sab dak tee otal teks BE HISTORIES ~ SEVERAL REGIMENTS AND BATTALIONS NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GREAT WAR 1861-’65. | GENERALS If =a |Z WRITTEN BY MEMBERS OF THE RESPECTIVE COMMANDS AND MAJOR GENERALS FROM |NORTH CAROLINA, , af COMMISSIONED < : 4. EDITED BY fi [CONFEDERATE STATES. WALTER CLARK (Lrevt.-Cotone, SeventierH Reciment N. C. T.) VOL. Il. PUBLISHED BY THE STATE. NASH BROTHERS, BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS, GOLDSBORO, N. C. CONTENTS. SEVENTEENTH ReaiMent, by Lieutenant.Wileon G. Lamb EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT, by Adjutant William H. McLaurin EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT, by Private Thomas H. Sutton NINETEENTH REGIMENT, (SEconp Cav.) by Captain W. A. Graham... NiInereentH REGIMENT, (Seconp Cav.) by Brigadier-General Wiil- liam P. Roberts TWENTIETH REGIMENT, by Brigadier-General Thomas F. Toon Twenty-First Reciment, by Major James F. Beall Twenty-First Reement, by Lieutenant L. E. Powers Twenty-Seconp Reaiment, by Adjutant Graham Daves Twenty-THIRD Reement, by Captain V. E. Turner and Sergeant H. TweEnty-FourtH ReciImMeEnt, by Corporal W. N. Rose Twenty-FirtH Reement, by Lieutenant Garland S. Ferguson Twenty-SixtH REGIMENT, by Assistant Surgeon George C. Underwood 303 TwENTY-SEVENTH ReGImENT, by Captain James A. Graham Twenty-EieH1H ReGiment, by Brigadier-General J. H. Lane Twenty-NintH REGIMENT, by Brigadier-General Robert B. Vance.... 485 TurrtietH Reament, by Colonel F. M. Parker Turrty-Fixst ReGiMent, by Adjutant E. K. Bryan and Sergeant E. H, Meadows. Tutrty-Seconp Reement, by Private Henry A. London Tuirty-Toirp RecimMent, by Major J. A. Weston Turrty-Fourrsa Reeimment, by Lieutenant T. D. Lattimore Tarrty-Firra REGIMENT, by Captain William H. 8. Burgwyn Turrty-SixtH ReGiment, (SzEconD ART.) by Colonel William Lamb 629 Tarrty-SEVENTH ReGIMENT, by Lieutenant Octavius A. Wiggins.... 658 Tarrty-E1ienta Reament, by Lieutenant-Colonel George W. Flowers 675 Turety-NintH Reement, by Lieutenant Theo. F. Davidson Turrty-Ninto RecGiment, by Lieutenant John M. Davidson Fortreta Reaiment (Tuirp Art.), dy Sergeant T. C0. Dagis Forry-First Reaiment (Turrp Cav.), by Sergeant Josttiva B. Hill.. 767 Forty-Seconp Reeiment, by Major T. J. Brown - : . 4 ses ian a i pe 2s, a tie ta fee sec i ican ac Sai ei laa eC cl i all lah i ae a atl lal 1. 2, 8. SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT. William F. Martin, Colonel. John C. Lamb, Lieut.-Colonel. Wilson G. Lamb, 2d Lieut., Co. F, 4. Gilbert Elliott, Ist Lieut. and Adjt (Builder of the ** Albemarle.’’) SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT. By WILSON G. LAMB, Seconp Ligut. 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 Stringham and General B. F. Butler. The Seventeenth Regiment was officered as follows: W. F. Marttn, Colonel. Grorce W. Jounson, Lieutenant-Colonel. Henry A. Gittiam, Major. Gitsert Exxiorr, Adjutant. Joun S. Dancy, Quartermaster. L. D. Srarxr, Commissary. Wvart M. Brown, 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, sueceeded 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 Caro.ina 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 Guards 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 war. After being exchanged, the Seventh Volunteers (as it was first called) was re-organized at Camp Mangum and became the Seventeenth Regiment N. ©. 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 8. Dancy; Commissary, L. D. Starke; Surgeon, R. K. Speed. Company A—Captain William Biggs. Company B—Captain James J. Leith. Company C—Captain William B. Wise. Company D—Captain J. M. ©. Luke. Company E—Captain John L. Swain. Company F—Captain George B. Daniel. Company G—Captain Thos. J. Norman. 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 i 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 and disciplinarian. On the 2d of February, 1864, the regiment under com- mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Lamb with the Forty-second, Colonel Brown, Parris’ 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. ©. 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 quantity 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, a ia aaa ci ——— I tf (@. ia adi + HE ae a BY et A as sieeee rs ima a sion. oc bdaaeituaadiaeliaiandanmaaaieeea mene one catedaeinedtcacemeetimemeneatenaae 4 Norru Carorina Troops, 1861-65. J. M. Palmer, commanding at New 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 Rapidan 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 North 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. Martin’s bri- gade was upon the extreme Confederate right, and the Seven- teenth, N. C., was Martin’s right regiment so it devolved upon this regiment to lead the assault. Then 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 officers and men, killed and wounded. The brave and youthful Lieutenant- a a peers ata in aa ne he a 0 REE PELE RS RN TELE ES ENT NEE I NIT LOT LE OES BPI ETN REIL SEVENTEENTH 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 Harbor. “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 New 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 carriéd 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 J une, followed these prelim- inary 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 their bodies its whole extent. In this battle Lieutenant M. A. Cotten 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 Norts Carortrmva Troops, 1861-’65. ineident 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 Burnside’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 spared 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- 1. L. J. Johnson, Major 3 SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT. 2. Geo. B. Daniel, Captain, Co. F. 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. T 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- ii i il a f 8 Nortu Caroxiina Troops, 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. No 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 ’iwebe 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 merey) 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 unbounded 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 Richmond 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 regiments 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 effected 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. Norman’s company in front, supported by the balance of the regiment, deployed as skirmishers, assailed the enemy. General Kirkland in his official report said: “TLieutenant-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, unfortunately 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 ih {hi iH iH i Hi j hh Fa i | casthlelitesedi es snasabauabiae eaten Sania ae a reals bee ers Dimictnadeie ae 10 _ Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-65. off all land communication 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 under 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 enfllading 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 ques- 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 REGIMENT. 11 army, after crossing the North River, 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 C. G. Elliott, and were re- pulsed, sustaining heavy loss. The next day the march was resumed and without further fighting the army reached Goldsboro 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 North Carolina. Goldsboro became the objective point of three armies. Sher- man with 70,000 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, their entrenchments along the line of a creek, Kirkland’s, Hagood’s and Colquitt’s Brigades under the guide of Colonel Nethereut 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 Norra Carona 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. Our division swelled our army to about 15,000 men, against Sherman’s 70,- 000. On the morning of the 19th Jefferson ©. Davis’ and Slo- cum’s Corps, numbering about 35,000 men were attacked by I a a oie 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 were 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 bullet-riddled folds the veteran survivors marched to do honor to their dead heroic comrades. . Witson G. Lamp, Second Lieutenant Company F. Witiiamston, N. C., 26 April, 1901. i 2. 3. EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT. John D. Barry, Colonel. R. H. Cowan, Colonel. Marcus W. Buie, Captain, Co. B. 4. Wm. H. McLaurin, ist Lieut. and Adjt. 5. Evander N. Robeson, 1st Lieut., Co. K. 6. Alex. E. Smith, Sergeant, Co. F. EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT. By WILLIAM H. McLAURIN, Apsguranr. * 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 Caro.tina 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 county 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, Columbus. Company D—Captain William S. Norment, Robeson. Company E—Captain John R. Hawes, New Hanover, (now Pender). Company F—Captain Charles Malloy, Richmond. Company G—Captain Henry Savage, Wilmington. Compeany H—Captain D. H. Gore, Columbus. Company 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 Volunteers,” was the only com- pany in the State of distinctively foreign citizenship. Com- pany G, “The Wilmington Light Infantry,” and Company I, “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 vice had 94 officers 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 134 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 O. P. 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 MeNeill, Company F, Captain and A. C. 8.; 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 the volunteer regiments, enumerating them 2 18 NortH Caroiina Troops, 1861-’65. from 11 to 20. Thus the Eighth volunteers became the Eighteenth North Carolina troops, and was afterwards thus 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 Fear, 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 ©. 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, Keon lesque. Especially enjoyable was a “Review of the Army, in which our 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 times 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 was 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 were on. The cavalryman started fer his horse, on the mainland, to 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 weleomed our midnight relief, laughed heartily at the cavalryman and had no more alarms. 20 *NortH Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. In March, 1862, Major George Tait resigned and Captain Forney George, Company ©, was promoted Major; Lieutenant C. C. Gore became Captain of Compa- ny C. On 14 March orders came for the regiment to go to New Bern, N. C., and in a few hours everything was on the cars, and speeding for that ill-fated Athens of North Carolina. At Wilmington we heard of its fall. Here we were joined by Captain T. J. Purdie, with Company K, fro:n 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 reinforve- 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 Lieutenant-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 Grove, then on the outskirts of the incorporation, now a populous section of the city, and ar- rived at Gordonsville 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 we 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 »aggage, 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 Mechaniesville. The Eighteenth 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 waa each = i I Hi i WH 22 NortH Carortina 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 Twelfta 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 Mechaniesville road, where the ditch bank and wicker fence afforded fine defence. From this cover Porter’s volleys did great damage, and tha 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 us 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, an:l 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 Thirty- seventh found the undergrowth so dense as to retard its pro- gress, but when it reached its position it poured 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 ditch bank.” After stating the positions of his forces and the purposes of his engagement, continuing, he says: “Finding T could no longer remain without being surrounded, and hearing of no reinforcements, and feeling assured from the firing that Lane had made good his retreat to Hanover Court House, I deter- EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT. abs: 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, ete. This was breezy. General Branch sent his aide, Major Blonnt, 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 ere ieee pant wir Sas 24 NortH Caro.tina Troops, 1861-’65. them, sweated the great sweat of confusion and acknowl- edged their deeds. He then handed Captain ———— him to read it aloud: the following and asked HEADQUARTERS, Army or NortTuHEerN Virainia, June 3rd, 1862. Brigadier General L. O’B. Branch, Commanding, Ete. : The report of your recent engagement with the enemy «t 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. Rosert 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 puta 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 iu 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, savs: “Friday afternoon at 4 o’clock we were put in the fight at Cold Harbor, 26 Norra Carortina Troops, 1861-’65. By your order my line of battle was formed on the right of 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 us to flank still further to the right. By this means I became separated from the remain- der of the brigade, which 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 us 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 whole 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 J ackson’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 returning 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. 24 them, and had fallen back behind a deep ravine running into it, where Whiting found them. There was little firing any- where at that time. Soon after I left the Texas brigade, the battle was opened by Whiting, 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 McClellan’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 farm 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 Regiment 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- Clellan’s flank clearing it of straggling parties and on Sunday 28 Nortru Carouiina 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 ©. 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 ©. H., to watch Pope’s advance, threatening our railroad con- nections at Gordonsville. 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 utter rout and confusion before an exultant foe. Nothing daunted by the unfavorable 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 suecess 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 had recvived heavy reinforcements. The dead were buried and in a few days Jackson took position south of the Rapidan, the Eighteenth camping near Orange ©. 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 withdrawn from the north side and on the morn- ing of the 2th, before day, Jackson “‘it-out” with his foot- cavalry to go around Pope. When we reached Hazel river we waded up that stream to keep the dust of the road from 30 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-65. betraying our route, and crossing the Blue Ridge we got a few hours rest that night around Orleans. Next day New 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 brush with cavalry and artillery near Manassas Junc- tion, running it back across Bull Run, capturing some 200 prisoners. The Eighteenth regiment was not in the pursuit, being detached after the 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 check 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 turn 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 in an open oak woods immediately 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 CAROLINA TRooPs, 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 recruits 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 Betivar Heights, and some brigades had equally as great difficulty 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, ete. Stonewall Jackson rejoined the army with the rest of his command, 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 corn 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 Henin cea a st panee tne peer mes tet po rae ee 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 retreating 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 thein in numbers. How Hill’s division stood before them «as won- derful, but it had gone there to fight and was too tired 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 Carotina 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 oceupied 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 off 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 around 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 Lientenant-Colonel Thomas J. Purdie became Colonel, Major Forney George, Lieutenant-Colonel and Captain 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 Longstreet towards Fred- ericksburg to meet Burnside’s movements. There was an abundance of rain, sleet and snow during the march, and EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT. 30 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- ericksburg 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, which Lane occupied, ran through a low place with a ridge to the right, some seventy-five or a hundred yards, high suiongh 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 us under a heavy fire. When the enemy advanced, they 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 “gompatled to do so. Colonel Pure threw back the right wing of the Eighteenth to the woods some seventy-five or one hundr ed 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 reovered from a temporary confusion and joined with Law- 36 Norra Caroiina 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 thx 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 Rappahannock. Jackson’s corps moved down the Port Royal 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 down 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 what 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 officer 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. a Weare friends, cease firing! rang out, but too late. Stone- 38 NortH Carotina 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, ete. i aa The Eighteenth Regiment lost in this engagement, in killed, Witt. th siilneioa % : wounded, missing and prisoners, fully two hundred men. acne a. > Si Simran From Ashland we marched to a place called “Chamber- bere Thon, ae, aaa lain’s Hill,” almost in full view of the battle of Seven Pines, sda. Head ies peal which was the great preliminary skirmish to the seven days ¥ ? Tear, the main army under General Lee advanced in front, and from thence on, fo r seven days, day after day, the Eigh- teenth N. C. Regiment as a part of Jackson’s corps, A. N. 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. Tt was reported that at the close of this series of splendid This is our opportunity, ictate terms of peace and the fates decreed otherwise. t we did rid Richmond, our e enemy, threatening its de- cidents, many escapes, many n and around the seven days’ 68 Norte Carorina Troops, 1861-'60. fight, that might be related, if time and space semeete yan brigade camped at a place aoe ae re ace seven days’ fight, called “Howard’s sso fs dase ing a few days See ve snd ie : a meptno August, 1862, fell in wl Lee fe eae were immediately put — - : sm had : hot time in more ways than one. Se ar Heo filled the “gap” made vacant by the falling ~ ee brated “Stonewall Brigade” and held it to : ae § the enemy and ee ik Oa beh as . ce r this fight and victory General Jacksor ae oe our bxigide and “dropped” his hat in Panne ep 5 edgment of our deed, in holding an -*icgetaaee 2 > @ en" the old “Stonewall Brigade” had failed to eee tty se order from corps headquarters a fapdsome ae wee paid to the “gallant soldiers of Branch’s brigac 7 HPA following while resting upon our arms, a staff ° ae Aa to General Branch and asked him ‘‘how he felt, a Paar? General Branch replied that “he was delighted wi pani sults of the day and was proud of the manner = : > bia brigade had acted.” Our loss was comparatively _— ea sidering the deadly work in which we were = ; si left some noble and true men on that field, whie serv iy remind us that in the next battle we fought it might be sp . to fill a soldier’s grave. From Cedar Run we a nae Warrenton Springs, where it was rumored General = Ww ee eross the river. The enemy were in full force on 0 at side, for they “shelled the woods” where we were all day, a we felt that “something was up” or would be soon. Late in the afternoon of the next day, we were on t . march, with Jackson’s corps, to which we were now sere nently attached, for what point we knew not, for it ee : as son’s way” to keep his movements a profound secret, but a : a long forced march and before we were aware of it, we oe in possession of immense stores of great value, captured ee : the enemy at Manassas Junction, our rear fighting the és 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, E1igHTeenta Recimenr. 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 con was given us to replenish our empty haversacks. tents of several cars were distributed and the residu Some of our men secured a very fine saddle for Col. die, of the Eighteenth, which was intended for t General Siegel, sent him by his friends nobler man than he for whom it was i and the saddle is now, or was a few year. 