IK \^ ZEBULON B. VANCE. GOVERSOR, 186a-1866L HISTORIES SEVERAL REGIMENTS AND BATTALIONS NORTH CAROLINA GREAT WAR 1861 -'65. . VRITTEN BT nEMEERS Of THE RESFECTIVE COnrLftNDS EDITED BY WALTER £LARK, (Lieut. -CoLOJfKL SEVE^TIETH Regiment X. C. T. ) VOL. III. ^ PUBLISHED BY THE STATE. XASH BROTHERS. BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS, GOLDSBORO, N. C. 1901 I 5H whecked THE NEW YORK' PUBLIC LIBRARY 264072 ASTOR. LE' TILOEN <--- R .--. — s CONTENTS. PAGE. Forty-Third Regiment, by Colonel Thomas S. Kenan,..^ 1 Fortv-Third Regiment, (Company A.) by Colonel Thomas S. Kenan • 19 Forty-Fourth Regiment, by Major Charles M. Stedman '21 Forty-Fifth Regiment, by Sergeant Cyrus B. Watson 35 Forty-Sixth Regiment, by Lieutenant J. M. Waddill 63 Forty-Seventh Regiment, bii Captain John H. Thorp 83 Forty-Seventh Regiment, by Lieutenant J. Rowan Rogers 103 Forty-Eighth Regiment, by Captain, W. H. H. Lawhon 113 Forty-Ninth Regiment, by Lieutenant Thomas R. Roulhac 125 Forty-Ninth Regiment, by Captain B. F. Dixon 151 Fiftieth Regiment, by Lieutenant J. C. Ellington 161 Fifty -First Regiment, by Lieutenant A. A. McKethan 205 Fifty-Second Regiment, by Adjutant John H. Robinson 223 Fifty Third Regiment, by Colonel James T Morehead 255 Fifty-Fourth Regiment, by Lieutenant J. Mai-shall Williams 267 Fifty-Fifth Regiment, by Adjutant Charles M. Cooke 287 Fifty-Sixth Regiment, by Captain Robert D. Oraham 313 Fifty-Seventh Regiment, by Colonel Hamilton C Jones 405 Fifty-Eighth Regiment, by Major G. W. F. Harper. 431 Fifty-Eighth Regiment, by Captain Isaac H. Bailey 447 Fifty-Ninth Regiment, (Fourth Cav.,) by Lieutenant W. P. Shaw.. 455 Sixtieth Regiment, by Lieutenant- Colonel James M. Ray 473 Sixtieth Regiment, by Captain Thomas W. Patton . . 499 Sixty First Regiment, by Captain N. A. Ramsey 503 Sixty-Second Regiment, by Lieutenant- Colonel B. G. McDowell 515 Sixty-Third Regiment, (Fifth Cav.), by Major John M. Galloway. . 529 Sixty-Third Regiment, (Fifth Cav. ), by Private Paul B. Means. . . . 545 Sixty-Fourth Regiment, by Captain B T. Morris 659 Sixty -Fifth Regiment. (Sixth Cav.), by Captain M. V. Moore... 673 Sixty-Sixth Regiment, by Adjutant George M. Rose 685 Sixty-Seventh Regiment, by Lieutenant- Colonel Rufus W. Wharton 703 Sixty-Eighth Regiment, by Corporal J. W. Evans 713 Sixty-Eighth Regiment, by Sergeant W. T. Caho 725 Sixty-Ninth Regiment, 6?/ im(ie?ia/i/-CoZo?ie^ W. W. String field 729 ASTOfi, ■-^NOX AND ^i2s^:c. FORTY-THIHD REGIMENT. J. Thos. S. Kenan, Colonel. 2. W. Gaston Lewis, Lieut. -Colonel. 3. James (i. Kenan, Captain, Co. A. 4. Rufflu Barnes, Captain, Co. C. 5. Drury Lacy, Adjutant. 6. Wtti. R. Kenan, -M Lieut, and Arigade was permitted to retire a few hundred yards and rest. We had lost heavily. The battle was then raging all along the line of Ewell's Corps and continued until after nightfall. In the darkness we arranged our lines and worked most of the night throwing up earth works. Early the next morning the firing betw^een the picket lines began. From time to time during the day we sent forward men to strengthen the picket line. This picket fire continued all day with a light fire of artillery at intervals. During this day, the 6th of May, the dreadful fight was raging on our right between the Corps <^f Hill and Longstreet and the greater part of Grant's army. We remained in our position Forty- Fifth Regiment. 45 during the night of the 6th and all day of the 7th with con- tinued heavy picket and artillery firing. Early in the night of the 7th we moved out by the right flank, having been cau- tioned to make as little noise as possible, and commenced what turned out to be, a hurried flank movement to Spottsyl- vania Court House. We marched all night, and the whole of the next day, and in the afternoon heard heavy firing in the direction of Spottsylvania Court House, We hurried on. Now and then we passed through sections where the woods were on fire and would become enveloped in choking smoke, but nothing delayed us. Late in the afternoon, as we were approaching the field where Longstreet's Corps, now" com- manded by General Anderson, was engaged in an unequal fight with the assaulting columns of the enemy, the march became more hurried, frequently breaking into a double- quick. The afternoon was hot. The men, worn out by the long march and from loss of sleep, were dropping exhausted along the way. A little before sunset, and as we reached a point almost in range of the enemy's rifles, but in the rear of Longstreet's right, we were halted, the regiment closed up and ordered to a front. General Daniel dashed along on horseback in front of the brigade, halting in the center of each regiment, and announced that Longstreet's Corps had for hours been successfully resisting the repeated attacks of the enemy that had been thrown against him in almost over- whelming numbers ; that we were now in half mile of his ex- treme right ; that the enemy would, within a few minutes, turn his flank and get possession of a most favorable posi- tion unless we arrived in time to prevent it ; that the only question was whether we should arrive in time to save the position or retake it after it had been secured by the enemy. This only occupied a few minutes, but it gave the tired men these few minutes to recover breath. The announcement of General Daniel was greeted by each regiment with a shout. The brigade was ordered into column, and, in a rapid run, we passed the last regiment on Longstreet's right and discovered that the splendid brigade of General Ramseur, the front brigade in our corps, had passed Longstreet's last regiment, had turned by the left flank, and 46 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. was moving forward in a beautiful line to meet the enemy that had just arrived and was advancing to turn Longstreet's right. Our brigade pressed on until its last regiment had passed General Ramseur's right, when it, in turn, halted and closed up its ranks, fronted, and under the immediate eye of General Eodes, our commander, who had by this time ar- rived on the spot, raised a yell and dashed at the enemy. In rapid succession the brigades of Generals Doles and Battle passed in our rear, and with a similar movement turned the enemy's flank, whose whole advancing line was driven back. The fight continued in the woods until after nightfall, the two respective lines firing at the flash of the adversary's guns. Slowly the firing ceased, the litter-bearers came in along the line and bore away the wounded. The dead, for the time, and in many instances perhaps for all time, were left undisturbed where they fell. THE HORSE SHOE. Soon after the firing ceased, our lines were drawn back for a short distance and preparations for the next day's fight were begun. A sergeant from each regiment of our brigade was called for and assembled at brigade headquarters. I was detailed as one. We were placed in charge of Captain W. L. London, now of Pittsboro, IST. C, (and I could write many pages about the courage and faithfulness of this staff officer). Captain London carried us forward in the dark, and selected, what appeared to be, the highest point of a low ridge between the lines. He posted us, one at a place, along the crest of this low ridge, until he had posted each guide about the length of a regiment apart, giving each instructions to remain in the pine thicket where we were placed, "until we heard the signal come down the line from our right," and then to take it up and repeat it as often as it came, until the regiment formed upon us. In leaving the place where I stood. Captain London cautioned me not to sit down, for fear I might go to sleep, but to stand and rest upon my gun. I must have stood there for more than an hour listening to the strange cries of the wounded, doubtless of both armies, some begging for water, and one poor fellow, as I remember, who Forty-Fifth Regiment. 47 had perhaps been wounded in the head, was delirious, and now and then would change his cries and groans into a sound like the bark of a dog. After what seemed to me a long time, I heard away on my right coming down the line, a low "Halloo." This passed down the line and continued until we heard the tramp of the regiments as they came up and formed upon us. This was doubtless done all along most of the lines of Ewell's Corps, and done in many places in the dark- ness of a pine thicket. I have never been able to account for the forming of this salient, which was soon to become what is known as the historic "Bloody Angle," except in this way ; we threw up breastworks all night, and, when daylight came^ we found that a part of our division, and perhaps all of Johnson's Division and a part of Hill's men, were occu- pying breastworks formed in the shape of a horse shoe, with the toe upon elevated ground and the sides running back to the caulks, which were not, as I now see the ground, more than 500 yards apart. All day of the 9th we encountered a deadly fire from the sharpshooters and a heavy fire of artillery from the enemy, to which we replied in kind. This died away after nightfall and was renewed in more aggravated form on the morning of the 10th, and continued until late in the afternoon. Sud- denly, at about an hour by sun, the enemy broke from cover to our right, and poured in overwhelming numbers upon the line occupied by General Doles' Georgians. These gallant men were overpowered by sheer force of numbers and driven from the works. The enemy poured through the breach, captured quite a number of men on the extreme right of our brigade; forced the brigade to retire to avoid the enfilading fire, and caused us the temporary loss of sixteen pieces of artillery. Our brigade slowly fell back firing as it retreated, the enemy advancing and taking possession of our abandoned guns. In a short time we were in line at right angles to the works ; the enemy massing in great numbers in our front. It seemed even to the eye of a private soldier that a dangerous crisis was upon us. Suddenly a single horseman came dash- ing up to the rear of our regiment. He was instantly recog- nized by the men who saw him, as General Ewell, our corps 48 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'65. coininaiKk'r. lie had outstripped his staff officers who were following- him, but not then in sight. He luilted in the rear of the Forty-lif th Keginient, and called out, "Don't run boys ; I will have enough men here in five minutes to eat up every d — d one of them." His eyes were almost green. The line steadied and poured volley after volley into the enemy. Presently we heard a yell up the line in our rear as we stood, and Battle's Brigade of Alabamians were seen coming to our support. They ran down the line by us. We raised a yell and dashed forward. jS^ow, what became of Battle's men, whether they passed around us forming a line parallel with the works and then charged with us, I cannot tell. I did not then know. I only know that we went forward in a full run ; found the enemy standing where we had left our batteries ; the gnins all withdrawn from their embrasures, turned upon us, but not firing, while the infantry fired into our faces. They stood their ground until there were but a few paces be- tAveen the lines. A fine-looking Federal officer stood in the front of their line wuth drawn saber, encouraging his men. He fell dead, within a few paces of the writer, shot through the neck. I ascertained the next morning that his name was Colonel Huling, of the Sixth or Seventh Maine Regiment, temporarily connnanding the front brigade in this assault. He was a brave fellow and deserved a better fate. When he fell, his men breaking in confusion leaped over the breastworks, and we went in near the same place we had left them. My re- collection is that these lines were restored by our brigade. Bat- tle's Alabama Brigade, one or two regiments from Bamseur's Brigade and a part of the brigade of General B. D. Johnston. But I reiiKMubor well that a few days thereafter, we had in the company a Richmond paper, giving an account of the battle as connnunicated by an army correspondent, as having been won and the lost line recovered by certain Virginia brigades ; this, indeed, was (]uite a common thing with the Richmond papers. As we recaptured the line the brave artil- lerymen, one company of which was the Richmond Howitz- ers, as fine a body of men as ever wore a uniform, rushed up with rannners in hand ; wheeled the guns to their places and commenced pouring canister into the ranks of the re- Forty-Fifth Regiment. 49 treating foe. We then saw why it was that we had not been fired upon by our own guns. The artillerymen had carried away the rammers. Thus ended the bloody engagement of 10 May. The gTound was covered with the dead and wounded from both armies. The gallant Colonel Brabble, of the Thirty-second ]^orth Carolina, of our brigade, was among the former. If space permitted, I would be glad here to give instances of individual acts of heroism witnessed by me in this and subsequent engagements in this bloody angle. The morning after this fight, I was asked by a wounded Sergeant belong- ing to the Sixth Maine Regiment, to help him down under the hill where he would not be exposed to the artillery fire from his own batteries. I did so, and made him as comfort- able as I could. I filled his canteen with water, and learned from him the name and rank of the officer killed the evening before. I observed among the enemy's dead inside our lines, what I thought was an unusual proportion of non-commis- sioned officers. I asked this Sergeant how this happened. He answered that the evening before, just before his brigade led the assaulting column upon our works, that this same Col- onel Huling addressed the regiments of the brigade ; re- minded them that during the preceding battles many com- pany officers had been killed or permanently disabled, and that he expected to keep an eye on the non-commissioned of- ficers of the brigade and see to it that commissions should be given the deserving ones. He said : "We came in front looking for promotion, and you see the result." He himself had a badly shattered leg below the knee. The 11th of May passed with nothing more than heavy skirmishing and severe artillery firing at intervals. Early in the morning of the 11th, General Rodes placed our brigade at the right of the division and in the space previously occupied by General Doles. The brigade took this as a compliment, and General Daniel, soon after the brigade was so placed, passed down the line behind the men and said to ns : "I want you boys to remember that if the enemy come over these breastworks today, you are to receive them on your bayonets." 4 50 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. The night of tho 11th was dark and drizzly. We sat with guns in hand the entire night, with a man to eaeh company whose business it was to see that the men kept awake. We were so near the enemy's lines that I heard them knocking open cracker boxes and heard them call to the men to come and get their rations (giving '*a'' the long sound). We could hear, during the night, the sound of axes. They were evi- dently engaged in clearing away the pine bushes near the toe of the horse shoe to unmask their batteries. Just as the light was beginning to show on the morning of the 12th, we heard a sharp rattle of musketry away to the right, and suddenly the enemy came rushing over the line of works occupied by Edward Johnson's Division. They did not come in front of our brigade. The Forty-fifth Regiment occupied the posi- tion at the extreme right of the brigade next to Johnson's Division. It seemed to me then, as I remember now, that they captured almost the entire division down to the extreme left, and up to our right. I saw very few men go to the rear. We instantly sprang to our guns at the first firing. Our brave brigade commander came running up the line from near the center of the brigade to our regiment and observed that the enemy on our immediate right was confused in gath- ering up prisoners. He called the regiment to attention; gave the command, "About face," and, as I remember, moved the regiment at a right wheel, thus turning the regiment upon a pivot on the left company, and in this movement threw our backs to the enemy. While we were executing this movement, we were ordered to fire to the rear, which we did as rapidly as we could. When we had reached a point at almost right angles Avith the works, we were halted, ordered to about face, where we stood for a minute or two firing into the enemy's lines enfilading them. We were shortly com- manded to right face and double-quick, the brigade following us. This threw us partly across the lines between the two •caulks of the horse shoe, perhaps half the brigade occupy- ing that position. In the meantime the battalion of artil- lery, down the line to our left, drew their guns from the breastworks and threw them into line about fifty yards to our rear, in a position several feet higher than the position we Forty-Fifth Regiment. 51 occupied. We dropped upon our knees and opened fire upon the enemy, every man loading and firing as rapidly as possi- ble. Immediately the artillery in our rear opened fire over our heads. For a little while the rush of canister and shrap- nel above us seemed dangerous, but the conflict was on and in a short time we became accustomed to it. By the time the prisoners of Johnson's Division had been disposed of, the enemy in unbroken lines reaching back as far as we could Bee, came sweeping on in our front, but this combined fire of infantry and artillery was more than human flesh could stand and it was impossible for them to reach our line. The first men that came to our assistance was that brigade of North Carolinians commanded by the peerless Ramseur. This brigade always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. It came up and formed on our right, as I remember, in an open field, lay down for a moment, but soon, at the command of its leader, sprang up and dashed forward into the horse shoe. For a moment it seemed to me our brigade ceased firing and held its breath as these men went forward, apparently into the very jaws of death. They were soon en- veloped in smoke, which the heavy atmosphere of a misty morning caused to linger over the field. Now, from this time until dark I know nothing of what took place, except that which occurred in my immediate neighborhood. Without moving at times for hours, we fired into the advancing columns of the enemy who were trying to carry our position, while Ramseur's Brigade, and doubtless many other brigades, were fighting on our right. We made during the day during the little intervals between the enemy's assaults, a little temporary protection composed of fence rails, poles and earth, behind which w^e sat on our knees and fired. We went in with sixty rounds of cartridges each. This supply of ammunition was replenished from time to time during the day. How many rounds were fired no man knew. The pine saplings standing at intervals in the field in front of us and along on the sides of the old breastworks of John- son's Division, were torn and shattered by minie balls. The enemy would take shelter sometimes behind the captured works, which formed an acute angle with the line we occupied 52 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. and several times during the day I saw pine saplings perhaps six or eight inches in diameter, finally bend, break and fall, from the fire of musketry aimed at the top of the breast- works. From some point along this line, the stump of a white oak, perhaps ten inches or more in diameter, that was cut down in this way, during the day, was taken up by the Federal forces after the battle and carried to Washington, and is there now presented to show the efl^ect of the mus- ketry fire. There was not a moment, as I now remember, from daylight in the morning until long after dark that the battle did not rage in this horse shoe. The fire of the en- emy's artillery from the higher ground near the toe of the horse shoe, and also from the right where Hill's men fought, was terrific the entire day. Just after a severe cannonading, I heard General Daniel, who was sitting at the root of a little tree in the rear of my company with watch in hand, say to Captain London: ''London, how does this ar- tillery fire compare with the second day at Gettysburg." I do not remember Captain London's reply, but General Dan- iel continuing, said : "I have been holding my watch and counting the shells as they came into these lines, and part of the time they have averaged more than one hundred to the minute." I do not think I am mistaken in my figures. When night came on, the tired regiments fell asleep upon the wet ground. The men were in no condition to sit up and discuss the losses. We knew that General Daniel had been borne from the field mortally wounded. We knew that two senior Colonels succeeding him in command of the brigade during the day had also fallen, and that when night came on the brigade was in command of Lieutenant-Colonel Jas. T. More- head, of the Fifty-third Regiment. After the night's sleep, the soldiers looked about tliem and found that our losses had been terrific. The next morning we occupied a new intrenched line that had been fortified during the night, by whom I know not, and we were again ready for the enemy. There was little fight- ing of any consequence along our part of the line until the morning, as I remember, of the 16th, when the enemy ad- vanced just at daylight in heavy forces, but were easily Forty-Fifth Regiment. 53 driven back without much loss on our side. On the 17th or 18th and after the enemy had drawn back their line into the woods, giving up the entire field where the conflict raged on the 12th, I asked permission of Lieutenant Frank Erwin, commanding my company, to pass the picket line and go over into this angle to make observations. It was a bright May day. There was no fighting on any part of the line, and by his permission I went. The pickets permitted me to pass, and I went over the breastworks to that portion of the field which had been occupied by our brigade, and then to the right, to the position which had been occupied by Eamseur's Brigade. On my arrival in this angle, I could well see why the enemy had withdrawn their lines. The stench was almost unbearable. There Avere dead artillery horses in considerable numbers that had been killed on the 10th and in the early morning of the 12th. Along these lines of breastworks where the earth had been excavated to the depth of one or two feet and thrown over, making the breastworks, I found these trenches filled with water (for there had been much rain) and in this water lay the dead bodies of friend and foe commingled, in many in- stances one lying across the other, and in one or more in- stances I saw as many as three lying across one another. All over the field lay the dead of both armies by hundreds, many of them torn and mangled by shells. Many of the bodies swollen out of all proportion, some with their guns yet grasped in their hands. Now and then one could be seen covered with a blanket, which had been placed over him by a comrade after he had fallen. These bodies were decaying. The water was red, almost black with blood. Offensive flies were everywhere. The trees, saplings and shrubs were torn and shattered beyond description ; guns, some of them broken, bayonets, canteens and cartridge boxes were scattered about, and the whole scene was such that no pen can, or ever will describe it. I have seen many fields after severe confiicts, but no where have I seen anything half so ghastly. I returned to my company and said to old man Thomas Carroll, a private in the com- pany, who was frying meat at the fire, "You would have saved rations by going with me, for I will have no more appe- 64 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. tite for a Avcck." On tlie 19th our corps marched in the af- ternoon around the enemy's right, crossed one of the prongs of the Mattapony River, and attacked the enemy on his right flank and rear. We carried no artillery, and, as it happened, that which we had hoped would be a successful surprise to the enemy turned out to be a desperate and unsuccessful battle. We found a large body of fresh troops coming up as re- inforcements from Fredericksburg. We attacked them. The engagement began perhaps two hours by sun and lasted until in the night, and under cover of darkness our corps returned to its former position. In this engagement our regiment suf- fered severely. The Colonel of our regiment, the brave Samuel H. Boyd, was killed while leading a charge. My own company came out of tlie fight with not an officer nor non-commissioned officer left. In this last charge the writer received a severe wound from which he has never entirely re- covered. The next day the armies commenced a movement toward Richmond, confronting each other and fighting almost daily, which finally culminated in the great battle of Cold Harbor, 3 June, in which battle the enemy received awful punishment, and our regiment again suffered severely. While this battle was raging, I was lying helpless in the Win- der Hospital in Richmond, listening to the roar of the guns. After nightfall the wounded began to arrive from the field. I remember liow the wounded in my ward lay upon their beds and inquired, as the Avounded were brought in from their companies and regiments, as to the result of tlic battle and as to friends engaged. There I first learned of the death of Major Smith. The Avard masters and nurses were prin- cipally composed of disabled men, assigned to liglit duty. I remember that about 10 o'clock tliat night, a man was brought in from an ambulance upon a stretclier, and when brought to the light, was found to be the only brother of our ward mas- ter, and iiKirtally wounded. The next morning I learned of the death of a dear friend and school mate, a meud)('r of Manly's Battery, M. F. Cummins. He was sliot tlirough the head while mounted ou the breastworks, ea]i in liand, watching the effect of a sliell fired from his gun ; a brave, gallant fellow. Soon after this battle, the regiment was sent Forty-Fifth Regiment, 55 to join General Early, and with his comma;id marched down the Valley, crossing the Potomac about 5 or 6 July, and had a severe engagement with the enemy's forces, commanded by General Lew Wallace, near Monocacy Junction. The regi- ment marched from there to the suburbs of Washington and lay there for a day or twO' drinking water from the spring of Hon. Montgomery Blair, and, as the boys afterwards told me, they interfered with the milk and butter in his spring house, but this is hearsay and therefore not evidence. On 14 July the command recrossed the Potomac with quite a number of prisoners and camped about Martinsburg and Winchester for some time, occasionally skirmishing with the enemy until 19 September, when Sheridan advanced with an overwhelming force and attacked Early's Corps, driving it from the field. In this battle our division lost its com- mander, General R. E. Rodes, He was a superb officer and beloved by every man in his division. The army retreated to Fisher's Hill, where it was again attacked on 22 Septem- ber, both of its flanks turned, resulting in a disastrous rout. On this occasion, as I was afterwards informed by the men of my regiment, the regiment held a position across the turn- pike, which it maintained after the troops both on the right and left had fallen back, and retired in good order but not till it became apparent that to remain longer would result in its capture. The courage and fortitude of the regiment on this disastrous day served the purpose of holding back the enemy and covering the retreat of the arm3^ It was on this occa- sion that Colonel John R. Winston, coming up the pike with his regiment in the rear of the retreating army, was accosted by one of his soldiers, who was lying on the roadside disabled by a wound, and who pleaded with his Colonel not to leave him to fall into the hands of the enemy. He rode to where he was lying, reached down and took him by the hand, pulled him to his feet, removed his own foot from tlie stirrup of his saddle, assisted the soldier in placiug his foot in the empty stirrup, lifted him into his lap and brought him off the field. The army fell back to Cedar Creek, where it remained until 19 October. On the night of the 18th the regiment participated in the flank movement which resulted in the 56 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. rout of Sheridan's army in the early morning of the 19th, which splendid victory in the early morning was turned into a disgraceful defeat later in the day, through the inexcusable blunder of some one. This ended Early's campaign in the Valley. Later in the fall the brigade returned to Lee's army and took a position in the line engaged in the defense of Pe- tersburg. Here it remained through the winter of 1864 and 1865 in the trenches, almost continually under fire. The regiment had suffered severely during the Valley cam- paign and by the spring of 1865 had become a mere skeleton. During the month of March, the regiment occupied a posi- tion a little to the right of Petersburg and just to the left of Port Mahone and near the Crater. Just in front of the left of the regiment stood Fort Steadman which the boys called Port ""Hell," a powerful earthw'ork of the enemy. On the night of 25 March, the regiment participated in an assault upon Port Steadman directed by General Gordon, and again suffered severely. Hence Proctor^ a private in my company, was one of the skirmishers who first entered the fort about daybreak. Inside of the fort bomb proofs were occupied by officers and men. Llence was a fine soldier, full of fight and fun. He poked his head into one of these bomb proofs, and called out with ugly words, to give emphasis to his command, "Come out of there. I know you are in there." He wore long hair. An officer, startled by this unexpected command, sprang out of his bertli in his night clothes, snatched his saber from its scabbard, seized Hence by the foretop and commenced to slash him about the head with his saber. Hence backed out of the bomb proof, the officer con- tinuing his hold, coming out with him. On getting outside in the open, the fight became an uiuMiual one. Hence's fixed bayonet on the end of liis gun while thus held by the hair, was no match for the saber in the hands of liis adversary, and but floping a biting and stinging power hitherto unknown to tlie up-country men composing the regiment. Rations were scarce and Commissary Sergeant Shell made PUBLIC 1I«8ARY. A8T0R, a*«o« A»» FORTY-SIXTH REGIjyiENT. 1. Thomas Troy. Lieutenant, Co. G. 3. W. C. Bain, Sergeant, Co. G. 2. Henry C. Latta. 2d Lieut., Co. E. 4. James A. Crews, Sergeant, Co. E. (Killed at Petersburg, Nov. 12, 1864.) 5. C. R. Thomasson, Private, Uo. E. Forty-Sixth Regiment. 71 affidavit before Serg'eant-Major Troy that "thirteen typical South Carolina cattle yielded only eleven hundred pounds of blue beef." With shouts of joy, the regiment bade adieu to Pocataligo about 20 April, proceeding to Topsail Sound, near Wilming- ton, where the usual anny ration was totally disregarded for the luscious oyster, to be had in the sound for the getting. 8 ]\lay camp was broken and the regiment moved to Goldsboro, from whence it took a bloodless part in the Kin- ston campaign. 6 June the command left Xortli Carolina for Virginia, where it was stationed near Hanover Junction. Various camps were occupied near Richmond, the brigade being stationed here for the protection of the city, while the main army marched to Gettysburg. Nothing of interest occurred here except a most brilliant engagement at South Anna bridge, between Company B, of the Forty-sixth, supporting a battery, and a force of T'uion cavalry, about 6 July, in which that company covered itself with glory. Thirty-three fresh graves were counted on the Federal position of the engagement. Loss in Com- pany B, four killed and ten wounded. Late in July, 1863, found the regiment near Fredericks- burg, where it remained until 30 Augiist. During this time the death of Adjutant ]\lallett, at the hands of deserters from another regiment, whom he was endeavoring to arrest, cast a gloom over the entire regiment. Tliis gallant young officer had endeared himself to every member of the regiment by his excellent bearing in the field, as well as the genial good nature manifested in his daily duties in camp. A detail under Lieutenant Mallett had been sent in pursuit of the party of deserters. By some means he became separated from most of his small force and coming up Avith the refugees he, with his usual fearlessness, rode up to them, demanding their surrender, when one of the party shot the noble fellow dead. 1 September, 1863, the regiment bade a final adieu to Fredericksburg, proceeding by the way of Guinea's Station to Taylorsville, where it remained some days, when on 25 Sep- 72 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. tember orders were received to repair to Gordon sville, wliere a quiet sojourn was had until 9 October, removing on that day to Madison Court House, this being the first day's march in the fatal flank movement to Bristoe. On this date Cooke's brigade (now composed of North Carolina regiments, as fol- lows. Fifteenth, Twenty-seventh, Forty-sixth, Forty-eighth and Fifty-fifth) was attached to General Harry Heth's Divis- ion, and was thus attached until the close. The Division w^as composed of following brigades: Cooke's North Carolina, Kirkland's North Carolina, Davis' Mississippi, Archer's Tennessee, Walker's Virginia. Heth's Division formed a part of A. P. Hill's Corps, composed of the divisions of Heth, Wilcox and Anderson. From 9 to 14 October the command made a series of most difficult marches over the ridges and across the rapid run- ning streams which characterize the foothills of the Blue Ridge — in the effort to reach Manassas ahead of Meade, who was being pressed toward that point by General Lee. Much of the distance was covered at night, over such roads as language fails to describe. . On the morning of 14 October, Cooke's Brigade took the advance and in the afternoon struck the Union forces in a strong position behind the railway embankment at Bristoe Station, with a number of field guns on the eminence in the rear. Before any support came up General Cooke, under orders, imme.liately attacked with great gallantly. In the charge ma(k> hy this devoted brigade, the gallant Cooke fell, shot in the forehead, when the connnand devolved on Colonel E. D. Hall, of the Forty-sixth. The unequal struggle was waged, with no result, save the loss of valuable lives ; indeed a disaster was only averted by a rapid change of front by the Forty-sixth under Colonel Hall's immediate lead by which the enemy's left flank movement was checked. This movement, made under a heavy fire from both infantry and artillery, elicited great praise, and added new laurels to the record of the Forty-sixth for steadiness and deliberation. The effort to dislodge the enemy from liis posi- tion proving fntile, the command was withdrawn in g(^od or- Forty-Sixth Regiment. 73 der, out of rifle shot, which position it held until the next morning, bj Avhich time the enemy had disappeared. It was said that General Lee most severely criticised Gen- eral A. P. Hill for this blunder — that of sending a force of only two small brigades (Cooke's and Kirkland's) against overwhelming odds strongly intrenched, with ten or twelve regiments in reserve, who never fired a gun. Such a course was then, and is yet unaccountable, on the part of a command- ing officer of undeniable ability. In this unfortunate affair the Forty-sixth had about sixty casualties — the configuration of the ground over which it fought only saving it from a much severer loss. On 18 October the command crossed the Rappahannock on pontoons, which were necessary, the river being much swollen, and went into what was at the time supposed to be winter quarters. About this time the Forty-sixth lost its brilliant Colonel, E. D. Hall, who resigned to accept a civil office in ISTorth Car- olina. Col. Hall had brought the regiment up to a high stand- ard in every respect — a brave man, a good disciplinarian, the service lost, in his resignation, a most valuable and efficient officer — and it was with much regi'et that his regiment bade him farewell. On the hillside, near the Rapidan, huts were built and the men proceeded to make themselves comforta- ble, but the hope of a winter's rest was rudely dissipated by being suddenly ordered, on 8 November, to a position two miles from Culpepper Court House to oppose Meade's threat- ened advance, who had already captured a large portion of Hoke's and Hayes' Brigades. Expectations of a general en- gagement were not realized, and 12 I^ovember found the Forty-sixth in camp near Rapidan Station, on the south bank of the river, from which on 27 of l^ovember it again moved to confront IMeade at Mine Run. Here the army entrenched and awaited the attack, which never came. The artillery was at times engaged, and there were a few casualties in the brigade, but no loss in the Forty-sixth. From this date until 8 February, 1864, the regiment oc- cupied its winter quarters near Rapidan, the monotony varied 74 North Carolina Troops, 1801 -'65. by one or two bloodless and brief expeditions to tbe left wing of the annj, caused by Federal cavalry demonstrations. On 8 February, new quarters near Orange Court House having been constructed, the command again moved. This cam]) was the best yet occupied, in a well-wooded and w-atered section, and the severe winter of 1863-'6-i — what re- mained of it — was spent here in comparative comfort. The monotony here was unbroken by any event w^orth re- cording save possibly the gTcat battle of ''The Snow," which took place on 23 March, the snow being about fifteen inches deep and is thus chronicled. On the morning of this eventful day, the Twenty-seventh North Carolina challenged to mortal combat the Forty-sixth North Carolina. As the two regi- ments were getting into position, a long line of gTay skir- mishers from the direction of Kirkland's camp announced the fact that Cooke's command was to defend itself from the onslaught of that gallant brigade. Hastily sending word to the other Cooke regiments to come to the support, the Twen- ty-seventh and Forty-sixth rushed upon Kirkland. For an hour the fight raged furiously, ending in the utter rout of the brave Kirklandites who were driven pell mell out of their quarters, the victors appropriating to their own use and behoof all the cooking utensils to be found therein. That evening orders were issued to company commanders to see that all such utensils were promptly returned. Diligent search was made, but as every man found in pos- session of a cooking vessel vowed tliat *iie liad owned it for many months," it is doubtful if a single article was ever re- turned. Tlie Kirkland men being dissatisfied, sent a foi-nial chal- lenge to r\:>oke, for a "settlement" the next day, which was had in a ceremonious Avay in ]iresence of an immense crowd of onlookers, including a nuniher of general officers with their staft's from other commands. The result was disastrous in the extrt'iiic, to (^toke's com- mand, which was utterly rontccl, losing nearly one-half its of- ficers and men as prisoners of war, who were confineil and informed that they would be detained until the "skillets" were prodnceil, l)nt the approach of night an. II. Bunn (since menilx-r of United States Congress) and Tlioiiias Wostray. Company B — Franklin County — After Crudup, its first Captain, was promoted, Joseph J. Harris was made Captain ; was wounded, captured and remained a prisoner. Its Lieu- tenants were Harvey D. Griffin, who died ; Sherrod J. Evans, Hugh H. Perrv and William B. Chamblee. Company C — ^Vahe County — The first Captain of Com- pany C was Edward Hall, who died 1 September, 1862, when Cameron T. Iredell became Captain, was killed 3 July, 1863, and George ^l. Whiting became Captain, taken prisoner at Gettysburg and died after the war of disease contracted in prison. The Lieutenants of this company were Xathaniel L. Brown, David M. Whitaker, ]\larmaduk^ W. Norfleet and A. H. Harris. Company' D — Nash County- — John A. Harrison was first Captain of Company D, resigned in November, 1862, and Lieutenant Geo. jST. Lewis became Captain, was elected to the State Legislature in August, 1864, when Richard F. Drake became Captain. Its Lieutenants were Benjamin F. Drake, resigned ; William H. Blount and John Q. Winborne. Co:\rPANY' E — Walxe County — John H. Xorwood was the first and only Captain of Company E. Its Lieutenants were Erastus LI. Ray, Benj. W. Justice, promoted A. C. S. af tlie regiment; Lconidas W. Robertson and William A. Dunn. Company F — FranJclin County — W. C. Lankford was the first Captain of this company, and when he was promoted, Julius S. Joyner became Captain. Its Lieutenants were J. J. Tliomas, promoted A. Q. M. of the regiment; Sylvanus P. Gill, W. I). Harris (resigned) and H. R. Crichton. Company G — Franl-Jin and Granville Counties — Joseph J. Davis was the first Ca])tain of Com])any G, and was wounded, captured and a prisoner 3 July, 1863, and remain- Forty-Seventh Regiment. 85 ing a prisoner, no other could succeed to the Captaincy. Its Lieutenants were P. P. Peace, Richard F. Yarborough, pro- moted to Colonelcy of another regiment ; W. H. Pleasants, George D. Tunstall and George Williamson. Captain Davis was afterwards member of United States CongTess and Jus- tice of our Supreme Court. Company H — Wake Cotmty — Charles T. Haughton, first Captain of Company H, died in June, 1863, when Lieuten- ant Sydney W. Mitchell became Captain and was, to the close of the war. Its Lieutenants Avere T. L. Lassiter, Syd- ney A. Hinton, J. D. Xewsom and John T. Womble. Company' I — Wal-e County — I. W. Brown was the first Captain of Company I, and killed at Reams Station. Its Lieutenants were Charles C. Lovejoy, transferred to another regiment; William Henry Harrison, J. Wiley Jones and J. Rowan Rogers, a brother of the first Colonel of the regi- ment. Company K — Alamance County — Robert H. Faucette was the first and only Captain of Company K, and as Senior Captain- commanding the regiment, signed the paroles of the commanders of companies on 9 April, 1865. Its Lieuten- ants were James H. Watson, Thomas Taylor, Jacob Boon and Felix L. Poteat. After a short stay at Camp Mangaim, in Raleigh, during which time it was drilled incessantly, the regiment was camped between Xew Bern and Kinston, where several weeks were spent in guarding our outposts, marching to near-by points where attacks were threatened, but never escaping to be drilled daily, and taught the duties of a soldier by the never-tiring General, J. G. Martin. It was here the men went through the sick period consequent upon the change from civil to military life ; through measles and mumps and malarial fevers, from which quite a number died. Very few escaped sickness in passing through to the toughened condi- tion. At this time the predominant desire was to g'o to the scenes being enacted around Richmond, where General Lee and his illustrious co-generals were entering on that career which as 86 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. leaders of the Army of Northern Virginia, made them so famous. But the boon is not jet gi^anted us. In July we go to Drewry's Bluff, at this time a position that must be held, and General Martin goes with us, and carrying us into a hot field, in view of delightful shade, continues his incessant drilling from morning till night. After a stay of three weeks the regiment is appropriately made provost guard of Peters- burg. So thoroughly trained itself, it efficiently executed the delicate duties of guard in this important city, then a mili- tary center. During its stay the strongest of friendship was formed between civilian and soldier. Not a single unpleas- ant incident is recalled. Early in November, to meet a threatened attack, we were taken to Weldon, where we took our first snow storm in camp without covering except such as the men hastily made with bark and boughs and dirt. The regiment had returned to Petersburg when, on 14 December, it was rushed by rail to Kinston to resist the Fed- eral General Poster in his attack on that town. We arrived late in the evening just as the Confederate General, Evans', Brigade was retreating across the bridge over the Neuse. In a jiffy we were unloaded from the cars, which Averc run of? immediately, ordered to pile our knapsacks, overcoats and blankets, which we never heard of afterwards, and double- quicked to tlic rescue. As Colonel Rogers formed us in line of battle. General Evans learning of our arrival, ordered us to the north of the town to cover the retreat of his brigade which had been overpowered, and showing our full regimental front received General Foster's messenger, who bore his demand to surrender, and replied : ''Tell General Foster I will fight him here." Foster did not come, but night soon did, and Ave had again escaped a battle. At nightfall General Evans collected his scattered brigade and retreated to Falling Creek. The next day Company A, of the Forty-seventh, reconnoitered tAVO miles toAvard Kinston Avithout finding the enemy, and aftei* night A and K Avent to Kinston to learn that Foster had ad- vanced up the south bank of the Neuse. He attempted to cross at White Hall, but Avas driven back and continued his Forty-Seventh Regiment. 87 march toward Goldsboro, to which the Forty-seventh was inarched on the following day. On our arrival at Goldsboro we were marched across the county bridge and formed line of battle, in which we remained all this cold December night, to find at light that Foster had retreated and was now far away. A few days afterwards the regiment is on Blackwater un- der General Roger A, Prior, protecting Eastern Virginia. I^ow for rigid marching. Every day marching thirty miles. All foot logs and small bridges are cut away ahead of us that the men may lose no time in breaking from column of four, and we must take the mud and water in the roads through this boggy section. And so, as we had been perfected in the drill and tactics by Martin, we were now Romanised by Prior. Frequently during this time a battle was immo- nent, but one did not occur. It was skirmishing, retreat- ing, advancing on another distant point, over a large extent of territory to keep the 6nemy pushed within his limited lines. ATTACK ON NEW BEKN. Thus inured to the vicissitudes of war, except actual battle, the Forty-seventh was, early in 1863, brigaded with the Eleventh, Twenty-sixth, Forty -fourth and Fifty-second, under that splendid General, J. Johnston Pettigrew, and re- turned to Eastern Xorth Carolina. The points of Rocky Mount, Magnolia and Goldsboro, as they Avere threatened, were quickly covered, and thence we were marched in D. H. Hill's army to the vicinity of New Bern, which town Hill threatened. Here about the middle of March, 1863, after a forced march of several days in bleak winter, Pettigrew, in the early dawn, drove in the enemy's pickets and passed one of his block houses, which protected !N^ew Bern, but by failure of other troops to co-operate time Avas lost and the enemy got one of his gunboats in action, Avith wliich our brigade was terribly shelled. PettigrcAv being unable to reply with can- non, or to cross the Avater Avith his infantry, Avithdrew his bri- gade in regiments by echelon in such masterly manner, the men exhibiting the utmost coolness, that not a man Avas lost, 88 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'65. though the retreat was a long waj over an open, level field. Soon after this we went to Greenville and thence to Wash- ington, crossing the Tar in canoes in high water, when the regiment threatened the town and waked np the enemy's gnnboats again ; we lost one man killed and several wounded. But the main oliject, on the part of the Confederate au- thorities, of these operations in Eastern jSTorth Carolina, to- wit : to gather in the supplies of this rich section, having been accomplished and General Lee making preparations for his second invasion, Pettigrew's Brigade, early in May, 1863, became a part of Heth's Division in A. P. Hill's Corps. Thus after more than a year, perhaps well occupied, both in doing arduous, but less conspicuous service as in be- coming thoroughly efficient for the sterner activities of ac- tual battle, the Forty-seventh Regiment is at length, and henceforth to the end, will be with the Army of JSTorthern Virginia. It was well it had a thorough training, for soon it was to go tlir(^ugh fiery trials, its ranks to be torn by shot and shell, to be depleted of its officers, leaving it to be led in great emergencies by a Captain, and the companies some times by a private. Whenever and wherever tried it was equal to the emergency. It responded with promptness to the command "Charge!" to the very end. It was early in May, 1863, when we arrived at Hanover Junction, thence we marched to Fredericksburg, thence to Culpepper Court House, across the Blue Ridge mountains, through Winchester, and crossed the Potomac at Shepherds- town. On the nortli bank of the Potomac the disciplinarian, Pettigrew, delivered his strict commands against interfering with private rights and property, and right well were these commands obeyed. As we passed through Hagerstown, the eyes of our men were dazed l)y the fullness of an opulent city, but no one dared to loot it. On 20 June we camped near (~^ashtown, and on the 30th were marching rapidly into Get- tysburg with the avowed object of shoeing our bai'efooted men. Already the non-combatants had gotten (as they always do when danger is far off) to the front, and we were almost at o\ir destination when a person in citizen's dress, on a farm horse, rode leisurely from the adjacent woods up Forty-Seventh Regiment. 89 to the fence, on the other side of ^^'hich we were moving, in- quired for onr commander, and paced up to the head of our column. On his arrival there the command ''Haiti" rang down our line. Was this a spy ? ''About face — quick time, march I" and back we went ; but not without several shots at long range being fired at us from both sides of the road. So we escaped the ambuscade that had been set for us. GETTYSBURG. Early on 1 July the Forty-seventh was in the line which opened the battle of Gettysl)urg. It is rememlxn-ed that Company A had eighty-two trigger pullers, each with forty rounds of ammunition, and the other companies were per- haps as large. The morale of the men was splendid, and when it advanced to its first grand charge it was with the feelings of conquerors. We were met by a furious storm of shells and canister and further on by the more destructive rifles of the two army corps confronting us. One shell struck the right company, killing three men, and exploding in the line of file closers, by the concussion, felled to the earth every one of them. The other companies were faring no Ijetter. Still our line, without a murmur, advanced, delivering its steady fire amid the rebel yells, and closed with the first line of the enemy. After a desperate struggle this yielded and the second line was met and quickly l)roken to pieces. The day was a hot one, and the men liad difficulty in ramming down their cartridges, so slick was the iron ram-rod in hands thoroughly wet with perspiration. All expedients were resorted to, but mainly jabbing the ram-rods against the ground and rocks. This, with the usual causes, undressed our advancing line; still all were yelling and pressing for- ward througli the growing wlieat breast high, toward a body of the enemy in sight, l)ut beyond the range of our guns, when suddenly a third line of the enemy arose forty yards in front, as if by magic, and leveled their shining line of gim- barrels on the wheat heads. Though taken by surprise the roar of our giins sounded along our whole line. We had caught the drop on them. Redoubled our yells and a rush, and the work is done. The earth just seemed to open 90 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. and take in that line which five minutes ago was so perfect. Just then a Federal officer came in view and rode rapidly forward bearing a large Federal flag. The scattered Fed- erals swarmed around him as bees cover their queen. In the midst of a heterogeneous mass of men, acres big, he approach- ed our left, when all guns in front and from right and left turned on the mass and seemingly shot the whole to pieces. This hero was a Colonel Biddle, who (if he were otherwise competent) deserved to command a corps. It was with gen- uine and openly expressed pleasure our men heard he was not killed. The day is not ended, but the fighting in our front is over, and the Forty-seventh dressed its line and what re- mained of it marching to the place whence it started on the charge, bivouacked for the night, intoxicated with victory. Many were the incidents narrated on that beautiful, moon- light night. On the 2d we were not engaged save in witnessing the mar- shaling of hosts, with much fighting during the day, and at night a grand pyrotechnic display, this being the struggle on the slope of Little Round Top for the possession of the hill. On 3 July the Forty-seventh was put in the front line pre- paring to make that celebrated, but imprudent charge, famil- iarly called Pickett's charge, though just why called Pickett's instead of Pettigrew's charge, is not warranted by the facts. And why it has been said that PettigrcAv supported Pickett instead of Pickett supported Pettigrew, is also incompre- hensible. It is certain that the two divisions (PettigreAV led Heth's Division to-day) started at the same time, in the same line. Pickett's distance to traverse was shorter than that of Pettigrew. Both went to and over the enemy's breastworks, but were too weak from loss of numbers to hold them. Pick- ett's Division was perfectly fresh. Pettigi'ew's had just passed through 1 July in which even its commander (Heth) had been knocked out. If further witness be sought, the respective numbers of dead men in the correctly recorded spots where they fell, sup- ply it. But let it be distinctly understood Pettigrew's men appreciate that it was not the brave Pickett and liis men, who claimed for themselves pre-eminence in this bloody affair. ^0"E^^1 -t\lo£'^_ FOOf k) ^ 1'^/ >^ u {^ FORTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT. 1. J. D. Newsom, 2d IJeut , Co. I. 2. J. Wilie Jones, 2(1 Lieut., Co. I. 3. J. Rowan Rogers, 2(1 Lieut., Co. I. 4. Thomas Westray, 2(i Lieut., Co A. 5. B. H. Buim, 2d Lieut., Co. A. George B. Moore, Sei'tjeant, Co. C. Luke E. Estes, Private, Co E. Jolin Wesley Bradford, Private, Co. G. (Picture in Supplementary Group, 4tli volume.) Forty-Seventh Regiment. 91 They remember, vividly remember, how Pickett chafed while waiting to make his spring, like an untamed lion for hia prey. Perhaps the assault was a Confederate mistake. So good an authority as General Lee is quoted as saying this much, but that the stakes for which he was playing was so great (it being Harrisburg, Baltimore and Washington) he just could not help it. Later a similar excuse was plead by General Grant for the slaughter at Second Cold Harbor. The late Captain Davis, ''Honest Joe," who led Company B in this charge, and who charged over the enemy's breastworks and became a prioner, said the enemy was literally torn to pieces. But, then our "hind sights are better than our fore- sights." And may be, after all the best conclusion is that a kind Providence had heard the prayers for the Union that has ascended from both sides, though uttered not so loud from the South, and in answer, just wrote doAvn in the book of Fate: "Gettysburg, 3 July, 1863, the beginning of the end." The writer, who was in the line of sharpshooters which preceded the main line of battle, witnessed an incident which (although not belonging to the Forty-seventh Regi- ment) ought to be recorded. Lie saw Brigadier-General Jas. H. Lane, on horseback, quite near the stone wall, riding just behind and up to his men, in the attitude of urging them forward with his hand ; a moment later a large spurt of blood leaped from the horse as he rode up, and rider and horse went down in the smoke and uproar. This was about the time of the climax of the battle when darkness and chaos obscured what followed. Surely the rank and tile of the army of Xorthern Vir- ginia did not realize the bigness of the event that had just happened ; nor can we believe the Army of the Potomac did, inasmuch as it behaved so nicely while we spent several days in the same neighborhood. The Forty-seventh now had had its ups and its downs. On the 1st as it double-quicked on Reynold, it had an equal chance with the enemy and had hurled 80,000 bullets in their faces. On the 3d they had attempted to march 1,000 yards in quick time through a raking fire of cannon and minies, with virtually no chance to use their minies — a soldier's 92 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'65. main weapon. The skeleton of its foniier self it returned to the ])lace Avhence it l)eo-an its charo-c and l)eg'an business with- out a held (tthcer, and duriiiii" tlie balance of the day and the succeeding- night welcomed the retuni of several of our mem- bers who, miscatlied or Avounded in various degrees, crawled from the field of cariuige, for the space between the armies continued neutral ground, being covered bv the wounded of both. On the -itli General Pettigrew t(dd us that had we succeeded the evening before, no doul)t onr army would have been on the road to Washington and ])erhaps negotiations for peace would then be on foot. Surely the c'6-prit de corps of our regiment was undaunted. On the night of the 4tli we moved off leisurely toward Funktown, where we stood up on the 11th to meet a threat- ened attack which did not materialize, and on the 14th were in the rear guard of the army at Falling Waters to cover the crossing of the Potonuic. Here a drunken squad of Federal cavalry rashly rode on us while resting. Of course they were dispatched at once, but in the melee General Pettigrew re- ceived a pistol ball in the stomach from which he died in a day or two. Major John T. Jones, of the Twenty-sixth, was now the only field officer left to the brigade, and as we began to retire to cross the river the enemy furiously charged up and took quite a nund^er of prisoners mainly by cutting our men ofF from the pontoon liridge. BRISTOE STATIOX. A few daA'S rest was taken at Bunkei' Hill, tlience we marched to Orange Court ILaise, where we recu])erate(l rap- idly by the return of those who had been wounded and a goodly number of recruits from home. So that on 14 Oc- tober the Forty-seventh carried (piite a strong foi-ce into the battle of Bristoe Station. In this battle Kirkland's and Cooke's Brigades, being in the van of Lee's army, overtook Warren's Corps of ^leade's retreating army, and without awatiug reinforcements made a furious attack against it thor- o\ighly entrencli(Ml. This was a gross Idunder on the ])art of our corps' general ( A. P. Hill) who sent ns in. Let it be Forty-Seventh Regiment. 93 recalled that the gi-ciimd over which we charged sloped down to the railroad embankment behind which were the enemy's in- fantry, and sloped np from their infantry to their artillery. Under these circumstances their artillery would have driven back any infantry in indefinite numbers. Of course we were repulsed with heavy loss. An incident in this fight was that the skirmishers of the Forty-seventh, forty strong, in going in this charge, saw a space of the enemy's front, not reached by the left of our advancing line, passed the front of the Eleventh or left regiment, and filled the space. The ground was more favorable for us on this end of the line, and the Eleventh and the skirmishers of the Forty-seventh captured the breastworks with the enemy behind them. The Confederates here were herding the enemy in squads to send them to the rear as prisoners, when the rest of the line l)eing repulsed, these too, were compelled to retire. Our loss was heavy, including General Kirkland among the wounded. As on 3 July, at Gettysburg, we fell back to the point from which we started the charge, and for the same reason as on that day could not bring off our wounded who lay on the field of bat- tle all night. The next morning, General Meade having made good his retirement on the fortifications at Manassas, we returned to the Rapidan. Here and at Orange Court House we wintered without military incident, save in fre- quent manoeuvering ; ^feade and Lee, like two big bulls, each trying to put his head into the other's flank, and once at Vidiers^'ille an imminent battle was avoided by the two gen- erals doing like the king of France who, ''with 40,000 men, marched up the hill and then marched down again." The Forty-seventh lost a man or two at Vidiersville by the en- emy's artillery. The health of the men of the Forty-seventh is excellent, perhaps in part, because of short rations, and by the spring the regiment is pretty full again by returning convalescents and recruits from home. General Grant is now in command of the Army of the Po- tomac, and by his hammering process proposes "to fight it out on that line if it takes all summer," which summer ran sharply into the following spring. General Kirkland has 94 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. returned to the command of the brigade, and Colonel Fari- bault to the command of the Forty-seventh. THE WILDERNESS. On 5 May, 1864, Grant moved out on Mine llun and the Forty-seventh Regiment deployed as skirmishers in the van of Lee's army, opens the battle, beginning with that of the Wilderness and continuing (with little intemiission in the winter) till 9 April, 1865. We first struck the enemy's cavalry, dismounted, and grad- ually pushed them back over five miles, during which we now and then lost a man, till the middle of the evening, Avhen we came up to Cooke's Brigade just engaging the enemy's in- fantry in the tangled brush, the battle of the Wilderness. The Forty-seventh went in and mingled with Cooke's men in the fight, and so severe was the rifle fire and the opposing armies so near each other that neither advanced on the other. The night was spent in this position, and lines were not put in or- der; our men having been ordered to rest, as Longstreet's Corps was to relieve Hill's during the night. Longstreet did not arrive, and at dawn the enemy having ascertained our dis- ordered condition, promptly advanced. Our men began to retreat sullenly, and fighting back at first, but as the day grew on our confusion increased until about 10 o'clock, when we met the welcome Longstreet. This splendid Corps came into line of battle by the order of "By the right of com- panies into line," and without any halt continued their ad- vance in the face of the, 'till now, victorious Federals. It was a terrific battle in which the Confederates pushed the Federals over the same ground tliey had taken in the morn- ing, mingling vast numbers of dead Federals among the Con- federates slain a few hours before. The Forty-seventh lost no prisoners in this battle, but heavily in killed and wounded. On the 10th the Forty-seventh was prominent in the battle of Wait's Shop, when General Early pressed Hancock back across the river after an engagement of several hours, wherein the Confederates advanced steadily, the Federals retreating Avithout much resistance. This was a battle in Avhioh the powder used far exceeded a commensurate loss of men on Forty-Seventh Regiment. 95 either side. The loss of the Forty-seventh was, perhaps, twenty. But the object of the Confederates was effected. Hancock left the important place at which he tried to break through our lines. On the 12th at Spottsylvania the Forty-seventh was but slightly engaged. It supported our artillery which did great havoc near the bloody angle. The succeeding fifteen days the regiments was more or less engaged, some of it at least being under daily fire, under which we seemed to grow stronger. BETHESDA CHURCH. On 1 June Kirkland's and Cooke's Brigades were desper- ately charged behind breastworks. The Forty-seventh was in splendid fighting trim on this occasion, and as the enemy started across an open field the order was given us not to fire until a certain cannon fired, and company commanders were to order the fire by file. The Federal officers threw them- selves in front of their men and most gallantly led them, but when the cannon sounded the signal, our deadly fire opened on them within fifty yards and it was so steady and accurate, for our men were perfectly cool, that before the companies had fired a round, the enemy was completely broken and routed, a large number of them killed and wounded. Our loss was almost nothing as the enemy, depending on giving us the bayonet, withheld their fire, until they were repulsed. The sharpshooters of the two brigades, having previously been or- dered, rushed after and harrassed their rear for two miles. This was the battle of Bethesda Church, and amid the tre- mendous events occurring, was the occasion of a dispatch from General Lee to the Secretary of War complimenting the two brigades. While the sharpshooters were pursuing, the main body of the two brigades was ordered off towards Cold Harbor and participated in another battle at that place the same even- ing. In this last fight in which the Confederates charged the enemy out of their good breastworks, General Kirkland was again wounded and did not return to this command. General William MacBae succeeded to the command of our 96 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. bi"ii;;i(k' al)out rliis lime, and tlii'nuiili every vicissitude proved the equal of any brigadier in tlie army, (^uite a nnniber of the men of the Forty-seventh were killed and wounded in the engagement. General lletli, with his division, remaiuers, and our division took position on the extreme right of General Lee's long line of defense extending from the Chickah road. 1'his being done, a forward iiio\-cnicnt by the Fbrty-seventh and Fifty-second was again orth-rt'd, one on the right and one on the left, which was gallantly done without any loss cxccpi four or iiv(» slightly wounded. The <>neniy broke and tied to- wards Gettysburg at the second volley from the two regi- ments. The Eleventh ami Twenty-sixth wci'o not engaged in this skirmish. Marching in the rear, thcv did u(>thave room to form in line in time, for the Forty-seventh and Fifty-sec- ond had alwjut 1,:>00 num in line in both regiments. After re])ulsing llic attack at this ])oint \\c auaiii mai"clu'(l back to the road, called in our skirmishers and took up our niai'ch, which was continual about one mile, when we were sul)jeeted to a severe eannonadiu"- from liattcries in our front and here Forty-Seventh Regiment. 105 we commenced to get into position and form line of battle for the great struggle whicli was about tO' take place on 1 July, 1863. Then the Fifty-second ISTorth Carolina, under Colonel Marshall, formed on the right of the Forty-seventh, being thus on the right of Pettigrew's Brigade, the Forty- seventh next, it being on the right center, the Eleventh and Twenty-sixth were on the left centre and extreme left, but I have never known which one of these regiments was next to the Forty-seventh. The line being thus formed, was advanced for a short distance tO' the front, where it was again halted with its line stretching far to the right and left, for whatever history may say. General Pettigrew had in line of battle that morning nearer 3,000 soldiers than he had 2,500, and they were all good and gallant men. Before night the Twenty- sixth ami Eleventh ISTorth Carolina had lost two-tliirds of their numbers, for when the word of command was given they iiished forward against a largely superior force which was statione^d in the skirt of woods just in their front. The Forty-seventh suffered less severely on that day than those two regiments because of their disadvantages. The Forty-sev- enth was the next in loss, the Fifty-second being on the right of the line, suffered less than any other of the brigade on that day. But to go back, after our line was formed we were or- dered to halt, and as the enemy was keeping up a rather hot fire upon our main line, skirmishers from our regiment were ordered to advance and drive them back out of reach of our line, which was done, but not until several of our regiment were wounded and our gallant Lieutenant-Colonel, John A. Graves, was slightly wounded on the leg, the ball first having hit the iron scabbard of his sword, which was hanging by his side. But see on our left our boys have charged the Yan- kees who are stationed upon a hill, and we drive them down the hill on the other side, pell luell. But now our gallant boys are met half way down the hill by a fresh line of the enemy and a severe^ contest ensues ; our lines are thinned and the Yankees are continually bringing up fresh troops, but our boys stand it manfully. A part of Anderson's Division was on the immediate left of Pettigrew's Brigade at the first stage of heavy fighting on 106 North Carolina Troops, 1801-'G5. the morning of 1 July. Now when the rattling of musketry is gi'owing to a perfect line of fire, the Forty-seventh is ordered forward. It is a grand spectacle. In the line of the Forty- seventh there are over 650 muskets, the men marching stead- ily to meet the foe, who are on their own soil and strongly posted, with a heavy infantry force and with artillery which at every step rakes tlirough our lines, cutting great gaps, which are quickly filled up by our boys closing into the places of those who have just fallen. We cross a stream and then up a hill through a wheat field, and then in our front, not over seventy-five yards off, we see the heavy lines of Yankee soldiers with their guns shining and flags waving ; the struggle grows hotter and hotter, men are falling in every direction, but the Forty-seventli and Fifty-second are push- ing the enemy steadily back, and are going forward; the Twenty-sixth and Eleventh are contending with heavy odds both as to numbers and position. While the Forty-seventh and Fifty-second have the foe in an open field, the Twenty-sixth and Eleventh have nothing to shelter themselves any more than we have, and thus it is that the Fifty-second and Forty- seventh, having driven back the enemy in their immediate front, their lines swing around to the left. In this position • they are charged by Yankee cavalry in our rear and on our right. Colonel Marshall was equal to this emergency, for he faced three of his companies about and met this charge, quickly driving the cavalry off with heavy loss to them. While tliis was going on the infantry in our front tried hard to rally their somewhat broken lines and regain the gTound they had lost. This was a hot time for the Twenty-sixth and Eleventh. Men had fallen woimded and killed like hail from a heavy hail storm. The attention of the Forty-seventh was diverted from the enemy in our immediate front and almost before we knew it the enemy had rallied and was at- tempting to charge our lines. Besides, they had a number of pieces of artillery helping them, wherever the opposing lines were far enough apart for them to use artillery vdthout striking their own men. At this critical moment Captain Cam. Iredell, who commanded Company C, wliich was the color company of the Forty-seventli, seeing one of his men Forty-Seventh Regiment. 107 fall mortally wounded, rushes to his side and says, ''My dear boy, I will try to avenge your hurt." He took his musket and continued to use it until he was struck by a shot from the en- emy which caused his death, not, however, until he had seen the enemy again turn and flee. The Forty-seventh lost heav- ily in this fight of 1 July. On 2 July we rested, cleaned our guns and attended to the wounded. Early on 3 July the Forty-seventh with the bal- ance of Pettigrew's Brigade, was ordered considerably to the right of where it had fought on 1 July. It reached its position about 9 o'clock 3 July and remained quietly in line just in the rear of a Confederate battery until about 1 o'clock p. m., when a very heavy cannonading commenced between the opposing batteries, which continued until aboiit 3 p. m,, at which time the grand advance upon Meade's lines was made. On that part of the line where the Forty- seventh advanced, it was about three-fourths of a mile or per- haps a mile from our batteries to the enemy's lines. Our battery was situated about twenty-five yards in front of where the Forty-seventh had taken up our line. About 3 o'clock a slight cessation in the firing of artillery occurred and then the voice of our Colonel, George H. Faribault, was beard loud and clear, ''Attention, Battalion," and this was repeated by the brave aiid beloved Lieutenant-Colonel, John A. Graves. Every man sprung into line and was ready to go forward, the men knew not wjiere, for the ridge just in front of the Forty-seventh Regiment obstructed the view of the Regiment beyond twenty-five yards. The order was soon given to move forward, which was done in good order and without any confusion. Passing our batteries the field was before us, it Avas entirely open except here and there an old homestead, and one or two roads with a number of strong rail and post fences, some of them high and difficult to pass over, i^o one hesitated, no one faltered, but a good, steady quick-step was kept up. After leaving our batteries about fifty or one hundred yards the enemy commenced a terrific cannonade and kept it up until we were soclose that they could not use their cannon. As our regiment advanced great gaps would be knocked in our lines by the Yankee artillerymen, 108 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'65. at almost every five or ten steps, but they were immediatly filled ill by our brave boys closing in and filling; up the gaps. This continued until our line of battle came to where our skirmishers were situated, when we received a few shots from the enemy's skirmishers in addition to the cannon shot and shell which cou tinned to pom- in on us from the time we started until we were so close under their iiims that they could not use them upon us without shooting their own men. As our regiment advanced its ranks were thinned at every step by shot and shell from the hands of the enemy. ]\Iany a brave man from our regiment fell dead upon the field and many more were slightly and others badly wounded. Here it was that Captain J. W. Brown, of Company I, was shocked by the bursting of a shell and carried back to the rear and almost immediately after tliis Lieutenant J. Wiley Jones was shot through the thigh heaving Lieutenant J. Rowan Rogers as the only officer with Company I. x\s Lieutenant Jones was wounded and fell he raised his sword and cheered his men on. J. D. Newsom, Lieutenant of Company H, was slightly wounded in the shoulder almost at the first shot from the musketry, whicli was fired after the charge was started and he rushed to his Captain (Mitch- ell) and says to him, "Captain, they have wounded me, but I want to lead Company H," and gallantly did he lead it. He fell terrildy wounded with his foot u])on one rail of the fence that ran along the road, next to the rock fence l>ehind which the Yankee line was posted. Our color- bearer, a mendier of Company K, Faucett's Company from Alamance county, succeeded in passing over this fence, but fell nioi'tally wounck^d. He died that night with his face to the enemy. Our cohn-s fell with our brave color-bearer not ten steps from tli(^ rock wall. About 150 yards from the rock wall, while crossing one of the many fences, which i-an across the ground we were charging over, 1 was shot in my left leg and thrown from the fence. When T arose the ivmnant of our once fine regiment was redu('('(] ti» a mci'c handful of brave men, still going forward from tliirty to as close u]i as ten steps to tlu^ rock wall. Seeing this and having recovered from mv fall and niv leg not seeming to be badlv hurt, T made Forty-Seventh Regiment. 109 a nish to join the set of brave men nearest the enenij, when I was startled to hear the command given the Yankee skirmish- ers "To the front," and immediately I heard onr brave Lieu- tenant-Colonel Graves give the order for the handful of brave men to lie down, hoping thus to hold his position until rein- forcements should come ; but none came. The Forty-seventh acted bravely, coolly and none faltered. The largest number of those who got out of that charge were those who had been slightly wounded before they got too close to the breastworks to fall back, and those who were wounded early enough in the charge to be carried back by our own men. Among those who were so close to the enemy's works that they could not retreat were Lieutenant-Colonel Graves, Captain Jos. J. Davis, aftei'\vards member of Con- gress and Justice of our Supreme Court ; Lieutenant Watson, of Company K, and a number of others I cannot recall, in all a mere handful, for they had all been shot down or exhausted and overcome by heat. I have seen somewhere that the Forty-seventh Regiment lost, wounded and killed and miss- ing, 351. This is certainly a mistake. The proportion was larger than that in my company (I). We lost 57 and we had officers who were present and could report correctly the number of the killed and wounded. I thinlv three companies lost all their officers and no correct report was given from those. They reported the smallest number of men killed, wounded and missing. As I have stated above, there was no faltering on the part of the Forty-seventh on 3 July, 1863. All did their duty and acted the part of brave soldiers. FALLING WATERS. After General Lee left Gettysburg our first halt for more than one night was at Hagerstown, Maryland. Here the Forty-seventh was engaged in skirmishing with the enemy's outpost and did some picket duty on or near a stream called Antietam. We then moved in line of battle and built breast- works not far from Hagerstown, towards Falling Waters. When General Lee recrossed the Potomac, Pettigi*e\v's Brig- ade was again given the post of honor which was to bring up the rear of our retreating army. At Falling Waters, or 110 XoRTH Carolina Troops, lSt)l-"65. abc'Ut one and a half miles from there, while our regiment was halted to give our wagon train and the troc'ps who were to cross at Falling Waters protection while passing the river, we were surprised and charged by a squadron of chivalry. Our beloved General J. Johnston Pettigrew was on the ex- treme right of our line and was shot while drawing his pis- toL It happened thus : General Pettigrew with a number of his staff (Captain Young, of Charleston, being one of them, who I understand is still living) were resting near their horses, when the word passed up the line. "The Yankees are charging us.*' The general ordered his horse, but about the time he took hold of his horse to mounts a Yankee officer rid- ing on the left of their line and a little in front, ordered him to surrender. General Pettigrew did not notice the Yankee farther than to mount his horse and commence drawing his pistol, his horse, however, reared and plunged and the Yan- kee seeing that Pettigrew did not intend to stirrender. fired and hit him. General Pettigrew f eU from his horse and the fight was hot around and about him for fifteen or twenty minutes. We succeeded in killing all the Yankees except eight. The men in the charge were evidently all dnmk. A heavier force coming up, we fell back to the river disputing every step with the enemy, so as to give our men as much time to cross as j)ossible. When a few days thereafter we camped at Btmker Hill, our regiment numbered 98 men for duty. My company (1) lost at Falling Waters eight men killed, wounded and captured. I remember the loss particu- larly, because I was acting adjutant of the regiment, our gal- lant Adjutant Thomas Powell having been captured at Get- tysbuig. WtLDEE2fZ.SS. At the Wilderness, the Forty-seventh R^ment had the honor of bringing on the fight. We were in front of our lines and struck the Yankee pickets about 9 o'clock, driving them with our skirmish line back until their numbers in- creased so that Company I was first ordered to reinforce the skirmish line, then another company, then another, until the entire regiment was engaged and then, I think the Forty- Forty-Seventh Regiment. Ill fourth regiment was the first regiment after the Forty-sev- enth to l^ecome engaged. When the enemy was driven back upon their main line and the fight of the first day became general, the Forty-seventh was ordered at first to take posi- tion on the left of the road, but was soon moved over to the right of the road, where we held our position for three hourSj the enemy charging us almost continuously. During this time the heaviest fighting took place which, with our regi- ment, was about 2 o'clock p. m. The black-jack saplings were skinned by the bullets like a yoimg apple tree is in tiie spring of the year by the rabbits. Without giving more of the particulars of this battle, here it was that the best friend of my boyhixwi fell mortally wounded through the neck. William H. Haywood, son of the late United States Senator W. H. Haywood and brother of Duncan Haywood, who fell at Seven Pines. I would like if I could, to tell about the fights in which the Forty-seventh was engaged at Spottsylvania Court House, Hanover Jimc- tion. Second Cold Harbor and the battle of Turkey Ridge on 2 and 3 June. 1864. where I was wounded and so kindly treated by my Brigadier General (Kirkland) who was wounded in the same battle. I had just arrived at the field hospital When he heard me speak he knew my voice and called me to his tent, had my woimd dressed and carried me to Ward B. Jackson Hospital. Richmond. Va.. early next morning. Had it not been for his kindness I doubt much if I should now be living, for I was out of my head for several days after I was woimded. On account of this wounding I missed the battles which took place from then tintil the day after the Reams Station fight (25 August, IS 64), where the Forty-seventh covered itself with glory as did all the troops engage«i. all being Xorth Carolinians, viz: Cooke's. Lane's and MacRae's Brigades, the last being the one to which the Forty-seventh then be- longed. I was thenceforward with the regiment imtil 2 April, 1865. 2 APBTT., 1865. On that day I was captured on the Cox road about five 112 North Carolina Troops, 15()1-'G5. miles west of Petersburg, while with the skirmishers of the Forty-seventh Kegiiuent holding the enemy back till the handful of Lee's anny crossed to the north side of the Appomattox river, thus placing a barrier between them and the great host of Grant's army, which was then pressing him. After the Reams Station tight the Forty-seventh, like almost all the Southern troops which were on the south side of Petersbiu-g, was engaged in a daily battle, and often nightly ones, until the close of the war ; some of these was larger and heavier than others, and their names are recorded in history, for instance "Davis' Farm," "Jones' Farm," "Burgess' Mill," "Battery 45," southwest of Peters- burg, and a number of other battles where many a brave man fell. I wish it was so that I could meet some of those of the Forty-seventh who were at the final scene when General Lee surrendered, but I have met only two. Lieutenant J. Wil- lie Jones, of Company I. and Corporal Rufus Sandere of Company C, who are now living in Wake county. After 2 April the Forty-seventh had very few men but its organ- ization was kept up till General Lee surrendered. On the '2d the Forty-seventh was bringing up the rear of Gen- eral Lee's shattered heroes and here it was that with the larger portion of the remaining members of the Forty- seventh I was captured. I had orders Avhen placed in charge of the skinnishers of the Forty-seventh Regiment on that day to hold our position at all hazards. The enemy was never able to break through my skinnish line, but it was completely surrounded and we were captured by the enemy coming from our rear. Gaston H. Mooneyham, a private of Com- pany E, Forty-seventh Regiment, who is now living in Bar- ton's Creek To^^^lship, this county, was with mo when I was captured and stood manfully by me in this fight, the last fight we made for the Confederacy. J. RowAX Rogers. Raleigh, N. C , 9 April, 1901. THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDSN FOUNDATIONS. FORTY-EIGHTH KKUIMENT. 1. Samuel H. Walknp, Colonel. 4. Jolin R. Winchester, Adjutant and 2. William Hogan Jones, Major. 1st Lieut. 3. W. H. H. Lawhon, Captain. Co. D. 5. John A. Thompson, 1st Lieut., Co. G. FORTY-EIGHTH REQinE/NT. By W. H. H. LAWHON, Captain Company D. The great civil war began in 1861. Several companies made up in the summer of 1S61, composed of volunteers for twelve months, in the Spring of 1862 reorganized for three years or the war. The battles of Big Bethel, First Manassas and others had been fought ; the result of which had given the Southern troops courage, and some men in North Carolina, who had been opposed to secession, were now changing their minds, so that in the Winter of 1861 and 1862 preparations were being made on both sides for the next summer's cam- paign. The Federal aniiy was recruiting so rapidly that the authorities of the Confederacy saw that they would have to meet a heavy force in the field the next summer, so a draft was ordered in Xorth Carolina 25 February, 1862. At this time volunteer companies were being raised in all parts of the State. Many of the patriotic sous of North Car- olina volunteered, most of the men who were drafted joined some company then being raised. A few hired substitutes Avho joined and thus the companies were rapidly filled up and hurried off to the camp of instruction, near Raleigh, and as they arrived they were formed into regiments. The For- ty-eighth was composed of the following companies : Company A — Union County — Francis L. Wiatt, Captain. Company B — Davidson County — Albert A. Hill, Captain. Company C — Iredell County — Arthur M. Walker, Cap- tain. Company D — Moore County- — Benjamin R. Huske, Cap- tain. Company E — Union County — John W. Walden, Captain. Company F — Union County — Samuel H. Walkup, Cap- tain. 114 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'65. Company G— Chatham County — William H. Jones, Cap- tain. Company H — Davidson County — Jolin Michael, Captain. Company I- — Union County — Elias C. Alexander, Cap- tain. Company K — Forsyth County — Jesse W. Atwood, Cap- tain. It was organized on 11 April, 1862, choosing: Robert C. Hill, Colonel, of Iredell County. Samuel II. Walxup, Lieutenant-Colonel, of Union County. Benjamin E. Huske, Major, of Cumberland County. As many drafted men had furnished substitutes, some being old men and some mere boys, the Forty-eighth Regiment was made up of men of all sizes, and the reader, if acquainted with military tactics, will at once see the difficulty in drilling such troops uniformly. In marching the old men would step too long and slow, the boys too short and fast. But Col- onel Hill, who was a military man, lost no time in drilling and disciplining his regiment. We were at Camp Mangum, but in a short while we moved to Goldsboro, where we were in camp until about the second week in June, when we went to Petersburg, Va., and camped on Dunn's Hill. Here we were attached to General Robert Ransom's Brigade. Under his orders we marched one evening to City Point, arriving about dark; threw out a strong skirmish line, and a detail was made to load some wagons with ice from an ice house, which was near the bank of the James river. The Yankees were near by in gunboats. (The ice was to be car- ried to Petersburg.) The next morning General Ransom opened fire with two or three small pieces on the gunboats, which were down the river, a mile or more. The Yankees returned the fire very promptly and threw out among us what the men called "churns," cutting off tree tops, and digging holes in the ground. They fired the woods, and it looked like they would clear, burn and plow the ground all at the same time. Only a few rounds were fired. We fell back in or- der and disorder, but mostly in disorder. A horse was cut Forty-Eighth Regiment. 115 on the leg witli a piece of shell. This was all the blood lost on our side, and I do not suppose there was much lost on the other side. One of our men claimed to be hit on his shoulder with a piece of shell, but it is more likely he tore his coat running through the brush ; we went back to our camp having, as we thought, tasted a little of war and seen a little of its danger. And we all knew we had smelt gunpowder. ISTot a few of the men told of narrow escapes. Some of them were certain they felt the wind of the shells, while others felt the heat of them as they passed by, and still others were jarred by the explosions. On 24 June, we marched to Richmond and camped that night in the capitol square, ^ext morning we marched to the front line and about 4 p. m., had our first battle, at French's Farm. General Robert Ransom ordered Colonel Hill to advance through an open field on a brigade of Yankees, who were behind a fence on the edge of the wood, and ordered a Virginia regiment to support us on the right, but from some cause the Virginia regiment never came up, and the Forty- eighth fought a brigade of Federals for some time. They were in woods beliind a fence and we in an open field. How- ever, a Georgia battalion flanked the enemy on our left, and thus we were enabled to hold the ground. We lost Major Huske, Captain Clegg, Company T), and Captain Atwood, Company K, killed ; and Captain Michael, Company H ; Captain Walker, Company C ; Lieutenant Anderson, Com- pany D ; and Lieutenant Stilts, Company A, were wounded. We lost non-commissioned oflicers and men: Killed 21, wounded 46 ; and of the 46 wounded, 19 died, according to the Xorth Carolina Roster. Some unpleasantness occurred between General Ransom and Colonel Hill, which resulted in the Forty-eighth Regi- ment being detached from Ransom's Brigade and on the next day, the 26th, we marched to Gaines' Mill, on the extreme left of our lines, where Stonewall Jackson had been fighting, and when we arrived Jackson had driven the enemy some two miles. So we camped on that battlefield that night and the next morning recrossed the Chickahominy river and went from place to place, until we joined General Walker at White 116 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Oak Swamp, on 1 Julj. We were a little too late to take part in the Malveni Hill battle, but were under a severe shelling from gunboats, which were then on the James river at or near Harrison's Landing. This was the end of the seven days' battles around Richmond. We then went back to Petersburg, where we were in camp until August. Some time in August while at this camp oui* regiment was recruited by conscripts and before we had time to drill them we M'ere ordered to march and were now on the memorable Maryland campaign. We took part in the cap- ture of Harper's Ferry 15 September, 1862. General J. G. Walker with his own and Ransom's Brigade occupied the Loudon Heights between the Shenandoah and Potomac, and we were in full view of the town when it was surrendered. We then marched to Maryland, crossing the Potomac at Shep- herdstown, and on the night of the 16th were placed to guard a ford on the Antietam river, about two miles soutli of Sharps- burg. The battle on the left opened very early on the morn- ing of the 17th, and about 0 o'clock a. m. Walker's Division^ (Ransom's and Walker's Brigades), were ordered to the left to support Stonewall Jackson. We arrived at the Dunkard Church, one and a half miles north of Sharpsburg, at about 11 o'clock. Jackson's line had been broken at that point Kershaw's and Hood's Brigades had been driven out of a piece of woods west of the church and the enemy was com- ing into the gap. Walker's Division drove them back and held the field. If we had been a few minutes later the Con- federate army might have been destroyed. The Forty-eighth Regiment occupied that part of the line at the church. The church was about the center of the regiment. We drove the enemy out of the woods, and charged their line east of the church, but >vere cut all to pieces. We lost about one-half of our men, killed and wounded. So closely were we pressed in this battle that brigades were divided. The Twenty-sev- enth ISToi-th Carolina Regiment and Third Arkansas Regi- ment, a part of Walker's Brigade, were sent to the right, and the Forty-eighth North Carolina and Thirtieth Virginia Reg- iments to the left, leaving a gap between us that would have required several men to have filled, but fortunately for us^ Forty-Eighth Regiment. 117 the enemy did not see it. Then, about 4 o'clock p. m., Colo- nel Hill was ordered with his regiment, the Forty-eighth, to the extreme left of the line, where there was some hard fightr ing. We marched in quick time a little over a mile, but when we arrived, Jackson's men had driven the enemy back some distance. We then marched back, and arrived at the Dunk- ard Church about dark, where we remained until the night of the 18th, when we recrossed the Potomac. After the Army of ITorthern Virginia had returned south of the Potomac, the army was more thoroughly organized into brigades, divisions and corps. Before, it seems, we had some regiments not permanently attached to any brigade. The Fifteenth, Twenty-seventh, Forty-sixth and Forty-eighth Regiments formed General John R. Cooke's Brigade, belong- ing to General H. Heth's Division and A. P. Hill's Corps. The next battle we were in was at Fredericksburg, Va., 13 December, 1862. Here the Forty-eighth suffered another heavy loss, being in the hottest of the battle. Major. A. A. Hill was wounded ; Captain J. C. Stafford, Company K ; Lieutenant Peter W. Plyler, Company E ; Lieutenant M. S. Brem, Company C, and Lieutenant H. C. Banner, Company K, were killed. Captain J. D. Dowd, Company D ; Cap- tain John Moore, Company I ; Captain J. F. Heitman, company H ; Lieutenant J. K. Potts, Company C ; Lieuten- ant H. A. Gray, Company F, and Lieutenant Edwin Tyson, Company G, were wounded. The loss of non-commissioned officers and men was very heavy. From Fredericksburg Cooke's Brigade was sent, in Janu- ary, 1863, to Pocataligo, S. C, where we remained until April, and were then ordered back to Eastern !N'orth Carolina until July. While here we did a good deal of marching, were in a little skirmish at Gum Swamp, and drove the Yan- kees as far as Red Banks, eight miles from New Bern. Then we went from place to place. We were at Little Washington, Tarboro, Weldon and other places until about 1 July, when we went to Richmond, and were around Richmond several days guarding the city. In August we went back to Freder- icksburg, were there about a month; then to Gordonsville, where we joined the regular army and marched to Bristoe 118 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Station on 14 October, 1863. We had missed all the hard marching on the campaign to Pennsylvania and the great battle of Gettysbui'g, but at Bristoe we suffered the heaviest loss of any battle we had yet been in, charging a heavy body of the enemy entrenched behind a railroad. From here we fell back to Orange Court House, where we went into winter quarters. The next battle was at the Wilderness, 4 May, 1864. Heth's Division fought a heavy force of the enemy for two hours before we were relieved. At no time during the war did his division do better fighting. The writer heard Gen- eral Lee tell General Cooke that night that he (Gen. Cooke), and Kirkland, with their brigades, had held 25,000 Yankees in check for more than two hours. Our loss was not heavy, but the enemy's was very great. There seemed to be as many dead men in our front as we had men engaged. The ground on which we fought was a dense thicket of small grow^th, which was cut dowm by minie balls before we were relieved, so that we could see the enemy's lines as they would come up to relieve one line after another, which they did about every fifteen or twenty minutes. And to show that the undergTowth w^as cut down principally by our balls, the tree tops in the rear of us were cut all to pieces, while but few balls struck trees near the ground, showing that the enemy shot over us. We were relieved a little before sunset by Wilcox's Division, and after dark were marched out and formed in line in an old straw field, where we lay until morn- ing. At daylight the skirmish firing began. At sunrise the enemy advanced in several lines. In the meanwhile a battery of small gims was brought in and opened on the ad- vancing lines of Federals which were between us and the ris- ing sun. This was all the cannon used in the battle. The smoke from the cannon was so dense the Captain could not see what he was doing. The writer was ordered by General Cooke to go in front to see where the shells were falling. I soon saw that they were going over their lines and doing no execution at all. I informed the commander of the distance of the enemy. The next fire he began to cut lanes through the advancing lines, but the artillery had time only for a few Forty-Eighth Regiment. 119 rounds, when General Longstreet's Corps advanced and drove them back into and out of their breastworks and took pos- session of the same. This was a most gallant act. Long- street with one line drove several lines of Federals back, leav- ing the ground strewn with Federal dead. That night when we were in the captured breastworks and all was perfectly still. Gen. Lee rode across the line on the extreme right. Some one cried out "Three cheers for General Lee," which was taken up on the right and went the rounds to the extreme left — the grandest rebel yell of the war. The rear guard of the retreating Federals fired and ran. Some of them, cap- tured a few days afterward, reported that several corps were ordered back as they thought we were advancing. The reg-iment had a heavy skirmish on Po river and was severely shelled. The Federals, in falling back at this place, fired the woods on us, but the fire, like their shells, did not stop us in our advance. This all amounted to but little. At Spottsylvania Court House we were engaged on 12 May, but the loss of the Forty-eighth was not so great as that of some other regiments, as we were not in the hottest of the battle. However, we did some hard marching through the brush and some fighting. From here we were on the memorable march to Richmond, and exposed to an awful heavy shelling on 25 May, near Han- over. The solid shot were falling and bouncing thick on the ground. The only casualties I remember were Sergeant C. Lawhon and Corporal M. C. Yon, Company D, Forty-eighth ISTorth Carolina, both killed with the same shot. Our next en- gagement was at a place called Turkey Bend, or Turkey Hill. Wilcox's Division was fighting in front of us, and a heavy body of Federals were moving on his left flank. We were preparing to meet them, throwing up some temporary breast- works under a sharp skirmish fire. Lieutenant W. C. How- ard, of Company F, Forty-eighth, was killed. Some four or five men wounded, were, I think, all of those lost by the Forty-eighth in this engagement. The enemy was moving in line of battle to our right. We were ordered to move in quick time and make no noise. While on this rapid march an amusing incident occurred, which I will relate : We were 120 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. passing througli a ravine where some Yankee prisoners were under guard. A very large, gruff looking Yankee was stand- ing up slurring the rebels. He asked : ''Why do you rebels wear such dirty, ragged clotlies ?" An Irishman by the name of Forrest, belonging to Company D, Forty-eighth Kegimentj and as good a soldier as was in the regiment, answered: "Faith and be jabbers, we Southerners always put on our sorriest clothes when we kill hogs, and it is hog killing day wath us now," pointing to a dead Yankee near by. This Avit of the Irishman caused a laugh, and forgetting the order to be quiet, some two or three men raised a yell, which was taken up along the line — -a regular rebel yell. The enemy's lines halted, broke and fell back, so we did not get into any further engagement. Whether it was this yell that caused them to fall back, I cannot say, but I don't suppose they knew we were near them until the yell betrayed our whereabouts. Our next engagement was at Cold Harbor, on 3 June, 1864. Cooke's Brigade was on the extreme left of the Confed- erate lines, only some cavalry being on our left. This was, with us, probably the very hardest-fought battle of the war. Just as wc got in position on an old road — and it was about sun up — the Federals, in heavy force, made a charge Avhich wc met and after a hard struggle, which lasted some time, repulsed. They soon made another charge. We were as- sisted in repulsing this one by a batteiy of artillery, which had just come up. The enemy would reinforce and come again, but we repulsed every charge and during the day, working between attacks, built a very good breastwork. The last of the several charges was made about 6 o'clock p. m. Several lines came forward. One line would fire and fall down, another step over, fire and fall down, each line getting nearer us, until they got MTthin sixty or seventy-five yards of some portions of our line, but finding themselves cut to pieces so badly, they fell back in a little disorder. Our men seemed to rise all at once, Avith a rebel yell, and poured lead into them, cutting down numbers of them. Tlic old field in front of us was almost covered witli their dead. At no time during the war did the Forty-eighth and Twenty-seventh do better fighting. Forty-Eighth Regiment. 121 Our position was a good one, and an important one to be held. We lost several good men in this battle. Lieutenant M. D. Clegg, of Company D, was wounded. At 9 o'clock that night we took up the line of march, went from place to place for several days, spending about one week at Deep Bottom. At this place we had no battle, except with flies. I never saw so many flies in all my life. Then we went to the right of Petersburg. We were on the line about one half mile to the right of the ''Blow-up," as it was called. The day before the springing of that mine we were ordered to the left of Petersburg and had crossed the Appomattox, and were marching toward Richmond, when we heard the ex- plosion. We returned and on the next day took up our quar- ters in the trenches. The Forty-eighth occupied that posi- tion which had been blown up. Here we remained for sev- eral weeks, when Ave were moved to the extreme right and built our winter quarters on Hatcher's Run. General Heth was ordered to attack the enemy whenever he attempted to ex- tend his lines. So we had several engagements, one at the Yellow House. This was in August, 1864, and on the 25th of the same month we were in the battle of Reams Station, where we charged a heavy force of Federals behind a breast- work, broke their line and captured several hundred prisoners and several pieces of artillery. This was a brave assault. Two attacks had been made by other troops (I forget which) that had failed to dislodge them. This had given the enemy courage, and was rather discouraging to us, who had to make the third attack. The timber for fifty or seventy-five yards in front of their works had been cut down, the limbs sharp- ened, making it very difficult to reach the works. The posi- tion of the Forty-eighth was near the centre of the line, tlie timber in our front being thinner than in other portions. We succeeded in gaining the works sooner than those on the right or left, who had more brush to go through. The first part of the line broken was on the left wing of the Forty-eighth, but the whole line was surrendered in a very few minutes. We lost several in this charge. Lieutenant M. D. Clegg, of Company D, was killed on the works about the time the line 122 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'6o. was broken. Lieutenant C. W. Shaw, of Company D, was wounded before be reached the works. The next day we marched back to Petersburg to our posi- tion on the right of the lines. The next march we took, and I think it was in December, was to Bellliekl, where we had a skirmish with Yankee cavalry. Sergeant H. B. Cox, of Com- pany D, lost his foot by a shell. This was all the loss I re- member. We remained on Hatcher's Run until the Confed- erate lines were broken, 2 April, 1865. We had several skir- mishes while here. On 25 March the troops on our left had made a charge on the enemy's lines at Hare's Hill and had carried their front works near the Appomattox river, but had to abandon them the same day. We were ordered around there in the morning and returned in the evening to our quarters to find the Yankees in possession of our picket post. They had captured all of our pickets and could have been in pos- session of our breastworks and winter quarters if they had known it, as we had left only a few men in camp, who were unfit for duty. Captain Henry R. McKinney, of the Forty-sixth Regiment, who was commander of the brigade sharpshooters, formed his line on the right, near the creek, and made a very brave and successful charge, recapturing our picket post in this charge. Lieutenant Austin, of the Forty-eighth Regiment, a very brave and good officer, was killed, and I do not remember that any other was killed or wounded. T believe that Lieutenant Austin was the last man killed in the Forty-eighth as I do not remember any oth- er being killed afterwards. We only liold our picket post about two days, as our pickets Avere captured on 2S or 29 March, and on 2 April, the lines to our left were broken. We took up the line of Uiarch to the right, and crossing the creek, moved to Jarrett's Station, where in the evening we had a skirmish, but were about to be surrounded and made haste to get away and were on the mem- orable retreat to Appomattox Court House, losing more or less of our men every day. The last skirmish we were in was on Thursday evening before the surrender on Sunday, 0 April, 1865. The Twen- ty-seventh and Forty-eighth Regiments were ordered out to Forty-Eighth Regiment. 123 the right to protect the wagon trains, but before we arrived the enemy had set fire to a part of the wagons, and a heavy force of infantry was marching up the road the wagons were on. Here we had a narrow escape. A squadron of cavalry got in our rear, cut us off and we were scattered on both sides of the road. Several of our men were captured. Every man was left to take care of himself. Company D, which had only thirty-seven men at Petersburg 2 April, had been reduced to eleven and in this affair lost ten, leaving only one man and the Captain to witness the surrender. On Sunday morning, and in the race through the woods on Thursday evening, the Cap- tain lost his hat, running from a Yankee horseman, and would have been captured had it not been for a deep gully near by into Avliich he went and got out of the horse's way. At the surrender the Forty-eighth Regiment had been re- duced in number until we did not have men enough to make more than one full company. K'ow a few words in regard to the officers of the regiment, and I close. Colonel R. C. Hill was a very fine military man, very strict and much beloved by his men, but being in bad health he was often absent. He only commanded the regiment in the cam- paign of 1862 and 1863. He died in December, 1863. Lieutenant-Colonel S. H. Walkup was made Colonel. He was one of the bravest officers in the Army of J^orthem Vir- ginia. He ^^■as often laughed at on dress parade and brigade drill for his awkwardness, but when in battle all that knew him were satisfied that Walkup was there and that his regi- ment would do its duty. Lieutenant-Colonel A. A. Hill was a good and kind officer. All his men liked him. He made a very fine appearance and was always with his men. I think he was one of the two or three officers of the regiment who missed no part of the march or duty imposed on the regiment during the memora- ble campaign of 1864. Major B. R. Huske was a very mild, gentle and kind- hearted man, a well posted and good officer. The whole regi- ment was grieved at his death, which occurred on 15 July, 124 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. 1862, from wounds received in the battle of French's Farm, 25 June. Captain F. L. Wiatt, of Company A, vas promoted to Major at the death of Iluske. He was an old man, and won the respect of the whole regiment; was wounded at Harper's Ferry, 15 September, 1862, and resigned in October of the same year and was with us only a short while. Captain W. H. Jones, of Company G, was made Major on the death of Colonel Hill, 4 December, 1863, but owing to bad health was not with us much. He was a very good man and kind hearted. He loved his men and was loved in re- turn. H. A. Gunter, of Wake, was our first Adjutant. From some cause he was not with us in the battle of French's Farm. Lieu- tenant J. H. Anderson, of Company D, was acting Adjutant and was wounded in that .battle. Adjutant Gunter was wounded in the battle of Sharpsburg, and died soon after from wounds. Lieutenant John R. Winchester, of Company A, then be- came Adjutant and was with us all the while. He was a very good officer and soldier. He was a cheerful and lively man and was generally ready for any fun with officers or men. The men all liked Winchester. Several of the company officers are worthy of special ref- erence in this history, and the -svriter would be glad to give it, but failing to get any answer to his letters of inquiry and having to depend solely on his memory, can not recall the names and company to which they belonged. Each company had its brave men. Many of these are entitled to mention in this sketch, but for the reason stated above the writer will have to leave them out, but feels assured that he can say that the Forty-eighth Regiment did as much hard marching and fighting as any regiment from North Carolina. From first to last, it had about 1,300 men, many of them as brave and as obedient as any soldiers in the Confederate army. W. H. H. Lawhon. Moore Co., N. C, 9 April, 1901. THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY. ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN POUNOATIONS. FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT. 1. S. D. Ramseur. Colonel. 2 James T. Davis, Lieut. Colonel. 3. John A. Fleniniing, Lieut. -Colonel. (Killed at Petersburg ) 4. Cicero Durliaiii. Captain and A. Q. M. 5. Henry A. Chambers. Captain, Co. O- 6. Edwin V. Harris, Captain, Co. E. FORTY-NiniH REGIMENT. By THOMAS R. ROULHAC, First Lieutenant Company D. The Forty-ninth Kegiment of Xorth Carolina State Troops was composed of ten companies of infantry, raised in the counties of ]\IcDowell, 1 ; Cleveland, 2 ; Iredell, 2 ; Moore, 1 ; Mecklenburg, 1 ; Gaston, 1 ; Catawba, 1 ; and Lincoln, 1, which assembled at Garysburg, in the month of March, 1862. It was constituted, at its formation, wholly of volunteers, many of whom had sought service in the earlier periods of the war, and all of whom had responded to the call for sol- diers, as soon as it was practicable to furnish them with arms and equipments. In the latter part of March, or early in April, 1862, organization of the regiment was effected, by the election of : Stephen D. Ramseue, Colonel. William A. Eliason, Lieutenant-Colonel. Lee M. McAfee, Major. Lieutenant Richmond^ Adjutant. George L. Phifek^ Sergeant-Major. Captain E. P. Geoege^ Commissary. Captain J. W. Wilson^ Quartermaster. De. John K. Ruffin^ Surgeon. Reginald H. Goode, Assistant Surgeon. Peter iSTicholson, Chaplain. The non-commission staff was completed with James Hol- land, Quartermaster-Sergeant ; Harrison Hall, Hospital Steward, and James H. Geiger, Ordnance Sergeant. The history of Ramseur is known to all the people of J^J'orth Carolina, ^o one of her sons ever contributed, by his devo- tion to her service, skill and heroic bravery on the field of bat- tle, and fearless exposure and ultimate sacrifice of his life, more to the historic lustre of the name and honor of this, one 126 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'(55. of the greatest of the American States. He gave untiring en- ergy and masterly judgment to the rapid organization, drill, discipline and preparation for active service in the field of his regiment. A graduate of the Military Academy at West Point, and fur a few years an officer in the regular army, en- doAved A\ith a mind of great strength and quickness, constant in purpose, daring and brilliant in execution, prepared for the science of war and revelling in its dangers and fierce en- counters, and with a spirit fired with a determination to excel in the profession of arms ; it is not to be wondered at, that, un- der his capable authority and the influence of his stirring ex- ample, the regiment rapidly took form and shape as a strong, disciplined and efficient body of men ; nor that the impress of his spirit and the effect of his training should, as its subse- quent career demonstrated, be retained, not alone to charac- terize the natural development of veterans, but, likewise, as a part of its heritage of honor, so long as the flag under which he arrayed them claimed an existence amid the heraldry of nations. Short as was the length of his authority over them, the force of his activity, zeal and fearlessness was felt and recognized by the Forty-ninth (Ramseur's) Regiment through all its struggles and hardships, in the camp, on the march, in making or meeting assaults, advancing or retreat- ing, in sunshine and storm, through the long and w^earing siege of Petersbnrg, where it rushed alone into the cavalier line after Grant's mine was sprung, and at skirmish distance in the works held the Federal advance at bay for three hours — the slender link by which the two halves of General Lee's army were united, until re- inforcements could be brought seven miles to retake the cra- ter; both when disaster fell fast and fierce on the cause for which they fought, as well as when before their steady charge the foe gave Avay, and victory perched on their well-worn bat- tle flag; when deatli had thinned its ranks and suffering made gaunt the survivors, until at last its lines were crushed — its shout and shot the last to be heard — on the field of Five Forks. N^orth Carolina, whose soil has been made sacred by the ashes of so many great and strong men, her jurists, her statesmen, her magistrates, her teachers, her ministers and Forty-Ninth Regiment. 127 priests, lier soldiers and her patriots, holds within her bosom the dust of no nobler or more perfect man than that of Stephen Dobson Ramseiir, The regiment was officered by men of education, and, for the most part, in the full vigor of young manhood. Its rank and file were taken from the Piedmont region of the State, which then contained, as extended observation ena- bles the writer to say, a population second to none for self- reliance, integrity, just respect for authority and modest worth and courage. Many of them were descendants of the people who made the Honiets' Xest of North Carolina a fortress of independence and a terror to their country's invad- ers. Soon after its organization Lieutenant-Colonel Eliason re- signed, Major McAfee succeeding him, and Captain John A. Fleming, of Company A, was promoted to Major. MALVERN HILL. When the operations of McClellan's army around Rich- mon, culminating in the seven days' battles, began, the regi- ment was assigned to General Robert Ransom's Brigade and participated in several of those engagements. At Malvern Hill it bore a conspicuous part, leaving its dead and wounded on the field next in proximity to the enemy's works to those of the Twenty-sixth North Carolina Regiment, then commanded by Colonel Zebulon B. Vance. In this ill-advised assault the command suffered heavily in killed and wounded. Colonel Ramseur among the latter. His handling of the regiment and its conduct during those con- flicts led to his prompt promotion to Brigadier-General, and to his assignment, as soon as he recovered from his wound, to another command. On 1 November, 1862, Lieutenant-Colonel McAfee was commissioned Colonel, Major Fleming was promoted Lieu- tenant-Colonel, and Captain Pinckney B. Chambers, of Com- pany C. was made ]\Iajor. During the summer of 1862 Ad- jutant Richmond fell a victim to typhoid fever, and the life of this brave and capable ofiicer was thus destroyed — no less an offering on the altar of patriotism than if he had laid it 128 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. down on the battletiokl. Cicero A. Durham, of Cleveland county, prior to the war a cadet of the Military Institute of General D. IT. Hill, at Charlotte, and who afterwards became so famous throughout the army as the fighting quartermaster, was appointed adjutant. He sei-ved in this capacity with great efficiency and distinction until 2 May, 1863, when he was promoted Assistant Quartermaster to succeed Captain George, who was transferred to other duties. William H. Dinkins, who had been Scrgeant-Major, was appointed Adju- tant, and continued in that position during the remainder of the war, actively on duty until some time in the spring of 1864, wlion bad health caused his absence to the close of hos- tilities. By reason of the losses in front of Richmond in this cam- paign, both of officers and men, changes in the roster of of- ficers were numerous. It has been impossible at this late day to procure anything like full or correct reports of the killed, wounded, or missing in these battles. The aggregate was considerable, and the casualties told the story of the fierce struggles in which the command was engaged, but access to the reports cannot be had. George W. Lytle succeeded to the Captaincy of Company A; Henry A. Chambers was, on 10 December, 1862, ap- pointed to the command of Company C ; Columbus H. Dixon was made Captain of Company G, on lY November, 1862, in the place of Captain Rufus Roberts; Charles F. Connor, on 1 February, 1863, succeeded Captain W. W. Che- nault, of Company I, and George L. Phifer became Captain of Company K, in the place of Peter Z. Baxter, on 24 July, 1863 ; changes occasioned by the losses of 1862. Correspond- ing changes ensued in the other grades of company officers. sharpsbukg. Fi'oiii Kiclnnond the scene of action was speedily trans- ferred by General Lee to the Potomac and beyond ; and tlien back to the capture of Harper's Ferry, thence to Sharpsburg, or Antietam, the command moved under tlie orders of that groat fignre in our military history. At Shai'psburg it Forty-Ninth Regiment. 129 shared with the rest of the brigade the honor of retaking and holding the famous "West Woods." Here the gallant Lieutenant Greenlea Flemming, brother of Lieutenant-Col- onel Flemming, was killed and a dozen men of his com- pany killed or wounded by a shell which fell in its ranks as the brigade was moving by the flank to change its position just before sunset. It was the rear company of the Forty-ninth and Colonel M. W. Ransoin and Adjutant Wal- ter C*lark, who were riding at the head of the Thirty-fifth^ were close behind and barely escaped the shell which was evi- dently directed by the enemy's signal corps at the moving line of bayonets, glistening in the setting sunlight, for it came from a battery on the other side of the Antietam. Returning to Virginia, the regiment was in the battle of Fred- ericksburg, beginning 11 December, 1862, where it took posi- tion to the left of the plank road, and during the four days that the fighting there continued it was subjected to heavy cannonading and some infantry fighting, several officers and men being killed and wounded. After this battle the Forty-ninth remained in winter quar- ters near Fredericksburg until 3 January, 1863, when it was marched, by the Telegraph road, to Hanover Junction, thence to Richmond, and from there to Petersburg, which it reached on the evening of the 7th, and remained until tlie 1 7th, when it left for eastern ^North Carolina. From this time on until the spring of 1864, the regiment, w^ith the Twenty-fourth, Tw^enty-fifth, Thirty-fifth and Fifty- sixth Regiments, composed Ransom's Brigade which protected the line of the Wilmington & W^eldon Railroad from those two terminal points, and that of the road from Goldsboro to below Ivinston ; being constantly on the move, appear- ing one day at the other end of the line from that at which they w^ere the day before, and vigilantly guarding the teri'itory of Eastern ^STorth Carolina, from which such abund- ant supplies w^ere contributed for the support of our armies. Strategically, it was the right wing of the Army of Vir- ginia ; and General Scott, whose plan of camynie right, not till the Federals in front were beginning to give way, a Federal line of battle, which had extended around our right under cover of a piece of woods, opened a galling Wvo in our rear, and ad- vanced to the charge from the woods on our right. But brave Durham had his skirmishers there; and though they were few in nuud)er, he was ever a lion in the ])atli of the foe. Foot by foot he contested the ground until the charge in our front was broken, when the Forty-ninth and Twenty-lifth Regiments leaped over the works and poured a destructive volley into the ranks of the flanking ]:)arty, before which their line melted away. Poor Durham — truly a Chevalier Bayard, if ever na- ture placed a lieai't in man which was absolutely without fear and a soul without reproach or blemish — received here a wound in his arm, necessitating amputation, from which he died. Occupying a position which did not call for his pres- ence in lialtJe, he never missed a tight; was always in the thickest ai tlie forefront of the tempest of death; he gloried in tlie fray, nnd earned a reputation throughout the army as the lighting (ijuartermaster, which added lustre to the valor of our troo]>s, and which i^orth Carolina and Xorth Caroli- nians shouhl not suffer to perish. He was but a boy, an hundde, (hn-out Christian, as ])ure and chaste as a woman, and in the intensity of his love foi' his State and the cause she had espcHised he counted t]\c sacrihce of death as his simplest tribute in defense of her honor. General M. W. Ransom was here wounded in the arm, and the brigade was aftei-wavds eomniandcd during tlie summer and till hi< return at differcMit limes, by Cohmels Clarke, Rutledge, McAfee, l''aison and Jones. The Fifty-sixth Reg- iment being hotly assailed in falling back, lost a number in kilh^d and wounded ; hut repulsed every assault with telling effect. The lurtv-ninth los>t eleven killed and a consid- Forty-Ninth Regiment, 137 erable number of wounded in this engagement of the even- ing of 13 May. Brave Captain J. P. Ardrey, of Company F, was wounded, and left in the enemy's hands, and died before he could be removed. Lieutenant S. H. Elliott, of the same company, was wounded, and Lieutenant Line- barger, of Company H, was mortally wounded. Dr. Goode, Assistant Surgeon, and three litter-bearers were cap- tured, in attending upon the wounded. The 14th and 15th of May were passed in repelling repeated charges of the enemy upon our lines and efforts to advance his own from our outer line of fortifications, which had been aban- doned to him on the evening of the 13th. Severe loss was inflicted upon them in each attempt. 16 MAY, 1864. The morning of 16 May was obscured by a dense fog. Preparations began at 3 o'clock on the Confederate side foi* an attack, and by daylight Beauregard moved his entire army forward for an attack, en echelon by brigades, left in front, the left wing being under the immediate command of General Koliert Hansom. Pansom struck the enemy on their extreme right, carried their works, and turned their flank, each brig- ade in turn assisting to open the way to the next attacking one. Blow after blow fell thick and fast on Butler's army. All parts of his line were heavily pressed, so that none could ren- der assistance to the other, and before noon his army, largely exceeding in numbers the attacking force, thoroughly equipped and confident of victory, was completely routed, and Beauregard luid gained one of the best fought battles of the war. In boldness of conception and execution, tactical skill, thorough grasp of all the conditions of the situation, and couunand of his forces, conducted by him in person on the field, it was unsurpassed by any fight on this continent; and but for Wliiting's moving from his position on the turnpike in Butler's rear, thus allowing him to escape without moles- tation to Bermuda Hundreds, it would have resulted in the capture of his entire army. It is difficult now to under- stand how 60 many blunders could have been committed at 138 North Carolina Trooi-s, 1801-65. critical moments by Confederate generals in important com- mands, save that the hand of Fate had penned the decree o£ our defeat: but of all those, which contributed to our down- fall, that of Major-General Whiting, on the afternoon of 16 May, 1864, was one of the most glaring and stupendous. Soon after the battle opened the Twenty-fourth and Forty- ninth Ivegiments were ordered to the right flank of Bushrod Johnson's Brigade, on the right of the turnpike facing to- wards Petersburg, and which was heavily engaged on the immediate right of our brigade. Moving at double-quick through thick woods we came upon the enemy's first line of works, and drove them from it Avith great loss. Pursuing the foe, we advanced to the attack of the second line under a very heavy fire in our front, and a severe enfilade from our right. Colonel W. J. Clarke, of the Twenty-fourth com- manded the brigade. Under his orders, and following that regiment, we turned to the right, and drove the enemy from the position, which enabled the enfilade fire to harass us, capturing his colors, inflicting heavy loss upon him. Moving directly forward, we again attacked the second line of their works, and had nearly reached them, when we were ordered to fall back and reform our lines. This was done under shel- ter of a skirt of woods ; and in a short time Major James T. Davis, Colonel Mc.\fee having been wounded, and Lieuten- ant-Colonel Flemming having been left in command of the brigade skirmish line when we were moved to the right, gave the command to advance with Captain Chambers' com- pany deployed as skirmishers at an oblique angle to our right. In this attack, aided by the flanking movement from our left^ the works in our front were readily taken. In these two charges of this day the Forty-ninth lost heavily in officers and men. When the works had been taken the dead body of Cap- tain Ardrey was recovered. Besides the wounding of the Colonel, Lieutenants W. P. Barnett, of Company F, and H. C. Conley, of Company A, were killed. Captain G. W. Lytle, of Company A, was mortally woimded. and Lieutenants Dan- iel Lattimore, of Company B, and B. F. Dixon, of Company G, were severely wounded. Forty-Ninth Regiment. 139 BERMUDA HUNDKEDS. The next day we continued the pursuit of Butler's army, and assisted in his "bottling up" at Bermuda Hundreds. Several brisk skirmishes and picket fights were had there until the lines were established, but none were of serious importance. In a picket charge on the night of 1 June, Cap- tain George L. Phifer, of Company K, was wounded. Com- panies C, F and K of the Forty-ninth were on the picket, and sustained a loss of three killed and seventeen wounded. In June, 1864, Dr. Buffin resigned, and Dr. Dandridge was appointed Surgeon, in which position he continued to the close of the war. On 4 June we crossed the James at Drewry's Bluff, and confronted the enemy on the Chickahominy, at the York Biver Railroad bridge, and strengthened the fortifications there. On the 10th we were relieved by Kirkland's North Carolina Brigade, and returned, by a forced march, to the south side, and thence to Petersburg, to meet Grant's advance across the James. From this time on Ransom's Brigade be- came a part of Bushrod Johnson's Division. After march- ing all night of the 15th we reached Petersburg about 8 o'clock on the morning of the 16th, and were hurried to our fortifications on Avery's farm. At a run we succeeded in getting to the works before the enemy reached them. Through a storm of sliot and shell we gained them, just in time to meet their charge, and drive them back. In the afternoon we were hurried to Swift Creek, where the Fifty-sixth North Carolina, under Major John W. Graham, and Grade's Brigade, drove back the Federal cavalry which had attempted to cut our communications with Richmond, and enter Peters- burg from that direction. We were then marched along the Richmond pike until about midnight, when we opened com- munication with the head of Longstreet's Corps. By the first light next morning we were hurried by train back to Petersburg, where early in the morning the enemy had cap- tured a considerable part of Bushrod Johnson's old brigade and several pieces of artillery. Hastily we threw up a line of rifle pits; and now commenced Beauregard's magnificent grapple with Grant's army until Longstreet's command could 140 North Carolina Trooi's, 1861-65. reach us. With scarcely more than 5,000 men and eighteen pieces of field artillery Beauregard kept in check Grant's army, coming up from City Point, all the day and night of 17 June, until sunrise of the 18th, when Longstreet came over the hill at Blandford cemetery on our right. ^Vhen flanked on our right, we would fall back to meet the flank at- tack, re])ulse it, and then, being massed, Beauregard would hurl his shattered but compact battalions against the Federal lines, and force them back, to reform and again press upon us. Through the 17th and the succeeding night every foot of ground from .Vvery's farm to Blandford cemetery was fought over and over again. Kansom's Brigade played a conspicuous part in these move- ments. First Lieutenant Edward Phifer, of Company K, received his death wound through the lungs in this battle. A bright, noble boy and faithful, light-hearted soldier. At times during this engagement our troops would be lying on one side of the works and tliose of the enemy on the other; and it is said that the flag of the Thirty-fifth Regiment was lost and regained a half dozen times, until the Michigan Reg- iment with which it was engaged in a hand to hand encounter, surrendered to it. It was desperate fighting, and the most prolonged struggle of the kind during the war. With anx- ious hearts we saw ihe night wear on, not knowing what fate the morning would bring us, if we sundved tO' see it; and it was with a glad shout tliat, as the sun rose, and the Federals were massing on our right flank to crush us, we welcomed the head of Longstrcet's cfdumu coming at a trot to our right wing. The contem]ilated charge upon us was not made; rifle pits were hastily dug and strengthened into formidable entrenchuHMits on the ucw line; and thus began the siege of Petersburg. From this (bite until M) March, 1S()5, just nine months, in tlu' lines east of Petersluirg, occu])ying at ditfereut times positions from the Ap])omattox river to the JerusahMu plank road, often not a hundred yards from the works of the enemy, constantly ex])osed to danger autt liocame Cap- tain. Company E — Iredell County — Ca])tain Alex. 1). Moore. Company F — Mecldenhurg County — Captain Davis. Captain Davis was promoted to Major and Lieutenant James P. Ardrey was promoted to Captain, ^lajor Davis was killed in front of Petersburg 25 IMarch, 1865, just a few days be- fore the surrender. He was a brave and true soldier. Cap- tain Ardrey w^as killed at Drewry's Bluff. I could not keep Forty-Ninth Regiment. 153 back the tears when they told me that he was killed. I loved him like a brother. He was succeeded as Captain by Lieu- tenant John C. Grier. Company G — Cleveland County — Captain Roberts. Cap- tain Roberts resigned on account of ill health and C. H. Dixon was made Captain. He was killed by a mortar shell in front of Petersburg and Lieutenant B. F. Dixon was pro- moted to the Captaincy, which he held to the close of the war. Company H — Gaston County — Captain Charles Q. Petty. Captain Petty was promoted to Major and Lieutenant J. 1^. Torrence became Captain. Company I — Catawha County — Captain W. W. Chenault. Lieutenant Charles F. Connor after^vards became Captain. Lieutenant Connor always made me think of a game rooster in battle. He was tall and straight and his eye was full of fire. Company K- — Lincoln County- — Captain Peter Z. Baxter. Upon his resignation Lieutenant George L. Phifer and later James T. Adams became Captain. In the organization of the regiment the following gentle- men were elected Field Officers : Stephen D. Ramseur, of Lincoln county, Colonel. He afterwards became a Major- General and was killed in battle 19 September, 1864. W. A. Eliason, Lieutenant-Colonel ; Lee M. McAfee, Major ; Cicero Durham, Adjutant ; Dr. Ruffin, Chief Surgeon. Col- onel Eliason resigned and Major McAfee was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, and after the promotion of Colonel Ram- seur, McAfee became Colonel of the regiment and com- manded it to the close of the war. Cicero Durham became Quartermaster of the regiment, but was in every battle in which the regiment was engaged and always at the front. He had command of the shai*p- shooters and was killed at Drewry's Bluff while bravely lead- ing his men. I would be glad of the opportunity of naming many more of the Forty-ninth Regiment on account of their magnificent soldierly qualities, but as this is a sketch of the regiment and not of individuals, I must desist. While the Forty-ninth Regiment was engaged in most of the battles in which the Army of !Northern Virginia partici- 154 North Carolina Troops, ISGl-'Go. pated, and always with honor, and while I would be glad to tell the story of their devotion and fortitude and bravery on all these bloody fields, still I have not the time to go into these matters, and will confine myself to a brief synopsis of tho doings of this regiment during the great siege of Petersburg. I do not believe that any soldier in any war, either civilized or savage, ever suffered more than the men who filled the ditches around Petersburg from June, 1864, until the last of March, 18G5. Half-clad and half-rationed these brave, devoted men held the lines for nine long months, including one of the most ter- rible winters that ever spread its white uumtle over the earth. Barefooted in the snow, the men stood to their posts on picket, or at the port-holes. Lying in bomb-proofs, so-called, with mud and water to the ankles, and tho constant drip, drip, of muddy water from above, clothing and blankets saturated, with a fire that only made smoke, these men passed through the winter of 1864 and 1865. The mortar shells from the enemy's guns fell in the ditches or crashed through the bomb- proofs day and night, while the sharp, shrill hiss of the minie ball, and the shriek of shell and solid shot made the hours hideous day after day, and night after night. For nine months it was certain death for a man to raise his head above the works. Yet with joke and laughter these men dodged the mortar shells and elevated their old ragged hats on ramrods to see how many holes would be shot through them in a given time. I have seen a dozen men gather in the ditch to watch for the coming of a "mortar" as they called it, and when they saw the awful thing curving towards them, they would run with shout and gibe around a traverse while it exploded in the ditch. I saw one of these mortar shells fall in the ditch and lie there frying, when a brave soldier from Lincoln county nushed out of liis l)oml>proof, caught it up in his hands, and tossed it over the breastworks. When asked why he had gone out of a place of safety tri do such a rash act, he said : "I thought maybe the pieces might hit some of the fellers." One night there was a fearful rainfall and the next morning it was discovered that a part of the dam across a small stream had been washed away and all the water in the , Forty-Ninth Regiment. 155 pond had disappeared, leaving an opening of some fifteen feet through which the bullets from the Yankee lines could come on the least provocation. Being ofiicer of the day, my attention was called to a crowd of soldiers gathered on either side of the chasm, and upon investigation, I discovered the amazing fact, that these men were trying to see who could run across without being killed, or wounded. There was not the slightest necessity for any of them to cross, but in a spirit of wantonness and fun, they were making the effort. A fellow would take his okl hat in his hand, step back to get a good start, then with a shout, he would rush across and kick up his heels at a great rate, if he happened to get over safe. I had to place a guard there to make them stop such foolishness. I give this incident to show how^, under constant danger, men became indifferent to it. The morning sun, as he came from his chamber in the east, day by day, made plain the path for the minie ball, and the "torch" of the mortar shell lighted up the heavens by night. The morning was a call to battle and the night was hideous with bursting sheik No wonder men became inured to dan- ger, and sought excitement in playing with death. In all these months I do not remember a single, solitary complaint made by any of the men, because of short rations, or cold or nakedness. ISTo intimations w^ere made against the character of canned beef — we had none — a piece of fat bacon and a hard and mouldy cracker were luxuries. A sol- dier in the trenches asked me to write a letter to his wdfe at home. This is the letter in substance: ■'^Dear Wife: — The Captain is writing this letter for me, and I wish to say that I am well and getting on first-rate. George Gill had his brains shot out yesterday and Jack Gib- bons' son and three others were torn all to pieces with a shell, but thank God they haven't hit me yet, and if I get home I wall make up for all lost time in taking care of you and the children. I was sorry to hear that you didn't have enough to eat and the children were crying for bread, but you must be brave, little woman, and do the best you can. I think we will whip the Yankees in a little while longer, and then I can come home and everything will be all right. I pray for you 15G North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. and the little ones every night and morning, and I know the good God will not let you sutfer more than you are able to bear. Your loving husband, etc." This man was barefooted in January, 1865, when he dic- tated the letter above. He had not eaten anything all day (this was in the evening), because he had nothing to eat; he was without a coat for his back, and yet the soul within him kept him fed and warm. A Confederate soldier standing barefoot, in tattered trousers, coatless and hatless, witli an Enfield rifle on his shoulder, and his cartridge box full, was as brave a man as ever met an enemy on any field of battle in any country, or in any age. Nimble as a deer, long- breathed as a hound, he could run with the horsemen with- out weariness and fight all day mthout hunger. He taught the whole world how to fight, and when I meet him to-day I lift my hat and stand bareheaded till he passes by. The For^ ty-ninth Regiment was in General M. W. Ransom's Brigade during all these weary months, together ^vith the Twenty- fourth, Twenty-fifth, Thirty-fifth and Fifty-sixth North Carolina Regiments. This brigade stood between Peters- burg and the enemy, and if you will ask any citizen of that city he will tell you how they loved and honored Ran- som's Brigade. General Ransom was then the same courtly and kind-hearted man he is to-day. Fearless in danger, courteous and kind always, the true gentleman everywhere, he was the idol of his men. Although we were fighting every day while the siege lasted, there were many extraordinary battles during this period. I have not time to notice but one or two, and notably among these was the battle of the Crater. This battle occurred on 30 July, 1864. About daylight the mine, wliich the enemy had charged with eight thousand pounds of powder, was fired and a terrific explosion was the result. ]\Iany thought tlie judgment day had come. The earih, with all it contained, was thrown into the air, leaving a hole 100 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 30 feet deep. Men and cannon Avere thrown hundreds of feet into the air. Sim- Tiltaneoiis witli the explosion the enemy opened two hundred pieces of artillery on our lines. The Forty-ninth was to the Forty-Ninth Regiment. 157 left of the ravine, and we were moved rapidly across the ravine and up the works to the crater. And until the enemy, which had taken possession of our lines, was beaten hack, we stood in the position assigned to us and fired our guns. The enemy, white and black, came in solid phalanx shouting: "No quarter to the rebels." They held their position until about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, when Mahone's Brigade ar- rived and with the Twenty-fifth jSTorth Carolina Regiment of our brigade and a regiment of South Carolina troops, drove them out. I saw the Twenty-fifth Regiment as they came dashing up the hill towards the Crater. How we cheered them ! They rushed up to the Crater which was full of the enemy, white and black, fired one volley and then turn- ing tlie butts of their guns, they let them fall, crushing the skulls of negroes at every blow. This was more than mortal man could stand, and in a little while the lines were re-estab- lished and the dead of tlie enemy lay in heaps upon the ground. I mention this battle for the reason that, taken un- awares as we were, mth the heavens filled with dust and smoke, and the earth rocking beneath our feet, with out-speak- ing thunders in our ears, if that portion of Lee's army which held the lines around Petersburg had not been made up of some of the coolest and bravest men that ever fired a musket, they would have stampeded then and there and Grrant would have taken the city and Lee's army could have been de- stroyed. This is doubtless what the enemy expected us to do, but instead of that, our brave boys never wavered for an instant, but marched to the rescue of the gallant South Car- olinians, as if they were going on dress parade. General Ransom being absent, the brigade was commanded that day by Colonel McAfee, of the Forty-ninth. Another notable battle in which the Forty-ninth was en- gaged was the battle of Hare's Hill, on 25 March, 1865. In this battle the Forty-ninth lost fully one-half its number in killed, wounded and missing. Somebody blundered here. On the morning of the 25th a corps of engineers and sharp- shooters crossed over the space between the lines, and without the loss of a single man, captured the enemy's works, includ- 158 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'Go. ing Fort Stead man, together with a largo nnmber of prison- ers. The iiiain body of our army followed and took posses- sion of the works and then lay down and waited until the enemy could reinforce their lines, and still w'aited until they came \\\)on us in front and by Hank in numbers so great that they c(»uld not l)e counted, then we were ordered to fall l)ack to our own lines, which wo did through such a storm of shot and sliell as I never dreamed of before. How any man es- caped death I have never been al>le to see. I remember starting on the perilous run never expecting to reach our lines, and the terrible thought would come to me, ''I am to be shot in the back." I have always been able to find some sort of excuse for failures, but in this instance I stand to-day as I did on that day, and. unhesitatingly say, "Somebody blundered." The last battle I shall mention was that of Five Forks, the loss of which caused the fall of Petersburg and practically ended the war. After the disastrous struggle on 25 March the Forty-ninth Regiment marched tlirough Petersburg for the last time in a drenching rain, and lay at Battery ISTo. 45 all night ; then we were moved daily from place to place until the morning of the 31st we moved in the direction of Dinwid- dle Court House, and after marching and counter-marching, we finally lay down on our arms near the enemy, and waited for daylight, fully expecting to be ordered into battle every minute. We were doomed to disappointment, however, for early in the morning of the first day of April we were ordered to Five Forks, with the enemy following close in our rear. Reaching Five Forks, we quietly threw up a line of breast- works, and the enemy came thundering on in front, then in the rear, the men of the Forty-ninth blazing away with the same calm deliberation that had characterized them on scores of battlefields before, but it was no use. The Yankees sim- ply run over us and crowded us so that it became impossible to slioot. They literally swarmed on all sides of us, and by and by, as I looked toward the center of the regiment, I saw our old tattered banner slowly sinking out of sight. A few men escaped by starting early, but most of the true and tried men of this gallant old regiment were prisoners of Forty-Ninth Regiment. 159 war and in a little while were on their way to Point Lookout, or Johnson's Island. It is unjust to all the other regiments of the North Caro- lina troops to claim for any one regiment any special bravery or devotion to the Lost Cause. There was not a regiment, so far as my information goes, that did not meet all require- ments of the service and fill the measure of its responsibility to the South. But while I do not claim any special honor for any one body of soldiers from North Carolina, I do claim this for my State as against other Southern States. With a population in 1860 of 629,942, and 115,000 vot- ers, North Carolina sent 127,000 soldiers to the Confederate armies. She furnished 51,000 stands of arms, horses for seven regiments of cavalry, artillery equipments for bat- teries, etc. North Carolina expended, out of her own funds, $26,663,000 and never applied for a dollar of support from the Confederate Government. She lost 37 Colonels of regi- ments killed in action, or died of wounds. She had six Major-Generals in service, and three of them, namely : Pen- der, Ramseur and Whiting, were killed in battle. There were 25 Brigadier-Generals from this State, four of whom were killed, and all the others were wounded. The first vic- tory was won by North Carolinians at Bethel, 10 June, 1861, and they fired the last volley at Appomattox. In the seven days' fight around Richmond in 1862, there were 92 Confederate regiments engaged, and 46 of them were from North Carolina — just one-half — and more than one-half of the killed and wounded were from this State. At Chancellors ville in May, 1863, there were forty North Caro- lina regiments, and of the killed and wounded over one-half were from this State. At Gettysburg 2,592 Confederates were killed, and 12,707 wounded. Of the killed 770 were North Carolinians, 435 Georgians, 399 Virginians, 2,588 Mississippians, 217 South Carolinians, and 204 Alabamians. The Northern army lost in this gTeat battle 3,155 killed and 14,529 wounded. North Carolina lost during the war 41,000 men who were killed in battle or died in the service, 14,000 of the above number were 160 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'65. killed upon the battlefield, against 9,000 as the highest num- ber from any other Southern State. These are facts and figures which do not properly belong to a sketch of the Forty-ninth Regiment; still they are true as to the part which our good State played in that dreadful war, and I want our North Carolina boys and girls to know what sort of forefathers they had in the times which tried the souls of men. Peace to the ashes of the brave men who gave their lives for the Lost Cause! "They sleep their last sleep, they have fought their last battle, and no sound can awake them to glory again." May God bless the living! Some of them are watching, day by day, for the sunset's glow, or stand listening to the beat of the surf as it breaks upon the shores of eternity. May God give them victory in the last battle ! B. F. Dixon. Shelby, N. C, 9 April, 1901. FIFTIETH RE(iIMENT. 1. .John C. Vanhook, Lieut.-Colonel. 3. J. T. Ellington, 1st Lieut., Co C. 2. Wm. A. Blalock, 1st Lieut., Co. A. 4. J. C. Ellington, 2d Lieut., Co. C. FIFTIETH REGIMENT. By J. C. ELLINGTON, Second Lieutenant Company C. Tlio Fiftietii Eegiixiiut !N"orth Carolina Troops was or- ganized 15 April, 1862, at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh^ composed of the following companies : Company A — Person County — Captain John C. Van- Hook. Company B — Robeson County — Captain E. C. Adkinson, Company C — Johnston County — Captain R. D. Luns- ford. Company T) — Johnston County- — Captain H. J. Ryals. Company E — Wayne County — Captain John Griswold. Company E — Moore County — Captain James A. O. Kelly. Company G — Rutherford County — Captain C W. An- drews. Company H — Harnett County — Captain Joseph H. Ad- kinson. Company I — Rutherford County — Captain John B. Eaves. Company K — Rutherford County — Captain Samuel Wil- kins. Marshall I). Craton, of Wayne county, was elected Colo- nel ; James A. Washington, of Wayne county, Lieutenant- Colonel; George Wortham, of Granville county, Major; Dr. Walter Duffy, of Rutherford county, was appointed Surgeon ; E. B. Borden, of Wayne county, Quartermaster ; E. S. Par- ker, of Wayne county. Commissary; W. H. Borden, of Wayne county. Adjutant ; Jesse Edmundson, of Wayne, Ser- geant-Major; Dr. R. S. Moran, Chaplain. The six weeks following the organization of the regiment were spent at Camp Mangum, and we were subjected to al- most constant drilling from morning till night. There was 11 162 North Carolina Trooi-s, 1861-65. not, during tliis time, a single nuisket in the regiment, but as a substitute we were armed with what was then known as the "Conf('(lei"a1(' })ike.'' Tliis formidable implement of war con- sisted of a wooden haudle about ten feet long, at one end of which a dirk-shaj^ed spear was securely fastened, and a1>- tached to lliis spear at the sliank, or socket, was another steel blade in the form of a brier hook in order, as the boys said, that they could get them "a-going and a-coming." These were not very well adapted for practice in the manual of arms, but at the end of the six weeks the regiment w^as re- markably well drilled, considering all the circumstances. Ou •31 May we were ordered to Garysburg, near Weldon, where the same routine of daily and almost hourly'drill was kept up until 19 June, when we were ordered to Petersburg, Va., and w^ent into camp at Dunn's Hill, near the city. In a short while ■\ve were moved from here to Pickett's factory, on Swift creek, where we remained until 26 June, on which date we were or- •dered to Drury's Bluff, on the James river, below Richmond. We were now organized into a brigade composed of the 'Thirty-second, Forty-third, Forty-fifth, Fiftieth and Fifty- third ISTorth Carolina Regiments, and Second I*Torth Carolina Battalion, with General Junius Daniel in command of the brigade. I^T TKONT OF RICHMOND, 1862. On Sunday, 20 June, we were made to realize for the first time that we were actually a part of the great Confederate army, when we received orders to prepare at once for a forced march to reinforce our troops who had already been fighting for several days in succession around Richmond. Taking the Forty-third, Forty-fifth and Fiftieth ISTorth Carolina Reg- iments and Brcm's (later Grahaui's), Battery, General Daniel crossed the James river on a pontoon bridge, and after a hard day's march over almost impassable roads, we reached a point near the two contending annies and camp for the night. About daybreak on the morning of 30 June we resumed the march. Just at sun rise, and immediately in •^our front, at a short distance, a balloon sent up by the enemy for the purpose of locating our lines and discovering the Fiftieth Regiment. . 163 irnovements of our troops, made its appearance above the tree tops. Our line was iiumediately halted and a battery quickly gotten into position, opened fire on the balloon, which rapidly descended and passed from view. We resumed the march, but being thus timely warned, changed our course. We are soon joined by Walker's Brigade, moving on a different road, and together reached Kew Market at an early hour. At this place we were joined by General Wise, with the Twenty-sixth and Forty-sixth Virginia Regiments, and two light batteries, he having left Chafiin's Bluff soon after Daniel's Brigade left Drewry's Bluff', for the purpose, as he states in his official re- port, of supporting General Holmes at his urgent request. The aforementioned troops, together with a squadron of cavalry under command of Major Burroughs, constituted the conunand of General Tlieo-. H. Holmes, w^hich, early on the morning of 30 June, took position near New Market on the extreme right of the Confederate line. We remained in this position for several hours, when we received orders to move down the River road to support some batteries in charge of Colonel Deshler, which had been placed in position in a thick wood near the River Road between Malvern Hill and the James river. The three regiments of General Daniel's Brigade took position in rear of Colonel Deshler's Battery with the Forty-fifth North Carolina Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Morehead, on the right; the Fiftieth, commanded by Colonel Craton, in the center ; the Forty- third, commanded by Colonel Kenan, on the left. The right of the Forty-fifth rested a little beyond where the roads forked, and was partially protected by the woods ; the Forty- third had the slight protection afforded by woods on both sides of the road ; the Fiftieth occupied the open space made by clearings on both sides of the road at this point. About the time the formation of our lines in the road was completed, we were startled by the explosion of a single shell just over our heads, as if dropped from the skies above. We could form no idea whence it came, but were not long kept in doubt, for in a few minutes there was a perfect shower of shells of tremendous proportion and hideous sound hurled from the heavy naval guns of the Federal fleet on the James river, 164 North Carolina Troops, 1SG1-'65. just opposite and about 900 yards distant, with a perfectly open field intervening. The scene was awe-inspiring, espe- cially to raw troops who were under fire for the first time. Such a baptism of fire for troops not actually engaged in bat- tle lias very rarely been experienced in the history of war. There was a slight depression in the road-way, and across the open space occupied by the Fiftieth Regiment was a plank fence. We were ordered to lie down behind this for such protection as it and the embankment on the road side might afford. About tliis time a squadron of cavalry, which was drawn up in line on the right of the road and just opposite the position occupied by the Fiftieth Regiment, was stam- peded by the explosion of a shell in their ranks, and in their wild flight rushed their horses against the plank fence which, like a dead-fall, caught many of our men who were held down to be trampled by the horses, until we could throw down the rail fence on the opposite side of the road and allow them to escape, which they were not slow to do. In the confusion in- cident to this afl'air, and the effort of the men to escape in- jury from the wild horses, the color-bearer of the Fiftieth Regiment escaped to the open field to the right of the road and planted the colors in full view of the fleet on the river, thereby concentrating their fire on our part of the line. It was some time before he was noticed standing solitary and alone in the open field, grasping his flag staff, which was firmly ]danted in the ground, as if bidding defiance to the whole Union army and navy, and the rest of mankind. As soon as order had been restored, Colonel Deshler was notified that the infantry support was in position, and he was instructed to open fire on the enemy's lines, which were now occupying Malvern Hill. This served to divert a portion of the fire of the gunboats from our part of the line, but at the same time drew upon us the fire of the enemy's batteries on jNIalvern Hill at short range with grape and canister, together witb solid shot and shell. We were now under a heavy cross fire, wifli no protec- tion from the fire of these batteries. The Confederate bat- teries in our front under command of Colonel Deshler, were suffering terribly, and although many of the men were either killed or disabled by wounds, and most of the horses lost, Fiftieth Regiment. 165 they never wavered, but stood by their guns and served them to the close of the fight. As the fire from Malvern Hill con- tinued to increase, new batteries being constantly added, General Holmes requested General Daniel to send forward the guns of Brem's batter^' to reinforce Colonel Desh- ler. A short while after these passed to the front. General Daniel received an order from General Holmes to advance a portion of his infantry to their support. The Forty-fifth and Fiftieth Regiments promptly moved forward in column down the road, but had proceeded only a short distance when we were met by Brem's Battery in wild flight, dashing through our ranks, knocking down and running over many of our men with their horses and guns. About this time the Federals posted a battery on our right flank at short range. As it was impossible to withstand this flank fire, we were ordered to leave the road and take position under cover of the woods on the right. The writer remained in the road, but took advantage of such protection as was afi^orded by an oak gate post about eighteen inches square standing on the right of the road. I had been here but a short while when General Daniel came riding slowly along the line, speaking to and encouraging the men, his horse bleeding profusely from a wound just received. There was a perfect shower of shot and shell along the road all the while, but as he reached a point opposite where I was standing, a shell from the gun- boats exploded just above the road, and I saw him fall from his horse. He was soon able to rise and walk to the gate post, where he remained until he recovered from the shock, after which he walked to the rear, secured another horse, and returning to where I was ordered me to go across the road, form my company, which was the color company of the regi- ment, march it to our former position on the road and have the regiment form on it. We were all soon back in our first position on the road, where we remained until about 10 o'clock that night, when w^e were marched back up the road to a piece of woods and camped for the night. On the fol- lowing day, 1 July, v.-e took position near that of the day be- fore, and remained in line of battle during the day and all night. For six days in succession the Confederates had been 166 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. successful in battle, and the Federal army, under General McClellan, was whipped, demoralized and in full retreat, hoping almost against hope, that they might by some chance reaeli cover of their gunboats on the James river. The battle of Malvern Hill, the last of the seven days' battles, proved disastrous to the Confederates. There was a fearful sacri- fice of life and all for naught, as on the following morning, 2 July, we stood for hours and watched the Federal column moving along the roads to their haven of safety under cover of their gunboats at Harrison's Landing, and we were pow- erless to interpose any obstacle. Without presuming to criticise the conduct of this battle, or fix the responsibility for failure to capture McClellan's en- tire army, a result which at this time seemed almost abso- lutely certain, I will simply recall the fact that as early as the night of 29 June, and all day of the 30th, General Holmes was within a short distance of the naturally strong position of Malveni Hill with more than 6,000 troops, and could easily have occupied this position. During the day of 30 June, General Porter, of the Federal army, took advantage of this opportunity to occupy and fortify these heights, and thereby cover the retreat and make possible the escape of McClellan's army, Avhile the 6,000 troops under General Holmes for two days and nights served no other purpose than to fumisli tar- gets for the Federal gunboats and batteries. On 2 July we commonced the march back to our former camp at Drewrv's Bluff, reacliing tliere about S o'clock the next moniing. On 6 July we were ordered to Petersluirg, where for sev- eral weeks we were employed in constnieting breastworks around the city and doing picket duty nlong the river. II AIMIISOX^S LAXDIXG. On -'51 July, just one luoutli after tlic battle of ^lalvern Hill, the infantry bi'igades of Generals ^Manning and Daniel, and the artillery brought over by General Pendleton, consist- ing of forty-three pieces, together with the light batteries be- longing to General D. JT. Hill's command, making seventy pieces in all, left Petersburg on a secret mission. In order Fiftieth Regiment. 167 to conceal the real design, the report had been freely circu- lated that it was a demonstration against Suffolk. We left Petersburg at 7 o'clock a. in., inarched seven miles and were halted at Perkinson's Mill, where rations were issued to the men. Late in the afternoon we resumed the inarch, having received orders that all canteens or anything that was calcu- lated to make unnecessary noise, should be discarded, and that no one should speak above a whisper under penalty of death. The night was intensely dark, as a heavy thunder storm pre- vailed. This caused much trouble and consequent delay on the part of the artillery, which was following in our rear. About midnight General Hill, with the infantry brigades of Manning and Daniel, reached Merchant's Hope Church. In a short while General Pendleton arrived and reported to General Hill that it would be impossible to get his guns in position ill time to make tlie attack that night, as had been contemplated and planned. General Hill expressed great disappointment and fear that the expedition would prove a failure, as our troops would undoubtedly be discovered the next day. He turned over the command to General S. G. French and returned to Petersburg that night. The infantry moved back from tlie road in a thick wood just opposite the church, where they remained concealed the balance of the night, all of the next day and until midnight of 1 August. About the time we reached our position on the night of 31 July, tlie rain, which had been threatening during the fore part of the night, broke loose in a perfect torrent, thoroughly flooding the flat, swampy ground upon which we were com- pelled to lie until midnight of 1 Augmst. This day, 1 August, was the date set apart by the State au- thorities of ISTorth Carolina for the casting of the soldier vote in the State election, which was then held on the first Thurs- . day in Augiist. We, therefore, had the novel experience of conducting an important and exciting election while lying flat on the gTound in mud and water, and "no one allowed to move or speak under penalty of death." It is needless to state that Colonel Z. B. Vance, who was recognized as the soldiers' candidate for Governor, received an overwhelming majority of the vote cast. The writer, who was then eighteen 168 North Carolina Troops, 1SC1-'65. years of age, had the pleasure of casting his first political vote for this favorite son of the Old North State. For fear that some member of Congress, over zealous for the mainte- nance of "the purity of the ballot," may introduce a "joint resolution" to inquire into the legality of this election, I will state that in the army "age" was not one of the qualifications inquired into, but the carrying of a musket or sword was con- sidered all-suflicient. After it had been decided that it was impracticable to make the attack on the night of 31 July, General Pendleton gave orders to his subordinate officers to take such steps as would effectuallv conceal their guns and horses from the observation of the enemy when they sent up their balloon next morning, which w^as their custom each morning as soon as it was light enough to see distinctly. They had barely completed this task when the balloon was seen slowly ascending, but fortu- nately they were not discovered. Each commander of a bat- tery had certain specific work assigned him by General Pen- dleton, and they spent the entire day in selecting locations and routes by Avhich they could reach the same the follomng night. They also took advantage of the day time, when everything was in full view, to range stakes by which to direct their fire at night. The long range guns were directed on McClellan's camp across the river, and the short range on the shipping on tlu; river. The plan was to make the attack pre- cisely at midniglit, but it was 12 :30 before everything was in readiness. Forty-three of the seventy guns had been placed in position on tlic bank of the river, some of them at the very water's edge. The otlier guns were not considered of suffi- cient range, and were, therefore, not brought into action. By 12 o'clock the infantry lind been quietly formed, moved across the road, and drawn up in line between the church and the river, in rear of our g\ms. We were held in suspense for half an liour wlioii tlic expected "signal" gim was fired. Im- mediately and sinniltaneously the forty-three guns were dis- charged. Each of tlie guns liad been supplied with from twenty to thirty rounds, with instiiictions to fire these as rap- idly as possible, hitcli np and retire. The noise and the flaslies of light produced by the rapid and continuous fire of Fiftieth Regiment. 169 these guns in the dead of a dark, still night, immediately on the water front of the river, was awe-inspiring in the extreme, and the consternation produced among the shipping on tlie river and in the camp beyond was indescribable. In less than ten minutes many of the vessels were sinking and many others were seriously damaged. In a few minutes after we opened fire several gunboats, which were up the river on the lookout for the Confederate "Merrimac" ISTo. 2, which they were momentarily expecting to come down the river, and which were constantly kept under a full head of steam and prepared for instant action, steamed past our position at a rapid rate of speed, raking the banks of the river with their fire, but not halting to engage our batteries in fair action. Our only casualties were one man killed and two wounded by the explosion of a shell at one of the batteries served by Cap- tain Dabney. The damage inflicted on the enemy will per- haps never be known. General McClellan, in his first re- port to Washington next morning, states his only damage to be one man slightly wounded in the leg, but in a later report the same day, admits the loss of ten men killed and twelve wounded, and a number of horses killed ; but he strangely omits any reference to the damage inflicted on the shipping on the river where most of the guns were directed, and at much shorter range than his camp, where, as stated in his re- port, "For about half an hour the fire was very hot, the shells falling everywhere from these headquarters to Westover." As evidence that the damage to the shipping must have been serious, on the following morning as the tide came in the whole face of the river was covered with floating wreckage. Thus ended one of the most interesting, as it was one of the most mysterious afPairs of the war. After the affair just related, we returned to Petersburg and thence to our former camp at Drewry's Bluff, when we were again employed in constructing fortifications and doing such picket duty as was required. On 14 August General McClellan commenced very sud- denly and hurriedly to abandon his camp at Harrison's Land- ing, and a few days thereafter the writer rode down the river and went through and took a general survey of the camp. I 170 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'65. have never witnessed so great destruction of property as I saw then. Articles of clothing and blankets (all new) by tlie thousands, were piled in great heaps and apparently sat- urated with oil and fired. Great heaps of corn and oats in sacks were similarly treated and guns by the hundreds and various other articles of value were scattered over the camp^ indicating that they must have left in a very gi'eat haste. Tn the early part of the war it was persistently charged and as persistently denied, that the Federal troops used "steel breast-plates" for protection. I can not certify as to the truth of the charge, but will state that I saw a number of their breast-plates which were left in McClellan's camp. We remained at and around Drewry's Bluff the balance of the year. In December we constructed comfortable log cabins in which to spend the winter. We completed them in time to move in just a few days before Christmas. We en- joyed a jolly Christmas and congTatulated ourselves on being comfortably housed for the winter, but on the last day of De- cember the brigade received "marching orders," and on 1 Jan- uary, 1863, we started for iSTorth Carolina and reached Golds- boro on 3 January. We remained here until 3 February, when we started on tlie march to Kinston in a very heavy snow storm. We reached Kinston on 7 Feliruarv, and went into caiiip. A'l'TACK ox NEW BEUX. A plan for a general and concertc^l mov(Mnent along the coast region between Xorfolk and Wilmiiigtnn had l)ecn ar- ranged for tlie early spring. A part of \hv \)\i\n was to make a simultaneous and cond)ined attack t)n New Bern from three points. General Pettigrew was to open the attack from the north side of the Neuse river and General Daniel with his brigade was to follow on the south side, while General Bob- ert Bansom moved down the Trent river, these last twx:) com- mands to attack fi'om tlie land side and tlie rear of the city. The Forty-third, Forty-Hfth and Fifticlh Bogiments of Dan- iel's Brii^adc Icfl t1ic caiiip ncnr Kiiislnn dn the nioi'iiing of 12 ^larch, moving down on the south side of Xeuse river, accom- panied by General D. IF. Hill in person. Late in the after- Fiftieth Regiment. 171 noon of 13 March, we encountered the enemy in considerable force of infantry, cavalry and artillery, and strongly forti- fied at "Deep Gully," a small stream a few miles west of ]^ew Bern. General Daniel led the attack in person, and after a lively skirmish the enemy retired liastily and in much confusion. After thoroughly shelling the woods in front, we occupied their abandoned works for the night. During the night the enemy was reinforced by three regiments of Massachusetts in- fantry, together with cavalry and artillery. At daybreak on the following morning we moved to the east side of the stream and took position in the following order: Forty-fifth Regi- ment in the centre, Forty-third to the right, and Fiftieth to the left of the road. A strong skirmish line was immediately thrown forward by the Fiftietli Regiment to feel for the en- emy in the thick wood in our front. When they had ad- vanced only a few paces in front of the main line they re- ceived a volley from the enemy, to which they promtly re- plied, and then followed a lively skirmish, our line slowly, but steadily, advancing all the w^hile. The enemy resisted stubbornly, but were forced back on their main line. This our men were instructed to do, and then to slowly fall back in the hope that the enemy would follow and be drawn on our main line and thus bring on a regular engagement, but they remained behind their fortifications. While the Fiftieth Regiment was thus engaged. Colonel Kenan, with his Forty- third Regiment, gallantly drove the enemy from his front on the right of the road. We were in suspense in the meantime, waiting for the sound of Pettigrew's guns on the north side of the river, which, by arrangement, was to be the signal for our advance to the attack of the city from the rear. Owing to the soft, miry character of the soil on the flat lands on the north side of the river, he found it impossible to move his gxxns near enough to be brought into action, and without these nothing could be accomplished, and he concluded to withdraw his line and this forced us to retire from our position, which we did the following day and returned to Kinston. 172 North Carolina Tkoops, 1861 -'65. washington^ n. c. On 25 JMarcli, 1863, the Fiftieth Kegiment left Kinston for Greenville, and on the 29th, crossed the Tar river, and join- ing Garnett's Brigade moved on Washington, which we in- vested for sixteen days. The regiment first took position with Garnett's Brigade on the east side, and near the town, but was afterwards ordered to meet a strong force of the en- emy, which were reported to be advancing from Plymouth. They afterwards recrossed the Tar river and rejoined their old brigade (General Daniel's), which had been recalled from Virginia, at the Cross Roads near Washington, on the south side of the river. On 9 April the Fiftieth Regiment was sent by General Daniel, at the request of General Pet- tigrew to aid him in the affair at Blount's Mill. After this we returned to our brigade at the Cross Roads, and on the night of the 14th the Fiftieth Regiment moved down the 'Grimes Road" and took position in a small clearing to the right of the woods a few hundred yards from the bridge at the town. We were exposed to heavy fire from the Federal guns, which had perfect range of the road for more than a mile. We were located by the small clearing which we oc- cupied and were subjected to heavy fire from the combined batteries throughout the night, but having the protection of the timber in the intervening swamp, suffered very little. On the 15th the entire brigade took position near the river be- tween the town and Rodman's Point. The Fiftieth Regi- ment was sent across the low land and took position immedi- ately on the bank of the river. In a short while our batteries at Hill's and Rodman's points opened a heavy fire, which lasted only for a short while. We supposed that the enemy's boats, which were constantly attempting to "run the block- ade," had been driven back, as usual, but in a few minutes were taken completely by surprise when a small gunboat made its appearance in front of us and discovering our line drawn up on .the bank of the river, greeted us with a succes- sion of broad sides with grape and canister, until we "double- quicked" across the open ground and found cover behind a swamp. The gari'ison now being relieved by an ample sup- Fiftieth Regiment. 173 ply of rations and ammunition, as well as reinforcement of fresh troops, the siege of Washington, which had lasted for sixteen days, was raised, and on the 16th our troops retired to Greenville. The Federal commander, General Foster, in his official report, states that the ''Escort," which succeeded in running the gauntlet of our batteries, was struck forty times by the guns at Hill's and Rodman's points, and that the pilot was killed by a rifle shot. On 1 May the brigade Avas ordered to Kinston, and on the 7th moved down near Core creek, on the Atlantic & ISTorth Carolina Railroad, and tore up several miles of the railroad track. Together with Colonel Xethercutt's Battalion, we made repeated incursions into the enemy's territory around New Bern, capturing a number of their pickets and scouts. On 17 June the brigade was again ordered to Virginia, and we reached the depot about midnight; but before we were all aboard our train an order was received for the Fiftieth to return to their camp, and thus for the second time we were separated from our brigade, which we never rejoined. On 21 June we were ordered to Greenville and attached to Martin's Brigade. We were engaged in constructing forti- fications around the town and occasionally raiding the en- emy's territory around Washington until 3 July, when we returned to Kinston. pottery's raid. On 19 July, 1863, we received orders to intercept General Potter, who was raiding the eastern counties from Kew Bern to Rocky Mount. This expedition, composed chiefly of the Third ISTew York Cavalry and "J^orth Carolina Union Troops," mostly negroes, left J^ew Bern on 18 July and reached Street's Ferry on their return 22 July. They burned the bridges at Greenville, Tarboro, Rocky Mount; also the railroad bridge and trestle at this place, the Battle cotton factory, machine shops, engines and cars, store-houses, flour mills, a Confederate iron-clad gunboat, with two other steam- boats, all provisions they could find, and eight hundred bales of cotton. Some of the above might be excused as being 174 North Carolina Troops. 1S in tinio of war, but the conduct generally through the country traversed was wholly inexcusable, cowardly, and infamous in the extreme. Where they visited plantations they ordei-ed the negroes to take the horses, wagons, buggies and carriages and plunder their owner's houses, taking what- ever they wished and join the procession. General Potter, in his otHcial report, states that some three hundred of these negroes reached New Bern with him. Tliis is a very small proportion of the number we intercepted and captured at the "Burney Place," where Potter succeeded in flanking us and making his escape. Our object was to get between Potter and ISTew Bern, cut off his retreat if possible, or at least harass and delay his return until reinforcements might reach us by way of Kinston and effec^t his capture. Unfortunately we had no cavalry except a small detachment of Colonel Ken- nedy's men. Colonel Faison, with the Fifty-sixth North Car- olina Regiment, had been left to guard and hold Coward's bridge. This left only the Fiftieth Regiment and a portion of Colonel Whitford's Battalion to operate. The difficulty of conteiuling with the movements of cavalry in an open coun- try can be fully appreciated, especially as they kept con- stantly on the move all night. By destroying all the bridges and by rapid movement, without rest, sleep or anything to eat, we held them on the upper side of the creek for two days and nights. After maneuvering all night of the 21st, cross- ing plantations and traveling unused country paths, they suc- ceeded in escaping wdth the head of their column about daybreak on the morning of the 2 2d. We succeeded, how- ever, in reaching the point in time to intercept the rear of the colunm consisting mostly of negroes, traveling in every con- ceivable style. General Potter, in his haste to escape, with his troops, abandoned his "contrabands," as he calls them, to their fate. On reaching the "Buraey Place" we opened fire on the colunm with a small brass cannon mounted on a saddle strapped to the back of a mule. This utterly demoralized the "contrabands" who, in their mad rush to keep pace with their erstwhile deliverers, but who were now fleeing for their lives, failed to discover us. The shock was so sudden and unex- Fiftieth Regiment. 175 pected that the effect was indescribable. The great caval- cade, composed of men, women and children, perched on wagons, carts, buggies, carriages, and monnted on horses and mnles, whipping, slashing and yelling like wild Indians, was suddenly halted by our fire upon the bridge. This fire Avas upon some negro troops who were in the rear of Potter's column. One negro ( 'aptain, who was driving a pair of spir- ited iron-gray horses, attempted to rush past three of our men who were lying in the yard and was shot dead as he stood up in the l)uggy firing at them as he drove past. Many others were either killed or wounded in attempting to escape through the woods near by. In the excitement and confusion which ensued many of the vehicles were upset in attempting tO' turn around in the road and many others wrecked by the fright- ened horses dashing through the woods. We scoured the woods and gathered up several hundred negroes among the number several infants and a number of .small children who had been abandoned to their fate. About 8 o'clock we started in pursuit of Potter. For miles the road and woods on either side were strewn with all kinds of wearing apparel, table ware, such as fine china and silver ware, blankets, fine bed quilts and all sorts of ladies' wearing apparel which had been taken from the helpless, unprotected women at the planta- tions visited by the negroes, under General Potter's orders. The reason these things were strewn indiscriminately along the road was that the few men of Colonel Kennedy's Cavalry and such as we were able to mount from time to time with the abandoned horses, kept up a running fight with the rear of the retreating column from the ''Burney Place" to Street's Ferry, causing many of the spirited carriage horses to be- come unmanageable and take to the woods, wrecking the vehi- cles and scattering their contents. I saw a number of in- stances where the carriages had been upset and the throats of the horses cut to prevent their falling into our hands. The Fiftieth Peginient, with the exception of tlie few who had been mounted, performed the extraordinary feat of marching forty-eight miles on this, 22 day of July, 1863, reaching Street's Ferry about two hours in the night, and this after having been in line or on the march continuously for two days 176 North Carolina Troops, 1801 -'65. and nights without rest, sleep or rations. When we reached tlie ferry tliat niglit there was perhaps not more than one- foui-tli of our men in line. The writer had charge of the remnants of four companies, hut after a rest of about two hours nearly every man and officer was in his place. About midnight some citizens of that section came into our camp and reported that General Potter had communicated with ISTew Bern and that a nund)er of transports had reached the Ferry with lieavy reinforcements, and that we were in very great danger of being captured. Acting upon the supposi- tion tliat tliis report was true, we left our campfires brightly burning, aiu] retiring in midnight darkness, marched the bal- ance of the night, in the direction of Kinston, thus adding this to our previous record of forty-eight miles, all within twenty-four hours. We afterward learned that we had been deceived by "Buffaloes," and that the transports from New Bern did not reach Str(;et's Ferry until late in the afternoon of the next day. Thus ended the "Potter Raid," one of the most infamous affairs that stain the record of our Civil War, and one which, I believe, has made every true soldier, who was forced to take part in it, blush with shame. On 9 August the regiment was ordered to Wilmington, and first went into camp at Virginia Creek and afterward at vari- ous places along the sound from there to Fort Fisher. On reaching camp on Topsail Sound, commissary supplies were brought down from Wilmington late at night, and rations were issued to the entire regiment early the next morning. All cooked and ate breakfast about the same time, and the en- tire regiment, men and officers, were poisoned by eating flour which had been poisoned and sent through the blockade. JSTo deaths resulted directly, but the serious effects were felt for a long time and much sickness resulted. This was the sec- ond occurrence of the kind at Wilmington. We remained in and around Wilmington until the spring of 1864, engaged in constiiicting fortifications, doing picket duty along the coast, and provost duty in the city. ISTothing except an occasional shelling from some of the enemy's guns and watching our steamers successfully, and with a regularity almost equal to Fiftieth Regiment. 177 an up-to-date railroad schedule, run the so-called blockades, served to break the monotony of our every-day life. On 28 April, 1864, we received orders to proceed to Tar- boro. On 30 April, started on the march to Plymouth. The town had, after two days of desperate lighting by the Con- federate infantry, led l)y the gallant Hoke, assisted by Cap- tain Cooke, with the iron-clad boat "Albemarle," surrendered to the commander of the Confederate forces on 20 April. A part of the Fiftieth Regiment was stationed at Plymouth as a garrison for that place and the other part was sent to the town of Washington in charge of Lieutenant-Colonel Van Hook for similar duty. The chief occupation of the regi- ment from this time to the latter part of October following, was raiding the eastern counties lying along the coast from ISTew Bern to the Virginia line for the purpose of collecting and bringing out provisions from these productive counties for the use of our army in Virginia. This work was done by small detachments usually in charge of a Captain or a Lieutenant, but in many instances in charge only of a non- commissioned officer. The enemy being constantly on the lookout for these raiding parties, frequent encounters re- sulted. Recounting the many thrilling adventures covering this period, a whole volume might be written as a well-earned tribute to the private soldier, as many of the daring deeds were accomplished by them without the aid or direction of an officer. Many prisoners and miich valuable propeiiy were brought in by these small detachments, and a remarkable fact is that they rarely ever lost a man. On one occasion a small party were scouting in the vicinity of Coinjock, where there was a ''lock" on the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, and noticing the manner of passing boats through this "lock," concluded that it afforded a splendid opportunity to capture one. On returning to camp they reported to their officers the result of their observations and conclusions, and asked per- mission to make the attempt to carrj' them into effect. The officers seeming unwilling to assume the responsibility, they then asked for the assurance that they did not object to their assuming all the responsibility and undertaking the job. . 12 178 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. Having received this, they at once commenced to make the necessary preparation. Being their week "off duty" they at once proceeded to the place, and having detailed their plans to the "lock-keeper" and secured his co-operation, they con- cealed themselves near by and awaited the arrival of the Gov- ernment mail boat, plying betAveen Norfolk and New Bern. The machinery for operating the "lock" very opportunely refused to work and the boat was unable to move in either direction, being fast upon the bottom. The squad made a sudden dash, and after firing a few shots the Captain surren- dered his boat. They secured the United States mail pouches and such other valuables as they could carry, and then re- leased the boat with all on board except General Wessells, who had shortly before surrendered Plymouth to General Hoke, and who had been paroled and was on his way to be ex- changed. He protested against his arrest and detention, but without avail, as the boys marched him back to Plymouth, the scene of his recent misfortune and humiliation. On another occasion a small party secured a boat, and crossing the sound, readied Roanoke Island at night and proceeded to the light house, and after destroying the light, took the keeper and his wife prisoners. Hundreds of such deeds of daring and ad- venture might be recorded, but this sketch must necessarily be brief. 23 October the regiment was relieved and ordered to Tar- boro, and on the night of 27 October Lieutenant Gushing, of the United States Navy, made his way up the river in a small steam launch, passed the pickets stationed on the wreck of the "Southfield," which was sunk by the Albemarle in the en- gagement of 19 and 20 April, and making a sudden dash at the Albemarle, exploded a torpedo under her bottom, which caused her to sink at once, thus nuiking it possible for the en- emy to recapture Plymouth, which they did on 31 October. This feat of Lieutenant Cusliing was one of the most daring and desperate on record, but one which might easily have been prevented if our pickets had been as watchful as they should have been. Several attempts had been made by this same officer to pass our pickets on the river while the Fifti- eth Regiment was in charge, but always failed, and several Fiftieth Regiment. 179 of his men were killed and captured in these attempts. The Fiftieth Regiment would have remained at Plymouth but for the urgent appeal made by General Lee to Governor Vance and General Holmes to garrison Plymouth and Washington with North Carolina Reserves, and send the Fiftieth back to Virginia. But for this change it is almost certain that Ply- mouth would not have fallen into the hands of the enemy at the time and under the circumstances it did, thus cutting off the chief source of supplies for our anny in Virginia. After the baggage had been loaded, and just as the regiment was ready to go in the cars, the news of the fall of Plymouth was received, order countermanded, and the regiment was, for the third time, prevented from returning to Virginia. We remained at Tarboro and Williamston for one month. 24 jSTovember the Regiment was ordered to Augusta, Ga., reaching that place on the 27th, and on the 29th was ordered to Savannah. On reaching Charleston the next day a spe- cial train was in waiting, General Hardee having telegraphed General Beauregard from Savannah to rush the regiment with all possible haste to Grahamville to meet General Fos- ter, who was moving on the Charleston & Savannah Railroad near that point for the purpose of destroying the long trestle and thus cut off all communication with Savannah. On the night of 29 November, General G. W. Smith reached Savannah with a brigade of less than one thousand Georgia militia. At this time there were no other troops in Savannah, General Hardee had received information that General Foster was moving in force on the Charleston & Sa- vannah Railroad for the purpose of destroying the long tres- tle near Grahamville and thus cut off the only means of transporting troops and supplies to Savannah. General Smith's militia were the only troops that could possibly reach the scene in time to check this advance and save the road, and he had received positive instructions from the Governor of Georgia not to carry the militia beyond the State line. He and General Hardee hurriedly discussed the situation in all its bearings, and the conclusion was reached that the condi- dition and circumstances justified disobeying the orders of 180 North Carolina Trooi's. 18G1-'05. the Governor, and the train which contained the troops was shifted to the Charleston & Savannah road, reaching Ilardee- ville at daybreak 30 November. They at once proceeded to Honey Hill, and passing a short distance beyond, discovered that the enemy in force had already reached and occupied the position which had been chosen by the Confederat-e com- mander prior to the arrival of the troops. This forced Gen- eral Smith to fall back and occupy a less desirable position. About 8 :30 a. m. the enemy commenced his advance on this position and was greeted by a single shot from the only gun in position. Thus opened one of the most remarkable battles, in many respects, that was fought during the Civil War. The fighting was fierce and furious throughout the entire day, and ended only when the darkness of night made it possible for the enemy to retreat unobserved. Charge after charge during the first part of the day was repelled by this small band of Georgia militia, supported only by a South Carolina battery of five light field pieces. During the morning the Forty- seventh Georgia Regiment arrived, but was held in reserve until ordered into action to check a flank movement of the enemy. The Thirty-second Georgia and Fiftieth North Car- olina, sent from Charleston, reached the field too late to par- ticipate. The Confederate forces present and engaged con- sisted of the Georgia Militia (Senior and Junior Reserves), 1,000 strong, the Forty-seventh Georgia Regiment, and the South Carolina Battery, commanded by Colonel Gonzales, making a total of 1,400 in all. The Federal forces engaged consisted of the Fifty-sixth, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh, One Hundred and Forty- fourth, One Hundred and Fifty-seventh New York Regi- ments; Forty-fourth Massachusetts (colored), and Fifty-fifth Massachusetts ; Twenty-fifth Ohio ; Twenty-sixth, Thirty-sec- ond, Thirty-fifth, One Hundred and Second United States Colored Regiments ; a brigade^ of Marines, a number of field batteries and several naval guns brought up from the gun- boats in the river near by. The losses, as taken from the official reports, are as follows; Confederate: Killed, 8; \vounded, 42; total, 50. Fiftieth Regiment. 181 Federals: Killed, 88; wounded, 623; missing, 43; total, 754. The Fifty-fifth Massachusetts reports the loss of its Colonel and 100 men in five minutes, and the Fifty-fourth Massachu- setts (colored), reports carrying 150 wounded from the field. Considering all the circumstances, the character of the troops engaged, disparity in numbers, this fight perhaps has jio parallel in history. SAVANNAH. On 2 Deeember the regiment reached Savannah, and on the 3d was ordered to the Forty-five Mile Station on the Geor- gia Central Railroad. The other troops were ordered back to the entrenchment at Savannah, leaving the Fiftieth Regi- ment and a small squadron of Wheeler's Cavalry alone to meet and contend with Slierman's column which was moving down the Georgia Central Railroad. The instructions were to harrass and delay the column so as to gain time to strengthen our fortifications around the city as much as pos- sible. On the 7th we commenced to skirmish with the van- guard, and on the 9th, having fallen back some distance to a strong position, the skirmishing became general and very heavy. The main body of the regiment had fortified a natur- ally strong position on the right of the road, and Lieut. Jesse T. Ellington, of Company C, was sent with a strong skiraiish line to an open savanna on the left to protect that flank. The advance of the enemy was checked and the firing soon became extremely heavy at the point occupied by the regiment, but they stubbornly resisted the repeated attacks and held their position. After awhile there was a sudden lull in the firing on that side of the road which attracted Lieutenant Ellington's attention, and seeking a point where he could get a view of the breastworks discovered that they were occupied by the en- emy in force. They had succeeded in flanking the position on the right, and thus forcing the regiment to hastily retire across a bridge which was held by some of Wheeler's men for this purpose. Lieutenant Ellington had been instructed to hold his position until he received orders to withdraw, and now found himself entirely cut off, the enemy considerably to 182 North Carolina Troops, 18f)l-'65. the rear of his position and a strong skirmish line deployed immediately in rear of his own line. He quietly faced his men about and commenced to move forward in regular order, and passing along the line whispered instructions to each man, Noticing a dense swamp some distance in front and to the right of the line of march, he had instructed the men to watch him and as they neared the swamp, at a given signal from him, to stoop as low as possible and run for the SAvamp. They had been moving all the while between the skirmish lines, the original one which was now in their rear and the new one which was thrown out after capturing our works, which was now in front. When they reached what seemed the most favorable position, the signal was given and prompt- ly obeyed by every man. As they made the break it was dis- covered for the first time that they were Confederates, and fired upon. Three of his men were shot dead, but all of the others, though fired at repeatedly, succeeded in reaching the swamp, which was quickly surrounded, but not a single one was captured. During the night they quietly left the swamp and attempted to make their way tlirough the lines. As the night was dark they were guided in their course by the guna at Fort McAllister, but after swimming the Ogeechee river and proceeding for some distance, the firing at the fort ceased and about the same time a battery of heavy guns opened in an entirely different direction, causing them to lose their course. This brought them again to the Ogeechee river, which they recrossed and after travelling all night, found themselves at daybreak next morning on the same ground they had left the evening before, and again in the rear of the enemy. They could make but little headway during the day but, the fol- lowing night brought them near the linos of the two contend* ing armies, which were now facing each otlier around and near the city. It was now daylight and the fighting was in progress all aloug the lines which, at this point, were only a short distance apart. Discovering a short and \uioccupied space in the Federal line, they made a sudden dash, at the same time signaling to our troops not to fire. They were dis- covered aud drew the combined fire froiu the right and left of the enemy's line, but reached our line safely. Fiftieth Regiment. 183 On 10 December, Sherman commenced the investment of the citj of Savannah, and on the 13th the small garrison at Fort McAllister were forced to surrender. The enemy now controlled the river above and below, and the last means of escape for Hardee's army had been cut off. General Sher- man sent in a flag of truce and demanded an unconditional surrender of the city. The reply of General Hardee, charac- teristic of the man and soldier, was : "I have plenty of guns, and men enough to- man them, and if you ever take Savan- nah you will take it at the point of the bayonet." This was "bluff" in all of its perfection, as we then had not exceeding 5,000 regular troops all told, and were trying to gain time, hoping almost against hope, that some means of escape might be provided. The fighting continued day and night all alon^ our lines, but no general assault was ever made. The fall of Fort McAllister enabled the Federal fleet to enter the river and thus establish Sherman's communication with the outside world. While Sherman was hesitating and wasting time over at Hilton Head aiTanging with General Foster for re- inforcements of men and heavy guns with which to contend with our little army of about 5,000, while he already had more than ten to one, we were keeping up the fight all along the line and at the same time kept a detail working night and day constructing a pontoon bridge across the river. This was accomplished by collecting such small flat boats as could be found along the river and arranging them in line, using car wheels as anchors. The heavy timbers about the wharf were utilized as stringers from one boat to another, and then using planks from buildings, which were torn down for the purpose, as a flooring, by laying them across these. The boats, being of various sizes and shapes and of une- qual supporting power, made a very uneven surface, and the flooring being of a variety of lengths and thickness, still fur- ther increased a tendency to slide to the low places and other- wise get out of place, especially as it was entirely unsecured. In addition to the pontoon bridge, it was necessary to con- struct a long stretch of roadway across an impassable swamp and bog between the river and roads traversing the rice farms. This was done effectuallv bv the liberal vise of rice straw and 184 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. sheaf rice wliieh was secured in a])undance at a near by rice mill. Extract from a commimication of General Sherman to Geneneral Grant 16 December: ''I think Hardee, in Savannah, has good artillerists, some 5,000 or 6,000 infantry, and it may be a mongrel mass of 8,000 to 10,000 militia and fragments." Extract from General Hardee's reply to General Sherman's demand for the "unconditional surrender of the city" on 17 December : "Your demand for tlie surrender of Savannah and its der pendent forts is refused. With respect to the threats con- veyed in the closing paragraph of your letter, of what may be expected in case your demand is not complied with, I have to say that T have hitherto conducted the military operation intrusted to my direction in strict accordance with the rules of civilized warfare, and I should deeply regret the adoption of any course by you that may force me to deviate from them in future." Extract from connnunication of General Sherman to Gen- eral Grant 18 December: "'I ^^■rote yo\i at length by Colonel Babcock on the 16th in- stant. As I therein explained my purpose, yesterday I made demand on General Hardee for the surrender of the city of Savannali, and to-day received his answer refusing. * * * I should like very much indeed to take Savannah before coming to you; but, as T wrote you before, T will do nothing rash or hasty, and will embark for the James river as soon as General Easton, wlio has gone to Port Royal for that purpose, reports to me that ho lias an a])propriate number of vessels for the transportation of the contemplated force. * * * I do sincerely believe tliat the whole United States, North and South, Wdiild rejoice to have this army turned loose on Soutli Carolina to devastate tliat State, in the manner we have done Georgia." On lU l)ecemi)er. General McLaws, in whose division the Fiftieth Regiment. 185 Piftieth North Carolina Regiment belonged, received the fol- loAving coinniunication from General Hardee : ^'General : — Lieutenant-General Hardee directs me to sav that the pontoon is completed, and he desires that you will see that your wagons containing cooking utensils and baggage are sent over and on to Hardeeville at daylight in the morning. Respectfully, General, "Your obedient servant, ''D. H. Pool, "Assistant Adjutant General." About 10 o'clock on the night of 19 December, the writer received instruction to report at once to General McLaws at his headquarters at the Telfair House. On reaching there I was informed that all arrangements had been made for the "withdraAval of our troops from the lines during the night, and received instructions to report promptly at 12 o'clock to take charge of the wagon train of our command, proceed at once to the city, break open the cars in which our baggage was stored and secure all important papers, etc., but not at- tempt to carry out any private baggage. Shortly after day of the 30th, this work had been accomplished and we com- menced to cross the bridge. As we were the first to cross we succeeded without accident or the loss of a single team, but the other commands did not fare so well. The loose planks forming the floor were constantly slipping down to the low places, causing great gaps in the floor, at which the mules would take fright and shying to either side, would get on to the projecting planks and topple over into the river. Sev- eral teams were lost in this way. xVfter we crossed the swamp and struck the I'oad across the rice field we were in full view of the enemy, who had occupied the South Carolina side of the river for the pui^Dose of cutting off our only line of retreat. General Wheeler had been instructed by General Hardee to keep this line open at any cost, and on the day be- fore had been reinforced with troops and artillery for this purpose. A fierce fight was raging at the time between the two contending forces, each bent on the possession of the road, which was of vital importance to us. We had a splendid 186 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. view of the fight as we were passing over the long stretch of level and perfectly open rice field. We reached Tlardeeville safely that evening, but spent a restless and anxious night. Orders had been issued and ar- rangements made for the army to cross the pontoon bridge early on the morning of the 20th, but in fact it did not cross until twenty-four hours later. After the wagon trains had crossed over and the troops were ready to commence crossing, the bridge broke loose and swung down the river, necessitating a delay of a day and night before it could be replaced. The army crossed over safely on the morning of 21 December, and reached Hardeeville that day, where we had been for twenty- four hours without hearing a word in explanation of the cause of the delay. The official reports of 20 December showed "the effective strength of Sherman's army" to be 60,598, not including the strong forces of General Foster at Port Royal, Hilton Head, and Coosa whatchie and a large fleet co-operating. And yet General Hardee, with his ''8,000 or 10,000 militia and frag- ments," as General Sherman puts it, held this large and splen- didly equipped army and fleet at bay for nearly two weeks and withdrew unmolested and was well into South Carolina before it was even discovered that he had abandoned his line several miles beyond Savannah. General Sherman, who was still at Port Poyal arranging with General Foster for more troops and guns, did not reach the city until the 2 2d, more than twenty-four hours after General Hardee had safely withdrawn his entire forces. On 26 December, McLaw^s' Division left Hardeeville for Pocataligo, and on the march was compelled to diverge from the main road in order to avoid the fire from the batteries and gunboats near Coosawhatehie, as they had complete range of the road at this point. On reaching Pocataligo the Fif- tieth Regiment occupied the extreme advance position at a small stream beyond "Old Pocataligo." General L. S. Baker, who up to this time had commanded our brigade, was relieved from active duty on account of intense suffering caused by his wounded arm. He had the confidence, love, and esteem of e\'ery officer and man in the brigade, as did Fiftieth Regiment. 187 also the young men of his staff. The leave-taking was sad and affecting as they bid a final adieu to officers and privates alike. From this time the brigade was commanded by Col- onel Washington M. Hardy. On the second day after reaching Pocataligo the writer, who was on duty on the advanced picket line, received a re- quest from Colonel Hardy to report at once to his headquar- ters. On arrival he was informed that General McLaws had requested that he select and send to him for instructions, an officer who would undertake to enter General Foster's lines that night for the pui-pose of ascertaining the exact location and approximate strength of his forces. After explaining his purposes and indicating just what information he desired, his final instructions were: "Go and never return until you can make this report." 1 selected ten men from my own company, and by night had completed all necessary arrangements. An old negro, who had spent his past life on the island below and was thor- oughly acquainted with the country, and who had ''run away from the Yankees," and was now living near our camp, gave me a full description of the country and cheerfully consented to pilot me l^y a private foot path leading through a swamp to the peninsula fonned by Tullifuiny creek and Coosawhatchie river upon which Gen. Foster's main forces were camped. The main road was strongly picketed right up to our lines, but by taking this by-way through the swamps when we reached the open countiy we were well to the rear of the pickets. The old negro now pleaded piteously to be allowed to return to his home and his wife. He gave me an honest and truthful de- scription of all the surroundings, after which I sent a man back with him to pass him througli our line. The streams were full of gunboats and transports. In making a circuit of the camps we kept close to the water so as to avoid the pickets. We spent the entire night in making the circuit, counting camp fires, locating the troops and vessels, and returned safely, reaching our lines at daybreak next morning. I made a full report to the commanding officer, for whicli T and the men with me received his thanks. On 14 January, 1865, a sudden and undiscovered move- 188 North Carolina Troops, 1801 -'65. ment of the enemy from the island below, around our left flank, came very near cutting off the only line of retreat of the Fiftieth Uegiment and Tenth Battalion at "Old Pocatal- igo." There was considerable confusion and excitement for some time, as the enemy seemed to confront us in whatever direction we turned. We tinally succeeded in finding a way out and by keeping up a running fight safely crossed the Salkehatchie river at River's Bridge. During the next few days the enemy concentrated a heavy force along the opposite side of the river between Biver's and Bnford's bridges, and made repeated attempts to tlirow their pontoon bridge across the river and break tlirough McLaAvs' line. The heavy rains had caused the river to overflow and the low-lands were flooded for miles in some places. This made it very difficult to reach a point from which the movements of the enemy on the opposite side could be observed. Between the 16th and 20th we had been forced to move back three times to escape the flood. SALKEHATCHIE. On 20 January, 1865, Company I, of the Fiftieth Regi- ment, commanded by Captain John B. Eaves, was ordered to move down to a high point of the river bank, which was ascer- tained to Ix^ not under water, for the pui*pose of watching and reporting movements of the enemy. Captain Eaves re- ceived his orders from Colonel Hardy, commanding the North Carolina Brigade, and at the same time General Mc- Laws had ordered Colonel Ficer, Avitli his Georgia Brigade, to another point on the river for a like pui-pose. The river flats were heavily timbered and all under water, at tlie same time a dense fog prevailed. As a consequence of these con- ditions the troops lost their bearings and the two commands met while wading in water waist deep, and each supposing the other to be the enemy who had succeeded in crossing the river, opened fire. The fight was kept up for about two hours, (^aptain Eaves reported to Colonel Hardy, asking for reinforcements and a fresh supply of ammunition, as his was nearly exhausted. Colonel Ficer was reporting to Gen- eral ^fcLaws and asking for help ; each side was being rein- Fiftieth Regiment. 189 forced as rapidly as possible. Captain Eaves had lost sev- eral of his men, and Lient. W. M. Corbitt had taken one of their guns and was leading the men forward, firing from be- hind trees as they advanced. With his gun raised in the act of shooting he was himself shot dead by one of Wheeler's men who happened to be with Colonel Ficer at the time. About this time K. J. Carpenter and Gaither Trout, of Cap- tain Eaves' company, had approached near enough to dis- cover that Colonel Ficer's men were Confederates, and be- fore the reinforcements called for had reached either side, this sad and distressing affair had ended. The loss in Col- onel Ficer's command was considerable. When our dead and wounded were brought in and we learned the facts about this terrible mistake, there was sadness and weeping. The gallant young Corbitt was a general favorite in the regiment, the men always delighting tO' serve under him. While he was quiet, kind and tender as a woman, he did not know the meaning of the word fear when duty called him. He was brave, perhaps, it may be too- brave. His remains were sent to his heart-broken, vridowed mother in Rutherford county. On 30 January there was a general movement up the river, and on the night of 1 February, after marching until mid- night, and just after halting and building campfires, the Fif- tieth Regiment was ordered to resume the march and proceed twelve miles further up the river tO' Buford's Bridge. We reached the point at daybreak of the 2d and proceeded at once to make all necessary preparation for the rapid burning of the bridge upon the first approach of the enemy, having been in- structed to guard and keep it open as long as possible for the benefit of refugees from the opposite side of the river. Early on the morning of the 3d heavy firing was heard from down the river, lasting for about two hours, when it suddenly and entirely ceased. We concluded that the enemy, in attempt- ing to effect the crossing on their pontoons, had been driven back and that they would now attempt to cross at Buford's Bridge. We advanced our picket lines beyond the river and anxiously awaited the approach of the enemy, as well as news from our troops below. The entire day passed and we neither saw nor heard from either. Between sunset and dark a 190 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. young lad came riding into our camp with tJie news that General McLaws' lines had been broken and our entire forces driven back that morning. lie stated that General McLaws started a courier with the information that we were entirely cut off from tlie command and to take care of ourselves the best we could, but that he was captured. This boy made his way through the lines and found us at this late hour. He was not a moment too soon, for as we hurriedly marched out on one side of the little village, the enemy's cavalry was .enter- ing the other side. We were favored by the dark night and a succession of ijnpassable swamps through which the single road had been constructed which made it possible, with a small force to guard the passes against cavalry. A Lieutenant and about ten men belonging to General Wheeler's command were with us doing courier and picket duty. When we com- menced the retreat this officer told us to keep moving and he would guarantee to hold them in check and allow us to escape during the night. He was able to do this by taking advantage of the narrow ridges between the succession of swamps. On. reaching one of these he would dismount his men, and when the head of the column approached in the road, open fire. This would check their movement, as the character of the country was such that they could not leave the road. After remain- ing as long as he deemed it safe and expedient, he would mount his men and select another stand. The gallant young Tennesseean faithfully carried out his pledge to us, but at the cost of his own life, for at a late hour during the night, he was shot dead in the saddle and his horse overtook us on the road with rider lying upon his neck dead. He was taken off and buried beside the road some distance from where he received the fatal shot. After marching all night and the next day, we struck the railroad at Bamburg. We found the station deserted, but the telegraph office was open and the instru- ments in place. We tried the wires to Charleston and found that the line had not yet been cut. General Hardee informed us that the last train was expected over the road that night with the remnant of Hood's army, and if it succeeded in reaching our station, to take possession of the train and run through to Charleston if possible. We had only a short while Fiftieth Regiment. 191 to wait, but instead of going tlirough to Charleston, on reach- ing Branchville, we found our command, McLaws' division, camped beside the railroad, and we dismounted and were once more at home, much to their surprise, as we had been reported and giv^en up as lost. We now made a stand and fortified our position on the Edisto river, bat as usual the enemy, with his overwhelming force of both infantry and cavalry, flanked our position, forc- ing us to retire. We moved by way of Ridgeville, and on the 25th the Fiftieth North Carolina Regiment and Tenth North Carolina Battalion, under Colonel Hardy, occupied Florence, where all the rolling stock of the railroad south had been collected, and also a large quantity of cotton stored. The other portion of Hardee's army was now concentrated at Cheraw. Our brigade reached this place on 3 March as it was being evacuated by General Hardee, and just in time to cross the river. General Sherman writing to General Gil- more in reference to the destruction of the vast amount of rolling stock between Sumterville and Florence, uses the fol- lowing language : "I don't feel disposed to be over-generous, and should not hesitate to burn Charleston, Savannah and Wilmington, or either of them, if the garrison were needed. Those cars and locomotives should be destroyed, if to do it costs you 500 men." This language, coupled with that used in his letter to Gen- eral Grant, written from Savannah 28 December, 1864, in which he expresses the desire "to have this army turned loose on the State of South Carolina to devastate that State as it has the State of Georgia," reveals the character of the man, and sufficiently accounts for the wanton destruction of prop- erty, devastation and ruin w^hich followed in the wake of his army. The history of this campaign, which ought to go down in history as a disgrace to the civilization of the American Na- tion, can be written in few words. The record of each day from first to^ last was but the repetition of the day before, when we could look back and see the homes of helpless women and children ascending in smoke, while they were turned out in the cold of mid-winter to starve and freeze. Since time 192 North Carolina Troops, 18()1-'05. has removed iinich of the bitterness which then existed be- tween tlie two sections, General Sherman's friends have en- deavored to defend his conduct and refute the charges made at the time, l)nt the fact that the "record" is against him still remains. On the part of the troops of General Hardee's little army, the campaign tlirough Georgia and South Carolina, embrac- ing the entire winter of 18G4-'65 was a severe and trying one, but there was no co-mplaint or murmuring, and all seemed in the best of spirits. We were poorly clothed, and lightly fed, as we were compelled to subsist on the country through which we passed, and this was poorly supplied except with rice, until we reached the high-lands. Here the people were dis- posed to share the last mite with our soldiers. Whenever they were advised of our coming in time, the good women would have food in abundance prepared, and they would bring out large trap's as we were passing, speaking words of comfort and cheer to us at the same time. Many of the men were entirely without shoes during January and Feb- ruary. This was owing to the fact that we were com- pelled to leave our baggage and supplies at Savannah for the lack of transportation, and we had been so situated since that none could reach us. On 3 March, 1865, we crossed the State line at.Cheraw and were once more on the soil of our native State. We looked back in sadness at the desolation wrought in our sister State, and our hearts were ovei'flowing with sympathy for the thousands of now homeless ones who had l)een so kind and generous to us. Now we must look forward to a like condi- tion which was in store for our own people. General Joseph E. Johnston, on 6 March, assumed com- mand of all the forces in North Carolina. It was thought that General Sherman was heading for Charlotte, N. C, and General Hardee had instructions to watch his movements and keep in his front, while Wheeler, Hampton and Butler with the cavalry, harrassed his flanks and rear to prevent "burn- ing" and to be in position to promptly report any change of movement. Wliile General Hardee was on tlie march from Cheraw to Rockingham, N. C, General Sherman suddenlv Fiftieth Regiment. 