tt ra San search anionic

216 Norto CarRoLina Troops, 1861-’65.

that place, driving the enemy several miles, capturing and
killing many with but small loss to our side. The change from
Rockfish to Kinston carried us through Magnolia, where the
company which I then commanded was raised, and the homes
of many of the men could be seen from the cars. I was
given orders for that reason to put my command in an ordi-
nary box car, such as was used in those days for transporting
soldiers, and to get on top myself with a good man and allow
none of the men to get off as we passed through the section
in which they lived. We had not proceeded far when the en-
gine stopping at a tank for water, I discovered two of my
best men on the ground near the car. I spoke to them and
demanded an explanation of their violation of orders, when
one of them, pointing to a small house a few hundred yards
distant, said that the lady standing in the door was his sis-
ter; that he was going to stop and see her, but would be on
next day. To permit this was a violation of orders on my
part as well as that of the soldiers, but knowing that the en-
emy was closing in behind us and this would perhaps be their
last chance to see their loved ones, and having confidence in
the men, I did not have the heart to stop them, whatever the
consequences to myself might be, and in this. way I lost the
greater part of my company before reaching Kinston, and in
the first day’s fight the First Sergeant and myself represented
the company ; but true men as they were, all reported for duty
that night. This is mentioned to illustrate the true spirit
and patriotism of the southern soldier; the cause was almost
lost and he knew it, and immediately before him he could
picture his fields laid in waste, his home plundered and his
family exposed and suffering, yet even to the last roll eall,
he answered to his country’s summons at the post of danger
and duty.

BENTONVILLE.

The advance of the enemy from Wilmington and the near
approach of Sherman’s army from Fayetteville, caused
our withdrawal from Kinston and rendering the evacua-
tion of Goldsboro necessary we were, therefore, ordered to
Bentonville, where we met and checked Sherman. The first

Firry-First REGIMENT. 217

day we fought facing Fayetteville and with our backs on
Goldsboro, but we were soon flanked and compelled to face
about. Several attempts from the direction of Goldsboro
were made to dislodge us, but failed; still the vast forces un-
der Sherman finally forced us to retire to escape being sur-
rounded and our communications cut off. This we did in
good order, marching to Smithfield, where we remained sev-
eral days. The enemy however, soon began to advance and
on 10 April we began to retire before them towards Raleigh,
through which city we marched 12 April just ahead of Sher-
man. From Raleigh we went to Chapel Hill, finally halt-
ing at Bush Hill, N. C., where we surrendered with John-
ston’s army and were paroled 2 May, 1865, to return to our
homes.

Thus ends the history of the Fifty-first North Carolina
Regiment. The regiment was composed, rank and file, of men
and officers of whom any country on earth might well be
proud. Many, as was the case with our Colonel and a num-
ber of others, saw the sun of the South rise in glory at Bethel,
and set in its blood-red sheen at Bentonville. In this time
many a loved and chivalric comrade passed from us on his
long and sad furlough. Thirty-six years have passed and
Time, with his cruel scythe, has cut down most of those who
were left ; to the memory of those that have passed before and
since, officers and men, I dedicate this feeble tribute.

In closing, I desire to say that in the preparation of this
very imperfect sketch, I have been compelled to do so with-
out data, as our official papers were lost during the latter
days of the war. But by the aid of Adjutant J. R. Latta, of
New Hanover; Stephen J. Cobb, of Company D (Captain
Company F, Second North Carolina Volunteers, Spanish-
American War) ; and H. L. Hall, of Company I, and others
who were fortunate enough to escape the terrible struggle, I
am under obligations for much information, and in particular
as to the casualties. It was my wish to give a full list of
the casualties of the regiment, but I found it impossible to do
this even of the commissioned officers in the different engage-
ments in which the regiment participated. I attach here-
with a roster of the commissioned officers from the organiza-