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 sent The con- e burned. onel Pur- he Dutch and admirers, but a ntended, bestrode it, 8 since, in the posses- federate soldier will always remember the beauty noble women and the brave chiy 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 commencement of the war, and that evening, which I think was 27 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 Richmond 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 “flower 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 Rocks,” and we were told that we were in “Maryland, my M aryland.” The Con- of the fair, alric men of Maryland. The 70 Norro Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. ri ve knew it, but ee eo ee tex ‘his is the place made fa- Frederick City, for a few days. This is the p agssoete s by the touching poem of John Greenlea: i ; called TM Freitchie, oe er sia SS : ~ » ¥ -haired woman, who in her attic win ! ae at the Confederates, and was shot at — me stopped by General Jackson. ‘There is not a word 0 : rw we this tale—no Confederate soldier can be found, or - : : living or dead, who ever knowingly fired at a womatt; i V have it from a gentleman who lived in Frederick or . pee! time Jackson’s men passed through, who says our mare : " not carry us within three or four blocks of the house w oe . Barbara lived—that no such thing was heard of as related by Mr. Whittier and no such thing happened. This — my informant, is a native of Maryland, and lived —_ - erick City during the war and since, and has held hig office under the State Government of Maryland. I met — Washington a few years since and he confirmed my be . respecting the “facts” as given by, the poet, that : was ; 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 t . Potomae at Williamsport, and were back in os an “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- EIGHTf£ENTH 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 riflee—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,” that our brigade commander, the noble yielded up his life as a holocaust to his country’s need! “No 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 under a heavy fire from the enemy’s guns of grape, canister and shell. Our regiment 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. Our 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 and it was here and chivalrous Branch 72 Norra Carorina 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 Regiments 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 Neck church, at Camp Gregg, named Son 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 N. ©.) 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 with 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 well 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 “ Javalry,” 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 Northern Virginia what Ney 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. brilli ant, 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 € Sounty, 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, ——————————— ELE ee a SS Sse Ss Sa ESOL SS SSSR RS SE 74 Nort Carortina Troops, 1861-65. killed; Captain Jno. W. McGill, vice eoomcamn tii yoo George, elected to the Legislature from Colum _ ow - and Captain Thos. J. Wooten to be Major, vice arry, ei moted. We bade farewell to Camp Gregg, and crossing e Potomac again at Shepherdstown, camped that — Bs Taking up our line of march again, gar aki - Berle nia, going towards TS — the “dogs of war gai oosed with redoubled fury. a a day’s fight at Gettysburg, we drove the aarp some distance and halted on a ridge, and lay elas _ Re night, and held this ridge until the third day s fig a ae day we were in position supporting our artillery, an un : the heaviest fire of the enemy’s field artillery that our brigade ver experienced during the entire war. - ‘Suddenly the oN artillery ceased and we were SS forward to charge the heights occupied by the enemy : an i lery and infantry. We faced the storm of toe cs = grape, shell and canister shot, and an incessant shower bie musketry, a long distance in an open field, all the see - reaching the heights only to find that we were flanked by , enemy and unsupported by our own troops, we were com pelled to fall back, leaving many of our best and eae ae dead and dying on this bloody and sanguinary field. : . remaining in line for a day we commenced our — : Hagerstown, where General Lee offered the enemy bat e se? equal terms, which they declined. We left ener hard rain, marching over a miserable road for Fa pe, Waters, and about sunrise the next morning, after - a ; night’s march, reached the old Potomac river again. ae ing the Potomac we were on Virginia soil again, and wi slight brush at Mine Run ended the campaign of 1863. _ General Grant had taken command of the Federal forces . the Spring of 1864, and crossed the river to meet us = . Wilderness. Here this battle commenced early in the a =i noon, severe fighting going on continuously until dark. i 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, ont forces sa huddled together in the utmost confusion, “cross and pile, PO kinks Caine ther Mirena DL init ks aera ca Mell ‘ 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 themarch 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, 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- we were 76 Norta Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. ing works around Petersburg. Suffice it to say that _ Eighteenth North Carolina Regiment was always at : e front, and always did its whole duty. We were ordered to cross the James river at Drewry’s Bluff again, pi 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, MacRae 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’ Farm 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 blood, 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 T 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 $ 3) ii i ait Ree M4 78 Norra Carotina Troops, 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. Tuomas H. Surron. Private Company I. Fayerrevitte, N. C., April 9, 1901. 4 2. Sol. Williams, Colonel. Geo. Pettigrew Bryan, 5. NINETEENTH REGIMENT. 8. Randolph H. Reese, Captain, Co. H. Captain. Co. G. 4. James N. Turner, Captain, Co. D. W. A. Graham, Jr., Captain, Co. K. NINETEENTH REGIMENT. (SECOND CAVALRY. ) By W.-A. GRAHAM, Caprain Company K. This regiment, with the first eight regiments of infantry, the Ninth North Carolina Regiment (First Cavalry), the Tenth Regiment (First Artillery), and the Thirty-third Reg- iment of infantry, comprised what was originally known as “State Troops.” They enlisted “for the war,” and the officers, both regimental and company, were appointed by the Goy- ernor. The volunteers enlisted for twelve months (except the Bethel Regiment—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 Regiments. The regiment, except Company A, assembled at Kittrell’s Springs in August and September, 1861. FIELD AND STAFF, S. B. Sprurrt, Colonel. Witt G, Rosinson, Lieutenant Colonel. Joun W. Wooprin, Major. Guitrorp Nicuotson, Adjutant. Capt. Joun §S. Hines, Quartermaster. Carr. Joun W. Moore, Commissary. Smrru, Surgeon. R. H. Surerons, Assistant Surgeon. E. P. Tucks, Sergeant Major. Company A—Cherokee and Adjoining Counties—Cap- tain, George W. Hayes; First Lieutenant, John V. B. if [ i EB 1| if if cae athena 80 Norra Carorina 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, Richard W. Allison and James N. Turner. Company C—Gates und Hertford Counties—Captain John G. Boothe; First Lieutenant, James M. Wynn; Second Lieutenants, Mills L. Eure and William P. Roberts. 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 Franklin Counties— Captain, Columbus A. Thomas; First Lieutenant, A ed Biss oy 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 Counfy—Captain, Louis E. Sat- terthwaite; First Lieutenant, William Satterthwaite; Sec- ond Lieutenants, Samuel S. Whitehurst and George P. Bryan. Company H—Bertie and Northampton 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. O. Brvan and J. S. Ritter. 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 © and H), under Captain Boothe, to Neuse River, below New 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 infantr The Colonel favored this, but the company officers objected si it was putting the men inte 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 New Bern. Company A had come from Asheville the fifth squadron (Companies E and K) received hieoes 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. G. 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 asa whole. It picketed the roads to New Bern, the first via Tuscarora, the second via Dover Swamp and the Third via Trenton and near Pollocksville. 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 Teinforcement, except a few “couriers,” in twenty miles. Each company in turn had a picket tour of about ten days on ri of the roads, and frequently the horses were not unsad- ed for re that time. It frequently rained nearly every 82 Nortu Carotina 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-barreled 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 ©, 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 Foscue’s, in Jones County, on the Dover Swamp road, fourteen miles from New 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 ©. Pegram came with him. Adjutant Nicholson became Lieutenant of Company A. is Kinston SNane's Ferry A FLAG OF TRUCE. 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 B Fascue or ites | \ Troops, and Captain Theodore J. Hughes, formerly Commis- Liew? ee ae : : i } aes ““ a EE Lowiie 0. \ sary of the regiment and afterwards Purser of the “Ad YE —- \ t- Vance” during most of her life as a blockade-runner, arrived, Pollocksville.» = 2 SS . i _ carrying communications under “flag of truce” to General ase . SS \] Burnside, commanding the United States forces at New Apt €2. " Fi 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 4] cine get the dust out and with a corn cob and spittle, endeavored piiene” pobre ae : Va ff | to “shine” my boots. After dinner (about 12:30 p. m.) we Wise Fork » ‘Reserve, . i i andk rehief | Batle Ground March 1362. Gilles started; a Corporal and two men with a white h e 2 Lt.Col. Burgnyn's Line of Retreat 3 Federal Outpost Fatal, [ste Bah \\ on a pole as the “flag of truce” going about three hundred ™~ Vip Bey ae \ yards in front, the escort—about fifteen men—and the mes- *MISHE'S NEAR NEW BERN 6 \, sengers following. The advance was halted at Deep Gully, 20 NCCavalry nine and a half miles from New Bern, by the Federal out- een wager: post. This was the week of the “Seven Days’ Fights” around j Richmond. We received our mail for the week by Colonel Martin, containing papers giving accounts of the battles; SKIRMISHES NEAR NEW BERN N.C. Be, cio. \ MARCH TO JULY 1862. ff ~ M id 84 Nortu Carotina TROOPS, 1861-65. hich, it will be remembered, were all in our favor. ine ticak had brought several copies with him and we g — eee ld nefore starting, to carry the good news wl . Sarna ha them among the officers and Saree iB . ticularly favorable item in the papers. - a sional: 0 hour we mounted an ambulance and Jolo ~ Seater us, informed us that his orders :* : Bal biaatolded and requested us to tie our handke at over bs eyes. Colonel Martin remarked that he Lat f i for Colonel Mix to tie his as it might a Bs i time when not desired and have the appear — op Shoe | bad faith. Captain Hughes and I also adop oe , and Colonel Mix tied all our handkerchiefs. < eee an hour landed us at General Burnside’s pie uarters. It was now about half past 4 o’clock. eee Bovsiside, after reading papers brought Seer oe a ; i ers. a es oe ae 6 "Colonel Mix’s sie ete Colonel Mix afterwards came in and General ae = said to him he understood he had some late eee ies Mix said “Yes,” and he would send them in. ¢ Se catia side made some remark about not caring aie aie ser it; which was but a poor attempt to conceal his des Peel Side apologized to us for our eS He said: “General Foster was temporarily in oa oa ss it was by his orders; that he never required it. pei “i oe thought he was ready to _ se —_ being in hi to come on and try it. ; Se Ape of matters was that General see had been ordered, with Generals Parke and Reno, to o ; force McClellan in Virginia. Several regiments, wer = from Morehead City during the afternoon, were mare gr y in order to make the impression on us that the troops at es Bern were being reinforced. I was surprised to a a oe many white straw hats worn by the men. Genera an Holden, Company F, had his arm broken, i ‘s ee his men to make him a sling of his scabies ie ‘ih B b ? p its great los es at anover efore mentioned both in rison killed. nes = es Bes just here that the regiment never entirely ‘el i Hanover. Some of its d from the blow it received ee 4 tn ae h, 1865; hence its losses covere officers and men were exchanged 0 . . n were smaller than those of the other regiments of the brigade f the s reported at the time; but I am sure that the pee as Nineteenth was as great, if not greater, than that ot any idered. i if numbers are to be consi = ob a return. In the night attack made by a part of x the brigade under the command of Colonel W. ts ve er Ninth North Carolina (First Cavalry) in : - : ee teenth was part of the attacking column, an = pene remember that it was here that Dr. ante * brome: oe Clarke County, Virginia, and Surgeon of the i ier the Regiment, mistook Colonel Dalghren, a Union Jie aa as dd had quite a conference with him before his mistake. oh ye was commissioned Major of the regiment 1n March, 1864, i i f General Grant. in May began the Wilderness campaign 0 “ ent pe regiment to my front, the Ninth Virginia, I think it v : ; si he further said to me: ‘‘Roberts, you know what to do, he hi st be held.” fe hee division was soon withdrawn by some miscar- riage of orders, as I afterwards learned, and ye was en a long before the enemy advanced in great number s upo aoe tle command, but it stood up against this onslaught as ~— brave men can. At one time the regiment was —— surrounded, and its annihilation seemed complete, but in : very nick of time up dashed the Ninth N orth € eae bs by the gallant Colotel W. H. Cheek, who finally — - my wishes and put his regiment where I suggested at oe be put, and by his action I was enabled to extricate my men. But our loss was enormous; more than thirty officers and men killed in a few minutes. Captain L. R. Cowper, of Company C, and Captain George P. Bryan, of Company G, sae: among the killed. They were both brave officers and ge i soldiers, and their loss was a sad blow to the regiment. Cap- tain Cowper and I had left home together—had been non- ihe hone innn kc geo asic di NINETEENTH REGIMENT. 105 commissioned officers together, and he was my personal friend ; always jolly and in splendid humor, and ever begging me to take care of myself if I wished to live; but always in- sisting that no Yankee bullet had ever been molded to earry 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 F arm, 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 ecay- alry began to press me and there were a number of mounted charges given and received duri ng the day, but 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 Nineteenth 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 tear 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 Norro Carona Troops, 1861-’65. NINETEENTH REGIMENT. 107 of partial rest I addressed myself to gemma — drill and dismounted dress parade every a, u — were wearing out, or rather the regiment was, trom me as work during the previous campaigns, and Re maa oe way was made in filling up our greatly deplete shee KS. thsi the men were cheerful and apparently happy, =~ ec them enjoyed the winter in their comfortable quarters nea oe February, 1865, I received my scale as a Brigadier-General, and was assigned to the em “6 Dearing’s Brigade, he having been transferred to the briga of General Rosser. General W. H. F. Lee “Roberts, I think my division in the army, , the division commander, said to me: division equal, if not superior, to any 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 when 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 reginients of equal merit, all North Carolinians and Virginians. The bearing of both officers and men for the most ae while I commanded the Nineteenth was all T could wish, a : there was much individual gallantry displayed by both, ie time has blunted my memory and I regret that I cannot recal the names of all whom I would be glad to mention in see sketch, written from memory, after the passage of more than ars. ee a3 say that in the beginning the regiment did not eae the same thorough military training that the First Cava ry (Ninth North Carolina) had, as well as other oS commanded by old army officers. Its first — er, though a splendid and courteous gentleman, and a pe: man, was made Colonel for political reasons, and this made a great difference. It went to meet the eueines sei poorly armed and equipped. But I am glad to bear hye timony to the fact that in the campaigns from 1 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. Meee T 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, 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. Norru Carotina Troops, 1861-65. APPENDIX. My brigade was made sep oie EER i Cavalry), the Sixteen ee the ean Regiment of poe’ wheres: a part of the last named regiment being on detac ne see ‘ The Staff Officers assigned to me were as follows A — Caprary Tueopore S. Garnett, of Virginia, Assis aces ay Covenenour, of North Carolina, Inspec- Bra Jas. E. Wess, of Alabama, Ordnance eaten Lizutenant W. P. Honcomssn, of Virginia, Aide-de es I assumed command of the brigade : Be: greatly wanting in organization and discipline, bu be : material was equal to any brigade in both i men, and it behaved with exceptional gallintry r 7 the time our lines were broken at Petersburg un . we finally surrendered at Appomattox; especia y : Namozine Creek, on 3 April, a part of it stood a firmly as the immortal 300 at Thermopyle, their a and splendid courage stemming the tide of a great — and saving a part of our cavalry from an poll eae pee In fact, the little brigade did more than its share ro . White Oak road to Appomattox, and on the morning of the surrender it was ordered to the front on the right of our = It faithfully and bravely responded to the last eall, and wit : the remnant of the Nineteenth North Carolina, took the las 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 - General Fitzhugh Lee, commanding the cavalry, pie 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, mained with his ordnance train to the last, and Cap Coughenour, whose courage was ever conspicuous, was gerously wounded near me not far from J etersville, while delivering to me a message. General, Captain Theodore S. Garn brave to a fault, faithful and loyal the last; and although a mere boy, nerve rendered me valuable servi re- tain dan- Va., and My Assistant Adjutant- ett, was ever by my side, , and he was with me to his wise counsel and steady ce always. W. P. Roszerts. Victoria, B. C., 81 Marca, 1897. TWENTIETH REGIMENT. 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 dream, “‘too bright to last,” have sealed their lips and refused to speak How can even a sketch be made? I will not attempt to make a display of imaginary history, embellished by thirty-odd years of afterthought, or supply the deficiencies of facts or memory by substituting cireum- stances which are more pleasing than actual. Such facts as I ean 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 TENTIETH REGIMENT. : ; TWE 3. John 8. Brooks, Lieut.-Colonel. smallest part of that which ought to be written of the noble 3. John 8. , Lieut.-C 1. T. F. Toon, Colonel. 4. P. A. Smith, Captain, Co. A. Twentieth, North Concttke, 2. Nelson Slough, Lieut.-Colonel. i 5. C. B. Denson, Captain, Co. E. 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: Carrain Jno. 8. Brooxs, Brunswick Guards. Caprain J. B. Sranztey, Columbus Guards No. 1. 112 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. Caprartyn Witt1aM H. Toon, Columbus Guards No. 2. Caprain B. Samrru, Columbus Guards No. ae ue Caprarn Netson Stove, (a veteran of the Mexican wa arrus Guards. a B. Arwett, Cabarrus Black Boys. Captaty C. B. Denson, Duplin Greys. Carrarn Uz. Cox, Sampson No. 1. Captain C. L. Cuzsnut, Sampson No. 2. Captraty Atex. Farson, Sampson No. 3. 18 June, 1861, the organization of the regiment took Late by the election of: Colonel; Alfred Iverson, of —_— rat Commandant; Lieutenant Colonel, Frank pane s oF son County, N. C.; Major, W. H. Toon, of ie ae = ty, N.C. ; Adjutant, R. P. James, of Duplin ee . a Cantina Quartermaster, R. S. Harris, of Calareds eae promoted from Company B; Captain Scape a - McDonald, of Company B; a oe oS ‘ son County; Assistant Surgeons, W. b. 4 eae ea and J. D. Pureell, of Sampson els : Chaplains, Rev. J. A. Sprunt, of Sampson Vou; an s . L. A. Bickle, of Cabarrus County; Sergeant Major, D. J. rst, of Duplin County. and go ahead.’ Just then George Turner, of — : found a gun. He gave it to me and I overtook you, still 1 : the lead.” I remember the circumstances and the Sane = spiring conduct of Jesse Pounds. After the battle reste . the Little Church at the forks of the road in rear. We w er relieved by General A. P. Hill’s troops. May 3, about sunrise, we moved forward with the second line, and soon ae pe gaged, owing to our front becoming uncovered. This : — rious fighting, a perfect storm of shells and a mist o fe rs balls. Here I saw the two Wilsons, of Company F, ki ee the brother saving the watch from his brother just killed, fa : on his body dead; twins in birth, twins in death. I see one wound early in the morning and before 10 o ata two others, and left the field and regiment in comman of Lieutenant-Colonel Slough. I was there long enough to witness the cool and daring bravery of Lieutenants Oliver Williams, Company ©, McQueen Coleman, Com- pany K; Lieutenant E. W. Collins, Company D; Major J; S. Brooks, Sergeant Hawes, Corporal M. M. Harrelson, MeD. Ward, Dan Coleman, George Goodman, ——- Arch Laughon, Company F, and many others. Y ea, 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; -— poral Richard Faulk, Company ©; D. R. Ellis, Company B; Benjamin F. Bl R. Bradford, J. TWENTIETH ReGIM ENT, 119 Josiah Hudson, Compan and Thomas A. Morris, roll of honor. The next movement led us to th Ist, 2nd and 8rd, 1863. twenty-nine killed and nin y H; Newberne Tew, Company a fs Company K, were placed upon the e field of Gettysburg, J uly The reports of the battle give ety-three wounded in the Twen- General Iverson reports 500 men of his 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.” Nearly 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 Hagerstown, 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 House 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 N orth 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, ackwelder, Company A; Paul Faggart, Jno. A. Bradford, M. C. Cline, Company B; Lieu- 120 NortH Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. tenant Oliver Williams, Company ©; Jno. Killet, Company E; W. J. Cotten, 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 November in the trenches at Morton’s Ford; 27 November moved out of camp, marched to Locust Grove, skirmished all day. By order from General Johnston I threw 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 Run 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 North 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. (Generel 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 North 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: : HeapQuaRrTERSs, Army Norruern VIRGINIA, May 16, 1864. Str :—Yesterday evening the enemy penetrated a part of our line and planted his colors upon the temporary breast- ne ESERIES ERRNO mnee 121 Louis T. Hicks, 2d Lieut. Lemuel Hodges, 3d Lieut N. C., April 20th, 1861. R. E. Lex, General. Hon. Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. It is just, in this connection, to bear witness to the d bravery of Brigadier-General Johnston, Lieutenant- Davis, and Major Rob. Alston a, in that same ch aring Colonel , of the Twelfth North Carolj- arge. On the 11th raining, muddy, disa- greeable, under ordinary circumstances, but especi soldier with very scanty means of comfort. aroused before light, could see; CONFEDERATE GRAYS. oe ft ard Company E, 20th N. C. Regiment of Infantry. (Afterwar ally so to a On the 12th, precipitated into the battle before we met the successful enemy his temporary triumphs, the first yoll flame made doubly visible by the dar of the enemy and lighted up the space between. see George Stepps in the mortal combat, with the « of one of the advancing regiments, and Major Jno. leap wildly into the air, grasp his side, and f ing the Twentieth North Carolin ever engaged in. ers of our att = = = ° Ss) a} 2 =] A 8 uo] o a a Ss oc 3 > a s a 8 ° (6) in the first moments of ey we fired the sheet of kness and fog, met that C. B. Denson, Captain. R. Pryor James, 1st Lieut. I can now slor-bearer S. Brooks all while urg- a to the hottest conflict we We lost no ground, however, but, with oth- acking column, regained our breastworks and remained fighting until 9 o’clock at night, when we were with- drawn. Late that evening, General Johnston was w. I also received a shot in the leg, tenant George Bullock’ This, however, dis Sennen ee ea ee screener ee ounded. after it passed through Lieu- s coat sleeve without wounding him. abled me only for a few days. Adjutant 122 NortH Caro.tina 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 Seeond 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 Natural 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 Office, 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, ete. For some time we destroyed railroads and marched a countermarch. 20 July we had an affair with Averill and Crook, in which we were literally run over. ‘This was near Winchester. [ 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, Ramseur’s division was not. We held our own until ordered to retreat. arly 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 N orth Carolina Regi- 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 F itzhugh 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 (1 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 q 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 tome. 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: “TI hated 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: Rey. Captain D. K. Bennett, Company G, who has passed over the river since writing me on the subject ; Lieutenant Oliver Wil- liams, Fair Bluff, N. 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. ©; 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, N. Ops Jesse J. Pounds, Company G, Hamlet, N. 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 mention 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 MeMillan Toon, daughter of Ronald MeMillan, 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 North Carolina. After enlistment he returned to Wake Forest Col- lege and graduated June, 1861. June 17, 1861, elected First 126 Norra Caronina 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 Regiment. 31 May, 1864, appointed Brigadier-General, and 4 June assigned to command of Johnston’s North 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, N. 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 7 August, 1848. He was severely wounded in the leg, the effects 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 November, 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, 8. C. in 1900. John 8. Brooks, Captain Company G, born in Greenville, Pitt Count, 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. 2 GA § promoted to Lieutenant- time of his death He was signally honored b e was y General Lee on 10 May, 1864 zd will appear by correspondence published. haat yy all ee 0 ane et honored in death, his dirge was sadly, sweetly shan y his comrade i ick © ae Bea re @ in arms, Brunswick County’s Bard, Names deserving to be written on th i , € same page: Lieuten- ant J. H. Dosier and Lieutenant Oliver Mercer, both of iste pany G; Lieutenant Oliver Williams, Company C, now livin at Fair Bluff, Columbus County, N. ©. , Colonel, which position he held at the Tuos. F. Toon. Rauzieu, N. C., 9 April, 1901. 1, 2. Robert F. Hoke, Colonel. R TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 8. John K. Connally. Captain, Co. B. t. Wi y i 30. P. W. Wharto in, Co. E. 4. R. E. Wilson, Captain, Co Be ene sei Wo ie 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 smal] 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 North Carolina Reg- iment was organized and mustered into the C Jonfederate 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 stern 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, N. 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 0 Nort Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. oo iy pesca te ‘ 1 Lewis. Its Field and Staff, Company Of- inginia by way of Swift Run Ga gs Hoke, Godwin and Lewis. its Jackson, when the immortal “Valley Campaign” was begun, . . ior to none. i < and file—were inferior ficers—rank and fi which made General Jackson and his command famous. His a great deeds have bee THE REGIMENT ARRIVES AT MANA i , mid cheering and The regiment left Danville 15 July mid - ar ief dies, arriving at Richm ing of handkerchiefs by the ladies, = waving of handke t as ee the an evening; 17 July it was ordered to = P ee ; Re. y 7 D . Jf a eral Beauregard, at Manassas. While en es Se 5 x ; = oa ' a we had a considerable wreck—caused by the tree L Ss is € j ‘ he rain standing engineer who deserted his ngine—leav ing t 2 ’ he track in the night, where another train soon gee ome ees it disabling about twenty of the regiment. hag me oe aut the regiment arrived at Manassas ear ee ue of the 18th. Immediately the Seosat! = — in double quick time to our position at ates ee “eee B g this being the centre of the Confedera oe Sone Hee the youtmcat was vigorously agen Om pees batteries, but was not ae a ag tinued to hold the same position on Si co am first battle of Mansassas was fought a ‘ a the Confederates, which electrified the = 10 - = ene: a the rout, we pursued the enemy severa nie “ar pete were going right into Washington, but w dered to retrace our steps. IN CAMP AT BULL RUN. where After this battle, we went into came on Ps Wee the regiment suffered greatly from oer ecu ce the regiment was sent to Broad Run Sta ey nassas, and there October it went into winter quarters ie 1 win. ‘regiments, Trimble’s Brigade was formed of the fo a ‘ Gaiolinis viz: Twenty-first Georgia, Twenty-first 1 "Shortly after- Fifteenth Alabama, Sixteenth Pesta eod-this Twelfth wards, the latter regiment was Fitts ieveutyient Regi- Georgia Regiment taking its emai i winter in March mont after doing arduous picket duty : a ee to Gas broke up winter quarters and an pa a to the Valley of donsville, Va. From there it was orderec ten. Around stood several I enemy. Many Federals and Confederate and dying around me. sword and cheering on his men w but did not leave the field. mortally wounded, but My heart still bleeds w n expressed by orator, sung by the immortalized in Statuary, and emblazoned on canvas. THE BATTLE OF WINCHESTER. On 24 March, 1862, the regiment was engaged at the great battle of Winchester where General B defeated with great loss of m Just previous to the battle, 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 fect storm of canister and minie b cross-firing upon us, valor that stands unriy day was won with the charge. en, ar a per- alls from right and left— But the glorious old regiment with aled, swept everything before it. T most exalted courage and desperate It was a gallant charge and a gallant defense. The enemy was completely routed, with great slaughter and driven beyond the Potomac. a he A FIELD OF CARNAGE. The writer was severely wounded the sight which there presented it and left on the field, and self can never be forgot- nieces of artillery deserted by the s lay dead, wounded Colonel Kirkland, while waving his as shot through the thigh, Lieutenant-Colonel Pepper lay still cheering his men on to Victory. hen I think of our revered Captain J. 132 Norra Caroma Troops, 1861-’65. ierced by half tally wounded, pierce ecock, who was mor : ney or ‘more: A braver or truer man than bcs Z ; aver was never sent to the field of cee i or se 1 tery at Winch 5 er sleep in the ceme — : y hae comrades. Peace to their ashes. nen tea! be i i rounded—ten men ki a officer killed and one woun : te Bonsdot The loss of the other companies of ea et was proportionately great. I am unable to give the ex act number. EIGHT BALLS IN HIS BODY. : . Bee Never were men more mangled or pierced Ww _ po = ay balls. The Confederate and Federal medical sey SW fe - Seernily interested in Captain John W. Bones sage Be : ier i ight minie balls—sever f vho was pierced with eig oe gicuch sie, bowels—yet recovery was compete and eens Ditch the entire war; he now lives, a Ai Seen = sen: ‘ i i ira i This conflict, its du in the State of Kansas. { eet ered, and the number engaged, equals or ae : aes iest battles of the war. And yet, an eminent lograp hos describing the movements of General Jackson's oe. = poe i North Carolina troops in th but one allusion to the Nor oe . venty-first North Carolina Reg ords: “Here the Twenty 7 ss ibet heavily.” When at the same time the ne f ciation of Winchester, Va., said that their ap 25 se es soldi North Carolina than aves of more soldiers from ie thick State, a fact which might be said * = ph ue = i in Virgini ‘herefore, I hope I wi é ing ground in Virginia. T ey deaal for going into detail in describing this battle. UP AND DOWN THE VALLEY. i hed After the battle of Winchester the regiment was PUT: and countermarched up and down oe valley pay td lca i ily i ts of no mino engaging almost daily in comba a enim cia odds. Fought in the battles of Newtown, Ha gains Twenty-First REGIMENT, 133 and assisted in sending General Shields down the Luray Val- ley, completely routed and demoralized poor picture of the series of brilliant v campaign, in which the Twen ment left on record, deeds rarel with victories, shedding lustre and the Southern arms. defeated, in repeated engag armies, sweeping dow lanche on General M. cession of brilliant e the enemy under the river. spicuou - Ihave given but a ictories of this valley ty-first North Carolina Regi- y equaled, her banners covered and glory on North Carolina General Jackson’s Corps having ements, no less than four Federal n from Port Republi, fell like an ava- cClellan’s right. Then ensued that suc- ngagements which resulted in sending protection of his gun-boats on the James Tn all these engagements the Twenty-first bore a con- s part, losing heavily; 9 August, 1862 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. » engaged in GENERAL TRIMBLE'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- & to ? . nificant. We then bivouacked on the battle field, which we knew how to appreciate, havin been almost continual] pp ) marehing and fighting for several days. IN POPE'S REAR. The next day we received orders to prepare three d ays’ ra- 20 Au- risonburg, and Cross Keys. At the latter place it pleased Gen- i t eral Trimble to compliment Colonel Fulton Set i this the regiment cros for its gallant conduct. After t ? the Shenacndiah river, engaged in the battle of Port Republic, tions, and be ready to march at a moment’s warning. gust, 1862, engaged the enemy on the Rappahannock, crossed the river and again encountered him. 22 August, recrossed 134 Nortu Carotina Troops, 1861-65. the river, took up a line of march, passing through a oughfare Gap near Manassas and appeared in Pope’s ns * destroying several trains of cars and immense stores at Ma assas. The regiment was engaged in the series of es ones the Second Manassas and J ackson’s Corps ee days Pope’s entire army, repulsing every — ete slaughter. During this fight the Twenty-first — — pulsed a half dozen or more of the most tremenc ie set that were ever volleyed and thundered at the hea : a man. Here we fought face to face with men — bats whiskey, determined to crush General J ater 3 Pea engaged the enemy all day until afternoon, =~ “ see Longstreet came up when Pope’s army was driv en sy! . Bull Run. After these engagements the regiment was /o de combat. A SUNDAY BIVOUAC. The next day, 31st, we went into bivouac and meee oe day Sunday, saddened by the absence of many, many, OF ov : brave and beloved comrades, who had fallen in the esi 0. conflicts through which we had just passed. Among pa who fell was our beloved Colonel, Saunders = = ton, a man who was absolutely without fear, and who pea dently believed he was not to be killed in battle. 1 Septem e we took up line of march to Ox Hill, where we again aa pled in a death struggle with our old enemy. When = r met them, the Federals seemed greatly surprised anc Be fused, and the carnage in their ranks was eae a: ee Major-General Kearney, of the Federal army, was kille _ fell into our hands. During this battle a terrific thun a storm prevailed, the rain coming down in torrents, sai ge = quite difficult to keep our powder dry. The Federa : bao again overwhelmingly defeated, and hurled into their forti cations around Washington. Our loss in this engagemen was comparatively small. CAPTURE OF HARPERS FERRY. 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 Septembe that brilliant and bloody battle. the line of the Twenty-first Regim during that fight. reforming, r and engaged in Although sorely pressed, ent was broken only once After falling back a short distance and 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 p lains 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. CHANCELLORSVILLE, In May, 1863, engaged in the great battle of Chancellors- ville, assisting in the attack on General Sedgwick’s flank, forcing him into the bend of the R appahannock 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 officers and men. At this time the brigade was composed of the following regiments: Sixth, Twenty-first, Fifty-fourth, Fifty-seventh North (¢ Yarolina 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 M with many thousand prisoners and a great m artillery, many thousand small arms, wagon tr stores. The loss of the regiment very small. artinsburg any pieces of ains and many and entire command was GETTYSBURG. We then passed over the Potomac and went to Little York, 136 Nortu Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. Pa. 1 July the two armies again _ iter = Gettysburg. On this day as regiment reese net fae very decided victory over the enemy, driving = es Se. seek Gettysburg. On the rower ra! we made an assault on the enemy’s fortified line an 2 - = In the general history which will go down cone er : ns : course nothing more than a brief and cursory re TE om or will be made, to the service of any eal —— Bedi it is due this gallant brigade (then Hoke’s) as a “0 bi who lived not to see the clouds and darkness of other mde to refer briefly to the glorious services of as brave = se : men as the sun ever shone upon. I will in wie ste e : fe attempt to show how those indomitable eager = a themselves amid the wild carnage of that Berieners e . rs impressions of the writer, of that memorable day as PEI picture of mere fancy, but one of actual experience. Me : = I still hear, through the long vista of years, the acre “I : = those awful accents of battle. After a lapse of t vit 4 cp : years, I recall not without emotion, the incidents of = me tle which occurred on that second day at Gettysburg, an while life lasts, will cherish my remembrance of the mag nificent courage displayed by our command. THE ASSAULT ON CEMETERY HEIGHTS. After lying all day under a July sun, suffering beng st tense heat, and continually annoyed by the enemy’s : ae shooters from the heights, from sheer desperation, we a with delight the order to again meet the veteran foe, Mages less of his advantage in numbers and position. — Really, ne enemy’s artillery, reopening at the going down of the sun, : like music upon our ears. At the time the assault was ret “ the enemy had massed heavily in our front, and placec a teries in the rear of his own lines, which were used with fear- ful effect against us, firing over the heads of his own per The ground we had to pass over was ascending, but the —_ advanced in double quick time, and with a cheer — — the rifle pits in advance of the enemy’s main line a ins 8, killing and capturing a few of them—the greater part taking Armies, that Private Oliver P. Rood Twenty-First. Ream ENT. 137 refuge behind the main line of breastworks. ing was desperate, but like an unbroke column rushed on, facing a con‘inual stream of fire. After charging almost to the enemy’s line, we were 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. Here the fight- n wave, our maddened SLAUGHTER OF COLOR BEARERS. Four out of five of the color-bearers flag, went down to a heroic death. went down it was taken up and fl enemy, holding of horror. who dared hold up that As often as the flag aunted in the face of the an impregnable position. The hour was one Amid the incessant roar of cannon, the din of musketry, and the glare of bursting shells making the d ness intermittent—adding awfulness 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 under 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. ark- LOSS OF OFFICERS 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 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 Union and Confederate was awarded Isaac FE. 138 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. a medal for conspicuous bravery in capturing a flag of the Twenty first North Carolina Regiment 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 IF, 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 flag, 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 Rood claims to have captured the flag in a charge on our lines, 3 July, it is evident that he did not capture the flag in battle at all, as our regiment was not engaged after 2 July. Therefore, it is conclusive that he picked up the flag 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 regiment, 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 TwEntTy-First REGIMENT. 139 the brigades of Hoke and Hayes, compelling them to retire, after having victory in their grasp. or details, see General 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 PLYMOUTH. The regiment was engaged in the memorable battle of Ply- mouth, N. C., 20 April, 1864, where it successfully assaulted the enemy’s fortified position, the entire garrison surren- dering to General 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 our brigade charged, time after time, with persistent courage and stern determination. 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. INCIDENTS OF DARING COURAGE. 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 officers 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 O. 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 - Nort Carotina 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 Roanoke river, sank or ran off the Federal gun boats. Then, after a brief and futile resistance to our combined 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 BERN AND DREWRY'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 HARBOR. 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 up 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 down in battle. General Ramseur then re- 1. W. W. Kirkland, Colonel, 4. Alexander Miller, Lieut.