130 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

‘at the beginning of hostilities, of intersecting the Confedera-
cy, was verified by events, and the consummation of which re-
sulted in our downfall, declared that, after the opening of the
Mississippi, a heavy column pushed through the gateway of
Eastern North Carolina, would cause the abandonment of
Virginia, and the dissevering of the most formidable portion
of the Confederacy. The closing events of the war demon-
strated the accuracy of his judgment and his consummate
skill as a strategist. That it was not done sooner must con-
vince the student of history how severely taxed were the pow-
ers and resources of the Federal government to meet and hold
in check the main armies of the South, and that its dismem-
berment was deferred so long alone by the magnificent cour-
age and endurance of its soldiery. Ransom’s Brigade was
the most important force in the section mentioned * for
many months; and, occupying in quick succession Weldon,
Warsaw,’ Kenansville, Goldsboro, Kinston, Wilmington and
Greenville, it was always on hand to confront any movement
of the enemy in that region. Occasionally a sharp brush
with the enemy’s forces was necessary to warn him of the foe
in his path. From New Bern, Plymouth and Washington,
in Eastern Carolina, and from Norfolk and Suffolk, in Vir-
ginia, the Federals would send out expeditions; but, in each
instance, no great distance would be traversed before they
were confronted by Ransom’s Brigade. Besides the pro-
tection thus afforded to the main army in Virginia, an exten-
sive and fertile section of the country was thus kept open for
supplies of corn and meat to the Confederate forces ; and it
was not rare for other supplies and needed articles to reach
our lines through that territory. Meanwhile, the ranks of all
the regiments in that brigade were recruited ; drill and disci-
pline were advanced ; and equipment was perfected ; so that,
when in 1864 we were made a component part of General
Beauregard’s command between Richmond and Petersburg,
on the south side of the James, it is more than probable that
there was not in the Confederate service any brigade, con-
taining a greater number of effective, well-trained, veteran

soldiers.

Forry-Nintu REGIMENT.

GUM SWAMP.

On 22 May, 1863, a sharp affair occurred at Gum Swamp,
jn Craven or Lenoir county, in which the Fifty-sixth and
Twenty-fifth Regiments, owing to the negligence of our cay-
alry, were surrounded by a considerable force of the enemy;
and, after losing about 170 prisoners, the remainder of those
two commands barely escaped capture by fighting their way
through the surrounding forces. During this movement
Companies C, D. and H, of the Forty-ninth, were picketing
at Moseley’s Creek, a parallel road from New Bern. The bal-
ance of the regiment being moved from Kinston to the sup-
port of the troops at Gum Swamp, by their timely arrival
stayed the retreat and checked the attack. :

The invasion of Pennsylvania during the summer of this
year by General Lee occupied the attention of most of the
Federal troops, and movements elsewhere were generally of
slight importance.

During the presence of our army across the Potomac a de-
monstration in considerable force, probably with the hope of
recalling some of the troops from General Lee to oppose it,
was made towards Richmond from the direction of the Chick-
ahominy ; and Ransom’s Brigade was hurried by rail to meet
the threatened raid. At Bottom’s Bridge the Federal column
was encountered ; but after two days of brisk skirmishing its
commander declined to attempt the passage of that stream.
Some losses in killed and wounded were sustained by our
forces, and the enemy suffered to as great an extent, with the
addition of some prisoners captured by us. The return of
the raiding column to York river was-precipitate; and after
a few days our command was back at its old duties in North
Carolina. During the residue of the summer and succeeding
fall and winter it was constantly on the move.

On 9 June, 1863, Thomas R. Roulhac was appointed Ser-
geant-Major from M anly’s Battery, which was then in the
army of Northern Virginia. In the latter part of October
he joined the regiment at Garysburg, and served in that
eapacity and as Acting Adjutant, until appointed First Lieu-
tenant of Company D, in June, 1864.

On 28 January, 1864, the command left Weldon for Kin-