296 Norra CaroLina Troops, 1861-’65. growing weaker, until he was forced to take his bed, and in a few short months he died. He was buried with military hon- ors by the battalion. He was an officer of marked ability, a splendid executive officer, and was universally loved by the entire armory force. He was promoted to the rank of Major during his illness. On his death Captain Charles P. Bolles assumed command until Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. DeLagnel was placed in command, which was, I think, about three weeks, and who only remained at the post about six months, when he returned to the field again in Virginia. He was re- lieved at the arsenal by Lieutenant-Colonel F. L. Childs, who continued in command until the close of the war. SIXTH BATTALION ARMORY GUARDS. The companies composing this command were the ordnance corps of fifty men and three artificers, Joseph D. Gurley, Neill L. Monroe and Alexander McDonald. Thomas Ste vens, an old United States army Sergeant, was appointed by Major Booth as Ordnance Sergeant and Commissary and Quartermaster Sergeant of the post. The special duty of the Ordnance Corps was to perform guard duty. It was Company A, of the battalion. Captain, Charles P. Bolles; First Lieutenant, Samuel A. Ashe. Company B—Captain, Armand L. DeRosset; First Lieu- tenant, David J. Ray; Second Lieutenant, Malcolm N. Mon- roe; Junior Second Lieutenant, John T. Ritter. This command was organized and drilled at this post, and constituted a part of this battalion until they were ordered to report at Wilmington to Major-General Whiting. Captain DeRosset left Fayetteville with 118 rank and file. Company C-—Captain, George W. Decker; First Lieuten- ant, Charles R. Banks; Second Lieutenant, Charles E. Rob- erts; Junior Second Lieutenant, Alonzo Garrison. Rank and file, 60 men. Company D—Captain, William P. Wemyss; First Lieu- tenant, James F. Woodward; Second Lieutenant, Samuel J. Walton; Junior Second Lieutenant, Malcom McInnis. Rank and file, 73 men. SrxtH BatTAa Lion. 297 Company E—Captain, Martin VanBuren Talley; First Lieutenant, Robert F. Epps; Second Lieutenant, William T. Battley; Junior Second Lieutenant, James A. Ahearn. Rank and file, 61 men. Company F, Cavatry—Captain, James W. Strange; First Lieutenant, R. H. Holliday; Second Lieutenant, Chris- topher C. McMurray. Rank and file, 69 men. This command only remained for a few months, and was transferred to more active service, doing duty in Eastern North Carolina from Weldon to Wilmington. Captain Strange had commanded Company D, Nineteenth North Car- olina Regiment (Second Cavalry). Company G—Captain, James D. Buie; First Lieutenant, Lauchlin W. Currie; Second Lieutenant, George W. Gates. Rank and file, 61 men. Francis L. Childs was Lieutenant-Colonel of the battalion, and Matthew P. Taylor Major. The total rank and file of this battalion was 509 men. The battalion was as well drilled and as thoroughly disci- plined as any command in the Confederate service. When General Butler made his famous attack on Fort Fisher and attempted to land his troops, all work at the arse- nal and armory was suspended and this entire command was sent to report to Major-General Whiting. The command remained several days near Fort Fisher, and finding General Butler had abandoned his purpose, this command was ordered back to Fayetteville and work again resumed in the various departments. The large majority of this battalion had been in many a hard-fought battle with Lee and Jackson, but being skilled artisans and mechanics of a high order, they were de- tailed from their commands for this most important duty at the arsenal and armory, but they were always ready to obey the summons to the field. The Confederate Government moved the Harper’s Ferry machinery from the rifle factory there to the Fayetteville ar- senal and armory, together with thirty-five men with their families, with Mr. Phillip Burkhart as master armorer. The services of these skilled workmen were highly appre-