-Colonel, TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 2. Saunders Fulton, Colonel. 5. W.J. Pfohl, Major. 3. B. Y. Graves, Lieut.-Colonel. 6. James F. Beall, Major. ° ‘. W. G. Foy, 1st. 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, fled 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 from 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 Nortu Carortina Troops, 1861-’65. line broken. 20 September engaged the 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 SURPRISED. 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 ORDEAL. 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 Ramseur, Twenty-First REGIMENT. 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 demand it.” Never was greater heroism displayed by both men and officers than in this terrible retreat. Then the enemy, maddened by recent defeat, and flushed 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 Norrn Carotina Troops, 1861-’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 MARCH. A few days after this the Army of Northern 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 North Carolina Regiment 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. FIELD AND STAFF. W. W. Kirxtanp, Colonel commanding, June, 1861, pro- moted to Brigadier-General. Rosert F. Hoxg, Colonel, promoted to Major-General. Gaston Lewis, Colonel, promoted to Brigadier-General. S. F. Forron, Colonel, killed. James M. Leacu, Lieutenant-Colonel, resigned. W. L. Scorr, Lieutenant-Colonel, resigned. R. K. Pepper, Lieutenant-Colonel, killed. B. Y. Graves, Lieutenant-Colonel, resigned. W. 8S. Rank, Lieutenant-Colonel, prisoner. Avexanvber Mixter, Lieutenant-Colonel, killed. J. M. Ricnarpson, Major, resigned. W. J. Prout, Major, killed. James F. Bratt, Major. Witt Foy, Adjutant. a ee re ete RE Ame EE ARI sre EE IR ER TET REET PRA ue neem em NT NRE RENTER ae eaiae en = — eee a nro akeeehalctiat oda ated ecidhid helatabediinin ana aeeenail aaa iaaaaaemieieaalll sail etia each Twenty-First REGIMENT. 145 List or Caprains or Twenty-rirst Norta CaroLina Reeiment—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. Norr.—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. SpecraL Mentron.—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 isno 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 6f 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 found that he could go into the 10 146 Norra Carorina Troops, 1861-’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 Ram “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 came 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 US an Be 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. Jamus F. Bratt. Lixwoop, N. C., 9 April, 1901. ADDITIONAL SKETCH TWENTY-FIKST KEGIMENT. By LIEUTENANT L. E. POWERS, Company A. BATTLE OF PORT REPUBLIC. Shields oceupied a commanding 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 New 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 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. their guns at “support arms.” The Colonel walking back- 1. Samuel C. James, Captain, Co. D. 4. John W. Miller, Captain, Co. D. wards in front of them, seeing that they preserved a perfect ni H. Miller, Captain, Co. A. 5. L.'T. Whitlock, 1st Lient., Co. C. alignment just as though they were simply drilling. The J. E. Gilmer, Captain, Co. M. 6. J.D. Melver, Sergeant, Co. A. Pe eer ae ‘ 7. J.O. Blackburn, Captain, Co. G. Georgians and Mississippians were lying flat on the ground, 148 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-’68. 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 RICHMOND. 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. Wewere packed in and on the cars almost like sardines in a box, and went whirling through the great Blue Ridge 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. BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR. 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 - . ata er Nt REND MEN SETTER APT CS ST RS RE ARITA : | 7 7 4 . f ; i - 4 3 i TweEnty-First REGIMENT. 149 surgeons would dress their wounds or amputate their limbs, 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. In 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 Norta Carottna Troops, 1861-’65. dle, which would seem to boast, “I am going to do something. IT am.” BATTLE OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN. Learning of the advance of this column, we broke ¢amp 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- eess of our men. As long as they stood and fired at each other the result was in great doubt; 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 Me- 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 flank. The march was a forced and vigorous one, 80 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 np erases ermine ececeerear p T REeaCANOSR eT 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 could 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 railroad 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 up 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 Nort Carotina 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, cut 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 cars, 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 would 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-pound 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 times 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 opportunity 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 Norra Carorina 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 ~ mainder, again burning down Manassas warehouse full o: 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 Run 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 ee 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 te 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 McClellan’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 ahollow. 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 flashes 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 CAPTURE OF HARPER'S FERRY. One the morning of the 15th, 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 NortH Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. so mountainous, and on the crest of a ridge the enemy had a strong line of entrenchments heavily manned. General J stor 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 seale 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 ealled 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 maneuvering 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 field 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. Iam 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 Nortru CaroLtina TROOPS, 1861-65. forced by a fresh line) and jumping upon a stump, waved the 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 Ryer- son. BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 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 Yell,” 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 sinew nhc NR MORNIN TRE TT LI TN TTT NTT NE nN TT 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. Powrrs, Lieutenant Company A. Rutuerrorpton, N. C., 9 April, 1901. Norr.—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.—Eb. 1. Johnston J. Pettigrew, Colonel. 8. Graham Daves, 1st Lieut. and Adjt. TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT. 2. Thos. D. Jones. Captain, Co. A. 4. W. W. Dickson, 2d Lieut., Co. A. 5. Walter Clark, 2d Lieut. and Drill Master. TWENTY-SECOND KEGIMENT. By ADJUTANT GRAHAM DAVES. The Twenty-second Regiment of North Carolina Troops was organized in camp near Raleigh in July, 1861, by the election of the following Field Officers: J. Jounston Perrierew, Colonel, of Tyrrell County, then a resident of Charleston, S. C. Colonel Pettigrew had seen service with the forces in South Carolina, and commanded a regiment at the siege and capture of Fort Sumter by the Confederates in April, 1861. Joun O. Lone, Lieutenant-Colonel, of Randolph County, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Tuomas 8. Gattoway, Jr., Major, of Rockingham 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 Register published by the Adjutant- General of the State in November, 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 Norru Carona TROOPS, 1861-69. was called the “Caldwell Rough and Ready Boys” : Company B, of McDowell County, Captain Jas. M. Neal, the * McDow- ell Rifles” ; Company E, of Guilford County, Captain Colum- bus ©. Cole, the “Guilford Men” ; Company F, of Alleghany County, Captain Jesse F. Reeves, the “Alleghany True Blues” ; Company G, of Caswell County, Captain Edward M. Scott, the “Caswell Rifles”; Company H, of Stokes County, Captain Hamilton Scales, the “Stokes Boys” ; Company ds of Randolph County, Captain Shubal G. Worth, the Davis Guards”; Company K, of McDowell County, Captain Alney Burgin, the ‘““MeDowell Boys” ; Company L, of Randolph County, Captain Robert H. Gray, the “Uwharrie Rifles” ; Company M, of Randolph County, Captain John M. Odell, the “Randolph Hornets.” : Companies © and D, which, as before mentioned, were transferred to other regiments, were named: Company C, - Surry County, Captain Reaves, the “Surry Regulators ; Company D, of Ashe County, Captain Cox, the “Jefferson Davis Mountain Rifles.” 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; Rev. 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 numbered and designated the Twenty-second Troops. The change was made in the Adjutant General’s office at Raleigh to avoid confusion. With the exception of the “Bethel Regiment,” 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 been 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. Neal, 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 Seales, of Stokes County, was Captain of H Company, which numbered in all 200 men. I Company’s first Captain was Shubal G. Worth, ef 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 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. in Richmond. Remaining 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 1861-62, 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. No. 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 : Company A—Thomas D. Jones, Captain, 8 August, 1861; J. B. Clark, First Lieutenant, 8 August, 1861; Felix G. Dula, Second Lieutenant, 8 August, 1861; Wm. W. Dick- son, Second Lieutenant, 8 August, 1861. Company 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. Reeves, Captain, 10 September, 1861; John Gambol, First Lieutenant, 11 September, 1861; Horton L. Reeves, Second Lieutenant, 27 May, 1861; George Me. Reeves, Second Lieutenant, 27 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 N. Black- well, Second Lieutenant, 24 August, 1861. Company H—Hamilton Seales, Captain, 1 June, 1861; Ephraim 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. Allred, 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- son, 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 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-65. per, Joseph A. Hooper, Martin M. Wolfe, Robert W. Cole, Lieutenants: Andrew J. Busick, W. H. Faucett, Jas. H. Han- ner, John N. Nelson, O. C. Wheeler. Company F—Captains: Jesse F. Reeves, Preston B. Reaves, W. L. Mitchell, S. G. Caudle. Lieutenants: John Gamboll, N. A. Reynolds, David Edwards, Horton S. Reeves, Calvin Reeves, George G. Reeves, Calvin C. Carrier. Company G—Captains: Edward M. Scott, J. A. Burns, John W. Graves, Stanlin Brinchfield. Lieutenants: O. W. Fitzgerald, James T.. Stokes, Peter Smith, J. N. Blackwell, B. S. Mitchell, Martin H. Cobb. Company H—Captains: Hamilton Seales, 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: Robert Hanner, Eli H. Winningham, John H. Palmer, B. W. Burkhead, Wm. McAuley, Hamilton C. Gra- ham, Alex. C. McAllister, J. S. Robbins, R. A. Glenn, R. W. Winbourne. 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: Robert H. Gray, J. A. C. Brown, Lee Russell, Yancey M. C. Johnson. Lieutenants: Claiborn Gray, Wm. G. Spencer, E. C. Harney, Oliver M. Pike, Cal- vin H. Welborn. Company M—Captains: John M. Odell, Laban Odell, Warren B. Kivett, Columbus F. Siler. Lieutenants: J. M. Robbins, James M. Pounds, Henry ©. Allred, Lewis F. Me- Masters, 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 Reg- 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 North 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 Norta CaroLina Troops, 186]-’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 Robert 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 Adjutant 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 Mechanicsville, 26 June, in which Colonel Connor was badly wounded; at Ellison’s Mill; at Gaines’ Mill, 27 June, where it won the highest encomiums. General A. P. Hill says of it in his report of the battle: “The Sixteenth North Carolina, Colonel McEI- 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- TweEnTy-SECOND REGIMENT. 169 ished sharply. Lieutenant Robert 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, orOx 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 Burnside’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 nightfall. Shortly after Shepherdstown, Lieutenant-Colonel Gray re- joined the regiment, and Lieutenant J. R. Cole, previously 170 North Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. of the Fifty-fourth Regiment, was assigned to the Twenty- second as Adjutant. On 22 November, 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. 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 Regiment, oe Alfred M. Seales, had been added to Pender’s Bri- gade. The winter of 1862-63 was passed in picket and other duty on the Rappahannock 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. CO. 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 Chaneellorsville in May, 1863, the regiment was in TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT. 171 Jackson’s flank attack on Hooker, and throughout 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 officers 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 Regiment, and the most fatal. It went through the Mary- land campaign of 1863, and Gettysburg, with credit. General 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 support of Heth’s division, then under Pet- tigrew, in the famous charge on Cemetery Ridge. In this charge, Archer’s and Seales’ brigades occupied and held for a time 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 8S. 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, Adjutant; 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- TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT. ond Lieutenant, Wm. A. Tuttle, 25 April, 1863. . J.B. Clarke, 1st Lient.. Co. A. 3. §. F. Harper. Private, Co. A i i i . Sion H. Oxford, Ensign. 4. William? Abernathy, Private,Co. A. Company B—Captain ———; First Lieutenant, Robert ecu eumaaate' on chin A. Tate, 1 August, 1863; Second Lieutenant, George H. Gar- din, 11 May, 1863; Second Lieutenant, Samuel P. Tate, 1 August, 1863. 172 Norto Caronina Troops, 1861-’65. Company E—Captain, Robert W. Cole, 15 September, 1863; First Lieutenant, Andrew J. Busick, 15 September, 1863; Second Lieutenant, Oliver C. 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, Robert 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. Winborne, 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 November, 1863, on the Rapidan, 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 sieep,” 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 HARBOR—PETERSBURG. After Grant’s disastrous attack upon Lee at Cold Harbor in June,1864, 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 Richmond 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 Wilson’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. REAMS STATION. In his account of this action in August, 1864, Swinton errs in saying that three charges were made by the Confed- 174 Norra Carorina Troops, 1861-’65. erates, two 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 Regiment 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 Heth’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 186465, while the Twenty-second North 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 skirmish line or picket posts of the enemy op- posite his lines. General Scales detailed Captain C. Frank Siler, of Company M, of the Twenty-second North 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. Returning 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. Now, 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 the 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 could 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. SOUTHERLAN D'S STATION. An incident, well worth recording, happened near this sta- tion, after our troops had evacuated the works on Hatcher’s 176 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. Run. Colonel Galloway, of the Twenty-second Regiment, 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 ©. 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 Regiment 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 the 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 Regiment was in Wilcox’s Division, and was heavily engaged. _ The Twenty-second Regiment served throughout the war in the Army of Northern 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. Tn 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- SO Mg SIENA A ET tT Twenty-Seconp 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 by Corporal Thomas Cullen, 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 official corroboration of his own knowledge of the facts in the case: “Tn 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 flag while I commanded it, from 23 September, 1863, to Appomattox. “Very truly your friend, “Tromas S. GaLLoway, “Tate Colonel Twenty-seeond Regiment, N. C. Troops, In- fantry.” SoMERVILLE, TENN., 15 November, 1900. It may not be amiss to add that Corporal Cullen is reported 12 178 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. as stating that he “captured the flag of the Twenty-second or Twenty-eighth North 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 Regiment 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 Cullen’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 Cullen, 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 officers, 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. ©. Johnson, Company I; Columbus F. Siler, Company M. Lieutenants: Wm. A. Tuttle, Company A; Samuel P. Tate, Company B; Andrew J. Busick, Company E; W. ©. Orrell, Company E; Calvin H. Wilborne, Com- pany L. In Company F 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. No 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 vet “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:- 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 Appomattox 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. * & %-"Tament them nott No 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 North 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 Norru Carorina Troops, 1861-’65. 180 es the brave story of the part the reg ie} A o =| a ee o ol ° 2 » =I o £ a on oS _ o ma | m Ls | S oy q 4 eo = £ o no} ~~ oO PB ox — ct e Be) so + =) eo nm a4 hop mentous campaigns 0 a is < = st a < | 4 [a er} New Bern, N. C., 9 April, 1901. TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT. BY CAPTAIN V. E. TURNER, A. Q. M. H. GC. WALL, Serceant Company A. Up to the re-arrangement of the regimental numbers follow- ing the Confederate Conscription Act, which went into effect 17 May, 1862, this regiment had been known as the Thir- teenth Regiment of North 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- third. 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 TWEN mt 7 nen + ° . D. Johnston, Colonel oe ee were to elect their respective Line or Company Officers. The . Hoke, Colo 5 4. ©. C. Blacknall, Colone ° ‘ -H. Christie, Colonel, 5. J. W. Leak, Lisa Gotondl. Line Officers were, by balloting among themselves, ,to : 6._ E, J. Christi , ; : 7. Rev. Theophilus W. Moore, Chaplain, elect Field or Regimental officers. The enlistment for the was for twelve months; that of the “State the war lasted. It is hardly necessaxy to eins gh the OPE TEA ET Sees 1, Rk 2. J. 3 D “Volunteers” Troops” as long as 182 Nort Caroxtina 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 Richmond and Anson Counties there was a strong infusion of Highland Scotch, descendants of the stout-hearted, strong armed Culloden 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 war. 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 the 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 Run. 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. Company 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 County; 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 Lieutenant, Lincoln County; commissioned May 10, 1862. M. M. Hines, Second Lieutenant, Lincoln County; commissioned November 20, 1861; prisoner September 19, 1864. Company C—Montyomery 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 Nort Caroxtrna Troops, 1861-65. commissioned May 27, 1861; promoted and killed. John R. 