193 changed his course in the direction of Fayettcville, IT. C. Gen- eral Johnston promptly informed General Hardee, but th»? courier failed to deliver the message and in consequence we continued the march for a whole day in the opposite direction, reaching Rockingham, where we camped for the night. At this point the second dispatch was received from General Johnston and we immediately turned in the direction of Fay- etteville and attempted, by forced march by day and by night, to regain the time lost. We reached Fayetteville and crossed the river before making a stand. The enemy occupied tlie town on 11 March and destroyed the old United States arse- nal and burned the business portion of the towm, AVEKASBOKO. On 15 March we occupied a position on the Averasboro road, leading from Fayetteville to Smithiield and Raleigh, near AverashorO'. As the enemy had retired from our front the day before, we were ordered to make ourselves com- fortable and enjoy a day of rest. During the day we learned that the enemy were advancing in large force and driving our cavalry before them. A hurried disposition of the troops was made. Colonel Rhett with his South Carolina Brigade, occupied tlie advance position where the Smith's Ferry road intersects the Averasboro road near Smith's house. Elli- ott's Brigade occupied a fortified position behind a swamp 200 yards to the rear and General McLaws' the main line of defence about 600 yards to the rear of the first line. As soon as proper disposition of the troops was completed, Colonel Rliett was directed by General Hardee in person to advance his skirmishers. They were soon heavily engaged by the en- emy, and Colonel Rhett venturing too far to the front, and mistaking a small party of the enemy for his own men, was taken prisoner. The command of this brigade now devolved upon Colonel Butler, of the First Soutli Carolina Infantry. JSTothing more tlian a lively and prolonged skirmish developed during the 15th. At 7 o'clock on the morning of the 16th the enemy made a vigorous attack on our position with in- fantry and artillery. Their infantry made repeated attempts to carry our position, but were always repulsed with heavy 13 194 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'e>5. Joss. After about four hours' fighting, at 11 o'clock, thej made a vigorous attack upon the left of the line, at the same ■time massing on and overlapping the right, forcing retire- ment on the second line occupied by Colonel Elliott. Re- peated attacks were made on this line, but in each case they "w^ere gallantly repulsed. About 1 o'clock they moved a lieavy force in the direc- tion of the Black river, completely flanking and exposing to a severe cross-fire the left wing. This necessitated retirement on the main line held by General McLaws. General Talia- ferro, with his force, which had been engaged up to this time, occupied position on both sides of the main road. General Mc- Laws the left, and General Wheeler with his dismounted cav- alry, the right of the main line, Rhett's Brigade, which had suffered so severely, was sent to the rear and held in reserve. Every attempt to carry this line was a complete failure and after night the enemy withdrew and commenced to fortify his position. We left our lines in possession of a picket of Wheeler's men and moved in direction of Smithfield. The Eederal loss, as officially reported in this fight, was 682. The Confederate loss is not stated, but it was very heavy in Rhett's Brigade. It was now learned that Sherman's anny was crossing the Black river at several points. His persistent attempt to open the Averasboro road seemed to indicate that his ob- jective point was Raleigh, but this movement across the Black river made it uncertain as to whether he would move on Raleigh or Goldsboro, and General Hardee, in order to be in position to turn in either direction, moved to the inter- section of the roads near Elevation Church, in Johnston county, reaching that point on the night of the 17th. At 12 o'clock on the night of the iTtli General Hampton, who was at the front near Bentonville, received a request from Gen- eral Johnston, who was then at Smithfield, about sixteen miles away, for full information as to the location of the vari- ous commands of Shcnnan's anny, and his views as to the ad- visability of attacking the enemy. General Hampton re- ported at once that the Fourteenth Corps was in his immedi- ate front; the Twentieth Corps was on the same road, five or Fiftieth Regiment, 195 six miles in the rear ; while the two other Corps, Logan's and Blair's, were on a parallel road some miles to the south, and &t the place where he was camped was an admirable one for the contemplated attack. He also reported that he would delay the enemy as much as possible to gain time for tlie con- centration of his forces at this point. In a few hours he re- ceived a reply from General Johnston stating that he would move at once, and directing him to hold the position if possi- ble. Early on the morning of the 18th General Hampton moved his cavalry forward until he met the enemy, and kept up a lively skinnish, slowly falling back, until in the after- noon he had reached the position previously selected for the battle. As it was of vital importance that this position should be held until the infantry could reach them, he dismounted his men and took the risk of sending his batteries to a com- manding position far to the right of his line, and entirely un- supported, and made a lx)ld and successful stand. BENTONVILLE. After personally superintending the placing of the guns and as he was mounting his horse to ride back to his line on the road, he overheard the following remark from one of the men at the guns, as he laughingly addressed his companions: ''Old Hampton is playing a game of bluff, and if he don't mind Sherman will call him." General Johnston reached Bentonville during the night of the 18th with a portion of the troops from Smithfield. General Hardee, who had been in- formed of the plan of attack, left the camp at Elevation early in the morning of the 18th, but after a hard day's march we camped that night at Snead's house, five miles from Benton- ville, and about eight miles from the extreme part of the line of battle. We made an early start on the morning of the 19th, but had not reached the position assigned us before the enemy had made a bold assault on General Hoke's position on the road. After a desperate struggle they were repulsed and driven from the field in confusion. At this critical moment a mistake occurred which perhaps entirely changed the results of the battle. General Hampton refers to it in his report of the battle, and General Johnston confirms his statements of 196 North Carolina Troops, 1 801 -'(55. facts and coiichisi(jii. I quote from 'Molmston's narrative"; "The enemy attacked Hoke's Division vigorously, especially it's left, so vigorously that General Bragg apprehended that Hoke, although slightly entrenclied, would be driven from his position. He tiierefore applied urgently for strong rein- forcements. General Hardee, the head of whose column was then near, was directed, most injudiciously, to send his lead- ing division, Mcl^aws', to the assistance of the troops as- sailed." General Hampton in his account of the battle, says: "Tloke x-epulsed the attack made on him fully and handsomely. Had Hardee been in the position originally assigned him at the cime Hoke struck the enemy, and could his conunand and Stuart's have been thrown on the flanks of the Federal forces, I think that the Fourteenth Corps would have been driven back in disorder on the Twentieth, which was moving up to it's support." General Hampton, in his account of the part taken by General Hardee's command, quotes from General Johnston as follows: *'The Confederates passed over the hundred yards of space between the two lines in quick time and in excellent order, and the remaining distance in double-quick, without pausing to lire until their near approach had driven the enemy from che shelter of their entrenchments, in full retreat, to their second line. After firing a few rounds the Confederates igain pressed forward, and when they were near the second intrenchment, how manned by Ixvth lines of Federal troops, Lieutenant-General Hardee, after commanding the double- quick, led the charge, and with knightly gallantry, dashed )ver the enemy's breastworks on horsel)ack in front of his aien. Some distance in the rear there was a very thick wood of young pines, into which the Federal troops were pursued,- ind in which they rallied and renewed the fight. But the Confederates continued to advance, driving the enemy l^ack slowl}'. ISTight coming on prevented the further advance of rhe Confederates who, elated with victory, were now anxious to continue the pursuit of the fleeing enemy." The close of tlio first day of this hotly contested battle found the Confederates victorious at every point, not only Fiftieth Regiment. 197 holding- their o-wti lines, but at many points they rested for the flight in full possession of the fortified position of the enemy. About midday of the 20th the other two corps of the enemy v\diich had been moving on the Fayetteville and Goldsboro i'oad, crossed to the Averasboro road and appeared in fvdl force on our left, which was entirely unprotected from Hoke's position on the road tO' Mill creek below. This necessitated changing Hoke's front to left and parallel to the road. Mc- Laws' Division was now shifted to Hoke's left, with the Fiftieth jSTorth Carolina Regiment and Tenth I^orth Caro- lina Battalion fonning the extreme left of our line. This left considerable space between our left and Mill creek, thus exposing the left wing, which was overlapped. This was oc- cupied only by a very thin skirmish line of our cavalry. These newlj^ arrived forces assaulted our line from Hoke's right to Mc Laws' left repeatedly during the afternoon of the 20th, but were handsomely repulsed in every instance. On the morning of the 21st the fighting was resumed along Hoke's and McLaws' front. As there was no demonstration on our right, General Taliaferro threw forward a skirmish line in his front and ascertained that the Federal left had been withdrawn, and the combined attacks were directed against the center occupied by Hoke and the left by McLaws and our cavalry. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon our left being hard pressed and overlapped, General TaliafeiTo was ordered from the extreme right to our support. About the same time it was learned that the Federal Seventeenth Corps had succeeded in breaking through the thin skirmish line on our left and was in rear of our line and near the only bridge which spanned Mill creek at Bentonville. General Hardee was moving (^umming's Georgia Brigade to the left to pro- tect this gap at the time, and discovering the enemy, ordered Colonel Henderson, commanding the brigade, to attack the head of the column, at the same time discovering the Eighth Texas Cavalry approaching, he ordered them to charge the left flank, he leading the charge in person. General Hampton at the same time struck the right flank with Young's Brigade, commanded by Colonel Wright, while General Wheeler attacked the rear of the Federal column 198 North Carolina Troops, 1861-05. some distance away. The rout of the enemy was complete and they were soon driven back beyond our lines. As they retreated in confusion the slaughter was terrible. Our losses in the affair were insignificant as to number. A son of Gen* eral Hardee, a youth of only 16 years, who had arrived only two hours before, was killed while riding in the charge of the Eighth Texas Cavalry, led by his father. The firing, which had been extremely heavy up to this time, ceased upon the re- turn of the Seventeenth (Jorps to its position in line, and there was no other attempt made to carry any part of our line. Gen- eral Hampton states that the Confederate forces engaged in this affair did not exceed three hundred. While General Mc- Laws held the extreme left of our lines and the enemy were endeavoring to turn our Hank the Fiftieth Xorth Carolina Regiment and Tenth ISTorth Carolina Battalion of Colonel Hardy's Brigade, in a single charge and in about five minutes time sustained a loss of about one-third of their number. In this case the enemy were lying in line three columns deep and reserved their fire until our troops were near them struggling through a dense swamp. At the first volley every man fell to the ground and Colonel Wortham and Lieutenant Lane, of the Fiftieth, and Lieutenant Powell, of the Tenth Battalion, crawled out of the thicket and reported to General McLavvs for duty, stating that the entire brigade was killed or wounded. Colonel Hardy, by his boldness and daring, saved the command from utter destruction. Dressed in a suit of sky blue broadcloth and broad-brimmed slouch hat, he might easily be taken for a Federal ofticer. He was in front of his men leading the charge, and at the first volley he rushed for- ward with his hat in one hand and his sword in tbe other, and pacing up ;iud down in front of and Avithin a few feet of the Federal lines, ordered them to cease firing, as they were firing on their own men. He continued this for some time, although their own officers were ordering them to fire. They were ut- terly confused and before the firing was resumed all of our men who were able had crawled out of the swamp and made their escape, and Colonel Hardy deliberately walked off with- out a scratch. On the night of the 21st the oncMuy kept up a heavy picket Fiftieth Regiment. 199 fire along our front while withdrawing their troops in the direction of Goldsboro. At midnight our troops were withdrawn and crossing the creek at Bentonville, moved on the 2 2d toward Smithfield. In the battle four companies of the Fiftieth Regiment, C and D of Johnston, E of Wayne and H of Harnett, were near their homes and many of the men, who had not seen their homes afid families for many months, marched by them and tarried for only a few minutes, went into the fight, the guns of which could be distinctly heard by their loved ones, and again without stopping, marched by these same homes with Johnston's army on its final retreat, proving their faith and loyalty to the "Lost Cause'" to the last. The Fiftieth Regiment before leaving this State for Georgia in ISTovember, 1864, was recruited from the camp of instruction at Raleigh to something over 900, and now mus- tered less than half that number, the others being lost from various causes during the severe and trying campaign through M'hich they had passed. The Confederate forces in this battle were about 17,000 in- fantry, the Wheeler and Hampton Cavalry and a few light field batteries, while Sherman's army, as officially reported a few days after the battle, numbered more than 81,000. The Federal reports place their losses at 1,646 and that of the Confederates at 2,606, but General Johnston in his ac- count of this battle, places the Federal loss at more than 4,000. Our army moved to Smithfield and thence to a point a few miles north of the present town of Selma and went into camp to await Sherman's next move, whether by way of Raleigh or the more direct route by Weldon. The men of our command were supplied with clothing, not having had a change since leaving their baggage in Savannah on 20 De- cember, 1864, nor had they slept under shelter since leaving Tarboro in l^ovember preceding. At the reorganization of Johnston's army the Fiftieth Regiment and Tenth Battalion were assigned to Kirkland's Brigade, Hoke's Division, and what had constituted Baker's and Hardy's Brigade was dis- banded. 200 North Carolina Troops, 1801-'G5. retreat and surrender. On 10 April we received information that General Sher- man had commenced to move his troops from Goldshoro in the direction of lialeigh. Our army commenced to fall hack and on the 11th we camped a few miles cast of the city of Raleigh on the present site of the town of Garner, entering the city early on the morning' of the li^th. Our rear guard left lialeigh that night and a day or two later we heard the news of General Lee's surrender. On 18 April, 1865, at the Bennett house, four miles west of Durham, a conference was held between Generals Johnston and Sherman, and terms of capitulation agreed on and signed. These terms were more favorable to us, even, than were accorded to General Lee by General Grant. Upon reaching Washington, President Lincoln having been assassinated in the meantime, they w^ere rejected and General Johnston being so informed, was again on the de- fensive. We resumed the march, passing through Chapel Hill and halting at a point near Greensboro where the final terms were agreed upon 2(j April. The army was paroled 2 and 8 IMay. In crossing the Tlaw river several of our men were drowned by leaving the ford to reach some fish traps a short distance below and being caught by the swift current and swept down into the deep water below. On reaching Alamance Creek, we had a novel, and in some respects, amusing experience. On account of heavy rains the stream was much sw^ollen and the current ^'ery strong. General Cheatham's command was moving in fi-out of General Hoke's Division and on attempt- ing to foi'd the stream several men were swept down by the current, whereupon the others absolutely refused to move. This halted the entire coluniii, and as the enemy's cavalry was closely pressing our roar, the situation was becoming critical. General Cheathaiu rode to tlic front and learning llie cause of the lialt, ordered [lie lucu to go forward, but, enipliasizing their deteruiiuation \vith some pretty lively swearing, they doggedly refused to move, whereupon General Cheatham seized tbe nearest man and into tlic stream thev went. After Fiftieth Regiment. 201 floundering in the water awhile he came out and, after re- peating the process for a few times, the men raised a shout and proceeded tO' cross. Three wagons, one loaded with "hardtack," one with guns, and one with bacon, capsized and were swept down the river. Some lively diving for the bacon followed, but I guess the guns are still rusting in the bottom of the creek. I am sure none of them were disturbed on that occasion. General Hoke, becoming restless and impa- tient at the delay, adopted a means of transportation which proved at least the resources of a fertile brain. The water was just running over the sandy banks of the stream and selecting a suitable place a short distance above the ford, he moved the head of his column to this point, directed one man to seize his horse's tail, and another to grasp this man's shoul- der, and another and another until he had a long line, swam his horse across the narrow stream and discharging his cargo safelj^ on the opposite bank, would quickly return for an- other. The rapidity with which the men were carried over was astonishing. I don't know what the final result might have been had we not received information that a short dis- tance up the stream at Kuffin's Mill was a broad and shallow ford below the mill, at which we could easily and safely cross. Following the announcement of the second "armistice" were several days of anxious waiting. There was a very- large element of both officers and men who were opposed to a surrender and many were leaving in small bands with the understanding that they would afterwards meet at some ral- lying point to be agreed upon. When the final announcement was made that the army was to be surrendered, the scenes were pathetic ; strong, brave men were seen to weep like children. Officers everywhere were delivering farewell addresses to the brave men who had so faithfully and loyally followed their leaders and endured hardships and privations without a murmur. If General Lee had been able to hold out until his army and General Johnston's could have been united as had been agreed upon, and both hurled against Sherman and then against Grant, the result might have been quite different. Would it have been for the best interest of our country and 202 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. our race ? While no true Confederate soldier has any apology to offer for his course, there is a wide diversity of opinion as to the correct answer tx) the above question. THE ROSTER. Roster of officers of the Fiftieth Regiment North Carolina Troops given in the order of succession as shown by dates of commission : Colonels: M. D. Craton, J. A. Washington, George Worth am. Lieutenant-Colonels : J. A. Washington, George Wortham, John C. Van Hook. Majors: George Wortham, John C. Van Hook, H. J, Ryals. Adjutants : W. H. Borden, Jesse W. Edmondson. Surgeons : Walter Duify, Francis W. Potter, John D. Patton. Quartermasters : E. B. Borden, E. W. Adams. Commissary: E. S. Parker. Chaplains : Dr. R. S. Moran, Thomas B. Haughton. Sergeant-Majors: Jesse W. Edmondson, John H, Green. captains. Company A — Person County- — Jolm C. Van Hook, James A. Burch. Company B — Roheson County — E. C. Atkinson. Company C — Johnston County — R. D. Lunsford, Thos. R. Young-blood. Company D — Johnston County — H. J. Ryals, W. B. Best. Company E — Wayne County — J. B. Griswold, P. L. Bur- well, W. T. Gardner. Company F^ — Moore County— J. A. O. Kelley. Company G — Bntherford County — G. W. Andrews. Company H — Harnett County — Joseph H. Atkinson. Company I — Bntherford County — John B. Evans. Fiftieth Regiment. 203 Company K — Rutherford County — Samuel Wilkins, G. B. Ford. FIRST lieutenants. CoMrANY A — James A. Burch, W. T. Blalock. Company B — Atlas Atkinson. Company C — Thomas R. Youngblood, Jesse T. Elling- ton. Company T) — W. B. Best, J. J. Penny. Company E — W. T. Gardener, W. H. Borden. Company F — Alexander Bolin. Company G — John A. Morrison. Company H — John P. McLean. Company I — W. M. Corbitt. Company K — J. B. Ford, James A. Miller. SECOND lieutenants. Company A — W. T. Blalock, R. D. Ramsey, Albert O'Bryant. Company B— R. P. Collins, W. B. Walters, W. B. Jen- kins. Company C — G. W. Watson, William Lane, J. C. Elling- ton, R, H. Yelvington (Ensign). Company D — William M. Adams, Young J. Lee, J. J. Penny. Company E — W. H. Borden, George Griswold, W. L. Edwards, George T. Jones. Company F — Malcom McWatson, James Dalrymple. Company G — R. F, Logan, S. D. Hampton. Company H — John Brantly, David S. Byrd, B. F. Brant- ly, A. L. Parker. Company I — S. E. Bostick, Jesse Hellard. Company K— P. B. Ford, L. P. Wilkins. The writer acknowledges his indebtedness to Sergeant K. J. Carpenter, of Company I, for the use of a diary kept by him and still preserved. This was found to be exceedingly valuable in fixing dates not otherwise obtainable. All "historical events" treated in the foregoing sketch 204 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. were verified bj a careful search of "The Official Records of United States and Confederate Armies/' and may be relied on as strictly autlientic. J. C. Ellington. Raleigh, N. C, 26 April, 1901. ^""UBLIC LIBRARY. AarOfi, UEN0;( AND FIFTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 1. Jno. L. Cantwell, Colonel. 4. George Sloan, Captain, Co. I. 2. Hector McKethan, Colonel. 5. W. F. Murphy. Captain, C<>. K. 3. Robert J. McEuc-hern, Captain, Co.D. 6. U. C. Rockwell, Captain, A. Q. M. FIFTY-FIRST REQinE/^T. By a. a. McKETHAN, Second Lieutenant Company B. I'he Fifty-first North Carolina Regiment could well be called a Cape Fear Regiment, as the ten companies compos- ing the command came from the counties of Cumberland, Sampson, Duplin, Columbus, Robeson and New Hanover. The regiment was organized at Wilmington, N. C, 13 April, 1862, with the following officers, viz. : John L. Cantwell^ Colonel. William A. Allen^ Lieutenant-Colonel. Hectok McKethan, Major. J. R. Latta^ Adjutant. Alexander Elliott^ Sergeant-Major. H. C. Rockwell^ Captain and Quartermaster. William McKenzie^ Quartermaster Sergeant. Dr. S. B. Morrisey^ -Surgeon. Dr. James McGee, Assistant Surgeon. A. T. Robinson^ Hospital Steward. Rev. J. B. Aleord, Chaplain. The regiment went into camp near Wilmington, spending the Slimmer at various camps near that city and at Smith- ville (now Southport), excepting companies D and K, which were detached and employed in building the iron-clad fort on the river a few miles below Wilmington. From Wil- mington we were ordered in August to Kinston, IST. C, part of the command being employed on picket duty at Core Creek, about eighteen miles distant. On 1 October, the Eighth, Thirty-first, Fifty-first and Sixty-first North Carolina Regiments were organized into a brigade with Thomas L. Clingman as Brigadier-General. About this time Colonel Cantwell resigned, and Lieutenant- Colonel Allen assumed command, and we were employed 20G North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'65. doing picket duty, and on various scouting expeditions to points near New Bern. About 1 December we returned to Wilmington, but soon afterwards were ordered to Goldsboro, and were under fire for the first time near that place (Neuse River Bridge), as we engaged the enemy on 17 December, the regiment taking an active part. Our men behaved with conspicuous gal- lantry and forced the enemy to retire before them. The regi- ment suffered a loss of about fifty in killed and wounded in this engagement, Lieutenant Solomon Boykin, of Company K, being among the killed. After this engagement we re- turned to Wilmington for winter quarters. Colonel Allen resigned and the following changes were made in our officers : Hector McKethan, Colonel ; Captain Caleb B. Hobson, of Company B, Lieutenant-Colonel ; Cap- tain J. R. McDonald, of Company D, Major; Chaplain, Colin Shaw, vice J. B. Alford, resigned. About 18 February, 1863, we were ordered to Charleston, S. C, and thence to Savannah, Ga., spending only a few days at the latter point when we were again ordered to Charleston and camped on James Island. At this place we suffered greatly from sickness and scanty and unwholesome rations. On 1 May we returned to Wilmington, going into camp at Topsail Sound. A few days later Companies B, D, E and H were detached and sent to Magnolia under the com- mand of Major McDonald. On 1 July, a raiding party of the enemy from New Bern tapped the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad at Warsaw and this detail hurried to that point, causing a hasty retreat of the enemy in the direction of New Bern, and capturing some of their stragglers. BATTERY WAGNER. About this time the enemy began active operations against Charleston, S. C, and on 10 July Clingman's Brigade was ordered to that point, and on the 12th the Fifty-first Regi- ment was sent to Morris' Island as a garrison for Battery Wagner, w^here we were almost continuously exposed to the sharpshooting and cannonading of the enemy until the 18th, Fifty-First Regiment. 207 suffering almost beyond endurance from heat and great scar- city of water and rations, to say nothing of the inferior qual- ity of the same, and from the terrible shelling which was only equaled during the war at Fort Fisher, the average being twenty-eight shells per minute by actual count from sunrise to 7 p. m. Battery Wagner was a field work of sand, turf, and palmetto logs, built across Morris' Island, extending from the beach on the east to Vincent Creek on the west, about 200 yards. From north to south it varied from 20 to 75 yards. On the space to the west were built wooden quar- ters for officers and men, and bomb-proofs capable of holding from 800 to 1,000 men. There were also bomb-proof maga- zines and heavy traverses. On 18 July, the armament consisted of one 10-inch Colum- biad, one 32-pound rifle, one 42-pounder, two 32-pound Car- ronades, two l^aval Shell guns, one 8-inch sea-coast Howitzer, four smooth-bore 32-pounders, one 10-inch sea-coast Mortar, making in all thirteen pieces. Of these only one was of much effect against the monitors, and the Federal land batteries were beyond the reach of the other guns, so that we had little to do but submit to the hail of iron sent upon us by the supe- rior and longer range guns of the enemy from sunrise until sunset. The garrison at this time consisted of part of the Thirty- first iNTorth Carolina, Lieutenant-Colonel Knight command- ing, which had been sent over on 17 July ; the Fifty-first l^orth Carolina, Colonel Hector McKethan; a Charleston battalion, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Gail- lard, with Tatum's and Adams' companies of the First South Carolina Regulars, acting as artillery; Buckner's and Dix- on's companies of the Sixty-third Georgia Heavy Artillery, and DePass' Battery, in all about 1,700 men. The Charleston Battalion and the Fifty-first North Caro- lina Regiment were assigned to the defense of the parapets in the order named, from the right along the south front. The four companies of the Thirty-first North Carolina Regiment extended along the sea face from the Fifty-first ; the balance of the Thirty-first was held in reserve at Fort Gregg. Two companies of the Charleston Battalion were outside of the 208 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. woi-ks, iiiiarding the left gorge and sallyport. Two of (cap- tain DePass' field pieces were also outside. During the bombardment we had concentrated upon our little band forty-four guns and mortars from the land bat- teries of the enemy, distant from 1,200 to 2,000 yards, and the heavy guns from the iron-sides, five monitors and five gunboats, say about fifty guns, making a total of ninety-four guns. The sand being our only protection, fortunately one shell would fill up the hole made by the last, or we would have been annihilated. Our only guns that could reach the en- emy had been dismounted by their fire, and our smaller ones we had been compelled to dismount in order to protect, so that we might use when the assault should be made. During the day the garrison was protected as much as possible by the bomb-proofs, only those necessary to guard and work the guns being required to remain exposed. This accounts for the small loss sustained during the day, but at a given signal each man was expected to report at his station in the works, the fire being so rapid and deadly that it would have been impossible to attempt anything like military formation. About dusk 18 July, 1863, the long expected signal was given and the Fifty-first North Carolina as one uum, sprang to its post, encouraged and led by the officers. The advancing column of the enemy consisted of the First Brigade, made up of six regiments and one battalion, sup- ported by Putnam's Brigade of five regiments, with Steven- son's Brigade, of four regiments, held as a reserve. The enemy advanced in column of regiments, led by Shaw's Fifty-fourth Massachusetts, a picked negro regiment, be- tween sunset and dusk with empty guns and orders to use their bayonets. Time had not been given us to mount our guns, which as before stated, we had dismounted for protec- tion, so that the assault was met solely by our infantry, not a cannon being fired ; but so murderous was our fire that the advancing columns broke and rushed to the rear through the ranks of their own support, causing confusion and delay, (^olonel Shaw, who was hardly more than a boy, fell dead on the top of our breastworks, in advance of his men, stnick witli tlircc ii)oi-tal wounds. Ills fdllowcrs l)rokc and fled in Fifty-First Regiment. 209 wild terror. A most handsome monument has been erected in Boston to perpetuate his memory. About an hour later a second assault was made. By this= time we had mounted our gims which we opened on them at short range, and our infantry again poured their deadly fire into their ranks, causing a second break with even greater loss than the first. A third and final assault was made about 10 o'clock, and notwithstanding a cross-fire was concentrated upon them, a lodgment was made behind the bomb-proof and magazine manned by the four companies of the Thirty-first I^Torth Carolina, but to hold only for a short time. Their commander was killed, and the Thirty-second Georgia Regi- ment arriving at this time was sent along the parapet, and to the top of the magazine. In this way their rear was reached, and the assailants of a few minutes before found themselves assailed and throwing down their arms, surren- dered and put an end to the day's fighting. Brigadier-General Taliafen'o was in immediate command of Morris' Island during the day. The position of the Fifty- first was such that it bore the brunt of the assault, and its members were therefore the most active participants. The Confederate loss during the day was 175, of which the Fifty- first suffered 34 killed and 40 wounded, the following officers being among the number: Lieutenant Giles W. Thompson^ of Company E, killed ; Lieutenants Edward Southerland, W. H. Littlejohn, of Company A, and Lieutenant J. D. Malloy^ of Company D, wounded. The enemy is said to have lost 2,000, 800 of whom were buried in front of the fort next morning. This great slaughter shows how desperately our men, maddened and infuriated at the sight of negro troops, fought. The next morning we were relieved and sent to Sul- livan's Island, the officers and men being complimented by General Beauregard for the manner in which they had be- haved. A writer from another State referring to this en- gagement, used the following language: "The Fifty-fi.rst North Carolina brilliantly sustained the honor of their State and were highly commended, especially the field officers, Col- 14 '210 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. onel Hector McKethan, Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. Hobson, and Major J. R. McDonald." The following incident is vouched for by Lieutenant J. A. McArthur, of Company I, Fifty-first North Carolina, now a resident of Cumberland county: The day of the assault Lieutenant McArthur was the officer of the day, and as such, had a guard of sixty-five men detailed from the different commands on the Island. In the third and last assault when the enemy secured a lodgment near the bomb-proof, he was ordered by General Taliaferro, in command of the post, to go with his guard to the relief of that part of the line. As Lieu- tenant McArthur, led by one of the men with a torch ascended the bomb-proof, the enemy began to fire upon them, and the fire was promptly returned as they advanced, but as' they neared the enemy an Irishman from one of the Charleston companies in McArthur's detail, appealed to him to have the firing cease, as he had recognized the voice of his brother in the ranks of the enemy, which turned out to be true, for when they surrendered a few minutes afterwards the brother was found to be among the prisoners. Next morning the prison- ers were formed to be sent to Charleston, when our Irishman appeared the second time begging that his brother should not be sent to prison, and when told that it could not be helped, as he had been captured with the others, he then proposed that his brother be permitted to enter the ranks by his side, and in this way the prisoner was transfonned to a Confederate soldier. The enemy now concluded that the only way to capture Wagner was by slow siege, we doing our share of the garrison- ing while this was going on. On 24 November we returned to North Carolina, going to Tarboro by rail, and marching to Williamston, were assigned to duty at Foster's Mill, in Martin county. On 13 December we returned to Tarboro, wdiere we remained till 5 January, 1864, going thence to Pe^ tersburg, Va., and occupied Camp Hill near that place. Later in January, 1864, we returned to North Carolina, marching on New Bern and engaging in a sharp skirmish at Bachelor's Creek, driving the enemy from their position and pushing them into New Bern. We then returned to Petersburg, Va., THE NEW YORK! PUBLIC LIBRARY J A8TOR, LEHOX A •35 TILDEN FOUNOATIOWa. FIFTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 1. Samu«'l W. Maultsby, Captain, Co. H. 4. E. T. McKethan, 1st Lieut., Co. K. 2. Joseph A. McArthiir, 1st Lt., Co I. 5. Alexander Elliott, 2d Lieut., Co. K. 3. Hector McEacheni, Ist Lieut., Co. D. 6. Stephen J. Cobb, Private, Co. D. Fifty-First Regiment. 211 and about 1 April were ordered to Ivor Station and marched on Suffolk, driving the enemy's pickets to a point beyond that town. About 1 May, General Butler landed a strong force at City Point, Va., and we returned to Petersburg and marched to Dunlop's Farm, about four miles distant in the direction of Pichmond. Here we met and skirmished with the enemy for several days. PETERSBURG. On 12 May we marched to Dre\\T;v''s Bluff and occupied the works previously built. Butler followed us towards Richmond, the plan being to draw him from his base and at- tack him from front and rear. On 16 May, having been re- inforced, we were ordered by General Beauregard to mount the works and charge the enemy. This we did over ground strewn with fallen trees, the limbs of which had been sharp- ened as an additional protection for the works, but we pressed forward carrying line after line of the enemy until we had them in full retreat, and had the forces from Petersburg co- operated in the same manner we would have captured But- ler's entire command. Our loss in this engagement was very heavy, amounting to ten officers and ] 50 men : Captain Wil- lis H. Pope, of Company E, and Lieutenant J. B. McCallum, of Company D, being killed ; Lieutenants W. J. Southerland, of Company A, Hector McEachern of Company D, Jacob A. Evans of Company C, J. A. McArthur of Company I, and Captain Samuel W. Maultsby of Company H, being among the wounded ; Captain W. F. Mui-phy of Company K, Lieu- tenants J. D. Malloy of Company D, and L A. McArthur of Company I, were captured. SECOND COLD HARBOR. On the 18th and 19th we again skirmished with the enemy, sustaining considerable loss. We then marched to Cold Har- bor and skirmished with the enemy on 31 May. On 1 June the battle of Cold Harbor Avas fought. Here we were charged by line after line of the enemy, each line coming within a few yards of us, but our fire was so murderous they could not live under it; but notwithstanding we killed thousands of 212 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'65. them, fresh lines were thrown at us until finally a lodgment was secured in a branch supposed to be impassable, and we were flanked and compelled to retire. Having driven the enemy from our front, the order to retire was not understood by part of our men and they were cut off, but not willing to give up, they, together with Lieut. -Col. Jno. R. Murchison and part of his, the Eighth North Carolina Regiment, continued the fight till entirely surrounded, not only with live, but also dead yankees. Our losses during the two days were 194 (11 officers and 183 men), Captain Robert J. McEachern, of Company D, and Lieutenant Alexander Elliott, of Company K, being killed ; Captain George Sloan, of Company I, Lieu- tenant G. P. Higley, of Company F, wounded ; and Major J. R. McDonald, together with the wounded, were captured. We remained at Cold Harbor for several days and then marched to Malvern Hill, thence to Drewry's Bluff, and then to Petersburg, reaching the latter point in time to prevent Butler from occupying the city. 17 JUNE, 1864. On 16 and 17 June the enemy charged our line and we repulsed them, inflicting considerable loss, but on the 17th, they succeeded in breaking through the line at a point held by Wise's Virginia Brigade, and at once be- gan to pour a deadly fire on our flank. Promptly five companies of the Fifty-first, under the conmiand of Col- onel McKethan, filed to the rear. Ransom's Brigade, under command of Colonel W. J. Clarke, of the Twenty- fourth North Carolina, being hastily thrown in the same ])0si- tion on the right of the break, and at the sigmal these two commands changed front and rushed forward with fixo^d bay- onets and soon recaptured the lost ground, but at a fearful loss, Colonel McKethan l>eing among the seriously wounded. In this contest the bayonet and butts of giins were freely used, as there was not time to load and fire. The position \\as r^^c\i that the five companies of the Fifty-first and the Tlnrry-til'th North Carolina of Ransom's Brigade occupying the centre and being the assailants, suffered the greatest losses. But for Fifty-First Regiment. 213 the prompt action of tliese commands the enemy would cer- tainly have marched into Petersburg on 17 June, 1864. We remained in the works in front of Petersburg for months under fire every day, and it has been estab- lished by actual measurements since the close of the war that at times there was but sixty-three yards between our line of works and that of the enemy, while only thirty-five yards sep- arated our pickets, which should give a pretty accurate idea of the danger and hardships under which we passed the sum- mer of 1864. On 19 August we were called upon to meet a raiding party operating on the Wilmington & Weldon Rail- road south of Petersburg. Here we met the enemy and after a running fight of many miles forced them into their lines. This was a regular woods scramble, it being impossible to preserve anything like a line of battle on account of the den- sity of the woods ; the result was that we captured a large number of prisoners, and suffered considerable loss ourselves, some of our men being captured and recaptured several times. General Clingiuan was wounded in this engagement, and the brigade lost the services of this gallant soldier till near the close of the ^^'ar, the command of the brigade devolving on ■Colonel McKethan of the Fifty-first. FORT HARRISON. We were next taken to the north side of the James river and on 30 September assaulted Fort Harrison. This point liad been taken by the enemy from our people, and being consid- ered a point of importance, was at once strengthened and very heavily garrisoned. To have attempted its recapture under such circumstances was a mistake, and as carried out a terrible blunder on the part of some one, the assaulting par- ties going in, in detail and being cut down in turn by the deadly fire of the enemy. Our officers on the ground, par- ticularly Colonel McKethan, the brigade commander, seeing the impossibility of success and the heavy loss that we must sustain, protested against making the assault, but being or- dered by superior officers to go forward, nobly offered them- selves and their commands as sacrifices for their country. At the command the Fifty-first rushed forward with the other 214 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. regiments of the brigade, preserving their alignment until the stockade was reached, which they found impossible to pass. To retreat was death, so the only chance was to throw down their guns and pull up these obstructions, which the men at once attempted, but a double line armed with repeat' ing rifles posted in front of the works, and a deadly fire from the garrison in the fort, said to have been several lines deep, and the concentration of all the artillery upon them, made the position untenable and the task impossible, so that the few left were forced to seek shelter offered by two old buildings near the works. Never was an assault made more gallantly or against greater odds. The Light Brigade at Balaklava did no more. "Some one had blundered," but it was a soldier's duty to obey. Our loss was seven officers and ninety-seven men, Lieutenant-Colonel Hobson being among the killed, Lieutenant F. S. Currie, of Company D, and Lieu- tenant J. A. Meares, of Company H, wounded, and others, whoso names cannot now be recalled. To Sergeant-Ma j or W. D. McMillan (Dr. McMillan, of Wilmington), who was seriously wounded in this assault, I am indebted for the fol- lowing figures, viz. : "The brigade went into this engagement with 857 guns, and in ten or fifteen minutes lost 587." I am unable to give the strength of the Fifty-first at this particular time, but as the brigade contained 857 and was composed of four regi- ments, the Fifty-first could not at this time have containod many over 200. To give some idea how the Fifty-first suffered during the four and one-half months from 15 May to 1 October, 1864. On 15 May we had 1,100 officers and men, going into the charge of 16 May with 800 men ready for duty (a detail was made from the regiment on the 15th, and did not participate in this engagement). On 1 October we had reduced to 145 men, many of the companies being without commissioned of- ficers, and in some cases in command of a corporal. Our casualties aggregated over 1,000, as some were wound- ed several times. Companies D and I each suffered a loss of more than 100 men to the company. Clingman's Brigade, under the command of Colonel McKethan, was then placed Fifty-First Regiment. 215 in the line of works protecting Richmond, our left resting on the Darbytown road, where we remained until December^ doing picket duty and engaging in one or two feints against the enemy to draw their attention from Petersburg. WILMINGTON. On 24 December we received marching orders and pro- ceeded to Richmond on our way to ISTorth Carolina, having been called on account of Butler's threatening Fort Fisher. On reaching Wilmington we went into camp at Camp Lamb, spending about one week, when we changed our camp to a point near Green's mill pond, where we remained until the final attack on Fort Fisher. On 12 January, 1865, our division (General Robert F. Hoke's) was mustered at camp for division review for the benefit of a large number from the city, and after marching and counter marching for the gTeater portion of the day we returned to our quarters for rest, but were not given this, as the "long roll" called us to arms dur- ing the night and we were hurried towards Fisher. A march however, had been stolen on our people, as a heavy force had been landed by the enemy and cut us off from the fort. Why we should have been stopped in Wilmington, thirty miles from Fort Fisher, I have never understood. Had General Hoke and his division been put in supporting dis- tance of Fisher, the enemy could not have made their land- ing, and without this the capture of Fisher was, in my opin- ion, impossible. After the fall of Fort Fisher we made a line across the peninsula and threw up works, our right resting on the Cape Fear river near Sugar Loaf, and our left on the ocean near what is now known as Carolina Beach. From this point we fell back to within a few miles of Wilmington, skirmishing with the enemy as they followed. We then evacuated Wil- mington, crossing North East river and marching to Rockfish in Duplin county. battle of southwest ckeek:. From this point we were taken by rail to Kinston and en- gaged in three days fighting, 7, 8 and 9 March, 1865, near 216 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. that ]ila('(\ (Iriviiio- the enenij several miles, capturing and killiiiii' many witli but small loss to our side. The change from Eockfish to Kinston carried us through ]\Iagnolia, where the companv which 1 then commanded was raised, and the homes of many of the men could be seen from the cars. 1 was given orders for that reason to put my command in an ordi- nary box car, such as was used in those days for transporting soldiers, and to get on top myself with a good man and allow none of the men to get off as we passed through the section in which they lived. We had not proceeded far when the en- gine stopping at a tank for water, I discovered two of my best men on the ground near the car. I spoke to them and demanded an explanation of their violation of orders, when one of them, pointing to a small house a few hundred yards distant, said that the lady standing in the door was his sis- ter; that he was going to stop and see her, but would be on next day. To permit this was a violation of orders on my part as well as that of the soldiers, ])ut knowing that the en- emy was closing in behind us and this would perhaps be their last chance to see their loved ones, and having confidence in the men, I did not have the heart to stop them, whatever the consequences to myself might be, and in this way I lost the greater part of my company before reaching Kinston, and in the first day's fight the First Sergeant and myself represented the company ; but true men as they were, all reported for duty that night. This is mentioned to illustrate the true spirit and patriotism of the southern soldier ; the cause was almost lost and he knew it, and immediately before him he could picture his fields laid in waste, his home plundered and his family exposed and suffering, yet even to the last roll call, he answered to his country's summons at the post of danger and duty. BENTOXVTT.LE. Tlie advance of tlie enemy from Wilmington and the near apjtroach of Sherman's army from Fayettevillv^, caused our withdrawal from Kinston and rendering the evacmi- tion of (jlo]dsl)(»ro necessary we were, therefore, ordered to Bentonville, wh(>re we met and checked Sherman. The first Fifty-First Regiment. 217 day we fouglit facing Fayetteville and with our backs on Goldsboro, but we were soon flanked and compelled to face about. Several attempts from the direction of Goldsboro were made to dislodge us, but failed ; still the vast forces un- der Sherman finally forced us to retire to escape being sur- rounded and our communications cut off. This we did in good order, marching to Smithfield, where we remained sev- eral days. The enemy however, soon began to advance and on 10 April we began tO' retire before them towards Raleigh, through which city we marched 12 April just ahead of Sher- man. From Raleigh we went to Chapel Hill, finally halt- ing at Bush Hill, I^. C, where we surrendered with John- ston's army and were paroled 2 May, 1865, to return to our homes. Thus ends the history of the Fifty-first Xorth Carolina Regiment. The regiment was composed, rank and file, of men and ofiicers of whom any country on earth might well be proud. Many, as was the case with our Colonel and a num- ber of others, saw the sun of the South rise in glory at Bethel, and set in its blood-red sheen at Bentonville. In this time many a loved and chivalric comrade passed from us on his long and sad furlough. Thirty-six years have passed and Time, with his cruel scythe, has cut down most of those who w^ere left ; to the memory of those that have passed before and since, officers and men, I dedicate this feeble tribute. In closing, I desire to say that in the preparation of this very imperfect sketch, I have been compelled to do so with- out data, as our official papers were lost during the latter days of the war. But by the aid of Adjutant J. R. Latta, of 'New Hanover; Stephen J. Cobb, of Company D (Captain Company F, Second North Carolina Volunteers, Spanish- American War) ; and H. L. Hall, of Company I, and others who were fortunate enough to escape the terrible struggle, I am under obligations for much information, and in particular as to the casualties. It was my wish to give a full list of the casualties of the regiment, but I found it impossible to do this even of the commissioned officers in the different engage- ments in which the regiment participated. I attach here- with a roster of the commissioned officers from the organiza- 218 North Carolkna Troops, 1861-65. tion to the surrender, and with the aid of others, I have at- tempted to give from memory opposite each name such in- formation as I have been able to obtain. While this roster is not perfectly correct it is as near so as can be made thirty- six years after the close of the war. I also insert statistics of enlistments in Companies D and I from organization, and of the casualties in each of said companies. The casualties in these two companies fairly represent the losses in the eight others, and the loss of officers as shown by the roster will convey some idea of the losses sus- tained by the Fifty-first from 17 December, 1862, to 21 March, 1865. ROSTER OF THE FIFTY-FIRST NORTH CAROLINA REGIMENT, Company A — Captain J. L. Cantwell, promoted to Colo- nel on organization, resigned ; Captain Walker. Lieutenant Edward Southerland, promoted to Captain, wounded at Bat- tery Wagner 18 July, 1863, again wounded in 1864; Lieu- tenant W. J. Southerland severely wounded 16 May, 1864, and never returned to service; Lieutenant W. H. Littlejohn wounded at Battery Wagner 18 July, 1863; Lieutenant Reuben J. T. Hawse promoted from First Sergeant, lost a leg at Fort Harrison. Company B — Captain Caleb B. Hobson, promoted to Lieu- tenant-Colonel, killed at Fort Harrison 30 September, 1864, Lieuteuant W. R. Bell, promoted to Captain, wounded and re- tired ; Lieutenant J. E. Swinson, resigned during fall or win- ter of 1862 ; Lieutenant Thomas J. Herring, promoted to Captain, seriously wounded ; Lieutenant Jesse T. Smith, promoted from Sergeant, captured and retained in prison till close of the war; Lieutenant C. L. Cowles, promoted from ranks to Sergeant-Major and Lieutenant; Lieutenant A. A. McKethan, promoted from ranks, wounded at Petersburg 17 June, 1864. Company C — Captain W. A. Allen, promoted to Lieuten- ant-Colonel on organization, resigned. Lieutenant Robert James, wounded and retired ; Lieutenant S. M. Stanford, promoted to Captain, resigned in 1864; Lieutenant E. L. Watson, promoted to Captain, surrendered at Bush Hill, N". Fifty-First Regiment. 219 C. ; Lieutenant H. V. Houston ; Lieutenant J, G. Branch, resigned in 1863 ; Lieutenant A. M. Sullivan, promoted from Sergeant, wounded at Kinston 1865. Company D — Captain J. R. McDonald, promoted to Major, captured at Cold Harbor. Lieutenant R. J. Mc- Eachem, promoted to Captain, killed at Cold Harbor ; Lieu- tenant J. D. Malloy, promoted to Captain, wounded at Bat- tery Wagner 18 July, 1863, captured at Drewry's Bluff 16 May, 1864; Lieutenant J. B. McCallum, killed at Drewry's Bluff 16 May, 1864; Lieutenant Hector McEachern, wound- ed and captured at Drewry's Bluff ; Lieutenant F. S. Currie, wounded at Fort Harrison 30 September, 1864; Lieutenant W. R. Boone, promoted from ranks, captured August 1864. Company E* — Captain W. P. Moore, resigned in Fall of 1862. Lieutenant Willis H. Pope, promoted to Captain, killed at Drewry's Bluff 16 May, 1864; Lieutenant A. J. Ashley, promoted to Captain, died of wounds ; Lieutenant J. P. Pitman, promoted to First Lieutenant, captured 30 September, 1864; Lieutenant F. F. Floyd, captured 10 June, 1864; Lieutenant W. A. Bullock, captured 19 August, 1864; Lieutenant Giles W. Thompson, killed at Battery Wagner 18 July, 1863. Company F — Captain — . — . Walters, resigned during spring of 1863 ; Captain W. S. ISTorment, transferred from the Eighteenth Regiment, severely wounded at Fort Harrison 30 September, 1864. Lieutenant A. C. Fulmore; Lieuten- ant G. P. Higley, captured at Cold Harbor; Lieutenant J, W. Hartman, wounded, don't remember place or date. Company G- — Captain J. W. Lippitt, pulled through safe, commanded the regiment at the surrender at Bush Hill, 1^. C. Lieutenant S. R. Chinnis, resigned during the winter of 1862 or 1863 ; Lieutenant Yopp ; Lieutenant Jacob A. Evans, wounded 16 May, 1864; Lieutenant T. B. Lippitt, pulled through safe; Lieutenant Ben. A. Cowan, pulled through safe. Company H — Captain J. R. Kelly, resigned in 1862. Lieutenant S. W. Maultsby, promoted to Captain, severely wounded 16 May, 1864; Lieutenant Lennon, resigned in 1862; Lieutenant Jacob Bamberger; Lieutenant J. A. 220 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Meares, wounded at Fort Harrison 80 September, 1864; Lieutenant A. M. Thompson, pulled through safe; Lieuten- ant Jordan Huglies. Company I — Captain Hector McKethan, elected Major on organization, promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and afterwards to Colonel, wounded 17 June, 1864. Lieutenant George Sloan, promoted to Captain, slightly wounded 16 May, 1864, captured 1 June, 1864; Lieutenant J. A. McArthur, wounded and captured 16 May, 1864; Lieutenant C. T. Guy, pro- moted from Sergeant, pulled through safe ; Lieutenant J. H. Taylor, promoted to Adjutant last year of the war. Company K — Captain J. B. Underwood, resigned in 1863. Lieutenant W. F. Murphy, promoted to Captain, captured 16 May, 1864; Lieutenant Solomon Boykin, killed at jSTeuse river bridge 17 December, 1862; Lieutenant E. T. Mc- Kethan, transferred to General Hoke's staff, and afterwards assigned to light duty on account of loss of health ; Lieuten- ant Alexander Elliott, killed at Cold Harbor 1 June, 1864; Lieutenant J. J. Tew, pulled through safe ; Lieutenant Eli Dudley, wounded, but time and place not remembered. I am indebted to comrades Private Stephen J. Cobb, of Company D, (Captain of Company F, Second North Caro- lina Volunteers Spanish-American War), and to Sergeant D. G. McLellan, of Company I, for the following statistics in their respective companies : COMPANY D. Total enlistments, 151. Killed: Officers 1, men 10, total 11. Died of w'ounds: Officers 1, men 10; total 11. Wound- ed: Officers 3, men 58; total 61. Captured: Officers 3, men 20; total 23. Total, officers 8, men 98; gi-and total, 106. Of the twenty enlisted men reported as captured, thirteen died in prison. COMPANY I. KiJlcfi: Officers 0, non-commissioned officers 2, men 43; total, 45. W(>un»l(Ml : Officers 2, non-commissioned officers 3, men 4S ; total, 53. Captured : Officers 2, non-commis- sioned officers 3, men 24 ; total, 29. Total, officers 4, non- conmiissioned officers 8, men 115 ; grand total, 127. Fifty-First Regiment. 221 This company sustained a loss of twenty-nine men in the charge on 16 May, 1864, exclusive of the few captured who were not wounded. The enemy overnm and captured our picket line just be- fore the charge and our loss in prisoners was due to that fact. Tht;y were not lost in the assault. A. A. McKethan. Paybtteville, N. C, 26 April, 1901. —=1 PUBLIC LIBRAR'^ ;^TOR, LENOX ANO Fll'TYSECOND REGIMENT. 1. Wm. W. Carmichael, 1st Lt., Co. F. 2. Leroy S. Elliott, Private, Co K. FIFTY-SECOND REGIMENT. By JOHN H. ROBINSON, Adjutant. The Fifty-second Regiment of North Carolina Troops was organized at Camp Mangum (camp of instruction), near Raleigh, on 22 April, 1862, and was composed of ten compa- nies of infantry, as follows: Company A — From Cabarrus County — Captain, George A. Propst; First Lieutenant, John M. Alexander; Second Lieutenant, Phillip A. Correll, Jr. ; Second Lieutenant, Jas. A. Black; First Sergeant, Jas. M. Cook; Second Sergeant, Joseph C. Hill; Third Sergeant, Alexander F. Hurley; Fourth Sergeant, John W. Felter ; Fifth Sergeant, Leroy W. Pope; First Corporal, George C. Blume; Second Corpord, George H. Brown ; Third Corporal, Richard F. Cook ; Fourth Corporal, George A. Misenheimer ; and 100 privates. Company B — From Randolph County — Captain, James F. Foulkes ; First Lieutenant, Jesse K. Kyle ; Second Lieu- tenant, John H. Robinson, Jr. ; Second Lieutenant, W. E. Kyle. The officers of this company were all from Fayette- ville. First Sergeant, Calvin J. Rush; Second Sergeant, Lindsay C. Hardister; Third Sergeant, Calvin B. Lewis; Fourth Sergeant, Alvin Bingham; Fifth Sergeant, William N. Glasgow; First Corporal, Reuben C. Fesmire; Second Corporal, Reuben Lowdermilk; Third Corporal, Alpheus Gallihara; Fourth Corporal, George W. Cooper; and 123 privates. Company C — From Gates and Chowan Counties — Cap- tain, Julian Gilliam; First Lieutenant, George Gilliam; Second Lieutenant, John Gatling, Junior; Second Lieu- tenant, J. K Harrell; First Sergeant, Job Hofier; Second Sergeant, James J. Floyd; Third Sergeant, David W. Par- ker; Fourth Sergeant, Caleb M. Hayes; First Corporal, Richard Arnold ; Second Corporal, William O. Hofler ; Third 224 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Corporal, Peterson Hofler; Fourth Corporal, Thomas J. Monroe ; and 93 privates. Company I) — From Stokes County — (^aptain, Leonidas R. Gibson; First Lieutenant, Isaac Nelson; Second Lieuten- ant, Samuel IL Rierson ; First Sergeant, A. C. Myers ; Sec- ond Sergeant, John H. Nelson ; Third Sergeant, D. P. Tut- tle ; Fourth Sergeant, Phillip A. James ; Fifth Sergeant, J. F. Landers; First Corporal, John M. Alle; Second Coi-poral, J. W. Tuttle ; Third (^orporal, Charies M. Williams ; and 80 privates. Company E — From Richmond County — Captain, Ben- jamin F. Little; First Lieutenant, Milton S. Austin; Second Lieutenant, M. B. McDonald ; Junior Second Lieutenant, Thos. R. Baldwin ; First Sergeant, John W. Ewing ; Second Sergeant, John H. Nichols ; Third Sergeant, Thomas R. Ca- pel ; Fourth Sergeant, Isaac Gatelej ; Fifth Sergeant, R, F. Gibson ; First Corporal, S. C. Crouch ; Second Corporal, D. O. Gray ; Third Corporal, William Kennedy ; Fourth Cor- poral, John F. Woods; and 120 privates. Company F — From Wilhes County — Captain, Marcus A. Parks ; First Lieutenant, Nathaniel A. Foster ; Second Lieu- tenant, William W. Carmichael ; Junior Second Lieutenant, J. J. Parlier ; First Sergeant, Joseph G. Hall ; Second Ser- geant E. R. Vannoy ; Third Sergeant, William TI. Foster, Fourth Sergeant, James P. Warren ; Fifth Sergeant, Charles Carlton ; First Corporal, James P. Gilreath ; Second Corpor- al, Daniel Wilcox; Third Corporal, Orrin J. Harris; Fourth Corporal, Zenah A. Harris; and 160 privates. Company G — From Lincoln County — Captain, Joseph B. Shelton ; First Lieutenant, James M. Kincaid ; Second Lieutenant, J. D. Wells ; Junior Second Lieutenant, Ilaniel M. Asbury ; First Sergeant, William D. Thompson ; Second Sergeant, John W. Lilly ; Third Sergeant, Frederick Linehar- ger; Fourth Sergeant, Thomas B. Tliom])son ; Fifth Ser- geant, John F. Little; First Corporal, ]\Ioses H. Caldwell; Second Corporal, Albert M. Nixon ; Third Corporal, W. G. P. Houston; Fourth Corporal, William Little; and 116 pri- vates. Company H — From Lincoln Cotinty — Captain, Eric Er- Fifty-Second Regiment. 225 son ; First Lieutenant, William A. Sununerson ; Second Lien- tenant, Lawson A. Bellinger ; Junior Second Lieutenant, Wil- liam R. Arents ; First Sergeant, James A. Patterson; Second Sergeant, Peter S. Beal ; Third Sergeant, Ephraim Garrison ; Fourth Sergeant, John C. McCall ; Fifth Sergeant, Samuel H. Randleman ; First Corporal, Lafayette Lof tin ; Second Corporal, John C. Goodson ; Third Corporal, John C. Del- linger; Fourth Corporal, Richard McCorkle; and 125 pri- vates. CoisiPANY I — From Sternly County — Captain, George C McCain ; First Lieutenant, James D. Hearne ; Second Lieu- tenant, Samuel S. Lilly ; Junior Second Lieutenant, Willis Randall ; First Sergeant, B. K. Crowell ; Second Sergeant^ James M. McCorkle ; Third Sergeant, George P. Parker ; Fourth Sergeant, H. Clay Turner; Fifth Sergeant, Reuben Harris ; First Corporal, D. D. Rogers ; Second Corporal, Ben- jamin P. Austin ; Third Corporal, William A. Smith ; Fourth Corporal, Wm. D. A. Mason; and 112 privates. Company K — From Forsyth County — Captain, Julius C. Blackburn ; First Lieutenant, Junius W. Goslin ; Second Lieutenant, Romulus M. Cox; Junior Second Lieutenant, Virgil H. Walker ; First Sergeant, John W. Beck ; Second Sergeant, John M. Crews ; Third Sergeant, Gideon E. Clay- ton ; Fourth Sergeant, William P. Dawson ; First Corporal, James R. Ingram ; Second Corporal, Lauriston F. Elliot ; Third Corporal, Thomas R. Davis ; Fourth Corporal, Eph- raim B. Terry; and 100 privates. These companies were organized as the Fifty-second j^orth Carolina Regiment on 22 April, 1862, the following field officers being elected : James K. Marshall^ Colonel. Marcus A. Parks^ Lieutenant-Colonel. John Q. Richardson^ Major. Subsequently the following Staff was appointed : John Gatling, Adjutant. James M. McCorkle^ Assistant Quartermaster. George H. Coke^ Assistant Commissary. James F. Foulkes, Surgeon. 15 -220 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'05. AViLLiAM H. Lilly, Assistant Surgeon. -H. Clay Turner^ Sergeant Major. ^Valter R. Russell, Quartermaster Sergeant. W. F. Brookshire, Commissary Sergeant. E. J. DeBerry, Hospital Steward. J . R. Pepper, Ordnance Sergeant. Musicians, Charles DeCamp, J. H. C. Pearce, R. F. War- ren and W. II. Shaw. Captain Marcus A. Parks, of Company F, having been promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment, all of the officers of this company were advanced one grade, and Sergeant Joseph G- Hall was promot-ed to the Second Lieuten- ancy to fill the vacancy. Upon the completion of the organization of the regiment, it was assigned to Brigadier-General J. G. Martin's Brigade. About 1 June the regiment was moved from the camp of in- struction hy rail to a point in Lenoir county on the railroad, near where the village of LaGrange now stands, and went into camp. We named this encampment "Camp Black Jack," and here we remained about a week or ten days, engaged in drilling and performing other camp duties. At the expiration of that time the command was moved nearer Kinston, where we had more suitable ground, and this encampment was called "Camp Johnston," at which point the regiment remained, di'illing daily, until tlie 16th, when it was ordered to do picket duty about five miles below Kinston. The writer and a Lieu- tenant being detailed to remain at camp and care for the sick (of whom there were quite a number at that time, suffering with measles and colds), and giiard the camp, did not par- ticipate in this, the first duty performed by the regiment in the field. The regiment continued in the discharge of this duty until relieved by other troops on the 24th, when it re- turned to camp and resumed its regular routine duties, with daily drillings of the officers as well as the men. On the afternoon of 30 June, orders were received to cook all the rations on hand and be ready to move at an hour's no- tice, whereupon all was bustle in the camp and the orders were promptly complied with. The regiment moved late in Fifty-Second Regiment. 227 the afternoon, taking the cars to Kinston, and thence march- ing about five miles below the town on the road leading to New Bern, to meet a column of the enemy advancing in our direction. Night coming on, the regiment bivouacked by the roadside, but the enemy, having received information of our movements, retraced his steps in the direction of New Bern, and, in consequence. General Martin sent a courier during the night to Colonel Marshall, ordering him to return to camp ; accordingly the regiment began its march early next morning and reached camp in the forenoon of 1 July. Rest- ing this day, we resumed our drillings on the 2d and con- tinued our routine work until the afternoon of the 5th, when orders were received to cook three days' rations and be ready to move at a moment's notice. These orders having been promptly and cheerfully complied with, we were kept in sus- pense until Tuesday evening, the 8th, when we boarded the train for the half-way station on the Petersburg & Richmond Railroad, reaching that point about daylight Friday morning, the 11th, having been delayed en route by an ex- press train derailed on the track ahead of us Tuesday night, and awaited transportation at Petersburg. We camped temporarily at that point until the 14th, on which date we marched to Drewry's Bluff, going regularly into camp at this place, and naming our encampment "Camp Campbell." Here we were engaged in work upon fortifica- tions, drilling and the various duties of the camp. Captain James F. Foulkes, of Company B, having re- signed in order to accept his commission as Surgeon of the regiment, on 2 July the officers of this company were each promoted one grade and on 21 July, Sergeant Lindsay C. Ilardister was promoted to Second Lieutenant. The regi- ment continued at this camp until the morning of 20 Au- gust, when we broke camp at daylight and marched to Peters- burg, Va., to await orders. Here we went into camp about two miles east of the city and called this encampment "Camp French." On 22 August, Lieutenant Lindsay C. Hardister, of Com- pany B, died in his tent at Camp Campbell, after an illness of a few days. About the 26th, the regiment was trans- 228 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'65. ferred to General J. Johnston Pettigrew's Brigade. On the 28th Captain Joseph B. Shelton, of Company G, resigned, and the officers of this company were each promoted one grade, and Corporal R. B. B. Houston was promoted to Sec- ond Lieutenant of this company. On 28 October, James W. Huske was transferred from Captain James McNeill's com- pany of cavalry to Company B, and promoted to Second Lieu- tenant to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Lieutenant Har- dister. The regiment remained at Camp French, doing work on fortifications, drilling, etc, etc., until 2 November, when it was moved to the vicinity of Franklin, Va., on the Black Water river, reaching this point on the following evening. We were placed at Joyner's Ford on picket duty and re- mained there until 15 November, when we moved and went into camp at Black Creek Church, Southampton county, Va., which we reached during the afternoon of the same day. While occupying this camp we were engaged in picketing the Blackwater at several points. On the 18th the enemy advanced with a force of cavalry and infantry and made an attempt to cross the river at Joy- ner's Ford, which point was held by a detail of an officer and twenty men. The attack was first made by a body of cavalry, which was driven back by our picket. They were reinforced by a body of infantry and made a second attack, in which they were successful in forcing a passage, our men retreating; not, however, until a messenger had been sent to Colonel Marshall, informing him of the attack and the neces- sary retreat of his men. Immediately upon the receipt of this information the Colonel moved at once with his regiment to the support of his men, marching about three miles. When in the neighborhood of the ford, he was told that a body of about 300 cavalry had crossed the river, and was occupying the camp whicli wo had left on tlie 15th. The regiment was hurried forward, and on reaching a position which com- manded a view of the grounds, said to be held by the enemy, was halted. No enemy was to be seen, although they could be distinctly heard giving commands. Skirmishers were thrown forward and advanced, but the enemy declined an Fifty-Second Regiment. 229 engagement and recrossed the river. Having re-established our picket post at Jojner's Ford and strengthened it, the reg- iment returned to camp. After crossing the river the enemy's cavalry moved in the direction of Franklin ; and, reaching a point from which they could shell the town, amused themselves with this com^- ardly occupation for an hour or more, the only result of which was the wounding of two men of the Eleventh ISTorth Caro- lina Regiment stationed there. On the 26th, Captain George A. Propst, of Company A, having resigned, the officers of this company were promoted one grade each. Lieutenants P. A. Correll and James A. Black having resigned, Sergeants James A. Cook and J. C. Hill were promoted to fill the vacancies. The regiment continued to do picket duty along the Black- water river, in the vicinity of Franklin, until 16 December. About 1 ]Srovember, Captain James M. McCorkle resig-ned the office of Assistant Quartermaster, and Adjutant John Gat- ling was appointed to this office. In consequence of this ap- pointment the office of Adjutant was vacant and Lieutenant John H. Robinson, of Company B, was promoted to this po- sition. On 16 December the regiment was ordered to proceed im- mediately to Goldsboro, N. C, and in obedience to this order we took the cars at Franklin and reached Goldsboro some time after midnight, and reported to General G. W. Smith, who was in command of this department. The Colonel was ordered to report with his regiment to General Thomas L. Clingman, Avho commanded on the south side of the Neuse river. The regiment was at once conveyed by train across the river and reported as instructed. General Clingman or- dered that the men should rest where they had quit the train, at a point on the Wilmington & Weldon road, about one-half mile from the railroad bridge over the ]^euse River, and at the intersection of the county road and railroad. BATTLE OF GOLDSBORO. About sunrise on the morning of the 17th scouts came in and reported the enemy advancing from the direction of Kin- 230 North Carolina Troops, 1S()1-'G5. ston iiloiig tlie county road in heavy force. Our regiment was at once formed in line of battle, parallel with the rail' road and across the county road. Holding this position for the space of, probably, half an hour, the enemy still advanc- ing, Colonel Marshall was ordered to proceed to the railroad bridge and hold it all hazard. He moved his regiment rapidly along the railroad track by the left flank, and imme- diately upon arriving at the bridge, placed his command to the best advantage for carrying out his orders. Shortly after the regiment was in position the enemy advanced upon us in heavy force. One column approached the bridge on the east side of the railroad and up the river bank, attacking our left companies with great vigor. Another approached up the railroad track, and as it approached, threw out a force on the west side of the railroad. The regiment fought with great spirit and very gallantly, but the force was so vastly su- perior in number that the left of the regiment was driven back and the enemy advancing, reached the bridge and ap- plied the torch. It being constructed of inflammable mate- rial, was soon in a light blaze and burned rapidly. Tn the meantime the right of the regiment was hotly engaged, and no support having been sent to our relief, and the colunm spoken of having been thrown out on the Avest or upper side of the railroad having advanced so far as to greatly endanger our successful retreat, the regiment was moved rapidly up the bank of the river in the direction of the county bridge, half a mile or more above. During our retreat the Fifty- first Xorth Carolina Regiment, which now, when it was too late, had been ordered to our support, mistaking us for the enemy, poured a volley from one company into us, not doing any damage, liowever, as they flred across an angle formed by two fences and shot too high. At this point tlie regiment halted. The enemy, apjiarcntly satisfied for tlie time with having accomplished the destruction of the bridge, fell back and took position on a commanding liill on tlie east, or lower side of the railroad, about five or six hundred yards from the site of the lu'idgc. Hoping to dislodge the enemy, an attack was made upon liis lines during the afternoon. Fifty-Second Regiment. 231 General Clingman foiined his infantry line, composed of the Fifty-first and Fifty-second ITorth Carolina Regiments, under the immediate command of Colonel Marshall, in a skirt of woods on the west of the railroad, and about 500 yards from it. While in this position we were subjected to a very heavy shelling from the enemy's battery of four guns. Leav- ing his infantry in line as stated, General Clingman moved with two guns of Starr's ITorth Carolina Battery by the county road to attack the enemy in flank, with directions to Colonel Marshall to move at once upon the enemy's line so soon as he should open fire upon him. While the infantry line was awaiting developments by Starr's guns, General Evans, of South Carolina, rode up behind the infantry line, and, inquiring what troops they were, ordered an immediate advance. When he was informed of General Clingman's plan of attack, and suggestion was made to him that a move- ment before Starr had reached his position would disconcert all of General Clingman's plans and result in disaster, he re- plied : ''I rank Clingman ; move forward at once ; I will sup- port you with the Holcombe; Legion." Of course, commands must be obeyed, and the infantry moved out at double-quick, under a galling fire from the battery, and reached the rail- road embankment, under cover of which it halted just long enough to reform its line. Moving again quickly over the railroad, a high rail fence was encountered which had to be climbed in the face of a heavy discharge from the battery of grape and canister. Meanwhile Starr's guns had not yet come into position, but, fortunately, he opened fire directly after the infantry had crossed the railroad, and drew the fire of a portion of the en- emy's battery, the line still advancing; but in a very few moments all saw the hopelessness of the attempt to drive the enemy, and an order was issued to fall back, and for all who could to save themselves by precipitate retreat. Under General Clingman's plan of attack there was a pos- sibility of successfully dislodging the enemy. Under Gen- eral Evans' order the attack was simply reckless disregard of the lives of his troops. The Adjutant of the Fifty-second Regiment, in his report of the fight, made on the morning of 232 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'G5. the 18th, reported 8 killed on the held, 58 wounded and 13 missing. Of the latter, subsequent reports show some of them to have been killed. The regiment was camped in the vicinity of Goldslxjro until about the 23d, Avhen it returned to its camp on the Blackwater near Franklin, Va. On the 25th orders were received to cook three days' ra- tions and be prepared to move at daylight on the 26th. Ac- cordingly rations were prepared and at dawn on the 26th we crossed the river, entering the enemy's territory on a forag- ing expedition. We remained for five days and procured a considerable quantity of forage, and this having been success- fully accomplished, General Roger A. Pryor, in whose com- mand we were serving temporarily, concluded to go in search of the enemy. Marching all day, we arrived at Windsor Sta- tion, on the Seaboard Railroad, about night, and finding the place occupied by two companies of the enemy's cavalry, we opened on them with artillery, when they made a hasty re- treat. The command rested here for the night, and at day- light next morning we resumed our march, reaching camp at midday 1 January, 1863. On the afternoon of the 3d we broke camp on the Black- water and marched to Garysburg, N. C, where we took cai's and reached Rocky Mount on the night of the 5th at 11:30 o'clock, and rejoined General Pettigrew, to the delight of the entire reginient. On the 26th we struck our tents and moved to Magnolia, reaching that point on the evening of the same day. We pitched our cain]") near the town, where we were en- gaged in drilling daily, when the weather permitted, and during our sojourn here underwent a rigid inspection In- the inspecting ofiicer of the brigade. On the morning of 13 February tbe reginiout took \\p its line of march in the direction of Greenville, and on the 1 6th, while in bivouac ten miles from Goldsboro, orders were re- ceived to remain Avhere we were and await further orders. On the 17th we were directed to return to Goldsboro, which place we reached the same day, and went into camp about two miles from the town. While here we were engaged in drilling every day. March Dth we broke oam]i and the regiment, to- Fifty-Second Regiment. 233 getber with other troops, started on a march for the purpose of making an attack upon the enemy at 'New Bern. The reg- iment arrived near the town at daybreak on the morning of the 13th and supported our artillery, which opened fire upon the enemy at sunrise. An artillery duel was fought nearly all day without any satisfactory result, when the troops were withdrawn, falling back to a position about three miles from the town, where we rested until 12 o'clock that night. WASHINGTON^ N. C. About this hour we resumed our line of march and halted nine miles from the town at daylight next morning. In this position we remained until 3 o'clock in the afteraoon, when the line of march was again taken up and continued day and night, with occasional short rests, until the 17th, on wdiich date we went into camp near the town of Greenville. On the 18th we were again on the march and arrived at Tranter's Creek, about eight miles from Washington, on the 19th. Re- maining here for a day or two we returned to our camp near Greenville on or about the 23d. Resting here, we received orders on the 28th to be ready to move in one hour. March- ing on this day, we reached a point on the Pamlico river, seven miles below the town of Washington, on Sunday, March 29th. Here w^e erected a heavy earthwork on a bluff on the river bank and called it Fort Hill, in honor of- General D. H. Hill, who commanded the expedition. The Federal troops occupying the town of Washington were reported to be running short of both ammunition and rations, and Fort Hill was erected for the purpose of commanding the river and preventing communication between the transports and gunboats in the river below and the garrison of the town. Our battery was composed of guns of light calibre, all field pieces and not able to cope with the gunboats in the river below, which gave the fort heavy shellings each day. They were suspicious of us, however, for occasionally two Whit worth guns would be sent down from the battery near the town, and w^hile they were in battery, we would open on them at long range, and on several occasions inflicted considerable damage. When these guns were withdrawn, the gunboats would ap- 234 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. proach quite near and open on the fort without eliciting anj reply. This puzzled them, and they were timid and would not venture the passage of the fort. On 7 April, in obedience to orders, Colonel Marshall, with six companies of his regiment, moved at daylight to meet a force of the enemy, reported to be moving on our rear from New Bern. When about three miles from the fort the bat- talion was halted to await orders. Remaining until night, it was learned that the enemy had returned in the direction of New Bern and the command returned to the fort. On the 10th the enemy advanced from New Bern in force by the Blount's Mill road, and the regiment was moved out to meet them and check the advance. Forming line of bat- tle at Blount's Mill, we awaited their attack, and after a skirmish of abouttwo hours duration they retired in flight, felling trees across the road to retard pursuit. About the 13th or 14th the boats in the river mustered courage to at- tempt the passage of the fort. Steaming boldly up, one of them made a successful passage, as we had none but the field guns in the battery, and although we fired upon her repeat- edly in her passing, the damage, if any, was of a trifling na- ture. The fort having failed eventually in accomplishing the ob- ject for which it had been constructed, was evacuated on the 15th and all the troops below drawn in nearer to the town. On the 18th orders were received to move in the direction of Kinston, via Ilookerton, which latter place we reached on the 10th, Avhere we remained, awaiting orders until the 25th. Captain Julian Gilliam, of Company C, having resigned 1 April, 1803, First Lieutenant George Crilliam was promoted to Captain and Second Lieutenant John C Warren to First Lieutenant. Lieutenant John Gatling liad previously been promoted to Adjutant, and 1 Noveinl)('r, 1^0-2, to Captain and Acting Quartermaster. On the 25th the regiment marched to Kinston and remain- ed there until 2 May, when we took the train for Virginia, reaching Taylorsville, near Hanover Junction, on the 14th and going into camp. The regiment was divided for some time during our stay at this point; tliree companies were Fifty-Second Regiment. 235 held in camp, five were detached for duty at the railroad bridge over the South Anna river on the Central Railroad, engaged in building fortifications, and two were doing picket duty at the Richmond & Fredericksburg Railroad. When not engaged in building fortifications and doing picket duty, the regiment was drilled daily, and it was in the finest condi- tion when we began our march to join the Army of North- ern Virginia. About 1 June Pettigrew's Brigade was assigned to duty in Major-General Harry Heth's Division of General A. P. Hill's Corps. On 6 June the brigade was ordered to proceed to Hamilton's Crossing, and we marched until late on Sunday evening, the 7th, when we were directed to strike the railroad and take the cars. Obeying this order, we were conveyed by rail the remainder of the distance and reached the Crossing at 4 o'clock Monday morning, the 8th. Upon arrival, we were placed in position on the Rappahannock river, about six miles below Fredericksburg, where we remained in line of battle until 10 June, when the regiment was ordered to pro- ceed to Hanover Junction to relieve General Corse, of Pick- ett's Division. Reaching the railroad depot, we awaited transportation for several hours. Fortunately, before cars could be furnished the order was countermanded and the reg- ment directed to report to General Pettigrew, which was done on the same night, when we resumed our place in the line of battle along the river. GETTYSBUEG CAMPAIGN. On 14 June we left the lines in front of Fredericksburg and started on the ever memorable Gettysburg campaign. By easy marches we reached Culpepper Court House on the I7th. Continuing the march on the 18th, passing through Berry- ville, Charlestown, and other villages, we reached Shepherds- town on the 23d, and on the 24th waded the Potomac at this point, thence proceeding leisurely towards Gettysburg, pass- ing through the battlefield of Sharpsburg, crossing the Antie- tam river on the stone bridge, on through Chambersburg, Pa., and halting on the 29th at Cashtown, a village at the foot of the mountains on the Baltimore and Chambersburg pike, and 236 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. distant about six miles northwest from Gettysburg. Here we rested until the morning of 1 July. On the evening of the 29th Company B, Fifty-second Regiment, under com- mand of First Lieutenant W. E. Kyle, was detailed to picket the Emmettsburg road at a village called Millertown, a]x)ut five miles to the right of our camp, and during the night had a skirmish with a picket post held by the enemy's cavalry. During the night of the 30th the company was withdrawn and reported at camp. Early on the morning of 1 July we moved in the direction of Gettysburg. Archer's Brigade of Heth's Division, lead- ing the advance, encountered a heavy force, commanded by General Buford, of the enemy's cavalry, on the Chambers- burg road about one mile from Gettysburg, and was at once engaged ; the cavalry, pressing Archer very luird, and skil- fully using their artillery, checked his advance, when Petti- grew's Brigade, the Fifty-second holding the right of his line, was rapidly advanced to his support. By a vigorous attack we succeeded in forcing Buford's line back in the direction of the town, when, being reinforced by a heavy infantry column, they in t\irn checked Heth's advance. By this time Petti- grew's Brigade had reached Willoughby's Run, westward from the town and halted ; lying here under a heavy shelling from the enemy's guns, and greatly annoyed by their sharp- shooters, who occupied, at this time, the second story of a brick buihling immediately in front of our line, we awaited the arrival of Anderson's Division of Hill's Corps which was moving up to strengtiien the lines. About noon we advanced and Pettigrew's Brigade encoun- tered the enemy in an open field when a most desperate fight ensued. I have already stated that Colonel Marshall's regi- ment held the right of Pettigrew's line, and as we advanced through the open field our right flank was menaced by a body of the enemy's cavahy, seeking an opportunity to charge our lines. While on the advance and uiulcr heavy fire Colonel Marshall fornunl his regiment in s(iuare to giuu'd against at- tack from this body, and at the same time deployed Comjnmy B, under comuiand of Lieutenant W. E. Kyle, to protect his flank. 'I'liis gnlhnit ofiicer succeeded in holding the cavalry Fifty-Second Regiment. 237 in check and finally drove them from our flank. This maneuver was executed by the regiment as promptly and ac- curately as if it had been upon its drill grounds. The fight- ing continued with unabated fury until sundown, when we had gradually, but steadily, driven the enemy's lines back upon the towai, but at a tremendous cost of valuable lives. About this time — sundown or nearly so — General Pender was sent to our relief, and passing over our lines took up the fight and drove the enemy into and through the town, halting only when commanded to do so, and thus ended the first day's fight so far as the Fifty-second Regiment was concerned. The losses in the brigade were appalling, and those of the Fifty-second Regiment very heavy. Here the gallant Cap- tain McCain, of Company I, fell dead, pierced by a minie ball, while leading his company in the thickest of the fight. About the same time the young and chivalrous Captain Black- burn, of Company K, fell dead at the head of his company while leading his men to victory. In addition to this great loss many valuable officers w-ere wounded and the loss in the ranks was very heavy. At this time, over thirty-seven years having elapsed, and without access to records, I am unable to state the casualties with accuracy. On the second day our regiment w^as not engaged. A greater portion of the forenoon of the 3d was consumed in perfecting the arrangements for the assault on Cemetery Hill. General Lee was concentrating his batteries along the brow of Seminary Ridge, and by noon had massed 145 cannon to open the attack. To reply to these guns the enemy, who w^ere able to see what was going on in our lines, had crowned Cemetery Hill, according to report, with 80 cannon. On this day Heth's Division was imder command of General Petti- grew, General Heth having received a disabling wound the day before. PettigTew's Brigade was commanded by Colonel Marshall, and the Fifty-second Regiment was under command of Lieu- tenant-Colonel Parks. The column of attack was lying un- der the crest of the ridge in rear of our guns. Pettigrew's Brigade occupied the position in line immediately to the left of Archer, who joined the left of Kemper's Brigade of Pick- 238 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'65. ett's Division, which occupied the right of the column of at- tack. Between 1 and 2 o'clock in the afternoon our guns opened upon the enemy's batteries and elicited a prompt and spirited reply. This artillery duel was continued for the space of about two hours without intermission, and the roar of the guns and bursting of shell were frightful to hear and dreadful to contemplate. A slackening of the enemy's fire was taken advantage of to advance the column of attack. In obedience to orders the line moved gallantly and steadily for- ward under fire of our gims until it reached a point beyond which it was unsafe to fire over our heads. Steadily the ad- vance was made, and as steadily and coolly met with a mur- derous fire from the enemy's cannon, charged with grape, shrapnel and canister. Still the line advanced, and at every step our comrades fell on every side, killed or wounded. Still we advanced under the incessant discharge of the can- non, assisted by the infantry's rifles, and had almost attained success, when by the overpowering force and almost impreg- nable position of the enemy, our lines were forced back, and then the slaughter was terrific. We fell back to the point from which the attack was made, rallying all whom it was possible to reach, and reforming our shattered lines. In this fatal charge our losses were very heavy. The gallant Marshall, pierced through the body while leading his brigade to the attack, fell from his horse, dead, within a very short distance of the enemy's lines. In his death our cause sustained a very great loss. Of his rank the Con- federate Army had few equals and no superiors. His regiment was greatly attached to him ; his uniform courtesy, coupled with great firmness and rigid discipline in camp, as well as on the march, had won the entire confidence of his men, and all mourned him as a brother lost. Lieutenant-Colonel Parks was shot through both thighs, and fell into the hands of the enemy, and our brave and dashing Major Richardson sealed, with his life, his de- votion to the cause he loved so well, and for the advance- ment of whose success he had striven so zealously. He was instantly killed by a rifle ball while leading the left wing of Fifty-Second Regiment. 239 his regiment. Of the line officers, but few escaped wounds or capture. The regiment was commanded on the 4:th by Captain Na- thaniel A. Foster, of Company F, the Junior (^aptain en- gaged in the fight. The Adjutant of the regiment reported the lossas in tlie engagements of the first and third days as 33 killed on the field, 114 wounded and 169 missing. Of this latter, nearly all of whom fell into the enemy's hands, it is fair to presume many were wounded. We held our lines during the night of the 3d and the day of the 4th, strengthening them with temporary works, and expecting an attack by the Federal army. As no advance was made by the enemy. General Lee began to retire in the direc- tion of the Potomac on the night of the 4th. In consequence of the death of our field officers on the 3d, Captain B. F. Lit- tle, of Company F, was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain Eric Erson, of Company H, was commissioned Major, the officers of Companies E and H were each promoted one grade, as were also the officers of Companies I and K, in consequence of the death of Captains McCain and Blackburn. On account of the bad roads and caution observed on retiring, we did not reach Hagerstown, Md., until the 10th. Finding the waters of the Potomac so much swollen from recent heavy rains as to make fording impracticable, and General Lee's pontoon bridge partially destroyed, we halted at this place. On the morning of the 11th our regiment went into line of battle about three miles from the town, expecting General Meade would attack us as soon as he had come up. We held this line until the night of the 13th, with occasional skirmish- ing between the picket lines. During this halt the pontoon bridge had been repaired so as to be available, and was thrown across the Potomac at Falling Waters. The rain had been falling nearly every day since we began to fall back from Gettysburg, and consequently the roads were in a horrible condition. During the 13th wagon trains were put in mo- tion to cross the river, and at night the troops from our por- tion of the line were withdrawn and marched for the pontoon bridge, but the roads were so cut up by the heavy wagon 240 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. trains and the artillery as to make tlieni almost impassable, and our march was necessarily slow. FALLING WATERS. To Pettigrew's Brigade had been assigned the responsible duty of protecting the rear of the army while crossing the river. The march had been so retarded by the difficulty of getting the artillery and the wagon trains forward that we did not reach our position until 10 o'clock Tuesday morning, 14 July. General PettigTew chose a hill by the roadside, and between one and two miles from the river, for his position. There he formed his line and ordered a rest, whereupon the men threw themselves upon the ground, and in a few moments many of them, responding to the call of exhausted nature, were sound asleep. We had been followed by a large body of cavalry which had not yet the temerity to attack us. While resting, as stated, awaiting the crossing of that portion of the army which had not yet succeeded in reaching the pontoon, a squad of Federal cavalry, numbering about fifty men, passing through a skirt of woods in our rear, behind which was massed a division, advanced upon us at a trot with sabres drawn and rode over us before we could check them. In explanation of this fact it should be stated that a regiment of our cavalry had passed us going to the rear a short time before for the purpose of crossing the river at Williarasport above, but we thought they were between us and the enemy. As the cavalry body approached, the men were waked up and called to arms, but some of the superior officers, mistak- ing them for our own men, ordered the men not to fire, and it was not until they were upon us that the error was seen ; then the bursting of caps with the occasional discharge of a rifle, was heard, and the enemy began to reap the reward of his rashness. Having ridden over our lines, they Avere now using their pistols with deadly effect, when our rifles began to explode and in a few moments all of the squad save five or six who made their escape, were either killed, wounded or prisoners, not however, before General Pettigrew had been mortally wounded by one of the party. The exposure to rain, to which we had been subjected for so many days, had left the Fifty-Second Regiment. 241 rifles of our men in such bad condition tliat but few would fire at first, and to this fact is attributed the losses we sus- tained— had the gams of our men exploded when first tried, not a man of the attacking party would have been left to tell the tale, and valuable lives would have been saved. This en- gagement caused a general advance on the part of the enemy, and that portion of General A. P. Hill's Corps not yet over the river was hurried to the suppport of Pettigrew. We formed line of battle to meet the advance, though all of our artillery having passed the river, we had none in line; but skirmishing with the enemy and fighting and falling back, we held them in check until the Avhole army had crossed, with all of the wagons and artillery, save two pieces, the horses draw- ing which had become so exhausted as to be unable to move them, and before fresh horses could be procured the rear of the army had passed them. The whole army thus crossed the river successfully in the face of a large body of the enemy. The loss in our regiment, however, was considerable, its commanding officer, Captain Nathaniel A. Foster, being among the number captured. Upon crossing into Virginia we took up our line of march, passing through Martinsburg to Bunker Hill where we rested several days. Resuming our line of march, passing through Winchester, we crossed the Shenandoah river at Front Royal, and thence marched by way of Flint Hill to Culpepper Court House, which place we reached on the 25th, and went into camp about one mile from the town. Resting until Monday morning, 3 August, we moved towards Orange Court House, reaching the vicinity of the town on the 5th, and there went into camp. About 10 August Colonel William Kirkland, of the Twenty-first ]^orth Carolina Regiment, was promoted to Brigadier-General and ordered to assume command of our brigade, and henceforth it was known as Kirkland's Brigade. BRISTOE STATION. We remained in our camp near Orange Court House until about 20 September, doing picket duty and drilling daily. On the 20th the regiment was moved to Rapidan Station and placed in position, together with the remainder of the brigade, 16 242 North Carolina Trooi-s, 1801-'05. to meet an expected advance of General Meade's army. On ■B October, ISiJi], we left our line at Ilapidan Station with •a view of flanking the enemy and giving him battle at Culpep- per Court House, but we were not sviccessful in bringing on this tiglit. The enemy, learning of General Lee's move- >ftfents, began to fall back towards Centreville, we following in hot pursuit. On the 13th the Corps of A. P. Hill had reacluMl Warrenton, Va., and on the morning of the 14th we moved out from Warrenton along the turnpike road to New Ealtiuiore, where we wheeled to the right in pursuit of Gen- eral French, who was just ahead and retreating very rapidly, as was evidenced by the beaten tracks on both sides of the road over which his troops had passed. Reaching the hills to the westward and just above Bristoe Station in the after- noon, we saw the rear of his column in the valley just beyond Broad Kun river. He had escaped us, but we were destined for a fight. About the time of our reaching Bristoe Station the advance of Warren's Corps, whom General Ewell was following up the railroad, made its appearance and Cooke's and Kirkland's Brigades were formed for immediate attack. The two brig- ades, under cover of artillery, gallantly advanced against overwhelming numbers posted behind the railroad embank- ment. Everything was moving smoothly until we had reached point blank range, when the infantry posted behind the railroad, opened a withering fire upon our lines which baited and were forced to fall back. The Fifty-second and Eleventh Tvegiments moved steadily forward and sua'.eeded in driving the eneni}^ immediately in their front, next to the railroad bridge, from their position. About the time we had gained the road in our front, a section of artillery passed rap- idly over the river, and, crossing the railroad track, unlim- bered, preparatory to giving us a raking enfilading shelling. Looking for our support on the right, we were dismayed to see the enemy to our right and rear, in possession of the field and part of our ai-tillory. The command was at once given to fall back and we retreated rapidly and successfully. The Eifty-second Begiment, whose losses were comparatively few on this occasion, had three killed on the field, twenty-one Fifty-Second Regiment. 243 woimded and forty-two missing. General Kirkland was wounded and conveyed from the field. In view of the fact that General A. P. Hill had an entire army corps within half a mile, and the remainder of Heth's with all of Wilcox's Divis- ion, were spectators, the lack of timely reinforcements was strange, to say the least of it.* MINE RUN. We bivouacked upon the battlefield during the night of the 14th, and the following morning fell back to Rappahannock Station, destroying the railroad as we retreated, tearing up the rails which we heated over burning piles of cross ties and twisted so as to render them useless for the time being. Upon arrival at Rappahannock Station we at once entered upon picket duty, engaged in drilling and other incidental camp duty until 7 November. About 11 o'clock Saturday night, the 7th, we received orders to cook rations and be ready to move at a moment's notice. At the time we supposed the army would make another advance, but instead we fell back to a line on the Rapidan river. During Sunday, the 8th, we were in line of battle throughout the day, expecting an at- tack, but were not engaged. On the 9th we were ordered on picket duty at Peyton's Ford, where we remained until the 13th, on which day we received orders to cook two days' rations and be ready to move at a moment's notice, but did not receive marching orders until the 29th. On this date we left camp at 4 o'clock in the morning, and, proceeding by the Orange Court House and Fredericksburg road to a point near Vidiersville, we came up with our cavalry engaged in a skir- mish with the enemy. Our skirmishers were deployed and thrown forward, engaging the enemy until nightfall, and we held this line during the night. The remainder of the army having arrived during the night. General Lee formed his line of battle at Mine Run, On the morning of the 30th the en- emy opened his artillery on portions of the Confederate line, and we confidently expected an attack. It seems, however. * When General Lee arrived on the scene of A. P. Hill's bloody blun- der his pointed rebuke was " nothing remains to be done, General Hill, except to bury your unfortunate dead." — Ed. 244 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. that upon an inspection of General Lee's lines General Meade recognized the position to be inipregiiable, and, declining bat- tle, retired behind the Rapidan on the night of 1 December, Onr regiment remained at tliis point until Thursday, 3 December, when we returned to ("amp Marshall, our winter quarters, near Orange Court House, where we remained em- ployed in drilling and general camp duty until 3 February, 1864, on wliich day our regiment was ordered on picket duty on the Rapidan river. On the 20th General Kirkland, having recovered from his wound received at Bristoe Station, re- turned to cam]) and again took comnumd of his brigade. During the month of March Governor Vance paid a visit to the Nortli Carolina troops in the Army of Northern Vir- ginia and made addresses to the several brigades. He had an appointment to speak to Cooke's and Kirkland's Brigades, jointly, on the 29th, but on account of the very bad weather our commands were deprived of the pleasure of hearing him. The regiment, having been in winter quarters since 3 Febru- ary, on 27 April vacated the cabins and moved to an encamp- ment one mile distant. As sickness prevailed to a great ex- tent about this time, the change was made as a sanitary meas- ure with good results. THE WILDERNESS. On 4 May our regiment broke camp and marched by the Orange Court House and Fredericksburg plank road, reach- ing Vidiersville, near which it rested for the night. On the 5th it continued to march in the direction of Fredericksburg, and early in the afternoon reached a point at which the plank road is intersected by what is known as the Brock road ; and here General Hill, finding the enemy in his front, formed his line of battle extending across the Plank road. About this time the Fifty-second Regiment was ordered to retrace its steps for the purpose of protecting our wagon train, which was reported to be threatened by the enemy's cavalry. Ac- cordingly, we proceeded to execute this command, and, having gone as far as Parker's store, about four miles to the rear, were informed that its services were not required. Immedi- ately it faced about and returned to join its brigade. In the Fifty-Second RegixMent. 245 meantime the battle had beo;un, and as we approached the lines we were met by great numbers of our men wounded and seeking" the rear for shelter and relief. These men were wounded in every conceivable manner — some slightly, others severely and not a few mortally. Nothing daunted by this spectacle, the gallant old Fifty-second moved rapidly forward and took its position in the brigade, and at once became hotly engaged. The ground over which we were fighting was covered with dense undergTowth, and the enemy could scarcely be seen, in many places, one hundred yards in our front. From the time we joined the brigade, which must have been about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, until nightfall there was one continuous roll of musketry, when night coming on put a stop to the battle for this day. The regiment spent the night upon the ground on which it had ceased to fight in the evening, and the exhausted men sought what rest they could. From the nature of the ground over which the battle had raged, our lines had become very much disarranged, and in many places there was no connection with our troops to the right or left. Longstreet, it was known, was marching to re- lieve Hill's Corps, and was expected to be up by 12 o'clock that night. Possibly for this reason the inexcusable blunder of not re-establishing our lines during the night of the 5th was made. Longstreet was delayed and did not reach us at the expected time, and sunrise of the 6th found us fighting under these great disadvantages. The enemy having penetrated our lines at one of these gaps, opened fire upon the Fifty-second Regi- ment from the rear. Finding we were flanked we began to fall back, fighting as we retreated. By this time the whole line to the right of the plank road was being forced back and the safety of the army for a time was greatly endangered. Longstreet with his gallant men reached the field about this time ; rapidly forming his line, he met the advancing lines of the enemy, checked them, and in a few moments was rapidly driving them back upon their own lines, and thus re-estab- lishing those of General Hill. 246 North Carolina Trooi's, 18G1-'65. spottsylvania to peteksbukg. Our regiment remained in line of battle in the Wilder- ness until the evening of the 8th, when we were marched to Spottsylvania Court House, which place we reached on the morning of the 9th and were assigned to a position in the line to the left of the court house where we began immediately to intrench ourselves. Here we remained in line of battle, fight- ing at intervals and constantly exposed to heavy shelling from the enemy's battery. Our losses since the 5th had been heavy — Captain Kyle and Lieutenant Huske wounded among numbers of others, and on the 11th Captain Leonidas R. Gib- son, of Company I, was killed. In consequence of his death the officers of this company were each promoted one grade. General Grant had again taken up his movement to the left, and on the 2 2d we were withdrawn from our lines and moved rapidly in the direction of Hanover Junction. Cross- ing the North Anna river our regiment was placed in line on the south side of the river about two miles from the junc- tion. General Warren having crossed the river at Jericho Ford on the 23d, was met by Hill's Corps near N^oel's Sta- tion and after a spirited engagement was forced to halt for the day. After this the regiment resumed its place in the line of battle, where it remained until the 31st, when it was moved ill the direction of Gaines' ^lill, which point it reached about noon on 1 June. Here we were placed in line, but not en- gaged until the 2d, when we participated in a heavy skinnish with the enemy. In this fight General Kirkland was again \voundcd, receiving a rifle ball through the thigh, and was taken from the field. In consequence, Colonel George H. Faribault, of tlie Forty-seventh Regiment, was in comiiiand of the brigade. On the afternoon of 3 June Ileth's Division, occupying the left of General Early's line, (he was com- manding A. P. Hill's Corps at this time), was twice most vigorously attacked, but the enemy was handsomely repulsed with considerable loss. The Fifty-second Regiment sus- tained its part of these attacks with its accustomed coolness and spirit. On 5 June, for the first time since leaving Or- ange Court House, Ileth's Division was resting, awaiting or- Fifty-Second Regiment, 247 ders. Worn down with fighting, and constant marching to meet the enemy's advance, the men greatly enjoyed this much needed repose. PETERSBURG. On the evening of the 9th, the regiment was ordered to proceed to Bottom's Bridge, on the Chickahominy river, for picket duty, and on the evening of the 10th was ordered to join the brigade in the line on the following morning. From here we moved to White Oak Swamp, reaching that point on the 14th, where we remained, doing picket duty until the 18th, when we marched for Petersburg, Va., reaching the neighborhood of that city on the night of the 18th, after a dusty and very fatiguing march. We were placed in line of battle on the south side of Appomattox river. About the 25th the regiment was taken from the trenches and marched about four miles north of the city and assigned the duty of guarding the bridges on the turnpike and railroad over Old Town creek. In the latter part of July, Colonel William MacRae, of the Fifteenth North Carolina Regiment, was made Brigadier-General, and ordered to assume command of the brigade. Henceforward, we were known as MacRae's Brigade. We remained in the vicinity of Petersburg until Wednesday, 27 July, when we marched to Chaffin's Bluff, reaching that point Thursday morning after a very tiresome tramp. • On the afternoon of the 28th our skirmish lines were heav- ily engaged for an hour or two, and w^e expected an attack upon our lines, which did not take place. We remained here in line until the 30 th, when we received orders to move at once to the south side of the James river. We marched a distance of about ten miles to Rice's Turnout on the Rich- mond & Petersburg Railroad, and at that point took the cars to Petersburg, and occupied our position in the intrench- ments. At this point we remained until 2 August, when we were moved further to the left and placed in reserve. On the 9th we relieved General Cooke in the trenches, our line at this point not exceeding 200 yards distance from the en- emy's lines, and our sharpshooters, as well as those of the en- 248 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'05. emy, kept up a constant firing both night and day. We held this line until the 13th, when we, in turn, were relieved, and camped temporarily in rear of our lines until the 18th, when we were moved outside the lines to a point about two and one- half miles southwest from Petersburg, and one mile east of the Petersburg & Weldon Railroad, where we had been sent to confront General Warren, who was pressing for the rail- road. In the afternoon we made a sudden and vigorous at- tack upon Warren's left and drove him back about one mile, when our command was withdrawn. By the evening of the 20th the enemy had succeeded in gaining possession of the railroad and intrenched himself at a point about one mile south of Vaughn's house, at what we called the Yellow Tav- ern, located on the railroad about four miles south from Petersburg. On the night of the 20th we were withdrawn from the trenches and again moved to the south of the city to attack the enemy, who now held the railroad. Reporting to General Heth, whom we found at Vaughn's house, before day on the 21st, we were soon in line, and advanced our sharp- shooters'to clear the front, and after a pretty sharp skirmish they drove the enemy's picket lines in. Under Pegram's guns, we advanced to the attack ; and, after having driven in two lines of the enemy who fell back under cover of their batteries, we M'ere halted in a skirt of woods about half way between Pegram's guns in our roar and the enemy's batteries in our front, and between the two we were subjected to a furious shelling. The column sent to attack the enemy in flank failing to come up, we held our lines until night, when we were withdrawn and retired within our lines of intrench- ments. On the 24th we moved out to our works and marched for Reams Station, halting at night near Arm- strong's Mills, about eight miles southeast of the city. Early on the morning of the 2r)th we resumed the march and halted at a point :d)oiit tliree miles from Reams Station. kea:v[S STAT] ox. About 2 o'clock an attack had been made iijioii tlu^ (mi- emy by a part of General A. P. Hill's commant], which was di'iven back with loss, after which the North Carolina Fifty-Second Regiment. 