700 NortH Caronina Troops, 1861-65.

leigh, Haw River, near Greensboro, and to Bush Hill near
High Point.

After the division had arrived at a place near Center
church, some eight or ten miles from Greensboro, the armis-
tice of ten days had been agreed upon between General Sher-
man and General Johnston, and the officers and men saw that
the end was not far. Word came to them about this time that
General Lee had surrendered at Appomattox, and hundreds
of both officers and men did not desire to suffer the humilia-
tion of surrender; they, therefore, left in large numbers
during these ten days, knowing that they had fought a good
fight, they had kept the faith, and they now desired not to
suffer the humiliation of surrender. A part of the regiment,
however, when the order to march was given, left Center
church and marched to Bush Hill, where on 2 May, 1865, the
weary remnant of this regiment, which started out 1,100
strong, now reduced by death, sickness and capture to less
than a hundred, signed their paroles and scattered to their
various homes.

During the time the regiment was engaged in service many
changes had taken place among the rank and file; many
had fallen in battle; a record had been made for the
regiment which was imperishable; its field officers had
changed ; its company officers had been killed and captured;
and now the flag which had waved over them so long in glory
and triumph, had gone down in blood and tears, but, thank
God, it had gone down amidst gloom and defeat as pure, as
bright, as untarnished in that last decline as when the first
ray of morning light proclaimed its rising dawn.

It would be impossible for me to give the times and places
where the officers and men were killed and captured, or even
to enumerate their names or to refer to their bravery. Where
all did so well, it is needless to particularize. Sufficeth to
say, that all did the best they could; their cause was lost, and
the only duty that now remained to them was to return to
their homes and attempt to build up the shattered fortunes
of themselves and rehabilitate their State.

I know, in conclusion, that I have given but a very im-
perfect sketch of the part that this gallant regiment took in

Srxty-SixtH REGIMENT. 701

the war between the States, but when it is recalled that every
field officer, but one, has passed away, and that all the com-
pany officers, so far as I am now able to find out, except five,
have also “crossed over the river,” and I have been unable to
see or communicate with those left behind, I feel that I have
done the best I could.

For the changes in the Company Officers, reference is made
to Moore’s Roster of North Carolina Troops, Vol. Ev, p-
107-132.

Gro. M. Ross.

FaYETrTEvi.ie, N. C.,
26 April, 1901.

 

——- cat ee x coat a sme

Sa at at Enna ai Sonal Samed en ana een wa