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 D—Pee Dee Guards—Lewis H. Webb, Captain, of Richmond County; commissioned May 30, 1861; resign- ed. A. T. Cole, Captain, of Richmond 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, 8. C. James S. Knight, First Lieu- tenant, of Richmond County; commissioned May 30, 1861; killed at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863. Risden T. Nichols, First Lieutenant, of Richmond County; commissioned May 10, 1862; died in 1862. J. H. Chappell, First Lieutenant, of Richmond County. John W. Cole, Second Lieutenant, of Richmond County ; commissioned May 30, 1861. B. H. Covington, Second Lieutenant, of Richmond County; com- missioned May 30, 1861. W. C. Wall, Second Lieutenant, of Richmond County; commissioned October 17, 1861; pro- moted Captain Company F; wounded at Monacacy July 1864. James H. Chappell, Second Lieutenant, of Rich- mond County; commissioned October 10, 1862; severely wounded at Chancellorsville; captured. E. A. McDonald, Second Lieutenant, of Richmond County ; commissioned Oc- tober 10, 1862; severely wounded at Chancellorsville. Company E—Granville Plough Boys, Granville County— J. H. Horner, Captain, of Granville County ; commissioned June 5, 1861. B. F. Bullock, Captain, of Granville County ; commissioned E. E. Lyon, First Lieutenant, of gin Se nano ng tag ie rRe Teme yee gee spatan ines TE ELT NTN TI TL eR FR Ses NRE ETT rs PRN SY REE 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. R. V. Minor, Second Lieutenant, of Granville County; commissioned September 25, 1862. E. H. Lyon, Second Lieutenant, of Granville County ; commissioned November 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, S.C. A. S. Webb, Second Lieutenant, of Granville County ; commissioned May 10, 1862; resigned. Company F—Catawba Guards, Catawba County—M. I. McCorkle, Captain, of Catawba County ; commissioned June 6, 1861. W. C. Wall, Captain, of Richmond 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 June 6, 1861. G. P. Clay, Second 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 June 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 ; Paige ancien kt atl od ah SE RINNE EES CESS =e 186 NortH Carorina Troops, 1861-’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 June 27, 1862; pro- moted Assistant Quartermaster in 1863. TT. 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 County ; commissioned Au- gust 15, 1862; promoted and wounded. ©. 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. Ratchford, 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. 8. 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. N. A. Gregory, First Lieutenant, of Granville County; commissioned June 17, 1861; wounded and disabled at Chancellorsville. 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. R. 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 Lieu- 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 Lieutenant, 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 Lieutenant, of Lincoln County; commis- 188 NortH Carouina Troops, 1861-’65. sioned June 22, 1861. G. W. Hunter, Second Lieutenant, of Lincoln County; commissioned June 22, 1861. Daniel Reinhardt, 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. Fullenwider, 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 Rifles, 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 OFFICERS. Joun F. Hoxe, Colonel, of Lincoln County ; commissioned July 10, 1861. : Danie H. Curisrie, 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. Cuartus C. Buackxnatt, Colonel, of Granville County; commissioned August 15, 1863; wounded at Seven Pines; captured at Chancellorsville; wounded and captured at Get- tysburg; mortally wounded and captured at Winchester Sep- ener 19, 1864; died November 6, 1864. Wa. S. Davis, Colonel, of Warren County ; commissioned October 1864; transferred from Twelfth Regiment; wounded, Twenty-THIRD REGIMENT. 189 Joun W. Leak, Lieutenant-Colonel, of Richmond County ; commissioned July 10, 1861. Rost. D. Jounston, Lieutenant-Colonel, of Lincoln County; commissioned May 10, 1862; wounded at Seven Pines; wounded at Gettysburg; promoted Brigadier-General July, 1863; wounded at Spottsylvania. Daniet H. Curistiz, Major, of Granville County; com- missioned July 10, 1861; promoted. E. J. Curistran, Major, of Montgomery County; com- missioned May 10, 1862; killed May 31, 1862, at Seven Pines. Cuartes C. Bracknatt, Major, of Granville County; commissioned May 10, 1862; promoted from Captain of Company G. Isaac Jones Youne, Adjutant, of Granville County ; com- missioned 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 Frencu, Adjutant, of Yadkin County; commis- sioned June, 1863; killed July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg. Cuartes P. Powett, Adjutant, of Richmond County ;com- missioned July, 1863; killed May 9, 1864 at Spottsylvania Court House. Lawrence Evererr, Adjutant, of Richmond County; commissioned May 12, 1864. Epwin G. Creatuam, Assistant Quartermaster, of Gran- ville County; commissioned July 10, 1861, resigned Febru- ary, 1862. W. I. Evererr, Assistant Quartermaster, of Richmond County ; commissioned in 1862; resigned. Vines E. Turner, Assistant Quartermaster, of Granville County ; commissioned June, 1863. James F. Jounston, Assistant Commissary, of Lincoln County. Turoruitus Moors, Chaplain, of Person County; later Rev. Mr. Berry. 190 NortH Carotina Troops, 1861-65. Rosert I. Hicks, Surgeon, of Granville County; T. C. Caldwell, of Mecklenburg County, Assistant Surgeon; later Dr. Jordan, of Caswell County, killed at South Mountain. Wri F. Gitz, Sergeant-Major, of Granville County; killed July 1, 1862 at Malvern Hill. Cuartes P. Powe x, 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. Lowman, 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. Karly 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. seapaecmanitiienhionraeietomen eee Se ee seceriasonseahianiesiuerbenente tee TweEnNtTy-THIRD REGIMENT. 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 700 men, fresh on the 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 ears of bloody-bandaged wounded passed them the day before at Louisa Court House. The night spent on the hard car floors 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 went. The pile of amputated limbs, naked and whitened by the 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 during the 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 Wigfall, one and a quarter 192 Norra Carotina 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 Richmond wait- ing for transportation, rejoined us here. or several weeks encamped at this place, the regiment suffered exceedingly from the diseases which then, and even now, seem unescapa- ble by the unseasoned 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 Roads, 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. Near 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 Potomace—later upon the abandonment of that line of defense, as the Army of Northern Virginia. Tn 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. 1938 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. Not 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 RETREAT FROM 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 con- fusion of orders. Early was now acting as Major-General, in command of the Fourth division. Not 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 necessity 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 plur- der. Depots of supplies and the express office were fired. 13 194 Norta Carortina 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 Rappahannock. 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 North 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 exhaustless 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, we here took schooners for York- town, thirty miles below. THE PENINSULA CAMPAIGN. 8 April, one month after the beginning of the with- drawal from Manassas 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 17th, after nine days behind the TwentTy-THIRD REGIMENT. 195 breastworks, the boys had their first experience with cannon 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. C. 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: “Nought 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 breastworks 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 eonduct 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- ferred a prone position out on the open to the pits half filled 196 Nortu Caroxtina Troops, 1861-65. with water by the almost incessant rains. The trenches 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. No 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 mud 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 Yorktown 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 todo. For this purpose Captain C. C. 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 WILLIAMSBURG. 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 inconyeniently 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 Norra Carouina 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, ete., 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 more 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. McRae, 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. 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. General Joseph E. Johnston, in conversation with me (H. ©. Wall) several years after the war, placed the responsibility of the charge upon General D. H. Hill. He 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 cireum- 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 officers 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 Norra Caro.iina 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 Nicholson, 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 ho clung to the fortunes of the Confederacy to the bitter end, was over. TweEntTy-THIRD REGIMENT. THE REORGANIZATION. While camped on the banks. of the Chickahominy at Rar- rett’s Ferry, the regiment was re-organized. This was hast- ened in order to take advantage of a provision in the Conted- 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 officer:, 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 ranks 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, rormerly Captain of Company K, Lieu- tenant-Colonel; Ed. J. Christian, former First Lieutenant of TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT. Company ©, Major; Vines E. Turner, former Second Lieu- . H. Horner, Captain, Co. B. 4. V. E, Turner.Captain, Quart. Master. tenant in Company G, Adjutant. That night the officers is 2. Frank Bennett, Captain. Co. A. 5. At D Peace, Capt > i i x : 3. H. G. Turner, Captain, Go. H. 6. Geo T. paaeneiie castes: OS I. who had failed of re-election bade us farewell, took leave for 7. Jas. A. Breedlove. Captain, Co. G. Richmond and later sought, most of them, other positions in SE A Ee EP A EPO ST SST 202 Nort Carorina 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, N. C., 8 May, 1820. He was a graduate of the University of North 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, 1874. THE BATTLE OF SEVEN PINES. The retreat from the peninsula and up the south banks of the Chickahominy, 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 Heintzelman’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 down the Williamsburg road 30 May, several men were wounded and Captain Ambrose Scarborough, of Company ©, in command of the four companies reconnoiter- ing, was killed. In the person of this gallant officer the reg- | ) ; ; 204 Norto Carotina 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, Rodes’, G. B. Anderson’s and Raines’, formed Hill’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 wounds, 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 Commander-in-Chief 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. But 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 probably 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 under him and was shot down within fifty feet of the hostile works. Captain ©. 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 Carotina 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. CHRISTIAN. Major Edmund J. Christian was born in Montgomery County, N. 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 No. 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 onslaught, 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 under 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 North 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 DAYS’ FIGHTING. 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 southeast 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 southern 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 ; 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- eal details of things, the invading hosts would in all likeli- staying powers evinced by 208 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-’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 manouvered 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 headquarters, 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 its 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 was 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 Mechanicsville 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.— Eb. | 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 Mechanicsville 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 officers, 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 athand. 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 1 line for the work before us, one of his men complained that he 14 | ) | asm meter mine enn es sincera sons A eR 210 Norra Carorina 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. T’ll not excuse you.” The diagnosis proved correct, the “eolie” 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 four 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 alled 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 New Cold Harbor than Gaines’ Mill. On the morning of the 27th, 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 New Cold Harbor, our brigade, Garland’s, was on the extreme left of the enemy. It was nearly sun down when the two brigades of Anderson and Garland got permission from D. H. Hill, their division commander, to advance to the charge. The assault was delir- 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 own. 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 fled 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 Northern 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 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. Our regiment was not actually engaged at Savage Station, Fraser’s Farm, or any of the subsequent battles, till Malvern Hill, fought on Wednesday, 1 July. M eClellan 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. TweEntTy-THIRD REGIMENT. 218 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 voleanic 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- termination, 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. Not 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 Comte 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- terwards 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 Norto Carotina Troops, 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 voleano 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 Me- 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. McClellan 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. LIEUTENANT WM. P. GILL. Wm. P. Gill was born in Franklin County, N. C., October 1842. While yet a lad fresh from college, he enlisted as a private in the Granville Rifles, afterwards Company G, was appointed Sergeant Major and at the reorganization, elected Second Lieutenant in the company. His duties 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 Norto Carottna 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 earth 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 manceuvre somewhere; the dead lay thick nearly TweEntTy-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 Noland’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 corn 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 diseov- 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. PT AOE = pear arctan teat 218 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. From the 6th 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 Hill 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- lan, 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 Southern 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. “TI 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 Me- 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 under Franklin was thrown forward south- westerly towards Crampton Gap of South Mountain. Its objective was to crush Jackson’s force, then hammering the TweENtTy-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 BOONSBORO, OR 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 bivouae 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- eruited 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 Nortu Caroitina 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 Reno’s Corps. The action begun at 9 a.m. From our 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 erack of rifles. The battle was on. Our skirmish line was soon forced backward by weight of numbers. General Garland seeing this, ordered Colonel Mc- Rae 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 foree 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 McRae, then in command of the bri- gade. Colonel McRae having no horse or Staff (General 1. 2. 3. 4. gee. Burns Bullock, Captain, Co, I. . A. Gregory, 1st Lier TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT. 5. William H. Harris, Private, Co. I. it.. Co. I. 6. John T. Sanford, Private, Co. I. Richard V. Minor, 1st Lieut., Co, E. 7. Nicholas T. Green, Private, Co. E. . P. Gill, 2d Lieut., Co. G. 8. John H. Breedlove, Private, Co. G. 9. James R. Hart, Sergeant, Co. I. TWweENTY-THIRD REGIMENT. 221 Garland’s Staff having gone off with his body) had no means of immediate communication with General Hill, and was unable to fill the gap and t6 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 enemy 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 North 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 Sieh te ae iRe nat ennai are | | | i | 222 Norra Carotina 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 Fox’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 Confed- ate forces concentrated on Sharpsburg, whither Jackson hast- ened on the fall of Harper’s Ferry. DR. JOURDAN, ASSISTANT SURGEON. 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 Roxboro, Caswell County, N. C.; was most highly esteemed as a gentleman and an efficient 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 SHARPSBURG, OR 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 the New World had ever seen in one day. Retreating 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 TweEnTy-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 officers 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 us not to fire, saying that their men were in our front. Some one in a regiment 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 Norra Carornina 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. fy Cole, Company D, and Captain Wesley Hedspeth, Company E, are the only two officers 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- eally 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 RETURN TO VIRGINIA. 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 No man could have been expected to do otherwise. But Bow- ers was one of that heroic mold which never abandons a trust or aduty. 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 i 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 North Carolina, was, after Sharpsburg, commissioned Brigadier-General and assumed command of the brigade. The Thirteenth Regiment was about this time transferred to Seales’ 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- eurring 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. Now 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 that the weather was cold and the above officer and the Colonel were bed-fellows and slept on a very narrow bunk. Now 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 oceasional 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- 15 226 Norta CaroLina TROOPS, 1861-65. s highly amused auditor—it was de- cided that an officer under arrest might in extremity, address his superior by proxy. This was forthwith done, a change of base effected and Confederate comfort assured. ing a silent, but doubtles FREDERICKSBURG. 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. No 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 army 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 muffled any sounds in the enemy’s lines, which were to the east of us. But Captain Turner observed a scarcely precepti- ble, though incessant flickering 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 Rodes TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT. was placed in command of our division, General Hill being assigned to another position. es 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. we 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 moved 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 CHANCELLORSVILLE, 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 Norru Carotina Troops, 1861-65. ville. Lee holding strong positions along the Rappahannock and higher up upon its tributary, the Rapidan, had deemed it expedient to detach Longstreet to spend part of the winter near Suffolk, 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 80 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 Lée. 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 spur 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 that he did know and that the novel march meant much. Our brigade led the division, our regi TweEnty-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 Nortu Carorina Troops, 1861-’65. meet us, was soon tangled and scattered pell-mell all over the 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 stern Sabbath work to come. Major Rowe, 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 Rodes 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 North Carolina, Colonel Christie, carried the heights in magnificent style, planting their flags inside the works.” The rest of Rodes’, 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 REGIMENT. 