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792 NortH Carotina Troops, 1861-65.

nel Jno. E. Brown and Captain W. H. Crawford, of the
Seventh Regiment; Captain W. A. Clement, Captain S. B.
Alexander, Captain R. R. Crawford, Lieutenant A. M.
Rhyne and Lieutenant B. F. Wilson, of the First (Bethel)
Regiment.

The Forty-second was a splendid aggregation of men, com-
posed of many of the best men of Mecklenburg, Catawba, Ire-
dell, Rowan, 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. Right
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 Richmond. On the way

 

 

 

Forty-Seconp 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-
six 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
North Carolina. General J. J. Pettigrew inspected the For-
ty-Second and highly complimented its soldierly bearing. It
remained here drilling and performed outpost duty at City
Point and Blackwater until late in the fall of 1862.

The next move was to Tarboro, N. 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-
honse. 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,