrison, but was not ordered into
action. It was then placed on the lines on the Darbytown
road, where it constructed winter quarters and enjoyed a
much needed rest. There were several skirmishes, but no
serious fighting done.

While in camp on the Darbytown road, the regiment re-
ceived a well-deserved compliment. General Gracie, of Al-
abama, had been killed at Petersburg and it was decided to
inter his remains in Hollywood Cemetery at Richmond. Gen-
eral R. E. Lee sent a request to General Longstreet for the
best drilled regiment in his corps to perform the last sad
military honors at the funeral of the dead hero. The Forty-
second North Carolina was detailed for this purpose. Under
their brave leader, with the Eutaw band of Charleston, S. C,
the regiment set out for Richmond. General Kirkland went

51

802 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

with Colonel Brown, as the regiment belonged to Kirkland's
Brigade. The movements and evolutions of the Forty-second
were pronounced faultless — proving its superiority on parade
as it had done in line of battle. The congratulations and
praise of military men in the city were generously bestowed,
some saying that it was the best drilled regiment ever seen in
Eichniond.

23 December, 1864, the regiment was ordered to Wilming-
ton, N. C, and the men were packed in box cars with the
thermometer at zero. They kept from freezing by building
fires in the centres of the cars and closing the doors, com-
pelled to endure the smoke in order to keep warm.

Wilmington was reached on the 24th. After being fed
by the good women of Wilmington, the regiment hastened
its march towards Sugar Loaf, where a lively Christmas was
spent, as it was under the incessant fire of about 3,600 shells
an hour from the Federal gunboats.

The Federals having effected a landing at Fort Gatling on
the ocean side, were driven back to their gunboats, after a
brief engagement. Thinking that they would not return,
General Bragg ordered the troops back to Wilmington. While
General Hoke's Division was on dress parade, the Federals
again appeared at Fort Fisher, and their troops were landed
before the Confederates could get back to Sugar Loaf. Un-
der the cover of night, the Federals pushed their forces across
the peninsula* and cast up a line of works from the ocean to
the Cape Fear river, thus cutting off all land communications
between Hoke's army and Fort Fisher.

About 4 o'clock in the afternoon, 15 January, Kirkland's
Brigade was ordered to drive back the enemy's pickets, so
that Generals Hoke and Bragg could examine his position.
This was only partially successful.

That evening after a desperate fight, Fort Fisher surren-
dered and thus was closed the last port of the Confederates.

Sherman was rapidly approaching from the South and this
necessitated the speedy evacuation of Wilmington. Kirk-
land's Brigade formed the rear guard of the retreating army.
The Forty-second occupied the place nearest the enemy, an3
was attacked on right, left, and rear by their cavalry.

Forty-Second Regiment. 803

In a short time tlie Confederates reached Goldsboro, which
was apparently the objective point of the three Federal
armies. Sherman was approaching from the South with
an enormous army ; an army was coming from Wilmington,
and also an army from New Bern. These commands, if uni-
ted, would overwhelm and crush the little body of troops.

It was seen that these armies must be fought separately,
for their forming a junction meant ruin to the small army
of the Confederates. General Hoke's Division, supported by
the Sixty-seventh and Sixty-eighth ISTorth Carolina, met the
army from New Bern just below Kinston on the southeast
shore of the Neuse near Wise's Fork. It was commanded
by General J. D. Cox.

On 8 March the Seventeenth and Forty-second North Caro-
lina Regiments left their line of battle during the night and at
dawn were on the enemy's flank, driving him back to the rear.
Between 1,500 and 1,800 Federal prisoners and four bat-
teries of artillery were captured. 10 March an assault was
made on their breastworks, but this proved unsuccessful.

As General Sherman had reached Averasboro, it became
necessary to concentrate all the available Confederate troops
in his front. Hoke's Division was withdrawn and sent to
Bentonville via Smithfield.