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 us. 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 blazed 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 House 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 officially reported by General Rodes at 173 killed, wounded and missing. Moore’s Roster 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 tire that raged that morning in the woods to the left of the plank road and east of the little aldertangled branch. Captain A. 2. 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, surrounded and captured in a redoubt of the work which they had just ear- vied. These two officers after being fellow prisoners in the an jeae Sie Lun eos sparsity im aan meta t 5 Sa acta tS nnt pemereignier 282 Norra Carotina 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. THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN. 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 North. 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 J ackson’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 Ramseur’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. Hooker, 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 our 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 27 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 Nortu Carona Troops, 1861-’65. | TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT. 235 flank, the head of their column being then near Frederick, pressed. At Willoughby Run our Field Officers dis- our resting place of the fall before. mounted. Approaching from the north by the Heidelburg Our corps was at once put in rapid motion southward. The road till within about a mile of the field of battle, we were intelligence received had changed Lee’s whole plan. His filed off by the right flank to the Mummersburg road. As plan now was to concentrate at Cashtown with the mountains we emerged from the woods and moved down the slope to the at his back and beyond them the rich Cumberland Valley, latter road twenty pieces of artillery opened on us with grape, for a granary. Here Meade, who had now superceded Hook- from the left, inflicting some loss. er, would have had to attack us with everything in our favor. The Mummersburg road here runs east and west. Very A. P. Hill, contrary to orders, precipitated battle at Gettys- close to the road on the south side stands the Forney house. burg with the enemy on the defensive and everything in their This house stands in the northwest corner of the Forney field, favor. However, it is but fair to General Hill to add, that which extends about half a mile from the house along the owing to the absence of cavalry, he had no means of knowing Mummersburg road, and is about a quarter of a mile broad. that the forces unexpectedly interposed between him and Get- Across this road near the Forney house the brigade was form- tysburg, whither part of his command was marching to pro- ed facing east. Along the path or eastern side of the field and cure a supply of shoes, were other than militia or at most a on a ridge ran a stone fence, which formed part of the enemy’s small detachment of Meade’s army. line. Behind this fence, alone, lay hidden from view, more Leaving Carlisle on Tuesday, the last day of June, we men than our assaulting column contained. A body of woods marched swiftly southward. Cherries were ripe along the extended from the southeastern corner of the field for about rock-walled lanes. Bringing camp hatchets out, fruit ladened two hundred yards along its southern side. limbs were severed and we regaled ourselves as we swung The brigade, about 1,450 strong, advanced under artillery onward. The spirit and morale of the army were then superb. fire through the open grass field in gallant style, as evenly as Many German-descended members of our regiment belong- if on parade. But our brigade commander (Iverson) after or- ing to the companies raised in Lincoln, Catawba, Gaston and dering us forward, did not follow us in that advance, and our Montgomery Counties, were in this region amid, or not far alignment soon became false. There seems to have been utter from, their kin. From here their ancestors had emigrated ignorance of the force crouching behind the stone wall. For to North Carolina about one hundred years before. But I our brigade to have assailed such a stronghold thus held, doubt if many of them thought of it at that time. Little did would have been a desperate undertaking. To advance the families at the separation imagine that the descendants southeast against the enemy, visible in the woods at that cor- of the emigrants should in a generation or two return as in- ner of the field, exposing our left flank en enfilading fire vaders to the old home. To this day (1900) there are Ger- from the stronghold was fatal. Yet this is just what we dics man families around Gettysburg which recognize their dis- And unwarned, unled as a brigade, went forward Iverson's tant kinship to and occasionally visit their people who came to deserted band to its doom. Deep and long must the desolate this State about 1750. homes and orphan children of North Carolina rue the rash- 3ut to return to the subject in hand. Sounds of strenuous ness of that hour. : a) were.’ ‘+ blank range the dense line of the battle reached us early on the morning of Wednesday, 1 July, When we w ere in point bla c Te g enemy rose from its protected lair and poured into us a with- as we pressed forward towards Gettysburg, the obscure . Dutch town so soon to be made famous. Our brigade (Iver- ering fire from the front and both flanks. For Battle’s bri : gade, ordered to protect our left flank, had been thrown into son’s) led Ewell’s corps and was the first to become engaged ‘ : a ee oe ‘wary as he hurried forward to succor A. P. Hill, then hard confusion by the twenty pieces 0 artillery and repulsed by pa SRR ETF ae i AR Na ATE aN < wre eee EES ESE aoe WT aia pa Aa aR wt ae meneame cL San isin vic ian = 236 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. the 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 from 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 G. T. Baskerville, Company I; Lieutenant C. W. Champion, Company G, and Adjutant Junius B. French, were killed. Captain A. D. Peace, Company E, and Lieutenant Wm. M. Mundy were wounded. Captain H. G. 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. Ramseur was now hastening to our relief. The wary foe aware of this, swarmed over the wall and rushed down upon our weakened line. Leaving the wounded they drove off TwWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT. 287 with bayonets and clubbed muskets 49 prisoners and carried our flag with them. 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 off 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 sameness ote ener Saar aac ore Tra on 238 Norra Carotina 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 sarried 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. CHRISTIE. 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. CAPTAIN BASKERVILLE. 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 +e ¢ \o]- longer, he was transferred to the cavalry and Lieutenant-Col onel R. D. Johnston was commissioned brigadier and assumed 4o2 7 " ? a command on 8 September, 1863. General Iyerson’s conduct 240 Norta Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. Twenry-Taiep Reencent. 944 at Chancellorsville had also been severely criticised. Where dream so bright, or paradise so sweet that some one did not he was when Pender led forward his (Iverson’s) brigade, has come to spoil it. Grant spoiled ours. never been explained. The Confederate newspapers of that Beginning at midnight of 3 May, 1864, Grant, now Com- period spoke of strained relations between Lee and Davis be- mander-in-C hief of the Federal armies, suddenly threw cause Davis refused to let Lee court-martial the “delinquent nearly 120,000 men under Meade, across the Rapidan. brigadiers” for their action, or rather non-action, at Gettys- Grant’s plan was to flank Lee out of his entrenched position burg. However, the fact of any coldness between them was on Mine Run and fight him somewhere between the river and Richmond 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., On the retreat we crossed the Potomac at Falling Waters 4 May and by _the quickest forced march on_ record near Williamsport, 10 July. After operating in the covered sixty-six miles in twenty-three hours. Army mules valley for a short while, our corps moved towards Madison fell dead in their traces under the severe strain, but without Court House. Here we rested till Lee’s move 9 October stopping for bivouac, or hardly for rest, we held out and to strike Meade’s flank, who was then at Culpepper Court reached the plank road near the Wilderness Tavern, on House. On that march the Twenty-third, Fifth and part of the 5th. the Twelfth, all under command of Lieutenant- Solonel Davis, Dead tired as we wore) we were ordered forward about sun- of the Twelfth, crossed the Rapidan at Raccoon Ford. This set, with J. B. Gordon’s brigade. The movement was under detachment was highly commended for a gallant charge on a Gordon s command and was directed against a k ederal battery and its support. The regiment sustained loss both at right. Driving the enemy back a mile or more with slight Vidiersville and near Brandy Station during the same move- loss to ourselves, we halted on the turnpike and slept as even ment. ed soldiers hardly ever slept before. During the night of We went into winter quarters near Orange Court House. v May, Grant began his Denking: eeromett pee — But, in February, or March, our brigade was detached to right. Lee swung Anderson’s division ia a : — guard bridges over the North and South Anna rivers, near him off at Spottsylvania Court House. tw 2 wh ie on - Hanover Court House. Here we were recruited, equipped, march to Spottsylvania that J ohastins brigade W ay sents and put in good trim. to their regret, transferred from Rodes’ division gen bi In barracks at Taylorsville, near Hanover, with no enemy Early being assigned temporarily to the command of Hill’s near, the command had the only really good time during the corps, Gordon commanded the alee sora gerne war. The only thing like work was the attempt to overtake On the 9th, at Spottsylvania, our brigade, 3 idi v i onnoissance on the Confederate right the raiding force under Dahlgren. Neat uniforms and even 400 men, made a ae : ae ie a and drove back a division of Burnside’s corps, but seeing himself nearly enveloped by the enemy in overwhelming Eating regularly force, Johnston withdrew his brigade in time to escape cap- three times a day, keeping dry and sleeping warm of nights ture. The Twenty-third ee fs ¥ sere - oe seemed a preposterous thing to a Confederate soldier. We | Sergeant Thomas Powell was W “t : ea i apn even went into politics. 11 March, 1864, the brigade held a few days later in Washington. eyes ro mer 8, convention at Taylorsville, endorsing Vance as against Hol- the Twelfth, was now in command of the ent; : den and his treasonable influences. But there never was @ 16 denied. THE RETURN TO VIRGINIA. pleated-bosom shirts, long unknown, were here to be seen, - some of the boys bent on luxury in the extreme—thorough- going sybarites—actually boarded out. Fe a Q 2 Ie 242 Norra Carorina 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 d court house at Spottsylvania. The cavalry was a splendid body and fought desperately, but no incident of the war was more relished by the boys than prim set of blue-coated horsemen. We took no part in the battle of 10 May till nearly sun- The enemy had broken over the works by Dole s bri- against General Lee's head- other troops assi 1 his flanks, yelaleig While other troops as aulted his flanks, our et cade took the most important part in repelling this assault 0 i a . . 1 sas The men refused to go forward till General Lee, The following account open ground around the ol trouncing and chasing that set. : gade and were advancing direct quarters. the enemy. then on the field, went to the rear. ( of the battle is from notes of Captain A. T. Cole, made not long after the war: “About sunset the enemy broke through cas angle in the works and were advancing rapidly eadquarters then in sight, and directly as doubled-quicked by the right ine thicket where it had been our line at an towards General Lee’s h before them. Our brigade w fank in column from behind a p é | 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 - the Confederate gunners who, concealed in the cannon Pp1ts, S 1s ver. apture, now sprung out: and used the gut y had escaped ¢ : als. Just as the brigade effectively on the retreating Feder : faced by the left flank and advanced towards the ae saw facing the head of the column General Lee on horseback, : ee 0 hat in hand, cheering on the men, within not more than 10 vards of the enemy. The fighting lasted till probably : o’elock that night. Killed and wounded in our regimen numbered 20 to 25.” In making the charge Major Brooks, of the Twentieth TWENTY-THIRD 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 artillery, 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 mass 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 North Carolina, and Captain Jos. F. Johnston, Aid-de-Camp to General R. D. Johnston, were competitors Im a gs set Federal flag which had been planted on the captured Conte j ‘ x hed erate works now held by three lines of battle. Brooks reac out his hand just in front of Johnston and seized the flag, carried it back to the rear and presented it to General Lee 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 Norra Carorina 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 R. 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 morn. 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 Seip 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 MARCH ON WASHINGTON. After the Bloody Angle fight our brigade was engaged in 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 carried 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 town, except a few ven- turesome officers who galloped down 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, $63.0 iT AM a oa SSE aa aa ek lS clits ti oe eS eI 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. While Gordon’s Division crossed the river and struck the battle of the 19th. Colonel 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- ee | | | | i = 246 NortH CAROLINA TROOPS, 1861-65. the enemy’s right flank, J ohnston’s brigade was ordered to capture a block house on the other side of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. 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 T 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 flade 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 ity and only three miles distant at arrived in sight of that ci 3 p. m. on Monday, 11 July. The day was one of overpower- TweEnTy-THIRD REGIMENT. 247 ing heat. The troops were too completely exhausted ie hard marching to have been effective in nile : gael princi i was made Tuesday, but oc ongly manned for our 10,000 ie carry. In the reconnoissance Melville Holmes, fasve Zalen nasser 16 the wecisret len Welersl Cay Ha any other Confederate soldier of the ; :, oa ue po 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 ona 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 dil 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. Nortu Carotina 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 17th, we crossed the Shenandoah at Castle- man’s Ferry and took position at Berryville, our division with that of Rodes, guarding the Harper’s Ferry road. There was skirmishing with the enemy on the Shenandoah. On the night of the 19th our division, Ramseur 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 foree 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 Ramseur 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 ©. ©. 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 front, 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 man 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- ture 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 T wenty-third North Carolina Regi- ments, commanded respectively by Lieutenant-Colonel Davis and ‘myself were the only troops that eould 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 me before us, although the world has gotten there some ti been informed through the papers that they covered our re- treat. General Ramseur stated to General Early that ‘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 CaRroLtina 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 Richmond 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 Hxaminer. 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 frolicking, 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 tha 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 WINCHESTER. The battle of Winchester found our little army in the val-” TweEnty-THIRD 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 with 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. pike, but very near to it and As the enemy was known to be in force just ov 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 dawn 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 ater an overwhelming force of cavalry, closely charged our weak regiment. Disput- aking 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 rfearly rode over me as I lay sleeping on the grass and reported Their position was a little north of the a mile or more from the stream. er the creek, few minutes | followed by infantry, ing every inch of ground, m 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 break 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 Ramseur’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 break it did not. At 10 Rodes’ 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 fearful cost. Rodes and many other gallant officers 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 enemy 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: “(Nothing was now left for us but to re- tire through Winchester, and Ramseur’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 cheeked 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 1s 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 Nortru Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. removal, was left in Winchester, where his wounds terminated fatally. COLONEL C. C. BLACKNALL. 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 “Reverend John Blacknall, Gent’n,” though later of Virginia, was one of the first Episcopal clergymen to of- ficiate in North 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 Rifles, 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 alreatly 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, North Carolinians had a more romantic or eventful military career than the subject of this sketch. Soon after his recapture on the retreat from Gettysburg and while imprisoned at Fort McHenry, near Baltimore, lots were drawn to select a Confederate officer 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 TwWENTy-THIRD REGIMENT. 255 Island, Lake Erie, during the severe winter of 1863-64. Driven to desperation by cold and hunger the eighteen hun- 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. Tn 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 mount- 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 256 Norte Carorina 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 six days, dying November 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 nobile 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 chivalrous 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 Granville 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-T HIRD REGIMENT. THE FISHERS 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 Ramseur’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 “J imboden’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 drolly 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 Z58_... 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 up 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 Lomax’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 Ceesar’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, 277 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-Tuirp 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 CEDAR CREEK. 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 Hupp’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 wound 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 eamp. 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 Carorina 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 ' ; siemens menamemnsimneesiemmmeenanenas ase RANE SNE rene 262 NortH Caroxina Troops, 1861-’65. were hurried to a point a few miles south of Petersburg to frustrate his attack. THE BATTLE OF HATCHER’ RUN. Then followed much arduous picketing on Hatcher’s Run, the winter being a severe one. The Twenty-third took a prominent part in the battle of Hatcher’s Run, 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 Gordon 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 wound 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 Run and General James Walker assumed command of the division. Soon after the battle our brigade was sent back to North Carolina, going into camp at Garysburg, our first point of rendezvous in the hopeful days of 1861. Four 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 stern battle ground 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 Norte Carorina Troops, 1861-’65. ening back ground. Then Gordon’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 other troops being driven back. To remain 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, commanding the brigade, sus- tained a severe sprain of the ankle as he climbed the Federal works, while unfelt 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 Regiment, 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 Regiment, 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. 