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252 Norto Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

exchanged on 18 August, 1862, and ordered to rendezvous at
Drewry’s Bluff.

DANIEL’S BRIGADE.

Whilst in camp there and attached to Colonel (later Gen-
eral) Daniel’s Brigade, a petition was set afoot looking to a
reorganization. Although opposed to it on principle as cal-
culated to introduce politics into camp, and although from
the peculiar constitution of this command, it could have been
avoided, nevertheless when it became obvious that such was
the desire of a number of the officers, no obstruction was inter-
posed on my part. In the reorganization 25 September, I
was superceded as commanding officer by Captain W. H.
Wheeler, who, however, resigned a few days thereafter, where-
upon Captain Charles E. Shober, of the Forty-fifth Regi-
ment, was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain H. L. An-

drews Major, later promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, and ~

killed at Gettysburg. A. W. Green was appointed Adjutant,
and Captain D. M. Cooper, A. Q. M. Company C was soon
thereafter transferred to a Virginia command. At the time
the Second Battalion was attached to this superb brigade, it
was composed of the Thirty-second, Forty-third, Forty-fifth
and Fifty-third Regiments, which continued intact until the
end of the war.

Shortly after, about 1 January, 1863, the brigade was or-
dered to Goldsboro, N. C., in anticipation of a forward move
by the enemy. I went there at once to volunteer, but was
told by General Daniel that I would be enrolled on his staff
as a supernumerary or volunteer aide, until something in the
line should turn up. Thence shortly after, the brigade was
ordered to Kinston where it remained until 17 May, 1863,
when it was moved upon the Rappahannock.

EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

Whilst in camp at Kinston we were, by General D. H.
Hill’s orders, moved down the right side of the Neuse, Pet-
tigrew’s Brigade keeping abreast on the other with the object
in view of taking New Bern by surprise. Daniel’s advance
after reaching a point contiguous to that place was subject to
‘gun signal from the co-operating column upon capture of

1pm SNES Ssh can RTP nie rete

Seconp BATTALION. 253

the gunboats on that side of the river. These, however, got
up steam in time to prevent capture, and so the attempt fell
through.

General Hill next attempted the capture of Washington,
which was represented as being short of provisions and sup-
plies. <A battery, Fort Hill, was planted below the town to
prevent relief by the gunboats. Whilst here Generals Hill,
Daniel, Robertson and myself rode over to the fort to take in
the situation. The gunboats were anchored some two or
three miles off, just out of reach of our pop-guns and had
kept up an incessant fusillade on the garrison for a day or two
previous without doing any harm. Before, however, we
had been in there fifteen minutes, I was knocked down by a
ten pound piece of shell.

BACK TO VIRGINIA.

Soon after this the brigade was ordered to Virginia, and
on arrival was assigned to Major-General R. E. Rodes’ Divis-
ion comprising the following other brigades, viz.: Ramseur’s
North Carolina, Iverson’s North Carolina, and Doles’
Georgia, and no better division was there in any army. Most
fortunate were we in brigade and divisional commanders.
Both Rodes and Daniel were born soldiers, and both died on
the field of battle in glorious discharge of duty. The divis-
ion was in Ewell’s Corps. On Daniel’s death Bryan Grimes

became his worthy successor and later on the successor of the
lamented Rodes.

About the first of June, 1863, our division, Rodes’, broke
camp at Hamilton Crossing, a few miles from Freder-
icksburg, and started, whither few knew, but many surmised.

At Brandy Station 9 June, 1863, we became aware that a
fight was going on in front. Were hastily formed and moved
forward to the point, upon nearing which General Lee in per-
son met General Daniel and told him that he was to keep his
command concealed under the brow of a hill except upon
emergency, as it was a cavalry fight and he did not wish the
enemy to learn that he was on the move. Shortly after met:
the corpse of my old Colonel, Sol. Williams, being brought
out on horseback by his brother-in-law, Lieutenant Pegram.