Tue Junior Reserves BRIGADE. 591

during the first attack, thus gives his estimate of the conduct
of the Reserves.

“It gives me real pleasure to bear testimony to the gallantry
of the North Carolina Junior Reserves at Fort Fisher when
Porter and Butler were repulsed. The first life sacrificed
there in defence of Carolina homes was that of an heroic boy ;
and another Junior Reserve, who volunteered for a desperate
task, was killed in performing the perilous duty. On that
Christmas day, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, when North
Carolinians won imperishable renown by repelling the most
formidable fleet that ever sailed, two out of every three that
were killed outright were Junior Reserves. No language can
more forcibly describe the bravery and heroism of these boys
than the statement of this fact.”

In these two engagements quite a number of the Junior
Reserves were killed or captured. Lieutenant Hamlin with
great courage and coolness escaped from the enemy, eluded
recapture and brought quite a number of his men safely
within our lines.

Not long after this Sherman’s torchlight procession had en-
tered North Carolina, and thenceforward no one had any oe-
casion to volunteer to leave the State to find a battle ground.
The three regiments and Millard’s Battalion of Junior Re-
serves were united at Kinston into a brigade first under Colo-
nel F. S. Armistead, then under General L. 8. Baker, and
formed one of the regular brigades of Hoke’s Division. From
this time forward they became regular troops, receiving the
same treatment and performing the same duties as the other
brigades. The brigade was commanded at Bentonville and
thence till the surrender by Colonel J. H. Nethercutt, of the
Sixty-sixth North Carolina. Lieutenant-General Hardee
was the Corps commander. Captain B. G. Smith was Bri-
gade Quartermaster. Adjutant A. T. London and Lieuten-
ant E. S. Foster, both of the First Juniors, acted as A. A. G.
and Ordnance Officer of the brigade respectively till 15
March, when Colonel Nethercutt took command and an-
nounced William Calder as A. A. G. and Eugene S. Martin

SUPPLEMENTARY GROUP. as Ordnance Officer.

1. Oliver J. Lehman, Musician, 33d Regt. 3. James R. pag te Li ag Co. D, 70th Regt. At Kinston, we had not long to wait. General Terry’s
iz ees lua Leazar, Hospital Steward, 42d ra em Grane ad tt, Co. B, 70th Regt.

(1st Junior Reserves.)
5. J. A. Beaman, Private, Cos A, 7ist Regt. (2d Junior Reserves.)