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 “Burnside’s Negro 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 cireum- 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 oe- 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 October, 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 Petersburg, 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 cheveaux de freise fastened together with wire. Through this we soon 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 Norro 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 sublime 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 from 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 at 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 taken 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. N. Ross, Jr. Oversuot, N. C., 9 April, 1901. i ; etch nanetonmeniAy S RIONL SRRNRN UNn h e ne 1a ES RR ta oi etl RR TWENTCRIFTH REGIMENT. By GARLAND S. FERGUSON, Srconp Lizurenant 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 maneuvers of the soldier. By 15 August, ten com- panies, the requisite number, were in camp and the regiment was organized, the field officers being elected by the votes of the commissioned officers of the companies. Hon. Tuomas L. Crrveman, 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. Sr. Crate Dearne, Lieutenant-Colonel, who had resigned his position in the United States Army—later Brigadier-Gen- eral. Henry M. Rurieee, Major, a boyish-looking young man of 22, with military education and bearing. W. N. Freeman, was appointed Adjutant. W. H. Bryson, Quartermaster. Joun W. Watxer, Commissary. Dr. 8. S. SarcHwEL., Surgeon. Dr. G. W. Fieroner, Assistant Surgeon. J. C. L. Guvarr, Sergeant-Major. TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT. C1LinTON A. JonzEs, Quartermaster Sergeant. T. L. Clingman, Colonel. 4. James A. Blalock, Captain, Co. F. JULIUS M. Youne, Commissary Sergeant. a 2. Henry M. Rutledge, Colonel. 5. James M. Cathey, Captain, Co. F. : 3. T. D. Bryson, Captain, Co. B. 6. W. Pinck Welch, 1st Lieut., Co. C. PETER M. Rieu, Drum Major. % 3.0.1 ieut. and Adjutant. : : : en err ee The companies composing the regiment were: Comeany A—From Henderson Ccunty, emmiuanded hy 292 Norra Carortna .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 Fraser’s Farm in front of Peters- burg on the night of 17 June, 1864, resigned, and afterwards by Captain W. N. Freeman. Company D—From Cherokee County, commanded by Captain John W. Francis, who was promoted Major, wounded at Malvern Hill, resigned, and afterwards commanded 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 Japtain 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 county, commanded by Twenty-FirtH 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 Lieutenant-Col- 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 arailroad. 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 November it was sent to the coast de- fence of South Carolina and camped near Grahamyille most Sia ai cn = = ——— - - 294 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. of the winter, doing picket duty, drilling and building fortifi- cations. 14 March, 1862, the regiment left Grahamville for New Bern, N. C., 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 8S. C. Bry- son of Company ©, 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 them, 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-Firta 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 difference 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, until they were ready to do execution. If he had un- 296 Nortu CARoLIna Troops, 1861-65. ‘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 greatest 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 Regiment 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 guard 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 they 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 Northern 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 equipments 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 cei leet A NAS TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT. 1. §. J. Shelton, 1st Lieut., Co. C. 3. J.T. Cathey, 2d Lieut., Co. F. Wak: Hartgrove. 1st Lieut., Co. F. 4. Garland 8, Ferguson, 2d Lieut., Co.F. 5. John W. Norwood, 1st Sergeant, Co. C. Twenty-FirtH REGIMENT. 297 the regiment did not receive new blankets till some time in October. The beds were roomy 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 supply of clothing and blankets, then marched to Fredericksburg. The winter at Fredericks- burg was cold, but shelters 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 our line in front of Marye’s House, were short of ammunition and must be reinforced, and that the undertaking 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 Jarolina. 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 North 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 Nort Carortna Troops, 1861-’65. In April, 1864, the regiment participated in the assault and capture of Plymouth, N. C. During the Virginia and Maryland campaigns, Colonel Rutledge 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 officers to bear any part of the expense or take any part in the presentation ceremonies. General Robert Ransom was promoted Major-General June 1863, and Colonel Matthew W. Ransom, 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, oceupying 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 oceupied 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-FirrH 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 Lieutenant 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 Carorina 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 fearful enfilading fire into the regiment. 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 Gor- don to fall back to our line of works. The loss of the regi- ment was heavy. A number of commissioned officers 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 flooded them with infantry, I deluged them with cavalry, but when the smoke of battle roge, there stood the red line yet.’ Yes, there stood the gray line, the only line that stood that day, that I Twenty-Firta 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 doit. 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 Sergeant-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. GarLANp S. Frerauson, Waynesvit1e, N. C., 9 April, 1901. = . . Spm EADIE eS —ew — a ee ee eee TF acc cer aero gt ney octerm ney . TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT. By ASSISTANT SURGEON GEORGE C. UNDERWOOD. nema ne erm nn pts “ Vizere fortes ante agamemnona multi; sed omnes illacrimabiles. wrgentur ignotique longa nocte, carent quia vate sacro.. Paulum sepultx distat inertiz celata virtus.”’ CAMP OF INSTRUCTION. ’ The regiment was mobilized at the Camp of Instruction at “Crab Tree,” about three miles from Raleigh, N.C. 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, Randolph, Union, Wake, and Wilkes. These companies were organized before leaving home, and on arrival at Camp of Instruction, reported as follows: | | i . > 1.—Jeff Davis Mountaineers, Ashe County; Captain, An- drew N. McMillan; First Lieutenant, George R. Reeves; Second Lieutenant, Jesse A. Reeves; Junior Second Lieuten- ant, James Porter. 2.—Waxhaw Jackson Guards, Union County; Captain, J. J. ©. Steele; First Lieutenant, William Wilson; Second Lieutenant, Taylor G. Cureton; Junior Second Lieutenant, John W. Richardson. 3.—Wilkes Volunteers, Wilkes County; Captain Abner R. Carmichael; First Lieutenant, Augustus H. Horton; Second Lieutenant, Phineas Horton; Junior Second Lieutenant, Wil- liam W. Hampton. ‘ a 4.—Wake Guards, Wake County; Captain, Oscar R. Rand; First Lieutenant, James B. Jordan; Second Lieuten- : ant, James T. Adams; Junior Second Lieutenant, James W. TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT. 5. N.P. Rankin, Major. Vinson. . m . Vance, Colonel. in. § i ‘ Feu Purgwyn, Colonel. ¢. Thomas J. ee tain and Asst. Q.M. t 5.—Independent Guards, Chatham County; Captain, W. John R. Lane, Colonel. 8. James B. Jordan, ist Lieut. and Adjt. j J. T. Jones, Lieut-Colonel. 3 yeenulan " i from New Bern to Morehead City, was the main line of de- ase ek, \ 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 == Confederate the line as short as possible after reaching the railroad, the om Vederat re. line was thrown back about 150 yards to the banks of Bullen’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 | | i | Hi) | | 4 | | ei ma ie 1) 1 1! Pit |i j Hi oa i 1 7 a ie Fy t ; Bik ia EH } i aa Bt 7 | ashi . H 4 ' Wal d ; ; ind i h ni i} { bike 4 bide i] oo eae | / 1 : if i ; ; Hi | | : oni | 3 i | / | ie : f j fore j | 4 3 at 310 Nortu Carorina 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 North Carolina Regiment, to proceed to Fisher’s landing, just above the mouth of Otter Creek, to sf sist any attempt of the enemy to land. Late in the night he ordered the Twenty-sixth North 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, 80 the a regiments fell back to take their places in the main line tor 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 —— respectively by Colonel ©. C. Lee, of the Thirty-sevent North Carolina Regiment, and Colonel Reuben P. Campy bell, of the Seventh North Carolina Regiment. Colonel Lee’s douimand embraced the troops between the fort and the county road, and was composed of the Twenty-seventh Soph anes lina Regiment and his own, the Thirty-seventh North oe lina Regiment; on the right of the county. road reaching 4 the railroad constituted Colonel Campbell’s command an was defended by his own regiment (the Seventh) ; the ee fifth and Captain Whitehurst’s independent aban er on the right next to the railroad was placed the battalion o militia under command of Colonel H. J. B. Clark. Two sec- tions of Brem’s and Latham’s batteries of artillery — posted along this line between the county road and railroad, under Colonel Campbell’s command. e Colonel Vance, of the Twenty-sixth North Carolina Regi ment, was in command of all the defences railroad, comprising a distance of one an His own regiment, one or two : tion of Brem’s artillery, were the only troops a -for this important defense. Bullen’s Creek for about half a mile, unti into a swamp ; beyond this swamp his lin d a quarter miles. on the right of the detached companies and a sec- his disposal His line ran along the bank of 1 the creek emptied e was extended to the TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT. 311 Weathersby road leading to New 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 River. 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 Regiment, was re- inforeed, first by five companies of Colonel Avery’s Regi- 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 Neuse, 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 7:30 a. m. the battle was opened by a shot from a Parrott gun from Latham’s battery under Lieutenant Wood- bury 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- enc seme eee | ij H is | 312 Norto Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. fense. Immediately on getting his men into line, General Reno ordered Lieutenant-Colonel W. S. Clark to charge with the right wing of his regiment, the Twenty-first Massachu- setts, and take 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 ears 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 to bring up the rest of his brigade; but just at this time a tremendous fire of musketry and artillery was opened from the redoubts hitherto unseen, which were nine in num- 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 redoubts. These troops consisted of the Thirty-third North Carolina and the Twenty-sixth North Carolina Regiments, and were the best ariied 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-StxtH 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-first 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 North 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- eott 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 North 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 fortunately, or rather providentially, for us, 314 NortH Carontina Troops, 1861-’65. they remained undecided for a minute or two, and then re- solved on a movement which saved us from destruction. In- stead of giving us a volley at once, they first hesitated, and ~ then charged upon us without 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 Bullen’s Creek, and across the swamp to the Weathersby road, about one and one-quarter miles. A rifle pit near the railroad was oceupied by Captain Oscar R. Rand, with 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 shortiy 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 Bullen’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, oeeupying the heights and extending himself along our 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 firing 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 Carmichael 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, an 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 oceupy an advanced rifle pit nearest to the brick yard. This move- ment was attended with great danger, and was gallantly exe- cuted. Major Lewis had to advance a space of 150 yards over fallen timber; all the while exposed to the enemy’s fire, 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 Carmichael, using every effort to prevent it. In this they were somewhat aided by the artillery and infantry, part of the Twenty-sixth Regiment 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 us hotly on both wings, and then with a sufficient force carry the railroad, which, when gained, would cut our lines in two and be equiv- 316 NortH CAaRroLina Troops, 1861-65. 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 Regiment 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 near 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. “Tt 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. They 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 TwEnNTY-SIXTH REGIMENT. By 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 may 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 Regiment. 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 Regiment. Says General Branch, in his report: “The whole of the militia had abandoned their positions. Colonel Sinclair’s Regiment very quickly followed their example. This laid open Haywood’s right and a portion of the breastworks was left vacant. Thad not a man 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 supporting Reno’s Brigade attacking the Confederate right wing. “TLieutenant-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. “T 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 rifle pits which opened on us with little injury, we entered in rear of the intrenchments and the regiments in a gallant manner earried gun after gun, until the whole nine brass pieces on 318 Nortu Caronina Troops, 1861-65. their front line were 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 Rhode Island followed immediately in the rear, and in support of the Fourth Rhode Island. AI- 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 Rhode Island Battalion and the Eighth Connecticut to advance cautiously. Captain J. N. King then reported that the enemy still occupied rifle pits along side the railroad back of the brick yard and a series of redoubts extending beyond the railroad and in General Reno’s front. “T 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 enemy’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 Genera] Reno was still engaged with the enemy on the left, wpon which 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 New 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 position. Let us now return to Captain Rand’s account of the clos- eine ae ate afi phin ae ap Py in age samen hhh ey TWENTY-SIxXTH 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 hundred 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 captured. 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 officer or man dreamed of such a thing as being taken pris- oner. We could 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 official 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, ete., 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 until after 12 o’clock. He be- haved most gallantly, 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, 3821 point than any other, as he had to fight to his front, right, and left, but 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 McRae’s company of infantry, with’a portion of Captain Hays’ and Lieutenant W. A. Graham’s Second Cavalry (Nineteenth North 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 pearance esi eras 322 Nortu Carortina 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 Whitford’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 RecIMeENt. 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 white re ime : Honored be his memory. Soon thereafter, Captain W P. Martin, of Company Il, also fell, near the regimental colon Highly respected as a man, brave and detarniied ‘ac a ~ dier, he was equally regretted by his command, and by ll who knew him. Lieutenant Porter, of Company A, was i left behind wounded. Captain A. N. MeMillan w s badly wounded, but got away safely. ltt: “Once across Bryce’s Creek, we were joined by Lieutenant- Colonel Hoke, Thirty-third Regiment, with a portion of hi command, and took the road for Trenton. We aL night and day, stopping-.at no time for rest or sleep aan tha four hours. We arrived at Kinston safely about noon oid 16 March, having marched fifty miles in about hours.” ial: SE es pie sia Src rp lr ment he highest praise the spirit of determination and power of endurance manifested by tl troops during the hardships and sufferings of ony mse Drenched with rain, with blistered feet, without isi ; ss “ sick and wounded, and almost naked, they toiled on hea 8 day and all the weary watches of the night without murm i. ing, cheerfully, and with subordination, evincing most sane oughly the high qualities in adversity which military I ve Jearn to value even more than courage ‘on the battle field _ We close this account of the battle with one or two duet dents. When Bryce’s Creek was reached, there was athe confusion, and a natural eagerness to get across, as io aaa my’s guns were heard in the distance. Many attempted to swim across, and several were drowned before the offtoune could restrain them. Colonel Vance, to inspire confidence spurred his horse in the creek, the animal refusing to swir the Colonel became unseated and weighed down with his a coutrements, he sank from view in the dark water of th stream and was about to be drowned, when assistance was : dered him, and he reached the opposite side in safet 4 Liew : tenant-Colonel Burgwyn and his college-mate, PRP E W 324 NortH CARoLina Troops, 1861-’65. A. Graham, Company K, Nineteenth North 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 eompany 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 Twenty-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 off. Colonel Burgwyn ordered the artillery and Captain Hayes’ company, who were TWeENTy-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 orderly 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 Bryce’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 Carotina Troops, 1861-65. had been at New Bern. Colonel Vance assumed command and brought the troops to Kinston.” oN When Captain J. J. Young 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., ete. One of them replied: “I had rather fill 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. REGIMENTS. 19 N.C. © | (Cavalry.) S| «| 26 N.C. 6 Wounded ... 15 o| i] ~I cn) Missing and Prisoners. .| 30 UNION FORCES, BRIGADIER GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE, COMMANDING. _ | BRIGADES. | | a Foster’s Bri-, Reno’s Bri-| Parke’s Bri- \gade, 23, 24. 25\gade, 21 Mass.,igade, 4. R I, 5 otal. and 27 Mass.\51 N. Y.,9 N.|R. 1,8 and 11) land 10 Conn. J. and51 Pa. (Conn. Killed. ... | Wounded Artillery ..|_2 killed, 8 wounded. — TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT. 327 So much space is given to the account of this, the first bat- tle 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 Reno, with his four regiments, assisted by General Parke, was regularly driven back by the Twenty-sixth and T hirty- 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 Nortu Carouina Troops, 1861-’65. Captain N. P. Rankin, of Company F, was elected Major vice Carmichael, killed; and First Lieutenant Clement Dowd elected Captain of Company H, vice Martin, killed; First Lieutenant Joseph R. Ballew was promoted to be Captain of Company F. The troops around Kinston were now reorganized. Brig- adier-General French, on 16 March, reached Goldsboro 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 North Carolina. On 17 March Brigadier-General Robert Ransom was ordered to Geldsboro “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. REORGANIZATION FOR THE WAR. 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 officers. Many changes took place in the regiment at its reorganiza- tion. Colonel Vance was always most popular with his men. He sought and obtained to the fullest extent the love of his soldiers, 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 TWeEnTy-SixtH REGIMENT. 