249 Brigades of Lane, Cooke and MacRae were ordered up, taking position in the enemy's front. Advancing steadily and rap- idly under the fire of Pegram's guns, we captured the whole line, not, however, before the enemy were driven off in a hand-to-hand encounter in the works, in which in a few in- stances clubbed rifles were used. In this fight our losses were necessarily heavy. We captured seven stands of colors, 2,000 prisoners and nine pieces of artillery. (See General Lee's letter to the Secretary of War, 26 August, 1864.) The en- emy having been driven from the railroad, fell back to their own line, and at nightfall our troops fell back to Petersburg. On reaching the city we were placed in line, the right of our brigade resting on the Petersburg & Weldon Railroad. Here we were engaged in throwing up a new line of works in front of those at that time occupied. At this employment we continued until 16 September, when we were moved to a point about half a mile south of the Boydton plank road, and about three miles southwest of the city, where we were em- ployed in constructing rifle-pits until the 20th. On this day we were moved about one mile further south of the Boydton road and engaged in constructing works of a more elaborate character until the 29th, when we were ordered to Petersburg to supply the places in the line of troops who had been sent north of the James. We reached the city on the same day and awaited orders. On the 30th we were ordered to coun- ter-march and take position on the right of the line. During the time we had been withdrawn, the enemy advanced and had taken a portion of the rifle pits and a heavy earthwork (Fort MacRae) which we had constructed and held on the Squirrel Level road. Attempting to move thence in the direction of the Boydton plank road, he was met by Heth's Division, and after a sharp and spirited attack, was driven back on his lines. MacRae's Brigade now took position in the line further to the right and was engaged daily in throw- ing up earthworks and drilling until the morning of 27 Oc- tober. burgess' mills. The enemy having driven in our cavalry holding the right of the line, and penetrating to the Boydton plank road at a 250 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. point known as Burgess' Mills, about six miles southwest of Petersburg, MacRae's Brigade, together with other troops^ was sent to their support. Finding the enemy in heavy force on the west side of Hatcher's Bun, and south of the plank road, we crossed the run some distance below, and immediately after crossing advanced our corps of sharpshooters, who at once encountered the enemy's skir- mish line, which was rapidly forced back upon the Federal line of battle. In the meantime our line of liattle had been formed. With a yell we charged the enemy's lines, which were broken by the impetuosity of our attack, and were driven rapidly before us. Having driven the enemy for nearly a mile, and finding no support advancing to our assist- ance, the enemy being in great number on both our right and left flank, General MacBae w^as forced to call a halt and fall back on our lines. In this engagement the loss of officers and men was heavy. Among the former was Lieutenant James W. Huske, of Company B, Fifty-second Begiment, who fell, pierced through the body with a minie ball while gallantly leading the left wing of the regiment in this charge. He had on this occasion, as on all others, beliaved with conspicuous gallantry. He died upon the field, and in his death the regi- ment lost one of its most valuable officers, and his company a kind and considerate friend. Fighting until nearly dark our lines were drawn back and reformed, where we awaited an ex- pected attack, but apparently the enemy had been sufficiently punished, as they witlidrcw under cover of night, leaving their killed and wounded on the field. A i\Tajor-General said in the hearing of this writer, next morning, that he counted 286 dead and 145 so severely wounded as to be un- able to help themselves. On the 29th ]\racBae's Brigade roturncMl to tlK> lines near Hart's liouse, Avhence it had been tak(Mi, and was employed in changing our lines, building a new line of works and tear- ing down the old ones. At this point we erected cabins and went into winter (piarters. Occupied in working on fortifica- tions, drilling and the ordinary camp duties, we were not called upon to move until 0 December, 1864. when the brigade started upon a tramp in ])nrsuit of a party of the en- Fifty-Second Rkgiment. 251 emy's troops engaged in an effort to destroy the Petersburg & Weldon Railroad. We did not get a fight, but were success- ful in driving them back within their own lines, after whicE we returned to our camp, reaching it on the 14th, From this date until 5 February, 1865, we remained in our winter quarters, doing picket duty, drilling and performing such other duty as is incident to camp life. HATCHER^S RUN. On the 5th MacRae's Brigade, accompanied by other troops, moved out to intercept a column of the enemy moving by the Vaughn road, in the direction of the South Side Rail- road, which had reached a point near Armstrong's Mill, on the left bank of Hatcher's Run. Finding the enemy strongly intrenched, we made a demonstration against them which was repulsed with some loss. We were withdrawn after dark and returned to our quarters. On the 7th we were ordered under arms at daylight expecting to attack the enemy, but on account of a very heavy sleet and snowstorm, did not move. On the night of 31 March we were moved to the right and oc- cupied a position in our lines on the right of the Boydton plank road beyond Hatcher's Run, which we held until the night of 2 April, when we began our retreat by a road leading from Five Forks to Southerland Station, closely pursued by the enemy. Reaching Southerland Station on the morning of the 3d, we were so closely pressed as to find it necessary to fight. We therefore selected a position on the brow of a slight hill in an open field and rapidly fortified our line, as well as we could, with bayonets used to break the earth, and such other means as were at command. Before we had suc- ceeded in doing any considerable work the enemy charged our line. His advance was met with a well-delivered and telling volley from our rifles (we had no artillery) and they were driven back with heavy loss. A second attack with strength- ened lines was made and again they retreated with greater loss. A third and much heavier column was hurled against our little band ; and, after fighting with great desperation, being flanked on our left, we were driven from our lines and 252 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. retreated in the direction of the Appomattox river with but little, if any, organization. Since the war a Federal General told General MacGowan, of South Carolina who, being the ranking officer present on this occasion, commanded our line, that this was the most gal- lantly defended line of any within his knowledge during the war ; that we had killed and wounded more of their men than we numbered. Following the course of the river by the near- est accessible road, and often through the woods, crossing Namozine and Deep creeks, we joined General Lee at Goode's Bridge and proceeded thence to Amelia Court House, reach- ing this point on the 4th and halting for rest and rations. Here General Lee expected to ration his army, having or- dered supplies to meet him at this point. In this hope, how- ever, he was greatly disappointed. The authorities at Rich- mond, in the panic caused by the expected evacuation of the lines around Richmond and Petersburg, ordered the trains to proceed, wdthout stopping, to the capital, for the purpose of moving the government's effects, which they did, carrying with them almost the last hope of the army in the shape of its subsistence, there to be destroyed, or fall into the hands of the enemy. We rested here during the 4th and 5th sending out forag- ing parties for supplies, which resulted in — nothing. The troops had now been forty-eight hours without regular rations and the prospect was disheartening. On the night of the 5th we left Amelia Court House, marching westwardly by way of Deatonsville, thence towards Farmville. Approaching High Bridge over the Appomattox river, we encountered a body of cavalry disputing our passage. MacRae's Brigade charged, driving them off and capturing General Gregg, after which we continued the retreat, and crossing the river over the bridge, bivouacked for the night. On the morning of the 7th the retreat w^as continued. Reaching a commanding po- sition al")out five miles north from Farmville, a line of bat- tle was formed and fortifications quickly erected. Here we rested until night, when the retreat was continued in the direction of Lynchburg, and by the night of the Sth the army had reached the vicinity of Appomattox Court House. Fifty-Second Regiment, 253 On the 9th an advance was begun but, finding the enemy in possession of our only line of retreat, the army was halted pending negotiations for the surrender of the Army of ISTorth- em Virginia. On the 12th, in accordance with the terms agreed upon, the Fifty-second Regiment, together with the remainder of what had been the noble Army of Northern Vir- ginia, marched to a point designated by the commissioners appointed for that purpose, and stacked their arms, deposit- ed their furled banners, gave their parole and took up their line of march for those homes they had fought so bravely to defend through four long years of blood, hardships and toil. I^OTE : — After the regiment had been assigned to a brigade I have not, in many instances, been able to speak of it as a separate command, but it is to be understood that in all cases where the movements of the brigade are spoken of, the Fifty- second Regiment participated. Having no access to records, I have not been able to note casualties with accuracy as to detail, except, in a few cases, where my information is derived from letters written to my wife at the time. John H. Robinson. Fayetteville, N. C, 9 April, 1901. &. Jamsx'wm exw^ ■x^_~-'7 By COLOXEL JAMES T. MOREHEAD. The duty a— _ ■ — ■ . — — of the Fifrr-U-..\. ,•. :„ '_-.-._- ^_i^_ ::; . ^ .__ ; :; dischaige, with pleasure, but I did not realize uii::. I ^in how great the difficnltr would be, with no record - :: : '.-r conflicting recollections of sorviring comrades as - -:i:i and persons. It may be and no doubt it is true, rJ I -~f not beai accurate as to the personnel of the cffi; f regiment, as to the dates of commissionss, death an^ , :^^, and if any injustice by omission or conmiisgifm is done^ I as- sure my living comrades and frioids of such as have crc^^si-?! over the river, that no erfect order, and at intervals, when or- Fifty-Third Regimeist. 257 dered,haltiiig,facing- about and delivering'its fire almost in the faces of the pursuers. Not a man broke ranks or quickened his steps. As is well known to every soldier, a retreat under fire is the severest test of discipline and courage. At the battle of Winchester, to prevent the enemy from dis- covering the gap on the left, I had deployed the greater part of my regiment as skirmishers, and this thin line successfully held five times its numbers at bay, until the failure of prom- ised support to arrive, and all of Early's army on our left had been driven from the field. It was known to every man in the regiment that the enemy w^as getting rapidly in our rear, and that there was imminent danger that we would be cut off and surrounded, but until ordered so to do, not a man left his position, and the regiment then retreated across the field in the manner above told. Experience and observation have taught that one of the results of organization and discipline is, that when soldiers retire or retreat in face of the enemy by order, they will halt, but if they "break" without order, it is difficult to raJly and re- form them. An incident of this battle illustrates this. The temporary works of the enemy above referred tO' 'were con- structed just beneath the brow of the liill or slope up which the regiment was charging at a run and was not observed until we were within a few feet of them. When the men had reached nearly the top of the slope, to their astonishment they saw be- hind the work a third line of the enemy and such of the other two lines as could be prevailed on tO' stop, outnumbering us four or five to one. Our men immediately faced about and started for the shelter of a wooded hill from and through which they had just driven the enemy. Seeing the condition and thinking of the fact above stated, I at once ordered a. re- treat, had the officers to repeat the order, semingly so superflu- ous, and directed the regiment to halt as soon as the woods were reached. When I reached the woods, I had the satisfac- tion of seeing the regiment reformed and "ready for busi- ness" as if nothing had happened to dampen their ardor. I select these out of many instances, which particularly distinguished this regiment, because of the trying situations. 17 '258 North Carolina Troops, 1801-65. After the regiment was assigned to Daniel's Brigade, it participated in the battles of Gettysburg, three days, and at Mine Kun and fought more or less from 5 May, 1864, to 30 May at tlic Wilderness under fire every day. It was in the fa- mous Horse Shoe at Spottsylvania Court House, during the terrible days of 9, 10, 11 and 12 May, losing its Major, James Johnston Iredell, killed, Col. Owens wounded, several of its Captains and Lieutenants and scores of its men killed and wounded. It was brought out of the Horse Shoe to straighten the lines after the assault of the 12th under command of a Captain, its only remaining field officer, its Lieutenant-Colo- nel being in command of the brigade, the Brigadier-General (Daniel) and every other officer in the brigade senior in com- mission, having been killed or wounded. On 30 May it was engaged in the battle at Bethesda church, and on the next day was withdrawn from the front preparatorv to its march to the Valley of Virginia. On 5 or 6 May, 1864, the sharpshooters of this regiment were much annoyed by one of the Federal sharpshooters who had a long range rifle and who had climbed up a tall tree from wliich he could pick off our men, tlioiigh sheltered by stump and stones, himself out of range of our guns. Pri- vate Leon, of Company B (Mecklenburg), concluded that "this thing had to be stopped," and taking advantage of every knoll, liollow and stump, he crawled near enough for Ins rifle to reach, took a "pop" at this disturber of the peace and he came tumbling down. Upon running up to his victim, Leon discovered him to be a Canadian In- dian, and clutching his scalp-lock, dragged him to our line of sli a rpsl looters. Tlie regiment was at Lynchl)urg when the pursuit of Hun- ter began, marched with General Early to Wasliington, D. C, was one of the regiments left to support the picket line under the walls of Washington, while the rest of the corps made good its retreat to the valley — the Nineteenth and Sixth Corps of the Federal army having been poured into the city for its de- fense. While supporting the pickets, this regiment became involved in one of the hottest conflicts in its experience, but succeeded in holding its position, repulsing and driving the P^ifty-Third Regiment. 259 enemy back to the earthworks, which defended the city. At jnidnight it received orders to retire in perfect silence, and to the surprise of all when we reached the position on the hills near the city, Avhere we had left the corps, it was ascertained that the corps had left the night before, twenty-four hours — and we marched the whole night and a greater part of the next day before we caught up with the rear guards. Early's ruse, as usual, had succeeded in deceiving the enemy. This regiment participated in all of the battles in the Val- ley in 1864, and in numerous combats and skirmishes. In this Valley Campaign the regiment lost its gallant Colonel Owens, who was killed at Snicker's Ford, near Snicker's Gap, in August, 1864. He had been absent since 10 May, disabled by wounds at Spottsylvania Court House ; had returned just as the regiment was eating dinner, and almost while we were congratulating him on his safe return, we received notice that the enemy had crossed the river at Snicker's Ford. The or- der to ''fall in" was given, we marched to the river, and drove the enemy across, after a short, but severe conflict. The firing had ceased, excepting now and then a dropping shot, when Colonel Owens was killed by one of these stray shots. He was a good officer, brave, humane, social, popular with both men and officers. He was succeeded by the writer as Colonel. At Winchester, on 19 September, 1864, Adjutant Osborne was killed. Two years ago Color Sergeant Taylor, of Com- pany E, Surry county, who has resided in Utah since 1866, visited me. He received a ball in his hip from which wound he still limps and in talking about his own wound, he told me as we w^ere charging the third Federal line at Winches- ter, having broken the first two, and when near the tempor- ary breastwork of the enemy, he received the shot which dis- abled him for life, and that as he fell, young Osborne picked up the flag waving it, ran forward, cheering on the men and was killed within 20 feet of the Color Sergeant. He was an efficient officer and daring soldier, I suppose not older than 20 years. Lieutenant W. R. Murray, of Company A, than whom there was not a better officer or braver soldier in the ^'Old Guard" of iSTapoleon, acted as Adjutant after the death of Osborne till the surrender at Appomattox. 260 NoKTH Cakolina Tkooi's, 186] -'Go. As stated before, Major Iredell, a true gentleman and brave soldier, was killed at Spottsylvania Court House. Captain Jolm W. Rierson succeeded him. At Winchester, finding that there was a gap of two or three hundred yards between my left and the troops on the left, and that the enemy had discov- ered and \vfr(^ ])reparing to take advantage of it, I directed Major Itierson to find General Grimes on the right of the division, (General Rodes had been killed in the beginning of the action), and apprise him of the situation. After some time he returned, saluted and reported, the fighting being very heavy all the time, when I discovered that J\Lajor Rier- son was shot through the neck, which wound was received be- fore he found General Grimes, but he nevertheless performed the duty, returned and reported, and did not then go to tbe rear until I directed him to do so. This gallant officer was killed when the enemy broke over our lines at Peter.-bvD-g, a few days before Appomattox. He was entitled to his com- mission as Lieutenant-Colonel from the date of the battle of Snicker's Ford, but I do not know that he received it. This was a volunteer regiment, enlisted in the latter part of the winter and first part of the spring of 1862, and was organized at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh, the first week in May, 1862, and assigned to Daniel's Brigade, (Rodes' Divis- ion). William A. Owens, of Mecklenburg county, was elected Colonel ; James T. Morehead, Jr., of Guilford county, Lieutenant-Colonel, and James Johnston Iredell, of Wake county. Major, Colonel Owens had already been in the service more than one year, having served as Captain in the First (Bethel) Reg- iment, and at the time of his election was Lieutenant-Colonel of the Eleventh Regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Morehead had also been in the service the preceding year, having entered the same in April, 1861, as Lieutenant of the "Guilford Grays," (afterwards Com- pany B, of the Twenty-seventh Regiment), and at the time of his election was a Captain in the Forty-fifth Regiment. William B. Osborne, of Mecklenburg county, M^as ap- pointed Adjutant and John M. Springs, of Mecklenburg, was appointed Captain and Assistant Quartermaster. He re- Fifty-Third Regiment. 261 signed in the fall of 1862 and was succeded by Captain John B. Biirwell. J. F, Long was appointed Surgeon ; Lauriston H. Hill, of Stokes county, Assistant Surgeon, and promoted Surgeon in 1863. William Hill, of Mecklenburg, was ap- pointed Captain, A. C. S. In 1863 Charles Gresham, of Virginia, was assigned to duty with this regiment as Assist- ant Surgeon. James H. Colton, of Randolph county, was appointed Chaplain ; J. H. Owens, Sergeant Major (pro- moted Second Lieutenant of Company I and killed) ; R. B. Burwell, Quartermaster Sergeant; J. C. Palmer, Commis- sary Sergeant; R. S. Barnett, Ordnance Sergeant. Upon the promotion of J. H. Owens, Aaron Katz, of Company B, succeeded him as Sergeant-Ma j or, and upon his being cap- tured, Robert A. Fleming, of Company A, was Sergeant- Major. Company A was from Guilford county. A. P. McDaniel was its first Captain, commissioned 25 February, 1862, and upon his retirement in 1863, Lieutenant J. M. Sutton was promoted Captain and wounded at Bethesda Church and on 21 September, 1864, in the Valley, and captured at Peters- burg; P. W. Haterick (killed at Gettysburg), First Lieuten- ant; J. M. Sutton, Second Lieutenant; W. L. Fleming, pro- moted from Sergeant to Second Lieutenant in August, 1863 ; William R. Murray, promoted from ranks to Second and First Lieutenant in 1863; J. W. Scott, promoted Second Lieutenant from Sergeant (chief of regimental corps of sharpshooters). Company' B was from Mecklenburg county and its first Captain was J. Harvey White, commissioned 1 March, 1862, killed at Spottsylvania Court House in May, 1864. Samuel E. Belk, First Lieutenant ; John M. Springs, Second Lieu- tenant, promoted Assistant Quartermaster ; William M. Mat- thews, Second Lieutenant, promoted from First Sergeant; M. E. Alexander, promoted Second Lieutenant from Second Sergeant. Lieutenants Belk, Matthews and Alexander were wounded at Gettysburg. Company C was from Johnston, Chatham and Wake, mostly from Johnston. Its first Captain was John Leach, commissioned 28 February, 1862 ; was succeeded as Captain 262 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. by J. C. Kicliardson (wounded at Petersburg), commissioned 17 April, 1863, both from Johnston county; George T. Leach, of Chatham, commissioned First Lieutenant 7 March, 1862 ; John H. Tomlinson, of Johnston county, commissioned Second Lieutenant in April, 1862, resigned and succeeded by E. Tomlinson in 1862 ; S. R. Horn, of Johnston county, was commissioned Second Lieutenant 21 July, 1862. Company D was from Guilford, Cumberland, Forsyth, Stokes, Bladen and Surry. David Scott, Jr., of Guilford county, was commissioned Captain 1 March, 1862, resigned and was succeeded 15 May, 1863, by Alexander Ray, of Cum- berland county, promoted from First Lieutenant and killed at Petersburg, April 1865. Alexander Ray Avas commissioned First Lieutenant 1 March, 1862 ; Madison L. Efland, of Guil- ford county, commissioned Second Lieutenant 1 March, 1862, promoted First Lieutenant 15 May, 1863, and wounded; A. H. Westmoreland, of Stokes county, was promoted from Ser- geant to Second Lieutenant ; W. N. Westmoreland, Stokes county, was promoted from the ranks to Second Lieutenant in 1863. Company E was from Surry county. J. C. ]N"orman was commissioned Captain on 8 March, 1862, resigned the follow- ing December and was succeeded by First Lieutenant Rob- ert A. Hill, killed in 1864, succeeded in turn as Captain by First Lieutenant B. W. Minter ; Samuel Walker was commis- sioned Second Lieutenant 8 March, 1862, promoted to First Lieutenant December, 1862, and resigned; B. W. Minter, Second Lieutenant, promoted First Lieutenant and Captain ; Henry Hines, Second Lieutenant, in 1862 ; Logan Bemer, promoted from Corporal to Second Tjieutenant, wounded and captured in 1864; James A. Hill, Second Lieutenant, cap- tured in 1864. Company F was from Alamance and Chatham. G. M. G. Albright was commissioned Captain 5 May, 1862, killed July, 1863, at Gettysburg, and was succeeded by A. G. Al- bright, promoted from First Lieutenant (wounded at Fisher's Hill, 1864) ; Jesse M. Holt, First Lieutenant, 16 July, 1863, promoted from Second Lieutenant, (killed at Winchester, 1864) ; Branson Lambe, commissioned in 1864, promoted Fifty-Third Regiment. 263 from Second Lieutenant; John J. Webster, commissioned Second Lieutenant May, 1862, and resigned; S. J. Albright, commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1862 and killed at Spottsylvania Court House in 1864. Company F was from Stokes. G. W. Clarke was com- missioned Captain on 20 March, 1862, and resigned May, 1862 ; was succeeded by John W. Eierson, promoted from Second Lieutenant and who was in 1863 promoted to Major, wounded at Winchester and killed at Petersburg, April, 1865. He was in time succeeded as Captain by H. H. Campbell, promoted from First Lieutenant and killed at Winchester. G. B. Moore was commissioned First Lieutenant in March, 1862, resigned in June ; John W. Rierson, commissioned Sec- ond Lieutenant March, 1862 ; W. H. McKinney was promo- ted from the ranks in May, 1862, to second Lieutenant, and wounded at Winchester ; C. F. Hall, promoted from ranks to Second Lieutenant, mortally wounded at Gettysburg; W. F. Campbell, promoted First Lieutenant and wounded at Wash- ington, D. C. Company H was from Stokes county. Captain Spotts- wood B. Taylor was commissioned on 20 March, 1862, re- signed on account of health in ISTovember, 1863, and was suc- ceeded by John E. Miller, promoted from Second Lieutenant, who was wounded at Snicker's Ford and captured September, 1864; Thomas S. Burnett, commissioned First Lieutenant 20 March, 1862, and killed in 1863; Charles A. McGehee, First Lieutenant, November, 1862, woimded at Gettysburg 3 July, 1863, and captured; Alexander M. King, Second Lieutenant, March, 1862 ; J. Henry Owens, promoted Sec- ond Lieutenant from Sergeant-Ma j or, December, 1862, and killed ; Alexander Boyles, promoted First Lieutenant. Company I was from Union county. E. A. Jerome was commissioned Captain 20 March, 1862, and resigned in Jime following, and was succeeded by Thomas E. Ashcraft, pro- moted from First Lieutenant ; John D. Cuthbertson, commis- sioned Second Lieutenant 20 March, 1862, promoted First Lieutenant; Joshua Lee, commissioned Second Lieutenant 20 March, 1862 ; James E. Green, promoted from the ranks, 204 North Carolina Trooi's, 1 801-65. Second Lieutenant 24 June, 1862; A. T. Marsh, promoted froni Sergeant to Second Lieutenant 19 May, 1864. Company K was from Wilkes county. William J, Mil- ler was commissioned Captain 20 March, 1862, killed at Get- tysburg 1 July, 1863, and was succeeded by Jesse Y. Eller, promoted from Second Lieutenant; Thomas C. Miller, pro- moted from Second Lieutenant to First Lieutenant 1 July, 1863 ; Thomas C. Miller, commissioned Second Lieutenant in August, 1862. This regiment lost in killed its first Colonel, who was twice wounded ; both of its Majors, one of them, Rierson, several times wounded and its xidjutant. Its surviving Colonel was wounded three times, at Gettysburg, Fisher's Hill and in the assault upon the Federal lines at Hare's Hill on 25 March, 1865, in which last engagement he was captured within the enemy's works. As it is, I have only the approximately correct report of the losses of one of the companies of the regiment, and that only in one battle, but I think the losses of the other com- panies may be fairly estimated from the losses of this one. Company B lost at Gettysburg out of about 65 men, 8 killed and 22 wounded, and of the four officers, three vvere wounded. I meet many of these scarred and now grizzly veterans of the companies from Alamance, Guilford, Stokes and Surry at my courts in these counties, and hear sometimes from those from the other counties, and with very few exceptions they have shown themselves to be as good citizens as they were gal- lant soldiers. They illustrate that ''peace hath her victories no less renowned than war." The regiment reduced to a handful of men shared the for- tunes of the historic retreat and surrendered at Appomattox, being then commanded by Captain Thomas E. Ashcraft, the brigade l)eing commanded by Colonel David G. Cowand. General Grimes having boon made a ^^fajor-General, com- manded the division. I cannot close this sketch without acknowledging my in- debtedness to Captain Sutton and Private J. Montgomery, of Company A ; L. Leon, of Company B, who kindly furnished Fifty-Third Regiment. 265 me with copy of a diary kept by him from organization of the regiment up to 5 May, 1864, when he was captured ; Cap- tain Albright, of Company F ; Captain S. B. Taylor, of Com- pany H, and Lieutenant W. F. Campbell, of Company G, for valuable information ; and I hope that the publication of the sketches of the North Carolina regiments will excite in- terest enough among the old soldiers to give us further dates and incidents. I wish I could write a history of my regi- ment which would do the officers and men full credit for their patriotism and services. The patriotism and heroism of these soldiers were illus- trated by the patient and uncomplaining endurance of the forced march, the short rations, the hardships of winter camps and campaigns as much as by their lighting qualities. Pos- terity will hesitate to decide which is most worthy of admira- tion. James T. Morehead. Obeensboro, N. C, 9 April, 1901. --^ FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT. 1. K. M. Murchison, Colonel. 2. Rev. John Paris, Chaplain. 3. J. Marshall ■Williams. 1st Lieut., Co. C. 4. R. A. Russell, ~M Lieut., Co. E. FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT. By J. MARSHALL WILLIAMS, First Lieutenant Company C. This regiment was organized at Camp Mangum, near Ral- eigh, N. C, on 10 May, 1862, and was composed of t^ com- panies of infantry, viz. : Company A — Rowaon County — Captain Anderson Ellis. Company B — Burke County — Captain, J. C. S. McDow- ell. Company C — Cumberland County — Captain, K. M. Mur- chison. Company D — Northampton County — Captain, J. A. Rogers. Company E — Iredell Coimiy — Captain, — . — . Parker. Company F — Guilford Cou??^^/— Captain, — . — . Wat- lington. Company G — MHlkes County — Captain, A. H. Martin. Company H — Yadkin County — Captain, D. S. Cocker- ham. Company K — Columbus County — Captain, W. B. Hamp- ton. Company K — Granville County — Captain, S. J. Parham. Each company containing its full quota of men, it pro ceeded to elect Field Officers, which resulted as follows : Captain J. C. S. McDowell^ of Company B, Colonel. ■ Captain K. M. Muechison^ of Company C, Lieutenant^ Colonel. Captain A. Ei.lis^ of Company A, Major. Subsequently the following Staff was appointed : Lieutenant W. C. McDaniel. Adjutant, of Company C. D. R. MuRCHisoN^ Quartermaster. E. G. Greenlee^ Surgeon. 268 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. W. H. Tate, Assistant Surgeon. Rev. John Paris, Chaplain. Robert G. Russell, Sergeant-Major. E. G. Brodie, Ordnance Sergeant. J. J. Forney, Quartermaster Sergeant. Tluis it will be seen that this regiment was composed of ten companies from different parts of the State. Though high up in iiumhers, it was made up of good material; many of its officers and men had formerly belonged to the First Volun- teers or ''Bethel," Seventh and Eighth jSTorth Carolina Regi- ments. Upon the completion of its organization this regiment was sent to the coast of jSTorth Carolina, and after three months seiwice on picket duty, and other duties incident to camp life, it was ordered to the Anny of ISrorthern Virginia, and was temporarily placed in Law's Brigade, with the Sixth, Twenty- first and Fifty-seventh North Carolina Regiments, which constituted a part of Hood's Division. Soon after it was assigned to this command, the first battle of Fredericksburg came off. FREDERICKSBURG. Here we ''fleshed our maiden sword," and at once covered ourselves with glory. On 13 December, 1862, this regiment, with the Fifty-seventh, being new regiments, were detached and ordered to drive the enemy from a rail- road cut, from which they had driven our troops in the early part of the day. At 5 o'clock p. m. this memorable charge was made in the most gallant manner in the presence of some of our prominent generals, and to use the language of General Hood, our comuumder, "They pursued the broken enemy across the railroad for a mile into the plains. Although scourged by a galling flank fire, it was uot until repeated mes- sengers had been sent to repress their ardor that they were recalled. I verily believe the mad fcdlows would have gone on in spite of me and tlie enemy together; and re- turned, souie of them were seen weepiug witli vexation be- cause they had been dragged from the bleeding haunches of Fifty-Fourth Regiment. 269 the foe, and exclaiming : 'It is because lie has no confidence in Carolinians ! If we had been some of his Texans he would have let us go on and got some glory.' " Our loss in this battle was comparatively light, considering the deadly work we were engaged in, but we left some brave men on the field, which served to remind us that in our next it might be our lot to fill a soldier's grave. After this battle we went intO' winter quarters on the Rappahannock river, and in a short time the campaign of 1863 was opened. We were then transferred to General Robert F. Hoke's Brigade, which was composed of the Sixth, Twenty-first, Fifty-fourth and Fifty-seventh No'rth Carolina Regiments and assigned to Early's Division, Jackson's Corps. We took part in some of Jackson's strater- gic movements around Chancellorsville, and were engaged in several "brushes" which were very common at that time. On 3 May our division alone, was sent back to Fred- ericksburg, a distance of sixteen miles, and took posi- tion on Marye's Heights to prevent a flank movement on General Lee, then at Chancellorsville. On the following day Sedgwick's Corps, with other troops, crossed the river, and swept us from our position. Soon Rode's Division came to our assistance, and after a bloody struggle we rer gained our former position, and the enemy were driven back across the river. Many of our brave men fell in this battle. It was here that our much-lamented Colonel, J. C. S. McDowell, fell mortally wounded, and on the 8th yielded up his life, "as a holocaust to his country's need." His re- mains were then taken by a dear friend to Richmond, and placed in the capital by the side of the immortal Jackson, who had "crossed over the river" at the same time. After the death of Colonel ]\IcDowell, Lieutenant-Colonel Ken- neth M. Murchison was made a full Colonel, and Captain James A. Rogers, of Company D, was made Major, vice Ellis promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. Soon we joined the main army, then at Chancellorsville, and were assigned to Ewell's Corps,, and with the army took up a line of march for Culpepper Court House: From thence we moved north- ward, passed Little Washing-ton, and moving with the ut- most rapidity we soon entered the Valley. 270 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. in the valley. Upon reaching Front Royal, liodes' Division of our Corps was detached and sent to Berryville, when our division (Early's) with Johnson's, were sent to Winchester, On reaching the vicinity of Winchester our sharpshooters be- came engaged, and soon drove the enemy into one of their ad- vanced forts, which was very strong. A line of battle was soon formed, and all preparation made for an immediate at- tack. General Ewell tinding it a difficult matter to procure a suitable position for his artillery on the hills commanding the town, spent the day in posting his batteries. The town was strongly fortified, and it was thought that Milroy, with a garrison of G,000 men, would make a desper- ate effort to hold it. General Ewell at once resolved to storm the works, and with all the artillery from the two divisions opened a galling fire upon their works, and in three hours' time the Federal guns were silenced. At 6 o'clock p. m., Hays' Brigade of our division, made a most gallant charge and carried their redoubts by storm, capturing and killing a good portion of the garrison. ISTight coming on, Milroy, with a handful of his men, deserted their command and fled in wild confusion and reached Hai'per's Ferry in safety. In this engagement 2,000 prisoners, equally as many horses, and a vast amount of commissary stores were cap- tured. On 18 June our regiment, then numbering 400 men, was ordered to take these prisoners to Staunton, a distance of 100 miles, and rejoin the army then in Maryland, at a speci- fied time. The Fifty-fourth was thus depjfived of a share in the battle of Gettysburg in which the rest of the brigade participated. With as little delay as possible we started en route for Staunton, marching eighteen miles a day, and guarding prisoners at night. On 3 July, 1863, we returned to Winchester, and in conjunction with a Virginia regiment, were ordered to guard an ordnance train to the army, then in Pennsylvania. Upon reaching Williamsport it was ascer- tained that the enemy was making some demonstrations in our front, and we were at once ordered by General Imboden, who was tlien in command, to take position and repel any Fifty- Fourth Regiment. 271 attack that might be made upon our wagon train, which had arrived there, but could not cross on account of the high stage of the water in the Potomac. On the morning of the 6th a strong force of cavalry and artillery advanced on the Hagerstown and Boonsboro roads. Our force being small, four companies under command of LieutenantrColonel Ellis, were detached to support our only battery, and the remainder of the regiment deployed as sharp- shooters, so as to check any advance of the enemy that might be made on the Boonsboro road. At 5 o'clock p. m. the en- emy advanced their artillery, which was followed by dis- mounted cavalry, and a fierce little battle ensued, which lasted for an hour, when they retreated. In this fight 25 were killed and wounded from our regiment, and a good number from the regiment that had joined us. General Imboden guarded our flanks, while Colonel Mur- chison manoeuvered this little army with much coolness, and soon won the unbounded confidence of his men in his mili- tary skill and their admiration for his personal bravery. retreat from GETTYSBURG. On 8 July we again joined the main army at Hagerstown, Md., and with it we again crossed the Potomac. Marching continuously we reached Rapidan Station, and went into camp for a short rest, which was so much needed. From this camp heavy cannonading could be heard in our rear, and we were frequently annoyed by the cavalry dashes on our rear guard. After our rest we moved on Somerville Ford, to check a column of cavalry from crossing; but after a feeble demonstration, they withdrew to Raccoon Ford to reinforce some troops already there, and confronting Johnson's Divis- ion. We were hurried to that point and assisted in driving them back. From here we moved to Orange Court House, and after being reviewed by General Lee, we went into camp and were held in reserve for two days. Colonel Murchison, after a short absence, joined us at this place, and took command of the regiment. In a short time we were sent out on picket 272 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. and captured a good lot of prisoners that had been cut off from their commands. We then moved on to Madison Court House, and in ap- proching Rapidan river, had a fierce encounter with the enemy's cavalry, which was soon driven back. We then con- tinued our march in the direction of Culpepper Court House, and tipon arriving there had a rest of tAvo days, awaiting some troops to como up. On the 12th we resumed our march for Warrenton Springs and rested for the night. The next morning we crossed the river, and found many dead Yan- kees and horses where General Stuart had fought them the day before. He was then driving them in the direction of Rappahannock Station. Our whole anny then began de- stroying the railroad for some distance, and after this work was accomplished we went on tO' Rappahannock Station and went into camp. The next day we moved to Brandy Sta- tion, and in passing through an open space of fields, we were subjected to a severe enfilading fire, from the horse artillery, which caused some confusion ; but they were soon driven off, and we then moved on quietly and bivouacked near Brandy Station. On 1 IsTovember, 1863, we moved our camp two miles west of Brandy Station on tlie railroad, and much to our surprise, we were ordered to build winter quarters ; and what rejoic- ing there was in the anticipation of a long rest and a cessa- tion of hostilities. Those of us who possessed a talent for making ourselves comfortable soon had good cabins, and as every officer was priding himself upon having the "best," a sudden change in our life of quietude and social enjoyment came over the spirit of our dreams. RAPPAHANNOCK BRIDGE. On the evening of the* 15th our brigade was called out and hurried to the river to reinforce Hays' Brigade of our divis- ion, then on picket, and threatened by a heavy force. Just at dark we reached the river, and were hurried across on pontoon bridges, and took position behind some works that had been built to defend the passage of the river. It was thought bv General Earlv that a successful resistance could Fifty-Fourth Regiment. 273 be made, or if forced to withdraw, it could be done under the batteries from the south side. In a short time Sedgwick's Corps with the assistance of Russell's and Upton's Brigades from the Fifth Corps, took possession of our bridge and the two brigades after some desperate fighting, were oveiiDOwered and compelled to surrender. Out of the 2,000 men engaged and so recklessly exposed, 1,750 were captured and 150 killed and wounded. Those who escaped only reached the south side by swimming the river. From our regiment only three commissioned officers escaped, viz.. Lieutenants Edward Smith, Fitzgerald, and the writer of this sketch, who was then carried fifteen miles at night, through a mist of rain and snow, in an unconscious condition, before a change of clothing could be had. Those that were captured were taken to Johnson's Island, Ohio, and Avere held until after the war. If the writer is not mistaken, General Hoke was at this time home on a wounded furlough, and upon hearing of this dreadful disaster, came on and obtained permission to take the remnant of his brigade to Kinston, IST. C, to be recraited by conscripts, and his old men then at home on sick and wounded furloughs. The Twenty-first ISTorth Carolina of our brigade was absent at the time, being on detached service in jS'orth Carolina, and thus escaped capture. The conscripts soon began to pour in from Raleigh, and for three weeks we were engaged in the monotonous business of preparing these men for more active service. NEW BERN. General Hoke, not yet entirely well of his wounds, became restless and obtained permission to "tackle" New Bern. On 30 January, 1864, we moved in that direction, by the Dover road, and were reinforced by Clingman's and Corse's Bri- gades. Upon reaching Core creek our sharpshooters were thrown out and soon became engaged with the enemy, when they were driven back to Bachelor's creek, where they were well fortified and made a stubborn resistance. Our artillery was soon in position, and a deadly assault was made upon 18 S74 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. their works, when they fled in much confusion tx> New Bern, -leaving behind several pieces of artillery and a good many prisoners. In this battle our loss in killed and wounded was ■heavy. Among the killed was Colonel Shaw, of the Eighth North Carolina. We then moved on to New Bern, and finding heavy reinforcements ])ouring into the city from Plymouth and other points, it w^as not deemed advisable to make the attack just at this time, and our little army withdrew ; but not until much damage had been done to the enemy. We then returned quietly to Kinston, and re- mained there, drilling conscripts which were daily com- ing in until 13 April, when our brigade moved in the direc- tion of Goldsboro, Clingman's and Corse's going in a different direction. This movement somewhat puzzled lis, as we knew not "'what was up" until we reached Ply- mouth, w^hen some changes were made in our commands. CAPTURE or PLYMOUTH. The Forty-third North Carolina and Twenty-first Georgia Hegiments were temporarily attached to our brigades. Col- onel Mercer, of the Twenty-first Georg-ia, being senior ofiicer, took command of our brigade (General Hok^e commanding the whole army). In the first charge on one of the advanced forts, which was very strong. Colonel Mercer was killed, and his men seeing no chance of getting in under this galling fire, began to waver, Avhen Lieutenant-Colonel W. G. Lewis, •of the Forty-third, promptly taking in the critical situation, assumed command, and began to rally the men behind a bluff in a few yards of the fort. He at once sent for two pieces of artillery, which soon battered down one corner of the fort, and we went in without the loss of a man. This movement evidently saved the life of many a brave man. From this time Colonel Lewis was in command of our bri- gade and was soon made Brigadier-General for his heroic conduct on this occasion. We then moved on the town, and after a feeble demonstra- tion by the enemy it was surrendered 20 April, 1864, with 2,500 prisoners, 100,000 pounds of bacon, 1,000 barrels of flour and a vast amount of other stores. Among these prison- Fifty-Fourth Regiment. 275 ers 22 had formerly belonged to our army, and had gone over to the enemy and taken up arms against us. These pris- oners were sent to Kinston, given a fair trial by court-mar- tial, convicted of high treason, and duly executed by our brigade.* After this we went to Washington, N. C. The enemy soon fled destroying a vast amount of stores. At this place we re- mained several days in perfect quietude. We then moved back to iSTew Bern, where General Hoke expected to add an- other gem to the diadem of his military fame, but alas! General Lee could no longer do without him and we were hurried to Virginia. BUTLER^S ADVAIS^CE ON PETERSBTJEG. Arriving at Weldon, IST. C, it was ascertained that the enemy had torn up the railroad and burnt two of our bridges, and we were compelled to march fourteen miles and take the cars again. On 9 May at 6 o'clock p. m., we arrived at Petersburg just in time to save the city. Butler at that time was in possession of the outer works of the city, and had de- manded its surrender on the following morning. As soon as we could get in position he was attacked in the most vigorous manner, and soon fled in wild confusion to Drewry's Bluff, and we in hot pursuit until stopped by the heavy shelling from his gunboats. We then crossed the James and took position at Chaffin's fann, and after some shar]3 picket fight- ing we were withdrawn and sent to Richmond by steamers. Arriving there, we were sent four miles east of the city, and went into camp for the first time in several days. The next day we again crossed the James river to check a column of cavalry that was supposed to be moving on the coal field railroad. The enemy made but a feeble demonstration, and after some brisk picket fighting they withdrew. 13 July, 1864, we were ordered back to Drewry's Bluff to * After the war Secretary Stanton had in contemplation calling Gen. Hoke to account but the latter took the initiative by going to Washing- ton and calling on Gen. Grant who promptly stopped the proceedings. —Ed. 276 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. reinforce General Beauregard, who was threatened by a heavy force. Upon our arrival there the sharp-shooters be- came hotly engaged, and at 6 o'clock p. ra. General Ransom's Brigade was moved forward and made a most brilliant charge on their works, but by some misunderstanding he was not sup- ported and was compelled to fall back, losing some good of- cers, himself painfully wounded. The following day hot skinnishing was kept up during the entire day, both armies preparing for bloody work. General Beauregard by this time knew what a superior force in numbers he had to con- tend against, and displayed great military skill in getting his troops in position. On the morning of the ITtli he moved forward his entire line, and after a most desperate stiiiggle for four hours, he drove them in some disorder to Bennuda Hundreds, under cover of their giinboats in the James and Appomattox rivers. Thus the "bottling up of Butler," so gi-aphically detailed by General Grant, was completed, and the military career of this "Beast and modem Falstaff" was at an end (at least in Virginia). In this battle our loss was very heavy — 3,000 in killed and wounded. Among the killed was our noble Major Rogers, who fell pierced by two balls, while gallantly leading this regiment. Our new men behaved admirably, but being inexperienced a great many were killed. After this battle our entire regiment, save commissioned officers, were duly exchanged and returned for duty, swelling our ranks to 700 men. At this time we only had five com- missioned officers on duty, and the arduous duty of com- manding these men devolved upon them alone. We remained here several days watching the movements of the enemy. From here we were transported by steamers to RiehniDud to reinforce General Stuart, wlio was then fight- ing a heavy column of cavali'y that was making a raid on the city. After a fierce engagement in which General Stuart was killed, the army withdrew, leaving many of their dead and wovmded behind them. We were then ordered to make a forced march, and again Fifty-Fourth Regiment. 277 join the main army at Spottsylvania Court House. Upon our an'ival there General Lewis received orders from Gen- eral Lee in his own handwriting to "continue your march by most direct road to Jowls' Mills and Mud Tavern, and join General Ewell's Corps between Stannard Mills and Crutch- field's ; lose no time, and bring up your men in good order." This order forced General Lewis to march his men 37 miles that day, which was one of the longest marches in one day on record. After reporting to General Ewell, we were assigned to Early's Division again, and had the honor of bringing up the retreat to Hanover Junction, and not being pressed at this time by military exigencies, were allowed to spend a quiet Sabbath in camp. The next morning we moved for Mechanicsville, where we had a brisk skirmish with the cavalry, which was, as usual, soon driven back. On 11 June we reached Petersburg and took position in the trenches near the city. This position we did not fancy, as the enemy could "pick at" us from the slightest exposure. But, much to our comfort and surprise, we only remained in this position four days, when orders were received to be ready to march in a short time. LYNCHBURG. On the 14th our entire corps took up a line of march for parts unknown to us. After marching some days we reached Charlottesville, and took the cars for Lynchburg to meet Hunter's army then threatening the city, arriving at the lat- ter place at 2 o'clock p. m. We were moved four miles west of the city and formed a line of battle on the Salem turnpike. Our skirmishers were advanced, and soon attacked the enemy in a spirited manner, and they fell back to Liberty in much confusion, we pressing them so closely they left many wagons, prisoners and commissary stores behind. On the morning of the 22d we crossed the mountain range at Buford's Still in pursuit, and at Hanging Eock they were intercepted by our cavalry and a brisk little fight took place, in which they lost 200 prisoners, 15 pieces of artillery, 150 horses, and many wagons laden with stores. 278 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. The infantry was then so much exhaustrilliant victory lost. Many of us were soon ridden down by the cavalry and captured, killed or wounded, while our cavalry was of little assistanc^^. The writer of this sketch was painfully wounded in this retreat, Fifty-Fourth Regiment. 281 and was carried six miles on a liorse led by his faithful ser- vant, Billy Williams, before his wound was staunched. Right here I will digress for one moment: ''Billy", as he was known throughout the division, was unlike his race ; he seemed to love the excitement of war, and with his young master, saw the sun rise at Bethel and go down at Appomat- tox. And for the betrayal of a squadron of yankees into our lines, his name was placed upon the rolls of honor in Ral- eigh. The enemy recaptured all their prisoners and guns they had lost in the morning and captured from us equally as many as they lost. Major-General Ramseur was killed. Lieutenant-Colonels S. McD. Tate and A. Ellis, commanding the Sixth and Fifty-fourth North Carolina Regiments, with many other good officers, were severely wounded in this try- ing disaster. Our brigade suffered intensely in this cam- paign, losing seven different commanders in the course of six "sveeks' time. PETEKSBURG. The battle of Cedar Creek was the last event of importance in the Valley campaign, and practically closed it. The de- feat of General Early and the desolation of the Valley by Sheridan made it impossible for an army to remain in that region. These failures caused much feeling of indignation against General Early, and he was soon relieved of his com- mand. The remnant of his army was then placed under command of General J. B. Gordon, and sent back to Peters- burg. Our division was assigTied to General Pegram, and sent nine miles west of the city on the Boydtown Plank road, where we went into some cabins that had been built by other troops for winter quarters. Here we remained three days only, before the enemy began to manceuver in our front, when we were called out, and in a short time our division and Gordon's (which had just come up) were attacked at Hatcher's Run 6 Febiiiary, 1865, and a struggle, unprece- dented in its fui-y, and protracted beyond all expecta- tions, was commenced, and we were soon compelled to fall back a short distance. Mahone's and Wilcox's Divisions 282 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. came to our relief, and by indefatigable exertion we regained our former position, and the enemy fled in confusion. Our loss was very heavy in killed and wounded. Among the killed was our much lamented General, the "gay and gallant" Pegram, who had been married but a few days. From here we were moved two miles below Petersburg, and placed in Walker's Division, and took positions in the trenches formerly occupied by General Ransom and at some points in a stone's throw^ of the enemy. Here we had a long rest, but were much annoyed by the daily shellings from their heavy guns. HABEAS HILL. At 4:45 a. m., 25 March, 1865, a detail from our brigade and another emerged from our works in column of at- tack and dashed across the narrow space that separated the two armies, tore away the abatis and nished into Fort Stedman, completely surprising the garrison and canned the works. Instantly the captured gims were turned upon the adjacent forts and in a short time a brigade of the enemy w^as put to flight, and three batteries on our flanks were abandoned, and were for a short time in our possession. In this brilliant charge many pieces of artillery were taken and spiked, and five hundred prisoners, including one Brigadier-General, were captured. General Gordon opened this battle with great spirit and skill, but was not sustained. The troops on his right made but a feeble de- monstration, and were soon repulsed. The enemy in a short time recovered from the surprise and poured in a hurricane of shells into the works they had just lost, at the ^ame time throwing forward a heavy line of infantry, which caused us to fall back, losing many prisoners and a great many killed and woimded. This repulse was followed up and after a stubborn resistance our picket line was taken, and then a lull in the tempest for one day, which was but a prelude to its final and resistless burst. "The mighty huntsman now had the srame seciire in his toils, and onlv awaited the moment of his exhaustion to dispatch him." Fifty-Fourth Regiment. 283 the retreat to appomattox. On 2 April, 1865, a most terrific bombardment from one end of the line to the other commenced. At the same time the enemy's infantry surged forward like a mighty wave, and rolled up to our works. As one line recoiled from our deadly fire another would take its place, as though determined to break through by sheer weight of numbers. Our little band, so much exhausted from hard fighting and superhuman exer- tions, was compelled to fall back in the direction of Appomat- tox river. Following the river by the most accessible roads, we reached Amelia Court House, thirty-eight miles from where we started. Here General Lee expected to find a quantity of supplies for his troops, but, by an inexcusable blunder of the Richmond authorities the cars passed by with- out stopping to unload the supplies. We then had been two days without any food, and not a ration to be had. Our dis- appointment was complete, for the condition we were left in was desperate, and for some time we were wrapped in dis- consolate silence. But for this blunder, General Lee could have preserved his army intact and passed Burkeville in safety before the enemy could have reached there. On the night of the 5th we left Amelia Court House, marching by way of Deatonville in the direction of Farmville. Upon reaching Sailor's creek, and after some desperate fighting and losing some of our best men, we moved on to Gettersville, a distance of four miles, much jaded, footsore, and half starved, and soon became engaged in another desperate fight, in which our lamented Captain A. H. Martin, commanding this regiment, fell instantly killed, while gallantly holding his men to the front. When the enemy reached his dead body, they had it decently interred, and wrote upon an en- velop, placing it upon the grave, "^Here lies the body of a brave man. Captain Martin, of the Fifty-fourth North Carolina." In this battle our regiment lost more than three- fourths of its men in killed, wounded and prisoners, after which the remnant moved on to Farmville, and found that the enemy had just taken a battery in our front and had in possession our only line of retreat. General Lee at this crit- 284 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. ical moment seemed very much exercised, and evinced a de- sire to lead a charge on them if his men would follow. At once many exclaimed, "No, no, but if you will retire we will do the work." As he rode off, General W. G. Lewis, our brigade commander, so distinguished for his intrepid valor, rallied a few men and led the charge until he, with many others, fell severely wounded, and was unavoidably left in the hands of the enemy. The writer of this sketch was then acting as his Inspector General, and was the only member of his staff that was left to tell the tale of this bloody trag- edy. This charge was evidently the last one of importance. As the enemy moved on for a stronger position in our front, un- der cover of darkness, we moved on sluggishly, and at every step some brave man was compelled to step out of ranks from overpowering fatigue. At 12 o'clock M. we reached the vicinity of Appomattox Court House, and had a few hours of repose, which was so much neede<:l. THE SURRENDER. On the morning of the 9th an advance was begun, but find- ing overpowering numbers in our front, and upon all sides, this little army then reduced to something over 8,000 in- fantry and 3,000 cavalry and artillery actually in line, was halted pending negotiations for its sun-ender, which was made on that bright Sabbath day. On the succeeding days the rolls were made out and the army paroled in accordance with the terms agreed upon between Generals Lee and Grant. The fragments from the various commands were gathered and marched to a spot designated for that purpose, stacked their arms and deposited a few furled colors. Plaving re- ceived their paroles, our battle and famine-worn soldiers took up the lino of march for those homes they had so bravely fought to defend for four long years of blood, hardship and toil. Thus closes the volume of the bloody record of the Fifty- fourth Regiment of North Carolina troops, and to those of us who still survive, it is indeed pleasant to recall that fearful struggle for independence and to look back upon a series of Fifty-Fourth Regiment. 286 battles and victories unequalled in history ; and every one of us will speak with, pride of the time when he was a soldier in the Army of Northern Virginia. N'oTE. — I have been much indebted to General W. G. Lewis (who has since died) for information; also tO' Mrs. Paris, who so kindly furnished me with diaries containing data, casualties, etc., that were written by our beloved old Chaplain, the late Rev. John Paris, who was so noted for his piety, and untiring devotion to the cause in which we were engaged. He was indeed one of God's nobility. J. Marshall Williams. Fayetteville, N. C, 9 April, 1901. .yj^^t'r ■ ■' **"^■ KIFTY FIFTH KKIJIMKNT. 1. A. H. Belo, Colonel. 3. R.n- William Royall Chaplain. 2. John Kerr Connally. Colonel. 4. I) D Dickson. Captain, Oo. C. 5. C. SI. Cooke, 1st Lieut, ami acting Adjutant. FIFTY-FIFTH REQinE/IT. By CHARLES M. C^OOKE, Adjutant. The Fifty-fifth North Uarolina Regiment was organized at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh, in the early part of 1862. The companies composing the regiment were : Company A — From, Wilson County — William J. Bullock, Captain. Company B — From Wilhes County — Abner S. Calloway, Captain. Company C — From Cleveland County — Silas D. Randall, Captain. Company E — From Pitt County — James T. Whitehead, Captain. Company F — From Clejseland, BurJce and Cataivha Coun- ties— Peter M. Mull, of Catawba county, Captain. Company G — From Johnston County — J. P. Williams, Captain. Company H — From, Alexander and Onslow Counties — Vandevere Teague, Captain; Alexander J. Pollock, First Lieutenant. Company I — From Franklin County — ^Wilson H. Wil- liams, Captain. Company K — From Granville County — Maurice T. Smith, Captain. John Kerr Connelly, of Yadkin county, who was for a while at the N'ational !N"aval Academy at Annapolis, and who had been Captain of a company in the Eleventh Regi- ment of North Carolina Volunteers, was elected Colonel of the regiment. Captain Abner S. Calloway, of Company B, was elected Lieutenant-Colonel. Captain James T. Whitehead, of Company E, was elec- ted Major. 288 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. William H. Young, of Granville county, was appointed Adjutant. W. N. Holt, of Company G, was appointed Sergeant Major. Geokge W. Blount, of Wilson county, (Quartermaster. W. P. Webb, of Granville county, Commissary. Dr. James Smith, of Granville county, Surg-eon. De. Isaac G. Cannady, of Granville county, Assistant Surgeon. Rev. William Royall. of Wake Forest College, Chaplain. A. H. Dunn, of Company I, Quartermaster-Sergeant. W. B. Royall, of Company I, Commissary Sergeant. J. W. C. Young, Ordnance Sergeant. Peterson Thorpe, of Company K, Hospital Steward. Charles E. Jackey, of Pitt county, Chief Musician. Lieutenant-Colonel Calloway resigned and Major White- head died within a few months after the organization of the regiment, and Captain Maurice T. Smith, of Company K, was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain A. H. Belo, of Salem, who commanded a company in the Eleventh Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers, was made Major. Lieuten- ant-Colonel Smith was killed at Gettysburg and Major Belo became Lieutenant-Colonel, and upon the resignation of Col- onel Connally, on account of severe wounds received in the same battle, Lieutenant-Colonel Belo became Colonel. On account of the fact that the senior Captain of the regiment was in prison from Gettysburg until the close of the war, the regiment had no other field officers. Adjutant Young resigned in November, 1862 and Henry T. Jordan, of Person county, was appointed Adjutant. He was captured at Gettysburg and, after that Lieutenant Chas. R. Jones, of Iredell county, acted as xldjutant for several months and then C. M. Cooke, from Company I, was assigned to that position and held it until the close of the war. Surgeon Jas. Smith resigned in December, 1862, and Dr. B. T. Greene, of Franklin county, was appointed Surgeon. A. H. Dunn died in August, 1862, and Henry S. Furman, of Franklin county, was appointed Assistant Quartermaster Ser- geant. W. N. Holt, Sergeant-Ma j or, was made Lieutenant Fifty- Fifth Regiment. 289 in Company II, and Jesse A. Adams, of Johnston county, was made Sergeant-Major. The regiment, after it had been sufficiently drilled to take the field, was sent to the Department of the Pamlico, then un- der the command of General James G. Martin, and remained there during the summer and early part of the fall of 1862. It was on duty a greater part of the time around Kinston and in Trenton. The first time the regiment was under fire was on 7 AugTist, 1862. A Federal gunboat had come up the Neuse to a point a few miles below Kinston, and the regiment was sent down to prevent the landing of the troops. We were formed in a line on the south side of, and not far from the river ; the gunboat came up to a point nearly opposite the position occupied by the regiment, but after the firing of a few shells went back without attempting to land any troops. The regiment during the time spent in that section was thoroughly drilled and disciplined. WASHINGTON, N. C. On 3 September, while the regiment was in camp near LaGrange, there was a special order read on dress parade that 200 men were needed for daring service and volunteers were called for. That number was at once obtained and they were organized into two companies of 100 each. Captain P. M. Mull, of Company F, was put in command of one com- pany, and Captain Maurice T. Smith, of Company K, in command of the other, and the Lieutenants were selected from the different companies. Captain Williams, of Company I, was so anxious to be among the number that he procured the consent of the Colonel to his going as First Lieutenant of one of the companies. It was ordered that these companies be prepared with three days' rations to march the next morning at sunrise. Captain Mull was senior officer and in command of the detachment. Just as the sun rose the next morning we moved out of camp, marching a little north of east, and we were then informed that the movement meant a surprise at- tack upon Washington, IST. C, and that we would be joined be- fore we reached the place by other troops. We met on the 19 290 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. •5tli, Ijetween Greenville and Washington, a detachment from the Eighth, and also from the Seventeenth Regiment, and an artillery company, but without cannon, armed as infantry, under the command of Colonel S. D. Pool, who, from this time, being the ranking officer, took command of the force on the march, although General J. G. ]\Iartin had the general direction of the movement. Later, Captain R. S. Tucker, with his company of cavalry, joined us. We camped on the night of the 5th within a few miles of Washington, and be- fore dawn the next morning, we commenced our march upon the town. We struck the Federal pickets just outside of the town before it was fairly light; we followed at double- quick, and with a "Rebel Yell," entered the town. The Fed- eral troops were taken by surprise, and after firing a round or two, fell back through the town upon the river, under cover of their gunboats. We were in possession of the town, the troops from our regiment being stationed on a square near the center of the town. We held the position for several hours, but the cannon from the gunboats were turned upon us, and the Federal infantry, having re-formed, commenced to fire upon us with long range rifles, while we were armed with the old smooth-bore muskets. We were forced to fall back to the place where we had camped the night before ; the enemy did not pursue us, and the next day we commenced our march back to camp. Captains Mull and Williams, both of whom behaved with great bravery, were wounded ; of the men of the Fifty-fifth Regiment engaged, seven were killed and eight wounded. There was no other meeting with Federal forces while the regiment was in this section. On 1 October, while the regiment was doing picket duty at Wise's Fork, between Kinston and New Bern, it was ordered to Virginia, and for a while did provost duty in the city of Petersburg. With the Second, Eleventh, and Forty-second Mississippi, it was formed into a brigade, and General Joseph R. Davis was assigned to its command. The regiment re- mained in this brigade until January, 1865, when it was transferred to Cooke's Brigade. The Twenty-sixth Missis- sippi Regiment and the First Confederate Battalion were brought into the brigade in the early part of 1864. It was a THE NEW T0^5g:i PUBUC UBRA..RY.' A8TOR. LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS. KIKTYFIFTH KECilMKNT. 1 James S. AVhitehead, Major. 4. H. G. Whitehead, Captain, Co. E. 2. \V. II. Williams, Captain, Co. I. 5. Robert W. Thomas, Captain, Co. K. 3. P. M. Mull, Captain, Co. F. Fifty-Fifth Regiment. 291 fine brigade. The Second and Eleventh Mississippi, with the Fourth Alabama and the Sixth North Carolina, had con- stituted the immortal Bee Brigade at the first battle of Man- assas, and General Whiting afterwards commanded that brig- ade. In forming the brigade for General Davis, the Sixth N^orth Carolina was sent to Hoke's Brigade, the Fourth Ala- bama was transferred to a brigade of Alabama troops, and the Forty-second Mississippi, which was brought to the Army of Northern Virginia for that purpose, and the Fifty-fifth North Carolina, took their places in the old brigade. Al- though all the other regiments, except the Fifty-fifth, were from Mississippi, their relations with the officers and men of that regiment were quite as pleasant as they were with each other. The regiments of Davis' Brigade were a part of the force which General Longstreet carried to Suffolk, Va., in the spring of 1863. DUELS BETWEEN OFFICERS. It was while near Suffolk that an incident occurred which illustrates the high spirit of the officers of the regiment and how jealous they were of its honor. One evening about dark, a heavy piece of Confederate artillery was cap- tured by an unexpected and sui'prise attack by a brigade of Federal troops. Captain Terrell and Captain Cousins, the one Assistant Adjutant-General of General Laws' Brig- ade, and the other on the staff of that General, reported that the Fifty-fifth North Carolina had been assigTied to protect the battery, whereas, in fact, it was a mistake. As soon as Colonel Connally heard of the report, he went to see those gentlemen and stated to them that they were mistaken ; that the Fifty-fifth Regiment had held the position to which it had been assigned, and was in no way responsible for the dis- aster; and demanded that they should correct their report at once. This they declined to do. Thereupon Colonel Con- nally returned to his regiment, called a meeting of the field officers and Captains, stated the circumstances to them, and insisted that the honor of the regiment required that its of- ficers should demand satisfaction from those who had slan- dered it. He proposed that the field officers should first chal- 292 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. lenge the Alabamians, and if the matter was not satisfactorily arranged, consistent with the honor of the regiment, and if they should be killed, each officer should pledge himself to take up the quarrel and fight until the last man was killed, unless proper amends should sooner be obtained. To this the officers generally assented, but Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, who was an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and a young soldier of unquestionable bravery, arose and stated that he was conscientiously opposed to duelling, and that he would not resort to that method of settling any question. Colonel Smith's Christian character and his personal courage were so well known, that his scruples on the subject were respected, and Major Belo proposed to take his place ; and so it was aiTanged that Colonel Connally should challenge Captain Terrell, and Major Belo should challenge Captain Cousins, Captain Satterfield, of Person county, of Company H, was Colonel Connally's second, and Lieutenant W. H. Townes, of Granville, of Company D, was Major Belo's. The challenges were accepted and Captain Terrell selected as weapons double barreled shotguns, loaded with buckshot, and Captain Cousins selected the Mississippi rifle at forty paces. According to appointment, the parties next day met in a large field in the neighborhood, in one part of which were Colonel Connally and Captain Terrell and their friends. In another part were Major Belo and Captain Cousins and their friends. As soon as Major Belo and Captain Cousins came to their place of meeting, they took the positions assigned to them by the sec- onds, and at the command, fired their first shot. Major Belo's shot passed through Captain Cousins' hat, and Cap- tain (\>usins' first shot entirely missed Major Belo. Cap- tain Cousins' second shot passed through the coat of Major Belo just above the shoulder and Major Belo's second fire missed Captain Cousins. In the meantime, in the other part of tlio field, tlie friends of Colonel Connally and Captain Terrell were engaged in an effort to make an honorable settle- ment of the affair, and Captain Terrell, who was a gallant officer and triie gentleman, became satisfied that he had been mistaken in the report which he had made and which had been the cause of offence, and he withdrew the same, which Fifty-Fifth Regiment. 293 action prevented any further hostilities between him and Col- onel Connally, and came just in time to prevent the exchange of a third shot between Major Belo and Captain Cousins. SUFFOLK^ VA. On the night of 30 April Davis' Brigade w^as in the front of the town of Suffolk, which was occupied by the Federals, and around which the Union forces were stationed behind fomiid- able intrenchments. About 9 o'clock that night Major Belo was sent with four companies of the regiment to relieve the pickets in the rifle pits to our front, with instructions to hold the position in case there should be an attack. The next day the Federal forces made several demonstrations in front of the rifle pits, and in the afternoon opened upon them with several pieces of artillery. Captain Mull, by command of Colonel Connally, took Company F to the support of the men in the rifle pits, and very gallantly did Captain Mull and his company do this, for they went through a severe artillery fire for nearly three quarters of a mile, and although they lost some of their best men, they never faltered. About the same time two Federal infantry regiments came outside their breastworks, and formed into line. Colonel Connally then ordered Major Belo to reinforce the men in the rifle pits with four other companies of the regiment. This was promptly accomplished under a very fierce fire and not without loss. The Fifty-fifth Regiment was the only regiment on the line that was armed with the old smooth-bore muskets. The oth- ers were armed with rifles. This must have been discoverd by the enemy during the day, and was the cause of their selection of the part of the line occupied by that regiment for their attack. The two Federal regiments moved for^^vard in splendid order for the attack. The Federal artillery ceased firing upon that part of the field. The soldiers of both armies on the right and left were watching with deep interest the movement. The attacking column had moved so near to our position, that the other troops were beginning to whisperingly inquire of each other what was the matter. But Major Belo knew that the effectiveness of the ai-ms, which his men held, depended upon short range, and cool and clear-headed, as he 294 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. always was, lie had ordered that not a shot be fired until he gave the command. The advancing column was now so near, that the features of the men's faces could be distinguished. Every one of the men in the rifle pits had his musket in posi- tion and his finger on the trigger, and at the word ''fire" the sound of Major Belo's command, seemed to expand into one grand roll of musketry; for there had been the fire of five hundred muskets as if by one man. Not one had snapped fire and there was not a single belated shot. The shower of leaden hail was too much for human courage. The assault- ing regiments fell back in confusion, with some loss. But they were quickly rallied by their ofiicers, and returned to the attack. This time the fire by Major Belo's command was reserved until they had advanced several yards further than before, when again a deadly fire swept them back with greater loss. Again and yet again they attempted to storm thq picket force, but were repulsed each time, until finally abandoning their purpose, they retired from the field. The old smooth bore muskets in the hands of 500 brave North Carolina pa- triots had done their work. About this time Lieutenant- Colonel Smith came down to ]\Iajor Belo with Colonel Con- nally's compliments to inquire if he needed other reinforce- ments. Major Belo returning his compliments to Colonel Connally, replied that he thought the battle was over. The Fifty-fifth Eegiment had been but a short while in Davis' Brigade, and it was their first engagement since then, and the cordial words of commendation of the gallant behavior of the regiment expressed by the Mississippians was very grati- fying to us. Thenceforward they were as jealous of and aa quick to defend the honor of our regiment as we were our- selves. Some years after the war, Major Belo met an officer of one of the regiments engaged in this attack, and he in- formeroken, his men mostly escaped," and that he "almost took General Ransom himself, who was accidentally at the post." Our loss was three Lieutenants and 146 men captured, Lieutenant D. S. Ray, of Company D, dying of his wounds next day in New Bern. He was a gallant and meritorious officer, who had the confidence and affection of the company, of which he was in command. Captain John W. Graham being on detail as Judge Advocate of the court-martial at Wilmington. Lieutenant Graham was promoted to First Lieutenant, and Sergeant Wm. Turner to Second Lieutenant. Query: How did it liappen, when it was known at the outpost on the afternoon of 21 May, and presumably at head- quarters early in the evening, that a column was advancing from New Bern on the same road by which the four regi- Fifty-Sixth Regiment. 329 ments had attacked this outpost within the last four weeks, and this cohimn was morally certain to reach it next morning, that an effective force of three brigades at Kinston, only eight miles distant and ample to give the enemy a complete sur- prise by striking the first blow, or at least simultaneously with their assault upon our single regiment and possibly cutting off their line of retreat, if strategically disposed during the night, did not start towards the scene of action until the next afternoon, after the incident was closed ? No explanation is found in the official records or other source of information. 28 May. The brigade is off for Virginia via Goldsboro and Weldon, reaching Petersburg by train in the night. 29 May, on to Richmond, and bivouacked at Camp Lee, (State Fair Grounds.) 2 June. Right-about to Petersburg again, and next day proceeded to Ivor, on the Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad. 13 June. Brigadier-General R. Ransom has been promo- ted to Major-General ; Colonel M. W. Ransom to Brigadier- General to-day. Back in Petersburg and march over to Drewry's Bluff on the James river, half way between Peters- burg and Richmond. The appearance of troops in perma- nent quarters, on garrison duty, is here a novel sight to our command, so constantly in motion. 17 June. Back to Petersburg, and 21 June to Half-way Station, towards Richmond. Occupied former cabins of Daniel's ISTorth Carolina Brigade. During this month all the enlisted men captured at Gum Swamp, have been exchanged and returned to duty. 26 June. Night march to Seven Pines. 29 June. Ransom's Brigade is engaged in dismantling breastworks constructed here by the enemy under McClellan a year ago. Major-Generals Arnold Elzy, Robert Ransom, and Daniel H. Hill have recently been successively in com- mand at Richuiond. Both Ransom's and Cooke's Brigades had been ordered up to participate in the counter-invasion to the north, but at the solicitation of these post commanders were retained for protection of the capital. General Lee's letter on the subject says : "I have always considered Cooke's 330 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. and Ransom's Brigades as part of the Army of Northern Vir- ginia." BATTLE AT CRUMP's FARM. Ours was now a duty of obsei'vation and reconnoissance to meet any demonstration of the enemy from the seacoast. Thus an opportunity was given to participate in one of the most brilliant campaigns of the war — sharp, quick and decisive. The enemy watching our capital could learn approximately the strength of the small force, protecting it. Accordingly General Dix and General Keyes, advancing cautiously by the way of the White House, apparently had a Avalk-over. 2 July. General D. H. Hill, without waiting for them to approach nearer to his fortified line of defence, which he had not enough troops to adequately man, moved out rapidly upon them with Ransom's North Carolina, Cooke's North Caro- lina, and Jenkins' South Carolina Brigades, Branch's Vir- ginia Battery of Artillery and three others,^ — -a total of six- teen guns — and a squadron of cavalry. He met them at Crump's farm, near Deep Bottom bridge, between sunset and dark, and immediately opened such a vigorous assault that the enemy were compelled to assume the defensive, and night found them in full retri^at, doubtless believing that those three brigades must have been immensely reinforced since their last reports had come in. Ransom's Brigade sustained the only loss on our side, one man killed and two wounded. Six or seven prisoners taken admitted a loss of thirty on their side. 11 July. To Petersburg again, and camped on Dunn's farm. RAID AGAINST WELDON BRIDGE CHECKED. 28 July. A part of the Forty-ninth and three companies of the Twenty-fourth North Carolina Regiment and a bat- tery of Georgia Ai*tillery, met Spear's Regiment of New York Cavalry and Dodge's Mounted Riflemen and several pieces of artillery at Boone's Mill, ten miles south of Weldon and two miles from Jackson, N. C. The Fifty-sixtli Regi- ment arrived that evening, but the enemy had withdrawn. Fifty-Sixth Regiment. 331 Disposition was made for attack that night ; but they did not return. The Forty-ninth lost one man killed, and in the Twenty-fourth three were wounded. The enemy buried 11 of their dead on the field. 1 August. Back to Garysburg, and camped near Mr. Moody's. 12 August. To Halifax Court House, and 13th took boat for Hamilton. Down the Roanoke seventy-three miles, ar- riving in the afternoon. 14 August, Company D, under Lieutenant Graham, de- tached to Poplar Point, and threw up breastworks covering the river landing. 16 August. Returned through Palmyra and Halifax to Garysburg. 1 September. Captain John W. Graham, on retirement of Major Schenk, is promoted to Major, Lieutenant Robert D. Graham to Captain, and Sergeant Joseph B. Coggin to First Lieutenant. For the succeeding four months, eight companies of this regiment and the Twenty-first North Car- olina Regiment were posted in the West tO' meet any in- cursions from East Tennessee, and to break up the refuge found there by deserters and lawless characters from the several States, and to see that the conscript act was fairly en- forced. The effort was to gain friends, and make no new enemies for the State in her desperate struggle, and thus keep the people united in domestic tranquility. The moral effect of this movement was salutary, Avhether now viewed from a Confederate or Federal standpoint, and it is beyond doubt that it was so regarded by General Grant when the war was over, and the proscription naturally following it was at fever heat. Two companies, H and E, under Captain W. G. Graves, were protecting the building of the Confederate ram Albe- marle on the Roanoke near Halifax, at Edwards' Ferry. 24 Octx)ber. Adjutant E. J. Hale, Jr., is promoted to Assistant Adjutant-General and assigned to Lane's Brigade. As his modesty naturally forbade the incorporation of his military record in his history of the Bethel Regiment, and as he contributed so largely to the efiiciency of the Fifty-sixth, 332 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. it will be a pleasure to every survivor of the latter to have an outline of so brilliant a career here preserved for the honor of the State that we all love so well. Private in Bethel Eegiment 17 April to 13 November, 1861 ; Second Lieutenant 2 December, 1861, and Adjutant Fifty-sixth Eegiment 1 Augiist, 1862, to 24 October, 1863 ; Judge Advocate Court-martial at Wilmington January to March, 1863. Designated by General Lee to convey to General Grant as- sent and pei-mit to remove his dead and wounded lost at Cold Harbor 2 June, 1864, Grant reluctantly thus acknowledging a defeat. Assigned as Assistant Adjutant-General to Taliaferro's Division, Army Northern Virginia, but reassigned to Lane's Brigade on petition of its officers, in consequence of General Lane being absent, wounded. For ''conspicuous gallantry and merit" recommended by Generals Lane, Wilcox and A. P. Hill for Colonel of the Twenty-eighth Regiment on request of all its officers then present, 26 September, 1864; but the act of Congress was found to provide only for the regular line officers. In March, 1865, he was commissioned Major and Assist- ant Adjutant-General ; wounded at Second Gum Swamp and at the Wilderness, and was in the surrender at Appomattox. At the crisis in the battle of Fuzzell's Mills, 16 August, 1864, (commanding the Darbytown road in front of Richmond), Lane's Brigade was put in under the eye of General Lee to recapture the lost line. Colonel Barber commanding, was wounded and the charge arrested, but the Adjutant-General assumed command and pushed forward to a speedy victory. In the presence of the troops he was thanked by the chief engineer, General Stevens. For the latter's consideration he then recommended that the line of defense be here so changed as to give full effect to the modem long-range small arms, commanding approaches over wide plains, therefore to be pre- ferred instead of precipices. This was then a new departure in fortifications, but was promptly adopted and superintend- ence of the work given to Captain Hale, so that when the next morning dawned the enemy found four miles of such de- Fifty-Sixth Regiment. 333 fences awaiting their assault, and withdrew. It was effect- nallj adopted by the Turks at Ple^^la, while much later the British lost Majuba Hill by adhering to the antiquated sys- tem. ' In the N'orth Carolina victory at Eeams Station, 25 Au- gust, 1864, he had a similar experience. General Conner was disabled and Colonel Speer killed just as Lane's Brig- ade started forward. He assumed command, and they were among the first over the line. Losing only by a legal technicality the promotion to Colo- nel in the line, as above mentioned, the extraordinary com- mission of Major and Assistant Adjutant-General of Brigade was given him as some measure of compensation. He was succeeded as Adjutant by John W. Faison. FIRST EXPEDITIOX AGAIXST XEW BERX^. In January, 1864, an expedition was organized for the re- capture of ISTew Bern, under Major-General George E. Pickett. 28 January. Reached Goldsboro, and on the night of the 80th proceeded to Kinston, where the Fifty-sixth reported to General Corse, commanding a Virginia Brigade. At night General Barton, commanding his own brigade and the other four Regiments under General Ransom, marched out on the I^Teuse River road for 'New Bern. 31 January. Column consisting of Hoke's Xorth Caro- lina, Clingman's J^orth Carolina, and Corse's Virginia Brig- ade (temporarily including the Fifty-sixth North Caro- lina), took the Dover road, passed through Gum Swamp, whence we marched down the railroad track some six miles, turning into the country road again at Sandy Ridge, the scene of a fight between the Forty-ninth North Carolina and the enemy last year, and went into bivouac about eight miles beyond, making twenty-three miles that day. Skirmishers out that night from Corse's Brigade under Major Graham, of the Fifty-sixth North Carolina. 1 February. Set out at 2 a. m. and captured the outpost at Bachelor's Creek. Here Colonel Shaw, Eighth North Carolina State Troops, was killed at the opening of the en- 334 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. gagenient. A portion of Hoke's men, with Companies B and I, of the Fiftj-sixth, were actively engaged. Our total loss was eight killed and fifty wounded. We captured 250 pris- oners with the block house. The railroad crosses the creek at this point, and the Fifty-sixth made a race to strike the track in the rear of the train carrying the residue of the en- emy to New Bern. They escaped. The fort was destroyed and a large quantity of Quartermaster and Commissary stores secured. Our part being thus accomplished, we listened in vain for Barton's guns as a signal for our further advance. At night Captain R. D. Graham, with 100 men from Companies D and K, of the Fifty-sixth, with two pieces of artillery, was posted by General Corse on the Washington road as a force of observation against a garrison cut off in the fort at the cross- ing of Bachelor's Creek. At daylight Colonel Chew came out with the Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth Virginia Regi- ments and with Graham's detachment moved upon tl"i(! gar- rison. The Thirtieth and the artillery was moved around to the right of the road, while the rest of the force took position on the left. A demand was then made for surrender; and the enemy finding himself within point-blank range of the artillery in his rear, to which he could not reply, without bringing his own outside the fort, capitulated. Our spoils were a section of artillery with caisson, and 100 stand of small arms, with a supply of ammunition. The prisoners, 120 men and four officers. Captain Cowdy commanding. Meanwhile the enemy had advanced from New Bern upon Hoke, and been repulsed. General Martin, on the Wilmington road, had carried everything before him up to the reserve works. Every as- sault had been successful, and General Barton could read- ily have found men to take the task assigned him. But as he reported it impracticable, the whole expedition was finally abandoned, when it seemed the general opinion that a deter- mined assault would have been crowned with success. I leave the above recital, as most of this sketch, just as written during the war. On consulting U. S. Official Rec- ords, I now find that I have expressed the opinion of both Fifty-Sixth Regiment. 335 General Hoke and General Pickett. But it therein also appears that General Barton in his official report, says that before abandoning his attempt to cross Brice's Creek, he made, together Avith the two brigade commanders mider him, a personal reconnoissance. He requested a court of inquiry, and this request was recommended accordingly to Adjutant- General Cooper by General Lee. 5 February. Rejoined our own brigade under General M. W. Ransom at Kinston, and 7 February reached Weldon on train via Goldsboro. 8 February. Ordered to Richmond, but countermanded just as the train is about to pull out. In camp again near the Moody house. Daily exercises in company and battal- ion drill, each Captain successively acting as regimental com- mander. EXPEDITION TO SOUTH MILLS. 26 February. Off for Franklin, Va., on the Blackwater, crossed at Old South Quay, and marched to South Mills, Cam- den county, IST. C. From this point commissary stores are gathered ; and a detachment of the enemy appearing, is chased down the Dismal Swamp canal by Colonel Dearing with his battalion of cavalry to within twelve miles of N'orfolk. Cap- tured a First Lieutenant, Surgeon and half a dozen privates. The object accomplished, the wagon trains under our pro- tection having been loaded and started back, the return com- mences on the night of 4 March, and at the tw^o creeks first to be crossed, Graham's company of the Fifty-sixth, as rear guard, had prepared bright fires that there should be no delay in crossing. The enemy were reported to have ascended the Chowan river, and were expected to pay us some attention before we were back across the Blackwater with our long train of wagons loaded with provisions. Halted at Sandy Cross, twenty miles from South Mills, for two days. !N^o appear- ance of the enemy. EECAPTURE SUFFOLK. 7 March. Proceeded to within eight miles of Old South Quay and learned that the enemy had again occupied Suffolk. 9 March. Passed through Somerton at 10 a. m., and at a 336 North CakolixNa Troops, 1861-65. church within three miles of Suffolk, routed a cavalry out- post and pressed on to the railroad. Here the enemy's cav- alry formed to charge the Twenty-fourth Regiment; but a few well-directed shots put them to fliglit. Captain Cicero Durham, promoted to Assistant Quartermaster for gallantry in the line and known as the Fighting Quartermaster of the Forty-ninth, gathered a squad of a dozen mounted men among the teamsters, and charged them in turn. Seeing the paucity of his numbers, they made a stand, but were attacked with such vigor that they resumed their flight before the infantry could get within range. The Fifty-sixth was second in the column, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Luke, and complimented on the good order sustained on a double-quick pursuit of three miles. The only escape for the cavalry was by com- pleting a semi-circle outside the earthworks, defending the town, before we could run through on the street and road forming the chord to the arc. With their spurs and the aid of the shells from our artillery, they beat the race. We had no cavalry and did not lose a man, but General Butler, like Job's war horse, "smelleth the battle afar off," and pens to the Secretary of War the following bulletin as it appears in Official War Records: Fort Monroe, 12 March, 1864. No. 1. Cole's Cavalry, Second United States, had a skirmish the day before yesterday with the enemy near Suffolk, Va. While making a rcconnoissance, they came upon Ransom's Brigade, consisting of four regiments of infantry, four pieces of artillery and 300 cavalry. The enemy made a charge upon two squadrons of Cole's, and were handsomely repulsed with a loss of about sixty. The charge brought the colored soldiers into a hand-to- hand fight with the rebels, and the enthusiastic testimony of their officers is that that they behaved with the utmost cour- age, coolness and daring. I am perfectly satisfied with my negro cavalry. Bexj. F. Butler, Major-General. Hon. E. M. Stanton. Fifty-Sixth Regiment. 337 We pursued them to Bernard's Mills, capturing the camp of the white troops and returned with one piece of artillery and considerable stores. Three negro soldiers took refuge in a house in town and refusing to surrender, j)erished in its flames. Another, rush- ing out with his gun and fighting to the last, was shot. 11 March, rieturned to Franklin via^ Carrsville. 12 Marcli, off by rail to Weldon, and in camp near Mr. Moody's at Grarysburg, and 17 March, muster and inspection for Jan- uary and February, 1864, by Colonel Paul F. Faison. THE PLYMOUTH CAMPAIGN. 14 April. The Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth and Fifty- sixth ]^orth Carolina State Troops, under General M. W. Ransom, set out by rail and reported to Brigadier-General R. F. Hoke at Tarboro. The Forty-ninth was on outpost duty near Edenton, and its place was now supplied by the Eighth, from Clingman's Brigade. 15 April. The column, consisting of Hoke's JSTorth Caro- lina Brigade under Colonel Mercer, of the Twenty-first Geor- gia Regiment, which was then with it ; Kemper's Virginia, under Colonel Terry, and Ransom's ISJ'orth Carolina Brigade with Pegram's Battery, under General Ransom, and Strib- blings', Graham's Virginia, Miller's, Moseley's and Reade's batteries of artillery belonging to Colonel Dearing's command, and Dearing's Battalion of cavalry, took up the line of march against Plymouth. At Hamilton we were joined by the Thirty-fifth i^orth Carolina. Passing through Williamston and Jamesville, we reached the vicinity Sunday, the l7th, a little before nightfall. Immediately a strong line of skirmishers, including Com- pany I, of the Fifty-sixth, was thrown out from Ransom's Brigade, under Major Graham, and pushed forward nearly to the entrenchments. A picket post of eleven men was sur- prised, nine captured, one killed and one escaped. A recon- noissance in force was made in front of Fort Gray, on War- ren's I^eck, between the mouths of two creeks emptying into the Roanoke, two miles west of Plymouth, and Dearing's ar- 22 338 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. tillery crippled one of the boats so that it sank on reaching the wharf. A redoubt Avas innnediately ])egun on the James- ville road leading south for our 3'2 -pound Parrott gun. The iron-clad Albemarle, Captain J. W. Cooke, was expected during the night. Fort Gray's armament was one 100- pounder and two 32-pounders 18 April. The Albemarle, for some reason, was making slow progress down the Koanoke, and the day passed without a sign of it. Shelling at inter\'als was kept up, the Fifty- sixth suffering but one casualty, the wounding of a man in Company H. During the night Colonel Faison, with 250 men, had completed the earthwork near the Washington and Jamesville road from which to bombard the fort at Sander- son's. At sundoAvn a demonstration on both sides of Lee's Mill, Bath road, was made against the enemy's south front by the artillery and Ransom's Brigade. Our assaulting column w'as formed with the left resting on Frank Fagan's house on the Jamesville road, a mile and a quarter south of town, and two regiments, the Twenty-fourth and Eighth, beyond the Lee Mill road at Redd Gap. The Fifty-sixth was next on the left, and then the Thirty-fifth, while the Twenty-fifth connected us with Hoke's right. The batteries following on the heels of a battalion of sharpshooters composed of Com- panies B, I, E and A, of the Fifty-sixth, under their worthy Captains, Roberts, Harrill, Locldiart and Hughes, led by Captain Jno. C. Pegram, Assistant Adjutant-General, driv- ing the enemy over their breastworks, advanced steadily from position to position, firing with the utmost rapidity, while the rest of the brigade in the line of battle kept pace with tliem. Ransom was conspicuous on the field, keeping his mount throughout the engagement. This was kept up till 10 p. m., the enemy replying with great spirit from his forts and gun- boats, carrying twenty pieces. The object was as far as pos- sible to draw the enemy's fire in this direction, while Hoke's Brigade assaulted in earnest the "85th Redoubt" at the San- derson house, some distance to our left. The fort was carried after a very stubborn resistance and the death of its com- mander, Captain Chapin. Among our killed we mourn the Fifty-Sixth Regiment. 339 loss of the brigade commander, the gallant Colonel Mercer, of the Twenty-first Georgia. Lieutenant Charles R. Wilson, of Company D, and 14 men of the Fifty-sixth North Carolina were wounded at our end. Colonel Mercer was a West Point classmate of Generals J. E. B. Stuart, Hood, Custis Lee, and W. D. Pender. He is buried at TarboTo beside his last named comrade. 19 April. Towards day Colonel Wm. J, Clarke, with his own, the Twenty-fourth, and the Fifty-sixth Regiment, was posted below the town on the Columbia road, to prevent escape in that direction. But the enemy was still confident in the strength of his fortifications, even after the loss of the "85th Redoubt" and the arrival of our ram, Albemarle, the same night passing the big gims at Warren's Neck unharmed. It sank one of their gunboats, the Southfield, and chased off the other two, the naval commander, Flusser, being killed on the deck of the Miami. The enemy still held a continuous, thor- oughly fortified line, well constructed, from a point on the river, near Warren's Neck, along their west and south fronts, and terminating on the east in a swamp, bordering which a deep creek, known as Conaby, a mile or two further east, runs into the Roanoke river, on the south bank of which Ply- mouth is situated. It has four streets parallel with the river and five at right angles to it. Fort Williams, projecting be- yond the south face of the parallelogram, is ready for action on all four sides and enfilades, right and left, the whole south front of the fortifications, while Battery Worth was built to command the west, water and land, approach. Between the latter and Warren's Neck was 85th Redoubt at Sanderson's house. At Boyle's steam mill near the road entering Second street from the west was another redoubt outside the en- trenchments, and within the southwest angle still another at Harriet Toodles'. On the east centre was Fort Comfort, with a redoubt on either side of the Columbia road at James Bateman's and Charles Latham's. General Hoke ordered an assault from this (east) side by Ransom's Brigade. Ac- cordingly that night our sharpshooters effected a crossing of Conaby creek on felled trees with some opposition. A pontoon bridge was laid, and before the night was far ad- 340 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. vanccd, the l)rig-ad(> was over. Witli a line of skirinisliers out in front, tlic brigade slept in line of battle, and perhaps never more soundly, for tired nature's sweet restorer was welcome, even on the eve of certain battle. •20 A]n-il. At the first break of day Ransom was again in the saddle, and his ringing voice came down the line: ''At- tention, brigade!" Every man was upon his feet instantly, and the adjusting of twisted blankets across the left slioulder and under the belt at the right hip was only the work of an- other moment ; the line of battle was formed, "Fix bayonets," "Trail arms !" "Forward march !" and the charge began. The aligiiment was as follows : The Fifty-sixth on the right, flanked by Company I, as sharpshooters, (resting on the Roanoke and near the "Albemarle," then engaged, as it had been at intervals through the night, with Battery Worth on the river face of the town), and Twenty-fifth, Thirty-fifth, Eighth and Twenty-fourth successively on to the left. On our part of the line a large drove of cattle was encountered and driven on as a living w^all between us and the enemy until they reached the canal, down which they refused to plunge, or escort us further. Maddened by this strange spectacle of "man's inhumanity to man," they turned about, and "with no reputation to lose," dashing through our line, sought safety in flight. The canal was found with steep banks, but fortu- nately with fordable water. Ranks were necessarily broken in getting across, but were soon in perfect order on the farther side, and the forward movement resumed. The next obsta- cle was a swamp, in places waist deep, through w'hich the regiment floundered as best it could, impeded by the mire and cypress knees with which it abounded. The Fifty-sixth was the first through, and immediately reforming under an oblique fire from the left, charged up a slight hill, and routed the opposing regiment sheltered behind a fence of palings, here the outer line of the town. This and the adjacent houses blocked further advance in regimental line of battle. But the halt here was only for a moment. Company I pressed straight forward, sweeping everything before them between Water street and the river bank, while the Twenty- fifth on getting through the swamp and finding the Fifty-sixth Fifty-Sixth Regiment. 341 in its front, debouched to the right and thus went up Water street between the Fifty-sixth and its detached company. At the same instant General Ransom, reaching this point, the Fifty-sixth moved off by the left flank and entered the town on the next street east, by filing to the right, left in front. Major Graham was at the extreme left, now head of column, and on gaining the open space about the county jail, deployed the regiment foi-ward into line of battle, just in time to check- mate a battery of artillery taking position to rake the street with its guns. These movements and the obstacles encoun- tered, again divided the regiment, carrying the Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel back to Water street to direct the extreme right, while the Major, with eight companies, pressed forward to silence the artillery. The fire, delivered before we could reach them, was fortunately a little too high, the shells in a direct line being plainly visible as they passed over, and the guns were at once in our possession — not, how- ever, until one brave fellow had blown up his limber in our faces, killing his nearest horses and wounding several of our men. It would be a pleasure here to record his name. The man retreating with the caisson was killed in the street, wdth four of his six horses, by a shell from Fort Williams. This wing of the regiment, then, without Avaiting for any support, as all seemed to have enough to do, swept on fighting between these two streets the entire length of the town, and without a halt charged the redoubt in their front, oonstitut- ing a west section of the enemy's heavy line of fortifications, facing front and rear. Here they captured a Pennsylvania regiment, and Major Graham, mounting the works with the regimental flag, waved it to Hoke's Brigade, now under Lieu- tenant-Colonel Lewis (afterwards Brigadier-General), and thus announced that the way was open on that side. In this last charge the Twenty-fourth went in abreast with us, having entered the town by the Columbia road, which leads into Sec- ond street, after crossing Conaby creek with a northwest trend and then midway changing to due west. While the Eighth and Thirty-fifth swung around to invest Fort Com- fort, the Twenty-fourth overcoming all opposition before them at the Bateman and Latham redoubts, pushed forward 342 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. and connected with our left flank as we struck tlie fortifica* tions, — redoubt and entrenched camp. Major Graham's prisoners, some 300 of infantry and artil- lery, were turned over to Captain Joseph G. Lockhart, when, under shelter of a ravine, uniting his battalion with Hoke's Brigade, he swept down first the west and then the south in- trenchments to Fort Williams, into which General Wessels had withdrawn with the remnant of his army. The Twenty- fourth came up on the other side. After consultation with Colonel Lewis, it was deemed unnecessary to assault it, as its surrender would be compelled by our artillery with the aid of shai-pshooters being rapidly posted to overlook its interior from the windows and tops of the nearest houses. The two opposing generals then met in a personal interview, and the demand to capitulate was refused. But the inevitable was soon acknowledged by raising a white flag, as w^e had silenced every gun in the fort. Meantime, the part assigned to Harrill's men, under their fearless leader, had been as effectually accomplished. Through water hip deep, they had crossed the canal and swamp, and keeping near the river, passing around houses and bursting through garden and yard fences, they reached the rear of Battery Worth, containing the 200-pounder, specially pro- vided to anticipate the coming of our iron-clad Albemarle. One volley was sufficient. The white flag was run up and the battery, with some twenty artillerymen, surrendered to him. Taking the prisoners with them from this battery on the river, they immediately charged to their left and thus struck in the flank and rear the right section of the enemy's line of battle occupying the breastworks, here on Water street, fac- ing up the river. His demand to surrender was promptly complied with, and while Harrill here gathered in his prison- ers, largely outnumbering his own rank and file, Lewis' men who had held the attention of the enemy in their front, came in at a double-quick over the causeway leading through the swamp on the west of Plymouth^ passed Hai-rill's position and joined Graham's detachmout at the upper ravine further to the south, as above noted. How (Iocs it happen, then, that tlic eapt\ire of Battery Fifty-Sixth Regiment. 