Sherman's army was advancing in two divisions from
Averasboro to Goldsboro on parallel roads about eight miles
apart. The Confederate army was increased by Hoke'?
Division, while Sherman had several times as many troops.
General Jos. E. Johnston was now in command and on the
morning of 19 March, the Confederates attacked Davis' and
Slocum's Co'rps at Bentonville, and driving them back, cap-
tured about 1,000 prisoners' and several guns. Next day Sher-
man's other corps was thrown upon our left flank, which had
been in the advance the day before. On account of this
movement and increase of the enemy, it was necessary to
change the position of the army. In order to accomplish
this. General Kirkland deployed his brigade as a skirmish
line in front of Sherman's entire army, holding it in check
until the Confederate army changed front to meet the enemy.
After this Kirkland's Brigade occupied the centre.

804 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Many times the Federals charged the Confederates, but
each time they were repulsed with heavy loss. The battle
was stubbornly and fiercely fought, at one time being in open
field with the odds greatly in favor of the enemy. But the
brave Confederates held their own nobly, and the flag of the
Forty-second waved proudly over the line of battle in this, the
last great struggle for Southern independence.

Soon after this battle General Lee surrendered at Appo-
mattox, and General Johnston withdrew his troops. Pass-
ing through Kaleigh 13 April and Chapel Hill, he surren-
dered to Sherman at Centre Church, Randolph County, three
miles from High Point.

Such are some of the facts in regard to one of the best regi-
ments ever sent forth by the South and never did the world
see finer soldiers than the Confederate army. Without cloth-
ing, food and ammunition— but with gallant leaders and
brave hearts, they kept at bay an overwhelming foe until
crushed.

We say — and we say it advisedly — that the superiors of the
North Carolina troops have never lived. The watchword
of the Forty-second North Carolina was "Duty," and wher-
ever duty called, they always responded cheerfully.

Some of the characteristics of the regiment have been
spoken of and before concluding this sketch, we must say
something in regard to the ofiicers.

Colonel Jno. Edmunds Brown was born in Caswell County
in 1830, and was educated at Hampden-Sidney College, Va.,
read law under Judge Pichmond Pearson and began practice
at Charlotte, N. C. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War,
he enlisted in the Seventh North Carolina Regiment, of
which he was Adjutant. He next became Lieutenant-Colo-
nel of the' Forty-second North Carolina, but was in reality
Colonel of the regiment almost from its organization, though
he was not commissioned as Colonel until January, 1864.

Colonel Brown possessed many of the qualities of a great
soldier. His troops were drilled until they had attained the
utmost proficiency in the m'anual of arms and when ordered
to execute a difficult movement at a critical moment, they
never faltered nor blundered. He demanded of his men

Forty-Second Regiment. 805

exact obedience, and tliougli he kept them under the strictest
discipline, every man in the regiment loved him and would
have followed him anywhere. But he could have accomplish-
ed comparatively little had he not had such a splendid set of
men under him. He was a meek and lowly Christian — one
who practiced just what he professed, and his influence in this
respect was widely exerted throughout his command, for in
the Forty-second Regiment swearing was strictly forbidden.
Matters might be as desperate as possible as when the men
were on the most strenuous duty before Petersburg. He be-
lieved fully in what a recent commander said in battle, "Don't
swear, boys, but fight!" and fight the Forty-second did!
After the war he successfully resumed the practice of law at
Charlotte.

Colonel Brown was the second of three brothers, the eld-
est of whom was Dr. W. C. Brown, the Surgeon of the regi-
ment. Capable and skilful, he performed his duties well,
many times exposing his life for the men. When a large
part of the regiment was sick with measles at Petersburg, he
attended them day and night. So great was the strain and
exposure that his health was wrecked, and he died in Davie
County before the close of the war.

The third brother, T. J. Brown, was Major of the Forty-
second and the writer of this sketch.

