784 Nortu Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

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-
eupied 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 capturing 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.
Two 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 Roads (called by

the Confederates Five Forks), distance about twenty miles
from Namozine 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and twice repulsed ; but the cavalry having been withdrawn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 8. 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, N. C., in the night, Lieuten-
ant Camp and Private Ferrall, of Company G, were killed.
Tn an engagement on Sunday evening, near Hanover Court

50