536 NortH Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

requested to communicate with his widow, which was done.
A truer friend and a nobler hearted gentleman than Colonel
Evans never walked the earth. In the Bristoe Station cam-
paign the regiment did its full share of the fighting and bore
its full share of the losses, the most severe loss being its Ad-
jutant, J. Turner Morehead. A bullet struck him full in
the mouth, breaking nearly all his front teeth out and passing
out at the back of his neck, narrowly missing the spinal
column. The wound was first thought to be mortal, but
youthful hope and a good constitution saved him. He was
lost to us, however. A beautiful and accomplished woman
consoled his sufferings and effectually cured him of any wish
for further participation in the hardships and dangers of a
soldier’s life.

RETURN TO VIRGINIA,

Soon after the close of active operations for 1863, the reg-
iment was sent home for the winter to recruit men and horses.
We reassembled at Henderson, N. C., in April, and took up
our march for Virginia. We reached the main army 7 May,
1864, and went into battle that evening. In this encounter
W. A. Lash, since president of the Cape Fear & Yadkin Val-
ley Railroad, an 18-year-old recruit of Company D, Sixty-
third, received his “baptism of fire.” A fragment of shell
tore off the right shoulder lapel of his coat, inflicting bruises.
most men would have laid up, some would have died. Lash
ate his full share of what rations he could get that night, and
was all right for hard and fatiguing duty in pursuit of Sheri-
dan next day. In the fall of 1863 the Ninth, Nineteenth,
Fifty-ninth and Sixty-third North Carolina (First, Second,
Fourth and Fifth Cavalry), had been put into one brigade
and Gordon, as Brigadier, put in command. Gordon was a
favorite with Stuart, but no promotion was ever better de-
served than this. On the 8th Gordon’s Brigade was ordered
to press Sheridan’s rear while Stuart went on to head him
off at Richmond. Gordon pressed vigorously and had several
fierce little encounters ; finally, at Ground Squirrel Church,
a full fledged battle took place.

Srxty-THirp REGIMENT. 5387

GROUND SQUIRREL CHURCH.

The force on each side numbered about 2,500. The Sixty-
third was under command of Lieutenant-Colonel S. B. Evans,
he having returned in the spring. The night before this bat-
tle the Captain of the fifth squadron had requested of Colonel
Evans to be held in reserve, his squadron having already been
more engaged and suffered more loss than any other. Colo-
nel Evans had agreed. This squadron was a mounted re-
serve. Thick woods were between us and the battle, and as
the firing grew faster and faster, we congratulated ourselves
on our secure position. Soon a mounted orderly from Gen-
eral Gordon galloped up, requesting our presence on the field.
We moved up at the trot and coming on the field saw two reg-
iments of mounted Yankees on the far side. The Ninth
North Carolina (First Cavalry) had charged one of these
and was fighting hand-to-hand. Dismounted men of both
sides were actively engaged as sharpshooters. The Captain
of the Fifth squadron ordered a charge straight for the centre
of the other mounted Yankee regiment. With the famous
rebel yell the charge was made. It broke that regiment. The
other Yanks seeing it break, gave way also, and the field was
soon clear. General Gordon coming up told the Captain of
the Fifth squadron that he had not intended him to charge,
but only to show force, but it was all right gallantly done, and
had decided the day. In this engagement Lieutenant Kerr
Craige, Company I, Ninth Regiment (since Assistant Post-
master General of the United States), had his horse killed
under him and a private of Company D, of our regiment, had
the pleasure of furnishing him a captured mount for a short
time. No other decided stand was made by the enemy until
we reached Richmond. In reconnoitering their position at a
bridge not far from Richmond, General Gordon received a
wound which proved to be mortal. Stuart and he died in a
few days of each other. Par nobile fratrum. Lieutenant-
Colonel Clinton M. Andrews, of the Nineteenth, took charge
of us for a few days, when Brigadier-General Pierce M.
B. Young, of Georgia, came to us. He was the beau
ideal of a cavalry leader and took our hearts by storm. His
favorite motto going into action was, “Here goes for hell or