526 NortH Carotina 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 gad 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 bes
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. Ramseur remarked that the
finest thing he saw during the whole battle “was the conduet
of that regiment that carried into the fight that flag with the
long white tail to it.”

“And,” continued General Ramseur, “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 Ramseur.

THIRTY-SECOND 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 Rodes 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. Next 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 “Official Records
of the Union and Confederate Armies,” as follows:

Darxesvittz, W. Va., 19 July, 1863.

Captain: I would respectfully report the part taken by
the Thirty-second Regiment North 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 our 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 regiment charged up to the barn
and dislodged the enemy ; but being unsupported on the right
and left, and the battery on the hill opening a terrific fire
upon it, it again fell back near the cut. The rest of the brig-