343 Worth, or Fort Hal, noted above as by Company I, has been claimed for Company B, with whom were Colonel Faison and Colonel Bearing, a portion of the Twenty-fifth support- ing the artillery ? Both claims are literally tnie. A correspondent to the Fayetteville Observer, 22 April, 1864, says: "On the river face of the town was a camp en- trenched to resist any attack from the water, and a little lower down an earthwork for the same purpose." The latter, admit- ted to be Battery Worth, we must observe the distinction be- tween the two, though close together. As to the time of the first movement, Captain Harrill's re- port is embodied in the foregoing narration. General Wes- sells report: "x\t daylight the following day, 20 April, while my right and front were seriously threatened, the enemy ad- vanced rapidly against my left, assaulting and carrying the line in that quarter, penetrating the town along the river and capturing Battery Worth." This left the entrenched camp not yet captured, and as no other Confederate troops were in that quarter at that early hour, the claim of Company I to Battery Worth is thus afiirmed. From this point of time General Wessells thus continues: "A line of skirmishers was formed from the breast^vorks per- pendicularly towards the river in hopes of staying the ad- vance. This effort succeeded for a time; but the troops seemed discouraged and fell back to the entrenchments." The conduct of the Fifty-sixth was well calculated to create such discouragement, as it broke through all obstacles, driving the enemy from the streets, yards, houses, cellars, and bomb- proofs from which Major Graham says they came out like a colony of prairie puppies, or g-round hogs on the 2d of Feb- ruary. As those not captured in this charge were thus gradu- ally pressed back to their double-faced entrenchments, the in- fantry garrison in the entrenched camp at Battery Worth, guarding the water approach and, owing to the contour of the ground, not in sight from his side of the fortifications when Capt. Harrill some two hours before had taken the artillery- men out of the battery, appear now to have had their attention diverted from the commotion of the Albemarle down stream to their right and Hoke up the river to their left. They now 344 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. for the first time saw their enemy in the town, and were ready with the portion of the retreating line that had joined them, to enfilade Company B as it came up. Here Colonel Faison, with this gallant company under Captain F. N. Roberts, had his hands full for some time and accomplished important re- sults, as described by the subsequent Captain, then First Ser- geant A. R. Carver: "In this charge our Lieutenant, B. W. Thornton, fell on Water street witli a bullet through the side of his forehead near the eye. I stopped long enough to see the wound, and thought liini dead; but he survived for a day or two. Our company had become detached by the evolutions and obstacles in getting through the town. Just before General Wessells capitulated, say by 9 or 10 oS3lock, we had reached the vicin- ity of Fort Hal, with the 200-pound gun bearing on the river. It was full of the enemy, on whom we were firing with our rifles and they were briskly returning our fire. Colonel Faison came up to me during this firing, when I pointed to a hill on the right overlooking the fort, and said if the artillery were posted there, we would have the fort in five minutes. Soon after he left me, I saw our battery open from tlie hill, and immediately a white handkerchief was hoisted on a bay- onet alxtve the fort. T Avas very near and ran fnr the fort. Geiun'al Dearing got across the moat and into the fort ahead of me, and jumped on tbe big gun as if he were going to spike it, wlicii T met an officer at the gate and dcMiianded his surren- der. He asked to be allowed to surrender to some higher ofiieer. I called General Dearing and he told him to surren- der to me. He thereupon handed over his sworell, Sam Green, IL Harrill, J. P. Philbeck, H. W. Price and R. H. Wall. Co:srPANY K — Wounded : Jolm Strider, J. P. Sossaman and W. Auten. In the same issue is found the report of Captain S. IL Gee, x\ssistant Adjutant and Inspector General, giving Ran- som's total casualties in the three days' operations, as fol- lows : Kill* ^d, Wounded. Total. Officers. Men. Officers. Men. 8th N. C. T. 2 18 5 102 127 24 th 2 11 3 85 101 25th 0 3 0 20 23 35 th 1 19 4 84 108 56th 0 4 4 80 88 Maj. Moseley's B. Art. 0 0 0 17 17 Maj. Read's 0 2 1 9 12 5 57 17 397 476 The surrender, already noted, took place at 10 :30 a. m. Several interesting, though partial, accounts of this affair were published in the Fayetteville Observer soon after the battle. 21 April. Major J. W. Graham, with Company I, Twen- ty-fourth, Captain Boykin ; Company K, Twenty-fifth, Lieu- tenant Bullerson ; and Company D, Fifty-sixth, Captain R. D. Graham, was jdaced in charge of Fort (Jray on Warren's Neck. 22 Ajuil. Visited by the commanding Major-General, who found the post in much better order than we had. Fifty-Sixth Regiment. 349 25 April. Detachment rejoined the brigade. At 10 a. m. the column set out for Washington, ]^. C, leaving as a garri- son at Plymouth Martin's ]^orth Carolina Brigade, which has just joined us. 26 April. Arrived in front of Washington, N. C. Some shells thrown at us from the enemy's forts. The enemy withdrew during the night to concentrate at 'New Bern. Thus the second point in the campaign was scored in Hoke's favor, this time without the loss of a man. 28 April — 2 May. At Greenville probably awaiting the arrival of the Confederate marines and pontoons from Rich- mond. Crossed the Tar river here and Contentnea creek at Coward's bridge, where we were joined by Whitford's Sixty- seventh ]^orth Carolina State Troops. 5 May. We passed the l^euse on a pontoon bridge, not far from where we left the Contentnea. On nearing ISTew Bern, Lewis' Brigade made a dash upon the redoubts at Deep Gully; but the enemy fled to avoid capture. The main column then crossed the Trent River at PoUocksville, cap- tured a block house near a mill dam, and took position near the railroad bridge. Dearing's cavalry and artillery moved to the south and captured the block house on Brice's creek that General Barton thought such a Gibraltar last February, and took fifty prisoners. A section of Dixon's ISTorth Caro- lina Battery, from Orange county, under Lieutenant Halcott P. Jones, supported by part of Evans' South Carolina Brig- ade, now under General "Live Oak" Walker, moved to the front and engaged the enemy's railroad iron-clad monitor. Ransom's Brigade was not far from the south bank of the Trent. Preparations were made for putting in the river that night a pontoon bridge, first parallel with the stream, securing it to the bank at the lower end and swinging the other across with the current under the protection of our guns, to the New Bern side within the enemy's line of fortifications. The spirit of the troops assured success, and thus was to culminate our l^orth Carolina campaign of 1864. PETERSBURG AND KICHMOND. 6 May. The intended assault has been abandoned, and 350 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'G5. Geueral Palmer, U. S. A., is left in quiet possession of New Bern ; for the morning finds us on a forced march for old Virginia again. General Benjamin Franklin Butler is com- ing up the south side of the James river via Bermuda Hun- dreds, with 30,000 men to attack Petersburg. If possible, we must get there first. General II. F. Hoke, in a recent letr ter, says: "Your mention of what was intended at New Bern is correct and I had no doubt of its success. The recall was one of the greatest disappointments I ever had." 8 May. Reach Kinston at 8 a. m. and via Goldsboro pro- ceed to Weldon. 9 May. Off for Petersburg by rail as far as Jarratt's Sta- tion. Here Kautz's Federal cavalry have dashed in and cut the line of railway. March thence along the track to Stony creek, about twenty miles, that night. The weird hooting of the great owls in the swamps was almost human in its in- tonations and called forth comments, half in earnest and half in raillery, here and there along the line, such as: "That is a bad sign, boys ; hard times in old Virginia, and worse a'coming." 10 May. At Stony creek we take the trains that have come out to meet us, and are soon in Petersburg. Stack arms on Poplar Lawn. The generous hospitality of Judge Lyon, Wm. R. Johnson, and other citizens is pleasantly remem- bered. Hear that the place has been held till our an'ival by the single brigade of Johnson Hagood's South Carolinians. Lieutenant-General D. H. Hill, too earnest to be long quiet, is occupying the anomalous position of volunteer Aid-de- Camp to General Beauregard, commanding at Petersburg, pending a dispute with the President as to an assignment proper to his rank. (This quarrel seems to have resulted in a faiJure to present his appointment to the Congress for con- firmation.) He was noted for a disposition "to feeel the en- emy;" and on such occasions his feelings were very rough. Our coup de main of 2 July, 1863, at Crump's farm below Richmond, he had just repeated here with more terrible odds, against General Butler's advancing column. With this handful of men, he had met him near Chester and made such a desperate assault as to put him on the defensive to await THE NEW YORK PUBUC LIBRARY. A8T0R, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS. FIFTY-SIXTH RECilMENT. 1. Otis P. Mills, Captain, Co. G. a. A. C. Roliertson, Ord'ly-Sergt., Co. G. 3. W. (i. Graves, Captain, Co. H. 4. L. Harrill, Captain. Co. I. 8. Jos. 31. •Walker, 1st Lieut., Co. I. C. V. Tanner. Cd Lieut., Co. I. .1. F. Mc.N.'.'lv. Captain. Co. K. T. W. Sli.-plieid, 1st Lieut.. Co. K. 9. Chas. M. Payne, 2d Lieut., Co. K. (Picture in Suppl.uieutary Group, 4th vol.) Fifty-Sixth Regiment. 351 further developments. In the time thus gained reinforce- ments arrived, and we knew that with the Army of Northern Virginia we could successfully hold Richmond and Peters- burg against all opposing forces then in the field. With Major-General Iloke, there were now Ransom's North Caro- lina, Lewis' North Carolina, Walker's (formerly Evans') South (.^arolina. Corse's Virginia, and Kemper's Virginia Brigades. This division took position a short distance be- yond Swift creek. 11 May. Moved to Half -Way House. The enemy now appears in great force between us and Petersburg, occupying both the railroad and turnpike. We offer battle; but noth- ing follows beyond some sharp skirmishing. Ransom's Bri- gade forms the extreme Confederate left, near the river. BATTLE OF 12 MAY. 12 May. This brigade is moved across the turnpike and posted near the winter quarters on rising ground to the right, facing Petersburg, forming now the right flank. In the afternoon, advanced down the railroad towards Peters- burg, and occupied breastworks at a point near where the fortified line crosses this road. Here the line terminates after changing its general bourse and running off at almost a right angle (towards the river on the left near • house). Our artillery is engaged with that of the enemy in the woods to the front. A line of skirmishers is scarcely formed and thrown out to our right and rear for a recon- noissance under "the fighting Quartermaster of the Forty- ninth," Captain Cicero Durham, when they receive a volley from a line of battle in ambush, and this gallant leader and many of his brave comrades have fought their last fight. A rush is made by the enemy, and Generals Hoke and Ran- som, just arrived at the house for consultation, barely escape capture. On came the line as to an easy victory, but not as quick as was our command in leaping to the other side of the breastworks. After a sharp fight they were repulsed by the well-directed shots of a portion of the Fifty-sixth Regiment holding the top of the steep bank of earth, while their com- rades in the deep ditch below handed up their rifles as rapidly 352 North Carolina Trooj's, 1 SGI -'65. as they could be reloaded. There were here many instances of individual bravery, and it is a matter of regi'et that the State, at whose call these men offered their lives, has no fuller account of them. In Company B, D. P. Blizzard was killed, and the gallant A. K. (^irvci-, then a Lieutenant and subse- (lucntly Captain, lost an arm. I)a\ier; the streets and sinks kept thorougidy ])oli('ed ; and safe covered- ways construct^^d at convenient intervals to avoid the losses incident to a beleaguered line of l)attle and its c miunica- tions. We are now becoming familiar with a new engine of destruction, the mortar gun. The name is derived from its Fifty-Sixth Regiment. 369 resemblance to the domestic utensil. It is remarkable with Avhat accuracy a shell thrown out at an elevation of from 45 to 75 degrees may be made to come down on a given point. A cannon ball passes sO' swiftly that it leaves the whistling sound through the air to follow it ; but the mortar shell slowly revolving in its descent overhead, aided by the hissing of the fuse, heard first on one side, then on the other, leaves its audi- ence in a state of uncertainty, not to say anxiety, as tO' which seat the stranger intends to take. To' the question addressed to a young Captain by one of his company, "Don't you dread those mortar shells more than anything else ?" the reply was made : "j^o ; they are the first things I have yet encountered that a man ought not to be afraid of." "How is that?" "Why, the oinniverous beast is a ventriloquist; you cannot dodge it ; and it is a poor philosophy that fears what it can- not avoid." For days the losses on both sides are considerable from this annoyance. Then bomb proofs are constructed by making perpendicular excavations immediately behind the trenches along covered ways leading to tliem or beyond ; over these square or oblong recesses are laid stout logs ; then a bed of leaves ; and on that a mound of earth. Gradually sleeping- apartments were thus supplied along our whole eastern front, as at any point along this line, battle might be delivered at any time, night or day. The men thus protected began jocosely to treat mortar-shelling as an entertainment ; and it was not out of order for veterans to run to cover when the play began. As the siege progressed, unexploded shells and fragments were gathered by our ordnance department, and payment made tO' the soldiers who' brought them in from the field. A whole shell was a prize, and races were made in some instances for them while yet in mid-air, with such excla- mations as: "That's mine, I saw it first;" and, "No, you are out of its range; it is coming my way." It might explode in mid-air, or after striking the ground ; but that was viewed rather as a matter of disg-ust than of fear. Mortar guns of proper calibre were specially cast by the Confederates to re- turn some of these shells to the enemy. 24 370 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'C5. fokt hell and moktak bed, Strong forts for heavy ordnance and at points most threat- ened, especially the salients and on the cavalier lines, are constructed and mounted. Of course this was not the work of a day, nor a M'eok, nor a month, but goes on steadily, one third of the coimiiiind under arms, the others working by de- tails. Where the distance between the lines will ])ennit, a picket line is established and protected by rifle pits. This is tiuihiuhI c^icli night to prevent a surprise, and the skirmish- ers withdrawn therefrom at daylight. Near the salient occu- pied by the portion of Pegram's Virginia Battery, on which the centre of the Fifty-sixth Kegiment rested in the battle of 18 June, tlie enemy have gradually dug in towards our line irntil they are in speaking distance. Here at the slightest commotion, taken as a demonstration on either side, an in- ce-ssant musketry fire is begun and continued through the night. The point is called "Fort Hell." The field where our line crosses the Norfolk Railroad is called "The Mortar Bed," for a similar reason. These mis- siles are rained upon Colquitt's salient facing Fort Stedman at the crest of the hill, here nearest the railway, and upon the cavalier line immediately behind it. But' the daily returns have almost ceased to show casualties from the mortars. There is no difficulty in catching a sight of these shells against a white cloud in the air after the report of the gun, and before they have reached the altitude from which they are to descend ; but with a clear sky, the first warning of its vicinity may be the puzzling hiss of the fuse in its descent. 27 June. Wm. Cole died of wounds received in the bat- tle of the 18th instant. He was an exemplary citizen and a good soldier. 4 July, James R. Miller is wounded on the skinnish line guard duty. 22 July. Wm. J. Tinnin is mortally wounded, and dies on the 23d. He had sei'ved faithfully as First Sergeant, and in the diflScult position of Commissary Sergeant. On this date Thomas C. Scarlett was severely wounded. , SAPPING AND MINING. The Army of Northern Virginia, to which Beauregard's [the new "s^oR^I I PUBLIC LIBRARY. ASTOR, LENOX AND Xiuo£N FOUNDATIONS^ FIFTY-SIXTH UKGIMENT. 1. T. P. Savillps, Captain, Co. A. 2. , Henry Williams, Private, Co. A, 3. Frank N. Roberts, Captain, Co. B. 4. J. A. KiuK. -M Lieut., Co. B. 0. J. K. B. Walker, Private, Co. B. 8. D. M. McDonald, 2d Lieut., Co. B. Wni. J. McDonald, Private, Co. B. .Joseph G. Lockliart, Captain, Co. E. Jarvis B Liitterloli, 1st Lieut., Co. E. (^Picture in Supplementary Group, -Ith vol.) Fifty-Sixth Regiment. 371 army has been transferred as the Fourth Corps, under Gen- eral 11. H. Anderson ( Longstreet having recovered from his Wilderness wound and returned to his old corps), has now successfully withstood attacks from front, rear, flank, and overhead. Is there any other direction on earth from which the ingenuity of man may hope to approach ? ISTo. But there is an untried route under the earth. Early in this month, the enemy began running tunnels from two or three different points to undennine our lines. Our sap- pers and miners go down into the earth to meet them, and time after time, while Brigade Officer of the Day, has the writer placed his ear to the wall of a tunnel cut beneath Colquitt's salient, sometimes occupied by our brigade, but was unable to distinguish any sound different from the nat- ural roaring experience by closing the ear. All along our line, at points facing practical bases on their side for such underground operations, we were boring for them with our long range augers. These augers were constructed with poles for handles, and on the larger end a fold of sheet iron or steel securely fastened, which w^ith two upright edges lacking, say, two inches of coming together, formed the bit of the chisel. As fast as these filled with the compact earth in digging, they were withdrawn and cleaned out with a bay- onet. A depth of twenty-five feet had failed to disclose the modem catacomb. But evidently great expectations are raised over the way, and we must be on the qui vive. Three o'clock each morning now finds us in full line of battle, there to remain until the sun is fully up. BATTLE OF THE CEATEE. 30 July. Six weeks ago to-day occurred the dispute over the location of the line to defend the first salient at the ravine north of the Jerusalem road, then held by the right centre company of the Fifty-sixth E'orth Carolina State Troops. Meanwhile our brigade has moved one space to the left, re- placed by Elliott's. To-day the spot takes its place in history to be remembered long after the disputants shall have been forgotten. At sunrise, as our line of battle was about to break ranks for another day, a dull thud is heard to our right and a 372 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. cloud of dust and suiokc liides the horizon. This salient has thus become tlu^ centre of the Crater at Petersburi;'. Soon after tlie lodg-nient at its foot, to which they had been repulsed, on the lr Lieutenant Palmer. Company I was on the extreme left of that part of the lines lield l)y the C(infe(U>ratcs, and ;ifler the linttle Ii;id been raging for some tini(% Ca])tain Ilarrill received an order from General Kansoni with his compliment.s, saying the tnircrsc there iniisl he held. The defense of this traverse for tlie time, checked the eneniv iMisliinc; al-litli and Sixlictli Rciiiiiients consolida- ted. LiEUTE.\A.\'r-( 'oi.OKELs — Echiiuud Kii'hy, of \'ii'ij;-iiiia, kilk'd at Cliickaniauga 20 September, 1803; Thomas J. Dula (resigned "lU August, 18G4) ; S. M. Silver, promoted from Major September, 1864 (resigned March, 1865) ; Thaddeus M. Coleman, commissioned March, 1865. Majors — T. J. Dula, wonnded at Chickamanga, promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel 14 August, 1864; A. T. Stewart, killed at Jonesboro, Ga., 31 August, 1864; S. M. Silver, promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel 14 August, 1864; G. W. F. Harper, promoted November, 1864, from Captain Company II. Adjutants — Edmund Kirby, of Virginia, promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel; Benjamin L. Perry, Beaufort, jST. C. ; Orville Ewing, Nashville, Tenn. Surgeons— W. A. Collett (resigned 1863) ; W. H. Harris. Assistant Surgeons — O. M. Lewis, T. J. Mitchell, Alonzo White. QuARTERMASTEii — M. J. Bcardcu, Buncombe co\inty. Sergeant Majors — H. Herndon ; Jas. Inglis, killed at Dalton, Ga., 25 February, 1864; D. D. Coffey. Quartermaster Sergeant — John E. Medearis, Caldwell county. Ordnance Sergeant — John A. Llensley, Yancey county. Drum Majors — H. Estes, Caldwell county ; J. Caldwell Blair, Caldwell county. Hospital Steward — James M. Riddle, ^Mitchell county. Company A — Mitchell County — Captains: ^lartin Wiseman (resigned 1862), F. A. Tobey. Lieutenants: F. A. Tobey; W. 11. Wiseman, killed at Chiekainanga 20 Se])- tember, 1863; J. J. Wise, W. A. Vance. Company B — MitcJicU County — Ca]itains: Jacob W. Bowman (resigned 1862), Isaac IT. Bailey, severely wounded and permanently disabled at C^hickamauga 20 Scptemlxu-, 1863. Lieutenants: J. C. Conley, J. W. Pitnuin, I. H. Bailey. Fifty-Eighth Regiment. 433 Company C — Yancey County — Captains: J. P. Horton, resigned 1862; S. B. Briggs. Lieutenants: M. P. Hampton, W. M. Austin, wounded at Chickamauga. Company D — Watauga County — Captains: D. C. Har- mon (resigned 1862), B. F. Baird. Lieutenants: B. F. Baird, W. P. Mast, D. F. Baird, A. F. Davis, W. M. Har- rington. Company E — Caldtrell County — Captains: A. T. Stew- art, promoted to Major and killed 31 August, 1864; Thomas J. Coffey. Lieutenants: J. B. Marler; T. J. Coffey; W. E. Coffey (dropped). Company F — McDoivell County — Captains : W. Conley, died November, 1862 ; C. O. Conley, killed June, 1864, at iSTew Hope Church, Ga., H. C. Long. Lieutenants: C. O. Conley; J. D. Morrison, killed at Chickamauga 20 Septem- ber, 1863 ; J. A. Fox, T. P. Epps, R. H. Sisk, J. B. Morgan. Co]MPANY G — Watauga County — Captains: J. L. Phillips, wounded at Chickamauga and permanently disabled ; John R. Norris, promoted from Lieutenant September, 1863. Lieutenant : C. R. Byrd, wounded at Chickamauga. Company' H — Caldwell County — This company was raised for Z. B. Vance's Legion, enlarged by transfers from Companies F and I of the Twenty-sixth North Carolina Reg- iment, and went into camp of instruction at Kittrell, N. C, May, 1862. The effort to raise and organize the Vance Legion being unsuccessful, this company was assigned to. the Fifty-eighth Regiment which it joined at Johnson City, Tenn., August, 1862. Captains: T. J. Dula, promoted to Major; Gr. W. F. Harper, wounded at Resaca, Ga., 15 May, 1864, promoted to Major November, 1864; L. W. Gilbert. Lieutenants: W. W. Lenoir, promoted to Captain Thirty-seventh Regiment July, 1862 ; G. W. F. Harper ; E. M. Hedrick ; A. D. Lingle ; L. A. Page, killed at Dalton, Ga., 25 February, 1864; L. W. Gilbert, promoted to Captain November, 1864. Company I — Watauga County — Captains: John A. Mil- 28 434 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. ler, Wm. R. Hodges, J. C. McGhee. Lieutenants: J. C. McGhee, W. S. Davis. Company K — Mitchell County — Captains: S. M. Silver, promoted to Major; D. R. Silver. Lieutenants: J, W. Dun- can, L. D. Silver. Company L — Ashe County — Captains: W. Gentry, Cal- vin Eller, L. Hurley. Lieutenants : L. Hurley, E. Hurley, P. Blevins. Company M — Watauga and Ashe Counties — This com- pany consolidated with Company G in 1863. Lieutenants: Geo. W. Hopkins, Thos. Ray, J. R. I^orris. The regiment was moved September, 1862, to Cumberland Gap and assigned to the division of General Stevenson, then investing that post. On the retreat of the Federal Garrison, Colonel Palmer was placed in command at the "Gap" with his regiment. Ca- per's Georgia Battalion and a battery of artillery until the prisoners coidd be paroled and the captured stores secured, after which it moved into Kentucky, but unexpectedly met Bragg's army on its retreat. During the winter of 1862 and 1863 it was stationed at Big Creek Gap, near Jacksboro, Tenn., with the Fifty-fifth Georgia, Thornton's Alabama T^cgion, Kolb's Alabama' Bat- tery and Baird's T^orth Carolina Cavalry Battalion, the bri- gade under the command of Colonel Palmer. The winter was spent in outpost duty, picketing this and neighboring passes in the Cumberland mountains, and making several expeditions into Kentucky. The details for guard duty in this service were excessive, and the command suffered greatly from privation and exposure. The loss by death from disease was appalling, camp fever and an epidemic of measles being extremely fatal, the natural result of inexperi- ence and a deplorable lack of hospital accommodations and facilities. In the summer of 1863 the brigade was placed under the command of General J. W. Frazer, and the troops were sta- tioned at Clinton and various other points in East Ten- nessee, the regiment eventually joining the army of Ten- Fifty-Eighth Regiment. 435 nessee under General Bragg, near Chattanooga, when it was assigned to Kelly's Brigade of Preston's Division in Buck- ner's Corps. In the battles of Chickamauga, 18-20 September, the regi- rnent bore a prominent part, and in the charge which cap- tured the stronghold of the enemy on Snodgrass Hill at the close of that eventful Sunday, the loss in killed and wounded was over one-half of those carried into action. The Lieuten- ant-Colonel, Edmund Kirby, of Virginia, was killed, and Colonel Palmer and Major Dula wounded ; Captains Bailey and Phillips severely wounded, Lieutenants Wiseman and Morrison killed, and Lieutenants Austin, Byrd and others wounded. In the capture of the prisoners, eight Colt's army rifles were taken, of which, by the order of General Preston, four were turned over to the color guard of the Fifty-eighth North Carolina, and two each to the Fifth Kentucky and Sixty-third Virginia Regiments, also of Kelly's Brigade. The report of Colonel Palmer, made on the succeeding day, gives the names of the killed and wounded, and makes the loss in his regiment: Killed, 46 ; wounded, 114; missing, 1 ; total, 161; over 50 per cent, of the number carried into action. It will be seen by referring to the official reports that the casualties in the regiment exceeded the combined loss of the other regiments of the brigade. A steel tablet erected by the Chickamauga jSTational Park Commission marks the posi- tion on the crest reached by the regiment at sunset, when the prisoners were captured and the battle ended, and bears the following inscription, to-wit. : "Kelly's Beigade. "Preston's Division — Buckner's Corps. "Col. John H, Kelly. "September 20, 1863, 7 P. M. Last Position. "65th Georgia — Col. R. H. Moore. "5Tn Kentucky — Col. Hiram Hawkins. "58th j^orth Carolina — Col. John B. Palmer. "63d Virginia — Maj. James M. French. "The Brigade, the Sixty-fifth Georgia being attached to 436 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'6o. "support a battery, reinforced about 6 p. m. by a regiment "from Anderson's Brigade of Hindman's Division, after an "hour's severe figliting on the slope in front of the knoll next "left of this position, participated there at dusk, with Trigg's "Brigade, in the capture of the Union troops occupying that "knoll. Of these 251 were captured by Xelly's Brigade. "This was accomplished by Kelly's Brigade charging their "front, while Trigg's Brigade swung across to the ridge "further to the left and closed up the Union line from the "rear. While the Union troops were surrendering, the right "of Kelly's Brigade received a volley from the front of Van "Derveer's Brigade of Brannan's Division. This was about "7 p. m., and was the last firing in the battle. "Strength in action 876. Casualties: killed, 62 ; wounded^ "238 ; missing, 29 ; total, 329. Percentage of loss, 37.55." Shortly after the battle Colonel Palmer was detached from the regiment and placed in command of the Department of Western ISTorth Carolina, with headquarters at AshevillCy where he remained until the close of the war, the regiment thereafter being under the command of a Lieutenant-Colonel or Major. General Kelly was transferred to the cavalry, and General A. W. Reynolds ("Old Gauley"), of Virginia, placed in command of the brigade, now consisting of the Fifty-eighth and Sixtieth North Carolina, the Fifty-fifth and Sixty-third Virginia and the Fifth Kentucky Regiments, in Bushrod Johnson's Division of Longstreet's Corps, with which it began its march to Knoxville. Before proceeding far, however, the brigade was recalled, 22 November, to take part in the battles then opening around Chattanooga, and deployed in a thin line, was placed in the trenches at the foot of Missionary" Ridge. Here it was annoyed by the prema- ture explosion of the shells from our batteries on the ridge in rear, firing upon the enemy in front. A veteran of Com- pany H, with a grim sense of humor, suggested to his Cap- tain that the command occupy the other side of the breast- w^ork — a brisk musketry fire then coming from the enemy. The suggestion was not adopted. After three days in this position, with the larger part of I Fifty-Eighth Regiment. 437 the troops on duty day and night, the regiment (one com- pany at a time deployed in a skirmish line) was recalled to the top of the ridge, the charge of the enemy being made as the last company moved out. The Confederate line on the ridge, a very thin one, with no reserve line, was broken — it seemed almost without a fight — at a gap in the ridge some distance north of the position occupied by the Fifty-eighth, and the troops on this part of the line moved by orders to the rear and formed a line of battle across the road near the base of the ridge. Here occurred the only stubborn fight the reg- iment was engaged in during this battle. The opposing force, led by General Sheridan in several charges was hand- somely repulsed, the battle continuing under the light of a full moon until long after dark. General John C. Breck- inridge, in command at this point, when the troops were withdrawn about midnight enquired for the regiment then filing into the road, and being told, raised his hat and com- plimented the '^Tar Heels" very highly on their part in the fight. The army went into winter quarters at Dalton, Ga., under the command of General Joseph E. Johnston, in whom the army reposed unlimited confidence. On 25 February, 1864, Sherman pushed forward a por- tion of his army to the front of Dalton, and several partial engagements ensued before he retired. A number of casual- ties occurred in the Fifty-eighth. Among the killed was James Inglis, Sergeant-Ma j or, a Scotchman by birth, whose death was deeply regretted by his comrades. On 7 May, Sherman again appeared before Dalton, and after several ineffectual assaults on Johnston's line moved by his right flank, and threatened Resaca, to which place the Army of Tennessee was withdrawn. On the 14th and 15th, in the general engagements at Resaca, the regiment bore its full part and sustained serious loss in killed and wounded. The writer being here Avounded, and disabled for service until the latter part of the summer, cannot give details of the Atlanta campaign, in all the battles of which the Regiment in Reynold's Brigade, Stevenson's Division of Hood's Corps, participated. The loss in the numerous battles was con- 438 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. siderable, and the published records are very incomplete. After the fall of Atlanta, the brigade was consolidated with Brown's Tennessee brigade, under General Jos. B. Pal- mer, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., a gallant officer, in whose bri- gade the regiment served until the close of the war. The name of this officer must not be confounded with that of Colonel John B. Palmer, who raised the Fifty-eighth Reg- iment and was its first commander. It is a singular coinci- dence that two officers bearing the same name and initials, and from different States, commanded the same brigade. They were both most gallant and efficient officers, without fear and without reproach. In the march to jSTashville the garrison at Dalton was cap- tured, and the railroad north of Atlanta destroyed in many places. The army crossed the Tennessee river at Florence, Ala., 2 November, but unfortunately for the success of the expedition, was there held inactive until the 20th waiting for supplies. At Columbia, Tenn., 28 November, the regiment led the advance of S. D. Lee's Corps on the Mount Pleasant pike, pushing vigorously the retiring enemy, and on entering the town, was ordered to seize the fort overlooking it, the block house enclosed being on fire, and the small arms ammunition therein keeping up a rattling explosion. The men, without orders and with the indifference to danger that so often char- acterized them, carried out the boxes of ammunition, some of them blazing, and the fire was soon subdued. The town had been in the possession of the enemy for nearly two years, and the ladies were overjoyed to see the Southern Army, to which they were so loyal, and in which served so many of their relatives and friends. Our Tennes- see brigadier rode at the head of the column, and the writer seeing him dismounted and affectionately embraced by females of all ages, congratulated him on meeting so many "kinfolks." He said it was his misfortune not to be ac- quainted with any of them. The scattering shots of the skir- mishers did not check the ovation. The regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Silver, with the prisoners it had captured and others sent to it (altogether Fifty-Eighth Regiment. 439 about 1,700), was left as garrison for the fort and town, and thus missed the bloody battles at Franklin and Nashville, and later on Hood's disastrous retreat, by being ordered 14 December to Corinth, ]\Iiss., with the prisoners. At Corinth, relieved of the prisoners, it was sent 26 De- cember to Okalona to drive off a cavalry raid which had cut the railroad near that point. On the return of the remnant of Hood's army to Tupelo, Miss., the regiment rejoined the brigade, now very small, and with it moved by rail to Branchville, S. C, and 4 February again confronted Sherman. IvTumerous skirmishes occurred at the various crossings of I^^orth and South Edisto, in all cases the enemy being repulsed, only to find unoccupied or undefended points above or below at which they crossed. The brigade reached the vicinity of Columbia 14 February, 1865, and was greatly disappointed in finding there no im- portant reinforcements. The regiment had the post of honor as rear guard, and held the south bank of the Congaree until the morning of the 16th, when it was withdrawn and the bridge burned. On the 16th the brigade picketed the river bank, with its reserves in the nearest streets, receiving the fire of the enemy's skirmishers, which it was not permitted to return. The enemy, nevertheless, threw shells into the town, several of them striking the capitol, wliere their marks may still be seen. The following night the brigade moved to near the forks of the Broad and Saluda to prevent the crossing of the enemy until trains could be taken out of the city, and on the 17th began its march. Leaving the railroad at Black- stocks and fording the Catawba at Landsford, the brigade reached Charlotte on 23 February, from which point a week later it moved by rail to Smithfield Station (now Selma), where General Joseph E. Johnston, reinstated in command, was endeavoring to concentrate his small army. The men thinly clad, carrying each a single blanket, with- out tents, and most of the time with scant rations, passed the severe Avinter of ]864-'65 in active field service. In the prime of life, active, cheerful and full of fun, living in the open air the year round, a great part of the time on the march, the men became inured to hardships and the winter's cold. 440 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'65. and complaints of suffering from exposure to the weather were rarely lieard. The question of rations gave them more concern. All of this applies also to the field and company officers, who were equally exposed with the private soldiers. In the transfer of the brigade to the East, the horses of the field and staff officers were left with the wagon trains in Mississippi, and only rejoined the command, then near Smithfield, about the first of April — all officers, the General and one or two members of his staff excepted, marching through South Carolina, and to and from Bentonville on foot. Wading the broad Catawba in February did not dampen or cool the ardor of the men, and no officer of the regiment dis- graced himself by attempting to shun the swift, icy current. A portion of the Army of Tennessee in detached commands arrived, and on 18 Mai-ch, 1865, General Johnston made a forced march to Bentonville, where a concentration was ef- fected with Hardee's Corps from Charleston, Hoke's Division and other troops from Eastern North Carolina. The pres- ence of General Johnston again in command of veteran troops ins]:)ircd tlie fullest confidence in the small army, which en- gaged in the battles of the succeeding day in fine spirits. The Fifty-eighth, in this, its last battle, numbered about 300 effectives. The brigade (Palmer's) was selected as the direct- ing column for the Army of Tennessee in the assault on the enemy's line. The charge was made with great spirit and dash, and I lie ciuMuy entrenched and with a high fence built in their front, gave way before inflicting great' loss on their assailants. Tn the pursuit which followed, two pieces of artillery. liiiil>criiig \\itli all haste to tlu^ rear, were captured anil driven back into our lines with their teams complete. In running down and taking the guns some of the artillery- men were shot wliilc on the chests, and th(> old ]u'ue field Avas strewn witli blankets, provisions and plunder of all sorts thrown away by the flying foe. The rapid pursuit over fences and a deep i-nvine so scatter- ed the attacking enliuini that n halt was madi^ to reform — this a half a mile or more beyoml the entrenchments charged, and there was not an enemy in sight nor a gim nearby being firecl. Before the line was completely adjusted the reserves Fifty-Eighth Regiment. 441 came up in splendid order. Pettns' Brigade before in sup- port of Palmer now took the advance, and in a short time struck the enemy reinforced in a new position. Our lines having become too short for the circle so extended by pushing back the enemy, most of the regiments of Palmer's Brigade were prouiptly moved up to fill the gaps in the front line, which was now in the thick pine woods. The Fifty-eighth ISForth Carolina on the left of the brigade, under the direction of a staff officer, was moved up in sup- port of and close to the front line, here facing south, and at the time hotly engaged. Firing was also going on on the right, extending partly to the rear, but not so near, and a bat- tery of artillery kept up a most aggravating enfilade fire over the regiment, which would have made the position ex- tremely uncomfortable if the gunners had slightly depressed their pieces. As it was, very little could be seen for the smoke which filled the woods, and the ground gently rising toward the battery, their shells for an hour flew almost harm- lessly through the timber some ten feet or more overhead, and most of them burst in rear. The incident following will give some idea of the situation. The brigadier, very shortly after the regiment had reached the spot, rode up and asked, "Which is the right of your regiment ?" A strange question from such a source at such a time the writer thought, but surprise was turned into amazement when the reply was quickly followed by the command: "Major, countermarch your regiment." It seemed just a little unnecessary to re- mind him that the regiment was already facing the enemy, who was close at hand, and being heard to that effect in a most convincing sort of way. The Major, however, did pre- sume to say as much, only to hear, "Yes, I know, but I want you to look after these fellows over here," pointing over his shoulder to our rear and right. The regiment was accord- ingly countermarched, halted on the spot and fronted — this time facing north, or opposite to the direction we had just before faced — dressed on a line of guides a little oblique to the original line and the men ordered to lie down for shel- ter ; General Palmer the meanwhile quietly seated on his horse apparently unconscious that anything unusual was 442 North Carolina Troops, ]861-'65. going on, thongh musket balls were flying pretty thick, and some of the enemy's shells must have passed near his head. After witnessing this singular manoeuver, and leaving the Fifty-eighth Regiment "to look after those fellows" as or- dered, the general leisurely rode off to some other part of his brigade on the front line, where the business in hand was not so dull and uninteresting. He did not have far to go. The slender line without earthworks that so nearly en- circled our position, held its ground against repeated assaults of the enemy in heavy force until 8 o'clock at night, when the firing ceased, and at midniglit tlic array resumed the posi- tion of the morning. A more remarkable experience befell a detachment of Tennesseeans of the brigade. In filling a gap in the front line as stated. Colonel Searcey in command, found a flank of the enemy which he proceeded at once to turn and attack in reverse. Before the movement, wliicli was being success- fully acciomplished, had proceeded very far, liowevcr, a Fed- eral reserve ap])eared, closed the gap and cut off the return of the Colonel with a part of his command. The detachment thus cut oft' made its way successfully through Shemian's lines and near his trains, capturing as they went an officer and forty men, to whom they were in tlie act of surrender- ing, but, discovering the small opposing force, the Tennessee- ans seized the guns which had been thrown down and com- pelled the surrender of their would-be captors. The detach- ment marched with their prisoners through the woods and over obscure roads to Raleigh, and rejoined the brigade near Smithfield ten days after the battle, greatly to the surprise and delight of tlioii- friends, who were ready to give them up as lost. The restoration of General Joseph E. Johnston to the com- mand gave great confidence to the Army of Tennessee, and the forward movement, as was generally the case, put the men in fine spirits and willing to attempt any duty that he would require of them. In illustration of the faith of the men in their chief: two days after the principal battle, when Shenuan's cavalry came so near seizing ihc bridge^ in the rear, tlie firing attracted attention, and soini^ (uu^ asking Fifty-Eighth Regiment. 443 "what that fire in rear of the army meant," the reply came promptly from the ranks of the Fifty-eighth in the most un- concerned manner, "Don't be uneasy, my son. Old Joe has a wagon train back there some where, and there is no danger where HIT is." The general had well earned in the At- lanta campaign a reputation for taking care of his trains; but for the opportune arrival here of Henderson's little bri- gade of Stevenson's Division, en route for the army, his pres- tige in that particular, and perhaps in some others, might have been lost, together with our "spider wagons" and ord- nance trains. Referring to the published account of this incident Gen- eral Johnston wrote 11 January, 1888, to the undersigned : "The newspaper slip containing your article on Palmer's Brigade at Bentonville and the letter accompanying it were duly received, but at a time when press of business compelled me to postpone compliance with your request. "I do not think, as you do, that the part taken by Cum- ming's Brigade, then commanded by Colonel Henderson, was a matter of luck. That Brigade was a part of at least 1,000 men that joined us from Charlotte that morning, and was made one of four little reserves, and was the nearest one to the point of attack on the Federal division, in which part of Hampton's and all of Wheeler's cavalry joined — defeating that division in a few minutes — before Taliaferro's Division and the three other reserves had a chance to join in the action. They were on the way to the place when it occurred. They and all of our cavalry made the wagons you mention quite safe, for they were fully able to dispose of one Federal division." ********** The letter shows that the General was neither surprised nor unprepared in this encounter, and the old veteran's com- placent feeling of trust and confidence in his chief was not misplaced. Tn the list of the killed was the name of a young recimit, Augustin Greeen, from Watauga county, who came from his home to the Fifty-eighth Regiment the day before the battle. In the ranks near this unfortunate man marched a veteran of 444 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. the Mexican war and of the gi'eat Civil War. The one was taken and the other left. The old veteran came out of both wars unscathed, and still living (1901), draws a pension for serAdce in Mexico. The following extract is from General Order of Major- General Stevenson 23 March, 1865, relating to the part taken by the regiment in the battle of Bentonville : "Never was more dash and gallantry displayed than was exhibited by Palmer's Brigade in their successful assaults upon the breastworks of the enemy." General Palmer, who is since dead, in a letter to the under- signed, in 1888, says: "The orders published by me at the time will show and it now gives me great pleasure to repeat that the Fifty-eighth and Sixtieth North Carolina Regiments in this engagement behaved with distinguished gallantry, and won for them- Sfclves a merited fame, which will last as long as the liistoric fields of Bentonville, will appear on the pages and in the annals still to be written of this grand old State, on whose soil her native sons have achieved such splendid distinction." On 22 March the army was withdrawn to the railroad near Smithfield. While encamped here the Anny oi Tennessee was reorganized, and companies, regiments and brigades, all now very small, were consolidated. The Fifty-eighth and Sixtieth T\egiments were designated as the Fifty-eighth and Sixtieth North Carolina battalion, with Lieut. -Col. Thaddeus M. Colcinan and Major G. W. F. Har[:)er as field officers. The army under General Jolmston marched 10 April from Smithfield via Raleigh, and on the 16th encamped at Greens- boro. Here the regiment was selected as a guard for the large accumulation of North Carolina quartermaster's stores, a duty that was faithfully discharged, the men being practi- cally exempt from the demoralization which the pending sur- render so generally developed. At Greensboro tlie regiment was paid in Mexican silver dollars — one dolLu' nnd fourten cents to each officer and enlisted man present. There being no means of making change for the cents, the men, in groups of seven, drew for the surplus dollar. This pitiful amount was the only payment received for months, Fifty-Eighth Regiment. 445 and was the first coin seen by many of the men during the war. General Johnston's General Order ISTo. 18, announc- ing the surrender of the army, was received 27 April. The paroles were received 2 May and distributed to the regiment, which immediately, as an organized body, marched to Statesville, where it disbanded — some marching to their homes in Ashe and Watauga counties, the greater num- ber taking the cars for Hickory and Icard Station, the latter then the terminus of the railroad. In the march from Greensboro one-third or more of the men, by order, retained their arms and forty rounds in the cartridge boxes. A small wagon carried a chest of reserve ammunition, a few rations, and after caring for any who might be sick, the blankets of the men. No excesses or dep- redations were committed, and the men cheerfully responded to the orders of their officers, to whom, as all knew, respect and obedience could no longer be enforced. The conduct of the rank and file of the regiment in the closing days of the war was in keeping with the fine soldierly qualities uniformly displayed by them throughout the long struggle, and reflects on all high credit and honor. On returning to their wasted homes, with rare exceptions, they proved themselves to be model citizens. A small fraction only of those who went forth in the sixties in response to the call of their country now (1901) survive — the others have joined the mighty and daily increasing host beyond the dark river, and there answer to the general roll call of the just and unjust. Truth will rise in triumph, and impartial history will surely tell to an admiring world the story of the heroic strug- gle and ''how ye fell." ''Rest on embalmed and sainted dead." "E^or shall your glory be forgot While fame her record keeps, Or honor points the hallowed spot Where valor proudly sleeps." G. W. F. Harpek. Lenoir, N. C, 26 April, 1901. THE NEW YORIC PUBUC LIBRARY. A8T0R, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS. \ FIFTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT. *. E(limin(lKirby.LitMit.-Colonel.( Killed 4. at CliickainauKa ) 5. 1. S. m. Silver, Lieut. Colonel. 2. L. W. Gilbert, Captain, Co. n. G. 3. E H. Crump, Serireant, Co. H. (Severely wouudeil at ChioUaniauga.) E. L. Moore, Serpreant, Co. ¥.. J. L. Craijj. Private, Co. H. (Captured 18G4, and died in prison.) A. C. Craig, Sergeant, Co. II. ADDITIONAL SKETCH FIFTT-EICiHTH REOIHENT. By ISAAC H. BAILEY, Captain Company B. The Fifty-eighth Regiment, Jno. B. Pahner, Colonel com- manding, was composed of companies from the counties of Mitchell, Yancej, McDowell, Ashe, Caldwell and Watauga. Mitchell County — Company A, Colonel Palmer's old company, commanded by Captain M. D. Wiseman ; Com- pany B, by Captain Isaac H. Bailey; Company K, by Cap- tain S. M. Silver. Yancey — Company G, by Captain S. B. Briggs; Com- pany G, by Captain J. W. Peck. McDowell — Company F, Captain C. O. Conley. Caldwell — Company E, Captain A. T. Stewart, and Company H, Captain G. W. F. Harper. Watauga and Ashe — Captain Geo. W. Hopkins, Com- pany M. Watauga — ^Company D, Captain B. F. Baird ; and Com- pany I, Captain Jno. A. Miller. Ashe — Company L, Captain W. Gentry. There were also three companies of cavalry. Do not re- member where they were from, except Captain J. Milton English's company, from Mitchell. However, they were all from Western ISTorth Carolina. The cavalry companies were transferred when the idea of creating a legion was dropped. The first general encampment of the Fifty-eighth N"orth Carolina was at Johnson City, Tennessee, in the Spring of 1862. They were mustered into ser\dce as Partizan Ran- gers, but were soon attached to the regular army, where they gallantly submitted themselves to the orders of superior of- ficers of the Confederate Army. 448 North Carolina Troops, 1801-65. Their itineracy from Johnson City, Tenn., \vas as fol- lows : First to Bean's Station, 'I'enn. ; thence to Ciuiiberland Gap, at which place we were at the evacuation of tlie Federals. From the above place we followed the Federals to near Per- ry ville, Kentucky, where we joined General Bragg. Shortly after we returned to Tennessee with the amiy. After this we were stationed for a short time in tlie winter of 1862 at Big Creek Gap, ClintxDu, London, and still later at Chatta- nooga, Tenn. ; and were in Chattanooga at the evacuation of General Bragg's army in the direction of Chicamauga, Ga. In Februaiw and March, 1863, the regiment was stationed at Big Creek Gap, Tenn. In April, 1863, the Fifty-eighth and Sixty-fourth North Carolina, together with the Fifty- fifth Georgia and a battery of artillery composed a brigade at Clinton, Tenn., commanded by Colonel John B. Palmer. On 31 July, 1863, tins same brigade under General J. W. Fra- zer, was at Bell's Bridge, Tenn. The writer had been ordered to Richmond for supplies for the Fifty-eighth North Carolina, consequently does not know all of the moves of the army before the important battle of Chicamauga. Leaving the main army at Chattanooga, Tenn., he was cut off from his return by way of East Tennessee by the Federal anuy having taken possession of the State. So he had to return through North and South Carolina, and found his command at LaFayette 18 September, 1863. It was here that General Bragg called his army around him, telling them how he had retreated from Chattanooga, and how often he had offered the enemy battle, and that they had always failed to make the attack, and now had retired be- fore him at all points. "We shall now turn on the enemy in the direction of Chattanooga, where in the providence of God we will lead the army to victory, and some to death." The long dusty columns were drawn u)), ready to uuirch. The clothes of many of the men were in rags, and their feet bare; but their faces were bright and their bayonets glitter- ing. Orders had been issued that the men were not to cheer, for fear of attracting the enemy's attention, and the troops as Fifty-Eighth Regiment. 449 they passed before their generals, only took off their ragged old hats and waved them around their heads. This silent greeting seemed to touch the great generals greatly. The long shadows made by the declining sun that evening I shall never forget. I will here state that the Fifty-eighth IS^orth Carolina Regiment Volunteers belonged to Kelley's Brigade, Preston's Division, Buckner's Corps. CHICAMAUGA. As we approached the creek from LaFayette, the enemy was discovered in a large com field on the opposite side. Our regiment, the Fifty-eighth i^orth Carolina, together with the balance of the brigade, was put in position immediately in front of the enemy, and the division formed in line of bat- tle to the left. A brisk skirmish was kept up until after dark, in which a portion of General Grade's Brigade was engaged. We, the Fifty-eighth l^orth Carolina, bivouacked that night in front on the battlefield (corn field) and without fire. On the morning of the 19th, at a very early hour, just as soon as you could distinguish the blue from the gi^ay, the whole army was put in position as far as we could see. Our brigade was formed at the upper side of a wheat field, forty yards below the fence and woods that ran parallel with our division. After remaining in line about forty-five min- utes the command was given: "Unfurl your banners." At this moment the sun broke forth, dispelling the fog, and as our banners floated out on the breeze the Federals, our enemy, General Boynton's command (with w^hom I am now ac- quainted), commenced playing "Yankee Doodle" and to move out eastward on an almost parallel line with ours. Al- most immediately we were ordered to march in a parallel direction, the enemy inclining to the right and to the left. Thirty years, one month and four days after this move. General Boynton, of the Federal army, told me that he im- mediately dispatched to Lee and Gordon's mills for twenty- tM'o pieces of artillery, to be turned on us at once. Wliether it was twenty-two or thirty-two there was soon a 29 450 North Carolina Troops. 18P)1-'65. terrible cannonading around us, but with little damage — none to the Fifty-eighth iS'orth Carolina. Very soon after this we captured a battery of artilleiy on a round eminence in a com field, and greatly hoped to get to guard them, but by the time we had exchanged a few chews of tobacco, we were ordered away. For the balance of the day, with the rest of the brigade, we were held in reserve. At about 7 o'clock Sunday morning, the 20th, the two ^flanking companies, A and B, commanded by Captains Bailey and Toby, of the Fifty-eighth ISTorth Carolina Volunteers, to- gether with five companies from the other regiments, were put under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Kirby, of the Fifty-eighth, and ordered in the direction of Alexander's l^ridge across the west prong of Chicamauga river as skir- mishers to feel the strength of the enemy in that direction. We proceeded about one and a fourth miles when we came to an open field lying along the Chicamauga river some three fourths of a mile in length and about the same in breadth. AVlion we had gone nearly half way down through tlie field, Ave could see fortifications all up and down the river the full length of the field and about twenty-five yards from the river bank. Notwithstanding we knoAv that the enemy was behind the breastworks, we had to advance to feel his strength. So we slowly advanced until we came to the fortifications of fence rails leaning from our advance in the direction of the river to where the enemy had fallen back to and under the bank of the river to draw us over, then to fire on us as we would have to retreat over the fortifications just passed. As soon as the line of skirmishers had passed over the fortifications, the enemy fired from their ranks, three or four men deep, a most galling and enfilading fire into our ranks. We had now as- certained by sad and painful experience what we had been sent out to do. We were then obliged to retreat through the rail fortifi- cation upon the woods and across the old fields of broom straw waving in the melancholy wind, and over a number of our most loved comrades left dead on the field. One of them, Thos. G. Tipton, had just saved the ^vriter's life. Fifty-Eighth Regimknt. 451 The battle was raging furiously all the day long from end to end of the field and for five or six miles up and down the river of death (Chicamauga). Charge after charge was made by the Confederate and Federal lines, each in turn, while the shells from the opposing batteries lumbered and burst over our heads. At about 3 :30 p. m. we regained our regi- ment. The Fifty-eighth jSTorth Carolina Vounteers, the Sixty- third Virginia and the Fifth Kentucky, in order named, moved to the front and formed in line of battle, the left rest- ing on the Chattanooga road. The enemy occupied a range of ridges, from which they had repulsed no less than seven as- saults made by our troops. The approach to these ridges was along spurs and where ridges intersected ridges and through intervening depres- sions or hollows, all more or less wooded, but more open and exposed opposite the right of the brigade. One of the as- saults had been male by General Anderson's brigade. Before we could reach him in such a way as to successfully relieve, he had been repulsed. The line being again formed, the Fifty-eighth North Car- olina, which was on the right, moved with steadiness through this comparatively open space till the extreme right arrived within ten or twelve feet of the enemy. The line of the bri- gade formed with the line of the enemy an angle of perhaps 83 to 24 degrees, the right of the Fifty-eighth being at the angle. After exchanging fire with the enemy for about one and three-fourth of an hour, we attempted' to dislodge him by as- sault, and for this purpose the Fifty-eighth ISTorth Carolina was transferred from the right to the left of the line, and moved forward, swinging somewhat to the right. When we arrived at the base of the hill, the enemy was heard to cry: "We surrender! We surrender!" Coloned John H. Kelly, Eighth Arkansas Regiment, was in command of the brigade. He immediately stepped to the front, two horses having been shot from under him within the past few minutes, and called upon the officer who seemed to 452 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. be in command and demanded that if he proposed to surren- der he should lay down his arms. He came to the front saying: ''Wait a moment!" Kelly replied : "No, sir ! lay down your arms instantly, or I will fire upon you," and turned to give his command, but before he could give the command ready, the enemy poured upon us a terrific fire, with a loud exclamation: ''You are firing upon your friends." Having discovered that no friends were in advance, but that it was a most treacherous act on the part of the enemy, firing was continued with vigor. A deadly fire was, and had been ever since we came within range, poured into our ranks by the foe. After a desperately contested fight from 3 :30 p. m. to nearly nightfall, we succeeded in gaining the hill from which the enemy made three or four unsuccessful attempts to dis- lodge us by assault. However, owing to the conformation of the ground, the Fifty-eighth North Carolina was exposed to a galling fire from the front and on both flanks, the left flank- ing company being within ten or twelve feet of the enemy. In this action the regiment lost about half of its numbers, by official report of Colonel Kelly, commanding the brigade. Company A, Captain Toby, started on the charge with thirty- four muskets and" reached the top of the hill with only twelve, losing twenty-two. In conjunction with Colonel K. C. Trigg, Fifty-fourth Virginia,, commanding another brigade, we cap- tured two regiments of the enemy, which surrendered to Col- onel Trigg during the temporary absence of Colonel Kelly, commanding our brigade. As the column commenced moving with the prisoners a volley was fired into our ranks causing a good deal of coufusion, it then being dark. Early in the action Lieutenant-Colonel Edmund Kirby, while gallantly cheering his men, fell pierced by four bul- lets. Major Dula was wounded early in the engagement. Vol. .51, Official Records Union and Confederate Armii's, p. Jf-Jfl Colonel Palmer, the only field officer M-ith tlie reg- iment, was here wounded, but still continued in com- mand, with his senior Captain, Isaac H. Bailey, to aid him as Major and Lieutenant-Colonel, after which Captain Bailey fell almost mortally wounded, left leg broken, shot Fifty-Eighth Regiment. 453 through the right side and one ear almost severed from his head Thirteen commissioned officers, including the Adjutant, had been killed and wounded ; two-thirds of the right flanking company, Captain Toby's, having been killed and wounded, and about seven-tenths of the left flanking company, Captain Bailey's. Arrangements having been made to replenish our supply of ammunition, we went into bivouac and rested for the night, on the hill which the Fifty-eighth, together with the remain- der of the brigade, had so gallantly won, fighting against a superior force, posted in an apparently impreg-nable position. We moved steadily forward, beat and captured many of the enemy, and slept in his "stronghold." Whether you may call it whipping them or not, there was not a Federal to be found within thirteen miles of us by next morning who was at all able to get away. The roll of honor of the regiment at this battle published in general orders, was as follows: Company A, Sergeant Wm. A. Vance; Company B, Pri- vate William F. Bradshaw ; Company C, Sergeant John Hughes ; Company D, Private Braxton Cox ; Company E, Private, W. N. Pender (killed) ; Company G, Private C. Gentry ; Company F, Private George Jarrett ; Company H, Private W. P. Bumgarner ; Company I, Sergeant John Egg- ers (killed) ; Company K, Sergeant P. H. Duncan; Company L, Private M. Harrel. As all of the Fifty-eighth N^orth Carolina did their duty so well it seems useless to make particular mention of any one; yet, I cannot refrain mentioning in a special manner Ebbin Childs, Colonel Palmer's orderly, whose smooth girlish face I see before me now, and whose bright sword flashed for the last time in the rays of the setting sun, as he fell within twenty steps of the enemy's line. His beardless face ablaze with the animation of battle, and his youthful figure trans- formed into a hero's statue. The dry parched earth of Snod- grass Hill was never reddened with nobler blood, and a braver man or boy never died. The regiment marched with the army from Chicamauga to Missionary Ridge. From April to July, 1864, the regiment was in A. W. Rey- 454 North Carolina Troops, 1801-65. nold's Brigade, which in August was temporarily commanded by Colonel Wash. M. Plardy, of the Sixtieth North Carolina ; then with Hood on his march to Nashville and return. Then at the battles of Cassville, Savannah, and the hard-fought bat- tle of Averasboro, N. C, on 16 March, 1865. On 19-21 March at Bentonville, the last battle ever fought by our war- worn soldiers, it was a part of General Jos. B. Palmer's Bri- gade and commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Silver, fought with its accustomed valor. On 9 April, 1865, the Fifty- eighth and Sixtieth consolidated into one regiment, Avere commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Thad. Coleuian, and belonged to Brantley's Brigade, D. H. Hill's Division, S. D. Lee's Corps, in the Army of the West, then stationed near Smithfield, N. C. This is their last report (Official Records Uiiion and Confederate Ar-mies, Vol. 98, p. 106 Jf.) and as General Johnston began his last retreat 10 April, they were probably thus surrendered. The army passed through Ral- eigh 12 April and were near High Point when surrendered 26 April. They were paroled 2 May, 1865, the fragment of an ever glorious regiment and true to the last. Gallant, noble, battle-scarred veterans who had breasted the storm in each of these battles, and the intervening skirmishes. Now and hereafter the question may be asked, why we did not suc- ceed ? The answer is : They who justly deserve success, do not always win it. Braver men never fought or died, but overpowering numbers and munitions of war were against us. Isaac H. Bailey. Bakersville, N. C, 26 April, 1901. IFUEUC LlBRi^RY- A8T0R. LENOK AND FIFTY-NINTH KEOIMKNT. 1. Jos. B. Cherry, Captain, Co. F. 3. D. W. Lewis, 2d Lieut., Co. D. 'i. Lewis B. SultoB, 2d Lieut., Co. F. 4. .1. M. Wright, 2d Lieut., Co. A. FIFTY-NINTH REGIMENT. (fourth cavalry.) By W. p. SHAW, Second Lieutenant Company D. It may be questioned if in the entire range of our thought, there can be found any object more deserving of the highest admiration, and more worthy of the lasting gratitude, of the people of the South than the true Confederate soldier, or if there can be found any cause more worthy of the his- torian's patient labor than an honest and earnest effort to keep fresh and green the memory of his patriotic devotion to his country and home, together with his invincible valor so eminently displayed through the four long years of self sacrificing hardships and bloody strife of the Civil War. "Truly no dark ingratitude should ever overshadow the cher- ished memory of our gallant dead, whose manly forms rent and mangled by shot and shell, pierced by the bayonet's thrust, or borne down by the sabre stroke, fell upon the bloody battlefield, or wasted and died, in the hospital and the camp, of gaping wovmds or burning fever." Yet little has been done to preserve from oblivion and forgetfulness the gal- lant deeds, self-sacrificing devotion to duty of those true sons of jS^orth Carolina, who so bravely stood for "the Lost Cause," and how rapidly the glorious deeds of our heroes are fading from our memory is made more apparent as we look about us for published data and the record of the glorious deeds done by the soldiers of our State. Especially is this true, as we look for historic records of separate regiments and commands. And now since time has kept his steady, restless and unbroken march, year after year, until more than an en- tire age has passed between us and the events we would put on record, we find many of the scenes and incidents once so clear to our memory, so vivid in our minds, "fast becoming a tangled web and in some instances they have already be- come a confusing maze." 456 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Ti'ulv this is so as regards the writer and the part borne in the bloody strife, by the Fifty-ninth Regiment of North Carolina Troops (the Fourth Cavalry) with reference tx) which he would write. This regiment was organized at Garysburg, X. C, in the summer of 1862. Colonel Dennis D. Ferebee, of Camden county, whose commission as Colonel bore date 10 August, 1862, was its first commander. He was a gentleman of edu- cation and polish, having graduated at our State University in 188!). He read law under Judge Gaston at New Bern, but never entered actively in the practice, preferring the life of a planter. He frequently held civil office and several times represented his county in State legislation. Though not possessing military training, yet he was in many respects a good organizer of men.' He w^as careful and neat in dress and had great respect for law and order. It is related that Governor Swain once said of him, when at college, that he was more regular than the college bell. As an officer he was faitliful and bi'ave. After the war lie lived many years at his honu' in the cdunty of Camden, and died greatly respected and a(hnived by his friends and countrymen. Lieut(mant-Colonel (^'antwell, of the city of Wilmington, was the second officer in command. He had seen service in the war with ]\Iexico, and seldom has the flag of any army waved over a braver soldier. At ]\li(ldlel)urg on 18 June, 1863, at llie head of a detachment of his regnment, after fiercely contesting every inch of gTound witli a force several times larger than his own, he stood up urging his men not to yield, until surrouncU^d and overpow^ered, his sword was snatched from his hand and he was made a ])risoner. J. M. Mayo, of Edgecombe county, wlio luul been severely Avounde-iiii('nt, niid at the same time to express his heartfelt regret at his inability to render to many officers and soldiers of the regiment the special reference due for faith- ful service and gallant deeds so valiantlj^ displayed on scores of battlefields, for memory fails now to recite their numy deeds of chivalric courage and invincible endurance. Here in our home State the Fifty-ninth (Fourth Cavalry) took part in the fight at White Hall, near Kinston, and Wash- ington, and after joining the Araiy of Northern Virginia, was an active participant in the battles of Culpepper Court House, Brandy Station, Upperville, ]\Iiddleburg, Aldie, Get- tysburg, South Mountain, Hagerstown, Jack's Shops, Burgess Mills, Boisseau's, Wilson's Farm and numerous other con- flicts, including the engagements along the line of the \Vliite Oak road and Five Forks. Thence at the command of the head of the army, taking its place in the line of the memorable re- treat, it reached Appomattox with its ranks thinned, yet in good morale and its organization complete, and well sus- tained its part in the last contests made on that historic re- treat. W. P. Shaw. WiNTON, N. C, 9 April, 1901. SIXTIETH REGIMENT. James M. Ray, I„ient. -Colonel. 4. James T. Weaver, Lieut. Colonel. 5. (Killed at Columbia, Teiin., De- 6 eeiiilier 7. lHti-1 ) 7. Thail Coleman, Lieut. -Colonel. James T. Huff. Major. M. (". Toms. Cai)tam. Co. A. Robert L. Coleman, Captain, A. C. S. John (i. Chambers, 1st Lieut., Co. C. SIXTIETH REQIMENT, By JAMES M. RAY, Lieutenant Colonel. The Sixtieth Eegiment, North Carolina Infantry, Confed- erate States Army, more largely representative of Asheville and Buncombe than any other regiment going out from this State, had its nucleus in a battalion of State troops. The or- ganization of said battalion having been authorized by the Governor of North Carolina early in 1862, Dr. Joseph A. McDowell, of Wann Springs, Madison county, a member at that time of the Legislature, was invested with power to raise it. He called to his aid a number of well known gentlemen who raised the companies, and in May, 1862, the organization of said companies into a battalion was temporarily effected, with Dr. Josepli A. McDowell, ]\Iajor commanding; Edward M. Clayton, Adjutant; Augustus W. Patton, Quartermaster, and Robert L. Coleman, Commissary. The battalion was designated as the Sixth, and was com- posed of six companies, as follows: First Compa^^y — Hardy's Light Artillery, made up in Asheville and near vicinity ; Wash M. Hardy, . Captain ; HaiTV Deaver, First Lieutenant ; Pleas. Israel, Second Lieu- tenant; J. Thomas Weaver, Junior Second Lieutenant. Second Company — McDowell's Madison county com- pany ; Joseph A. McDowell, Captain ; Belton Ducket, First Lieutenant ; B. F. Patton, Second Lieutenant ; W. P. Cook, Junior Second Lieutenant. TiiiED CojMpany — Reynold's company, made up in Ashe- ville and vicinity ; F. S. H. Reynolds, Captain ; Thomas W. Patton, First Lieutenant; John Gregg Chambers, Second Lieutenant; Thomas H. Riddle, Junior Second Lieutenant. FoiTKTH Company — McDowell's Buncombe company; Wm. W. McDowell, Captain ; Thomas J. Candler, First Lieu- 474 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. tenant (taking the place of his brother, Wm. G., resigning on account of his father's death) ; Samuel C. Wright, Second Lieutenant ; J. B. Hyatt, Junior Second Lieutenant. Fifth Company — ^West's company, composed largely of Haw creek and Swannanoa river men ; W. Kiley West, Cap- tain ; Elie West, First Lieutenant ; Dr. J. S. T. Baird, Second Lieutenant; John Sales, Junior Second Lieutenant. Sixth Company — Stevens' company (this company was made up by James M. Ray and Goodson M. Roberts, but both declined the Captaincy and recommended Dr. Stevens, who was elected ; it was composed principally of Turkey creek. Flat creek and Reems creek men) ; Dr. J. M. Stevens, Captain; James M. Ray, First Lieutenant; Goodson M. Roberts, Second Lieutenant ; John H. Reynolds, Junior Sec- ond Lieutenant. The first movement of the battalion was a march down the French Broad river, making the first day ten miles, stopping at Alexander's, a noted country hotel and stock stand ; thence to ^Marshall and Warm Springs, going into a camp of instruc- tion, drill, etc., on a beautiful island in the French Broad, a fcAv miles below Warm Springs. Here there were addi- tions to the command of two more companies : Fletcher's, of Henderson county — Charles M. Fletcher, Captain; Rufus Do^\^ling, First Lieutenant; Thomas Ship- man, Second Lieutenant : James Brittain, Junior Second Lieutenant. Huff's company, of East Tennessee, from vicinity of Big creek, Cocke county, Jas. T. Huff, Captain ; James Nelson, First Lieutenant ; M. M. Jones, Second Lieutenant ; W. R. Stokely, Junior Second Lieutenant. James Nelson died at Mui*freesboro and Lieutenant Stokely resigned. They were succeeded by Leonard C. Huff and Royal Brooks. In the organization of battalion nud the promotion of Cap- tain ^FcDowell to ^fajor. First Lieutenant Belt-on Duckett became Captain, Second Lieutenant B. F. Pattnn was made First Lieutenant, Riley Chambers Second Lieutenant, and Robert M. Clayton Junior Second Lieutenant. This addi- tion of two coTiipanies, making eight, entitled the battalion Sixtieth Regiment. 475 to two field officers, Lieutenant-Colonel and Major. Major McDowell was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and First Lieutenant Harry Deaver, of Hardy's company, was chosen Major, the vacancy in his company being filled by the promo- tion of Junior Second Lieutenant J. Thomas Weaver to the First Lieutenancy and the election of Marion C. Toms Junior Second Lieutenant. Captain J. M. Stevens being assigned to duty as Assistant Surgeon, First Lieutenant James M. Ray was elected to the Captaincy made vacant by his resignation ; Second Lieuten- ant Goodson M. Roberts was made First Lieutenant; Junior Second Lieutenant John H. Reynolds was made Second, and Ervin West was elected Junior Second Lieutenant. After a stay of two or three months on the island, the bat- talion was by the Governor, through General E. Kirby Smith, having headquarters then in Knoxville, Tenn., tendered to the Confederate Government, was accepted and ordered to Greenville, Tenn., to guard certain stores, railroads and rail- road bridges while Bragg was on his Kentucky campaign. Very soon after reaching Greenville it was decided to change the battalion, by the addition of two companies, to a regiment. Ward's Polk county (N. C.) company, J. L. Ward, Captain ; Lawson B. Davis, First Lieutenant ; Eli Jackson, Second Lieutenant; C. S. Monroe, Junior Second Lieutenant- — coming in, made one of the number, and the otlier was made by volunteers and details from companies un- necessarily large. This was officered by the election of Lien- tenant G. M. Roberts as Captain; McGnider (W. R.) Alex- ander, First Lieutenant ; Josiah M. Jones, Second Lieuten- ant ; S. P. Luther, Junior Second I-deutenant. These additions making ten companies, the complement for a regiment, another field officer became necessary. Lieu- tenant-Colonel McDowell was promoted tO' full Colonel ; Major Deaver was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain Wm. W. McDowell was chosen Major. The vacancy made in his company by the promotion of the latter was filled by the advancement of First Lieutenant Thomas J. Candler to Captain, Second Lieutenant Sam. C. Wright to First, Junior 476 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Second Lieutenant -I. IJ. Hyatt to Second, and the election of J. M. Cole to the Junior Second Lieutenancy. By the promotion and transfer of First Lieutenant Rob- erts, of Ray's company, Second Lieutenant Reynolds ad- vanced to First, Junior Second Lieutenant West to Second, and Robert White was elected to the vacancy of Junior Sec- ond Licnitt'uant. The ori>iinization of the rcg'iment was further perfected by lettering and i2,"ivinii; })la('(> in Jiuc to the companies. Hardy's company was given first jiositioii on tlie right and lettered A; Puckott's company second position on the right and lettered B ; Reynolds' company third position on the right and let- tered C ; Fletcher's company fourth ])osition on the right and lettered D ; Candler's company right centre and lettered E, and made the color company ; Ray's company left centre and lettered F ; Ward's company second from centre on left and lettered G ; Huff's com]iany third from center on left and lettered H ; Robert's com]iany second from left wing and let- tered I ; West's company exireiiie left wing and lettered K.* Towards the last of September, or about the first of Octe- ber. 1802, the regiment was ordered to Murfreesboro, Tenn., and on reaching there encamped to the left of the railroad and very near the city. Here the ]\\ou were engaged in drilling and guard ditties of one sort and another until late in De- cember. I''or a time the regiment was assigned to Reynold's Brigade, then to Preston's and to John C. Breckinridge's Division. Tn the latter it continued until after the battle of Chickannniga. MlKl'K'KKSIiOKO. In tlie last days of December the regiment broke eanip at i\lurfrees])oro and was advanced to meet the Federals under Rosecrans, coming out from Nashville, and meet them it did, on Stone river, a few miles west from Murfreesboro. On *Thip was a d('j)artiire from military rt'^nlatioiis wliicli plaivd the com- panies in the folldwiii^ order from right to left A, F, 1> I, (\ H E, K, G. B, the ot)ject being that wlien the regiment was divided into 5 divis- ions, they would be commanded by the 5 senior captains. Besides in this wayi \ was on the right, B on the left and C in the centre.— Ed. Sixtieth Regiment. 477 Wednesday, 31 December, 1862, the battle was well on, and the Sixtieth, eager for the fray, having tired of long inactiv- ity, was ordered across the river at a ford on the Nashville pike, the men crossing by wading and jumping from rock to rock, something of a ledge extending quite a distance into the water. On reaching the west side of the river the troops were immediately under fire, and yet they kept alignment and moved forward with the martial tread of veterans, notwith- standing the discouragements met with on every hand, for even while in the ford they were met by the litter corps, carry- ing to the rear the wounded, the blood running almost in streams from some of the litters. This, and the gToans of the poor maimed men, and worse still the woeful tales of the de- moralized retreating soldiers who had been engaged and re- pulsed just before this advance, were not calculated to steady the nerves of men under fire for the first time. Some were indiscreet enough to exclaim that it was "useless to go any further, for all hell couldn't dislodge the blue coats" from their strongly fortified position. The line, however, moved forward until it encountered obstacles which covered the en- tire front, these obstacles being the Cowan house, a large brick building, with stables, other out-buildings, gardens, lots, etc., all enclosed by cedar picket fences. The regiment was necessarily thrown into considerable confusion and some of the companies fell back, while others pressed forward under the most terrific fire of musketry and artillery in their front and a most annoying enfilading mus- ketry fire from a cedar grove to the front and left. The ad- vancing companies got around the obstructions mentioned one way and another. Company F, commanded by Captain Ray, struck the obstacles at the garden and finding two or three pickets removed and a pathway through the garden, he threw his men in single file and, with three of the color guards belonging to Company E, J. L. Morgan, from Hom- iny creek, bearing the flag, marched through the garden and einerged into a cotten field to find themselves alone and under the most galling fire. The men were ordered "down," the only command known in tactics appropriate to the occasion. Here they hugged the 478 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. ground for a few minutes, when away to the loft it was seen a charge was being made upon the cedar grove that was then giving the most destructive lire, wdien the command ''Up, left oblique, double-quick, charge!" was given and the com- pany soon reached and formed on this attacking force, which proved a part of our own brigade, containing some of our com- panies that had passed around to the left of the obstacles, breaking the line and then had come for\vard. Of these were Company E, commanded by Lieutenant Hyatt; Com- pany H, commanded by Captain Huff, and Company K, com- manded by Captain West, other companies of the regiment being engaged further up the line. The Federals were in strong force in the cedars and were well protected by uplifting ledges of limestone rock and the larger cedars, but the cliarging Confederates had reached a point that there was less danger, possibly, in going forward than remaining standing, or than in retreating. Having just crossed the open field and reached the edge of the cedars, to stop short was to be shot down, having no protection what- ever, and to retreat over the open, exposed ground even worse, for in this they would receive the fire not only from the small amis, but make themselves targets for the heavily masked batteries on an eminence near the river. To go forward seemed the only alternative and to this the Federals offered a stubborn resistance, encouraged by having repelled former charges to dislodge them. They fought with a heroism only excelled by the advancing Confederates. At a critical moment in the struggle, when the lines were see- sawing and it seemed questionable which was to prove the victor. General Preston, with the gallantry of a true Ken- tuckian, seized the colors of one of his regiments and, sink- ing deep his spurs into the sides of his noble horse, cried out, in tones sounding above the roar and crash of the battle, "Fol- low me, my brave men I" The act and the words were electrical, and, with a shonJb that will go down the ages as the "southem rebel yell," the men sprang forw^ard as if but freshly reinforced, and the Federals were forced to fall back, though in justice to them it must l)e said, foot by foot, contending most stubbornly over Sixtieth Regiment. 479 every inch of the ground. They were, however, finally forced to give up the stronghold, and the "boys in gray" slept that memorable night in the cedars, upon the bloody ground, in the midst of heaps upon heaps of dead men. It was ac- tually "a sleep with the dead," for they were in arm's length that night of almost every man. The horror of it was not felt in its ghastly hideousness until the morning dawned, when the fatigue and excitement incident to the battle had worn away. Ever to be remembered will be that morning of 1 January, 1863, by the participants in that battle. Just at tlie moment of General Preston's seizing the flag the Federal batteries, as if to counteract his move, sent crash- ing into the ranks a most teri-iflc fire of grape and canister, taking off the head of one of the general's staff officers and killing and wounding many others of the brave band that surrounded him. Here Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Deaver, of the Sixtieth, was dashed to the ground by his frantic horse and so stunned that Captain Eay, in front of whose command the accident occurred, sent Merritt Stevens, a stalwart man, to carry him from the field. Colonel Deaver, brave, gallant fellow, was never after able to do a day's service, having been an invalid really for months before the battle. At nightfall the tragic scene described had a respite, at least as to the small arms; the artillery never holding up during the night. At the order to "halt, cease firing, lie down," General Preston slowly rode down the line, having something commendatory to say to each command. On reach- ing the Sixtieth he asked : "What command ?" On being answered, "A portion of the Sixtieth ISTorth Carolina," he said: "This is your first battle of any consequence, I be^ lieve. Indeed you Tar Heels have done well. I must say you advanced further than I intended you should, but I thought I would see how far you would go. Now, a little later, if any of you see fit to venture out and gather up aban- doned gims, I will make honorable mention of it. It will be attended with some danger and I thus make it voluntary. ITow, take your rest as best you can, but whatever you do, build no fires and make no noise which will indicate your posi- 480 North Carolina Troops, 1SG1-'65. tion to the enemy, for they have the range of all these points and will shell you out." In response to the request to gather in al)andoned guns, William liutson, from the vicinity of Sliufordsville, a mem- ber of Ray's company, brought off the field thirty-five, more than enough to arm his company, after its depletion by the killed and wounded in the battle through which it had just passed. This man Hutson was conspicuous for his cool bravery under fire. The daring fellow succumbed, however, to disease and died a few niontlis later in the hospital at Tul- lahonia. On New Year's day the regiment was comparatively inac- tive. The next day, 2 January, 1863, it, together with the balance of the division, was ordered to recross the river and at 4 o'clock in the afternoon went into that ever to be remem- bered "Breckinridge's Friday evening charge. Rosecrans had massed a heavy force in a skirt of timber on the east bank of the river, under the shadow of his "batteries of an lumdred guns," and Bragg ordered Breckenridge with his division to dislodge them. To do so he was forced to cross an open field more than a quarter of a mile in width, witli the enemy lying stretched upon the ground in the edge of rli(> woods with deadly aim on the advancing line. To say that the fire was terrific but mildly expresses it. How any escaped has ever been a matter of wonder. Nothing but a Divine Providence could carry men through such an ordeal. About half way into the field the Sergeant-^Major of the Sixtieth, young Stanhope Erwin, from Burke county, was killed ; an early martyr in his country's cause, a noble, gallant boy, not out of his teens. Here, as on Wednesday, the contest was a stubborn one, the Federals seemingly determined at all liazards to liold their position under the protecting care of tlieir heavy artillery, while the Confederates were equally as determined that they should not, and on they surged, little recking the thinning of their ranks, or the disadvantages that they fully recognized they were laboring under. Harder and harder they pressed, driving, at first it seemed, the opposing line inch by inch, finally moving it more easily, at last to the river, into and Sixtieth Regiment. 481 across it. Soon they rallied and came forward again to find Breckinridge's sturdy men as immovable, by any confronting demonstrations, as the great oaks about them. An unexpected flank movement, however, accomplished by crossing a force up the river and climbing a precipitous bluff, made necessary by reason of inadequate numbers to meet both lines, a falling back. This, while not as orderly as might b.ave been A\ishcd, was without panic and Patton An- derson's Brigade had no part in protecting Breckinridge's men from annihilation, as was falsely reported and strongly intimated, at least, in General Bragg's official report, his troops not coming up until darkness closed the action. This Friday's battle has always seemed a most useless one, and one too showing most ineflicient generalship on the part of General Bragg. Without a simultaneous move on the part of the army on the west side of the river against the enemy's strongly fortified position, the attempt to do more than Breck- inridge did was one of the impossibilities, as any one at all versed in military affairs could readily have foreseen. Saturday, following the gi'and work of a few men the day before, was spent in marching and countermarching, through an almost incessant rainstorm, the whole appearing to be purposeless. Later in the day, or rather at night, the re- treat of the entire army commenced ; indeed, it might be said both armies, for there can be no doubt that the Federals had determined to fall back and that both armies were retreating at the same time, a case several times repeated in subsequent battles by reason of our generals not following up their vic- tories. The losses of the Sixtieth in the two battles may be summed up as follows: In Company A, Lieutenant Weaver commanding: Ser- geant-Major Stanhope Er\vin, killed ; Sergeants M. C. Toms, D. H. Waggoner and L). W. Owen, wounded ; Captain J. T. Garison, w^ounded ; Privates J. E. James, Robert Paris, H. jST. Bridgers, wounded, and J. L. Alexander missing. Company B, Captain Duckett commanding: Sergeant J. 31 482 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'(55. A. Hij^ps, missing; Privates Win. Shetley, lvillc(l; Cliarles Stokclj, W. K. Cook, seriously wounded; .lames Wowly Elk- anah Ilicks, John Slietly, John E. Waddell, \Vm. Plenimons and B. F. Lawson, slightly wounded. Company C, Captain lievnolds commanding: Wednesday, Lieutenant Alexander; Friday, Sergeant W. A. McBrayer, wounded : i*rivat.es J. W. Dillingham, A. W. Searcy, W. S. Penhuid, W. G. Dillingham, Jackson Whitlock, wounded. Company D, Lieutenant 'Shipraan commanding: Privates Noah Hudson and F. J. Israel wounded. Company E, Lieutenant Hyatt commanding: Wednesday, Lieutenant Wright; Friday, Lieutenant Hyatt, wounded; Sergeants W. W. Slate and T. J. Harkins, wounded ; Cor- poral W. P. Green, wounded ; Privates E. G. Howell, Thomas Brookshire and John Morgan, wounded. Company F, Captain Ray commanding: Privates M. Fos- ter, J. Foster, J, Wilson, F. P. Wilson, N. Hudson, James H. Tweed, Wm. White, J. H. Penland, D. L. Mann, Solomon Frisby, wounded ; F. M. Parham and Wm. Pritchett, miss- ing. Company G, Captain Ward commanding: Privates Lean- der Peck, Alexander Edwards, J. B. Swain, M. M. Edwards, Davidson Edwai'ds, Wm. Pcgg, wounded ; George Ellison, W. P. Cai'uth and James Wilson, missing. Company H, Captain HufT commanding: Ijieutenant W. M. Jones and' Sergeant C. C. Jones, wounded ; Privates W. H. Headrick, Nicliolas Ellison, George Marrow, W. P. Moore, G. W. Manstook and Corporal Willie Chapman, wounded. Company T, Captain Roberts commanding: Corporal Wil- son and Privates R. Gray and Peter Gray, wounded ; Privates Wm. S. Alexander and Alfred Fisher, missing. Company K, Captain West commanding: J. G. Ledbetter, killed; Privates ]\roses Hall, R. W. Alexander, M. A. Rober- son, Ephraim Glass, J. W. Clark. W. R. Bartlett, A. L. Bird, S. P. Young, Jonathan Allison, D. M. Wells, J. A. Clark, wounded, and IL C. Gossett and Thonuis H. Wilson, missing. Breckinridge's Division, of which the Sixtieth Avas a part, Sixtieth Regiment. 483 fell l)ac'k to Tullalioina and went into winter quarters. Tlie weather following was of the meanest — raining, sleeting and snowing, and slush and mud seemed to be the normal condi- tion of things in that dreary and desolate region. The suf- fering was great. The men sickened and many died, both of officers and privates, Quartermaster-Captain Augustus W. Patton among the former, entailing a loss irreparable to the regiment, he being a most efficient officer and the highest type of a man in every way. CHAJiGES IJN^ OFFICEKS. Here, too, commenced an investigation of the conduct of certain officers and companies in the fights in front of Mur- freesboro, and while most, if not all, were from the peculiar state of things not gTeatly censurable for any neglect of duty, a j)ressure was brought to bear on them and several resigna- tions were tendered, and quite a revolution was wrought in the officials ; an entire change in the field officers and many changes in company officers. Captain Hardy, of Company A, was made Colonel and Captain Ray, of Company F, Lieu- tenant-Colonel. The position of Major for some reason, was left vacant. The promotion of Captain Hardy making a va- cancy in his company (A), First Lieutenant Weaver w^as pro- moted to Captain, the Second Lieutenant and Junior Sec- ond Lieutenants advancing res]Dectively, and John W. Lind- say was elected to the vacancy of Junior Second Lieutenant. The vacancy of Captain in Company F, caused by the pro- motion of Captain Ray, was not filled, but First Lieutenant Reynolds allowed to command. Captain Belton Duckett, of Company B, resigning. First Lieutenant B. F. Patton was advanced to the Captaincy ; the Second and Junior Second Lieutenants advanced respectively, and the vacancy of Junior Second Lieutenant was not filled. Captain F. S. H. Rey- nolds, of Company C, resigning. First Lieutenant Thomas W. Patton was promoted to Captain, and Second and Junior Second Lieutenants advanced respectively. Samuel W. Da- vidson was elected Junior Second Lieutenant. After the death of Lieutenant Riddle, I^ieutenant Davidson advanced to Second and Henry K. Rhea elected to the vacancy of 484 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Junior Second Lieutenant. Captain Fletcher, of Company D, and his Lieutenants leaving the company, Lieutenant John Gregg Chambers, of Company C, was temporarily put in command. Later H. Clay Lorance was appointed First Lieutenant, James M. Ford Second, and Robert C. Evans Junior Second Lieutenants. Lieutenant Lorance taking commaiid, relieved Lieutenant Chambers, who returned to his company on 17 jSTovember, 1863, Jesse R. Gilliland was appointed Captain and comnuinded the company until wounded in front of Atlanta, from which he never recovered, Lieutenant Lorance again taking command. Captain West of Company K, resigning. Adjutant E. M. Clayton was made Captain and William T. White elected Junior Second Lieu- tenant. The vacancy of Adjutant by the promotion of E. M. Clay- ton, was filled by the appointment of Orville Ewing, Jr., of Nashville, Tenn. The position of Sergeant-Major made va- cant by the killing of Stanhope Erwin, was filled by the ap- pointment of Frank M. Miller. Captain G. M. Roberts, of company I resigning. First Lieutenant W. R. Alexander was promoted to the Captaincy, the Second and Junior Second Lieutenants advanced respectively, and the Junior Second Lieutenancy was not filled. Dr. J. M. Stevens resigning as Surgeon, Dr. Griffin, of Louisville, Ky., was assigned to duty in his stead, assisted by Lieutenant Robert Cooper. Dr. Griffin was superseded by Dr. Mackay about the time the regiment left for Mississippi. The latter was a surgeon of considerable note, having served quite a time in the English army with the Scottish Highland- ers before coming to America. Phifer Erwin was made Quar- termaster in place of W. Augustus Patton, deceased, B. J. Alexander being retained as Quarternmster-Sergeant. In the early spring of 1863 the regiment, as also the divis- ion, broke camp at Tullalioma and moved to Wartrace. It was then in Preston's Brigade, Breckinridge's Division, Har- dee's Corps. In early summer it went to Faii'field, and later was ordered to Jackson, ]\Iiss. On reaching there it went into camp upon the banks of Pearl river, here reonaining until about 1 Jnly, Joseph E. Johnston in the Sixtieth Regiment. 485 meantime hurriedly getting together transportation for a movement on Vicksburg to relieve Pemberton, who was being besieged by General Grant. Four days' marching via Can- ton, under the broiling sun of that, then, almost tropical clime in dust shoemouth deep, drinking water from any place it could be found, and this, much of the time, being stagnant, muddy, stockponds and even from hog-wallows along the line of march, the command reached the waters of the Big Black on the night of 4 July, the commander of the Sixtieth, Lieutenant-Colonel Ray, being the general field officer of the day. About midnight the word passed from brigade to bri- gade and from regiment to regiment that Vicksburg had ca- pitulated. A retrograde movement was at once ordered and the retreat commenced and continued until Jackson was reached. The troops fared better on the retreat than on the advance, so far as water Avas concerned, for the wells and cis- terns along the route that had been stripped of buckets and drawing arrangements by the owners had been replaced after the passage of the troops and, of course, not anticipating so speedy a return, they were found in place and there was com- paratively little suffering for water. The citizens of Can- ton, it must be said, however, did everything possible for the comfort of the soldiers, both advancing and retreating, lining the sidewalks with buckets and pitchers of water. Johnston made a stand at Jackson and set himself in bat- tle array. Very soon he was confronted by the Federals in force and the contest commenced, first skirmishing along vari- ous parts of the line. Finally, on 16 July, a strong demon- stration was made upon that part where the Sixtieth had posi- tion and for a time the battle was fierce, but the defense was stronger than the enemy seemed to have anticipated, the re- treat was sounded and the attacking forces withdrew. The Sixtieth's casualties were but slight, a few men only being wounded. Among that number was James Parker, of Company E, whose w^ound necessitated the amputation of one arm. This was done most skilfully by Dr. McKay, surgeon of the regiment. General Johnston did not see fit to offer resistance for any considerable time to the occupancy of the city and withdrew 486 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. his forces, the Sixtieth going to Brandon and encamping on a ridge not a great way from the station, in the track of a cy- clone tliat had passed through that section of the country some time before, and hence the name "Camp Hun'icane," by which the rendezvous was known. PIcre Colonel Hardy, Lieutenant-Colonel Eay and several officers of the line passed their examinations for promotion, although they had been on duty in their respective assignments, most of them, from the time of leaving Fairfield, Tenn. Lieutenant-Colonel Ray commanding the regiment on the advance from Jackson to Big Black and on the retreat as well. It was here, too, that Dr. McKay, by his extra rigid regular army discipline, incurred anew the anger of many of the regi- ment, Avho claimed that they w^ere out to fight tyranny in every form, and while engaged fighting back an invading army, they would at the same time resist being domineered by, as they claimed, a military martinet in the person of the regimental surgeon. They commenced the exhibition of their determination to get rid of the doctor by a night attack upon him as ho swung in his hamuKK-k in his mar(iuee, cutting down the hammock and then casting some stones, more to frighten, possil)ly, than to hurt, for they were not really bad men. The doctor appealed to Lieutenant-Colonel Kay, again in command of the regiment, for redress and reported an en- tire company as being the offenders, but as lie could name none, either as leaders or participants, no action could well be taken. Colonel liay, esteeming him for his skill in surgery and his general learning, was anxious to save him any injury, or any repeated indignity and begged the doctor to allow him to effect his transfer, which was done and old Dr. Straight, a Mississippian, was put in his place, a most lovable character, who soon endeared himself to the men very greatly. In Septem1)er Breckinridge was ordered to Georgia to re- inforce General Bragg, who was again to join issue with General Rosecrans. It so happened that some of the higher officers being away on leave, and oth(u-s desiring to go via Mobile, Ala., the comnmnd of the brigade devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel Ray, who had it in charge until reaching tlic point of destination. Sixtieth Regiment. 487 CHICKAMATJGA. On reaching Chickamauga (the Indian name "Chicka- manga" means river of death) the two armies were found in battle array and skirmishing more or less severe occurred from day to day, commencing on about the 10th. The Sixti- eth had position on the left of the army and upon that part of the field in which vicinity were Glass' and Lee and Gor- don's flouring mills. The line of battle was constantly undergoing changes, not very considerable until the 18th and 19th. Then the changes were radical, the left, or a great part of it, embrac- ing the Sixtieth, was moved to the extreme right wing. On the 18th everything indicated fighting and a regailar engage- ment was unquestionably at hand. The ominous cloufls of war hung like a pall over the anny ; the atmosphere was full of it; the warrior, as well as the war horse, could ''smell it from afar." Curses were changed to prayers, cards in the pockets were replaced by Testaments and a quiet determina- tion took the place of jests and ribaldry. Sure enough on Saturday, the 19th, the struggle began in earnest. As the day waned the contest became hotter and hotter, and at dark it seemed only just begun, and raged furi- ously until way into the night. When the ranks could no longer see each other they would fire at the flash and report of their opponents' guns. The Sixtieth, up to this time, had not been hotly engaged. The night of the 19th it marched hour upon hour, crossing the river at Alexander's bridge, when it seemed almost time for cock crow, if one had dared to be so bold in hearing of men hungry enough to have eaten him, feathers and all ! Tired and worn, a final halt was called and the men threw themselves upon the gi'ound and in almost a twinkling were wrapped in sound slumber, such as is known only to soldiers. But O ! of such short duration was that sleep. Not waiting until day dawn, the long roll sounded — a sound that like the rattlesnake's warning notes, never failed to put all hearers on the alert. Hastily every man, knowing intuitively what the call boded, was up in busy preparation, and at daybreak was in line ready for any fate. 488 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Written unmistakably in almost every face was "we go to victory or death." Alas ! all to victory, many to death. Lieutenant-Colonel Ray was in command, and being called upon for a speech, the commanding officers of other regiments on the right and left, already haranguing their men, he said: "I hardly think it just the time for a speech. Later it may be necessary. We know full well what is before us. I am no more anxious for the conflict than the rest of you, but I mean to do my full duty and have confidence that you will do the same." Up to near this time, probably within two days. Captain Candler, senior Captain, had been acting Lieutenant-Colonel, as has lieen stated, the regiment having no Major, but upon an order from General Breckinridge to Acting Colonel Ray to send a mounted officer to the rear to see what was the trou- ble that rations for three days had not been sent forward, he detailed Captain Candler for this work and had Captain J. T. Weaver assigned to duty as second in command, and the regiment commenced the day's work so officered, young George Leavel, of Mississippi, acting as voluntary aid to Lieutenant-Colonel Ray. At this battle the Sixtieth was in Stovall's Brigade, Breckinridge's Division, D. H. Hill's Corps. Notwith.stancling tlie early preparations, it was near 9 o'clock before the troops were actually engaged. The skir- mishers at once uncovered the Federal line of l)attle and the work began, the Confederates continually advancing, at many points, however, meeting strong resistance. The casualties for a time were inconsiderable. T^ieutenant Wm. White and Sergeant J. L. Cathey were among the first seriously wound- ed, both losing a leg. Lieutenant White's proving fatal. Tliese were both men of distinguished bravery. It was not infrequent that ludicrous and laughalile scenes came up even during the battles. In the first charge made here, the men had been strongly admonished against throw- ing away shots and ordered to hold their fire until ordered b}' commanding officers. A Federal sharpshooter had from some cause fallen behind his comrades as they had been driven back and the follow was running for dear life diagonally Sixtieth Regiment. 489 across the front of the Sixtieth. When first seen he was probably 250 yards away. Redden James a Sergeant in Company F, asked permission to fire at him. It being given, he turned loose his carbine, whereupon the fleeing soldier tumbled, but in a moment was up and off again. Another shot was fired at him and again he fell, but as quickly as be- fore he was up and on the run. Then the third man fired and another tumbling down. By this time the line had reached him and when ordered up, it was found the fellow had not been touched, but had adopted this ruse, as he said, to prevent a volley being fired at him, and hoping every lit- tle run to pass from the front of the charging line. The direction of advancing columns up to about 11 o'clock had been a little west of south, but reaching the Lafayette pike, leading out from Chattanooga, near where stood Jones' and McDonald's houses, the direction was changed due south, at least as to Stoval's Brigade, of which the Sixtieth was a part. Soon after this charge came the tug of war. As the Federal line was driven back it seemed to be strengthened in numbers, probably by reinforcements or the falling back on reserves, and to grow in desperation, and the advance of the Confederates as the sun approached the meridian became more and more difficult. From 11 until 12 o'clock it was a life and death struggle. The Federal line of battle was of an unheard of shape, run- ning east and west through Kelley's field, then bending round to due north and extending probably 500 yards, bending around again in a westward direction, some distance parallel to the line through Kelley's G.e]^, but stopping short before reaching Lafayette pike, or touching the line west of said pike, thus leaving an opening or gap in their line. And it was here the Sixtieth got in its nice work ; passing the right of this west line, it forced its way into this gap, receiving an enfilading fire for a short time in passing said line, and drove the opposing forces back into Kelley's field into their breastworks. 