362 Nortu Carorina Troops, 1861-65.

dreds; was in the engagements at Ware Bottom Church and
Clay’s Farm. Here under a heavy fire a 32-pound shell fell
among a detachment of the men at one of our guns. Private
Jas. P. Pierce, with great presence of mind, picked up the
shell with its burning fuse and threw it over the entrench-
ment. The next day General Beauregard in General Orders,
complimented “Private Jas. P. Pierce, of Cumming’s Bat-
tery, for his bravery and coolness,” commending his example
to the army. When Grant crossed the James river the com-
mand was ordered to Petersburg, Va., and was actively en-
gaged 16, 17 and 18 June on the Jerusalem Plank Road; was
then moved to the trenches around Petersburg, occupying the
salient on the Norfolk Railroad, and supported by General
Gracie, of Alabama. The battery was daily and nightly un-
der heavy fire by artillery and mortars and was actively en-
gaged in the battle of the Crater 30 July, 1864. In Septem-
ber, 1864, the company was ordered to the north side of the
Appomattox, enfilading the enemy’s line up to the Hare
house and was under heavy fire about every day and night.
The battery continued in service until the evacuation of Pe-
tersburg, sharing in the privations and fighting from Dea-
tonsville and Sailor’s Creek to Appomattox Court House;
was not engaged at the surrender of Lee for want of ammuni-
tion. At that time it formed a part of Blount’s Battalion.

THE SECOND SECTION.

The second section of the battery under Lieutenant Rowe,
continued in North Carolina where it was engaged in the bat-
tle below Kinston, 8 March, 1865. Lieutenant Rowe was
killed; was also engaged at the battle of Bentonville, N. C.,

19-21 March, in Starr’s Battalion. This section was in John- |

ston’s retreat, surrendering at Greensboro, N. C.

The battery was thus in constant service from April, 1861,
to the surrender at Appomattox Court House, losing a num-
ber of men in battle and by disease, one hundred and fifty
men having enlisted in the entire company.

Jas. D. Cummine.

New Yor« Crry,
26 April, 1901.

 

FOURTEENTH BATTALION.

(HENRY'S BATTALION. )

By 8. V. PICKENS, Apsuranr.

This battalion which grew out of Woodfin’s Battalion, was
itself cventually increased and merged into the Seventy-
ninth North Carolina Regiment (Eighth Cavalry.) The
history of both these battalions has been given in the history
of that regiment ante and need not be repeated here.

S. V. Pioxens.

HENDERSONVILLE, N. C.,
30 May, 1901.
363