444 Nort Caroxtina Troops, 1861-’65.

and guarded in his commendations, his usual recognition of
conspicuous acts of gallantry was, simply to pass by the com-
mand which attracted his attention, and return the salutation
of the gratified troops. As a commander he was never harsh
or unjust, but on the contrary often forbearing in his pun-
ishments. In many respects Jackson was his antipode;
though outwardly awkward and ungainly, he impressed those
serving under him as being the very incarnation of war.

When anticipating a battle he would occasionally pass
through his troops, as they rested by the road side, at full
speed with hat in hand while they cheered him to the echo,
for they believed he would soon lead them in a pursuit of the
enemy.

Both he and D. H. Hill recklessly exposed themselves in
battle, and seemed to bear charmed lives, and acted as if they
looked upon even reckless bravery as a duty rather than a
thing to be commended. A striking incident of this charac-
ter was recently recalled to my attention by Captain O. N. Al-
len, of the Thirtieth North Carolina Regiment, who himself
lost an arm in our service. Hill’s Division at the battle of
Cold Harbor, while lying in line, was subjected to terrible ar-
tillery fire, and occasionally shells would plough through the
ranks, killing men as they lay in line. Bondurant’s Missis-
sippi Battery attempted to reply, but his men and horses were
literally cut to pieces. The brave Captain came to Hill and
said he could do no more. At this moment the General
observed that his men were greatly annoyed by the fire from
a battery. As if thinking aloud he said: “I wish I knew
whose battery that is; if mine the fuse is too short and it
should be stopped.” A Major commanding the sharpshooters
indignant at finding no one else to volunteer, promptly re-
plied, “T will ascertain,” when he remarked: “I wish you
would.” Promptly springing upon his horse, this officer
rode at full speed through the furious fire of concentrated
batteries, and then stopping for a moment in a ravine, a shell
buried itself beside his horse and exploding, literally covered
horse and rider with mud. The battery proved to belong to
Colquitt’s Georgia Brigade and was silenced. Though this
officer was brought in frequent contact with Hill during the

Tur ANDERSON-RAMSEUR-Cox BRIGADE. 445

time he commanded the division, he never thanked him nor

alluded to the matter afterwards.
I mention these characteristics of these General Officers

from the fact the brigade for quite a time served under them.

In an army of the magnitude of that of Northern Vir-
ginia, where there was often more than fifty different bri-
gades, the officer was fortunate who could attract the eye of
our Great Commander, for any singularly meritorious
achievement.

After the battle of Williamsburg, Anderson was promoted
and given a brigade composed of the Second, Fourth, Four-
teenth and Thirtieth Regiments. A graduate of West Point,
he was commissioned Lieutenant and had seen service in the
old army, before the crisis of 1861. When it was seen that
war between the States was inevitable, he promptly surren-
dered his commission and offered his sword to his native
State. Physically, he was a splendid specimen of young
manhood; six feet in height, broad-shouldered, erect and
thoughtful, and endowed with a commanding and well modu-
lated voice.

His promotion was secured under the most flattering cir-
cumstances. At the battle of Williamsburg, Anderson (then
Colonel of the Fourth North Carolina) seized the flag of the
Forty-seventh Georgia Regiment, and, dashing forward amid
storms of shot and shell, his men were aroused with enthusi-
asm, and cheering followed while they fell thick and fast,
but .their impetuosity was irresistible and they halted not
until Anderson had planted the colors on the stoutly defended
breastworks of the enemy. President Davis witnessed this
charge and at once promoted him to a Brigadiership. The
superb discipline and training of his men may be ascertained
from the fact, that out of the 520 rank and file carried into
action, 462 were killed or wounded, and of his twenty-seven
commissioned officers, all save one were killed or wounded.

The Regiments of the Brigade appreciated the compliment
and congratulated themselves on their good fortune in secur-
ing as their commander an officer so accomplished and coura-
geous as “Anderson” had shown himself to be. Singularly
pure, natural and unostentatious, he early impressed his