490 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. FAKTIIEST TO THE FKONT AT CHICKAMAUGA. By forcing their way into this gap the gallant men of the Sixtieth onahled the State and United States commissoners^ in reviewing the battlefield in order to locate the exact posi- tion of the various commands, to say: "This ]ioint [marked by a tablet] reached by the Sixtieth North ("arolina liegiment of Infantry, at noon, on Sunday 20 September, 1863, was the fwrihcsl ohtained hy any Confeder- ate troops in this famous charge.'' The casualties in the last hour of this charge were heavy. Lieutenant-Colonel Ray was severely wounded and forced to leave the field, after calling Acting Lieutenant-Colonel Weaver, notifying him of his being disabled, and turning over to him the command of the regiment. The regiment in its last action here was confronted by the Second Minnesota, which reported a loss of 33 per cent, of its members, fighting, too, a part of the time, behind breastworks. Indicating somewhat further the severity of tlu^ struggle here, three generals were killed almost in a stone's throw of the position of the Sixtieth in Kelley's field — Generals Helm and Deshler, of the Confederates, and General King, of the Federals. Soon after Acting Lieutenant-Colonel Weaver took com- mand of the regiment the line was withdrawn and reformed north and somewhat west of Kelley's field and held inactive for a time, then advanced upon another part of the Federal line, and near siuidown was drawn up in support of Forrest's cavalry. It was here held in reserve a sliort time, and then ordered into the charge being made on the enemy's breast- works, which were taken nlTist gallantly, the Federals being driven pcn-mell, tlie Coiifc'dorates searcoly lialtiug at the breastworks, but pursuing the panic-stricken, retreating forces in the direction (if Chattanooga. And so ended the day's work, and wifli similai' work on 0'th(>r parts of the bat- tlefield, the great and bloody battle of (^hickamauga. The hurried and brief reports of commanding officers make it absolutely inijiossiblc to give tlie casualties of the Sixtieth in these different engagements, but they were great, some of the companies having only five or six men to answer to their Sixtieth Regiment. 491 names at roll call on the night of the 20th. Among the officers wounded, not already mentioned, were Lieutenant John H. Reynolds, seriously, losing an arm ; Lieutenants Leonard Huff and Sam W. Davidson and Captain W. R. Alexander, slightly. Of the color guard, every man save one, George Lindsey, was killed or wounded. The bearer of the flag, Sergeant Bailey, though mortally wounded, called Sergeant Lindsey to him, told him he was shot, showed him the wound and said : 'T turn over to your keeping the colors." Here again is another instance of gTeat victory, at an ex- pense of almost a deluge of the best blood of the country and apparently nothing achieved. The failure to press Rose- crans while on the run and take Chattanooga, and thus re- claim a large part of Tennessee, was a blunder that could not be understood by the rank and file of the army and was never satisfactorily explained. Llad this been done, and none doubted the possibility of it, the Federals could never have boasted of victories at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, for those battles would never have taken place. General Breckinridge, through Lieutenant Clay, of his staff (grandson of Henry Clay) sent expressions of his sym- pathies to Colonel Ray at field hospital on the morning after the battle on the 20th and was unstinted in his praise of the conduct of the Sixtieth. MISSIONARY RIDGE. The following up the retreating Federals, after the hard fighting on the 20th, was very leisurely and in a half-hearted way, giving them time to rally, reorganize and offer battle again, on plans very advantageous to them. The Sixtieth was inactive for a day or two, and then by slow marches took position on Missionary Ridge, overlooking Chattanooga. Here on 25 JSTovember it was brought into action, but was so situated as to be able to do but little effective work, having the enemy too far away at the beginning of the conflict to reach them except by plunging shots from the artillery and the longest range guns, and when getting nearer they were almost completely sheltered by the natural curvature of the mountain. On the Federals reaching the top of the bluff, a 492 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. sliai-p engagement took place, but the disparity in numbers was so great the Confederates were forced to retreat, the Six- tieth falling back to Dalton, Ga., and there taking up winter quarters. Omng to the great depletion in the ranks of both the Sixtieth and Fifty-eighth Hegiments, the two were con- solidated while on Missionary Kidge, the field officers of the Sixtieth k(.'pt in commiiiid and those of the Fifty-eighth trans- ferred. The campaign of 1864 opened with a clash between the opposing forces in front of Dalton, the Sixtieth and Fifty- eighth participating in the battle. This resulted in a victory to the Confederates, the Federals again falling back in the direction of Chattanooga. The casualties as to the North Carolinians were slight in this action, save in the killing of Lieutenant Thomas H. Riddle, of Company C, an efficient and popular young officer. This battle was known as "Stoney Ridge." In the spring and summer of 1864, the Fifty- eighth and Sixtieth ISTorth Carolina belonged to A. W. Rey- nolds' Brigade, Stevenson's Division, Hood's Corps. In Au- gust, Colonel Wash. M. Hardy, of the Sixtieth, was in com- mand, temporarily, of the Brigade. FROM DALTON TO ATLAN'TA. The Sixtieth returned to Dalton and went into their old quarters. Sergeant-Major Frank IMiller was here made Sec- ond Lieutenant in Company A, Thomas F. Davidson was made Junior Second Lieutenant to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Lieutenant Reynolds, and Calvin Shack- elford to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Lieut. Wm. T. White. Llere it remained until the beginning of what is known in history as the 'Mohnston-Sherman Atlanta cam- paign." This Avas a succession of battles and retreats upon the part of Johnston, inflicting heavy losses upon Shennan. By his peculiar tactics, of selecting his positions and drawing Sherman back on him, he was seriously crippling him and yet apparently giving him victories by his retreating and the oth- er advancing. 'Twas said in this campaign that from first to last Johnston disabled and killed of Sherman's anuy in numbers aggi'egating nearly 50,000, a force almost equal to Sixtieth Regiment. 493 that witli which he fought him. The Sixtieth was frequently engaged in this campaign, a dozen or more times, the most important battles being at Resaca, Cassville, jSTew Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Jonesboro and Atlanta, and never to its discredit. Its losses were considerable, particu- larly in wounded, many of the very best officers and men being disabled. Specially deserving mention are Captains Ed. M. Clayton and Jesse R. Gilliland, Lieutenants Frank M. Miller and Robert Cooper. CHANGE OF GENERALS. The War Department at Richmond, under influences, not creditable to either side, assumed to dictate to Joseph E. Johnston as to the further conducting of this "Atlanta Cam- paign," and this greatest of strategists, declining to be so handicapped, allowed himself to be superseded and the Con- federate Government committed the greatest blunder of its short life in bringing about such a condition of things. Some of the older generals who were asked to take command, saw the unwisdom of a change at that particular crisis, and declin- ing to become a party to it, it was left to the dashing and dar- ing Texan, General John B. Hood, to take charge of that gal- lant body of men that almost worshipped their great displaced leader. A sad day indeed was it, in and around Atlanta, when the change in commanders was made known. No half dozen defeats in battle could have had so depressing an effect upon the troops. In the Federal ranks the contrary feeling prevailed ; the elation on one side was equal to the depression on the other. General Sherman said : "]^ow we'll have some- thing to say when and where we fight. Up to this time it has been when and where Mr. Johnston said." Of course General Hood had to esLrrj out the behests of the war department, with, it was presumed, Cleneral Bragg as adviser, and an entire change in plans was brought about, he taking the offensive and making desperate onslaughts upon Sherman's lines, and while victorious in a way, and fully sus- taining his well earned reputation as a daring, successful fighter, they were at such a sacrifice of his men, as to make suicidal a continuance of it and hence it was determined to 494 North Carolina Tkooi's, 18f;i-'65. adopt other tactics. So the army swung ar(»uii(l, recrossed the (^hattahoocli(>e river and opened the way to an ahnost un- interrn])ted rnarcli of Sherman to the sea; while, in the short- sighted ])olicy of the powers at Richmond, the movement was supposed to cut tlieir supplies from Nashville, little thinking of the communications Sherman was opening up ahead of him. THE MARCH ON NASHVILLE. Passing through North Georgia, North Alabama, crossing the Tennessee river at Florence, where a small force of Fed- erals offered slight resistance, but were easily overcome by the troops of which the Sixtieth was a part, the march was continued into and through a section of the State very ap- propriately called ''The Wilderness," where it might have been justly said, in the language of Sheridan, "that a crow in flying over it would have to carry his rations with him." The men subsisted principally upon scant supplies of "corn dodger" and "sorghum molasses." The transition from t:his barren land into that fertile re- gion known as the Blue Grass section of middle Tennessee, can hardly be imagined. Here, at Columbia, on Duck river, another body of Federals was encountered, and a sharp lit- tle engagement took place, the Sixtieth suifering somewhat, particularly in the loss of a brave young officer, Lieutenant Moreno, who had been assigned to duty with the regiment, having refugeed a short time before from Pensacola, Fla. FRANKLIN. Instead of pressing the retreating foe and forcing a battle upon the ground where each contestant would have been on an equal footing, or, what would have been better, outflank- ing him, a thing seeming altogether practicable, he was allowed, unintemiptedly it might be said, to fall back on Franklin and ample time given to strongly fortify. Then when the Federals, it might be presumed, said, "Now we are ready, you may advance !" the Confederates, never counting odds, or reckoning obstacles, did advance. But what a scene of blood and carnage. The forces were more nearly Sixtieth Regiment. 495 equal as to numbers than in most battles of the war, the Con- federates having 18,000 to 20,000, the Federals 22,000 to 24,000. But bj reason of the one being so thoroughly en- trenched and the other compelled to advance through broad, open fields, the odds actually might be said, not unreasona- bly either, to have been about five to one. The battle was a most terrific one, the Confederates fighting with a determina- tion scarcely ever equalled, even by themselves. Privates and oflicers alike went down in the melee, like trees in the sweep of a tornado. The casualties were indeed appalling, especially so on the Confederate side. Six general officers were killed and six wounded. Major-General John Adams of Stewart's Corps, and that indomitable old war horse of the same rank, Pat. Cleburne, went down in death, with Brig- adier-Generals Cranberry, Carter, Gist and Strahl. Thir- teen, regimental commanders were killed and thirty-two wounded. Many other field and line officers were killed and wounded, while about 6,000 of tlie rank and file were left dead or disabled upon the field, on the banks of, and in, the ditches that they were so gallantly charging. The Federal losses were estimated at one-half or two-thirds less, and yet it was counted a Confederate victory, because the Federals were driven from their strongholds and retired upon j^ashville. The fewer of such victories the better for the victors, and that the battle of Franklin should ever have been fought was a mistake and a misfortune that no one, at all conversant with the facts, will for a moment question. THE EETBEAT from NASHVILLE. The advance was then upon l^ashville, the Sixtieth having a position from which the capital city could be seen, but into which it was never permitted to enter. In the engagement in front of ISTashville the Confederates were defeated and commenced a retreat that with slight interruptions ended only in the surrender of the army in ISTorth Carolina. The Sixtieth, with a certain part of the troops, fell back on Mur- freesboro, and while in line of battle here, with no active en- gagement on hand, the daring and gallant Lieutenant-Colonel 496 North Carolina Trooi-s, lsr,l-'G5. Thomas Weaver, in command of the regiment, was the tar- get of a sharpshooter and instantly killed. The command then devolved upon James T. HufF, of Cocke county, Tenn., who had some time before been promoted to Major. While the loss of (Vdoncl Weaver was in-eparable to the regiment, it was still in good liands, Major Huff having proven himself an efficient officer. The line of retreat was again taken up and again that desolate land of ''The Wil- derness" was traversed, on through Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina into North Carolina, disembarking at Smith- field, and in time to take a hand in the Bentonville battle of 19, 20 and 21 April, 1865, practically the last battle of the most remarkable war in the annals of history. Many of the Sixtieth had the distinction of having taken part in the first and last battle of the war — Big Bethel and Bentonville. Quartermaster Phifer Erwin taking sick. Captain M. J. Bearden, former Quartennaster of the Fifty-eighth, took his place ; Commissary Sergeant King in charge of commis- sary stores. bentonville. The casualties in the Sixtieth at Bentonville were not great, fighting principally from rudely constructed breast- works. There were a few slightly wounded, among the num- ber Ed. Reno and J. M. Alexander. The sixtieth was in the brigade commanded by General Joseph B. Palmer. This battle, aside from being the last, was somewhat remarkable in bringing into conspicuous notice the daring and fighting qual- ities of the boys of the dear southland, the Junior Beserves. They fought with a heroism creditable alike to tli em selves and their veteran sires. The Buncombe Juniors were in the first battalion, commanded by Major D. T. jMillt^rd, of Ashe- ville. The battle of Bentonville was fought by Joseph E. John- ston, the idol of the western army, with less than 20,000 men, the Federals under Sherman numbering between 70,000 and 80,000, and that only a part of his anny, yet victory perched upon the banners of the "cross in red." The Sixtieth re- treated with the army through Raleigh, thence to Greensboro Sixtieth Regiment. 497 and then to Jimtown. The Fifty-eighth and Sixtieth North Carolina on this retreat (which began 10 April) were consol- idated and commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Thad. Cole^ man, and belonged to Brantley's Brigade, D. H. Hill's Divis- ion, S. D. Lee's Corps. Official liccords Union and Confed- erate Armies, Vol. 98, p. IO64.. It was doubtless surrendered as thus organized. The news of the Army of jSTorthern Virginia, under that grand old leader, Robert E. Lee, having surrendered reach- ing Joseph E. Johnston, he at once opened negotiations with General Shenuan, looking to a closing of the contest between their respective armies, and on 26 April, 1865, the agreement was perfected and the scene sadly closed The Sixtieth was very fortunate in having a number of the Buncombe Riflemen, known as the Bethel company, to join its ranks, their experience in drill making them efficient drill masters. Many of them were made officers, to-wit. : W. W. McDowell, Major; Robert L. Coleman, Captain Commis- sary ; T. W. Fatten, B. F. Patton and Marion Thomas, Cap- tains of the line ; Robert M. Clayton, John T. Sales, Thomas J. Shipman, H. Clay Lorance and Sam. W. Davidson, Lieu- tenants, and Ed. M. Clayton, Adjutant and later Captain. Others to the number of twelve or fourteen were non-commis- sioned officers and privates. Three Buncombe families furnished fifteen men to this regiment; six Stevenses, five Sales and four Davidsons, and, singular to state, while several of them were wounded, none were killed and but one of the number has since died. Dock V. Shope, of Swannanoa, was Orderly Sergeant from the beginning to the ending, and George Alexander, of the same section, Commissary Sergeant for the whole time, almost unparalleled instances, and, singularly enough, both were of the same company — Company I, G. M. Roberts', later W. R. Alexander's company. Color Sergeant George Lindsay, who was entrusted with the flag of the regiment by his wounded predecessor on the battlefield of Chickamauga, 20 September, 1863, carried it to the end of the conflict, and on or about 2 May, 1865, at Jim- 32 498 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'65. town, N. C, was paid his prorata of the silver remaining in the Confederate States treasury, $1.15, and paroled. Spend- ing the 15 cents for luxuries of one sort or another, he re- tained the $1.00, and still holds, as a precious souvenir, that and liis parole. The records of this regiment, from the time of the moving from Dalton early in 1864, are necessarily imperfect, by rea- son of the rapid movements and the multiplicity of incidents and events. To bring in more than has been done would so lengthen the narrative as to deter many from reading it and to require quite a volume to hold it. The writer has labored assiduously to give the history of the regiment as correctly as possible in brief form and sub- mits it to the charitable criticisms of the survivors of tbe regi- ment. That there are some errors need not surprise any one. It could not be otherwise in writing without any sub- stantial data, after the lapse of thirty-six years. The worst fault, he feels, is that of omission. He wishes it was practi- cable to note the heroic deeds of hundreds of the rank and file, some of which would bear no unfavorable comparison with that since famous act of Lieutenant Hobson ; but to do this would take illimitable time and space. To mention some and not all would be an invidious distinction. James M. Ray. ASHEVILLE, N. C, 26 April, 1901. ADDITIONAL SKETCH SIXTIETH REGinENT. By THOMAS W. PATTON, Captain Company C. The above regiment was organized early in the summer of 1862, in the county of Madison, N. C. Of its ten companies, seven were composed of men from Buncombe, one from Mad- ison, one from Polk, and one from Cocke county, Tennessee. The Field Officers at organization were Joseph A. McDow- ell, Colonel ; W. H, Deaver, Lieutenant-Colonel ; and W. W. McDowell, Major. As soon as its organization was completed, the regiment was marched to Greenville, Tenn., and thence by rail trans- ported to Murfreesboro, at which place it took part in the famous and hard-fought battles of 31 December to 3 January. With the Army of Tennessee, it retreated to Tullahoma, and there passed the balance of the winter of 1862-'63. At this place it suffered much from sickness, losing many good men. About 1 May, 1863, it was in Stovall's Brigade, Breckin- ridge's Division, carried to Mississippi, and encamped near Jackson, on the banks of the Pearl river. Remaining there till 1 July, it marched in direction of Yicksburg, the intention of the General commanding being to attempt the relief of the garrison which had long been closely beleaguered there by General Grant, but on approaching the Federal lines, on 5 July, it was learned that the Confederates had capitulated the day previous, and the relieving forces were hastily marched back to Jackson. In the fortifications around Jackson a rather severe engage- ment occurred on Sunday, 12 July. The Federals who had followed from Yicksburg concentrated on Stovall's Brigade and were repulsed with heavy loss, four flags were captured by our brigade. Subsequently, about 15 July, the Confeder- ate forces were withdrawn, Jackson evacuated, and the Six- tieth Regiment for nearly six weeks was encamped at a point jnidway between Jackson and Meridian, Miss. 500 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. About 1 September, 1803, the troops there were carried by rail to Cave Spring, near Rome, Ga. Tlien began the march- ing towards Chattanooga, and the 19 September found this regiment on the field of Chicamauga. It took position late at night, and next day experienced its most severe battle, and that which was the most decided victory of any in which the Army of Tennessee ever took part. The loss in the Sixtieth was very great both in officers and men, among the former Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. Kay was wounded so severely as to force him to leave the field and for the rest of the day the command devolved upon Captain J. T. Weaver, the ranking of the company officers. The following names were inscribed upon the roll of honor for gallantry in this battle: Second Lieutenant James H. Cole, Company G ; Private H. Lowber, Company A ; Private John Hinton, Company B ; Private Marcellus S. Matthews, Company D ; Private Henry Haman, Company H ; Sergeant F. P. Handle, Company I. The regiment's next experience w^as severe skirmishing around the fortifications of Chattanooga, followed by the dis- astrous battle of Missionary Ridge, from which it retreated to Dalt<3n, and went into quarters for the rest of the winter of 1863-'64. The campaign of the next summer began early with an en- gagement some few miles west of Dalton and continued, almost uninterruptedly, a succession of hard fights almost every day, and of wearisome marches by night, until Atlanta was reached, about the end of July. During this period, the Sixtieth performed its full part, and moiu-ned the death of many of its good men. At Atlanta the army was reviewed by President Davis, and shortly thereafter, much to the grief of his soldiers, the beloved General Joseph E. Johnston was relieved of the command, and his place filled by the appoint- ment of General John B. Hood. This officer was distin- guished for his bravery,, but had not the affection of the anny to the degree in which General Johnston enjoyed it. Under General Hood the army (the Sixtieth being still commanded by Weaver, then Lieutenant-Colonel) marched through Georgia, Alal>;nna, crossed tlio Tennessee river at Sixtieth Regiment. 501 riorence, and penetrated Tennessee. This was done almost without opi^osition. The enemy not being met to any serious degree until the arrival at Columbia, on the Duck river. Here some resistance was made, but not to amount to very much. On 15 and 16 December, 1864, was the dreadful bat- tle of Franklin. The battle which there occurred, while ap- parently a Southern victory, was at such terrible cost of life as to completely cripple the army, and to put a stop to further prosecution of the intended invasion of Tennessee. The ad- vance was, however, pushed, till a sight was obtained of the capitol building, but no effort was made to enter ISTashville. There being a Federal force at Murfreesboro, then in rear of the Confederates, a part of the army were detached to meet it, and to destroy the railroad between the two cities ; the Siy.- tieth was included in this detachment ; the labor and suffering involved in tearing up the rails and crossties from the frozen ground, without proper tools or appliances, Avas very great. Arriving near Murfreesboro, the Confederates being then un- der command of General Forrest, the Federal Garrison brought on an engagement which, with other disastrous re- sults, caused the greatest calamity that had ever befallen the Sixtieth, in the death of its gallant Lieutenant-Colonel, James Thomas Weaver. From the nature of these sketches, notices of individuals must be restrained to those who formed a part of the very life of each regiment. Realizing the necessity of this re- striction, and readily obeying it, I do not hesitate to record the name of JA^ilES THOMAS WEAVER, as not only the one who was indeed the very life of his regi- ment, but who was as gallant a soldier, as true a man, as de- voted a citizen, as was ever produced in i^orth Carolina, which is equivalent to saying that he had no superior in the world, in these qualities. From Murfreesboro the fearful retreat began, re-crossing the northern portions of the States of Alabama and Georgia, and the Sixtieth was found again facing Sherman at Branch- ville, S. C, hoping to restrain his march of destruction from 502 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Savannaii. With the feeble force at command of the Confed- eracy this hope, of course, was futile: the small army was easily flanked, and it followed to Columbia, just in time to grieve over its cinders. Thence through Charlotte, Salisbury, Ealeigh and Smithfield. Benton ville is reached and the last battle of the war is fought, the Sixtieth participating, and some of its members having the distinction of having taken part in the first, and the last of the Confederacy^' s battles, that of Great Bethel on 10 June, IS 61. and that of Benton- ville, 19-21 March. 1S65. . Falling back, we passed again through our State's capital 12 April. How sad did Raleigh look that day. Greensboro is reached and Johnston suirendei^ : with this ended the his- tory of the Sixtieth Xorth Carolina Regiment. While others perhaps may have gained more renowns- and we have no in- tention of denving the right of any to all the honors which can be heaped on them, we insist that no regiment sustained more severe hardships, was more faithful to its recognized duty, to protect the honor of Xorth Carolina than the Six- tieth. From its full ranks of 1,200 men, a bare handful, scarcely 75, remained to lay down their arms. The large ma- jority of the others had given their lives to their State. Surely her citizens, now enjoying peace and prosperity, will not forget to honor the memories of those brave men. With all ascription of praise and gratitude, as is their due, we will pray, "'Let them rest in peace." Thomas W. Patton. Ashe VILLE, X C., 26 ApriL 1901. SIXTY-FIRST REGIMENT. AV. S. Devaiu', Udonel. James D. Radcliffe. Colonel. N. A. Ramsey, Captain, Co. D. .John D. HiKKs, Captain Co. H. Noah BipRS, Private. Co. II. Richard P. Paddison, Hoaijjtal Steward. AV. Stednian, Private, Co. I), .1, R. Paddison, Private. Co. A. (Private in Supplementary (iroup, Vol. IV.) SIXTY-FIRST REGIMENT. By N. a. RAMSEY, Captain Company D. The Sixty-first Regiment, IsTorth Carolina Troops, was or- ganized in Wilmington early in August, 1862, with the fol- lowing Field and Staff officers : James D. Radcliffe^ Colonel ISTew Hanover county. Wm. S. Devane, Lieutenant-Colonel, Sampson county. Henky Hakding, Major, Beaufort county. Wm. S. Anderson^ Assistant Quartermaster, New Hano- ver county. Oliver P. Meares^ Commissary, 'New Hanover county. Alexander Rives^ Surgeon, county. William W. Harris^ Assistant Surgeon, New Hanover county. David Stevens^, Sergeant Major, Sampson county. Jos. J. Lane^ Ordnance Sergeant, Wilson county. Chas. H. King^ Quartermaster Sergeant, New Hanover county. Wm. Blanks^ Commissary Sergeant, New Hanover county. Jno. H. Johnson^ Chief Musician, New Hanover county. Wm. H. EbersteiN;, Drum Major, New Hanover county. The various companies had officers and men from first to last as follows: Company A — Captains, Wm. S. Devane, Jos. B. Under- wood, Geo. W. Marsh, James H. Robinson, Sampson county. Lieutenants, Geo. W. Marsh, Wm. F. Smith, Wm. A. Mathis, Julius M. Chestnut, Francis ]\L Carroll, Sampson county. Enlisted men, 104. Company B — Captains, Henry Harding, Wm. M. Steven- son, Beaufort county. Lieu tenants, T. H. Satterthwaite, 504 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. David F. Redditt, Wm. M. Stevenson, D. W. Jarv^is, Tlios. D. Wilkinson, Wni, H. Patrick, Beaufort county. Enlisted men, 82. Company C — Captains, Edward Mallett, S. S. Biddle, Craven county. Lieutenants, S. S. Biddle, Jno, F. Guthrie, Thos. O. Jones, Edward F. Story, Craven county. Enlisted men, 122. Company D — Captain, jSTathan A. Ramsey, Chatliam county. Lieutenants, Wm. S. Ramsey, Jas. B. Ellington, Richard C. Cotten, Chatham county. Enlisted men, 184. Company E — Captains, Allen G. Croom, Greene county; Wm. S. Byrd, Lenoir county. Lieutenants, Wm. S. Byrd, S. W. Nobles, J. Q. Jackson, Chas. T. Croom, Alex. Fields, Jos. E. Kinsey, H. H. Rasberry, Lenoir county. Enlisted men, 119. Company F — Captains, Andrew J. Moore, New Hanover county; W. A. Darden, Greene county. Lieutenants, J. H. Exum, Andrew J. Darden, Greene county ; John R. Belcher, Jesse D. Barnes, Wilson county. Enlisted men, 63. Company G — ^Captains, J. F. Moore, L. L. Keith, New Hanover county. Lieutenants, Stacy VanAmringe, A. D. Lippitt, N. H. Fennell, Daniel vShackelford, John B. Fox, New Llanover county. Enlisted men, 94. Company H — Captains, John Lanier, William B. Lanier, John D. Biggs, Martin county. Lieutenants, John ^fan- ning. Jolm D. Biggs, F. A. Rhodes, Henry Williams, Rich- ard W. Rufus, H. H. Lanier, Abner Alexander, ]\[artin county. Enlisted men, 133. Company T — Captains, Aras B. Cox, Ashe county; Wm. T. Choate, Alleghany county. Lieutenants, Isaac C. Hig- gins, Jno. W. Joines, I^owery Grimsley, Cotten Sparks, W. H. Joines, Geo. Grimsley, Joshua Cox, Calloway Joines, Al- leghany county. Enlisted men, 127. CoMPxVNY K — Captains, F. D. Koonce, Thos. G. Ilenson, Onslow county; S. W. Noble, Lenoir county. Lieutenants, H. C. Koonce, Jones county ; J. A. Galloway, Onslow county ; Samuel Tj. Gooch, Calhoun Hoskins, S. E. Koonce, Jones countv. Enlisted men, 106. Sixty-First Regiment. 605 Casualties of the foregoing : Edward Mallett, killed at Bentonville 15 March, 1865 Wm. S. Devane, wounded at Bentonville 15 March, 1865 Jas. H. Robinson, prisoner 3 September, 1864; Julius M Chesnut, missing at Fort Harrison 30 September, 1864 John F. Guthries, wounded at Kinston ( ?) February, 1865 Nathan A. Ramsey, prisoner at Kinston 14 December, 1862 Wm. S. Ramsey, lost left hand at Fort Harrison 30 Septem- ber, 1864; Jas. B. Ellington, died at Fort Harrison 30 Sep- tember, 1864; Richard C. Gotten, prisoner at Morris Island 26 August, 1862; Jno. Q. Jackson, prisoner in 1864; L. L. Keith, wounded at Battery Wagner, August, 1863; Wm. T. Choate, killed at Cold Harbor; Isaac C Higgins, died at Goldsboro 28 December, 1862 ; Cotton Sparks, killed at Petersburg 30 June, 1864. Casualties among enlisted men approximately as follows : Compa- Died. Dis- Killed. Missing. Pris- Wound'd. Tot nies. cliarged. oners. A 14 9 3 2 6 21 55 B 6 12 4 11 6 89 C 13 5 19 6 14 57 D 2(i 10 17 44 14 111 E 6 8 3 19 36 F ? ? ? ? 4 8 12 G 18 4 9 18 10 59 H 11 17 2 11 1 42 I 18 7 9 1 8 26 69 K 24 6 1 18 15 64 Total 136 78 67 9 139 115 544 MARCHES IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. After the organization of the regiment as above stated, it was assigned to Clingnlan's Brigade, which was composed of the Eighth, Thirty-first, Fifty-first and Sixty-first North Car- olina Regiments, and remained at Camp Lamb, near Wil- mington, until 16 September, when it took a move on itself and went to Smithville and remained there till the 25th when, on account of yellow fever outbreak it moved to Camp Rad- cliff, three miles out, returning to Smithville on 4 October, en route to North East bridge, above Wilmington, which was reached on the 5th. We Avere really heading for the Kinston 506 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. battlefield (our maiden battle), but did not know it at the time. The zigzag route taken bj us, I gather from my let- ter published in The Standard on 13 April, 1863. We moved as follows : From North East bridge we went to Camp Col- lier near Goldsboro on the 14th ; to Tarboro on the 19th ; left Tarboro for the country around Plymouth on the 24th, con- stantly marching and counter-marching day and night. The only incident occurring in this neighborhood was the capture of the then notorious Buffalo, Jay Bird Jones, afterwards during our reconstruction a judge of the Superior Court. We left our camp near Plymouth on 2 November, at 2 :30 p. m. and made a forced march of thirty-nine miles, ar- riving at Spring Green at daybreak on the 3d, We next found ourselves at the Cross Roads on the 4th. A deep snow fell on the 6th, yet, with one hundred barefooted men in the regiment, we weathered the storm and marched to the ter- minus of the Tarboro railroad. The writer of this article felt very deep concern on this cold, bleak day for thirteen of his own loved boys, who were barefooted, and he begged them not to go on the march, that he Avould prefer their re- maining behind and take the chances of being taken prison- ers rather than to go with us and run the very great risk of sickness and death. But no, they must go along with the boys. Four days later, on the 10th, the first one of these noble heroes who gave up his splendid life was Thomas Cofc- ten, dying of pneumonia in the beautiful town of Tarboro. Seven others of them in a few days were placed by his side to sleep till God calls them. Two others died in Greenville. It has ever been, and will ever be the case, to give all the glory to the commanding and subordinate officers for grand victories won and heroic deeds performed, with rare excep- tions of individual mention of a private soldier. This world has never known, and never will know, of any soldier to equal the Confederate boys in gray. These thirteen men, bare- footed and poorly clad, rather than remain behind, preferred to go forward, and ten of them paid the penalty in but a few days. They were brave and true and faithful to the end. God bless their memory ! History shall record the names of these noble fellows. Those dying in Tarboro were: Thos. Sixty-First Regiment. 507 Gotten, 10 November ; J. Carpenter and Monroe Thompson, 22 November; Terry Poe, 24 November; Wyatt Carpenter, 26 November; J. A. Pilkinton, 29 November; Wm. Gunter. 2 December; Jefferson Womack, 29 January. Dying in Greenville: N. L. Covert, 9 December; Elias Fields, 25 De- cember. They were all from Chatham county and members of Company D. We left the terminus of the Tarboro Railroad on the lOth and bivouacked at Greenville on the 13th; at Craddock's X Roads on the 14th ; at Black Jack meeting house on the 15th; at Taft's Store on the 16th; back to Greenville on the 23d, remaining there till 7 December, when we took up direct line of march from Kinston, arriving there on the 9th. We found ourselves on the 12th, after crossing the county bridge over the Neuse, at Southwest creek, near Kinston. The bridge crossing this creek had been completely destroyed by our troops. The Sixty-first Regiment was posted on the west side of the creek to check or delay the advance of General Foster on the march from New Bern witb 10,000 infantry, six batteries with forty pieces of artillery and 640 cavalry. General N. G. Evans, of South Carolina, was in command of our forces, which numbered 2,014. BATTLES AROUND KINSTON, 1862. General Foster reached Southwest creek on the morning of the 13th. About 9 o'clock one company of the regiment had a little skirmish with the enemy at the bridge crossing, with trifling casualties. Lieutenant-Colonel Devane, with seven companies, repaired to Hines' mills, about four miles dis- tant, in double quick, and on arrival promptly deployed the entire force as skirmishers. In a little while the ball opened. To us then the firing seemed to be rapid and terrific. Minie balls whistled through the air by front and cross fires from the enemy as if they had naught else to do. For some time we held our ground, but were forced to fall back by the enemy advancing upon us in overwhelming numbers. We retreated towards Kinston and halted about one mile to the rear. Here we fonned a line of battle and a company of skirmishers moved forward to feel for the enemy. They advanced only 508 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'G5. about a liinidrod yards when they met witli what they were looking for, tired one round and had the eompliment prompt- ly acknowledged in a double dose by our line. They re- tired as best they could, bringing the intelligence that the woods were full of blue coats, and that several regiments were flanking us on our left. Just then we had orders from General Evans to retreat under fire in good order. We did our best. We fired and fell back, and fell back and fired. The next big field not far away we made another stand, taking advantage of the woods on the Kinston side. Here we had a pretty lively artillery duel for about an hour, and an equally lively fusillade from the small arms of the enemy. We (|ui(4ly laid mighty low and did not return the fire, be- cause our grins were inferior and we could not reach them. The day's casualties were very slight. The first to give up his life in this our first battle was Elbert Carpenter, a private in Company D, and he was at once buried on the spot where he fell, royally wrapped in his soldier's blanket. At about 8 o'clock that night we quietly stole away through swamp, mud and water to Harriet's Chapel. It was a bitter cold night and all the boys were wet, half-frozen, hungry and worn out, and yet no word of complaint was murmured through the lines of these splendid Tar Heel heroes. When we bivouacked we were in hearing of the enemy, and we had no camp fires till past midnight. About daybreak our most excellent Commissary, Captain (). P. Meares, gladdened our hearts with an abundant supply of good, wholesome rations, just the thing we were longing for and most needed. We were then upon the battlefield of Tviustou on 14 December, 1862- -a bright, beautiful Sabl)ath moriiiug. General Evans witli his South Carolina P)rig;id(' on the left, and (lie Sixty-tii'st North (\irolina i>n his right awaited Foster's attack. Foster sent in Wessell's Brigade and bat- teries; supporting Wessell l\v Amory's Brigade, supple- meiiU'd by Stevenson's. The odds were ov(M-\vli('liiiingly against us, and after two and a half hours of stubborn re- sistance on our part, we Avere forced back across tlie J^euse, and were so closely pressed that we uuavoidaldy lost 400 pris- oners, all nf \vh<»m were paroled on the following morning. Sixty-First Regiment. 509 At one time during the progress of the battle the Sixty-first was compelled to fall back on account of the ammunition being entirely exhausted, and on being ordered back by Gen- eral Evans, all hands without a murmur promptly obeyed and returned to within 150 yards of the enemy without a solitary cartridge and half the men without bayonets. A small sup- ply of ammunition soon reached us, which was speedily used to the best advantage, and being entirely out again and with no hopes of a second supply, and being in a forlorn and help- less condition and being crowded so unmercifully close by such a large force of the enemy, the better part of valor was to get away from there if we could, which we did in a quiet, orderly way, or as much so as pressing circumstances per- mitted. When we reached the bridge it was on fire, and in addition to the trying ordeal of passing over the blazing bridge, we were subjected to a terrible cross-fire from the en- emy who were drawn up in line of battle 250 yards below. Here we lost several of our men and it is truly miraculous that half of them at least were not killed or burned to death. God was with us on this beautiful, lovely Sabbath day. WILMIA^GTON. After the battle of Kinston the regiment under General Evans was marched to Goldsboro, reaching there on 17 De- cember. From Goldsboro we tramped every step of the way right down the railroad track to Wilmington, reaching that lovely city by the sea on 2 January, 1863, remaining there until 6 February, when we pitched our tents on Masonboro Sound — returning to Wilmington on 16 February. CHARLESTON AND SAVANNAH. From Wilmington we went to Charleston, S. C, landing there on 18 February, 1863. On 2 March we were ordered to Savannah, Ga., and it was with many regrets when the or- der came for us to return to Charleston on the 9th. Every recollection and association of our sojourn in Savannah is of the most pleasant and delightful character. We were wel- comed most heartily by the noble men and women of that most beautiful of cities and royally entertained. 510 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. On our return to Charleston, 13 July, 1863, we went into camp on James' Island, about four miles from the city and only a few hundred yards from Fort Pemberton. Going from Savannah, Ga., to James' Island, S. C, was about what I would iuiagine with my limited knowledge of the two locali- ties, very much the same as dropping out of Paradise into Hell ! We found James' Island a little Sahara, having plenty of wind ; rolling and twisting clouds of sand ; millions of black gnats (much greater pests than mosquitoes), and a very scanty supply of devilish poor beef, that a respectable Charleston buzzard would not eat. We had to sink holes here and there and everywhere to^ get a supply of tadpole water — at the same time there being a well of good water at Fort Pemberton, which no Tar Heel was allowed to sample. In Savannah bacon sold for 36 cents per pound ; at Charleston it was 62 cents, and North Carolina money couldn't buy it at any price. Our money was refused at the postofRce, in the market, in the stores and on the streets. We didn't like it. The Fayette- ville Observe!' of 23 April, 1863, published a collection that had been made in that good old town for the suffering volun- teers from Cumberland county, then doing duty on James Island, amounting to $3,408.55 in money and bacon. This ought not to have been, and would not, had the boys been quar- tered and doing duty at Savannah. PRICES IN CHARLESTON. Some of the little delicacies that the boys sometimes liked to indulge in were sold at prices that were rather high. For instance, a small raw turnip, 15 cents; a baked sweet potato, 25 cents, with ground peas at 40 cents a quart. On 23 March, 1863, Company D threw away two days' rations of beef, which was totally unfit for the stomach of a cannibal, much less that of a Confederate soldier. The life of a soldier was anything but easy and pleasant. They endured every hardship and suffered under almost every privation without a murmur and with apparent cheerfulness. In this way, as much as in any other, they shov/ed their patriotism and de- votion to the Common Cause. From James' Island we went to Sullivan's Island, date not Sixty-First Regiment. 511 remembered, but the change was gladly welcomed by all. We were willing to go anywhere to get away from James' Island, While quartered on Sullivan's Island our regiment did its full share of duty in the defence of Morris Island. During the four years of my experience in the army I found no place so uninviting as Battery Wagner on Morris Island. The bomb-proof, the only place of safety, cannot be well described, for all its dreary loathesomeness and horrors, and I will not attempt it. The following was published in the Wilmington Jouimal a few days after the occurrence: BATTERY WAGNEK. ''During the bombardment of Battery Wagner many little incidents have occurred which deserve a name in history. Among these is the following: On 29 July, 1863, the enemy got the range of a ten-inch Columbiad so completely as to ren- der the place of extreme danger, and the Soutli Carolina troops that manned the gun left it and ran into the bomb- proof for shelter. Their Captain ordered tliem back to their post, but they refused for a time to obey. While the men were wrangling with their officer, a soldier named Stedmac from Company B, Sixty-first North Carolina Troops, hy himself, loaded, sighted and fired the abandoned gun, hitting the Yankee boat at which he shot, while a hundred balls were whistling around him. Remember this was a North Caro- lina soldier. Let us be proud of him. I thank God it was my happy privilege and good fortune to witness the abandon- ment of this gun, and the magnificent heroic conduct of Rob- ert Winship Stedman. There was no braver soldier among the hosts of the Confederate army than Winship Stedman. God bless his memory ! "In the summer and fall of 1863, the Sixty-first Regiment together with the balance of Clingman's Brigade, performed as arduous services as any Confederate troops at any period of the war. They were stationed on James, Morris and Sul- livan's Islands defending the city of Charleston, and their en- durance of fatigue, hardships and dangers during that period, week after week, for several months seems almost incredi- ble. In December, 1863, shortly before Christmas, the regi- 512 North Carolina Troops, ]8G1-'B5. iiicnt with \h(' ])alance of Clingman's Brigade, was relieved from the arduous service at the siege of Charleston, and re- turned to North Carolina and for several months was sta- tioned near Wilmington. PETERSBURG. ^^^len Beast Butler in May, 1864, made his memorable movement against Petersburg, the Sixty-first was one of the regiments hurried forward to checkmate him. General Grant in his official report alluded to Butler's being "bottled up" by our troops. The Sixty-first participated actively in this campaigTi, and as it was wont to do, discharged its every duty faithfully and well, and suffered fully its share in all respects, especially in the battles of Drewry's Bluff, Chaffin's Farm, Bermuda Hundreds, Cold Harbor and Fort Harrison. On 3 June, 1864, at Cold Harbor, while the en- emy was shelling our works, a shell fell in the trenches occu- pied by the Sixty-first North Carolina. While it was smoking and near ready to burst. Sergeant Thos. L. Graves, Company A, of our regiment, seized it and tlirew it out of the works, saving many lives at the risk of his own. Such a deed merits record here. At Cold Harbor anotlier brigade gave way, and through tliis break the enemy passed and attacked Cling- man's Brigade on the left flank. General Clingman was in the trendies with the Sixty-firet Regiment and seeing the enemy in our rear, he rushed forward and was gallantly fol- lowed by the regiment, and the enemy was soon driven back from whence they came. The only weapon General Clingman luiper; D. F. Brown, First Lieutenant ; B. X. Queen and P. M. Par- ker, Second Lieutenants. Company H — Henderson County — Captain, W. G. B. Moms; J. M. Owen, First Lieutenant ; G. W. Wliitiiiore and I. F. Galloway, Second Lieutenants. Company I — Haywood County — Captain, William J, Wilson; I. P. Long, First Lieutenant; J. A. Burnett and P. G. Murray, Second Lieutenants. Company K — Transylvania. County — Captain, L. C. Neil ; S. C. Beck, First Lieutenant ; Jas. M. Gash and V. C. Ham- ilton, Second Lieutenants. The Field Officers were happily chosen. Colonel Love was a leading and influential citizen of Haywood county, a man of iirst-class ability and often held places of trust, honor and profit, as the gift of his people, until his health gave way under disease, which resulted in his death after the war. He was Lieutenant-Colonel of the Six- teenth Xorth Carolina Regiment in the Army of Northern Virginia, and was transferred by promotion to the Sixty- second. Lieutenant-Colonel Clayton was of Buncombe county, North Carolina, and a resident of the city of Asheville, a graduate of West Point, of a most excellent family, an ele- gant gentleman, a magnificent disciplinarian, and was loved by every member of his regiment. Colonel Clayton died re- cently greatly lamented by a large circle of friends and rel- atives and mourned by his comrades in anns who shared with him the privations and hardships of a soldier's life. While stationed at Cumberland Gap, a point which figured conspicuously in the late M'ar between the States, Colonel Clayton fell a victim to typhoid fever. He was removed to Sixty-Second Regiment. 517 a hospital at Greenville, Tennessee. Very soon after he left, the siege of Cumberland was on, and he could not return to his command at the Gap. Colonel Love was off on sick leave at the time, so the command of the regiment was left in the hands of the Major of the regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Clayton was not, therefore, able to return tO' his regiment until after the surrender of Cumberland Gap (9 September, 1863), when that portion of the regiment which escaped from the Gap was assembled at Pigeon river, in Haywood county, to be again prepared to- enter into- active service. Major, later Lieutenant-Colonel, B. G. McDowell, was a native of Macon county, Is". C. Early in 1861, he enlisted in the 39th jSIiorth Carolina under Colonel David Coleman and was transferred to the 62nd by promotion to Major of the Regiment 11 July, 1862. All three of these officers were descendants of revolutionary soldiers, and appropriately commanded men, most of whom were also lineal descendants of the heroes of 1776 and as brave and patriotic as their ancestors. Want of space precludes the possibility of the mention of even the names of this heroic band which are given, with some omissions and inaccuracies in Moore's Roster, Vol. 3, p. 716, et scq. Their descendants should remember and be proud of the membership of their parents in such a command. EAST TENNESSEE. Soon after the organization the regiment started for Haynesville (now^ called Johnson's City), in Washington co'unty, Tennessee, arriving there about 1 August, 1862, wlien it was placed under rigid drill and prepared for active service. A braver or more courageous body of men did not belong to the Confederate army. They left their homes, a majority of them leaving families dependent upon them, and offered their lives a sacrifice upon the field of battle for a cause they thought to be right. The rank and file of this regiment were of the very best citizens of Western JSTorth Carolina. A finer or braver set of men, taken all together, X have never seen. This regiment when it went into camp 518 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'6o. for drill, was without arms, except a few old muskets which were furnished them for drilling purposes. The regiment had not been in camp at Haynesville but a few days, when it was separated, three companies going to Zollicoffer (now Bluff City), Three to Carter's Depot (now South Watauga), two to Limestone, in Washington county, the rest of the companies remaining at Haynesville (now Johnson's City) — all these points in Tennessee. The writer of this sketch was sent to Zollicoffer, to take charge of the three companies there, put them under rigid drill, and at the same time guard the bridge spanning the Holston river at that point and prevent railroad communication from being disturbed. The other two companies mentioned were put to like service. A very small amount of ammunition was furnished the forces placed in camp for drill and guard duties. This was true as to this regiment. We had a few old fashioned muskets, and a small amount of ammunition furnished for the purposes indicated. In this condition, this regiment was by no means in condition to meet an attack by the enemy, especially when in any sort of considerable force, being simply in a camp of instruction. In the early fall of 1862, date not now remembered, one Battalion of the Regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Clay- ton was ordered to Causby Creek, Cocke county, Tennessee, to help suppress an uprising of disloyal citizens there. It seems that some conscripts and deserters had been turned out of the Waynesville jail by their friends. Sheriff Xoland while pursuing them, was killed on Noland or Utah Moun- tain, three miles north-east of town. The militia of the county was called out and followed the outlaws to the Ten- nessee line, via Cattaloochee and Big Creek, north forty miles. Major W. W. Stringfield with 150 Cherokee Indians and whites of the vSixty-ninth Nortli Carolina, also on a scout in Sevier county, Tenn., and Jackson county, N. C, rapidly crossed the Balsam mountains at Soco Gap (fifteen miles northwest of Waynesville) and in coTnpany with several hun- dred militia — old men and boys — under Major Rhea and Col- onel Rogers, Green Garrett, Arch Herren and others crossed Sixty-Second Regiment. 519 over the Tennessee line, killed several of the outlaws and soon reduced the others to submission. The Sixty-second, badly armed and equipped as it M-as, presented a formidable and war-like appearance. The out- laws were killed, captured or scattered and restive citizens were quieted. Not a great while after this the Sixty-second was ordered to Greenville, Tenn., the home of President Johnson. It was there brigaded with the Sixty-ninth North Carolina and others and all were subjected to drill and disci- pline. Railroad bridges were now threatened both from ex- ternal as well as internal forces. The raid of General Carter mentioned above and its success emboldened all the people, three-fourths of whom were "followers of Belial" and disloyal to the South. All the bridges and depots were threatened and some were burned. Hayden and others were hung and hundreds sent South to prison and thousands ran off North and joined the Union army. I have noticed, in Brigadier-General Frazer's report, of his disgraceful surrender of Cumberland Gap, he refers to this regiment as at one time having been commanded by its Major (referring of course to the writer), and as having been surrendered by him to a gang of Yankee scouts, or raiders. A more unblushing falsehood was never penned by living man. CAPTUEE OF THREE COMPANIES. I have stated the condition of the three companies under my immediate command at Zollicoffer, which eliminates the necessity of repeating it here. On the night of 30 December, 1862, General Samuel P. Carter, with three regiments of Federal cavalry, made his (the first) raid into East Tennes- see for the purpose of burning the bridges and destroying railroad communication. The East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad bridge at Zollicoffer was the first point sti*uck by this "Yankee raid," of not less than 2,500 men. I was there with three companies of poorl) armed men, with no means of defense and absolutely helpless. In this condition these three companies were surrendered. And yet, the gallant General Frazer has me surrenderina; this whole regiment to a Yan- 520 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. kee scouting party. His false and slanderous statement is found on page 611, Official Records Union and Confederate Armies, Vol. 51. The men were paroled, and as soon as exchanged, which was but a short time, they were ordered to Cumberland Gap, and composed a part of the garrison of the Gap. In Feb- ruary, 1863, the balance of the regiment was stationed at Greenville, Tenn., and in March and April were in General A. E. Jackson's Brigade at Strawl)erry Plains. At the end of July the regiment was in Grade's Brigade at Cumberland Gap. ' General Gracie was in command at the Gap when the reg- iment reached that point, but did not rcnnain but a short time, being ordered away, and was succeeded by General Frazer. SURRENDER OF CUMBERLAND' C4AP. General John W. Frazer was in command at Cumberland Gap when the surrender of that stronghold occurred 0 Sep- tember, 1863. The force we had at the Gap, was, of course, insignificant when compared with the Federal forces which approached the Gap on both sides, when the siege began, l)ut the surrender of the Confederate force* there was a shame and disgrace, when the situation is fully understood. The a]i])roaches to the Gap were of such character that it would have been impossible for any number of men to have captured the post by force. The op])ortunity of General Frazer to have evacuated the Gap and saved his command from a long imprisonment and death ( as was the case with many of them) was open, and nothing Imt treachery, or cow- ardice, or it may be both, could have led to the unconditional surrender of this, the strongest natui'al ])ositioii in the Con- federate States, and with it, 2,0-26 prisoners, 12 pieces of ar- tillery, and tlie stores of ammunition and provision. Tlie writer has read, over and over again, tlie report of the surrender of Cund)er]and Ga]\ as given by General Frazer, and wondered if an opportunity would (>ver lie offered for the vindication of our men at the (iap, fi-om the miserable slan- ders hurled against them by Frazer in his attempt to shield himself from public censure. The report of this surrender Sixty-Second Regiment. 521 made bj him in Volume 51, pages 604, et seq, is to mj own personal knowledge false in every essential particular, and does the brave men who composed the garrison at the Gap the greatest wrong. It should be corrected and handed down in history, just as it occurred, and let the blame rest where it rightfully belongs. I think we have reached the point that when known facts are given to the public for considera- tion and approval, or rejection, public sentiment will invaria- bly reach a just conclusion. It would, even at this late day, be exceedingly difficult for General Frazer to convince the survivors of the Cumber- land Gap disaster, that he did not surrender for a money con- sideration. This regiment when it reached the Gap, had about 800 men for duty. There were a few deserters from this regi- ment, but not more than was common from nearly all regi- ments. Desertions were by men who returned to their homes. They did not go to the enemy. Shortly after we reached the Gap, Colonel Love left the regiment on account of extreme bad health, from which he never recovered, but ultimately died as has been stated. It was not long thereafter until Lieutenant-Colonel Clayton was taken sick of typhoid fever, and was removed to the hospital at Greenville, Tenn., and was away from the Gap when the siege began, and when the command was sun-endered. The siege of Cumberland Gap began 7 September, 1863. Gen- eral DeCourcy commanded the Federal forces on the Ken- tucky side and General Shackelford on the south or Tennes- see side. It was in reality Burnside's army on the south side of the Gap. The writer was the only field officer of the Sixty-second Ilegiment there at the time. I was placed, with almost my entire regiment, out on the Harlan county road on picket duty. This road overlooked the valley leading down what was then, and is I think still, known as Yellow creek. Skirmishing and picket firing was continuous out on this road, after the siege began, and not unfrequently the enemy from the Kentucky side assaulted our position along this road in strong force, and made repeated determined efforts to drive us from our position. It affords me pleasure now 522 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. to say, and will bo a pleasure to me to know as long as I live, that men never behaved Mdth more coolness and courage than did the men of the Sixty-second Regiment. Kain's Battery, commanded by Lieutenant O'Connor, was stationed on what was known as the East Mountain, only a short distance from where I was on duty with my regiment. We had been ad- vised during the day of the 9th of the repeated demands that had been made for the surrender of the Gap, and of General Frazer's refusal, and felt entirely confident that we would not be surrendered, because it was utterly imnecessary owing to the fact that he could take the entire command out of the Gap at any time, against any odds. The situation was such that he could not have been prevented from doing so ; and he well understood this if he understood anything. It was un- derstood all along the line that the battle would open at noon on 9 September, 1863. jSToon came, but no battle. The writer went up on top of the East Mountain and found Lieu- tenant Thomas O'Connor at his battery, from which point of vantage we had a splendid view of Burnside's army and all that was going on. We both obseiwed that flags of truce were passing in and out of the Gap rather too frequently to make us feel comfortable, but we had no information, though w^e suspected that something was wrong in some way. Just about sunset that day, a courier come to mo from General Fra- zer with an order to report at the General's headquarters, with my regiment at once Then I began to realize that our suspi- cions were well founded. I returned to the Gap with my men, ^\ho had been on duty for nearly a week A\'ithout inter- mission or relief, but not a man had flinched from duty for a moment. There I found General Frazer sitting in front of his tent surrounded by his staff officers. All the command- ing officers of regiments and batteries arrived at General Fra- zer's headquarters about the same time. That was abso- lutely the only consultation called, and we were then informed by General Frazer that we were surrendered. Evers' officer bitterly opposed being surrendered, and some of them de- nounced it in the most vigorous terms as cowardly and un- w^arranted by the conditions surrounding us at the time. A detachment of sixty men (not one hundred and twenty- Sixty-Second Regiment. 523 five as stated by General Frazer), had been detailed from the various regiments to guard a little mill which rested just at the foot of the mountain on the south side, and which served to grind meal for the army at the Gap. Immediately in front of this little mill was Bumside's whole army. The Federal commander sent a force sufficient for the purpose, which under cover of heavy artillery firing, attacked the guard at this mill and dispersed it, the guard being utterly insuffi- cient to meet the emergency. They could do nothing but fall back on the command in the Gap, or stand and be shot down like brutes, as they would have been, had they not fallen back on their commands. And yet the gallant General Fra- zer and his engineer. Rush VanLeer, would have according to tlieir owm statement, 125 men hold this mill against Bum- side's whole army, numbering anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 men. ESCAPE. When I was told by General Frazer that I had been sur- rendered, and that I and my regiment were prisoners of war, my indignation and that of my regiment knew no bounds. I informed him that I would not be made a prisoner of war; that it took two to make such a bargain as that under the cir- cumstances, and that he could not force me to do so. Sharp words were exchanged, and I called up all of the Sixty-second Regiment who were willing to take their lives in their own hands and all of the other commands in the Gap who were willing to join us, and said to them, '^If you will go with me, we will go out from here, and let consequences take care of themselves." In all about 600 responded, and led by Colonel Slemp and a man from Abingdon, Va., whose name was Page, as I now remember, both of whom were perfectly familiar with the country, we moved out of the Gap, eastward, passing Kain's battery and pushing one rifle piece over the cliff as we went along. We made our way along the north side of the moun- tain, on the Kentucky side, until we reached a point opposite Jonesville, where we encountered a pursuing force of Fed- eral cavalry. Our entire escaping force had kept their guns 524 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. mid Miiiiiiiinilidii. t'xpcctiuii- ;i collision as we went out, and being thus ])rc'pare(l, an iiiiinediate dash was made by our men. llaviii<>- tlie decided advanag-e of position, we forced tlie Fcdci-al ca\ali'_v to retire and were pennitte the rank of Colonel, and the writer to the rank of Lieutenant- Colonel, and Captain Eogers, of Company A, to the rank of Major. This regiment (and by tliis T mean that portion which es- caped ca]iture) engaged in all the East Tennessee campaigns under GcMioral Breckinridge, (loneral Vaughn and General Williams. The men of this renimont were the very last men to lay down their arms and vei'v many of them never did take tlie oath of allegiance, which was required as every one knows, of all Confederate soldiers at the close of the war. Immediately after the surnmder of Cumberland Gap, Gen- eral Frazer and the men who did not escape from the Gap, were removed to Federal prisons, where those who did n(^t die from disease remaim^d luitil the close of the war. On 30 December, LSGS, there were 443 of the Sixty-second in person Sixty-Second Regiment. 525 at Camp Douglas, 119 Official Records Union and Confeder- ate Armies, p. 797. What became of General Frazej' the writer does not know. After the surrender of the Gap, so far as I am advised, he was never heard of again b^y^nd his lying report above cited, which purports to have been written at Fort Warren, in Boston harbor, ]^ovember, ISG-I. General Frazer in his report of the surrender of the Gap, reflects severely and most unjustifiably upon the character of the troops and morale of the command. I was at my post of duty from the day the regiment arrived at the Gap till the sur- render, and knew as much of the morale and character of the command as General Frazer, or any one else, and do most positively deny his charges. On page 611, Vol. 51, Official Records Union and Confed- erate Armies, he says : ''The Colonel was absent and soon after resigned and became an open advocate of reunion in his county." This, of course, refers to Colonel Love, who did later on resign on account of extreme bad health, froan which he died, as stated herein. But the allegation of his entertain- ing Union sentiments as published by General Frazer, who was then in prison and who' never saw or heard of Colonel Love after the suiTcnder of Cumberland Gap, is unfounded in fact. It is due to the memory of Colonel Love, who was loyal to the cause of the south, to the very end, and even after all hope was lost, to denounce this statement as absolutely untrue. There are now numerous living witnesses to attest the truth of the foregoing. It is astonishing to think how do- cile, loyal and obedient were the men to their superior offi- cers. It was such a surprise however, that no one had time to think, ere we were in the hands of our enemies. General Frazer was bitterly denounced by his broth- er officers after going to prison, and we are told by good men like Lieutenant J. M. Tate, Lieutenant R. A. Owen, W. H. Leatherwood of Haywood county, and others, that the indignation was so great against him that the Federals chang- ed him to another prison and permitted him, doubtless glad- ly, to slander his own men. Indignities were offered to these brave men all along the way to prison. At Aurora, 526 North Carolina Trooi>s, 1861-'65. Indiana, as our men passed iiiuler guard, a crowd of big rough toughs, crowded around our men and belabored them much as ''miserable cowardly rebels," etc. Captain Printer of 55th Georgia, a big strong noble fellow finally said to the guards, ''Stoj) these cotvardly curs, or we will." They stop- ped. Notwithstanding all these slanders about this Regi- ment it can receive no higher endorsement, no greater meed of praise, no more complete refutation of slanders, than the fact that thoiigh in prison, the dreadful prisons of the North, for 23 months, not a single man took the oath of allegiance to the North, although it was offered to them often. Many of the command were sick, starved, frozen to death. Shot down for any or no pretense, all kinds of insults and indignity were daily, monthly and yearly thrust into their faces. Disloyal indeed ! Great Heaven ! ! Who will dare say so again ! ! ! The whole history of the surrender of Cumberland Gap, as given out by General Frazer and his staff, and one or two others who seem to have fallen under his influence, was a fab- rication intended to mislead the authorities at Richmond, never dreaming, perhaps, that it would come to the eyes of the public, and of those who were on the gi'ound and so un- justly slandered by his report. We knew, or had been advised of the repeated demands for the surrender of the Gap, and also that these demands had been refused, and had not the most remote idea that we were to be surrendered until I was notified, as I have hereinbefore stated; and as I stated in my communication of 16 Septem- ber, 1863, found on pages 636-37, Official Records of Union and Conf-ederate Armies,, Vol. 51. There was no insubordination among the troops of the Sixty-second North Carolina Regiment, as far as I knew, and had there been, I certainly would have known it. Further- more, there was no want of courage, discipline or determina- tion among the men. We expected the battle to come on every moment, and at no time during the whole war did I ever see, or know, men more disappointed than these were when they found that they were surrendered without an exhi- bition of their courage. Stalwart men actually cried like children when they found that they were surrendered and Sixty-Second Regiment. 527 had to submit to being made prisoners without defending their right and reputation, that our commanding General never lost an opportunity to defame. THE CLOSING SCENES. The Sixty-second North Carolina Regiment were the very last men to surrender when the war closed. The fragment left of the regiment composed part of Palmer's Brigade at Asheville 10 March, 1865, and under General Martin aided to repulse Kirby's Brigade near that town 5 April, 1865. Many of them never did take the oath of allegiance. The remnant of this regiment, along with other brave and noble men of the old iSTorth State, after General Lee's surrender in Virginia, re^ sisted a Federal force on the French Broad, near Asheville, and held them at bay for hours, until overcome by over- whelming forces and when forced to withdraw, under Col- onel Clayton, did so and went to their homes and never did take the oath of allegiance as then required by the Federal authorities. No braver or more noble hearted men ever lived than those composing the Sixty-second North Carolina Reg- iment of Infantry. B. G. McDowell. Bristol, Tenn., 30 May, 1901. 'HE MEW YORl^' 1 PUBLIC LIBRAE' ASTOR, LENOK AND TILDEN FOU^lOATIONS. SIXTY-THIRD REGIMENT. 1. Peter O. Evans. Colonel. 4. J.Turner Morehead. Adjt. and l.st Lt. 2. Juiiie.s H. McNeill, Colonel. 5. James D. Nott, 2d Lieut.. Co. A. 3. John M. Gallaway, Major. 6. James Kirkpatrick, Private, Co. A. 7. F. R. Rose, Private, Co. A. SIXTY-THIRD REGIMENT. (fifth cavalry.) By JOHN M. GALLOWAY, Major. The Sixty -third Regiment, North Carolina Troops (Fifth Cavalry), was organized at Garysburg, ]!^[. C, in the early fall of 1862. It was composed of companies enlisted un- der the Partisan Ranger Act of the Confederate Congress. The act promised many special rights and privileges to the Rangers not the least of which was the clause saying that all property captured from the enemy became at once the private property of the captor. Most of the officers of the Sixty-third and many of the men had previously been in the army ; tliink- ing that the Ranger service would afford greater scope for in- dividual exploit and consequent glory they had managed by one means or another to get a transfer. The field and staff officers were : Peter G. Evans, Colonel, Chatham county. S. B. EvANs^ Lieutenant-Colonel, Goldsboro. James H. McNeill, Major, Fayetteville, N. C. J. TuRNEB MoREHEAD, Adjutant, Greensboro, 'N. C. George Haigh, Sergeant-Major. The Captains of companies in order of seniority : Company C — Captain E. F. Shaw. Company D— Captain John M. Galloway. Company E — Captain J. R. Erwin. Company F — Captain Thos. W. Harris. Company G — Captain John B. McClennahan. Note. — By the death of Col. McNeill and Lieut-Colonel Shaw on the ill-fated field of Five Forks 1 April, 1865, Maj. Jno. M. Galloway became entitled to promotion to Colonel and senior Captain Jno. R. Erwin to Lieut-Colonel both by reason of seniority and their splendid gallantry, but the stirring evehts quickly following gave no time for reading out pro- motions on dress parade (the usual way) or issuing commissions to them. —Ed. 34 530 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. CoMPAXY H — Captain William E. Booe. Company I — Captain jN^athaniel Rankin, CoMPAXY K — Captain J. E. Wharton. Company B — Captain Roberts. Company A — (>aptain John McKellar. Major McNeill had been Captain of Company A. Moore's Roster makes several errors in regard to this reg- iment. Colonel Evans' old company is put down as Com- pany B, of this regiment. It belonged to the Fifty-ninth North Carolina (Fourth Cavalry). Moore puts S. B. Evans, Colonel ; he was only Lieutenant-Colonel. Peter G. Evans v^'as Colonel. Moore puts Captain Harris as Major and Col- onel, and killed at Five Forks. Captain Harris was never promoted and never wounded nor killed. ATTACK ON PLYMOUTH. The regiment was very strong, mustering over 1,000 men. We remained at Garysburg some months, drilled and in- structed by Brigadier-General Beverly H. Robertson, of Vir- ginia. General Robertson was a West Pointer, very strict, and sometimes irascible on military points. In social inter- course he was a pleasant, polished gentleman. Late in No- vember we moved lower down the Roanoke, and picketed about Washington and Plymouth. In December an expedi- tion was planned to capture Plymouth. A regiment of in- fantry, a battery of artillery, and four companies of our regi- ment were assigned to the enterprise, the whole under com- mand of Colonel Jno. C. Lamb, of the Seventeenth North Carolina. Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen B. Evans commanded the cavalry. The plan was to capture the pickets, and take the place by surprise. We reached the picket station just before day 13 December, 1862, captured all but one, he es- caped firing his musket as he ran. This gave notice of our approach, and when we reached Plymouth a body of Federals was seen formed across the main street ready to receive us. The cavalry was ordered to charge these men, which was done in good style, and with a full allowance of the famous rebel yell. The enemy fired one volley and broke in all directions. Some escaped to the gunboats in skiffs, some hid, some took to Sixty-Third Regiment. 531 the houses, and fired from the windows. Quite a lively can- nonade ensued between the gunboats and our battery. We captured more provisions and clothing than we could move. Colonel Lamb finally decided to retire, fearing the gunboats would go up the river and cut off his retreat. We captured quite a number of prisoners. Our casualties were Captain Galloway, of the cavalry, severely wounded ; three infantry privates wounded by the fire from the houses. Captain Gal- loway was wounded by that first volley, but did not retire until the affair was over. ORDERED TO VIRGINIA. The remainder of the winter passed without incident. We did picket duty, assisted in stopping the attempted Federal advance on Goldsboro, but had no casualties. Those were halcyon days for us. We were in a friendly country, supplies for man and horse comparatively abundant. The ladies de- lighted in us, and we had a good time. Early in May, 1863, we received orders to join Lee's army. We had been brigaded with the Fifty-ninth North Carolina (Fourth Cavalry), Colonel Dennis D. Ferrebee, and put under General Robertson. We halted some days near Richmond, Va., to have our horses shod, clothing and arms furnished the men, and then set out for the historic and desolate fields of Virginia. We reached Lee's army in time for General Stuart's gi-and cavalry re- view on the field of Brandy Station. Our regiments were in full strength, our men and horses fresh, and on the field of review we made a much better appearance than the rusty clad squadrons of Stuart and Hampton. The chaff and wheat were soon to be separated. The morning after this review the shrill bugle call "boots and saddles" resounded early. Mounting quickly we were moved down the Kel- ley's Ford road, and soon came in sight of the enemy. One squadron of the Sixty-third was dismounted, and thrown for- ward as skirmishers. The Yanks had been advancing, but halted when they saw us. We remained looking at each other for some time, when the dismounted squadron was re- called, remounted and the brigade went at the gallop towards Fleetwood, General Stuart's headquarters. The enemy had 532 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'6o. brought up a battery and shelled our rear as we went off doing no damage however. When we came on the main field of Brandy Station, cannon were booming, dust and smoke ob- scured vision, and no one could tell wliat would hnppen next. One man was seen to throw up his arms an-l fall iVdiu his horse and all supposed him badly wounded; after develop- ments proved that his distress was purely mental. The bri- gade drew up in line just in rear of Fleetwood house and in support of a battery. The smoke and dust luiving lifted, we had a full view of the entire field. Blue and gray horsemen were moving rapidly in many parts of the field and frequently coming in sharp collision. Just on the opposite side of the field, a battery was posted, which was firing on our battery. We could see the discharge of each piece, and a few seconds after could see when the shell stiiick. The apparent com- mander of the Federal battery and support was riding a mag- nificent white horse. One of our shells struck this horse and rider and made fragments of them. About 2 p. m. we heard very rapid carbine firing on our left, a few minutes after we were moved to that direction and found that the brigade to which the Nineteenth North Carolina (Second Cavalry) be- longed had been severely engaged and the Nineteenth had lost heavily — Colonel Sol. Williams was killed here. We moved after the retiring Yanks, but did not overtake them. No one of our regiment or brigade was physically hurt that day. MIDDLEBURG. Our luck was different in the next collision. This collision occurred at Middleburg 17 June, 1863. The fifth squadron of the Sixty-third was in front and about dusk was ordered to charge on some Yanks in the road. These men were simply a decoy. A whole regiment was dismounted and be- hind a stone fence. x\s the squadron pursuing the decoys came abreast of the dismounted regiment it opened fire, kill- ing one man, wounding and disabling about twenty men and horses. Only seventeen men of the squadron followed the Captain through the fire. Of the renuiinder some tried to turn back, some dismounted and took shelter behind the stoj^e fence. Fortunately the rear of the regiment was close at Sixty-Third Regiment. 533 hand, dismounted, got over the fence and attacked the enemy in flank. Still more fortunately a Virginia regiment was passing on a road perpendicular to the road charged upon. This regiment heard the firing, halted and was ready to re- ceive the enemy as they gave way before the flank. Nearly the entire regiment of Federals was captured, about 800 men. The Sixty-third lost two men killed, about twenty wounded, among whom were three Lieutenants. Our greatest loss was Major McJ^eill, severely wounded in the hip. He was handling his portion of the flank attack very skilfully. He was disabled for many months. During 18, 19 and 20 June we fought over the gTovind be- tween Middleburg and Upperville, alternately advancing and retreating. On the morning of the 21st the fighting assumed a fiercer form than heretofore and it was soon evident that the enemy were much stronger than usual. Swinton tells us that "Hooker reinforced his cavalry with a division of in- fantry, being determined to find out if any of Lee's infantry was east of the mountains." Stuart gradually retired, stub- bornly contesting every available position. The fiercest fight was in the streets of Upperville where it became a hand-to- hand conflict. A flank attack by fresh Federal troops de- cided the conflict and the Confederates retired in more or less disorder. The Captain of the fifth squadron succeeded in getting his men out in fairly good order and was marching leisurely towards Paris when Colonel Evans rode up and said that as this was the only organized body of his regiment he could find, he wished us to get on the turnpike and stop a charge the Yanks were about to make. We were then about two hundred yards off the main turnpike. We moved over on the pike and took position on a gentle acclivity. Very soon General Stuart rode up. He examined the movements of the enemy with his field glass. There was a stone fence about two hundred yards in front of our position and per- pendicular to the battle. The enemy had started some skir- mishers out to get possession of this fence. General Stuart requested the Captain of the squadron to take about twenty men and get to the fence before them, which was done. The Federal cavalry beginning to advance. Colonel Evans wished 534 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'65. to charge ; General Stuart thought best not to charge, but finally yielded to Colonel Evans' wishes and allowed him to make the charge. This charge stopped the Federal ad- vance, but at quite a loss to us. Colonel Evans was mortally wounded and captured, two men and several horses killed and quite a number wounded. Adjutant Morehead had many holes in his clothing and several skin wounds, but nothing serious. Sergeant Henry Ilobson, of Company H, a very gallant soldier, was wounded in many places and his clothes riddled. He was captured, but as exchanges were rapid in those days, he soon returned to us but little the worse for his hurts. The enemy made no further advance and the brigade rested that night at Ashby's Gap. For most of the men it was the first experience of the real hardships of w^ar and it was somewhat demoralizing. More men went to Company Q than were wounded and killed. At Ashby's Gap Lieutenant- Colonel Gordon, of the Ninth North Carolina (First Cavalry) took command of the regiment by direction of General Stuart. Gordon gained our confidence and respect at once, and the longer he remained with us the more the feeling grew. Gor- don was every inch a soldier and his previous experience in Virginia campaigns enabled him to give us many points about taking care of ourselves and horses w^hich were of great value to us. to GETTYSBURG AND BACK. We advanced next morning over the ground fought over and found no Yankees. Dead horses, head stones to graves and cavalry equipments alone remained to tell of the deadly struggles. It was a beautiful section of country and during the few^ days we remained in it the inhabitants were very kind to us. Major McClellan, of Stuart's staff, and Colonel John S. Mosby, of partisan fame, both agree that General Robertson was ordered by Stuart to cross the Potomac east of Lee's araiy and marching between him and the enemy keep Lee well advised of their movements. A squadron captain can not know his Brigadier's orders. He can and does know that wo followed the main turnpike previously marched over by the infantry and saw no enemy, heard no liostile shots fired Sixty-Third Regiment. 535 and (which was far worse) we found no forage for man or beast. The infantry had cleaned up things as thej went. We reached the vicinity of Gettysburg a short while before the last and fatal charge by Lee. We halted, dismounted and were resting when the cannonade began. It was very furious, but very brief. At its close we were mounted and moved to- wards the front. Many of us thought that the victory was ours and the cavalry ordered up to pursue. In a few moments the head of the column turned to the right and rear, and in less than an hour we were skirmishing for a position to protect the lines of retreat. The skirmish was a success, but the question of supper was not so easily solved. No rations had been issued since leaving Ashby's Gap. No foraging was possible in the track of the main army, so we were hungry, such a hunger as civilized man in times of peace never knows. Fortunately for the horses wheat was just ripe and was very fine. They could soon fill themselves. Cherries, raspberries and wheat were our only dependence. One night a squad was bivouacked at a mountain spring and spring house. In the spring house were jars of buttermilk, honey and apple mar- malade. We ate more or less abundantly. Let any physi- cian of good standing think of the mixture — cherries, rasp- berries, wheat, honey, milk, apple marmalade. Strange to say very few got on the sick list. Skirmishing went on more or less every day while we remained north of the Potomac with few casualties. We were the last of the Confederate army to cross the Potomac, doing so by a horse-path ford, on a narrow, winding ledge of rock. The river was flushed by the Gettysburg rains and very deep. Even on the ledge of rock a very slight variation put you at once in swimming water. Several men and horses got off the ledge and swam a little, but no one was drowned. For the next several months after our return to Virginia, no fighting took place. Gordon Avas recalled to the jSTinth North Carolina, his ranking officer having been wounded and disabled. This left the reg- iment in charge of the ranking Captains, Shaw and Gallo- way. Soon after our return we learned of the death of Colo- nel Peter. G. Evans. The officers met and passed suitable res- olutions of respect to his memory and Captain Galloway was 536 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. requested to communicate with liis widow, which was done. A truer friend and a nobler hearted gentleman than Colonel Evans never walked the earth. In the Bristoe Station cam- paign the regiment did its fnll share of the fighting and bore its fnll share of the losses, the most severe loss being its Ad- jutant, J. Turner Morehead. A bullet strn(;k him full in the mouth, breaking nearly all his front teeth out and passing out at the back of his neck, narrowly missing the spinal colmnn. The wound was first thought to be mortal, but youthful hope and a good constitution saved him. He was lost to us, however. A beautiful and accomplished woman consoled his sufferings and effectually cured him of any wish for further participation in the hardships and dangers of a soldier's life. KETURIN^ TO VTEGIXIA. Soon after the close of active operations for 1863, the reg- iment was sent ho^me for the winter to recruit men and horses. We reassembled at Flenderson, jST. C, in April, and took up our march for Virginia. We reached the main army 7 May, 1864, and went into battle that evening. In this encounter W. A. Lash, since president of the Cape Fear &: Yadkin Val- ley Railroad, an 18-year-old recruit of Company D, Sixty- third, received his ''baptism of fire." A fragTiient of shell tore off the right shoulder lapel of his coat, inflicting bruises, most men would have laid up, some would have died. Lash ate his full share of what rations he could get that night, and was all right for hard and fatiguing duty in pursuit of Sheri- dan next day. In the fall of 1863 the J^inth, ISTineteenth, Fifty-ninth and Sixty-thirn. Sixty-Third Regiment. 551 regular cavalry." And in the same paper General Lee thus expresses liis opinion of Partisan Rangers: "Experience has convinced me that it is almost impossible, under the best officers even, tO' have discipline in these band? of Partisan Rangers, or to prevent them from becoming an injury instead of a benefit to the service." On page 194, Vol. 129, is found that part of "General Orders No. 29," referred to by General Lee. It thereby ap- pears that the Partisan Rangers act of 21 April, 1862, v.^as repealed 17 February, 1864, and that all so-called Partisan Rangers "acting as regular cavalry shall be continued in their present organizations and shall hereafter be considered as regular cavalry and not as Partisan Rangers." Thus, while the name of their enlistment seems to have attached for some time to the Sixty-third (Fifth Cavalry) as Partisan Rangers, according to Captain Rankin and the record, they were in fact always "regular cavalry," and thus freed from the ill repute given Partisan Rangers by General Lee. The organization of the regiment occurred at Garysburg in August, 1862, with Peter G. Evans as Colonel ; Stephen B. Evans, Lieutenant-Colonel; James M. MclSTeill, Major; J. Turner Morehead, iVdjutant, and Charles Haigh, Sergeant Major, and, shortly after on 10 October, 1862, this regiment became a part of General Beverly H. Robertson's Cavalry- Brigade at Garysburg, in accordance with orders in Volume 40, page 823. SERVICES IN NOETH CAROLINA. The regiment did duty in Eastern North Carolina until May, 1863, when it joined the Army of jSTorthern Virginia. General Robertson was "a good organizer and instructor," as General R. E. Lee, himself, terms him in Vol. 26, page 1088. And under his instruction and West Point discipline the regiment was well drilled in cavalry tactics, perfected in picket duty on outposts and, trained in other elements of its future greatness and was also in action in North Carolina. THE FIGHT AT PLYMOUTH. This was a very successful and in some respects peculiar 552 North Carolina Troops, 1S61-'G5. and amusing affair. The attack, well premeditated, occurred between 4 and 5 o'clock on the morning of 10 December, 1862. Lieutenant-Colonel John C. Lamb, of the Seven- teenth North Carolina Infantry, was in command of all the forces, and Lieutenant-Colonel S. B. Evans, of that part of the Sixty-third (Fifth Cavalry) which was present. Most of the enemy's j^ickets were captured and our cavalry went upon the town with a rush in the face of volleys from the Federal infantry who quickly broke in all directions and took refuge in and behind the custom house. The gunboat Southfield was in the river in rear of the town and before and after she was disabled kept up a brisk firing with her guns. She was shot "through the boiler" at the third fire of our artillery and then drifted. Captain Galloway, of the Sixty-third, was wounded and six men. The demoralization of the enemy was complete and their official reports of the affair, Vol. 26, pages 45-49, are ridiculous and pitiful. They all bear evidence of terrible fright. The commandant of the port. Captain Ewer, at 7 p. m., 11 December, says: ''All this day they have been sta- tioned outside of the town." But he could not attack, the health of his men being seriously affected by guard and picket duty. And Lieutenant Mizell on 16 December, six days after the fight, says that "he resumed his seat for the purpose of reporting the attack," and that he "heard they had four wagon loads of killed and wounded." "The best and most principal parts of the town are burned up. The families of our men are left without a change of clothing. We have lost all our books, pay and muster rolls, a quantity of cloth- ing belonging to the men and some ammunition. I believe I have given all the partic\ilars that I can think of." Lieu- tenant Flusser, a brave man of the United States gunboat Perry, to whom all the reports were referred for information, says that he found Ewer on the Southfield a mile and a half down the river; did not know where his men were, but "hoped most of them were in the swamp," that is, those not captured; that as "soon as the Southfield fell back (which she ought maybe not to have done) Ewer got frightened, left his men and went on board. The whole affair was disgrace- ful." Sixty-Third Regiment. 553 Fighting gunboats with cavalry took place several times in our war. For instance, the attack by Lieutenant A. B. Andrews, jSTinth ISTorth Carolina, upon this same Lieutenant Flusser 9 July, 1862, Vol. 1, p. 446, of this w^ork, the capture of a gunboat in l^ew River by Company A, Forty-first ISForth Carolina, and attack on Washington, IST. C, by cavalry, see Vol. 2 (of this work), pp. 774-775, and Lieutenant Thomas Euffin's capture of a gunboat on the Chowan with a part of his company of the Fifty-ninth ISForth Carolina, present volume, p. 459, and there are other instances recorded in these volumes. General Fitzhugh Lee fought gunboats with his cavalry command at Kinnon's Landing on the James 25 May, 1864, and General Bedford Forrest did the same feat re- peatedly, and in fact captured and disabled several boats. THE BATTLE OF WHITE HALL. On the morning of 11 December, 1862, the Federal Gen- eral Foster left New Bern, IST. C, on his expedition against Goldsboro, with 10,000 infantry, 40 pieces of artillery and 640 cavalry. Vol. 26, page 54. On the 14th the Fifty-ninth and Sixty -third JSTorth Carolina (Fourth and Fifth Cav- alry) were moved from Garysburg by train, via Goldsboro, to Moseley Hall, now LaGrange, on the railroad between Goldsboro and Kinston, the horses being sent through the country. On 16 December a fierce fight raged for several hours at White Hall bridge, over the Keuse, and while the Sixty-third (Fifth Cavalry) was held in reserve dismounted and not actively engaged in this battle they were under heavy artillery fire sufficiently to show their mettle. The explosion of an 18-pounder near their colors, as the regiment marched as on dress parade to the front, gave the men an idea of what war meant. In his report of this battle General Robertson says: "The Fifty-ninth (Fourth Cavalry) and the Sixty-third (Fifth Cavalry) Regiments, although in reserve, w^ere never- theless exposed to a galling fire from the enemy's artillery. A few were killed and a number wounded. Both officers and men behaved admirably." Vol. 26, p. 122. To show the discipline of the officers and men at this time. 654 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. by a small matter full of meaning, as the line of the Sixty- third marched to the front, in almost perfect alignment and order, witli Colonel Evans in the centre and lead he struck the middle of the edge of a long lake of water about one-third of the regiment's length in width and about three feet deep. Colonel Evans marched right through the lake straight to the front and every man on that part of the line did the same. Older soldiers, with more experience, not in the immediate face of the enemy, would have opened ranks and gone around that water on that cold December day. But the Sixty-third was on dress parade in its first great fight and it kept ''right dress." COMPANIES C, 1, AND G. After the affair at White Hall, (^ompanies C and I went on detached duty, of which Captain Rankin wrote in the Frank- lin Press as follows : "Our horses were soon after ordered around to Goldslwro, and the regiment was divided up into detachments for picket duty, hence I can speak only of my squadron. At first it con- sisted of Companies C and T, Captain Shaw commanding. Shaw's company was soon reliovcMl l)y Company G, Captain McLenahan. The squadron was thereafter commanded by the writer until it rejoined the regiment in the spring. "With headquarters at Wise's Fork, Ave did picket duty on all the roads leading into the city of New Bern. Some skir- mishing occurred on the picket lines, and two or three times the enemy made demonstrations in force, and was met by a counter move by our infantry encamped around Kinston. At such times the squadron had hard times. Of course the enemy showed us no favor, and our own footmen did not ap- preciate very greatly a man on horseback, as was shown when one of my Lieutenants, who had a spat with the enemy on the picket line reported the fact to General D. H. Hill, the general carelessly asked if any one got hurt, and expressed a desire to see a 'dead man with spurs on.' In the spring of 1863 orders were received for the squadron to rejoin the reg- iment at Richmond, Va. This was accomplished by march- Sixty-Third Regiment. 555 ing from Kinston through the country to the latter point, the squadron being several days behind the regiment. ^'There we drew fresh clothing, saddles, bridles and other equipments, preparatory to going to the front. Passing through Richmond to Culpepper Court House, we arrived in time to join in the grand review of all the cavalry by General Lee, just before the noted cavalry fight at Brandy Station." COMPLIMENT FROM THE ENEMY. Tn their operations in Eastern Carolina the Sixty-third occasionally met the Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry and their commander. Colonel J. Richter Jones, 8 March, 1863, on page 161, Vol. 26, says of this regiment: "They are a different class of troops from those we have hitherto met, con- testing successively every strong position and giving way only tO' very superior numbers." LIEUTENANT W. J. WILEY^ COMPANY F. On page 197, Vol. 26, General Robertson reports: ''With a view to carrying out the instruction of the Major-General commanding, D. H. Hill, I detached a party under Lieuten- ant W. J. Wiley, Company F, Sixty-third Regiment, with directions to move rapidly and cut the railroad between Shep- pardsville and New Bern. * * * Some time before day Lieutenant Wiley's party returned and reported they had torn up the railroad track at a point three miles above Sheppards- ville. From the proximity of the enemy's forces they were compelled to wait till after night to commence operations. I was highly gratified with the promptness and efficiency dis- played b}^ Lieutenant Wiley and party." This was done 13 March, 1863. The party with Wiley consisted of Denson A. Caldwell, R. Baxter Caldwell, two as good soldiers as ever rode in the ranks, and others. And even General D. H. Hill, with his well known dislike to cavalry, says this : "Robertson sent me out a Lieutenant who partly cut the railroad." Vol. 26, p. 189. His feeling about cavalry was amusing. Writing to Secretary of War Seddon, 5 May, 1863, General Hill says: "In the whole brigade of cavalry there has been but one man killed in the war. I propose to have a magTiificent monument 556 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. erected to liis nieiuorv." Vol. 26, p. 1048. General K E. Lee spoke of the cavalry as "My eyes and ears," and after Jackson and A. P. Hill were wounded at Chancellorsville General Lee put our cavalry leader, General J. E. B. Stuart, in their place to conunaud, and on page 803, Vol. 39, in his official report of Chancellorsville, General Lee speaks most exaltedly of this cavalryman and his action and ability in that great battle. THE SIXTY-THIRD SELECTED BY GENERAL R. E. LEE. General Lee's accurate knowledge, even to minute details of every regiment in the Southern armies is astounding to any one carefully studying the "Official Records Union and Con- federate Armies." He knew how each was mounted and armed and lie knew any petty jealousies and differences among the officers of a regiment that might weaken its effi- ciency. His choice of a regiment, therefore, was a great credit to that regiment. 21 April, 1863, S. Cooper, the Adjutant and Inspector General of the Confederacy, wrote General R. E. Lee: ''Lhe President has shown me your letter of the 20th in- stant on the subject of an increase of cavalry for your com- mand." He then offered General Lee a list of six regiments to choose from, and continues: "The President suggests that you make your selection of three regiments and give the necessary orders in the case." Vol. 40, p. 741. He selected the Nineteenth, Fifty-ninth and Sixty-third North Carolina Regiments (Second, Fourth and Fifth Cavalry). Thus the Sixty-third North Carolina went to Virginia, in May, 1863, by General R. E. Lee's own selection. The Fifty-ninth and Sixty-third North Carolina (Fourth and Fifth Cavalry), constituted Robertson's Brigade in Virginia and jointly numbered 1,068 "effective moimted men" and 67 officers, and was one of the six brigades consti- tuting Stuart's Division of Cavalry. The Fifty-ninth had 568 men and 36 officers, and the Sixty-third 500 men and 31 officers, and were the two largest regiments in the division, exce]it the Ninth North Carolina (First Cavalry) and the Nintli Virginia, whicli had, respectively, 534 officers and men Sixty-Third Regiment. 557 and 616 officers and men. Vol 40, p. 823. Thus, at the opening of the gi-eat campaign of 1863, we stood about the best of all General Lee's cavalry. Great and startling events now occur fast — fatally for many of the Sixty-third, famously for all of it. BRANDY STATION OR FLEETWOOD. Without incident worthy of note after arriving in Virginia, the Sixty-third Regiment was in the grand review General R. E. Lee made of all Stuart's Cavalry near Brandy Station, 8 June, 1863. It was the greatest gathering of Southern cavalry ever seen. And no regiment there made a better ap- pearance than the Sixty-third North Carolina. That review was a grand pageant and a glorious sight. But another sight and other sounds greeted us the next morning. On 7 June the Federal cavalry general, Pleasanton, was ordered by General Hooker, commanding the ISTorthern army, to "cross the Rappahannock at Beverly and Kelly's Fords and march directly on Culpepper," with "the object in view to disperse and destroy the rebel force assembled in the vicinity of Culpepper, and to destroy his trains and supplies of all description to the utmost of your ability. It is believed that the enemy has no infantry." Vol. 45, p. 27-28. That "rebel force" was Stuart's Cavalry, in all, 9,536. Pleasan- ton had 10,980 horsemen, with a large force of infantry and artillery. The same order, just cited, also said to General Pleasanton : "If you should succeed in routing the enemv, the general desires that you will follow him vigorously as far as it may be to our advantage to do so." Vol. 45, p. 28. Un- der this order, at dawn of 9 June, there was a mighty crossing by Federal cavalry at Beverly Ford, above the railroad and at Kelly's, south of it. Part of the Sixty-third Regiment was on picket at and near Kelly's Ford, among them a detach- ment from Company F, under Lieutenant Wiley. All the pickets at both fords were soon driven in, and the greatest purely cavalry battle of the war ensued. It was a fight with the saber and pistol by charging squadrons and horse artil- lery and "the cannoneers were for a time engaged hand-to- hand with the enemy." Stuart's report. Vol. 44, p. 681. •^^ 658 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. Sucli a fight could not he described here. Besides tlie Sixty- third North ('■ari»lin;i did not i)articij)ate in the glories of these charges because of its distant position at Kelly's Ford. But it played an important part in checking the enemy's ''in- fantry, artillery and cavalry, marching directly upon the right Hank df our trrM>ps engaged in front of Rappahannock Station." General llobertson's report, Vol. 45, p. 73-4. .\t the great crisis of the battle a courier from General Stuart directed General Robertson to advance rapidly with one regiment and report to him, as the enemy had possession, of Stuart's headquarters on Fleetwood Hill. General Rob- ertson selected the Sixty-third Regiment and pushed rapidly forward, but Hampton and Young with their commands, and Baker, with the Ninth North Carolina, by "a series of charges, most successful and brilliant," drove them off and captured their artillery and cannoneers just in front of the Sixty-third Regiment, without its striking a blow. Vol. 45, p. 7.36 and 682. On page 683 General Stuart says: "Gen- eral Robertson's command, though not engaged, was exposed tO' the enemy's artillery fire, and behaved well." The battle lasted from early in the morning till late in the afternoon. In the evening of 9 June, General Pleasanton, from the same side of the Rappahannock, where he received his or- ders of 7 July, sent "the following important dispatches" to General Stahl : "The enemy has his whole cavalry force here and I have had a severe fight. Please send some cars down this side of Bealton for our wounded. Have crossed. Enemy in some force of cavalry." Vol. 45, p. 38. And to General Stuart on the 10th he wrote: "I am anxious to ob- tain information as to the condition of a number of officers of my command who were left in your hands yesterday, to ob- tain the bodies of the dead and the privilege of sending med- ical supplies and comfort to those who are wounded." Vol. 45, p. 46. And thus ended the orders "to disperse and de- stroy the rebel force assembled in the vicinity of Culpepper." All was done by our cavalry alone. Of it General Robert E. Lee wrote to General Stuart: "The result of the action calls for our grateful thanks to Almighty God, and is honor- able alike to the officers and men engaged. Vol. 44, p. 687. Sixty-Third Regiment. 559 MIDDLEBUKG AND UPPERVILLE. All cavalrymen of the Army of I^orthern Virginia stop tO' listen when you say "Middleburg and Upperville." Those names are full of gTeat and also sad memories to them. Great for their glorious charges and conflicts ; sad for the comrades who fell there. Our cavalry fought fiercely for a great pur- pose those days at Middleburg and Upperville. The greatest crisis of the war was approaching. Mighty movements were going on. Ewell was pressing up the Valley on his march to Pennsylvania, which purpose was positively known only to a very few but frightfully feared by the Xorth. Winchester and Martinsburg had fallen and Milroy had been "wiped out." Mr. Lincoln had issued, 15 June, his proclamation calling for 100,000 additional men to meet the fearful invasion. Vol. 45, p. 136. Long-street's great corps was stealthily moving near the base of the mountains ''east of the Blue Ridge," making for Ashby Gap tO' follow Ewell, A. P. Hill was to follow Longstreet closely for Chester Gap, and Stuart's Cavalry had crossed the Rappahannock, 16 June, (the Sixty- third Regiment at Ilinson's Mills), and Avere in the I^orthern part of Fauquier county the night of 16 June, all bivouacked near Salem. Vol. 44, pp. 295, 687, 688, and Vol. 45, p. 896. Now to understand and appreciate what immediately follows and the consequent magnitude of the part therein of the Sixty-third, three things must be borne in mind : 1. General Lee was making his mightiest moves of the war and he was anxious above all things to keep them secret. 2. Stuart, knew the great secret fully and was guarding it with his cavalry alone. 3. The enemy were in absolute ignorance as to Lee's posi- tion and purpose. Their suspense was supreme and they were determined to locate him at any cost. It must be re- membered also that this great move began long before any of it was seen. At its start, McLaws' Division was A\dthdrawn from Fredericksburg 3 June, 1863. Vol. 44, p. 293. "Longstreet and Ewell were put in motion and encamped around Culpepper Court House 7 June." Vol. 44, p. 313. The very day of the battle of Brandy Station, while it was on General Lee sent Stuart word that he wished "our force and o60 North Carolina Troops, ISO 1-65. position eoneeiiled as mueli as possible, and the infant rv not to be seen, if it be possible to avoid it." Vol. 45, p. S76. 1 6 June General Lee wrote A. P. Hill directions for move- ment "to deceive the enemy as to our ultimate destination, at least for a time." Vol. 45. p. S96. •22 Jime. after Middleburg and Upperville, General Lee wrote Stuart : "I judge the efforts of the enemy yesterday were to arrest our progress and ascertain our whereabouts. I fear he will steal a march on us, and get across the Potomac before we are aware." Vol. 45, p. 913. Same day, from Millwoood, Longstreet wrote Stuart sug- gesting precautions not "to disclose our plans." Vol. 45, p. 915. 10 Jime. Mr. Stanton, Secret. Just prior to the chai'ge, in which (^l]on('l I^-ans was shot, Sixty-Third Regiment. 567 the Sixty-third, then mounted, was subjected, on its left, to a most terrific artillery fire which slew men and horses. Com- panies A and F were ordered to support the charge dis- mounted jjehind some rock walls along the pike a few hundred yards west of Upperville. When Colonel Evans gave the order to charge. General Robertson about the same moment gave an order not to charge just then and, by the consequent confusion of orders, only part of the Sixty-third Regiment followed Colonel Evans, Company H leading. The first Maine Cavalry was coming magnificently in column up the pike and the yelling men of the Sixty-third ]!^;orth Caro- lina went at them with a rush. "The First Maine, after firing a few shots, scattered to the right and left," and this charging part -of the Sixty-third rode headlong into a hot carbine fire from the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, sufl^ered fearfully and was driven back. Vol. 43, pp. 983-984. But the Sixty-third still rode and charged and fought as rear guard back to Paris, near which we camped, in Ashby's Gap, that Sunday night. In these actions it had twice as many men killed and wounded as any other Confederate regiment engaged. Vol. 44, p. 712. At 5:30 p. m. 21 June, General Pleasanton reported: 'T have not been able to send to the top of the Blue Ridge. Stuart has the gap covered with heavy Blakeleys and 10-pounder Parrots. I shall return to Aldie to-morrow." General Meade, commanding the Fifth Army Corps, reported 22 June, of Pleasanton : "He was yesterday opposed only by a brigade of cavalry and one battery, but the character of the country was so favorable for defense that it took him all day 'v^dth his large force to drive them back some twelve miles." "Character of the country" was a pitiable excuse. 21 June, 5 p. m.. General Hooker, commanding Army of the Potomac, telegraphed President Lincoln : "This cavalry force has hitherto prevented me from obtaining satisfactory infonna- tion as to the whereabouts of the enemy. They have masked all their movements." Thus our actions wei'e of sufficient importance to attract the attention of General Hooker and the President of the United States and the former shows that we sacredly guarded General Lee's great secret and that our 568 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'G5. duty was 'Svell done." Vol. 43, pp. 54, 614, 912, 954; Vol. 44, p. 690, and Vol. 45, p. 255. In his official report to General Lee of these actions Gen- eral Stuart wrote: "I was extremely anxious now to attack the enemy as early as possible, having, since Planipton's ar- rival, received sufficient reinforcement to attack the enemy's cavalry, but the next morning (21st) being the Sabbath, I recognized my obligation to do no other duty than what was absolutely necessary, and determined, so far as was in my power, to devote it to rest." Vol. 44, p. 690. But, as we have seen, he was forced tO' fight. And this extract is quoted here that all young North Carolinians, in studying Confeder- ate soldiery, may see that this great, ideal cavalry general of the South, with Jackson and Lee, recognized and obeyed God, as the ''Lord of hosts." Jackson prayed as hard as he fought. He always prayed fervently first and then fought. And his battles and victories were the answered inspirations of his prayers. When a great crisis was upon him, the flaps of his tent hung closed for hours and no one dared approach, for all knew that "Jackson was holding a council of war with God." And tlie South's sub- limest and truest title of Lee was — "Our Christian Leader." The Commander-in-Chief of a Christian people, whose hearts, together with those of their three gi-eatest generals, were con- tinually and earnestly asking their God to give victory to their Confederacy. They were the great typical sons of the Southern men and mothers around them ; testifying, as the presence of such men always does, by their individual greatr ness, the gi'eatness of those about them. Not exceptions to but only exalted emblems of the South's men and women. Just as our own Mitchell and other great mountains are ele- vated expressions of the earth's surface around them, without which respective suiToundings neither these "giants among men" nor the mountains could exist. And these "Princes in Israel" and these mountains and their environments are not, in any way, the result of the so-called evolution of certain scientists nor of their "law of the survival of the fittest," but each and all are the result of the immediate word and work of Go the hands of the enemy." 