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, ete., ete.” 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. Lieutenant-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 carry 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: “T 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 Carouina 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 IN THE OFFICERS AT REORGANIZATION. 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. MeLauchlin, Cap- tain of Company K., and First Lieutenant S. W. Brewer, Captain of Company E. A WOMAN RECRUIT. 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 wife 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. wey 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 known 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. MALVERN 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 North 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 down for 332 Norra Carorina 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 officers 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- TWENTyY-SIxTH REGIMENT. 388 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 July, 1862, inclusive, embraced three Colonels wounded one Lieutenant-Colonel killed, several field officers and see company officers, and a total of 499 privates killed and wounded. Casualties separately stated : Regiments 24th. 25th. 26th. 35th. 49th. Killed 9 22 6 18 14 Wounded. °2.060 «42 106 40 91 75 INCIDENTS OF 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 hiscompany. 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. Next 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 334 NortH Carotina 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 ery, saying: ‘Go it cotton tail. If I had no more reputation to lose than you have, I would run too.” On 7 July Ransom’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. o PS TWENTY SIXTH REGIMENT DETACHED FROM RANSOM S AND ASSIGNED TO PETTIGREW S BRIGADE. Colonel Vance’s election as Governor in August, 1862, caused a vacancy in the Coloneley of the Twenty-sixth Regi- ment. The Lieutenant-Colonel 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- mond, 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 Coloneley 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 military 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 alumni 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 R. 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 Nortu CAROLINA TROOPS, 1861-65. time, Captain Ballew, of Company F, resigned and bape Lieutenant R. M. Tuttle was eae . beer ste any, to become famous above all other comps t ee the fact that every member ee pee: ninety-one, was killed or wounded in the one 0 : = burg. Captain Steele, of Company B, also Pie - First Lieutenant Thomas J. Cureton became € mee served most gallantly to the end. Lieutenants A a ; _ and N. G. Bradford were promoted to be Captains of C panies H and I, respectively. PETTIGREW S BRIGADE. ; +14 exy ¢ 7 s i i ecome so ta military annals, wa This brigade to become so famous in r same gy composed of the Eleventh, Twenty-sixth, Forty- ‘ seventh and Fifty-second North Carolina peppargvade — Of the commander of this brigade, later on in this i i 7 time a more extended notice will be given. He was, at es - = of its organization, convalescent from the severe wot ah ceived on 1 June, 1862, at the battle of Seven Neg dt placed in command of Petersburg in = pea er col i October, Nove ing the months of September, aie 1862, Pettigrew’s Brigade was either on duty in Virginia or North Carolina. aes The faithfulness with which Colonel Burgw erg i i d its efficiency, and 1 the regiment, much improve pee i sk one of the best drilled regiments pee ee i i i he was ably seconde ; his labors in this behalf, y se : tenant-Colonel, John R. Lane, who manifested i abilities as a drill master, and disciplinarian. eh Has tion of drill, to which the excellent music of Captain aa band greatly added, was a cause of just pride bi oe — of the regiment, officers and men alike. gee sa = man prouder of his regiment and of his band, considere Shee i Tirginia, than Colonel Bu finest in the army of Northern V irg ; gwyn,” writes a member of the regiment. j 62. RAWLS MILLS, 2 NOVEMBER, 18 Tw “si iment The first opportunity afforded the Twenty ae cee to show of what stuff it was made, acting in an Twenty-SixtH REGIMENT. 337 command, occurred in the engagement at Rawls’ 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. Tn 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 am 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: “TI 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 thesé 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. ©. 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 ple wagon 338 Norru Carotina Troops, 1861-65. as much as possible, to give time to Colonel Ferebee, of the Fifty-ninth Regiment (Fourth Cavalry) and Lieutenant-Col- 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 MecLauchlin, 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 MecLauchlin 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, concluded 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. Gener d i eral Foster’s report admits a loss of six Rey killed and eight After proceedin ithi g to within ten miles of T - *.e © to the exposed condition of his men and w rae says General Foster, he abandoned: any fu ted to Washington, and thence to New Bern — coincidence that the Federal Genial er) had been the tutor of his youthful antagonist (Bur- Bryn): when the latter was a student at West Point in ee ing appointment in that instituti ich ° ' ; Institution, at which Ge Foster, then Captain Foster, was one of he professors = art of war as taught by the professor w t as t as in this i plied to his discomfiture by the pupil Rene Q 6 ‘4 FOSTER § EXPEDITION AGAINST GOLDSBORO In : le eta ; 1862, General Foster started out from New Ente ee roy the railroad bridge over the Neuse riter, and ~ = e Goldsboro, N. C. Major-General 8. G. French ore a nara of the Department of North Carolina winder -General G. W. Smith, comn i i ‘ : nanding at Richmond, as- a his forces to oppose him. On 17 December 1862 7 si i psc cee took place near Goldsboro, in which Gen- . os ah as bei back, and he hastily retreated to New : ettigrew’s brigade was not seriously i sly engaged in thi action, but’ pursued General Foster on the ce bea GED “f Q r NERAL D. H. HILL S ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE NEW BERN On 7 February, 1863, Maj , ALY, » Major-General G. W. Smith re- signed and Major-General D. H. Hill was again vee i era = the troops in North Carolina. General Hill a ed on the capture of New Bern. Gen i a eral Pettigrew w given command of the troops on the north side of the Neoss ee ? and General Hill had : at iad charge of those to operate on the south General Pettigrew with his brigade, started from Golds- boro on 9 Mar 1 1 . y p be 5 cl 863 B y ra id marc hes he I l > e eack ed the enemy Ss’ Ww orks at Barr ington Ss I erry, near New Bern. The Twenty-sixth Regiment was ordered at daylight into position 339 “owing ant of provisions,” rther advance, and 340 Norra Carottna Troops, 1861-65. to carry the place. Three 20-pound Parrott guns relied upon to destroy the gunboats guarding the water approaches to New 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. Tt 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 Whitford’s men. I cannot refrain from bearing tes- timony to the unsurpassed military good conduct of those under me. In seven days they marched 127 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, N. ©. 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. TweEntTy-SixtH REGIMENT. MAJOR GENERAL HARRY HETH’S DIVISION. On 1 May, 1863, Pettigrew’s Brigade was ordered to Rich- mond to be ever thereafter attached to the Army of Nothern 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 fromthe 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 unstinted. 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 Eredericksburg that beautiful June morning. The men beaming in their splendid uniforms; the colors flying, and the r SIXTH REGIMENT. : : TWENTY-SIXT drums beating ; everything seemed propitious of success. On 1. James T. Adams, Lieut.-Colonel. 4. Stephen W. Brewer, Captain. Co. E. : : ee? 2; Samuel P. Wagg, Captain, Co. A. 5. Jos. R. Ballew, Captain, Co. F. this march it was a real pleasure to see with what joy the peo- 3. William Wilson, Captain, Co. B. 6. R. M. Tuttle, Captain, Co. F. : 3 : 7. H.C, Albright, Captain, Co. G. ple who had hitherto been under the domination of the Fed- erals, received us. We marched by way of Harper’s Ferry, 342 Nort Caro.ina Troops, 1861-65. where the gallows on which the notorious John Brown was 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 ae ries might require to be issued as rations and for which t 7 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 gor to be in the least frightened or dismayed by our presence, ~ were left by us in the quiet and undisturbed possession 0 y . a th tins we halted at a little village named Cashtown, on the Chambersburg Turnpike, about nine miles ~_ haha tysburg, and were mustered preparatory to payment, an ae in the afternoon proceeded to within about three and one-ha miles of Gettysburg, just this side of a little creek, —— by a stone bridge, where we filed to the right and bivouacked in a beautiful grove. That night Lieutenant-Colonel Lane was entrusted with the charge of the picket lines. After the - tablishment of the line, two ladies, much distressed an alarmed, because they were cut off from their houses, ap- proached Colonel Lane who, assuring them that the ence? ate soldier did not make war upon women and children, ever esteemed it his duty and privilege to protect them, : 5 vanced the picket line beyond their homes, which lay close = The same day General Pettigrew, with three regiments 0 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 instructed not to bring on an engagement, General Pettigrew retraced his steps and rejoined the rest of the division in bivouac on the Chambersburg 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. GETTYSBURG, 1-3 sULY, 1863. A warning carbine shot from a vidette of Buford’s Cavalry Division on the bridge over Marsh Creek, fired in the early misty morn 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 Brockenborough’s Brigades, for the present, were held in re- serve. Says a member of the Twenty-sixth Regiment: “Ag 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 beautiful dappled gray. Never 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 Nortu Carouina Troops, 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 Regiment, Eleventh Regiment, Forty-seventh Regiment, and Fifty-second Regi- 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 Run 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 Butford’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 MePherson’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. Twenty-SixtH REGIMENT. 345 “The enemy (Archer’s Brigade) were already in the woods and advancing at double quick to seize this central important position (MecPherson’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 eons 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, ofthe 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 officer 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, commiand- 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 New York State Militia, Sixth Wisconsin and Ninety-fifth New York Volun- teers, gallantly charged on the advancing enemy and captured a large number of prisoners, including two entire regiments with their flags.” 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 ; ¥ YES peered cote wattinittaintsi | tn Hh | 2a ‘| i mth) i it Hl i it i i | a) i fl i Fl ” pslewreiyeds saan eee = ra 346 NortH Carorina 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 on 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 Now,” a gallant Union sol- dier, places the relative positions of the opposing forees 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, oceu- 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 Hundred 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 Tron Brigade, extreme left regiment Nineteenth Indiana; next Twenty-fourth Michigan, next Seventh Wisconsin, sad 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 Federal 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- fourth 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 Doubleday 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 i if | ; j fi 4 4 i i q eho abe RRS Gt SIE: a tee Scab apap ins rs Re i idea Dade eer TG 348 NortH CaroLtina Troops, 1861-65. severely, especially while charging across Willoughby Run, 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 North Carolina Regiment 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 IRON BRIGADE.—ARMY 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., vi 397 out of 496. : ce Nede s -» VIZ. M’PHERSON’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 ean? ” 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 official report for the brigade, dated 9 August, 1863, thus describes the field: “Tn 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 CHARGE, 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 Carorina Troops, 1861-’65. the woods (Confederate right) was defended by Biddien 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 field. A Northas 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. os During all this time, Hill was bringing up his Corps an 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 sharpshooters occasionally reminded us that we had better cling close to the bosom of old mother earth. Many words of encouragement were spoken and some =~ were indulged in. Religious services were not held, as t should have been, owing to the absence of our Chaplains. this time the enemy were moving with great fears * Directly in our front across the wheat field was a wooded hi Se geen pee eR AYE RT reat er ere — ieee tain TWEnNTy-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, bell-erowned 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 Pe = Ha HH nui 352 NortH Carotina Troops, 1861-’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. Me- 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 hig 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 wounds 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 Honeyeutt, of Company B, rushes from 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 turns him around and, falling, he is eaught in the folds of the flag and carries it with him to the ground. The daring Honeyeut 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 An ER RRP RENE SeITeN en tes enter veinatieinannngitiretmmntmmeneemnaenamtinns 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 pihies but-not of his Colonel’s fall; gives the order “Close your ri 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. 3 Just as the last shots are firing, a sergeant in the Twenty- fourth Michigan Regiment (now the President of the Tron 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 Norra OaroLina Troops, 1861-'65. field was won, but at what a cost to the victor as well as to the vanquished. LOSSES IN THE FIRST 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 Regiment 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 F ed- 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 flank, 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 Run) 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 REGIMENT. 3855 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. : on “The second line was encountered by the Twenty-sixth reg- — while the other regiments were exposed to a hoy pet ant - ee : = fee : gag pally with the right of the Eleventh North Carolina and the Forty-seventh North Carolina. The enemy did not perceive the Fifty-second North Carine which flanked their left until the F ifty-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 fopiinenk: 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 ab hoste doceri.” Colonel Henry A. Morrow Twenty-fourth Michigan, a native of Warrenton, 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: “TI 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 Nortu Carotina 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 searcely 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 atime. 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 we 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. Nearly 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- TweEnty-SixtH REGIMENT. 357 roic conduct of the Twenty-sixth North Carolina Regiment I quote from his official report of the battle, made by Major. General Heth, commanding the division: “Pettigrew’s 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 covered 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 your old command did honor to your associa- tion with them and to the State they represent.” : Captain J. J. Young, 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 Nortu Carotina 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 field 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 be 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 N. Collins Hughes mortally wounded. Lieutenant Walter M. Robertson, 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, shoulder, seriously ; Stokes McRae, thigh broken ; Captain William Wilson, killed; Lieutenants W. W. Rich- ardson and J. B. Holloway have died of their wounds. It is thought Lieutenant M. McLeod and Captain N. 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 officer was wounded in shoulder), and C. M. Sudderth are the only officers not wounded. 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 numbered 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 TWeEnty-SixtH REGIMENT, 3859 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 ecom- pany (Company E) suffered nearly as badly as Company F. It carried 82 officers and men into the fight, and brought out only two untouched. Going into the particulars of the loss of Company E, 18 men were killed or mortally wounded, 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 killed 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 moun- 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 Nortu Carotina 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, N. Y., in his book, “(Regimental Losses in the Civil War,” a work of recognized authority—places the loss of the Twenty- sixth Regiment 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 Gettysburg, 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 Run, 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 Me- Pherson’s woods on the first day at Gettysburg: Killed and Wounded. Missing. Engaged. Meredith s Iron Brigade— 2 Wisconsin 6 Wisonsin 7 Wisconsin 19 Indiana Biddle’s Brigade— 80 New York. 121 Pennsylvania FAP CODA IVEDI Os: 5 poe shod PETRUS eee ee 151 Pennsylvania Union Troops. Stone’s Brigade Artillery \ Gamble’s Cavalry { Davis’ Mississippi Brigade....... .... eat “O08 | Archer’s Tennessee Brigade | 160 | Brockenborough’s Virginia Brigade ........... | 148 | 11 North Carolina Regiment 26 North Carolina Regiment 47 North Carolina Regiment 52 North Carolina Regiment Heth’s Division. I | Pettigrew’s North Carolina Brigade— | 1 { i 4 eh 4 3 i + i a 4 § i a. i i 4 Hl 4 Ap Si 362 NortH Carouina Troops, 1861—’65. THIRD DAY'S BATTLE AT GETTYSBURG, 3 JULY, 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 should 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 PETTIGREW 'S CHARGE. 6 Quoting from the author of “Gettysburg, Then and Now “There were two hours of comparative silence until 1 0’clock p- m. when the signal gun was fired from Seminary Ridge, by the Washington Artillery of New 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-SIixtH REGIMENT. 863 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 Seales, 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-seecond North 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 a ee eee a es Serene . eee 364 NortH Carortina 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 Ridge 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 that 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 and Frye, 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, but 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.” TWwENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT. 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 arms. 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 with 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 Pet- 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 North State. Forward.’ Colonel Marshall promptly repeated the command, which taken up by the regimental commanders, the T'wenty-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 Norta Carorina Troops, 1861-’65. that day as he has often since, that he avas 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. M. Brooks and Daniel Thomas, of Company E, when a ery 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 wounded (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 support. 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 3 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. Killed and Wounded | Pickett’s Division— MMe Garnett’s Brigads, 8, 18, 19, 28 and 56 Virginia Regts..... 402 539 Armistead’s Brigade, 9, 14, 38, 53 and 57 Virginia Regts. . . 574 643 Kemper’s Brigade, 1, 3, 7, 11 and 24 Virginia Regts 462 | 317 1438 | 1499 Pettigrew’s Division— : PAU CL A BPIAGE.