578 NortH CaroLina Troops, 1861-65.

Senator. Lieutenant Ed. A. Thorne was a most meritorious
officer, never failed to do his full duty. Captain J. ©. Pe-
gram fell in the lines of Petersburg, a noble son of Ad-
miral Pegram, of the Confederate Navy. His accomplish-
ments and qualities as an officer could not have been bet-
ter. Captain Sterling H. Gee had the heart of the whole
Brigade. He was brave, generous and graceful, and lost his
life 1 April, 1865, a few days after his marriage, one of the
last and best victims of those who fell in the war. Captain
Wm. B. Meares, was a true soldier, always devoted, shirked
no responsibility or danger and served through to the end.

General Ransom never failed to acknowledge his great in-
debtedness to Captain Cicero Durham for suggestions and ser-
vices at the battle of Plymouth. He was a Quartermaster
who invariably went into a fight, and was known as the “fight-
ing Quartermaster.” He was as modest as a girl, but brave
as Marshal Ney. He was a Christian, even in the fire of
battle, and always lovable. The last halo upon his brow was
the light of a maiden’s love.

This brigade was drilled and disciplined by General Reb-
ert Ransom, and was commanded during ali the war by him
or his brother Matt. W. Ransom. There was but little for
any officer to do upon taking a command which had been so
well prepared by General Robert Ransom. But his successor
in command, though bred a civilian and until his appointment
by Governor Ellis as Lieutenant-Colonel of the First Regi-
ment of State troops, without any military experience, he at
once displayed high qualities for command and gained the
confidence and affection of his soldiers, from the highest to
the humblest. Not for an instant did General Matt. W. Ran-
som lose this great influence over his soldiers. His bearing
on the field of battle was no less than superb. His presence
was an inspiration to those under his command, and in des-
perate straits, as at Plymouth, when victory hung in the
balance, and it seemed impossible for mortal man to advance
in the face of the withering fire that faced them, it was only
necessary for General Ransom to ride along his lines with un-
covered head and pointing in the direction of the foe, call on
his men to follow him. His soldiers never failed him or he

Ransom’s BRIGADE. 579

them, and wounded and suffering, after four years of service,
he was with his command when it lay down its arms at Ap-
pomattox.

The Brigade always moved as a machine, well regulated in
every part. Its medical staff, O’Hagan, Wilson, Luckey,
Ruffin, Duffie, etc., was eminently qualified for all their
duties. With such officers and such a staff, and men of North
Carolina for its strength, it is not wonderful that the brigade
should have been among the first in Magruder’s great charge
at Malvern Hill. That it should have held the most difficult
and dangerous line at Sharpsburg; that it should have been
conspicuous on Marye’s burning heights; that it should have
stormed Plymouth; have been the first at the capture and
last at the giving up of Fort Stedman. That it should have
borne the last desperate agony of Five Forks and furled its
glorious banner and grounded its muskets at Appomattox.

Upon reading over the Official Records of the Union and
Confederate Armies, I find that this brigade was without ex-
ception called upon for hard service whenever it could be
had, by the commanding officers of the army. Not a word
of reproach from any person ever fell upon it, on the march,
in camp, or on the field of battle.

Wo. H. 8S. Burewyn.

We.poy, N. C.,
9 Apriz, 1901.