7 July the regiment spent on tlie north front of Hagerstown, on tlu^ Cavotown road. Daily the regiment moved here and llicrc to aid other cavalry in covering "the retreat of the grand ai-uiy." 11 July, at 8 :30 p. m., "Robertson was two and a half nules in front of Ewell." Vol. 45, p. 004. The night of the 13th was chosen to cross the Potomac from in front of ^leade who "iuptoad of attacking wa?; intrenching in our front," and "the Sixty-Third Regiment. 571 arduous and difficult task of bringing up the rear was, as usual, assigned to the cavalry" under this order, dated 13 July, 1863, 4:15 p. m., from General Robert. E. Lee to Gen- eral Stuart. : "General : As arranged this afternoon, I wish you to place your cavalry in position before night, so as to re- lieve the infantry along the whole extent of their lines when they retire, and take the place of their sharpshooters when withdrawn. They will be withdrawn about 12 o'clock to- night. Direct your men tO' be very vigilant and bold, and not let the enemy discover tliat our lines have been vacated. At daylight withdraw your skinnishers, and retire with all your force to cross the river. * * J know it to be a dif- ficult, as well as delicate operation to cover this army and then withdraw your command with safety, but I rely upon your good judgment, energy and boldness to accomplish it, and trust you may be as successful as you have been on former occasions. After crossing, continue to cover the rear of the army Avith part of your force, and with the rest move forward tO' our front, where you will receive further orders." Vol. 45, p. 1001. ACROSS THE POTOMAC This order was as perfectly executed as anythiTig hu- man could be. "Just before night (which was unusual- ly rainy), the cavalry was disposed from right to left, to occupy, dismounted, the trenches of the infantry at dark," the Sixty-third taking their part of Ewell's line. "The op- eration was successfully performed by the cavalr\"" and on the 14th at Williamsport the Sixty-third Regiment crossed as the very last of Lee's army. It then picketed a few days the fords of the Shenandoah near Ashby's Gap. Soon the enemy was sending a heavy column east of the Blue Ridge to interpose between our army and Richmond. Longstreet's Corps moved to counteract this and again the Sixty-third was in the post of honor, being sent, with Robertson, as Long- street's "advance guard through Front Royal and Chester Gap." On the 23d, with other cavalry, it reached Chester Gap and, "with great difficulty and a forced march, bivou- acked that night below Gaines' Ci'oss Roads, holding the Rock- 572 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'G5. ford road and W'arrciilDii turii])ik(', on whicli, near Aiuis- ville, the enemy had accumulated a large force of cavalry. On the 25th the march was continued and the line of the Rappahannock resumed," Vol. 44, pp. 699-707. jS^ORTH CAROLINA CAVALRY RRKiADE J-ORMED. 4 August, at liis own request. General Robertson was re- lieved from duty with the Fifty-ninth and Sixty-third Regi- ments. Vol. 45, p. 1075. On 9 Sept., 1863, under Sj)ocial Orders, No. 226, Headquarters Araiy of Northern Virginia, there was a reorganization of the cavalry, the Sixty-third North Carolina becoming a part of General L. S. Baker's Bri- gade, Hampton's Division and Stuart's Corps of Cavalry. This was the First division of the corps. The brigade con- sisted of the Ninth, Nineteenth, Fifty-ninth and Sixty- third North Carolina Regiments, the Sixty-third commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel S. B. Evans. Vol. 49, p. 707. In consequence of a wound General Baker was soon as- signed to special duty and about 1 October this brigade be- came General James B. Gordon's North Carolina Cavalry Brigade. Vol. 48, p. 820. The Confederate army at this time was south of the Rapidan and our cavalry was picket- ing the Ra[)idan and Robertson rivers. JACK^S SHOP. On 21 September, 1803, General Buford started on a great reconnoitering (expedition to cross the Ra])idan, via Madison Court House, with a heavy force of cavalry and artillery. They reached Madison Court House about sundown that day and attacked the picket force there, which fell back to Jack's Sliop, on the Madison and Orange turnpike about six miles south of Madison. General Stuart with the N'orth Caro- lina Cavalry Brigade and other cavalry was at Jack's Shop early next morning, 22 September, to beat back tlie recon- noissance. General Buford moved his first division down the pike to our front. Kilpatrick went by Wolftown to our left and an- other column marched towards Bamett's Ford to our right. We did not then see or know of these forces on our flanks, but Sixty-Third Regiment. 573 we did ere long. The battle opened bj a splendid mounted charge of the jSTinth and Sixtj-third ISTorth Carolina after the advance guard had located the enemy north of Jack's Shop. Thej drove everything before them back and on to the dis- mounted men of the enemy, where they were met by a galling fire from behind fences, trees cut across the pike and other protection. Both regiments dismounted tO' "fight on foot." Under this fire, right in the presence of the enemy and in splendid style, they formed their line of skirmishers and charging drove them back on their gTeat line of advancing forces, which could be seen and was terrible to behold. We then fell back slowly before them to our main line of dismounted men, Buford not forcing us as he could and would have done with his great hosts had he not been waiting Kilpatrick's move. And here we fought one of the very fiercest fights of the war. Buford got his signal from Kilpatrick that he was full in our rear on the pike, and then he opened furiously on our lines with small arms and artillery. Stuart kne^v quickly that he was surrounded. He knew, too, the mettle of the men with him. There was no attempt at concealment from the men in the ranks. He trusted them and took them openly into his council. He was always gi'eatest in a desper- ate emergency, as all great men always are. One of his own staff rode along the lines and told the men that we were sur- rounded and, said he, "Boys it's a fight to captivity, death or victory." A man in the Sixty-third answered him, "We'll go out of here if there isn't but one of us left." And a great cheer greeted the words, which told what the Sixty-third would do. When he knew exactly where Kilpatrick was, Bu- ford came on our front with all his power of rattling rifles and roaring artillery. We w^ere pressed back by sheer brute force and deadly fire, General Devin's column on our right and Kilpatrick on the left and rear, and as we fell back and got into the open there, on a small hill, was a wondrous sight, probably never seen before nor since. There stood McGreg- or's Battery, Stuart, on horseback, commanding in person and pointing here and there wath his great right arm, and under these orders the six guns of that glorious battery were firing fast and furiously in three direction at once ; two on Buford, 574 North Carolina Trooi's, 1861 -'65. two to our immediate left and two on Kilpatrick. The sight was thrilling. The men were never going to pass Stuart and those guns. They jelled and fired and stood. 'I'hat was enough. Stuart w^as satisfied as to what they would do. He dashed off with his staff down the pike towards Kilpatrick's coming columns and in a few moments a mighty cheer, that only Southern soldiers could give, came louder than the guns from our rear. Colonel Ferrebee with the Fifty-ninth North Carolina and a part of Jones' and Butler's Brigades, after desperate charges and connter-charges, had beaten Kilpatrick back. Kilpatrick went back faster than he came, and the whole Federal force retreated to the Robertson river and crossed it next morning in haste after Buford wrote General Pleasanton : "I am proud to say that Stuart was whipped and his forces dispersed." Vol. 48, p. 141. Among our killed at Jack's Shop, from Company A,- were Charles Mur- phy, son of Mr. David Murphy, and Alexander Bethune, son of Congressman Bethune, all of Fayetteville, X. C. THE BKISTOE CAMPAIGN. On 1> October, 1863, General Lee began his great move- ment, with Ewell's and Hill's Corps on Meade's right flank, known as the Bristoe campaign. The advance was by way of Madison Court House on the enemy then in Culpepper. Hampton's Division, he being absent from Gettysburg wounds, was under the immediate personal command of Stu- art and acted on Ewell's and Hill's left flank to favor their movement. Gordon's Brigade, including the Sixty-third, bivouacked near Madison Court House the night of the 9th and crossed Robertson river at Russell's Ford about daylight on the lOtli. The Fifty-ninth North Carolina beat off the Federal pickets and drove them back on their supports, the One Hundred and Twentieth 'New York Infantry and some cavalry, at Bethsaida church. Gordon attacked in front with the Sixty-third and others, dismounted, and the First South Carolina Cavalry assailed their right and rear. They broke and fled in utter rout and nearly every man of that infantry regiment was killed or captured. We then moved on to the village of James City, driving Kilpatrick's cavalry before us, THE NEW YORK:! PUBUC LIBRARY TIUO&N FOUNOATTOMS. SIXTY-THIRD REGIMENT. 1. Charles \V. Pearson, Captain, Co. H. 2. Frank Brown, Private, Co. II . 3. S. F. Fleming, Corporal, Co. II. 4. Lemuel J. Bailey, Private, Co. H. 5. Jno. B. Foard, Private, Co. H. 6. J. D. Hodges. Private, Co. H. 7. G. E. Barnhart, Private, Co. H. Natlianiel (Jreene Rich, Private, Co. H. 9. Scott Smoot, Private, Co. H. Sixty-Third Regiment. 575 throiigh tlie village, on to their supports, consisting of the Second Division of Infantry of the Third Corps and artil- lery and cavalry under command of General Henry Prince. It being impossible to dislodge them, only sufficient demon- stration was made to engage their full attention. The Sixty- third was on tlieir riglit flank with Gordon's Brigade and Young's Brigade on their front and two pieces of Griffin's Horse Artillery. Heavy skirmishing and artillery firing was kept up on both sides until nightfall, when the ''brigade bivouacked for the night on line of battle." Before daylight the enemy fell back on Culpepper, Kilpatrick covering the rear of the Third and Fifth Army Corps. Vol. 48, pp. 328, 439 and 460. On the morning of the lltli we marched, with Gordon's Brigade, along the flank of our infantry column, to- ward Griffinsburg, and struck the Sperryville and Culpepper pike at Stone-House Mountain. Here Gordon was ordered to move down the pike and push the enemy back to Culpep- per. This he did with the Fifty-ninth and Sixty-third Reg- iments— the Fifty-ninth bearing off the honors of the charge. The Sixty-third lost for the war the services of its brave, gal- lant and efficient Adjutant, Lieutenant J. Turner Morehead, son of Governor Morehead, severely shot in the mouth, the ball passing out through the back of his neck, and among its other w^ounded was that ever faithful soldier and valiant young officer, Lieutenant W. J. Wiley, of Company F, also shot in the mouth and his front teeth knocked out. The whole Federal army was now falling back across the Rappahannock on the roads to Brandy Station, rear guarded by all their cavalry, except Buford's Division, and Fitz Lee who had been left on the Rapidan, was fast driving back Bu- ford's Division of cavalry and artillery towards Brandy Sta- tion from Stevensburg. The position of the enemy's artil- lery and his strength near Culpepper, across Mountain Run, was such that General Stuart would not attack ; but left some artillery on his front to attack him and a squadron of the ITinth in Culpepper and moved to the left with the Seventh and Twelfth Virginia Regiments and Gordon's Brigade tO' get in his rear near Brandy. As we approached John Minor Botts' house there could be seen from the front of our column 576 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. the dense columns of Federal cavalry moving along the rail- road towards Brandy. They had perceived our purpose to get in their rear and were in full retreat, and across the plain to our right, towards Stevensburg, could he seen the smoke and lieard tlie hooiu of Fitz Lee's guns after Buford's column, the fire of which reached our line over the columns moving between us and General Lee, who could not distinguish us from the enemy. The two columns from Robertson and Rap- idan rivers were both now making for Fleetw^ood Heights, on Brandy Plains. The Ninth North Carolina was sent to cap- ture what seemed to be a detached body on our right. The N^inth, as always, did its work well and captured or killed sixty of them, but found itself in front of Custer's Brigade. Colonel Massie, of the Twelfth Virginia, charged doAvn on General Davies' Brigade, then retreating just in Custer's rear and the Fifty-ninth and Sixty-third were moved up to Mas- sie's support. And here occurred a bad break in the glorious record, past and future, of the Sixty-third. At this moment the Fifty-ninth and Sixty-third in column of fours, were in a partly sunken road intently watching Colonel Massie's charge and waiting orders from Stuart and Gordon, both then and there in person. The Sixty-third's attention was all to the front on Massie. Close to their immediate right there was an elevation of some length through an open field, which rising ground absolutely cut off from their view Cus- ter's and Davies' Brigades, now^ confronted by the Ninth and charged by Massie. This presence of the Ninth in their front and Massie's charge and Fitz Lee's coming columns filled these Federal officers with desperation, and they acted well in the face of the N^inth and Massie's men, which each thought and officially reported to be "a brigade" on their front and flank. Custer charged to the front with two regi- ments, formed by squadrons, and Davies by regiments to his right and left. The Sixty-third and Fifty-ninth's right flank was most un^^^sely and totally unprotected, when suddenly the Eighteenth Pennsylvania, in regiment front, led by Gen- eral Davies, fell like a tornado on the Sixty-third and Fifiy- ninth, over the open elevation which had concealed them, and both the Fifty-ninth and Sixty-third broke in confusion to Sixty-Third Regiment. 577 their left until the Seventh Virginia, most opportunely com- ing up, charged the Eighteenth Pennsylvania on their left flank, and they fled. Our regimental bugler, F. R. Kose, and Sergeant-Major Charles Haigh, both of Company A, Sixty-third Regiment, two as intelligent and brave boys as ever wore the gray, were off some distance to the right of the Sixty-third and saw the impending danger and, with that quickness to see and act which fitted them and so many of our Southern men in the ranks to command, they both hastened to prepare the Sixty-third for the terrible onslaught, but they were too late. They are both now living in Fayetteville, N. C. They both saw better than any one else the whole affair and they, together with others now alive and there present, claim that it was impossible for the Sixty-third to have ^e^- sisted the impetuous rush of the Eighteenth Pennsylvania down that slope, placed as the Sixtj^-third was in that road. Privates G. A. Thompson and J. B. Hollingsworth, of Com- pany A, were wounded and W. L. Jennings, of Company A, was captured, but his captor did not take his saber from him, and when the Seventh Virginia came to the rescue, Jennings used it freely upon his captor and took him prisoner. Pri- vate Ham. S. Alexander, of Company F, Sixty-third Regi- ment, brother of the Hon. S. B. Alexander, when wheeling suddenly to make that retreat, had his horse to fall on his leg and was unable to extricate himself. He thus lay until the Pennsylvanians inished back in retreat, when Alexender lev- eled his rifle on a Federal private who had been dismounted in the melee, and actually took him prisoner and made him pull the fallen horse off his leg. All this shows that the met- tle of the men of the Sixty-third was not broken, if its ranks had been. If ever a break in face of the enemy was excusa- ble, this one was. But it was quickly all over and the regi- ment reformed and ready for action. The second great cav- alry fight at Brandy Station then occurred and the Federal cavalry had all retreated across the Rappahannock by 9 p. m. and we bivouacked the night of 11 October near Brandy Sta- tion. Vol. 48, pp. 440, 460, 386 and 390. On the morning of the 12th in accordance with General 37 578 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'65. Ii. E. Lee's instructions, General Stuart proceeded with Gordon's brigade and other cavah-y to protect the right flank of our infantry column moving by Rixeyville toward War- renton. Gordon's Brigade crossed the river at Warrenton Sulj)hur S]U"ings about sunset and moved to Warrenton that night and occupied the town and bivouacked near there. At this crossing of the river the Sixty-third was in a glorious charge of which General Stuart, innocent- ly and inadvertently, of course, gives all the praise to the Twelfth Virginia. But the Sixty-third, was certainly in that charge as men now living well know. With the Twelfth Virginia, the Sixty-third North Carolina "charged first up to the piers of the bridge. It was discovered that it had been taken up thus exposing them to a dangerous fire from the enemy on the opposite side. Nothing daunted in purpose, however, they turned about and took the road to the ford below, which they plunged into in the face of the enemy's fire without halt or hesitation," and thus, with the Twelfth Virginia, the Sixty-third North Carolina forced that cross- ing most valiantly. General Gordon strangely reports this "sunset" crossing as of the Hazel river. His statement about moving on "to War- renton that night" shows his error. It was the Hedgeman river of upper Rappahannock. Vol. 48, pp. 444-445 and 460. AUBURN. On the morning of the 13th, our army was concentrated about Wan-enton, holding the roads from the east, the enemy being in that direction and as far south as Fayetteville. About 10 a. m.. General Stuart was directed by General Lee to make a reconnoisance eastward to Catlett's Station. He proceeded with Lomax's, Funston's (Jones'), and Gordon's Brigades, via Auburn, where he crossed the Fayetteville and Greenwich road, Greenwich being about five miles north- east of Auburn. At Auburn he left Lomax to guard his rear and, advancing towards Catlett, soon discovered an immense park of Federal wagons extending for miles south of Cat- lett's, and great columns of the enemy moving toward Bristol Sixty-Third Regiment. 579 up tlie railroad and also via the Weaverville and Greenwich road, which latter road, converging north west from Catlett's, met at Greenwich the road we crossed at Auburn and thus made a triangle with its apex at Greenwich and its base at Cedar Run, flowing from west of Auburn east towards Weav- erville, just north of which run, near Stuart's left, as he re- tired from Catlett's, was the road from Auburn to Catlett's, and along this road for several miles a mill race. As soon as Stuart made his discovery of the situation at Catlett's he quickly sent Major Venable of his staff to inform General Lee, so that a night attack might be made in great force at Catlett's, and retired towards Auburn. When he neared Auburn, about dark, he found that Lomax had been driven off and that the enemy's Third Army Corps and two bri- gades of Kilpatrick's Cavalry, with wagons and artillery were on the road we had crossed in the morning. Stuart had tw^o brigades of cavalry and seven pieces of artillery and there was but one place to cross the Run, and that at Auburn, which was now in full possession and immediate use of the enemy. We were absolutely cut off from Gen- eral Lee, whom Stuart, at once, informed of his perilous con- dition, by disguised volunteers sent through the lines of the Third Army Corps, in hope that relief would come by daylight, at least. As at Jack's Shop, every man in the ranks was taken into Stuart's confidence at once and told of the sit- uation. It w^as soon evident that the enemy had no knowledge in the world of our presence. Stuart massed his men for an attack, the Sixty-third ISTorth Carolina being dismounted and placed in line of battle. Night favored us and we "went into silent, sleepless, cheerless bivouac." All night long we could clearly hear the tramp and the talk and the rumble of the wagons and artillery of the enemy along the road in our front. But everybody had faith that Stuart would come out all right. A contemporaneous correspondent wrote of our situation thus : "Not a word was allowed except in whispers, not a spark of fire could be struck, while through the long night we stood there listening to the sounds of that mighty column of armed foes passing near by us. Anxiously we waited the morrow, wondering and whispering conjectures of 580 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. the result of our strange situation. The horses and mules seemed to feel the necessity for quiet and, though they had not been fed since morning, refrained from their usual de- monstrative cries. All waited for the morning ; and, oh, the wild waking of that morning!" Just before day General WaiTen's Federal Corps and Gregg's Division of cavalry came tO' Auburn with orders to cross the run behind the Third Corps, turn to the right and move on the road to Catlett's immediately on our left, thus adding to the difficulties of the mill race and run, his column along the base of the triangle. He first crossed over Gen- eral Caldwell's Division, with the batteries of Captains Ricketts, Arnold and Ames, and placed all just in our front, facing Warrenton and rear to us, on a hill top which was soon blazing and lighted up with their camp fires around which they were plainly seen, cheerfully preparing their breakfasts, and then General Hays' Division crossed and took position immediately on our left. The cordon was closing. The heavy mists and fog of the morning still con- cealed us in the gray dawn while by their big camp fires we could see the enemy below us as plainly as at high noon. Af- ter the bright breakfast scene had progressed some time, vol- leys of musketry were heard on the road towards Warrenton and Stuart thought that General Lee, on his night messages, had attacked. Feeling that the hour had come as well as the man, still totally unobserved and absolutely unexpected, Stuart opened his seven guns, all at the same moment, upon Caldwell's Division of infantry and artillery and, as Stuart himself reports, "rained a storm of cannister and shell upon the masses of men, muskets and coffee pots." It was an awful sight, a fearful sound of shrieking shell and screaming sol- diers. One shell killed seven men at the first fire. General Warren himself reports. But, bad for us, what was thought to be, and in fact were, Lee's guns entirely ceased their firing as soon as Stuart opened. For some cause Lee's advance was not hastened. Caldwell's veterans soon splendidly recovered from their consternation and his lines moved out on our front and each of our flanks, while Rickett's Battery fired furiously on our seven small guns, which thundoringly answered back. Sixty-Third Regiment. 581 Hays attacked on our left and we beat his skirmishers back badly with the Sixty-third's dismounted men, who fought des- perately. Among our killed was George Andrews, of Com- pany r. Hays then moved forward the Twenty-sixth ISTew York and the Twelfth ISTew Jersey Infantry. Our position was clearly untenable; but for us to escape, that advancing infantry must be stopped. Gordon ordered the old Ninth to charge and, as General Hays reports: "The rebel cavalry, led by Colonel Thomas Ruffin, charged furiously." That was a famous but a fatal charge. The gallant Ruffin was mor- tally wounded and about fifty men were killed and wounded, but its purpose, to allow our escape, was effected. The seven guns were limbered up and, at the head of our two little bri- gades of cavalry, were galloped to the rear and then to the right of Hay's Division before he could attack again ; the mill race was bridged by us, the Run crossed as best we could and turning up it to our right again, we crossed the Fayetteville and Greenwich road where Warren's Corps had lately marched and captured a number of his stragglers. We brought out safely all our artillery, every ordnance wagon and ambulance and, if the infantry lines from Warrenton had advanced, as Stuart expected, we woidd have captured that whole corps or its annihilation would have been complete. Of this affair General Stuart wrote General Lee : "My extrication from this embarrassing situation mth the comparatively small loss which I sustained is due, under Providence, to the gallant officers and men of my command, who, upon this trying occasion, which thoroughly tested their soldierly character, exhibited nerve and coolness which en- titled them to the highest praise from their commander." General Warren reports to General Meade: "Its result was alike complimentary to my own command and the force I encountered." Vol. 48, pp. 238, 239, 289, 357, 447, 461. On the morning of the 15th, Stuart's entire cavalry com- mand, except Young's Brigade, pursued the retreating en- emy to Manassas Junction. Near the junction the Sixty- third, dismounted, with other regiments, made a fierce at- tack on them, which lasted till late in the afternoon, and drove them across Bull Run, their dead and wounded being 582 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. left on the field. About this time Stuart learned of a large train of tlie enemy's wagons which had not yet crossed Bull Run. They were protected by a large force of cavalry and some artillery. We were soon up with them and Gordon at- tacked their front with the Sixty-third, and other dismounted men and Beckham's artillery, Stuart charged them in flank with the Twelfth Virginia and they were driven in precipi- tate flight across Bull Run, and we bivouacked that night near Manassas. VoL 48, pp. 449-450. Next morning Stuart took Hampton's Division on a long detour of reconnoissance by Groveton, crossed Bull Run and bivouacked near Stone Castle; continued this march on the 17th by Gum Springs to Frying Pan church, where the Sixty- third and other dismounted men for two hours or more briskly fought General Sedgwick's infantry, whom Stuart found in- trenching Little River turnpike. The purpose of the trip being acquired in this information we returned. It was af- terwards learned that this attack in their rear greatly discon- certed the enemy and caused the whole Federal force at Cen- treville to fall back towards Alexandria. That night we biv- ouacked near Little River turnpike and on the 18th moved back to Gainesville and learned of the retrograde movement of our army after the affair at Bristoe, General Lee, finding further northward movement useless in the attempt to turn Meade's right flank. The night of the 18th we camped near Hay Market and Stuart learned of Kilpatrick's advance to- ward Warrenton with his division of cavalry and six pieces of artillery and a column of infantry. Vol. 48, pp. 450~45L "buckland races." Stuart at once notified General Fitz Lee, now near Auburn, of the enemy's advance and to come to his support. To delay Kilpatrick for Lee's an'ival, Hampton's Division, dis- mounted, fought him fiercely along Broad Run, the Sixty- third doing its part manfully. Lee soon answered that he was coming and suggested that Stuart fall back, as if in mod- erate retreat, toward Warrenton, to draw Kilpatrick on so that he could get full in Kilpatrick's rear and, when that was efi^ected, he would fire sicrnal sruns of artillery. Stuart ^ttS ^i^'n^L^"^ -3:^ ^■^'^■i^l-^ .^v^J"' Sixty-Third Regiment. 583 readily and quickly assented. And we slowly began that memorable retreat, so puzzling to our men, along the turn- pike via ISTew Baltimore towards Warrenton. We kept on going backwards, just enough resistance being made to keep Kilpatrick from suspecting Stuart's purpose. Kilpatrick grew bolder and actually boasted to citizens, on the road, that he would ''catch Stuart before he got to Warrenton." We fell back faster and the men along our lines asked wonder- ingly what General Stuart could mean by retreating so and almost no fighting. But Stuart knew and that was enough. He must keep his own secret now. He was listening intently as we neared Chester Hill, only two and a half miles from Warrenton, and only a small line of our skinnishers iighting and falling back behind our retreating column. Suddenly there is one loud '"boom" after another of artillery toward Buckland, which told Stuart that Lee was in their rear. Im- mediately we wheeled, under Stuart's own orders, and aston- ished the enemy with a ferocious attack, Gordon's Brigade, including the Sixty-third, anxious for the fray, was in the centre, on the pike, and Young and Rosser on their flanks. They fought stubbornly at first but notliing could resist the impetuous charges of the Sixty-third and other North Caro- linians and those boasting columns broke in confusion. They soon learned that Lee was in their rear and their rout became complete. For miles and miles, back through iS'ew Balti- more and on to Buckland and across Broad Run to Hay Mar- ket, we pursued them relentlessly and almost resistlessly, "the horses at full speed the whole distance." We captured hundreds of prisoners and eight wagons, including General Custer's headquarters wagon with all his personal effects and ofiicial papers, and one of their writers at the time described it as "the deplorable spectacle of 7,000 cavalry dashing rid- erless, haltless and panic-stricken" through the ranks of their infantry. The Eighteenth Pennsylvania, too, was in that panic and rout. The Sixty-third rode and cut and slashed into their ranks furiously, and they sadly learned as the Sixty- third joyously found that "there is retribution in history." Stuart wrote General Lee: "I am justified in declaring the rout of the enemy at Buckland the most signal and complete 584 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. that any cavalry has suifered during the war." He laugh- ingly spoke of the run as the "Buckland Races," and his troopers, with a smile, always so think and talk of it. On 20 October we leisurely followed the retrogade movement of our army and established our pickets on the south bank of the Rappahannock and on the Hazel river. Vol. 48, pp. 451; 452, 461 and 411. Everything was quiet until 7 November, when dire disaster came to Hays' and Hoke's Brigades at Rappahannock Sta- tion that fateful Saturday night. Sunday and Sunday night General Lee withdrew, via Stevensburg, south of the Rapi- dan, Hampton's Cavalry, as usual, acting as rear guard. Near Stevensburg, on Sunday, the 8th, Hampton's Division had a fight with the enemy's advance guard and held them in check for the protection of our retreating army. The fight was on when Hampton rode along our lines for the first time since he was wounded at Gettysburg. The men cheered him gladly and wildly. The Sixty-third did its part splendidly at Stevensburg and on to the river as mounted skirmishers. Lee's infantry crossed south of the Rapidan that day never to recross it and again the Sixty-third acted well its part as "rear guard of the grand army" of Northern Virginia. THE EIGirTEENTH PENNSYLVANIA PAID OFF IN FULL. At early dawn of 18 November, Hampton with a small de- tachment of picked men from the Ninth and Sixty-third North Carolina crossed the Rapidan at Ely's Ford on a little prospecting tour of his own. The Eighteenth Pennsylvania, by some strange fatality of war, under that inexorable law of retribution, was on picket at the forks of the roads leading to Ely's and Germanna fords, a short distance northwest of Ely. They were at their breakfast; sixty of them had just gone down the Germanna road with Lieutenant Whitaker on an "important" mission for General Custer, "when," sud- denly, as that same Federal General Davies reports, "their whole outpost was driven in upon them, mixed and struggling with a dense column of rebel cavalry." Nearly the entire regiment was captured and among them a Federal paymaster who had come down there to "pay them off." The Sixty- third tdok liiiu and his pay-roll and his funds, which green- Sixty-Thtrd Regiment. 585 backs the captors equally divided among themselves ; and thus the Eighteenth Pennsylvania was "paid ofi" and driven off in dismay and our old score and sore, made near Botts' house, was forever settled and healed. Our force then went down the Germanna road and disposed of Lieutenant Whita- ker and his sixty men by capture and dispersion. A squad- ron of the Fifth New York was down at Gennanna Ford on picket. They at once had very and more important business elsewhere and all escaped down the river. With "83 horses, 10 mules, 1 ambulance, 1 hospital wagon, 1 army wagon, 1 forge" and a host of prisoners, all of the Eighteenth Penn- sylvania, Hampton recrossed the Rapidan at Germanna Ford about 10 :30 a. m. And the Sixty-third ISTorth Carolina and the Eighteenth Pennsylvania then and there agreed never again to refer to the aifair between us at John Minor Botts'. It was a final settlement between gentlemen and both sides prefer tO' hear no more talk about our matters by outsiders. The Sixty-third and the Eighteenth are satisfied and all others must be. Vol. 48, p. 656. Parker's store. On 26 November General Meade made a great display of force and movement south of the Rapidan, by fords from Ely's to Jacob's. General Lee moved to meet him. "Hamp- ton's Division, with General Stuart, present, preceded the advance of the main body." About 0 o'clock next morning General Stuart pushed forward with Gordon's Brigade, met the enemy's advance near New Hope church and, in an une- qual contest, fighting on foot, kept the enemy back some dis- tance from Mine Run till the arrival of Heth's Division, and Hampton having come up with Young's Brigade, the greater portion of which also deployed as skirmishers, the enemy was dislodged, the Sixty-third having done its part of the fighting fully and well. On the 29th General Stuart attacked the en- emy near Parker's store with Rosser's Brigade most success- fully, but reinforcements coming up against him, General Gor- don, who was fast marching to the firing on a road intersecting the Orange and Fredericksburg plank road, about one mile east of Parker's store, was ordered by Stuart's couriers to 586 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. "move up ra])i(lly ; that llio enemy was pressing back Rosser." We went forward at a gallop. The ISFineteenth North Carolina and a portion of the Sixtv-third were dismounted. A charge was immediately ordered "which was done in handsome style by the dismounted men, driving the enemy from the railroad cut, across the plank road, out of their camps and scattering them through the woods, capturing a number of prisoners, some horses, overcoats, blankets, gims and their camp equip- age." We were then soon relieved and ordered to camp. "In the meantime the Sixty-third had been ordered back with the prisoners and most of the artillery." Vol. 48, pp. 827, 898 and 902-903. Meade retired across the Rapidan by the same fords he crossed and we went into winter quarters near Milford Sta- tion, on the Fredericksburg Railroad, and picketed the Rap- idan at Jacob's and other fords near it, thirty miles from Mil- ford. Long, weary, winter work well done. In the latter part of December General Stuart, in person, inspected our camp and condition. He wrote to General Hampton : "I desire to express my high gTatification at the good order and military discipline in Gordon's and Young's Brigades during my recent visit to them." In February, 1864, the Sixty-third was sent to their homes in North Caro- lina for fresh horses for the coming campaign. VoL 60, pp. 1100 and 1143. Many North Carolina homes had been saddened never to be brightened, but the children of the men of the Sixty-third Regiment were given a high heritage by its great campaigns of 1863. PERSONAL INCIDENTS. At Middleburg Lieutenant Ward, of Company H, was wounded and disabled for the war, and Corporal Flemming was wounded in the foot and Sam Howard in the face, but they continued on duty three days. That night, 17 June, at Middleburg, W. H. Hobson, of Company H, a nephew of Governor Morehead and cousin of our Santiago Hobson, while acting as vidette, was cut off. All thought him captured. But about 10 o'clock he came in Sixty-Third Regiment. 587 with two prisoners. He found them up in a tree, trying to make observations of our camps by our fires, got between- them and their guns leaning against a rock wall, made them come down to him in sullen surrender and brought them out and delivered them to our provost guard. Under that terrible artillery fire at Upperville many men and horses were killed and wounded. Among them Captain Booe, of Company H, was disabled by wounds for the war. The same shell that hurt Captain Booe also wounded Henry Miller, of that splendid company, and killed his horse. In that fateful charge at Upperville, Company H was in front, at Colonel Evans' side when he was mortally wounded and his horse killed, and it suffered fearfully, as this list shows : Lieutenant Pearson's horse was severely wounded ; W. H. Hobson wounded three times, captured and horse killed ; J. B. Foard, horse wounded ; G. W. Fry, wounded and captured and horse killed ; Thos. Bracken, wounded and cap- tured and horse killed; Cope Wynn, wounded and captured and horse killed ; John Kerr, Henry Jones, Henry Wood, Henry Minor and David Todd, all killed and horses killed or captured ; Ellis Lakey and F. A. Beaty, wounded and cap- tured and horses killed ; F. A. Arnold, Joseph Brandon and J. D. Hodges had horses wounded. This is taken from a written record made at the time and if any one thinks it is merely fun to ride at the head of a charging cavalry column let him read this list and think over it. Company H was a famous company, and all its survivors now lovingly testify that to Lieutenant, after^vards Captain, C. W. Pearson, the company owed more for its fame than to any one else. He was as brave as the bravest. Always faithful and true and ready for any duty he was foremost in as many splendid scenes of the Sixty-third as any man in the regiment. But when written to by his old company comrades recently, for a sketch of the company and some special acts of his own for this history, with his own hand he wrote out and sent to his men thirty-two pages of accurate, instructive and interest- ing history and incidents of the company, but never mentions his own name once. And in his letter to them, accompanying the paper, he writes : "For your sake as well as that of the 688 North Carolina Troops, 18C1-'65. old company, I regret that I can recall no act of special merit or bravery of my own ; on all occasions Company H was never called for in vain." But true history loves such men too much to let them be concealed behind their own modesty and his men specially request that the foregoing mention of him be made. Company H and its officers were just representa- tive men of the Sixty-third in making its great history, but I am truly sorry that all other companies and officers have not done as well as H in helping to record that history. Lieutenant Moore, of Company C, was captured on the An- tietam. Lieutenant Gibson and Green Bingham, of Company r, were both severely wounded in the fight at Jack Mountain ; and John Cahill, of Company F, shot through and through Avith liis carbine while both were mounted, a large, grand looking, gallant Federal officer, leading their charge on Jack Mountain who tried to ride down and saber Cahill. This officer died in our regimental surgeon's chair that night. John Cahill was a jdain, big, fat country boy, but it was the unanimous opinion of all officers and men of Company F that "John Cahill was the very best soldier in Company F," and Company F was just as good as any company in the Sixty-third North Carolina Regiment. But when I urged him yesterday, in a meeting of some members of Com- pany F to tell me some special act of his to record here, he laughed that big, jovial laugh we had heard so often in camp and even along the line of battle, and then said, seri- ously and thoughtfully and sadly to me : "Well, I declare, I don't know a thing in the world to tell you." I say "sadly," because such heroes, who immortalized the Army of Northern Virginia, are fast passing away and we just can't get them to tell their deeds for history. Others present knew and told al)out his shooting the Federal officer on Jack Mountain. Cahill then concurred in their statement and, with evident satisfaction, added : "But he is the only man, I am glad to say, that I ever knew I killed during the war." There are too many others in Company F almost as good soldiers as Cahill for me to name them all here. I am sorry I can not. ' On the retreat from Gettysburg, J. D. Hodges, of Com- pany IT, was a picket on the Antietam and was cut off by Sixty-Third Regiment. 589 Kilpatrick's cavalry. He made every effort to join his regi- ment and, in his movements, rode up on two Federal cavalry- men coming out of a farm house. He knew that Kilpatrick's forces were all around him, but he leveled his carbine on them and ordered them to surrender. They did so and he was doing his best to take them out, they protested all the while that their men would see him and fire on him and kill them all. And finally he was seen and surrounded by a squad of Kilpatrick's men and one ''boy in gray" was made very sad and two ''boys in blue" very happy. Company I lost fourteen men captured and several killed while on the picket line on Antietam. Captain N. P. Eankin, of Company I, had command of the Sixty-third's dismounted skirmishers that terrible night at Auburn. Then, as always, he was efi&cient, capable and brave. After the regiment had mounted, from that fierce firing line, for our withdrawal, among the foremost and most helpful men in the dangerous and difficult task of bringing out from that triangle the heavy ordnance wagons of Gor- don's Brigade was a firstrclass fighting private of Company I, D. B. Coltrane. All night and till we withdrew he was on the Sixty-third's line of battle. He is now the gentlemanly, courteous cashier of the Concord I^ational Bank, Concord, 'N. C, to which position he has risen, from the war's poverty on all Southerners, by the same courage and character that succeeded, in the face of adversity, in bringing out our bri- gade's ammunition at Auburn. Sergeant E. D. Hines, of Company I, was conspicuous for gallantry on the Sixty- third's line of battle at Auburn and was always brave and faithful. Sergeant Robt. A. Davidson, son of A. Brevard Davidson, of Charlotte, N. C, was captured at Jack's Shop and, in our mounted pursuit of Kilpatrick, after he was beaten back at Jack's Shop, John Cahill was severely shot in the hip, and, except for this wound, he never missed a single duty during the war. Lieutenant J. C. Hines, a brave and efficient officer of Com- pany Gr, was captured at Jack's Shop and was a prisoner dur- ing the entire war. For one year he was one of the 500 Con- federate officers placed under the fire of our guns of Fort 590 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. Suniptcr, on Morris Island near Battery Wagner. For month and months he and his fellow prisoners were almost starved to death, his only rations being one pint of spoiled meal and one pickle per day by orders of one Col. Holiday. And thns, by his imprisonment, he suffered for the South far more than many in our ranks. At Jack's Shop, Lemuel Johnston Bailey, of Company H, was also captured and died of typhoid fever at Point Look- out, 7 January, 1864. He was a school boy soldier, bright and beautiful, brother of Thos. B. Bailey, of Mocksville. Of all the young lives willingly laid as sacrifices of love on the altar of the South, none was better, or braver, or purer than Lem. Bailey's. One long night and the following day in December, 1863, a boy picket stood out in the bitter cold watching Jacob's ford on the Rapidan. There was near to his right a house on the overlooking hill, evidently once a prosperous, happy home, but now^ a very "bleak house," all desolate and shorn by war of every comfort, only the bare necessaries of life left. In the afternoon of that day, a woman, most plainly dressed in deep mourning, with all the tender- ness and refinement of the best Southern womanhood about her, came from that house to that picket, and, after being halted and readily allowed to approach, she took from its cover a plate on which was only a small bit of com bread, a little piece of fat bacon, just about the size of the first two fingers together of a man's hand, and some parsnips, all beau- tifully neat and perfectly cooked, and then said: "I have been noticing you down here all day ; you made me think of my boy, who is in our army, and to whom some otlier mother will be kind, as we all love to be to our soldiers, and I came to bring you a part of our little dinner." With a royal sense of true propriety and politeness, she uttered not a word of apology for the "little dinner," not a word of explanation al)out the war's ravages, but all w\as said and done with the sublime grace of a Southern mother courageously confronting cruel calamity. This little incident is recorded here that it may be known that, way off on the outposts, in the en- emy's pitiless presence, the Southern woman never abated her Sixty-Third Regiment. 591 love and loyalty to the South and the Southern soldier, which fact, all through the war, was the truest and strongest inspira- tion of that soldier's valor and virtue. "God bless the Women of the South/' CAMPAIGT^ OF 1864. KEASlSEMBLIISrG AND KETUKN TO RICH- MOND. The regiment temporarily disbanded at Henderson, N. C, in March, 1864, that each man might go tO' his ho-me for a new horse, or the recuperation of the one he had and himself. This was a wise and economical act on the parti of our pov- erty-stricken and staggering Confederate Government. It was a great and helpful blessing tO' our war-wearied men and animals. It must be borne in mind and always remembered that the Confederate cavalryman furnished his own horse and never received nor expected pay for his loss, unless he was "actually killed in battle or died of wounds" received in battle. It was so written in the bond of our agreement of love. After a stay, all too short, at our respective homes until about 15 April, each man of the regiment reported in person with his horse to his own Captain at some place designated, when we parted at Henderson, and from that place we marched, by companies, to Richmond, Va., and reunited as a regiment in splendid condition and numbering over 500 ef- fective mounted men and officers. ORDERS TO REPORT. At Richmond we received the following "orders," and im- mediately acted thereon : "Adjutant and Inspector General''s Office^ Richmond, 2 May, 1864. Special Orders No. 102. The Fifth Regiment, JSTorth Carolina Cavalry, now in tem- porary service near this city, will immediately proceed to the headquarters Army of J^orthem Virginia and report to General R. E. Lee, commanding, etc., for assignment to duty with Brigadier-General Gordon's Brigade." Vol. 68, p. 940. General Lee's headquarters, when we reported, were near 592 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. New W^rdierville, on the plank road a short distance north- west from Spottsjlvania (Jonrt House; and General Gordon's headquarters, under Hampton then, 2 May, were near Mil- ford, Va. Vol. 68, p. 941 and 048. Gordon's Brigade, then in Hampton's Division, consisted of the Ninth, Nineteenth and Sixty-third North Carolina (First, Second and Fifth Cavalry), as it did immediately afterwards in W. H. F. Lee's Division. Vol. 67, p. 1027. TRANSFER FROM HAMPTON^S TO W. II. F. LEE^S DIVISION. On 30 April, 1864, were issued "Special Orders No. 118, Department of Northern Virginia." The part of these or- ders aijplicable to Gordon's Brigade was as follows : "In accordance with instructions from the War Depart- ment, the brigades of Brigadier-Generals Gordon and Cham- bliss are detached respectively from Hampton's and Fitz. Lee's Divisions of cavalry, and will constitute a new division under the command of Major-General W. H. F. Lee." Tliese "special orders," being considered "unimport.ant," are not ])ublished in "Official Records," but this extract was kindly furnished me, as it is given, by General F. C. Ains- worth, U. S. A., Chief of Record and Pension Office, War Department. The Sixty-third North Carolina afterwards became very much attached to General W. H. F. Lee and found him a fine cavalry commander ; but not such a man or commander as HamjDton, whom we loved personally and officiall3^ There was sad regret on our part as there was with General Hamp- ton at this transfer. Hampton's order in executing this transfer is on page 945, Vol. 68, and is now quoted in full to show his estimate of the Sixty-third and his attachment on that account tO' this regiment: "Headquarters Hampton's Division Cavalry, "Cavalry Camp^ Army of Northern Virginia, "Milford, 5 May, 1864. "Brigadier-General J. B. Gordon, Commanding Cavalry Bri- gade: "General: — In pursuance of Special Orders No. 118, De- partment of Northern Virginia, of 30 April, and of instnic- Sixty-Third Regiment. 593 tions from Major-General J. E. B. Stuart, commanding cav- alry, yon are directed to proceed without delay with your command to the vicinity of Shady Grove, where you will con- centrate your brigade and report for further orders to Major- General Stuai-t. I am directed by Major-General Hampton, in communicating the above orders, to express to you, and through you to your whole brigade, the surprise with which he has received the orders and the pain it causes him to exe- cute them. He indulges the hope that his wishes may be con- sulted, and that a new assignment may be made as soon as the present emergency shall have passed, which will return your brigade to his division and give him back the troops to whom he has become so attached and whom he has learned to trust in times of danger and trial. "Indulging this hope, he refrains from saying farewell, but will watch the performance of officers and men in the ap- proaching contest mth the same anxious interest as if they were imder his o^\^l command, confident that if your regi- ments should be eventually returned to him they will bring back unsullied banners and a record of glory increased and illustrated by new achievements in the coming campaign. "I am. General, veiy respectfully, your obedient servant, "Theo. G. Barker^ "Major and Assistant Adjutant-General." Thus we see that the illustrious Hampton had become "at- tached" to and had "learned to trust in times of danger and trial" the Sixty-third ITorth Carolina which, by this order, he places side by side ^^'ith the Kinth and l^ineteenth in his attachment and estimate of merit, without the slightest dif- ference as to either. A great tribute of love and confidence to our regiment from a very great source. BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. The foregoing orders and our execution of them placed the Sixty-third right on the ground for the great battle of the Wilderness. General Grant crossed the Rapidan 4 May with the intention of an immediate forward movement by his front, 38 694 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. to Richmond. His instructions to General Meade were: "Lee's Anny will be your objective point. Wherever Lee goes, there yoii will go also." Vol. 60, p. 828, The battle began early on 5 May and raged furiously all day, and was renewed at 5 o'clock on the morning of the 6th, and continued with unabated fury until darkness set in, each army holding substantially the same position they had on the evening of the 5th. General Grant, Vol. 67, p. 18. Not- withstanding his statement as to "holding substantially the same position," the world now knows that the South won a gi'eat victory at the Wilderness. And that instead of going "wherever Lee goes," as ordered, Meade, under General Grant, began his famous movement via Spottsylvania by Lee's right flank, on nightf of 7 May, after a loss of 17,666 men in two days. Vol. 67, p. 188. If he intended to go by Lee's right flank, at first, why this awful sacrifice ? In this great battle the Sixty- third fought most of the 6 th near White Hall, close to the Catliarpin road. This action on our part was under tlie immediate super- vision of General Gordon, who was continually riding and walking along the dismounted lines of the Nineteenth and Sixty-third, the only two regiments of his engaged. He thought "from the number and manner of firing and reports of ofiicers" that we were fighting infantry. Vol. 68, p. 961. The firing on our regiment was terrific. Willis L. Miller, of Company F, of Davidson County, was killed here and many others of our regiment were killed and wounded. He was a splendid boy soldier. Atid one of the most touching scenes I ever witnessed was Captain John R. Erwin writing next morning to the boy's father of his death. GENEEAL LEE^S RELIANCE ON HIS CAVALKY. May 7, 1864, Colonel Taylor, General R. E. Lee's Assist- ant Adjutant-General, wrote General Stuart: "General Lee directs me to say that ho wishes you would make an exami- nation and thoroughly inform yourself about the roads on our right, which it would be advisable or necessaiy for us to follow, should tlie enemy continue his movement toward Spottsylvania Court House, or should we desire to move on his flank in that direction. Find out about the roads which Sixty-Third Regiment. 595 the infantry would take, and upon which our artillery, etc, could be thrown around. * * * ^q relies upon you to keep him accurately informed of the enemy's movements, slioidd they he in the direction above indicated." Vol. 68, p. 969. The italics are mine and the letter is quoted to show the importance of our cavalry, in the face of much dispar- agement by the uninformed. And in this view this letter is a part of the history of the Sixty-third North Carolina. And now see the result of Stuart's Cavalry work along the lines of that letter. In his report of the terrible battle of Spottsylvania, General Grant says : ''On the night of the 7th the march was commenced toward Spottsylvania Court House, the Fifth Corps moving by the most direct road. But the enemy hawing become apprised of our movement^ and having tlie shorter line, was enabled to reach there first." Vol. 67, p. 19. To same effect are General Sheridan's words at top of page 789, Vol. 67. Italics in last quotation mine. We all know the result. General Grant lost 18,399 men at Spottsylvania. Vol. 67, p. 188. How much the cavalry under Stuart, in conforming to General Lee's letter, aided in tliis no one knows. I merely give the facts. We were not in the battle of Spottsylvania at all, but we aided in this antecedent Avork. Near White Hall, on 8 May, General Gordon received the ''orders" of transfer to Major-General W. H. F. Lee's Division and reported to him that day. This division now consisted of Chambliss' Virginia and Gordon's North Carolina Brigades. Gordon's Brigade now consisted of only the Ninth, Nineteenth and Sixty-third North Carolina (First, Second and Fifth Cavalry), the Fifty-ninth North Carolina (Fourth Cavalry) having been assigned to Dear- ing's Brigade. The Sixty-third was commanded by Colonel S. B. Evans. VoL 67, p. 1027. Sheridan's raid. On the morning of 9 May General Sheridan, from the vicinity of Alrich's, on the plank road to Fredericksburg, be- gan his raid on Richmond, around the right of Lee's Army. He had with him his whole corps, three divisions of cavalry, at 596 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. least 12,000 eflfective mounted men and one brigade, six bat- teries, of artillery" under command of Captain James M. Rob- ertson, of the regular United States Army. He moved via Cliilesburg and Beaver Dam, at which latter place he de- stroyed large and valuable Confederate ration and medical supplies. Vol. 67, pp. 787-790 and 285. It was absolutely necessary for some cavalry to be present with General Lee's Army and Hampton's Division and Cham- bliss' Brigade were left there for duty. So to contend with this great invading force and direct attack upon the capital of the Confederacy, for that was the ultimate purpose of the raid, its JiigJiest liopc and aim, Stuart could command only three brigades, Lomax's and Wicldiam's, Fitz. Lee's Division, and Gordon's imperfect brigade, and of artillery only John- ston's Battery and a section of Hart's. All told not over four thousand. Vol. 1 North Carolina Regiments, p. 429. Vol. 67, p. 104.5. Sheridan reported his cavalry force at 10,000, but it was inuch more, according tO' their organization re- turns. Sheridan had tliree entire divisions, Stuart had three incomplete brigades. General Stuart harrassed him in rear and on his flank with Fitz. Lee's forces, until Gordon could come up, which we did promptly. By forced marches, Stuart put Fitz. Lee's two brigades in Sheridan's front at Yellow Tavern on the Brook Turnpike at an early hour on the morn- ing of the 11th, and at once began the battle of Yellow Tav- ern. About the same time Gordon attacked his rear fero- ciously at Goodall's Tavern, near Ground Squirrel Church, Devin's Federal brigade burned the Ground Squirrel bridge over the South Anna river in the early morning of the 11th, Vol. 67, p. 834 and p. 846, to impede our progress, and it would have direfully delayed almost any other man than Gor- don. He knew or quickly found an old, steep-banked, almost impassable ford. As I remember it, it seems to me that the tops of the banks were at least fifteen feet from the water. Of course they were not Gordon knew that Stuart wanted him and that Richmond needed him over that river fast. He gal- loped to this ford with the Sixty-third in front, pointed to it and told us that it was our only place of crossing, gave the or- der "Forward !" and with a mighty plunge he led the way, and Sixty-Third Regiment. 597 over that old ford every man of his brigade followed him. Some were seriously hurt, but we were out there expecting to get hurt. We were not "squirrel" hunting just then, even there. In a few minutes we were all up the high hill on the south side of the river, where the enemy had camped and in full sight now of their rear guard, whose skirmishers were firing on us as we crossed that ford and were driven off by our charge up that hill. Vol. 67, p. 846. Our regiment was all quickly dismounted, except one squadron. Company F was in the lead of the regiment, and as we walked up the road in colunin of fours the fire was fierce from their skir- mishers and Lieutenant Gibson, at the head of the com- pany, was badly wounded. In splendid style we swung out into line on the right of that road and went at their dis- mounted men with a steady step and fire, and drove them back in disorder and "confusion." On page 864, Vol. 67, we read: "May 11 — Started from Goodall's Tavern, First Maine as rear guard. It became necessary to dismount tlie whole regiment tO' hold back a strong force of the enemy while the column moved on. On withdrawing these dis- mounted men, the enemy charged, both mounted and dis- mounted, and caused the regiment to fall back with some con- fusion and considerable loss." That "strong force" was just four-fifths of our regiment "fighting on foot," for one squad- ron was then mounted and no mounted charge was made until the dismounted men drove them back. That First Maine was a superb regiment. There was no better in the Army of the Potomac. But a part of the Sixty-third !N^orth Carolina beat them "back with some confusion and considerable loss" at Goodall's 11 May, 1864. They quickly had another force in front of our dismounted line and while we were driving them also with a rattling fire from their men and ours that grand old First Maine was in the saddle for coming events on horse- back. Gordon then charged past our left with the Ninth North Carolina and that squadron of the Sixty-third. It was hand-to-hand, saber to saber, in deadly close conflict be- tween the Ninth North Carolina and that squadron of the Sixty-third on our side, and the First Maine, now remounted, and the Tenth New York, Vol. 67, p. 870, on their side; and 598 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. in a few moments the First Maine and the Tenth New York "fell back with some more confusion and considerable loss" before our sabers also. Men will not stand long the cold steel and clash of the saber. One side or the other gives way quickly as did Sheridan's splendid soldiers before these two North Carolina regiments in those glorious charges and coun- ter-charges at Ground Squirrel Church. We kept up the fight on their rear, pressing them hard con- tinuously. General Gregg, commanding their Second Divis- ion, says: "On the 11th, near Ground Squirrel Church, this division, marching in rear, was attacked by Gordon's Brigade of rebel cavalry. The attacks of the enemy were repeated duriug the entire day, thus forming a part of the general en- gagement with the enemy at Yellow Tavern." Vol. 67, p. 853. "This division," mark you. And our attacks, on their rear, were as victorious as they were "repeated." At Yellow Tavern, in their front, Stuart made for hours a terrible fight and his last, while the North Carolina Brigade fought them fiercely in their rear. But the odds and every hope, could we have realized it, were all against us from the start in that fatal fighting of 11 May at Yellow Tavern, and Wickham and Lomax had to give way before the over^vhelm- ing hosts and their defeat, gloriously resisted by them and lessened by Gordon, was made most direful by General Stu- art's death-wound. It seems to me that every reader of this history will be interested in the story of Stuart's fall and, therefore, I give it and General R. E. Lee's general order on his death. Colonel Eussell A. Alger, Colonel of the Fifth Michigan Cavalry, on 8 July, 1864, reports it thus: "Arriving at a point commanding a hill in rear of rebel battery, my atten- tion was called by Captain Judson, of tliis regiment, to an ofiicer, accompanied by a large staff and escort, carrying a battle flag, who was just coming on to the hill from the rear. This officer was shot from his horse by Private John A. Huff, Company E, formerly of Berdan's Sharpsliooters. He was immediately carried to the rear by his staff. About thirty minutes later the hill was carried, and a woman and a negro informed me that General Stuart had been shot on the hill Sixty-Third Regiment. 599 mentioned, and first brought to their house and afterward carried awaj in an ambulance." And Colonel Alger further says : "I regret to report that Private John A. Huff, Com- pany E, the man mentioned who wounded General Stuart, has recently died of wounds received at Haw's Shop on 28 May." Vol. 67, pp. 828 and 829. "HeADQUAETEES AeMY ISTOETHEEN VlEGINIA^ 20 May, 1864. General Orders No. JfJf. The commanding general announces to the army with heartfelt sorrow the death of Major-General J. E. B. Stuart, late commander of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of North- ern Virginia. Among the gallant soldiers who have fallen in this war. General Stuart was second to none in valor, in zeal and in unfaltering devotion to his country. His achieve- ments form a conspicuous part of the history of this army, with which his name and services will be forever associated. To military capacity of a high order and all the noble virtues of the soldier, he added the brighter graces of a pure life, guided and sustained by the Christian's faith and hope. The mysterious hand of an Allwise God has removed him from the scene of his usefulness and fame. His grateful countrymen will mourn his loss and cherish his memory. To his com- rades in arms he has left the proud recollection of his deeds, and the inspiring infiuence of his example. R. E. Lee, General." "His achievements," as we have well seen, were in part the work of the Sixty-third ISTorth Carolina. This "General Order" is on page 800, Vol. 69. But Yellow Tavern was to Sheridan what Guilford Court House was tO' Cornwallis. One more like it w^ould have ruined him and his hosts. He knew it and began his mid- night retreat with the spires of Richmond in sight and her church "bells heard ringing." Vol. 67, p. 834. And it was this regiment and other North Carolinians who were blasting the highest hope and aim of Sheridan and his raid and saving Richmond. Our regiment never think or speak of it vainglo- 600 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. rio'usly, but always with sorrow for the dead and the defeat in front at Yellow Tavern, but history must record that it was another case of 'Tickett or Pettigrew." If Gordon and his North Carolinians had not pressed him as they did, Sheridan would surely liave gone into Richmond 11 May, 186Jf. Among our mortally wounded at Ground Squirrel Church were Lieutenant Samuel Ilanner, of Company I, and Pri- vate K. Davis Kerr, of Company F, and of course, many others whose names I cannot recall. The following appeared in the Richmond Enquirer of 12 May, and was copied in a JSTorth Carolina paper of May, 1864, from which I now copy: "Individual instances of daring are numerous and we hope not to be invidious in mentioning an instance. In the charge the Yankee colors at one time being almost in reach. Lieu- tenant Lindsay, of the Fifth North Carolina, dashes at them and grapples with the color-bearer. As he reaches for them, an expert shift from one hand to the other by the color-bearer, saves them from his grasp, but, with well-plied stroke of the sabre, he almost unhorses the bearer, who, bleeding, reels, but gathers his equilibrium, and by means of the fleetness of his horse, saves himself with his devoted Yankee bunting. "Another instance is, also, worthy of publicity. Private Frank Brown, of Company H, Fifth North Carolina Cavalry, a mere stripling, dashes into the heavy ranks of the First Maine Regiment and encounters an athletic Yankee Captain, who, with a stunning blow with his broad sabre, knocks the lad from his horse ; at the same instant the Yankee Captain's horse was shot from under him. Just as this brave lad was rising from the ground, his eye caught the situation of his an- tagonist, and, raising the butt of his gun, he commenced club- bing the Yankee, who lustily cried out for quarter." Frank Brown accepted his surrender and went with him, 12 May, as a "special guard" by reason of his own wound, to Libby Prison, in Richmond, and there in person, turned him over tO' our authorities. I am assured that Frank Brown dismounted and with car- bine leveled on them, also captured four privates of the First Maine that same day and three horses, one of which was given, SixT!f-THiRD Regiment. 601 there in the fight, to Lieutenant Kerr Craige, of Gordon's staff, and another to Captain C. W. Pearson, of Company H, both of whom had their horses killed there. This same captain of the First Maine, seeing one of his own company privates surrender to Private J. B. Foard, of Company H, Sixty-third North Carolina, and, in the zeal and intensity of his own valorous fighting, being unconscious of the exact situation, called out to his man, naming him : "What in the thunder does that mean ?" Just then Frank Brown and the Captain met. Brown, in marching the Captain to the rear, overtook Foard and his prisoner, when the latter politely said: "Captain, what in the thunder does this mean ?" And there seems then to have been a mutual understand- ing between them as to what it did mean. A member of the First Maine, in this same conflict, was in the very act of shooting Sergeant A. N. Campbell, of Com- pany H, when the latter, with a tremendous "right cut against cavalry," knocked the gun out of his hand and took him pris- oner. Captain Pearson writes of Campbell: "No braver man ever drew the breath of life." S. F. Flemming, of Company H, got in this fight, a terri- ble saber cut on his head and forehead, the scar of which plainly shows to-day. We captured that day an entire wagon load of Spencer rifles and their special ammunition. It was a splendid, long-range, breech-loader and shot seven times without reloading. I carried one of them during the re- mainder of my service in the ranks, and was very much at- tached to it. BROOK CHUKCH. General Sheridan calls this "Meadow Bridge." In grat- itude, I guess, to the bridge that "carried him over" his im- minent danger and disaster at Brook Church. The Brook Turnpike above Richmond runs almost due north and south. The Military road at Brook, or Emanuel Church, strikes it at right angles from the east, in which direc- tion this road crosses the upper Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge. In his midnight retreat of 11 May, from Yellow 602 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Tavern, General Sheridan took this Military road at Brook Church to escape, intending to cross the Chickahominy and move to his right from there to the James. And this he did, but he surely had an awful time of it and a narrow escape at Brook Church. Early on the morning of the 12th, Gordon was on his rear at Brook Church. Sheridan was met by our forces, of cav- alry and infantry, at Meadow Bridge, which we had de- stroyed and the river there was otherwise impassable. Sheri- dan says some fords were discovered by scouts, but if so, why on earth did he have such a desperate and deadly time repair- ing that bridge, as my references will show he did ? Sheri- dan's rear occupied a strong position of his own selection on the Military road which he swept with canister constantly. Gordon dismounted tlie Ninth and Nineteenth North Caro- lina and attacked him fiercely, and sent his Aide, Lieutenant Kerr Craige, intO' Richmond for some artillery and to pro- pose to the officer in charge of that portion of the city de- fences a combined attack on Sheridan's flanks. The Sixty- third was held in reserve in mounted column, under fire, just off 1o the right of the Military road, going east. With our regiment, as we all knew, Gordon intended to charge those batteries up the Military road after he got some supports from Eichmond. x\nd that charge, which he would have led in person, would have been about the last of our regiment. In a few minutes some artillery came. And oh! such artillery! It was the most beautiful in all its appearances that we ever beheld. The smoke of battle had never been about it. He placed it to the slight oblique right and front of our regiment on the elevation of some old entrenchments. It fired one time. Immediately one or more of Sheridan's guns were turned on it — canister for the first time in its history rattled around those beautiful guns and among its wheels and every man about the battery flew into the ditches of those old en- trenchments. Gordon was furious. He raved and begged. He called it "Band Box Artillery," which would have oc- curred only to him, possibly, under such a fire. But those ar- tillerists ''held the trenches faithfully" against Richmond's invaders. Some fer\v of them could not even stand tbat and Sixty-Third Regiment. 603 came through the woods by us. We laughed at them, ridi- culed them and asked them to go back and man their guns. But they looked at us as if they thought we were surely crazy. Gordon became utterly disgusted and went back at a gallop right into the fire down that Military road and there he re- ceived the wound which ended his life and brilliant career six days later. The battle was raging furiously at Meadow Bridge on Sheridan's front and right flank. The command of the brigade now devolved on Colonel Andrews, of the Nine- teenth, as ranking officer. The Sixty-third was dismounted to join in the attack on foot. Company F was in front of that column. The order was to cross the road, still swept by canis- ter, and form on its left. Captain Erwin looked calmly around at us and said : "Come on boys." He led, and over the road the regiment went and formed in line of battle. We advanced fast to a horizontal, wide board fence, which looked literally perforated, and after short firing, on our part, the en- emy disappeared. Sheridan had broken over at Meadow Bridge and escaped. Sheridan himself says, on page 791, Vol. 67, "The enemy considered us co^mpletely cornered, but such was not the case." Well, of course, none of us knew for certain, but those of us who were there will never cease to be- lieve that if he had not broken over at Meadow Bridge, just when he did, that he and his men would have been given quar- ters in Ivichmond for the rest of the war. He also says, page 801, of his raid: "The result was con- stant success and the almost total annihilation of the rebel cavalry." This shows, I regret to say, how unreliable his statements are, as he soon had full proof of by that same "rebel cavalry." That the reader may see what a desperate state they were in at Meadow Bridge, I refer to Vol. 67, pp. 791, 813-814, 819, 835, 879 and 880. He lost 625 men on his raid and 1,003 horses. Vol. 67, p. 185, and Vol. 68, p. 851. We had no sufficient force to follow Sheridan, and it was useless as, after his passage of the Chickahominy, he could easily con- nect with Butler on the James, as he did, near Haxall's Land- ing on 14 May. Our great loss at Brook Church was the gallant and glori- 604 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. our James B. Gordon. The Fifth loved him as its com- mander during the Gettysburg campaign and, as his entire brigade did, for his splendid courage and merit in all re- spects. He was the Murat of the Army of Northern Vir- ginia, and had he lived he would have added increased lustre to our North Carolina Cavalry. I want to identify him with his home and people so that we can hold him in closer relation in this way and, therefore, I state that his sister was the mother of Messrs. R. N. and James Gordon Hackett, of Wilkes. That county was rather famous for such cavalry- men—Colonel W. H. IT. Cowles was born and now lives there. KENNON^S LANDII^G^ OR WILSOX^S WHARF. The attack on Kennon's Landing was the most useless sac- rifice of time and men and liorses made during the war. The brigade was camped 23 May near Hanover Junction, recuperating a little from the teiTil)le ride and fighting of the Sheridan raid. Late that afternoon an order came to each Captain for a "detail of picked men for specially dangerous work." The Sixty-tliird furnished about 225 men and ojfficers, under command of Major McNeill. There surely were not over 1,000 men on the expedition, from our bri- gade. Wilson's Wharf was a fortified post of gi-eat natural and artificial strength on the James river, below City Point, and consequently fully in the enemy's lines. It was forty- seven miles in a straight line, by best military maps, from Hanover Junction. It consisted of a fort built in semi-circle form on a bluff of the river with each end resting on the James, with heavy parapets and a canal of water tlie entire front of the half circle. There was open ground for several hundred yards all around the fort covered with abattis and large fallen pine trees to impede assailants. If we could ever have taken it we never could have held it. The expedition was under the immediate command of General Fitzhugh Lee, and originated with him, it was said at the time, to drive some negro soldiers off Virginia soil. We left Hanover Junction about 6 p. m. on the 23d and rode all night and much of the time at a gallop. Early on the morning of the 24th we were near the fort, but for some Sixty-Third Regiment. 605 inexplicable reason the attack was delayed. A note, by flag of truce, was sent in to General Wild, commanding the post, demanding immediate surrender, and saying if not complied with, that General Lee would not be responsible for action of his men when the fort was taken. Wild answered : ''We will try that." Vol, 68, p. 269. It was 11 o'clock before we be- gan to get into position ; in the meantime the gunboats Dawn, Pequot and the Atlanta (ironclad) were shelling us fiercely and the fort was filling with reinforcements. The enemy also had a small vessel named the Mayfloiver. Some of our forces wounded the captain and pilot of this boat. I never heard of any injury that we inflicted on the ironclad. We had no artillery ; but with or without artillery, "no regiment of our cavalry was afraid of those things." The shells were chiefly 100-pounders. We could see them plainly coming at and over us ; great black masses, as big as nail kegs, hurtling in the air and making the earth tremble under us and the atmosphere jar and quake around us when they burst. They certainly were terrifying. And under their effect I compared the ''details" from the Ninth and Sixty- third. The former was dismounted and ours mounted, each in column of fours near together under those awful missiles. As one came towards us and burst over us, I saw those old veterans of the Ninth looking up at it with hon*or, lean back slightly and out of line. Just such a look and backward in- cline of their bodies as I imagine the immortal sentinel at Pompeii made, momentaidly, when that dark, ashen death fixed him erect at his post for the admiration of future ages. Captain IST. P. Foard saw their momevent and, under the bursting, crashing sound and mass, he said. "Steady men, steady !" Possibly before the words were uttered they were erect as statues. At the same second I glanced along the Sixty-third, in the same line of my vision, and every man sat in his saddle absolutely motionless. It was no discredit to the Ninth, but the contrast was glorious for the Sixty-third. We were soon put in line of battle around that fort, our regiment on the extreme left, the enemy's right We were to charge, at the firing of a signal gun on our left. We lay there for an hour or more waiting that signal, eating straw- 606 North Carolina Tkoops, 1801 -'65. berries in the fence comers and quietly talking of the scene in front of us ; and all the while we could plainly see platoon after platoon of reinforcements coming over the blnff into the fort on the decline next to us. The shells from the 100- pounders, 20-pounders and 12-pounders were still bursting over us and other parts of the line. Our regiment and some others on our immediate right in the line were to nuike the charge, A\hile those in front and on left of the fort were to fire incessantly on tlie fort when the charge began. About 2:30 or 3 p. m., the signal gun fired and the Sixty-third arose with a mighty yell for that terrible charge. We mounted the high rail fence in our front and went straight and fast, as the obstructions would permit, for that fort — yelling and firing as we went and receiving fierce front and cross fires into our ranks from rifics and artillery in the fort and the gun boats; we were within thirty feet of the fort when we saw the utter hopelessness of the attack. The line halted a moment ; the order to retreat was given and we retired under that awful fire from the most useless and unwise attack and the most signal failure we were ever engaged in. General Wild reports: ''They massed troops on our ex- treme right, concealed by wooded ravines and made a deter- mined charge, at same time keeping up a steady attack all along our front and left flank. This charge approached our parapet, but failed under our severe cross fires." Vol. 68, p. 270. For naval reports, giving names of vessels engaged and calibre of guns, see "Official Records Union and Confed- erate Navies," Series 1, VoL 10, pp. 8Y-91. Out of the detail of ten or twelve men from Company F, W. S. Prather and Green L. Bingham were killed outright; Worth McDonald and I were wounded. I was shot through the left shoulder within thirty feet of the fort, firing, at the moment, I am sure at the very identical white man who shot me. Worth McDonald was wounded by one of those 100- pounders. It passed at least ten feet from him and paralyzed his right arm by concussion of the air. There was no visi- ble flesh injury to the arm, but it fell useless to his side, quickly turned black its entire length, and he never recovered the use of it during his life time. He got an honorable dis- Sixty-Third Regiment. 607 charge for tlie war and I got a furlougii, 5 June, from Chini'- borazo Hospital in Richmond, for three months, with great joy at the thought of going home. Some Virginians charged imuiediately on the right of oiir regiment. As we retreated we came to- a long, wide lagoon in a ravine, back of where we began the charge. The water was three to four feet deep. In some way, unknown to me, I attracted the attention of one of those Virginians, a giant of a fellow. I knew he was a Virginian by his regimental designation ou his coat sleeve. Of his own motion, he kindly and tenderly offered to carry me over that water. I thankfully declined and said to him: "I think that I can make it all right." He looked down at me and said : "Oh ! boy get on my shoulders.'' And suiting his action to his words, he stooped down in front of me. I put my arms around his neck, he put his right hand under my right knee, his left holding his own gun, and thus, like we used to play when children, he carried me over that water and almost to the top of the steep slope beyond. It has always hurt me that I never knew his name. He stands in memory for Virginia. And this is stated solely to show and commemorate the cour- ageous, absolutely unselfish, generous kindness of the private soldiers of the Army of ISTorthern Virginia in the face of dan- ger to themselves, too, when showing it. There were mil- lions of such acts that will never be knowm. After he let me down, I walked a short distance and, from loss of blood, lay down in some young corn. I heard some one tell Major McISTeill of my condition. The Major came to me and asked me to ride out on his horse, which had just been brought to^ him after he had led our charge, and from which he dismounted. I refused, he insisted. I refused positively, and he sent a man on his horse for mine and stood by me until the horse came, put me on it and sent the man. with me to the surgeon, while he directed the men of the regi- ment how to move out ready for the expected attack from our rear. And it was acts like this, of gentleness and love for all his men, which he was continually doing, that caused the men of the Sixty-third all to love him. 608 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. For some time now, I did not sec any of the events that oc- curred and must utilize, in a running way, my "Sketches of ITorth Carolina Cavaliy Brigade." About 26 May, 1864, the Forty-first North Carolina (Third Cavalrj^), arrived from Eastern North Carolina and in splendid condition, joined the brigade and our brigade conlmaiider was now Colonel John A. Baker, of the Third, he being the senior Colonel in rank. And now, for the first time during the campaign, the Sixty-third was associated with three other regiments in the brigade wdiich was now composed of the Ninth, N^ineteenth, Fort^'^-first and Sixty-third, and remained so to the end of the war, xVbout this time General Grant crossed the Pamunkey near Hanovertown. Colonel Baker moved out promptly to meet the Federal advance and on 27 May a short action ensued. The enemy was strongly resisted until the Maryland line sent as a support gave way and we were forced to withdraw. Here W. H. F. Lee rejoined us and we reported again to him as our division commander. 28 May, the Sixty-third took part in the bloody action at Haw's Shop, but did not get heavily engaged. Vol. 67, pp. 829-830, 854 and 1031. Vol. 69, p. 362. On 30 May, Brigadier-General Young was temporarily as- signed to command of the brigade. On the 31st we attacked the enemy at Planovei' Court House and drove them back in handsome style, but they re- ceived large reinforcements and drove us back. Next morn- ing, 1 June, the Sixty-third and other cavalry attacked them furiously at Ashland and swept the enemy's lines and works for more than a mile, capturing many prisoners and horses. General Young was wounded and the command fell a second time on Colonel Baker. Their Colonel, Chapman, says: "The line was advanced cautiously and with some difficulty, but had proceeded only a short distance when the enemy at- tacked us in large force in front and flank. The line soon gave back, retreating with considerable loss and closely pressed." Vol. 67, p. 900. General K. E. Lee says: "Bosser Sixty-Third Regiment. 609 fell upon their rear, cliarged down the road toward Ashland bearing everytliing before him. His progress Avas arrested at Ashland by tlie entrenohments of the enemy. General William H. F. Lee came up at this time with a part of his division and a joint attack was made. The enemy was quickly driven from the place and pursued toward Hanover Court House until dark." Vol. 67, p. 1031. On 3 June General Hampton fought the second battle of HaAvs' Shop. The ISTineteenth and Sixty-third Regiments by their charges elicited high praise from Generals Hampton and W. H. F. Lee. And General R. E. Lee says : "A part of General W. H. F. Lee's Division drove them froin their entrenoh- ment-s." Vol. 67, p. 1032 and p. 901 gives Federal account. 4 June, 1864, Brigadier-General Rufus Barringer was as- signed to command of the brigade. Vol. 69, p. 873. On 6 June he received his commission and took command. 7 June, brigade was detached to picket low^er crossings of Ghickahominy, near Bottom's and Long Bridges. On 13 June General Grant, in his move to the south of the James, forced in Barringer's pickets at Long Bridge, on the Ghickahominy, and effected a crossing. Vol. 67, pp. 1035 and 1051. The Sixty-third Regiment and rest of the brigade was hastened to support, the pickets ; but the advance was with cavalry and infantry and we were driven back to White Oak Swamp, near Riddle's Shop, where General W. H. F. Lee joined us and the Sixty-third joined in a rattling fight with the entire division and held the enemy in check till our infantry came up and relieved us late in the day and the enemy "were driven back nearly two' miles." Vol. 67, p. 1035.' Vol. 67, pp. 1052 at top, 902, 1035 and Vol. SO, p. 643. Tlie Sixty-third was then moved rapidly to the right and front tO' watch the enemy's movements. With the bri- gade we followed the enemy to Wilcox's Landing, fighting daily at different points, espeeially at Point of Rocks. Mal- vern Hill, Crenshaw's and Herring Creek. Vol. 67, p. 1035. ]8 June we crossed the James, with the entire division and took position two miles south of Petersburg. On 21 June, early in the day, the enemy advanced rapidly 39 610 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. and most unexpectedly, with infantry and artillery to seize the Weldon Kailroad. General Barringcr barcdy had time to form his line of the ISTinth, Nineteenth and Forty-first Reg- iments in front of the Davis Farm. McGregor's battery was put in position at the Davis House on the railroad ; the Sixty- third, dismounted, supported the battery. To the left and front of the farm lay a body of woods easily reached by Mc- Gregor's guns and through Avhich the enemy would likely pass in their route for tlie railroad. The whole front line was ordered to fall l)ack rapidly to the rear and narrowest part of the wood, as soon as the action should begin, and there nuikc a stand, out of the line of McGregor's fire. McGregor was directed not to fire until the enemy reached this wood. The orders were all executed well and had the desired effect. The enemy mistook the movement of our line for a flight. They poured into the woods by thousands. Suddenly Mc- Gregor's gims opened ; for a moment the heavy lines of the en- emy faltered and then fell back under the shock of this splen- did battery, but rallying quickly they again rushed forward wdien all at once a furious, deadly fire from the dismounted men, at short range, cut them down by scores. The Federal officers dashed bravely forward and called upon their men to follow. But volley after volley thinned their ranks and they broke and fled. They left forty dead on the field there and twenty odd prisoners, including a Lieutenant-Colonel and two Captains. At one time the opposing lines were so close together that prisoners were taken on both sides near each other, and thus Colonel Baker and Lieutenant Fred. Foard, Aide to General Bannnger, were captured. Lieutenant Foard made a daring and miraculous escape by jumping from a car window of a fast running train between Washington and Baltimore. They were so sure he was dead that they never slackened speed ; and when he soon returned he re- ported that the enemy's dead and wounded carried off reached several hundred. It was Barlow's infantiy division into which the dismounted Sixty-third fired tliose awful and deadly volleys. General W. H. F. Lee came to our support just at the close of the action with the other brigade and shortly our in- Sixty-Third Regiment. 611 fantry arrived and pursuit was made, but the Federals liad effected their escape. Wilson's raid. — blacks and whites. That name was terribly typical of the mingled, motley mass that Wilson's invading ''army with banners" became in its final, frightful fall and rout. The negroes flocked to him by thousands and mingled their black faces with his whites to his utter discomfiture and ruin — as such God-forbidden com- mingling of races always will, and his troopers' faces were often black and w^hite with fear as the sequel will show. The name of that place now is Blackstone. General Wilson, on page 620, Vol. 80, says that he was "ordered to strike the railroad and destroy it in the direction of Burkville and Roanoke (Staunton) river. High Bridge on the South Side & Roanoke bridge (Staunton river bridge) on the Danville road were especially to be aimed at. Having broken up these roads as far as possible, I was authorized to cross into I^^Torth Carolina and make my way either to the coast or to General Sherman in I^orth Georgia. If I could not cross the Roanoke (Staunton) river I was left to my own judgment what route to pursue in retum- ing to the Anny of the Potomac or the James river." "Fore- seeing," he says, in substance, that these grand purposes might possibly fail, he "wrote tO' General Meade the evening before starting that he anticipated no serious difiiculty in ex- ecuting his orders," but tliat Sheridan must keep Hampton off of him and the Confederate infantry kept so engaged as "to prevent Lee from making detachments." He was assured "that the Army of the Potomac should cover the Weldon road the next day, the South Side road the day after, and that Hampton having followed Sheridan toward Gordonsville, he need not fear any trouble from him." How hard it was to teach them, at General Meade's headquarters, anything about Hampton and that the "rebel cavalry was" not "almost totally annihilated." Where not otherwise stated the references about Blacks and Whites will be only tO' pages of Vol. 80, without naming "Vol. 80." 612 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. At 3 a. m. of the 2 2d the expedition consisting of about 5,500 cavalry and twelve guns, began the inarch by way of Reams Station, p. 621. "The expedition," by commands and columns, consisted of the Third Division, Wilson's own com- mand, and General "Kautz's Division" of cavalry, W. H. F. Lee made instant pursuit, taking with him Dearing's Brigade and the ISTinth, ISTineteenth and Sixty-third Regiments of the North Carolina Brigade, and McGregor's Battery. They tore up and destroyed the railroad awfully, there is no doubt about that. We struck their rear giiard at Reams Station, drove them off and pressed them rapidly until long after night. 645, 650. On page, 645, their Colonel Chapman says : "From this point, W. H. F. Lee's Division of cavalry followed the rear of the column closely, keeping up a con- tinual skirmish until a couple of hours after night-fall." The next day, 23 June, we had gotten ahead of them and also' between their tw^O' columns. General Lee was now on the north side of the railroad at a point where the railroad and public road cross each other, almost at right angles and in a cut about four feet deep and eight hundred feet long. On page 645, Federal Colonel Chapman says : "On the morning of the 23d I moved my command about an hour be- fore daylight and proceeding by the Cox road, we reached Blacks and Whites, and upon reaching a point near Nottoway Court House where the road crosses the railroad the head of the column came upon the enemy. Soon ascertaining that it was the same force that had followed the rear the day previous I made dispositions to meet the enemy, who advanced to the attack, checked his advance, and subsequently drove him back a considerable distance. The enemy bringing up strong rein- forcements my line retired to its original position along the railroad, from which repeated att/Cmpts of the enemy failed to dislodge them. This engagement lasted from 1 p. m. until dark and at times was quite severe. My command remained in line of battle until near daylight, when, in accordance with instructions, I quietly withdrew." To tlie same effect is General Wilson's report on page 621, and, on page 626, General Wilson says : "The enemy's cav- alry had succeeded in interposing themselves between the two Sixty-Third Regiment. 613 divisions of mj command and that in the fight Chapman got 'possession' of our batteiy." And further: "This was one of the most determined cavalry engagements in which this divis- ion has participated," where he says : "I determined not to renew the engagement until I could hear from General Kautz." N^ow for our view" of the fight. General Bearing was in front, and with the Nineteenth iSTorth Carolina Regiment and McGregor's Battery made the first attack on Chapman. This batteiy was in position on the left of the public road, as Gen- eral Lee approached the railroad. The fighting was furious. The I^inth and Sixty-third were back some distance in the road by which Lee moved, the former in front of our short train of wagons and the latter just behind the wagons. Dear- ing's Brigade began to break and finally fled. General Lee seeing the day going against him, rushed one of his couriers to the J^inth and Sixty-third with an order "to come to the front fast." The Ninth got its order and, as always, moved off as ordered ; the same courier dashed by our short wagon train and gave the same order to the Sixty-third, marching by twos. The order for the Sixty-third rang out — "Open ranks ; forward, gallop, march." And past those wagons the Sixty-third went in a imshing race right after the Ninth. We dashed up to the fight and as the Ninth gloriously rushed in on the extreme left of our line, the Sixty-third was dis- mounted, under the fastest orders ever given, and rushed in on the right of the Ninth. Dearing's men were fleeing in dismay before Chapman's victorious lines. McGregoi*'s guns were just about to be captured. Captain S. A. Grier, commanding the fifth squadron, on the left of the Sixty- third's line and closest to the Ninth, says '^'the guns were abandoned." Near the extreme right of what had been our first line there was somebody firing into the foe and falling slowly back, and who had not fled with Dearing. As the Ninth and Sixty-third, wildly yelling, and firing furiously, went by our guns and beat back Chapman, it was seen that the somebody on the Sixty-third's right was Major W. P. Rob- erts, commanding the Nineteenth Regiment. Roberts' cour- age never failed. He saw everything in battle just as light- 614 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. ning reads a landscape, absolutely imperturbed. He took in the situation at a glance. His orders rang out clear and strong. His regiment faced and wheeled to the left, the per- sonification of his orders. And in a moment the fire of the Nineteenth and the fire of the extreme right of the Sixty- third was pouring into Chapman's left flank and rear. The tide of battle was turned and McGregor's gims and the day were saved. Chapman flew in disorder into the railroad cut and formed behind its banks and the battle raged on till darkness ended it. And during the night he "quietly with- drew," leaving his dead and wounded in our hands so en- tirely that he marks their number with a on page 645. Next morning Wilson, veered off to the right, entirely out of his intended course, driven from the South Side Railroad and, by Hungarytown, tried to reach Staunton river bridge. He did not touch the South Side any more. General R. E. Lee 25 June, says: "He withdrew from General Lee's front at daylight on the 24th, leaving liis dead and wounded on the field, taking the road tO' Hungarytown. General Lee is still following them." 751. And at Blacks and Whites we broke the backbone of Wil- son's raid. But he had high orders and he was doing a sol- dier's best to obey them. I am quite certain that, on the niglit of 23 June, 1864, he totally abandoned all thought of crossing into North Carolina and joining and strengthening General Sherman in North Georgia. On the 24th and 25th we were ''still following them." The artillery was sent back. The North Carolina Cavalry Brigade alone pressed the pursuit. General W. H. F. Lee ac- companying. They did do some tearing up of the Danville Railroad and burned also two private mills. 734. AVe were "following them" when they reached Staunton river bridge "at 6 p. m. on the 25th." 626. The south side of the river was defended by the "Home Guard" with some artillery, who made a gallant defence of the bridge. General Wilson tenns them "the militia of eight counties." 627. General Kautz had rejoined him. Now let General Wilson tell the tale: "Our forces were unable to get closer than seventy or eighty yards to the bridge. After Sixty-Third Regiment. 615 a determined effort, lasting till after dark, the attack was terminated and the troops directed to hold an advanced posi- tion, covering the road crossing at Roanoke Station. Simul- taneously with Kautz's attack of the bridge, Lee's cavalry at- tacked our rear, under Chapman, but as usual, was held in check without any serious difficulty or loss. Finding that the bridge could not be carried without severe loss, if at all, the enemy being again close upon our rear, the Staunton too deep for fording and unprovided with bridges or steam ferries I determined to push no farther south, but to endeavor to reach the army by returning toward Petersburg. Our position, from the peculiar topography of the site, was rather danger- ous, and in order to extricate the command it became neces- sary to move it by night. The march was therefore begun about midnight." 627. The presence of Lee's cavalry "close upon his rear" possibly, to some slight extent, caused him to see "the peculiar topography of the site ;" certain it is that he did not here exercise his own unaffected "judgment as to what route to pursue in returning to the Army of the Potomac or the James river." And oh ! how much worse that "judgment" was all shattered later on by Hampton and our infantr)' at Stony Creek, Sappony Church and Reams Sta- tion, after the horrible heat, dust, smoke and fights of this raid and pursuit. Sketches 631, 632 and 633. General R. E. Lee, 26 June, says: "This afternoon Gen- eral W. H. F. Lee reports that he attacked the enemy near Staunton river bridge yesterday afternoon and drove him until dark. He also states that the enemy was signally re- pulsed at the bridge the same evening and retreated this morn- ing, leaving about thirty of his dead on the field." 751. The ISTorth Carolina Cavalry Brigade was much dimin- ished in its effective force by the awful heat, dust and marches of the last few days. Turning back the disabled men and horses Lee renew^ed the chase with Dearing's Bri- gade and the remnant of our brigade. Most of this force moved on Wilson's flank to drive him into the snare set for him by Hampton at Stony Creek and Sappony Church. But Wilson was hurt and hastened and horrified most by a select detail of men and horses solely from our brigade, who fol- 616 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. lowed in his immediate track and rear and harrassed him con- tinually. Tliej could not strike hard, but it was like the blows of enraged birds on the hawk. Thej were demoralizing and driving. And driving the enemy right into the ruin prepared for them, when they expected peace and rest. And now let General Wilson talk again. He says, on page 627, that on the afternoon of 28 June, near Stony Creek Depot, 'Sve learned that the advance of Hampton's Cavalry had just arrived from Eichmond. Although it was then night, a fierce fight ensued lasting to nearly 10 o'clock. It was at once apparent that the prospect of penetrating their line at this place was by no means flattering and that a new route must be chosen." He prepared "for an attempt to break through the enemy's line between Reams and the Six Mile House. For the first time I then learned that, contrary to my expectations, no part of the Weldon Railroad was in pos- session of the infantry investing Petersburg, and that instead of my command being in the immediate vicinity of our lines the enemy held the road and interposed a strong force to pre- vent our junction." * * * jJe tried another '"route," when "a large force of infantry in line of battle was re- ported advancing with a heavy line of skirmishers deployed across the fields through which I proposed passing. I found not less than a brigade of infantry with gims in position. My scouts soon reported the movement of troops toward our ex- treme left flank. Seeing no possible chance of getting through to our lines by this route and fearing the loss of my entire command, I ordered the immediate destruction of the wagons and caissons and that the wliole force should move by the stage road. At Stony Creek the bridge being bad and the creek unfordable, at one time the situation was critical in the extreme. The negi'oes who had joined our columns in large numbers on all parts of the route added greatly to tlie embaiTassment. * " * During the night the flankers of Chapman's Brigade met the enemy's scouting parties and brought in prisoners who said that Chambliss' Brigade had left Stony Creek that morning to intercept us. This caused my column to expedite its movements. Its ad- vance reached the Blackwater to find the bridge gone and the Sixty-Third Regiment. 617 stream utterly iinfordable. I immediately began the repair of the bridge and soon had it fit for crossing by file, but the materials, having been partly burned, gave way. It was promptly repaired, but after crossing a few more men again failed. 'New string pieces were cut from the woods and by 3 a. m. it was again covered with rails and ready for use. The whole command was over by 6:15 a. m., and the bridge destroyed." ISTow was not that an awful time in the darkness of the night to- have his bridge breaking under him twice and precipitating into the Blackwater his now terrified, blanched- faced troopers, who had started out "to cross into North Car- olina and make their way either to the coast or to^ General Sherman in North Georgia ?" Why it was worse than "Buckland Races." But that is the picture that General Wilson himself draws, by my scattering quotations of his own words on pages 627, 628, 629 and 630. Wilson left Kautz to his own fate and of that fate, in part, Kautz says : "As we pursued no road, but marched by compass, passing most of the way through timber and heavy undergrowth, the artillery could not be brought through. It was hauled off the field and finally abandoned in a swamp, where the carriages mired, and could not be extricated. 732. He lost all of his guns. "iSTot a wheel was saved ; moun- tain howitzers and all fell into the hands of the enemy." 735. "As we pursued no road, but marched by compass, passing most of the way through timber and heavy undergTowth, the artillery could not be brought through. It was hauled off the field and finally abandoned in a swamp, where the car- riages mired, and could not be extricated. 732. JSTow was not this, marching hy a compass, through dense timber and heavy undergrowth and swamps, on ^'^no road at all" a peculiar exercise of one's "own judgment as to what route to pursue in returning to the Army of the Potomac ?" It was almost as much so as "the peculiar topography of the sight" at Staunton river bridge. And from the remnant of our brigade at Staunton river, who followed in that final pursuit in Wilson's immediate track and rear, the Sixty-third North Carolina furnished m€re men than all the other regiments put together. So says 618 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Lieutenant Wiley, of Company F, Captain S. A. Grier, of Company D, and otliers now living. And Lieutenant Wiley says, that by his own personal knowledge of all that transpired when the selection of men and horses for that pursuit was made, Company F, of the Sixty-third, furnished more men and horses than any other company in the brigade ; and that this fact was generally spoken of then. And Lieutenant Wiley write-s: '^ led a detachment of Company F in the immediate rear of Wilson from Staunton river until they were driven into our infantry. This de- tachment, at one time charged Wilson's rear and captured sev- eral men and horses. John Jamison, still living, was in that detachment." George E. Earnhardt, of Company H, writes : "Captain ]\IcKellar and some other officer, I do not remember, were ap- pointed, at Staunton river, to select men and horses for the immediate pursuit on Wilson's rear. It was more a selection of horses than men. Horses able to make rapid and contin- uous pursuit. Company H, and I suppose all other compa- nies of the regiment, passed single file before these officers and they selected the horses." Sergeant Ratcliff, of Company D, Sixty-third, captured in that rear pursuit of Wilson a That night the Sixty-third camped on the Darbytown road. Federal Colonel on a magnificent gray horse, which he swapped to General Barringer and the General rode it till he was captured. My recollection is that the Colonel's name was Crook, as I heard afterwards. At Blacks and Whites, T. 0. Serves was mortally wounded and "Joe" Blackwelder badly shot, both of Company F, with others I do not know. BACK AND FORTH OVER THE JAMES. On 28 July the Sixty-third marched north of the James to help meet a move of Federal cavalry against Richmond, joined in the affairs at Fuzzle's Mills and Riddle's Shop and then returned to our old position eight miles south of Peters- burg. On 14 August we were again summoned north of the James. Marching day and night the Sixty-third reached the Charles City road early on the 15th and met the Federal cavalry, ad- Sixty-Third Regiment. 619 vanced to White's Farm within six miles of Richmond and took part in the action there. We found a strong party near Fisher's Farm. General BaiTinger was ordered by Major- General Lee tO' drive them off. He put in the Sixty-third Regiment which ran the enemy clear across White Oak Swamp back to their infantry supports near Wilcox's house. Early next morning a Virginia regiment guarding the swamp was routed and General Chambliss killed trying to rally them and the enemy rushed forward victorious to White's Tavern. General Lee came up with our brigade and by his great per- sonal courage rallied the Virginians and the Sixty-third with the bi-idage attacked the enemy who, after an obstinate and bloody struggle, now broke in rout and confusion and were driven back thus for several miles, many being killed and wounded and about 200 prisoners captured. At last, se- curing a strong, safe position for their artillery, they made a desperate stand. But just in the nick of time Gregg's Texas infantry brigade and Gary's South Carolina Cavalry Brigade came up fast from the direction of Fuzzle's Mill and struck the Federal left. Their rout was now com- plete, the enemy was driven violently into and across White Oak Swamp, a number of men and horses perished in the mire and water, and a great many prisoners and animals were captured. Here Charlie Brem, a brave and gallant boy soldier of Company F, Sixty-third Regiment, actually lost his boots in the mire by the eagerness of his individual pursuit of the fleeing foe. But they say that he borrowed a pair from a stranger right there. Vol. 87, pp. 217-220, 241- 244 and 248. These were two bloody days for the brigade which lost about 125 in killed and wounded. POPLAR SPRI]SrG CHURCH. FIRST REAMS STATION. We found, on the 17th, that the main body of Federal cav- alry had returned south of the James and we hastened there. The enemy had taken the Weldon railroad and there was an attempt by infantry and cavalry to retake it, 21 August. Our brigade was on the extreme right and moved along the path leading from Poplar Spring Church to the railroad. 