Lieutenant-Colonel C. W. Bradshaw made a capable and
brave oflGicer. Charlotte, N. C, is his home.

Adjutant W. H. H. Gregory made an excellent officer.

Rev. S. J. Hill was an excellent Chaplain ; Quartermaster
R. P. Bessent and Surgeon J. W. Wiseman were faithful and
efficient officers.

Company A — ^^Captain J. H. Koontz, a good officer, and
after the war was a successful farmer ; Lieutenant Jos. Con-
rad became a mechanic; Lieutenants Siceloff and Sink en-
gaged in farming.

Company B — Captain W. H. Crawford, an efficient of-
ficer, was a farmer, and served as a member of the Legisla-
ture for years; Captain J. R. Crawford, a courageous and
capable officer, is a successful farmer; Lieutenant A. D.
Wright, a printer and farmer; Lieutenant R. W. Price has

806 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

been a successful business man in Salisbury, N. C. ; Lieu-
tenant J. F. Dodson a very successful farmer, has served in
the Legislature twice.

Company C — Captain J. A. Howell, a gallant officer, was
killed at Cold Harbor; Captain K. A. Carter, a successful
merchant at Concord ; Lieutenant S. D. Mann became a mer-
chant.

Company D — Captain E. E. Crawford, a most capable of-
ficer, engaged in business in Salisbury and Winston ; he is a
very enthusiastic veteran and an excellent citizen; Lieuten-
ant L. W. Crawford, a fine officer, went to the University of
Virginia after the war. He is a member of W. JST. C. Con-
ference and editor of the Christian Advocate. He has re-
ceived the degrees of Doctor of Divinity. Lieutenant H. L.
Gill, a successful merchant in Iredell County.

Company E — Captain Spencer J. Hanes was an efficient
and brave officer, a successfud farmer and tanner. He was a
splendid citizen and died a few years after the war from
wounds received in battle. Lieutenant W. J. Ellis, a gallant
soldier, has been a tobacco manufacturer and assistant post-
master in Winston. Lieutenant J. H. Peebles became a
fanner. Lieutenant J. V. Brock was a brave officer, a ster-
ling man. He was a farmer, as was also Lieutenant B. T.
Naylor.

Company F — Captain Wiley A. Clement, a fine officer and
did his duty well. He became a merchant and farmer. He
lived in Mocksville. Lieutenant Jno. H. Clement, a coura-
geous and capable officer, became a farmer. He has occupied
a prominent position in Davie County, having served in the
State Senate for a number of terms. Lieutenant C. C. San-
ford is a successful merchant in Mocksville and a most excel-
lent citizen. Lieutenant W. H. Bailey also became a mer-
chant in Davie County.

Company G — Captain Blackwelder, a brave officer, was a
successful farmer. Lieutenant A. Leazer, an efficient officer,
is one of the most prominent men of his section of the State.
He has served in the Legislature, and as superintendent of
the State Penitentiary.

Forty-Second Regiment. 807

Company H — Captain Hatsell, Lieutenants Huneycutt,
Mann, and Turner all became farmers.

Company I — Captain T. W. Eedwine became a commer-
cial salesman. Lieutenant H. M. Alford was a successful
physician in Greensboro, N. C. Lieutenants Harris and
Kedwine both farmers.

Company K — Captain J. Y. Bryce, a prominent citizen
of Charlotte. Captain S. B. Alexander, a gallant officer, is
one of the most prominent men engaged in farming in the
State. He has served in the State Senate and for two terms
represented the Sixth Congressional District in the House of
Representatives. He is the father of the famous Mecklen-
burg "no fence" and "good roads" laws. Lieutenant B. F.
Wilson, a splendid officer, was an excellent man. Lieutenant
A. M. Rhyne became a tinner. Lieutenant W. J. Williford
was a farmer. Lieutenant J. H. Wilson still resides at Char-
lotte.

T. J. Beown.
Winston, N. C,
36 April, 1901.