410 Nortu Carorina Troops, 1861-65.

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 County, N. C., on 21 January, 1841
In 1857 he entered the University of North Carolina nial
there remained until the breaking out of the war 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 compan
became Company D in the “Bethel” Regiment. He sea ll
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 ae
to fame as Company I, of the Twenty-sixth North Carolina
Regiment of Infantry. Was elected Second Lieutenant, and
upon the reorganization of the regiment for the ‘vues was
elected Captain; was promoted to be Major of the resinead
when the noble Harry Burgwyn became Colonel, and after Col-
onel Burgwyn’s glorious death, became Lieutenant-olonel in
place of Colonel Lane, who succeeded the gallant Burewyn
He passed through all the battles and combats in which his
Hetment was engaged, distinguishing himself especially at
Rawls Mills and Gettysburg. In the latter battle ce re:
ceived a wound, but he declined to leave the field, and com-
manded the regiment after the fall of Colonels Borewre and
Lane, and was in command of the brigade at the close of
_ charge on the third day. At the great battle of the Wil-
_ : May, 1864, after the wounding of Colonel Lane, he
a —— and was mortally wounded leading his reg-
ne a be ~ against overwhelming numbers. When
bas Seapine : urgeon avs W. Gaither that his wound was
- ao fe aca ‘With a most yearning expression
a é ane = be. I was born to accomplish more
eo Isic of ¢ tettysburg, where his younger brother,
gs “é private in ¢ ompany I, was killed, Lieutenant-Colo-
nes, then Major, was for some time in command of the

brigade, all the other field officers present at the battle having

Twenty-Sixto REeGmMent. 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. ©. 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.

He was wounded through the hip at Malvern Hill and seri-
ously through the shoulder at Gettysburg, and except while on
furlough 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 command of the regiment, acted with
such conspicuous gallantry as to eall forth the warm com-
mendation of his brigade commander, General William Mac-
Rae. The brigade with 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