620 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. The Forty-first and Sixty-tliird regiments were put in to charge. They carried the works in their front in the most gallant and heroic manner — sweeping everything before them. Major McNeill went within a few yards of the rail- road, when he found that the attack had failed on the part of the infantry on tlie left and that his position was untenable. Both regiments then fell back in order under a heavy fire. The enemy took the offensive ; but the Ninth and Nineteenth formed on each flank of the retiring regiments and the enemy were checked. At dark the whole force withdrew. The loss of the brigade was sixty-eight in killed, wounded and missing, of which fully one-half were from the Sixty-tliird Regiment. Vol. 88, pp. 353-360, etc. REAMS STATION. On 25 August there was a combined attack by our infantry and cavalry. Hampton moved with all the cavalry, except the North Carolina Brigade, against the advance of the en- emy at Malone's Bridge. Barringer, with his own brigade, advanced up the Halifax road toward Malone's Crossing. The attack by Hampton at Malone's Bridge forced the Fed- eral cavalry in flight across the railroad. Barringer was or- dered to cut them off, but he failed to strike them. His line of march, after this cavalry, brought him square against the enemy's rear near Reams Station. A. P. Hill was then ad- vancing on our right flank and Hampton attacking in front. General Barringer seeing his advantage here, placed the Forty-first Regiment to protect the rear and attacked quickly at Tucker's Farm with the Ninth dismoimted, closely sup- ported by the Nineteenth and Sixty-third. The enemy were driven in consternation, some prisoners captured and their forces thrown into confusion. The position, of course, was critical and he withdrew and rejoined Hampton at Malone's Crossing, with all his brigade, except Company H, of the Sixty-third, which he left alone on picket under Hampton's order "to picket the road strongly," a most complimentary, but fully deserved assignment to duty, under- the order, and the danger of the duty. Now, it is best to let General Hamp- ton tell the rest : "At 5 p. m. the artillery of General A. P. te;*- 1— ' i/, Confederate ^\ Mt^'P^. ' ' ' ,.'y^'-f-""i /Confederate, , Confederate, * Scale: 1 Inch = 600 K/(«ds. PLAN OF BATTLEFIELD REAMS' STATION. AllfTUSt 25th, 1SG4. ""'*'^ °>.rZ^^ Sixty-Third Regiment. 621 Hill opened fire and I at once ordered an advance of my whole line, which was then formed across the railroad at Ma- lone's Crossing. This order was promptly obeyed, and the enemy gave way. They were driven to their v/orks near Reams Station, giving up several positions which they had fortified. * * * jji ^j^^ meantime, seeing that General Hill was forcing tlie enemy back from the west side of the railroad into their works around the Station, I withdrew all my force from that side of the road and formed a line, with CJhambliss' Brigade on the left, tlie ISTorth Carolina Brigade in the centre, and Yonng's Brigade on the right. * * * The line being formed, the commanding officers were directed to keep the left flank on the railroad, advancing slowly, while the right swung round to strike the rear of the enemy, who were in position behind the railroad bank, and in a work which ran east perpendicularly to the railroad for some dis- tance ; then turning north kept parallel with the railroad, en- veloping Oak Grove Church. The gi'ound over which my troops advanced was very difficult, and it had been rendered more sO' by the enemy, who had cut down the timber. Tn spite of this, and under a heavy fire of artillery and musketry the line advanced steadily, driving the enemy intO' his works. Here he made a stubborn stand, and for a few moments checked our advance, but the spirit of the men was so fine that they charged the breastworks with the utmost gallantry, carried them and captured the force holding them. This ended the fighting of the day, my men having been engaged for twelve hours. After the fight. General Hill directed me to put my command in the trenches to cover the withdrawal of the infantry. This was done * * until 6 :30 the next morning when, * * J left General Butler to remove our wounded and to collect arms." Vol. 78, p. 942 ; pp. 223-229 and 245. Our charge was witnessed by our infantry and they greeted the cavalry with cheer after cheer as we gave this crowning triumph to that ever memorable day. General R. E. Lee wrote to Governor Vance the letter so appropriately quoted by Colonel Cheek on page 471 of Vol. 1, of these histories. The words "the 23d ultimo," in Colo- 622 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. nel Cheek's copy, is correctly "the 25th ultimo" in "Official Records" Vol. 88, p. 1206. And the Sixty-third respect- fully claims her "part in the operations of the cavalry," men- tioned in that letter by General Lee. HAMPTON''s "beef RAID." This was the greatest and most successful achievement of the cavalry of the Aniiy of Northern Virginia during the en- tire war and in it the Sixty-third, as always, bore a gallant and prominent part. To the wearied reader, may be a mere short outline would be sufficient with a reference to Hamp- ton's report but most of our people can never see "Hampton's Report" and I could not do justice to the Sixty-third by such a mere outline alone. And again it is best just to let Hamp- ton tell it by extracts, made here and there, from his report on page 944, Vol. 87. His report is dated 27 September, 1864, and, in part, is as follows: "On the morning of the 14th instant I moved with the division of W. H. F. Lee and brigades of Rosser and Bearing and Colonel Miller, of South Carolina, with 100 men, do^vn the west side of Rowanty Creek to Wilkinson's Bridge and bivouacked that night. The object was tO' capture a large herd of cattle near Coggins' Point, on the James river. It was necessary to pass to the rear of the enemy and force his lines at some point. I selected Sycamore Church, in Prince George County, as the point to attack, as being the most cen- tral, the nearest to the cattle, and the one where the largest force of the enemy was camped. By dispersing them here I made it impossible for them to concentrate any force in time to interfere with the main object of tlie expedition. Left Wilkinson's Bridge at an early hour on the 15th and by a rapid march reached the Blackwater at Cooke's Bridge. The bridge had been destroyed, as I was aware, and I chose that route on that account, as the enemy would not look for an approach from that quarter. The command halted here to rest and feed, while the engineer party constructed a new bridge. The command moved at 12 midnight. General Lee was directed to move by the Law^yer's road to the Stage road, at which point he would encounter the first pickets of the cai- Sixty-Third Regiment. 623 emy. Theses he was tO' drive in, and to- move, then, to occupy the roads leading from the direction of the enemy tO' Syca- more Church. With Rosser's Brigade I moved on by-roads direct toward Sycamore Church. Eosser was charged with the duty of carrying the position of the enemy here and was directed after accomplishing this tO' push forward at once to secure the cattle. At 5 a. m., on the 16th, Rosser made the attack. The enemy had a strong position, and the approaches to it being barricaded he had time to rally in the roads around his camp, when for some timei he fought as stubbornly as I have ever seen him do. But he was completely routed, leaving his dead and wounded on the field and his camp in our hands. As soon as the attack was made at the church, General Lee on the left and General Dearing on the right at- tacked the enemy most successfully, and established them- selves rapidly and firmly at the points they were ordered to secure. Having captured the whole herd of cattle, I with- drew everything before 8 a. m. The different columns were united before reaching the Blackwater, and all dispositions made to protect our captured property. General Lee brought up the rear. After seeing everything across the Blackwater I moved toward the plank road, but before reaching it was notified by General Rosser of the approach of a heavy force of the enemy do^\'n that road. I ordered him to hold the road at Ebenezer Church and I at once sent the cattle by Hawkins- ville, crossing the plank road two miles in rear of my line of battle and placed them quickly across^ the ISTottoway river at rreeman's Ford. The enemy attacked Rosser, I sent Mil- ler and Dearing to him. I determined to pass tO' the rear of the enemy with General Lee's division, in order to- attack him there. But it became too dark to make the movement advan- tageously, and I directed General Lee to reinforce Rosser and to protect our right. These orders were promptly carried out in the midst of an attack from the enemy, who were repulsed along the whole line. Several assaults were made on me, but always with a like result. I moved the command to their former bivouac, on the Rowanty, halting for the night. "The next day the command returned tO' their old quar- ters, after an absence of tliree days, during which they had 624 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. marched upwards of one hundred miles, defeating the enemy in two tights, and bringing from his lines in safety a large amount of captured property, together with 304 prisoners. "Of the 2,486 cattle captured, 2,468 have been brought in and I hope to get the few remaining ones. My loss was ten killed, forty-soveoi wounded and four missing. ''I beg to express my entire satisfaction at the conduct of officers and men. Major-General Lee and Brigadier-General Dearing carried out my orders and wishes most skilfully, pro- tecting the flanks and covering the main attack, thus contrib- uting greatly to the successful issue of the expedition. * * "I cannot close my report without notice of the conduct of the scouts who' were with me. Sergeant Shadburne, who gave me the information about the cattle, acted as guide to General Rosser, accompanied the leading regiment in its charge, kept his party always in the front, and acted with conspicuous gal- lantly." Coggins' Point is just seven miles below City Point, the base of operations of General Grant's anny. At City Point Grant got all his supplies. And City Point was General Grant's headquarters. Cogginsi' Point is just twelve and a half miles a little south of northeast from Petersburg. It was, therefore, right in the rear centre of the enemy's lines. This magnifies the achievement. There was notliing ra^h in it. It was effected by gi'eat, cool courage and daring after long, careful consum- mate consideration. And every young North Carolinian in stiidying such acts and their heroes should learn a great les- son for life from this way Hampton had of doing everything. ]S[othing in his line of duty w-as too small to study and mas- ter. "Genius is the capacity for taking infinite pains," said one of the world's greatest geniuses, the poet, Goethe. Every gi'eat result, whatever it may be, is simply careful, intense {houglit in concrete, visible form. This act burst upon the M'orld like a meteor. But it had all been thought out and its wonderful success prepared for. And the lioy or girl who expects success in any thing without first learning to think Avell, will be a failure sure. Before 5 September, 1864, the phms were all accurately. Sixty-Third Regiment. 625 exactly laid by Hampton's great scout "Shadbume." The whole Army of ISTorthem Virginia and most all in the Army of the Po'tomac knew that name Shadbume. It meant terror to the enemy as much as Mosby's did. On page 1235, Vol. 88, dated 5 September, 1864, begins a long report from Shadburne to Hampton giving in almost in- finitesimal detail, an accurate picture in works of everything an eagle would see poised over Coggins' Point. Hampton knew, by that report, everything he wanted to know. He saw the situation just like the eagle would and he knew exactly how to swoop down on his prey. Hampton had been in conference, as he was in duty re- quired, with General R. E. Lee about it. On page 1242, Vol. 88, under date of 9 September, 1864, General R. E. Lee wrote Hampton : "I am not sufficiently acquainted with the coun- try to say how you can return if embarrassed with cattle. * * * Let your movement depend upon the report of your scouts. Should time permit, a personal conference would be more satisfactory." And I feel sure, from my would be more satisfactory." The affair was guarded with perfect secrecy, until Hampton struck. I affiirm as a fact, corroborated to-day by the evidence of D. B. Coltrane and Denson A. Caldwell, that no one but Hampton, R. E. Lee and Hampton's scouts, unless it was Hampton's own generals, hneic anything about Hampton's purpose till Ros- ser made the attack at 5 a. m. on the 16th. Great men don't talk of their great purposes till as acts they speak for themselves. All this shows the importance and mag- nitude of the grand result. In it the Sixty-third N"orth Carolina Regiment acted a splendid part in fighting and as solitary picket at one time, at Sycamore Church on "the roads leading f roan the direction of the enemy." This was one of the Sixty-third's high trusts alone, the whole affair de- pending on its faithful performance and then, afterwards, as often before, the Sixty-third with "General Lee brought up the rear." And right here comes in an illustration of the beautiful necessity of these histories to unfold the glories hid- den in general words. Please re-read the last sentence quoted 40 626 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. from Hampton's report — "Sergeant Shadbimie acted as guide to General liosser ; accompanied the leading regiment in its diarye. Kept tiis jxirty always in tlie front, and acted with conspicuous yalhinlry." Well now pray what has that got to do with the Sixty-third Xortli Carolina Kegiment ? somebody will ask. Well, just lift that si)lendid picture of Shadburne, standing modestly behind it; and there right beside Shad- burne, as he has been for years till he is as great as Shad- burne, stands, as one of ''his party," a young boy, Julian Shakespeare Ilari-is, of Cabarrus County, and of Company F, Sixty-third Kortli Carolina Regiment. For weeks, every night and often in the day in Federal uniform with his life in his hand, Shakespeare Harris w^alked with Shadbume in the enemy's camps as one of ''his party" and they together made that word-map by which Hampton captured 2,486 splendid beef cattle, which fed tlie Army of Northern Virginia for months with fresh beef which it hardly knew the taste of and added another glory to the fame of the Sixty-third North Carolina Regiment. As a private of Company F, and as "one of Hampton's scouts, in every duty, there was not anyiuhere a bett-er soldier nor one who did more daring, desperate deeds than "Shake" Harris. Nothing ever so startled and shocked the Army of the Poto- mac as the capture of their beeves. As can be readily seen by theii" telegrams and reports of officers to each other from General Grant down to the liumblest officer connected with the affair. T A\isli F could take space to copy some of them, wliich are full of fright and consternation and ignorance. These telegTams and reports begin early on 16 September and run for days. All through them a])pear "BaiTinger's Bri- gade" and the Sixty-third North Carolina Regiment is men- tioned. They run from p. 852 to p. 935 of Vol. 88. On which latter page, 20 Septcmlx'r, four days after he heard of our "rich haul," as he calls it, on page 853, General Grant, with evident, uncooled irritation, writes to General Meade: "The ease witli which our men of late fall into the hands of the enemy would indicate that they are rather willing pris- oners." Sixty-Third Regimekt. 627 About this affair General R. E. Lee wrote General Hamp- con as follows: "You will please convey to the officers and men of your command my thanks for the courage and energy with which they executed your orders, by which they have added another to the list of important services rendered by the cavalry during the present campaign." Vol. 87, p. 952. m'dowell's farm. On the morning of 29 September the enemy advanced on the Vaughn road and drove back our pickets and forces there to Hatcher's Run. Here he was driven back to McDowell's farm, where the fight becoming ''a serious one," General Lee, under Hampton's orders, moved to the fight Barringer's Bri- gade, then en route, to the north side of the James. The Nineteenth and Sixty-third alone were put into the action, with our small forces then engaged, and drove back the Fed- eral Cavalry for more than a mile tO' Wyatt's, capturing a Major and twenty other prisoners. General Hampton says : ''General Lee brough up Barrin- ger's Brigade and at once ordered an attack. This was made promptly and most successfully. The troops behaved as well as possible and they were well led by their officers. The picket line was re-established." Vol. 87, p. 947. The fol- lowing day the enemy captured Fort McRae, which was re- taken by General Heth and two Virginia Regiments of Lee's Division and to the results here the enemy "attributed the failure of their whole movement on this side of the James river." Vol. 87, p. 948. The Sixty-third and our brigade took an unimportant part. ISTpt being in action at all, but moved here and there as needed and kept in the trenches day and night. BOYDTON PLANK EOAD, On 27 October, 1864, on the Boyd ton Plank Road, near Wilson's house, occurred one of the most important actions and greatest victories that the Sixty-third North Carolina Regiment was ever engaged in. Burgess Mill is seven miles from Petersburg, almost exactly southwest on Hatcher's Run. This stream flows almost ex- 628 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. actly southeast from above Burgess' Mill to and beyoi.d Monk's Neck Bridge, past Armstrong's Mill, which is about half way between Burgess' Mill and Monk's Neck Bridge, which is five miles from Burgess' Mill and eight and a half miles from Petersburg. White Oak Road runs exactly west from Boyd ton Plank Boad, which it strikes about half a mile south from Burgess' jMill. The South Side Railroad runs al- most parallel to White Oak Road and three miles north of it And Wilson's House was about two miles from Burgess' Mill right on the Plank Road, and east side of it. These are the points of interest connected with this great battle, which was fought chiefly on the Plank Road or near it, in territory the form of an elliptical loop, with one end of "our left resting on Burgess' mill-pond," thence running around theWilson House and the other end near Armstrong's Mill and above it. From this, any one, with an ordinary map locating Petersburg, can make a sketch of the scene. Fine sketches are on pp. 233 and 435 of Vol. ST. And the reader will also find a map with this history of the Sixty-third. All references under this heading are in Vol. 87, so that page alone will be given. The enemy crossed Hatcher's Run early in the morning of 27 October, at Annstrong's Mill and Monk's Neck Bridge, p. 949. Hampton. His forces consisted of two and a half army corps of infantry, including half of Hancock's great veteran coq3s, which held the heights at Gettysburg, pp. 230 and 434; Gregg's Division of cavalry, pp. 231 and 608, and twenty en- tire batteries, pp. 154-159. This force signifies great im- portance. Generals Grant and Meade were there in person on the Boydton Plank Road, near the Wilson House with General Hancock about 2 p. m., pp. 231 and 232. This sig- nified very great importance. And the movement's ultimate object across White Oak Road to destroy the South Side Rail- road and make a tremendous advance on our right flank, was the supreme importance. Pages 230-231. '^Phe principal forces engaged on the enemy's side were Han- cock's infantry and Gregg's division of cavalry and Craw- ford's Division of the Fifth Corps, pp. 231, 497 and 608, and also much artillery, p. 408 ? Hampton had Butler's and Lee's Divisions and Young's 1 1- 1'%§'1!^®''^-'' A-Position of 63^^ P^r-i i 3 lly across , PUBLIC LIBRARY. A8T0R. LENOKJM* Sixty-Third Regiment. 629 Brigade of cavali*y, pages 953 and 954. Butler's left rested "on Burgess' mill-pond," 949, along the upper and northern line of the ellipse and joined on Lee's left at tlie curve of the loop, which crossed the Boydton Plank Road, next came Young, along the lower line of the loop to a point about one- fourth of its length from the Rttu, where this imaginaiy line reached the Quaker Road and thus Hampton's "line then en- veloped tlie enemy from a point on the Quaker Road to Bur- gess' Mill-pond," as he says on page 953. The space, along the line of the elliptical loop from the Quaker Road to- Arm- strong's Mill was covered by some of General Heth's infantry, and our lower lines of envelopment being above the crossing at Armstrong's Mill and the Run between there and Burgess' Mill not being fordable and there being no bridge between these mills, Hampton and Heth had them completely surrounded. They had them iji exactly the same situation that Stuart was in at Auburn, only they were entirely sur- rounded. And Heth had also' a force of infantry on their right flank, across the Run, at Burgess' Mill. They were badly surrounded. Developments during the night, as well as the statement of prisoners, showed that the enemy had his line on three sides of our position." 507. Lee had only the Ninth and Sixty-third Regiments of our brigade on the line with Beale's Brigade on the right of the ISTinth. The sixty- third was on the Plank Road at the curve, most of it on the left or west of the road a small part on the east side where it joined its right to the left of the Kinth. I was sent with these regiments to place them and know exactly where they were. McGregor's Battery was in the Plank Road between the two parts of the Sixty-third. Fighting had been going on before these dispositions were made, but the fury of it arose about the time they were consummated. Before the "battle was on" fully Lee had attacked Gregg's rear as Gregg was marching up the Quaker Road to the Plank Road and Hampton had attacked him furiously in front with Butler. While engaged thus, Hampton, on pp. 949 and 953 says : "I saw his cavalry cross the Plank Road into the White Oak Road, and, fearing an advance on the South Side Railroad, I rapidly transferred Butler to the White Oak 630 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Road and at once forming line across it, repulsed the enemy. The skirmish line of the enemy was advancing up this road when we reached it. When Butler was withdrawn I ordered Lee to move promptly to the Plank Road to attack them." Gregg's cavalry, with our old friends of the First Maine, were advancing down that road now on their great move. The Ninth and Sixty-third North Carolina Regiments stopped them right there at Wilson's House. And quickly then the battle was on in all its fury. Again, on pages 949 and 953, Hampton says: ''Being soon after this informed that our infantry would attack the enemy, I prepared to join in this attack and as soon as musketry told that onr troops were en- gaged Butler was ordered to charge with his whole line. But- ler's men charged gallanth^ across an open field and drove the enemy rapidly towards the Plank Road. In this charge, while leading the men and cheering them by his words and example, Lieutenant Thomas Preston Llampton, Aide-de- Camp, fell mortally wounded and Lieutenant Wade Llamp- ton, who was acting on my staff, received a severe wound. Lee attacked with gTeat spirit, driving the enemy rapidly and handsomely to Bevill's House." All along the line everywhere the fighting was teriific and furious. The enemy fought with the courage of the best vet- erans in the Northern Army and that was as fine courage as the world ever saw, and they fought with that courage urged on tO' fury by the recognized desperation of their situation. The Sixty-third North Carolina and others fought as tha^ Northern courage had assisted in teaching their inborn valor how to fight. And that meant the hest fighting the world ever saw. It meant ruin, to the "early morning's" defiant foe. All along their lines they were trying to reinforce each other when driven in at one point and another. On page 609, General Gregg says : "The attack of the enemy on the right of the Second Corps toward Hatcher's Run, caused me to dis- mount all the available regiments of the Second and Third Brigades and push them rapidly to that point of attack."' But he needed them back mighty quick. On same page, re- ferring to A\"hat was going on where the Sixty-third was, he says : "Repairing to this point I found the onomy's cavalry Sixty-Third Regiment. 631 dismounted, attacking strongly aided by the fire of four rifled guns. I sent for all of my available regiments. The First Maine came at a run, and at once became heavily engaged. The attack of the enemy was veiy determined and made in large force but the troops engaged in resisting it, although much in- ferior in numbers (of course), could not be beaten back, save inch by inch. In response to my request for such other of my regiments as could be spared, Major-General Hancock sent them to me rapidly. These regiments coming up suc- cessively as fast as their legs could carry them, entered the fight and at dark the enemy retired." And this is -the first time we ever heard that "we retired." McGregor's gims rushed right along up the Plank Road, in line with the Six- ty-third Regiment in that work, firing as they, the guns, charged with us. It was actually a charge by artillery. But in face of "the enemy retired," on same page. General Gregg says: "At 10:30 p. m., the division began moving (back) by the road u]?on wliich it had advanced in the morning." x\nd thus he "retired" at midnight. On page 235, General Hancock says : "I desired to send infantry to Gregg's as- sistance, seeing that he was being pressed very vigorously, but I feared a renewal of the attack in my front. * * * About 5 o'clock p. m. I sent to communicate to General War- ren or Crawford what had occurred and that unless the Fifth Corps moved up and connected with me, I could not answer for the result. * * * ]\j;y command had been moving and fighting till after dark, and as a conse- quence was in considerable disorder." ^N'evertheless when he got to writing his report he thought he had gained a "victory." For, on page 236, he says: "Reluctant as I was to leave the field, and by doing so lose some of the fruits of my victory, I felt compelled to order a withdrawal rather than risk disas- ter by awaiting an attack in the morning, only partly pre- pared." And that is the first time that the Sixty-third iSTorth Carolina Regiment ever heard that Hancock and Gregg and Crawford gained a "victoi'y" on the Boydton Plank Road 27 October, 1864. On page 457, Major Bingham, of Gen- eral Hancock's staff, said : "The attack had not succeeded" and General Mott said : "The rebels had turned and doubled 632 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. up his right flank." On page 647, Lieutenant Garvin, in re- porting cause of a loss of a caisson, says: "Toward evening I could neither find division nor brigade headquarters. The dismounted cavalry and the infantry, men and officers, were running through my section. I put on a guard and turned them aside. The led horses of the Second Brigade were in the same field with me, and the shelling of the enemy was so severe as to force the led horses of the cavalry into another field. I followed the led horses. * * * Finding noth- ing but turmoil and frightened infantry, and no brigade head- quartersf I went to Captain Harper, who told me to stay in the field. He was not on duty, but had the general's escort with him." I guess that Lieutenant Garvin did not think that his folks had won a "victory." ISTow why did not we ruin them, encompassed with it as they were ? Let General Hampton tell it. On page 950, he says: "We had driven the enemy in on all the roads and he was massed on the field around the houses of Bond and Burgess. The night having grown very dark and a heavy rain coming on I was forced to pause in my attack, but I ordered the line held all night, so that we might attack at daylight the next morn- ing." And on page 953, he says: "It Avas not until 12:30 a. m. that I knew of the withdrawal of our infantry, and I then allowed a portion of my command to leave the line." The enemy had floAvn. Pemiitted to do so by "the with- drawal of our infantry." Intelligent soldiers take in a situa- tion very quickly and there were few men of the Sixty-third who did not feel sure that night that we would "bag them all in the morning." Hampton pursued in the morning and until the victorious enemy "fell back behind his infantry lines." Page 050. On 31 October, 1864, General R. E. Lee wrote Hampton about this great battle: "In a letter to Gen- eral Hill to-day I expressed my gratification at the conduct of the troops in general and of the cavalry in particular, desir- ing him to communicate my thanks to you and your com- mand. I am much pleased to leara from your letter of their admirable behavior." p. 954. So, on what General Robert E. Lee said, the Sixty-third THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY. ASTOR, LENOK AND TILOEN FOUND AT ION8. -4 Position G.V'Hegtat Helfw/r/ii'/ir/! IPlyh'cn's cuLum/icfime up. \ OuvUrfUM rjT MAP OF BELFIELD RAID. Sixty-Third Regiment. 633 North Carolina Regiment will continue to keep on our old tattered and ''furled" battle flag ''Boydton Plank Road — Victory.''^ WAREElSr^S RAID TO BELFIELD. On page 24, Vol. 87, under date 7 December, 1864, Gen- eral Grant writes : "General Warren, with a force of about 22,000 infantry, six batteries, and 4,000 cavalry, started this morning with the view of cutting the Weldon Railroad as far south as Hicksford." All references under this heading ^^dll be to Vol. 87, so page alone is given. Hampton started immediately, the same day, with only Butler's and Lee's Divisions of cavalry to thwart this "view." Page 950. I shall now quote in its entirety what is said in my "Sketches," about this concluding event of 1864, inter- spersing it with quotations from General Hampton's official report. So that the Sixty-third Xorth Carolina may end the year in generous "charity" with the brigade. "We struck this rear guard on the Halifax Road, just be- yond the I^ottaway river. After skirmishing General Hamp- ton withdrew and moved on the enemy's right, making a forced march via Wyatt's bridge to Belfield, and we thus got ahead of the enemy at the latter place." On page 951, Hampton says: "At 2 a. m. on the 9th, my command was in motion and the head of my column very near Belfield at daylight. I at once made dispositions to defend Hicksford and the railroad bridge over Meherrin, in conjunc- tion with Colonel Gamett, who commanded the post at that point. The enemy moved on slowly and captiously, and he did not make his appearance before Belfield until 3 p. m. The troops of Colonel Garnett assisted by the batteries of Hart and McGregor, opened fire rapidly and with effect on him, driving him back promptly." He ought to have added that the Sixty- third North Carolina Regiment, occupying a position between "the troops of Coloned Gamett" in their breastworks on each side of the road, in advance of the works, ac7'0ss the road lead- ing into Hicksford and north of the river, aided "in driving him back promptly." That is the truth of history, as D. B. Coltrane and others, who were in that fight, well know. 634 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. It was one of the most terrible nights of cold and rain and sleet our regiment ever saw. The ground and trees next morning Avere all covered with ice, under whose weight great lindis broke and crashed to the earth along our route. \nd all that night Colonel W. P. Roberts, with the Nineteenth North Carolina Regiment, picketed and guarded the Meherrin above Hicksford, while others slept, as well as they could. And those "troops of Colonel Gamett," who were they ? Principally '"Junior Reserves" — 17-year-old boys from North Carolina and Virginia. Prominent among them, the Seven- tieth and Seventy-first North Carolina Regiments. And oh ! how those boys did fire. They seemed to be taking thei?' "Christmas" then, in fire works at least. They made their lines lurid in the darkness. And a courier had to be sent down to til em "to stop their firing." The next morning I saw those same boys following in the pursuit, some of them almost absolutely barefooted. A scene pitiable I saw among them, too. As I rode past their march- ing line, I noticed that every other boy had a tin cup in his little hand, holding it as if he feared to spill something. I said : "What have you in that cup ?" "Sorghum for two." I could not realize it and again further on I repeated : "What have you in that cup ?" "Sorghum for tAvo." The time will come when readers of these pages will not know what "sorghum" was. It was North Carolina made molasses. And I know that this is not the history of the Sixty-third North Carolina Regiment. But the Sixty-third North Carolina saw it and its sight was inspiration to us veterans, old and young, tO' higher heroism. And it is told to show what the homes and the hearts of the South endured in our civil war. N'ow to a renewal of the "Sketches." "General Hampton repulsed the Federal troops and saved the railroad bridge at that place. N^ext morning we found that the enemy had left and were beating a hasty retreat. General Hampton made a detour by way of Three Creeks to strike their flank. We barely struck, on its right flank, their rear giiard." Hampton, page 951, sa^'s: "General Lee charged with one regiment, throwing a part of the regiment down and a part up the road. The cavalry of the enemy which was met Sixty-Third Regiment. 635 was driven on rapidly, with loss and in confusion and the in- fantry of the rear guard was gallantly charged." And herein will follow other illustrations of the need of these histories. The "Sketches" say: "General Barringer, in person, then charged their rear guard with two squadrons of the First Cavalry, Captain Dewey and Lieutenant Todd, and effectually routed them. Captain Dewey followed and rushed them pell-mell on to their infantry supports and then the infantry were charged and dispersed ; but the gallant Dewey finding his force too weak for the heavy odds now against him, was compelled to retire. These two squad- rons acted in the most daring manner. They killed and wounded several of the enemy and took a number of prison- ers." Again on page 951, Hampton says: "The pursuit on our part continued during the remainder of the day. At Morris' Mill we drove him from the bridge and pushing on soon met some cavalry, charging and dispersing them. The leading squadron of the Third Cavalry (Forty-first I^orth Carolina) dashed into the main body of the enemy, who were found pre- paring tO' go into camp. Finding their whole force there I withdrew to Morris' Mill, two miles back to bivouac." The "Sketches" say: "The Third Cavalry (Forty-first North Carolina) was now passed to the front and the pursuit vigorously pressed. About 9 o'clock at night. Captain Har- ding, of Company K, got the enemy's rear guard fairly started and charging them over two miles, forced them back precipitately into their camps. His zeal led him too far and into a furious fire from the enemy's interior guards. But the grave and skillful Captain still pressed forward and, af- ter some hair-breadth escapes, succeeded in extricating his command with a loss of only about a dozen men." Our com- rade, Julian S. Carr, was in this charge, to my personal knowledge. That "interior guard" formed an ambuscade for Captain Harding's troopers. They fired from each side of the road into each flank of those charging Carolinians. I know that Julian S. Carr was in that charge and went as far 636 E'oRTH CAROLmA Troops, 1861-'65. in it as any man, because I saw and spoke tx> him then and there and congratulated him on his safety. On page 952, Hampton says: "I sent one regiment at daylight the next morning to follow to the Nottaway river" * * * and 'Svithdrew my force to Stony Creek." The ''Sketches" say: "Next day, 11 December, our cav- alry all returned to camp, except the Sixty-third l^orth Car- olina Eegiment, with which General Barringer followed the enemy until they crossed the N"ottaway, when he gave up the pursuit. Thus ended the memorable campaign of 1864." And, according to the u-ritten records, it "ended" with this remarkable coincidence: At White Hall, 6 May, 1864, the Sixty-third JSTorth Carolina Regiment, with the ISTineteenth, was the first regiment, or part of a regiment, of our brigade in tattle and 11 December, 1864, it was, alone, the last regiment of that great brigade to leave the field and the foe on the banks of the ISTottaway. And, according to my "Sketches," ap- proved by General Barringer and Colonel Cheek, as has been shown, at White Hall "our loss was severe, especially in the Sixty-third, which bore the brunt of the action and had eigh- teen men killed and wounded." And in saying this nor in anything that I have said, the Sixty-third North Carolina Regiment would not take one laurel from the glory-crowned brows of the Ninth and the Nineteenth and the Forty-first. Their glory is ours and ours is theirs in jointly glorifying the North Carolina Cavalry Brigade. On page 437, Vol. 1, of these histories, General Barringer has summed up the losses of the brigade for the campaigii of 1864. A child's calculation will show that the "losses" of the Sixty-third were just fifty-five rnore than any other regi- ment of the brigade. And in this connection T quote from a letter of Dr. Paul B. Barringer, Chairman of the Faculty of the University of Virginia, and a son of General Barringer, written to the widow of General Barringer from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va., 1 June, 1900. Dr. Barringer writes : "It is strange, but a fact, that of all the men of father's brigade buried at this place, the old Sixty-third furnished more than the other throe regiments put together." £ Sixty-Third Regiment. 63Y And here is another remarkable coincidence from the rec- ords of the grave and of written history. And these were the dead of the regiments of our brigade in the campaigns prior to 1863. Thej were the dead of Middleburg, Upperville, Cul- pepper, etc., killed in 1863. THE campaign OF 1865. The hard winter of 1864-'5 bore heavily and sorely on the Army of N'orthem Virginia, but with especial severity on our cavalry. We had to march over thirty miles, to picket ^^rom our winter quarters near Beliield. Frequent movements oi the enemy forced us to make long and hard marches; the country was almost entirely exhausted of both long and short forage, and raids of the enemy kept our communications cut fully a third of the winter. But such was the heroic spirit of the men and such their devotion to duty that they overcame all difficulties and, when the campaign of 1865 opened, the ISTorth Carolina Cavalry Brigade numbered 1,788 officers and effective mounted men in camp present for duty." My Sketches and Vol. 95, p. 390. The general reader can never see the "Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies," to which I have referred so often by citation of volume and page, and instead of making such references now in order that such reader may see for himself the truth from another source than my "Sketches," about the hardships of the winter of 1864-'5, even at the peril of being considered painfully prolix and of being criticised for "not sticking to my text," I quote from pages 1209-1210, Vol. 96, the following: "Headquarters Army of N"orthern Virginia^ "February, 8, 1865. "Hon. Jaynes A. Seddon, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. : Sir: — All the disposable force of the right wing of the army has been operating against the enemy beyond Hatcher's Run since Sunday. Yesterday, the most inclement day of the winter, they had to be retained in line of battle, having been in the same condition the two previous days and nights. 638 ISToRTH Carolina Troops^ 1861-'65. I regret to be obliged to state that under these circumstances, heightened bj assaults and fire of the enemy, some of the men had been without meat for tliree days and all were suffering from reduced rations and scant clothing, exposed to battle, cold, hail and sleet. I have directed Colonel Cole, Chief Commissary, who reports that he has not a pound of meat at his disposal, to visit Richmond and see if nothing can be done. If some change is not made and the Commissary De- partment reorganized, I apprehend dire results. The physi- cal strength of the men, if their courage survives, must fail under this treatment. Our cavalry has to be dispersed for want of forage. Fitz. Lee's and Lomax's Divisions are scat- tered because supplies cannot be transported where their ser- vices are required. I had to bring W. H. F. Lee's Division forty miles Sunday night to get him in position. * * * "With great respect, your obedient servant, "E. E. Lee, "General." The Sixty-third North Carolina Regiment was on that march of "forty miles" that cold "Sunday night," which was 5 February, 1865. CHAMBERLAIN RUN. This was the most fearful and fiercest battle we were ever in. Tn order to intelligently understand it, other regiments must be referred to, of course. And so it has been all through these writings of mine about tlie regiment. I could not tell "the whole truth" without, often, mentioning other regi- ments, men and matters. ISTo one regrets more than I do this expansion of my imperfect picture of the Sixty-third. But it would not do to paint one regiment alone, however great, in front of Sheridan's Corps and call it a battle ; others must be there, or the one becomes ridiculous. Such a situation of the Sixty-third woadd also have been awfully unfortunate for it. And, therefore, I pray pardon for what seems iiTelevant to this history. As to the part of the Ninth in the morning fight, Colonel Cheek has so well told what it did that I simply refer to pages SixTY-TiriED Regimext, 639 472 and 473 of Vol. 1 of these histories. The word "after- noon" near the top of page 473 should read "forenoon." That is self evident from these two pages as a whole, l^ow why was "Colonel Mcl^eill repulsed at the ford," in the morn- ing, and what part did Colonel McXeill and his grand regi- ment do in that awful tragedy where he died ? At the same time that Colonel Cheek received his orders for the action, Colonel Gaines, of the j^^ineteenth, and Colonel Mcl*^eill received theirs, I heard them given and so did Frank Brown, now living. C^olonel Cheek executed his magnifi- cently and so did Gaines and Mci^Teill, as far as it was possi- ble for mortal mem to execute them. The Sixty-third was in front. A small detail from the Sixty-third was sent, mounted, tO' our right as videttes, under Captain S. A. Grier. Mc- J^eill and Gaines were told "to dismount their regiments, go to the ford, cross in column of fours, the Sixty-third to deploy in line of battle to the right of and below the ford ; the Nine- teenth to follow and deploy fast in line of battle to the left and above the ford, completing and connecting the line be- tween Cheek and Mcl^eill and drive the enemy." Those were the orders. The road crossed that ford at right angles. The water there, "one hundred and fifty yards" below Cheek, was much above "the men's waists," its depth, according to Colonel Cheek, where he was. Of course it was much deeper with us than where the JSTinth was, even if it was the ford. So deep, so "impassable by reason of briars and swamp under- growth" and a bluff to the immediate right of the ford, and on our side of it, and other obstructions of fallen timber on both sides of the stream, that it could not be crossed, for bat- tle, except at the ford. It would swim a horse twenty feet below the ford. Men were shot down in the ford, swept off by the current and actually drowned before their comrades could pull them out. That was the sort of a place the Sixty- third and ]S[ineteenth had to cross under their orders. Across the stream, from the road up to Cheek's right, was a body of small and large timber extending forward almost to the enemy's entrenchments ; immediately to the right of the road was open ground, sparsely wooded, thirty-five or fifty 640 North Cakolina TROors, 1861-'65. yards wide up to the enemy's works and then far dowTi the stream was a body of good sized timber. From the stream the ground rose rapidly to the enemy's lines and works, which were about two hundred yards from the stream with their ex- treme left point being almost opposite to what was to be Mc- N^eill's right. McNeill's intended right, across the creek, would overlap their left slightly. From the place where they dismounted, the Sixty-third and Nineteenth moved rapidly towards the ford, a large body of Sheridan's cavalry was on our side of the stream, a fierce fight enmsued and they were driven pell-mell across the ford back to their works. In tliis affair Colonel Gaines lost his riglit ann. Grandly and glo- riously, with Colonel McNeill in the lead, our regiment crossed that ford under a galling, withering fire from Henry rifles, that shot sixteen times each without loading, fired by an entrenched enemy. Every man held his cartridge box high above that seething water with his left hand and his rifle in his right. They crossed, as ordered, ''by fours," as regularly as ever a regiment moved on a parade ground. They had learned to parade in battle. As they crossed, McNeill gave the proper orders loud and clear; each company captain, as his company landed, repeated the order and quickly the regi- ment was in line of battle to the right of the road waiting for the Nineteenth to cross. And just here, as at Balaklava, "somebody blundered." "Blundered" awfully, but with lhe best intention. To distract the fire from our two rcg-iments, W. TI. F. Lee ordered a Virginia regiment to charge across the ford mounted, just Avlien the Nineteenth was steadily, as always, stepping forward to cross. Misunderstanding their orders, only a squadron of the Virginians rushed over and up the incline of the road. The Nineteenth closed riglit in be- hind them. Frank Brown, one of Barringer's courier's, with his hat in his right hand, as he almost always rode in battle, till he got within saber distance of the foe, rushed, under Bar- rinffer's orders, to McNeill to learn his situation. McNeill was advancing slowly for the Nineteenth to form on his left and the fire was so furious that it was better to advance than to stand. To Bro^-n's enquiry. Colonel McNeill coolly said : "Please tell General Barringer that T am all right and ad- Sixty-Third Regiment. 641 vancing slowly for the Nineteen tli to form on my left that we may charge and carry those works. Ask him, please, to hasten the I^ineteenth over." About two companies of the ^Nineteenth crossed behind that squadron, just as grandly as the Sixty-third had. And then that squadron broke and fled back to the narrow ford. Our brigade color-bearer, Churchill, waving his battle flag in his hand, Lieutenant Fred. Foard, General Barringer's Aide, and I rushed at them on the enemy's side of the stream and tried to rally them, and espe- cially to keep them off the j^ineteenth. But they were panic- stricken ; not even appeals to "look at those North Carolinians crossing here/' could halt those horsemen, breaking the line of the Nineteenth and pushing them down into the deep water at the lower side of the ford. The enemy were so exultant over their sight of the fleeing s([uadron that they advanced and redoubled their already furious fire on McNeill and the ford, where the column of the Nineteenth was now helplessly cut in twain by that mingled mass of mounted men, while Mc- Neill's ammunition was almost exhausted. T). B. Coletrane, standing near him, said : "Colonel, I have only two car- tridges; shall I use them or hold them ?" "Keep them; you may need them more in a moment," coolly and calmly an- swered McNeill, in the face of a well recognized and terrify- ing danger. And there he and his regiment were ; fighting, and firing their last shot. And now let Captain C. W. Pear- son speak. In his sketch of Company II, now before me, he says : "The writer was talking to Colonel McNeill, when he saw a man a little to the right, run from a large pine tO' an- other pine, very soon a pufl" of smoke came from the tree, I think this shot killed the Colonel, as just at that time he fell, apparently instantly killed, some of the men picked him up and started back, but got only a short distance, when the en- tire line gave way. In recrossing the creek we had to swim under a heavy fire," And this is why "Colonel McNeill was repulsed at the ford," He was being carried off dead in the arms of his loving men who had fired their last shots into the swarming ranks of an overwhelming, advancing foe. General Barringer, mounted on his horse, right at the ford, 41 642 XoRTH Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. watching- and directing all tlie movements of his men, sent a courier to form the Sixty-third along" the top of the bluff down tlie stream as they came up from the water and to check the advancing foe. They were supplied with ammu- nition as (piickly as ])ossible; to aid in which, the cartridge boxes of onr dead were emptied from tJieir dead bodies; some of which I thus emptied myself for this purpose. And un- der the lire of the Sixty-third, the enemy went back to their works on the ridge, except a few who threw up a V-shaped en- trenclmient, immediately in front of the ridge works, right across the road — the point of the V being towards Chamber- lain Run, as an additional defense. General Barringer, on pages 439-44:0, Vol. 1, of these his- tories, well tells how every generous, humane effort was made to save his men in the afternoon. He ouglit to have told, I think, that this effort was so long tried with W. H. F. Lee that Fitzhugh Lee came in person, on his horse all covered witli foam, and peremptorily ordered this afternoon attack, delayed only for humanity's sake. The battle in the after- noon was, in all its movements, like that of the morning, ex- cept that tlie ISrineteenth crossed the ford first and that Cap- tain John R. El-win, of Company F, with sword in hand, now led the Sixty-third across and deployed it to the right of the road and to the right of the JSTineteenth as magnificently as McNeill had done in the morning. Lockhart, of the ISrine- teenth, and Er^viii, of the Sixty-third, gave their orders to charge at the same moment and grandly, gloriously, with a wild rush and yell they went fonvard over those works and drove Sheridan's splendid soldiers miles back to Dinwiddle Court House. And as General Barringer says, on page 442, Vol. 1, this "was the last marked victory won by our armies." And in winning it the Sixty-third "was a great part." Genera] Barringer, in his account of this battle, published in the Concord Sun, 18 March, 1881, now before me, says: "Frank Brown, a courier, bore a message to Major Lockhart, just as the latter gave his order to charge. The noble youth, entirely unbidden, dashed to the head of the column and led the charge, the only nuin on horseback ! For a miracle he escaped unliurt and, returning promptly to his post, he Sixty-Third Regiment. 643 shouted, 'We've whipped them! We've whipped them!' " And there he further ^vi-ites : ''When the brave and gener- ous Lieutenant Lindsey fell, his brother sprang for a moment, to his side. The hero said, 'Turn me on my face; then hurry tO' the front.' When the ^^irginia squadron met its fatal re- pulse and came rushing back. Lieutenant Fred. Foard and Paul Means, with my headquarters color-bearer, Churchill, dashed gallantly to the front, under a tremendous fire and single-handed, received the shock of the advancing host. Means and Churchill were both wounded and Means' horse was severely shot and Foard's nearly killed." Lieutenant-Colonel Shaw was killed at the same time Col- onel MclSTeill was. Lieutenant Lindsey was killed. Captain Harris and Lieutenants Nott, Sockwell and Wharton were all severely wounded, and others were killed and wounded whose names I could not get. A great number of privates were killed and wounded and "every man in Company H, except the Captain, was struck by a ball during the day," Captain Pearson writes. The battle gave immortal lustre to the Sixty-third, but it was at an awful sacrifice and saddened forever many a home. Colonel MclJ^J^eill fell with his face to the foe as the hero, who has to die, loves to fall. He was the son of George Mc- N^eill and Minei-va Puffin, sister of Chief Justice Puffin ; was born 23 May, 1825 ; was educated at Harvard and Princeton; was ordained a Presbyterian minister in 1847, just 22 years of age. He was not 40 when he fell. The faith and the fight and the loyalty to his God of the old Covenanter was all in him fully. Many a Sunday, in our winter camps, I have seen him standing under the fluttering folds of the Confeder- ate battle flag, with its blood-red field and starry cross, a great crowd of soldiers in slouch hats and gray uniforms sitting on the bare ground in front of him, and heard him preaching to them, as their only salvation, the blood and the cross of Jesus Christ. Lie was as true to the cross of Christ as he was to the Southern cross. Like Jackson, he led his regiment in prayer and in battle. He was right at the front of the fight, advancing against an advancing foe and "ready" when God's bugle called him. All along war's weary way he had "fought 644 I^ORTH Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. a good fight," he had ''kept the faith," and that awful glorious day, near the hill top at Chamberlain Run, to add heaven's lustre to the splendor of his Colonel's stars, he received ''a crown of righteousness." That night Sheridan wrote General Grant: "The enemy's cavalry attacked me about 10 o'clock to-day. This attack was very handsomely repulsed by General Smith's brigade and the enemy driven across Chamberlain's creek. * * * The enemy again attacked at Chamberlain creek, and forced Smith's position. At this time Capehart's and Pennington's Brigades, of Custer's Division, came up, and a very hand- some fight occurred. The enemy have gained some ground, but we still hold in front of Dinwiddle, and Davies and Devin are coming down the Boydton road to join us." Among the opposing force he names "W. H. F. Lee's Cavalry com- mands" and then continues: "The men have behaved splen- didly, v^ vr vr This force is too strong for us. I will hold out to Dinwiddle Court House- until I am compelled to leave." And this was the "rebel cavalry" that Sheridan had reported "the almost total annihilation of" just after Brook Church. That night, 31 March, General Grant wa'ote General Sher- idan : "The Fifth Corps has been ordered to your support" and "MacKenzie's Cavalry." Vol. 95, pp. 1110 and 1111; 1117 and 1122-1123 and 1299. See also page 628. We campetl on the battlefield that night, right at that awful ford on the side where Mcl^eill fell, until about 3 a. m. 1 April, 1865, when, after learning of the Fifth Corps' move- ment on our left flank, we recrossed Chamberlain Run and marched to Five Forks, without seeing the enemy. Mention must be made here of Colonel James L. Gaines, whose splendid career shed lustre on North Carolina. He was a son of Matthew M. and Margaret L. Gaines, of Asheville, N, C. He went to the war as a young private of Company G, Ninth Regiment (First North Carolina Cavalry). 9 June, 1863, we find him Adjutant of that great regiment and, on page 726 of Vol. 44, Colonel Baker, of the Ninth, "thanks Ad- jutant (Lioutcnant J. L. ) Gaines for his great coolness and assistance rendered me in reforming my regiment and keep- THE NEWT York] ^^BLIC LIBRARY. erland's J INhli ATlMNS |i>K r.'iVIir<_)N ri.ANK K'lAl'. O O O O O O Coiifcdtrntf Infnntry »*n.st of Hatcher's Run iiti'l fr. .Ill Viiik'T Riiuil ti> AnnstroliK's Mill. X X X X X X — llHiiiiiton's C'avalry, from BiirK<*ss' Mill-poiul ti< Vimk.T Uxnii. fi3— Point wliere the Sixty-third KeKiiiieiit went into action. INDIC.VTIMNS I'l A — I'l^int where Sixty-tliinl . mounted morninp of Siftrcli :5 tending miicli beyond I) nortli Regiment. K F— Part of Fed.- teentli Keu'iments. M— I'oint w lina Cavalry at dark, >Iarcli 3 widdie C. H. iTION -^^^ 9f y\^p ^HowfKG ^\ris or BATTLES Cf-lAMBEPLAlNRur\l Fi vE Forks. Reams' Sta. BAMBERLAIN RUN. other North Carolina Cavalry dis- B — Ford. C-D — Federal works, ex- , C-F— Part attacked by Sixty-third forks attacked by Ninth and Nine- Col. McNeill fell. H.— North Caro- fter driving Sheridan back to Din- INDICATIONS FOR FIVE FORKS. 1-3— Confederate works continuous eastward to Petersburg. 1-8— Line of Sixty-third Regiment in open field. The Nine- teenth and Forty-first were immediately in the rear of the Sixty-third. 4 — Nineteenth and Forty-first engaged in sabre flght. 5— Position of Nineteenth when Custer charged. Ithe'new yorkJ PUBLIC LIBRARY. A8TOR, LENOX AND- TILDEN FOU.-iOATIO+JS. Sixty-Thied Regiment. 645 ing them in proper order to resist the enemy," at the great bat- tle of Brandy Station. And on page 775 of the same volume, he is by "General Orders," on the "Roll of Honor" for Get- tysburg; then "Captain Gaines, Assistant Adjutant-General of Baker's ISTorth Carolina Brigade." In this capacity, he remained on the staff of the N^orth Carolina Cavalry Brigade until, for great gallanti-y in battle, he was made Colonel of the Second North Carolina Cavalry, when W. P. Roberts was made General of Bearing's Brigade. Every man at our brigade headquarters loved him and he was an inspiration to the entire brigade in battle. Gaines' appointment was no disparagement of any officer of the l^ineteenth. They all approved it, as far as I know. FIVE FORKS. April 1, in a small open field, right on the White Oak road, slight scattering woods on the left and heavier woods on the right, with a great open expanse in front of this little field, far to its right and left, the Sixty-third N'orth Carolina was in some little, low improvised breastworks, the very last on that long, attenuated line of defences, of the Army of Northern Virginia, from Richmond to Petersburg and west- ward. General Grant had been ever since the night of 7 May, 1864, "turning Lee's right flank." That night near White Hall, Virginia, the Sixty-third ISTorth Carolina was on Lee's Hght flanh. 1 April, 1865, was to see that right flank finally tunied and the Sixty-third was there, in the post of honor, as it ever had been, to receive the last shivering shock of that long, mighty move. The Forty-first and Nine- teenth moimted ^^•ere in that little field to see us do our part and to do theirs. Pickett's Division joined immediately on to the left of the Sixty-third, also behind their own far longer and stronger breastworks. Just about sundown, sitting on my horse near the left end of the regiment, I saw the mightiest mass of men I ever looked at in battle, in the most perfect lines I ever witnessed, come fomvard with loud cheers, waving the beautiful Stars and Stripes, and sweep like a storm over Pickett's works about two hundred yards to our left. All Pickett's veterans between us and these storming lines fled in 646 North Oakolina Troops, 1861-'65. utter rout and confusion down the Wliite Oak road right back of that little field and in full sight of us all. Fred. Foard dismounted one^half of the holders of our led horses and with them, by rallying shouts and threats tO' shoot Pick- ett's men, attempted to check the rout, but all in vain. Those great Federal lines in order to envelop our forces to their right and front wheeled grandly to the riglit as they victoriously stormed Pickett's works and did not come down on us at once. In front of that little field, all over that great open expanse came Custer's great division, like Mamalukes con- verging down on the Sixty-third, the Nineteenth and the Forty-first North Carolina. The voices of Custer and his officers rang out in clear, clarion tones, orders that every old cavalryman in that little field distinctly heard and knew to mean our utter destiiiction if executed. Every man in that little field knew that Pickett was routed and that it could be but a short time till that "army with banners" to our left w^ould also come down upon us. But not a man moved in those little, low works. To all appearances they were kneel- ing dead. A few moments before a courier had ridden up to Captain ErAvin, now connuanding the regiment, and, in low tones, given him an order. He rose and repeated it so that his entire little line heard it: ''Hold your fire till that coming cavalry reaches the edge of the field and till I order it." Those kneeling men were not dead ; they were just obeying or- ders, under the most trying test to a soldier. The Nineteenth and Forty-first had their orders. They sat still in their sad- dles, every man with his sword or his pistol in his hand. That splendid cavalry under the Stars and Stripes came on grandly ; they reached the edge of the field, a gi'eat, loud, bass voice, like a speaking trumpet, said "Fire I" An awful vol- ley answered from the rifles of the Sixty-third and then they rattled with one continuous fire. The magnificent riders "in blue" in front of that fire fell from their saddles and recoiled just to come again. As that "order to fire" was given the Nineteenth and Forty-first rode fonvard into Custer's "ser- ried ranks" as if they really expected to "annihilate" them. The shock of the collision Avas terrible. Orders rang out on both sides clear-cut and loud. Sabers rang on each other with Sixty-Third Regiment. 647 a cold steel ring that only the bravest veterans can stand. Pistol shots here and there and everywhere emptied saddles and burnt, with powder flashes, faces with death's pallor on them. Each side knew what was at stake, and this saber slash- ing lasted longer than I ever saw one. A short, stout general in gray, on a big gTay horse, was riding here and there in the midst of that frightful fray, with Lieutenant Fred, Foard, two couriers, Brown and Means, and Color-Bearer Churchill, around him, all that were left of his staff; one courier had just gone to the rear with a hand nearly shot off. He was eagerly watching to the front, the right and left. It was nearly dark, he could not see far. Custer's line had not ad- vanced a yard on that little field. The general in gray sent a courier into the woods to the right who quickly told him that he was being flanked tliere. Just then W. H. F. Lee, alone, rode rapidly into the fray to General Barringer's side. They talked a second. Two couriers w^ere sent up the White Oak Road to see who was that mass of men coming down on our left. They rode within thirty yards of the coming platoons. One courier whispered tO' the other: "Look at their colors; turn your horse slow and ride off in a walk." They quickly reported : "It is a great body of Federal troops." Lieuten- ant Foard and the two couriers rode off from Generals Lee and Barringer with orders. The iSTineteenth and Forty-first began to retire slowly. The dismounted Sixty-third with- drew witli their faces to the foe, firing as they fell back. And as General Barringer writes, on page 442 of Vol. 1, "At Five Forks on 1 April the last hope of the Confederacy went down in darkness and despair." Under Captain Erwin's slow, cool, steady orders the men of the Sixty-third mthdrew and lighted up that "darkness" with the flashes of their rifles when the curtain fell there on war's greatest tragedy. Vol. 95, pp. 1264, 1299 and 1300; lllY, 1118, 110.5, sketch 830 and 1130—1131. In my "Sketches" of 1881, fully approved by General Bar- ringer, appear these words : "Only the Second, Third and Fifth Regiments were present in the open field." He, in his sketch of the jSTinth, in Vol. 1, indicates that the Third was not in the "open field." He wrote that sketch on his death 648 NoKTii Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. bed as his last love^work for the Ninth, and necessarily not with his usual great care. NIGHT or 1 APRIL. God's blessing of night and the valor with which He had endowed us to fight, alone saved the regiment from utter de- struction after we left that little field. As it was, we went into camp that night, in good order, near Potts' Station, on the South Side Railroad, just about two miles north of where ^^'e had fought and "midway between Ford's and Souther- land's Depots." ■^'the retreat." To a veteran soldier, who loves his "cause" and his battle flag fluttering "Forward" in the breeze, nothing is so painful as to hear his own drums or his own bugles on the firing line, beating or blowing "The Retreat." He has not heard it often ; he does not know that call like he does the other "calls." He and his comrades all along the line throw up their heads and listen eagerly, "What call is that?" That's "The Re- treat." . Something hits his heart hard ; harder than a shot. He looks sternly to the front, sadly to the rear, thinks of some- body way ofl", and obeys. Sunday moniing, 2 April, as two of Barringer's couriers were, under orders, moving fomvard through wide, open fields placing a dismounted skirmish line from the Sixty-third to meet the coming foe, a courier rode up to them and said : "Petersburg has fallen, bring back this line slowly and join in the retreat." We all retired and moved on "the retreat" in perfect order and not at all "with precipita- tion," as Greneral Devon reports on page 1124, Vol. 95. And, as General Barringer says, "that night we camped near Namozine Cliurch, covering the extreme rear on that line," and that church is less than seven miles from Potts', so there could not have been much "precipitation" on our part in retiring nor on tlicir part in attacking us. Now let Captain Charles W. Pearson, Company H, of our regiment, tell what occurred that day in his o-\\ti attractive words : "The brigade had been dismounted and was throw- Sixty-Third Regiment. 649 ing up defences. The road and fields soon became filled with retreating men, wagons, ambulances and every description o£ army hangers-on. We were ordered to remount. The day's formation put the Sixty-third in the rear ; so that we were the last to get mounted, in column of squadrons, Harris' squad- ron, Companies E and H, being in front. Charging and coun- ter-charging was now going on. About the time the regiment was ready to move, a heavy fire was opened on our right flank ; the order was given, 'Squadron right wheel, charge!' The movement was well and steadily executed, the charge made by Companies E and H, driving oft' the enemy. A general retreat now began, the enemy's cavalry making several charges, which were easily repulsed, and ceasing entirely as night came on. We soon came into a large body of old field pines, where the darkness was intense, nobody could be dis- tinguished. The movement forward stopped. Company H was called for and nobly responded, promptly taking a posi- tion to cover the rear. The way being opened, we soon found the cause of the delay. In a boggy branch, some fellow had cut the mules loose from his ambulance and left it in the mud. Captain McGregor was getting his last gun out of the mud, raving like a mad man, swearing that everybody had left him at the mercy of the enemy. As we rode up he was told to be easy, that there was still one command who would stay between him and the enemy. He asked what command. When told the Sixty-tliird I^ortli Carolina, he exclaimed: 'Thank God for that. So long as there are any Tar Heels with me, I am not uneasy. Just give me a little notice and I will melt these guns before they shall have them.' His was the battery attached to W. H. F. Lee's Cavalry Division. This being a favorable position, arrangements were immedi- ately begun to strengthen the position, by building a fence across the road and cutting such timber as was convenient. Early next morning "To Horse" was sounded and we were moved out near Namozine Church, which stood at the cross roads. We could hear the enemy's advance as our pickets were driven in." Vol. 95, pp. 1118, 1124 and 1131. 650 :N'orth Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. namozine church. That is the most painful of all the names in the long his- tory of the Sixty-third. Immediately after we reached that church, just about 9 o'clock Monday morning, 3 April, 1865, Generals Fitzhugh Lee, W. H. F. Lee and Barringer, with all their staffs, were sitting on their horses where the Green road and Ihe Cousins road cross each other. General Fitz- hugh Lee, commanding all the cavalry, said to General W. H. F. Lee, commanding Beale's Virginia and Ban-inger's Bri- gades: ''General Lee, you must leave our best brigade here and hold tliis position to the last. The safety of our army de- pends upon it, and I will move on in rear of the retreat with the rest of the cavalry." I heard those words. All there heard them and we all knew what they signified — the destruction of the brigade chosen. General W. H. F. Lee instantly turned to General Barringer and said : "General Barringer, you have heard the orders; you must do that duty here." All the other generals and staffs moved off at once. The head of the enemy's colunm was then in full view. General Barrin- ger immediately began placing the l^inth, jSTineteenth and all of the Sixty-third there present for the last battle of the bri- gade. The Forty-first was not up from its picket duty of the night before, having marched by a different road from the Sixty-third. Captain Rankin, of our regiment, was "back with a detail of forty men from our regiment to get a supply of com at a farm house near our camp of the night before" and they were all captured except Captain Kankin and very few others. The Nineteenth I^orth Carolina, mounted by fours, was placed on Cousins' road in the centre, its front slightly to the rear of the Sixty-third's left. The I^inth, mounted in close single line, was placed in the woods to- the left of the ISTine- teenth and slightly to its front. The Sixty-third was dis- mounted in line on the right, immediately on the Green's road, which here was on a ridge, with left of the regiment right at or almost to the crossing of the two roads. The Sixty-third's led horses, every fourth man holding three horses as he sat on his own, were sent down the road in rear Sixty-Third Regiment. 651 of the Nineteenth, where also was one of McGregor's guns in position to the left of the road, the last left him. It was prob- ably 400 yards in the Sixty-third's front across an open field to the woods, where the enemy was. The brunt of the fight and the tide of the battle was to be on our regiment. That is what that disposition meant. Custer's whole division of cav- alry was in that body of woods to our front. Wells' Brigade in the advance. In a moment the enemy's mounted line came into the open field and magnificently charged. But they could not stand the fire of our regiment. Again and again they attacked, firing as they came and were driven back. A great flanking column was seen going to the left of the Ninth, firing into it with carbines and pistols. I was sent to Colonel Cheek to ask him how goes the battle and to urge him to stand. His men were firing furiously intO' the flankers and they getting nearer, as they moved and under the excite- ment of the battle, were firing right into the faces of the Ninth. Colonel Cheek said: "Present my compliments to General Ban-inger and tell him that w^e will hold to the last. But this can not last much longer. Look yonder !" pointing to his left. I reported. General Barringer, Foard and Bro^\Ti and Churchill were in ten feet of the firing line of the Sixty-third. Cahill, Company F, rose about the centre of the line and said : "Please get me some ammunition. I have fired my last cartridge." He was told : "No ammunition can be brought in here now; borrow some, borrow some, John." He smiled, kneeled down and "borrowed" two cartridges. "The last" had come. General Barringer turned to Brown: "Order that Nineteenth Regiment to charge and you lead it." The charge was hopeless. The "Old First" was breaking. That meant what the falling back of "The Old Guard" meant. The Nineteenth was driven back in confusion as we all knew it must be. General Barringer, in meantime, seeing the inev- itable, told me to ride tO' the left of the Sixty-third and order it to retire. I did so, and ordered Captain S. A. Grier now liv- ing, commanding the Fifth Squadron on the extreme left, to withdraw his squadron with the regiment, which was then rising up under General Barringer's orders along the centre and right of the line. As I rode up to Grier he was rap- 652 :N'orth Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. idly walking up and down his squadron, with his pistol in his hand and saying something in a very commanding tone, that he ought not to have said : "Give 'em hell, boys ; give 'em hell." He then gave his squadron another command and in a moment the fifth squadron and the other four, all in a straight line, with grand old Captain John R. Erwin at their head were majestically marching "by twos" off their last battlefield, some men firing to their left as they retired. As I rode to the regiment's head Captain Erwin, my beloved old company commander, said: "Paul, where are my led horses?" I said: "They are down this road here." He said: "They have been sent for, but you get them to me as quick as you can." General Barringer, Foard, Churchill and Brown veered off to the left with our regiment and I never got back to them out of the mass of maddened, moving men down that road. Our led horses were taken out safely through that lane ; but no man or horse that ever got into it could return. There was a compact, irresistible movement, like a glacier's, only one way. And, besides, to the right of the lane, as we moved, in full, plain view, and not far off came that great flanking column we had seen go to our left as the battle was on. It was the only stampede of Southern soldiers I had ever seen. And it was "the last." "At the end of the lane, by which the First and Second Regiments with the wounded men and led horses of the Fifth escaped a gallant effort was made to rally the fleeing men and fight tlie victorious, pursuing cavalry of Custer. This effort was simply an act of desperation and, as was announced, to 'aid the escape of General Barringer and the dismounted men of the Fifth.' The brave men who had fought through the war recognized it as such, and only a few heroic spirits, prin- cipally, almost solely from the mounted men. of the Fifth Regiment, heeded the efforts to rally. These formed, faced about and poured their last shots of the war into the head of the column of the pursuing hosts." This I copy from my "Sketches" of 1881. Just after I started for those led horses. General W. H. F. Lee rode up. How on earth he got there past that left flank- ing column I have never been able to conceive. He asked Sixty-Thikd Regiment. 653 me: ''Wliere is Geoieral Ban-inger?" I answeTed: "He has just gone right in there," pointing. Close to us was Mc- Gregor with his last gun, which he had run across the lane on the side next to that left flanking column, pouring his last shots into that coliunn and "raving like a mad man." All of the Sixty-third who passed out that lane went, that day, to Burkeville and Clover Station. I was shot twice at Namozine Church, last time severely, as I went for the led horses and, with other wounded, was sent to hospital at Danville and,fur- lo'Ughed for thirty days, which has mercifully been extended to more than thirty years. General Barringer and Foard and Brown were captured that same day and thus ended Courier Frank Brown's bril- liant career as a private soldier of Company H, Sixty-third North Carolina. There never was a braver boy in battle.. He had five personal hand-to-hand conflicts after that one at Goodall's Tavern and in each came out hero and victor, as there. I have said much of him because the truth entitled him to it, but also to present him as a fair representative of the men of the Sixty-tliird North Carolina. There were hundreds of men in the regiment just like Frank Bro'wn. Nobody knew that better than Brown and that aided him to do his own glo- rious deeds. As to what the ranks from which he came would do in a furious fight around him, he never had any concern tO' mar the supremacy of his own great soul and courage in battle and this thought immensely aided the glorious grandeur of his own courage and career. As it always does. Vol. 95, pp. 1119, 1131, 1139, and 1301. On which last page Gen- eral Fitzhugh Lee speaks of our brigade as "that very excel- lent North Carolina brigade." The Sixty-third made its way out and escaped under the guidance of Captain Erwin, without the loss of a man after marching off the fatal field of Namozine. Captain Pearson says: "We got into a large body of timber which shielded us. By Avalking all day, all night and all the next day, almost without stopping, we got out, but never rejoined the army." The above narration \rill explain why Barringer's Brigade had only twenty-three ofiicers and men in the surrender at Appomattox. 654 North Cakoltna Tkoops, 1861-'65. Captain Envin died 19 March, 1001. I have a letter be- fore nie now written by him to me 28 April, 1900. In it he says : ''I took command at Chamberlain Run, after the death of Mcll^feil and Shaw (Harris being wounded in the same fig'ht), and held commmand to the finish. * * * The regiment was at Pannell's bridge on Staunton river, when the news of the surrender reached us. We went to Danville, but without orders, and after we reached there each Captain took command of his company and inquired the near- est way to their respective homes." And this is the quiet, modest conclusion of the history of the Fifth I^orth Carolina Cavalry. FAKEWELI-. Comrades of the Fifth North Carolina Cavalry: At the request of many of you, I undertook this "love's labor" for our great regiment. As you, who asked it, well know, I shrank from it till the last, too long, in fact, with hope that some other would do the woi'k of this '"'additional sketch." It is finished as best I could, under the circum- stances, I \\'ould now be false, utterly false to my own heart if, before leaving it and giving it to you, I did not here ex- press some feelings overwhelming me. Feelings of thanks. In what I have done, I have been greatly aided by Lieutenant Wiley, Baxter Caldwell, John Cahill and otliers of Company F, who met me in Charlotte, ]^. C, several times for entire days. My thanks to them are sincere and everlasting. To my old friend and company-comrade, Denson A. Cald- well, of Concord, always true and faithful and brave, I owe a debt of gratitude that can never end and that words can never tell. Henry Hobson and Foard and Hodges, of Company H, though in another county, have helped me greatly; and all along, as I have labored, I could feel the touch and con- tagion of their exalted enthusiasm, and every old soldier knows what that means in time of trial. ^Yith all my soul I thank Ihem. I do not know how I could have gotten along without the Sketch of Coinpany H, written by Captain Pearscm. I cer- Sixty-Third Regiment. 655 tainly never could have told of the death of our much loved Colonel McNeill as I have without Captain Pearson's man- uscript to his company-comrades. As he measured out his help to me, I now mete out my gratitude to him. He is the son of Giles William Pearson, whose brother was Chief Justice Pearson, and his mother was a daughter of An- derson Ellis, a sister of Governor Ellis; the true blood in his veins produces good, gracious deeds "when he is old" as it always will when properly ^'trained up." I ask every heart of yours, comrades, to salute (\aptain Charles AV. Pearson, as mine does. Captain Kankin's sketch of our regiment, unfortunately, never given in for publication in these histories, was used freely and most helpfully, and so was Major Galloway's. I thank both most sincerely. Mr. Coltrane, here in Concord, aided me often and well. A& he knows, I am greatly grate- ful. Thos. B. Bailey, in arranging a meeting between me and members of Company H, in Mocksville, helped me, as he, with his Christian modesty, can never realize, and I thank him most cordially. "Charlie Haigh" and ''Bugler Rose," by long, personal interviews and courtesies in Fayetteville, and by much writing most intelligently and cheeringly aided me; and my truest tribute of thanks is always theirs. And a great pile of letters, here too numerous to name, signify the unselfish aid to me and love for our "cause" of many men and women, when "the world" says that such love and aid do not exist. With many, many millions such qualities do not exist. With millions, who "are the salt of the earth," they do. We should try to increase the latter millions. Senator James I). McNeill, nephew of Colonel McNeill, and his lovely wife, a daughter of Captain James William Strange, of the "Old Nineteenth," by their generous, beauti- ful hospitality at their home in Fayetteville and the presence there of Colonel McNeill's daughter, Mrs. Kate Roulhac Ut- ley, and the intense interest of all of them in our regiment was a high and helpful inspiration to me in my efforts for you and their valuable information, which I could not have obtained elsewhere, aided me beyond all measure and I thank 656 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. them as gratefully as they gi*aciously inspired and helped me. The hospitality for some days extended to* me by my old college-nrate, Hon. George M. Rose, nephew of Colonel Mc- Neill, and his chaniiing wife, at their home in Fayetteville, was a most beneficial blessing and assistance in our work and my heart's best benediction is theirs. Hon. Walter Clark, the self-sacrificing, patriotic editor of these histories, cheered me "forward" by kind words, "when I was sick," and aided me when whole ''battalions of trouble" came upon me by getting the publishers of these histories to kindly extend my expired time. And but for him this sketch could not have appeared in this volume, but out of place later on. I will not attempt to write of gi-atitude to him. I will try to show it by acts hereafter. And my little wife encouraged and aided me in sickness and depression as only a loving wife can. No words can tell my thanks to her. God bless her always. But above and over and more than all, there was Another Helper. AVhen, at times, "amid the encircling gloom," dif- ficulties appeared, which are absolutely insurmountahle by me alone, "Our Heavenly Father in Heaven" banished them all and a "Kindly Light" led me on and the "spirit of truth guided me in all truth" that I have tried tO' tell. Every de- fect of what is told, and there are many, is all mine alone and the result of my imperfect vision to see aright the guidance of my Guide. I am now "a soldier of the cross and shall T feai' to own His name ? As such soldier I have a command with a glorious promise attached — "In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths." In love and in illimitable gratitude I obey. The truest test of every soldier and Christ's only measure and standard of love for Him is obedience. And now, as my farewell : By my work I have tried to show my love ; please pardon all faults of that work with the forgiveness due oiir common frailty. The picture I have tried to paint of our gTcat regiment is done and it is your*. Would that it were better done. Its many glaring defects, especially of omission, nobody will ever see as I do. Deplor- ingly right now and most sorrowfully I realize, in heart and soul, what Lessing makes "Conti," his great painter, say in Sixty-Third Regiment. 657 "Emilia Galotti," when that painter was presenting his last glorious picture of Emilia Galotti to the prince who loves her. Conti says: "Oh! how unfortunate that we do not paint with our eyes. On the long road from the eye through the arm to the bnish how much is lost." Comrades of the Sixty-third, Good-bye. Paul B. Means. Concord, N. C, 3 October, 1901. 42 SIXTY-FOURTH REGIMENT. B. T. "Morris, Captain, Co. E. SIXTY-FOURTH REGIMENT. By B. T. morris, Captain, Company A. In presenting to the public the Sixty-fourth North Caro- lina Regiment, we are forced to admit that, in all probability, there is not another regiment in the Confederate service with just such a history, owing to the fact that it was never in a pitched liattle as a regiment and was so* soon taken prisoners. On 20 July, 1862, Lawrence M. Allen was commissioned as Colonel to raise, as was first anticipated, a Legion, and at one time had thirteen companies of infantry and some com- panies of cavalry. But for some cause, his command was cut down to a regiment of ten companies and numbered the Sixty-fourth jSI'orth Carolina Kegiment. Six companies were raised principally in Madison county, one in Henderson, one in Polk and two in Tennessee. The ten companies, including the commissioned officers, numbering in all 1,110, probably presented one of the finest looking regiments in the Confederate army. Having been raised in the mountains of Western !N"orth Carolina and East Tennessee, they were strong and sturdy, full of courage and ready to do and do valiantly for their country. FIELD AND STAFF. When the regiment was first organized the officers were: L. M. Allen, Colonel, Marshall, I^. C. J. A. Keith, Lieutenant-Colonel, Marshall, IST. C. W. ]Sr. Garrett, Major, Hot Springs, N. C. Colonel Allen was not at the surrender at Cumberland Gap, having resigned and the other field officers having been pro- moted, Thos. P. Jones, of Company B, became Major. The commissioned officers who served in the different companies, so far as we know, were as follows : 660 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Company A — Captains, Jas. A. Keith and M. E. Carter. Lieutenants: M. E. Carter, B. W. Woodward, O. H. Ramsey, J. M. Eay, G. D. Eay, N. W. Woodward and William Pend- ley. Company B — Captains, Thos. P. Jones, W. G. B. Morris, Lieutenants, W. G. B. Morris, W. N. Luther, Richard How- ard, Daniel Pace, Richard Howard and W. A. Batson, Company C— Captains, John Peek, C. N. Candler. Lieu- tenants, C. Alexander, Alfred Peek and Levi Peek. Company D — Captains, A. A. Duees, L. W. Peek. Lieu- tenants, L. W. Peek, Wm. C. Harrison, Thos. Hunter, T. W. Allen and Job B. Peck. Company E — Captain, B. T. Morris, Lieutenants W. K. Tabor, B. F. Hampton, H. H. Collins, W. L. Morrib and J. W. Morris. Company F — Captain, D. W. Anderson. Lieutenants, John J. Duych, J. A. Jarvis, A. J. Brown and Miles Frapps. Company G — Captains, Wm. M. Keith and R. M. Deaver. I-iieutenants, R. M. Deaver, A. E. Davis, J. B. Peek, W. A. Patterson and Thos. Keith. Company PI — Captain, J. T. Reynolds. Lieutenants, Jas. H. Davis, Wm. S. Davis, John Moore and Edwin Reynolds. Company I — Captains, John S. T^ove and J. V. Baird. Lieutenants, J. Debush, C. W. Wells, Thos. W. Keith, A. M. Sheffey and Frederick Devalt. Company K — Captains, Wm. E. Tilson and S. E. Erwin. Lieutenants, S. E. Erwin, J. E. Tilson, J. B. Envin and A. G. Bailey. Companies A, C, D, F, G and I were from Madison County, Company B from Henderson County, Company E from Polk County. The regiment was first stationed at Greenville, Tenn., for a short time, and was moved to Knoxville, where they were drilled and used on guard duty for the city and as scouts for the surrounding country for about three months. About two hundred , of the regiment were then sent to Shelton Laurel, in Madison county, ISF. C, under the command of J. A. Keith, Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment, and were kept there Sixty-Fourth Regiment. 661 until the spring of 1863, when they joined the regiment at Clinton, Tenn. This regiment, like several others from ]^orth Carolina, was moved about from "pillar to post" — rather from post to post : In these tramps, marches and scouts very few comforts were furnished. As we are endeavoring to^ arrive at the truth of history, it is but fair and just to say that this regiment did not have a fair pull with some from other States. Strangers always commanded the Department of East Tennessee, and while high-toned and fearless to a fault, they could not, or did not, understand the character and genuine merits of our rough mountain boys. Consequently, there was friction, jealousy, dictation and some tyranny. Colonel Allen, of this regiment, was not an attractive man — rather otherwise — but was chosen leader because he was known to be brave and fearless. Fighting was expected, and his men had the utmost confidence in him. Lieutenant-Colonel Keith was intrepid and fearless. He had bitter enemies among the enemies of his country. He did severely punish some of the enemies of his country — some say far too severely, and his resignation was demanded in the spring of 1863 by the authorities. It is well kno^vn that the "Shelton Laurel" section of Madison County, bor- dering on East Tennessee, was infested with bushwhackers of such fierce audacity and viciousness that only severe and caus- tic measures would suppress them. In addition to the native disloyal element, scores and hundreds fled from conscription in Tennessee, and when hunted in those mountain fastnesses they fought back, retaliated and did many outrageous things. Colonel Keith caught some of these and punished them severely — perhaps cruelly. His resignation was called for at the instance of Governor Vance for shooting certain parties accused of having looted the town of Marshall. When an officer finds himself and men bushwhacked from behind every shrub, tree or projection on all sides of the road, only severe measures will stop it. Keith and Allen were fighters — soldiers. Their first duty was self protection, protection of their people from midnight marauders. 662 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Major W. N. Gan-ett, promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel later on, was also a good soldier and of good family, which for many years had lived near Hot Springs. His father was bru- tally murdered, shot down on his o^\'n door step in the very arms of wife and daughters. This was only three or four miles from Paint Rock, at the Tennessee State line, along the borders of which up and down for near two hundred miles were constantly ranging bands of outlaws, murdering such men as Colonel Walker, of the Eightieth North Carolina Regiment; Wm. Walker, Cherokee County; Sheriff Noland, of Haywood County; Colonel Ed- ney, of Regiment, Henderson County ; Privates Rice Hyatt, — . — , Hopkins, of the Sixty-ninth Regiment; and Woody and Askew, of Madison County, and many others. Of the company officers, such men as Captain Melvin E. Carter, Jones, Peek, Candler and others were peers of the best men of the State. The regiment was never attached tO' any body larger than a brigade, except on one or two occasions ; but was all the time kept on scouting service, sometimes in one section of the country, then in another. In East Tennessee about 1 Feb- ruary, 1863, the regiment was attached to Colonel Palmer's Brigade and was at Big Creek Gap till about 1 April, when it went to Cliutfui and thence it was soon ordered to move and for one mouth was kept on a continuous march and went within four miles of Monticello, Ky. This part of Ken- tucky was a liot-hed of unionists and little was accomplished by these hard marches. While in camp on Wolf river, or creek, a detail was made of 300 uien to make a raid on what was known as Poplar Cove where it was said was a regiment of bushwhackers. The de- tail was started out and marched all night. At a late hour in the niglit a special detail was made to go across the field to a house, the rest waiting their roturu. Arriving at the house they found a man in cavalry equipage and the woman of the house cooking rations for quite a company. Some of the men secured pine torches, but making no further discov- eries, started back. Wlien within about one hundred yards of the camp they were fired into by a company of bushwhack- Sixty-Fourth Regiment. 663 ers who had taken in the situation, and taken position on the path they would return. Immediately our men extinguished their lights and made good their escape through the darkness, only one man being wounded, and that slightly. The regiment returned to Clinton about 1 May and from that time until August was kept constantly on the march. They were ordered to Murfreesboro, but arriving at Chatta- nooga were ordered back tO' Knoxville. CTJMBEELAND GAP. Twice again were they sent to Chattanooga. On 3 August 1863, the regiment then commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Garrett, was surrendered with the other troops by General J. W. Frazer, who commanded that post, and remained pris- oners during the rest of the war. The Sixty-fourth was at that time much reduced in numbers. The officers were sent to Johnson's Island and the privates to Camp Douglass on 26 December, 1863. The number of non-commissioned officers and privates belonging to the Sixty-fourth Regiment in prison at Camp Douglas were 288, 119 Official Records Union and Confederate Arrnies, p. 797. So, while the Sixty- fourth ]S[orth Carolina Regiment can not boast of battles fought, or deeds of daring, yet its career was one of hardship and endurance, always ready to act promptly at every com- mand. A number of good men were lost, killed by bush- whackers and concealed enemies. There were, however, several officers and some privates who would not surrender and made good their escape at Cumber- land Gap with Major B. G. McDowell, of the Sixty-second North Carolina, through the mountains and again went intx) active service. The total surrendered so shamefully by Gen- eral Frazer at Cumberland Gap was 2,026 prisoners, 12 pieces of artillery, and great stores of provisions and ammuni- tion and quartermaster supplies. In the fall of 1863 General R. B. Vance was sent to Ashe- ville to take command of the forces on duty in Western l^orth Carolina and in response to a general order from General Vance the men of the different companies of the regi- ment were brought together and again went into camp, but 664 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. no new service for the fate of the Sixty-fourth seemed to bo "guard and march," and "march and guard." On — of November the command was ordered to Hot Springs, N. C, and was on a forced march the whole day, but did not arrive in time for the battle in which the noble Major Jno. W. Wood- fin was killed ; yet they marched more than forty miles that day and part of the night, camping for the remainder of the night at Marshall, fifteen miles up the river towards Ashe- ville. After the killing of Major John W. Woodfin, of the Four- teenth Battalion, and the capture of General R. B. Vance, our people were much depressed. Our army, under the peerless Lee in Virginia, had fallen back from Maryland and Penn- sylvania and Vicksburg with all our water line along the Mississippi had surrendered. The clouds were lowering around us. Our noble comrades, now languishing on Johnson's Island and Camp Chase, were rapidly dying, heroically refusing to take the oath of allegi- ance to the United States. The heroic band of the Sixty-second, Sixty-fourth, with parts of the Sixty-ninth and Eightieth North Carolina, were practically always on the march, and only those familiar with the mountains of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina can have an idea of the hardships endured. Our enemies were at home — ^knew all the roads, by-ways and trails, and were much in heart over the success of their arms elsewhere. There in East Tennessee we slashed them, every time we had a chance at them. They never gave us a fair fight, square-up, face-to-face, man-to-man, horse-to-horse. If they did, it was another Bull's Gap (Bull Run in minia- ture) as at Strawberry Plains, Morristown, Greenville, Blountville or Rogersville, and the Dandridge stampede. Some times the boot was on the other leg — we had to "hit the grit," as the boys say, but never when we had half, or one- third of a chance. FIGHTING BUSHWHACKERS. Soon after the enemy had taken Knoxville, in East Ten- nessee, and Major Kirk had gotten some recruits in Western Sixty-Fourth Regiment. 665 ISTorth Carolina, the disloyal sentiment began to spread in sev- eral counties and it required heavy scouting to keep the en- emy dowTL. So after the surrender of the Sixty-fourth Reg- iment those who were fortunate enough to make their escape from the enemy and recruited the service in Western North Carolina, were not all in a body but in different squads. One commanded by Captain Candler, of Company C, one by Cap- tain Anderson, of Company F, one by Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Keith, who later resigned. He was stationed most of the time at Marshall, in Madison County, and did good service in a hard place. The writer of this sketch was the senior Captain and the field officers being prisoners of war, in the absence of Lieutenant-Colonel Keith and after his resigna- tion, had command of the regiment, or so much of it as was together at any time and was stationed at different places in Madison, Buncombe and Henderson Counties. From these headquarters we made many hard scouts in different parts of the country. jSTo one except those who have tried it can real- ize what those who do this kind of service have to undergo. In some respects it is easier than being in the regular army, but in some others it is not. During the months of December, 1863, and January and February, 1864, we made many scouts down into East Ten- nessee. One of these I will endeavor to describe, w^hich might well be called a ''bluff." Colonel Palmer took about two hundred men and one little mountain howitzer and made a raid down as far as Russelville, five miles above Morris- town. While there our cavalry began passing him and he marched on up to Bull's Gap, fifteen miles above Morris- town, when it was discovered that all our cavalry had passed us going back, and that the enemy's cavalry w'ere in pursuit, BO Colonel Palmer selected his battle ground, placed his little howitzer, put a small protection before it, put out a line of skirmishers and a picket which included all the men he had. As the enemy advanced, our pickets fired and fell back. Then our line of skirmishers gave them a few shots and fell back. The howitzer tlien opened. That was more than they could stand, they no doubt thought it was a trap set for them and expected the Confederate cavalry would cut them off, so they 666 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'G5. about faced and made a straight line for Knoxville, and Col- onel Palmer took his little band, including the Sixty-fourth, back to ISTorth Carolina. We did not exactly run, but were like the Indian said when asked if he had ever run from a white man. He said, ''No, but I walked mighty fast down a branch one time." So Colonel Palmer made good his escape that time from about three thousand cavalrymen. Our headquarters were at Marshall when the word came that Kirk was on Shelton Laurel with his men. Colonel Pal- mer, always ready, took the most of the command and made a raid for Shelton Laurel in the eastern part of Madison Coun- ty, leaving Lieutenant-Colonel McDowell in command of the rest at Marshall, but telling him if he desired to do so, he could take what troops were left in camp and go over on Big Laurel and probably capture some that might attempt to es- cape that way from Kirk's command. Lieutenant-Colonel McDowell gathered up about sixty men, including the citi- zens who were always ready for any emergency. We made ready for a two day's scout. I had only about twenty men of the Sixty-fourth for this raid. We made a forced march and about 3 :30 p. m., the enemy began to bushwhack us and had several shots that evening. We camped that night in a little valley between three hills. In the meantime we had learned that Kirk's whole command was there, so we naturally expected a fight next morning and we got it. I was acting as officer of the day, pickets were put on the tops of the three hills and I was instructed to gO' around before day and move the pickets just under the brow of the hills so they would be able tO' get the first shot. x\t the proper time the pickets were properly placed and just as day began to dawn the firing co'mmeTiced. In a sbort time wc were on top of one of the hills which was the most available point. Kirk's command was not in a body, but were in every direction and had good long range rifles. We were not as well armed as they were, but the boys put in good time. Just at the foot of the hill there was a little group gathered that was pouring shot into us and we were over-shooting them. Lieutenant-Colonel Mc- Dowell caTue to me and wanted me to move them, so we of the Sixty-fourth, with a down-hill start, made a charge and Sixty-Fourth Regiment. 667 when about half way, and when we got in one hundred and fifty yards of the enemy they took tO' the woods, which were about fifty yards further. We had but little time, but gave them a few shots while they were falling back. When we reached tlie foot of the hill we found a good place to stay for a while, having good protection behind some large stumps which had protected them from our fire. The enemy had all the advantage, having the woods on all sides. While in that place they began tO' cross fire, so neither side of our works gave lis protection. We lost there one man killed, Hyram Gilbert, a young man and a good soldier. He was shot in the breast and died almost instantly. Sergeant Robert Lee, of the Six- ty-second Regiment, who fell in with the Sixty-fourth in the charge, was slightly wounded, struck with a spent ball which would have proved fatal if it had been in full force. We then had to climb the hill back tO' the command under heavy fire from all directions except in our lines. When we had gotten back we found Lieutenant-Colonel McDowell shot through the arm and the men out of ammunition. The next thing was tO' get out, which we did very nicely by making a charge both ways. When they ran we marched out, having a long trip up a mountain. The enemy fired many shots, but we being out of ammunition, had tO' take it quietly. How- over, we lost only two killed and four wounded, and returned tO' Marshall. In April, 1864, the fraginent of the regiment left was at Marshall, IST. C, and commanded by Captain B. T. Morris. Soon after this the Sixty-fourth was ordered tO' Flat Rock, in Henderson County, to break up the bands of robbers and those who were plundering the county. It was no uncom- mon thing for them to rob a house and sometimes kill the owner. There were living in and around Flat Rock many Southemers who spent the summer in this delightful climate. These bands seemed to have a desire specially to rob those Southern people, so that when we an*ived and made our head- quarters at the "Farmer" hotel, a great many families brought their furniture and other valuables and put them in the hotel for safety. We remained at this place aboiit six months, and during that time made many scouts in the coun- 668 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'G5. ties of Henderson, Polk and Transylvania, and suffered many hardships. At one time when Captain Deaver was in trouble in Transylvania County, I was ordered to send him ten good men. At that time I had a detail out on a scout in Polk County, the only commissioned officer I had ^^'ith me was Lieutenant ]\Iorris, and he had command of that scout, so the best I could do was to send him ten young men under Cor- poral Gilbert. They reported to Captain Deaver and when they had served the purpose for which they were sent, they were ordered back. On their return there came a heavy rain, during which they took shelter in a house on Crab Creek, and when the rain was over resumed their march. When about one mile from the house they were fired on by a band of bushwhackers who had taken all the advantage of the boys. They had selected a place in the road whore there was a large rock above the road and on the top of a little knoll, they had carefully trimmed the brush out of the way, so that when our boys got within fifty yards they fired with shot guns or mus- kets and Enfield rifles, killing one man, Thomas Coggins, a brave and good young man. All the others of our detach- ment except one were wounded, but fortunately all slightly. One of them (Lewis Laughter) was shot in six different places. A minie ball had struck the front part, of his pants and cut them from seam to seam, but did not touch him. The boys returned the fire, but the instant the bushwhackers fired they ran and were soon out of sight. Our boys had a slim chance, but it was said that there was a young man missing out of the settlement wlio has not yet turned up. By the time the boys came into camp the other detail had come in, so we at once took a strong guard, went up and brought our dead comrade to camp, carried him to his home and buried him with the honors of war. A great many of our brave boys were not allowed such a burial. Henry Perkins had leave of absence to visit his family. He lived in Green River Cove, in Polk County, about sixteen miles from camp. When he arHved at home and had been there but a short time he walked out in the yard and was shot do%\'n ; he saw the man that shot him and told who he was. He was a vile fellow who made it his everv day business to Sixty-Fourth Regiment. 669 bushwhack every detail that passed through the country. Word was immediately conveyed to camp and at the proper time leaving camp late in the evening so that our movements should not be known, we travelled nearly all night, arriving before day and having been informed that he was a frequent visitor at a house near the river where some bad Avomen lived, we put our men in ambush to wait for daylight to de- velop something. Just at the break of day the women came out of the house and began a general search as if suspicious of something. They continued their search till they came upon some of the boys, and they made all the racket they could make and it did seem as if our trip was vain. Two of our men who had not been discovered, walked up a little branch only a short distance from the house, when suddenly a little dog com- menced barking. The man we were seeking sprang to his feet and made an effort to get his gun, but was too late. They fired intO' him one ball cutting the artery in his right arm, and in a few minutes he was dead. Thus ended the life of a man who only a few days before had taken the life of his next door neighbor and that without a cause. From this time on that section was more quiet. Many other raids were made which were necessary to keep down such bands. The last camp we occupied for any length of time was Camp Woodfin, two miles north of Asheville. While in camp at this place* in April, 1865, General Stoneman made his raid on Asheville. One bright day, while we were at dinner, the beating of the long roll coiumencgd and soon every man was in line. The enemy had captured some of our men out on the river road. The Sixty-fourth was ordered to remain in camp, but to keep in line. Colonel Palmer was commanding and formed a line of battle on the top of a ridge between our camp and the River road. The enemy was in the road and in some trenches that had been throvTi up there. Several roimds were ^red, the Yankee balls passing over our men and rattling on our shanties, which were covered with boards. About 3 o'clock the Sixty-fourth was moved to the front and took part in a few shots, one man of the Sixty-fourth was wounded. This was another game of bluff. Colonel Palmer who had only about three hundred men, moved one company passing a certain 670 North Carolina Troops, 186l-'65. gap iu sight of the enemy and round and tlirough the same gap several times. While this was going on. General Stone- man was doing the same thing. Colonel Palmer had his glass looking on and said he saw one claybank hoi^se come in sight a half dozen times. Wlien night came on our men went into Asheville and that night camped where Battery Park Hotel now stands. About 10 o'clock that night we noticed all the enemy's campfires blaze up and in a short time they began to die do\vn. We said '"farewell General Stoneman.'' We moved from there to Hickory Xut Gap, where we met him again, but only the pickets exchanged a few shots. From there we went to Broad river and from there to Henderson- ville, stopped there for the night and as the writer of this sketch was in ten miles of his home, it appeared to be a good time to visit it^ so he boiTOwed a horee from a friend and went home. The enemy's account of this raid will be found in lOS Official Tiecords Union and C&nfederaie Annies, pp. 81-33. On 10 March. 1865, the Sixty-second, Sixty-fourth and Six- ty-ninth were under Colonel Palmer near Asheville and the three regiments reported a total of 488 present for duty. My wife was living off from the Howard's Gap Road about one mile, so I spent the night with her and we were up early before light next morning t-o take breakfast at my father's, who lived on the road. When we came into the road we found it full of blue coats. What to do I could not tell. To turn back looked too suspicious, so I decided in my mind to go un to the house and on I .went, my wife by my side, but just before we reached the house they arrested me. I was turned over to a guard who was exceedingly kind to me; he seemed to be sorry for me ; he told me I would get a parole next morning. He put me on an old poor horse and we started for Hendersonville. I can not express my feelings as I went up to^^'n riding that horse folloAving the Yankee army to the music of Yankee Doo<:lle. My guard took me to Dr. T. A. Allen's and liad Mrs. Allen to fix me a good dinner (wliieh she knows exactly how to do) after which we took the State road for Asheville, camped that night where the Mills Gap road leaves the State road. We stopped a wliile before night. Colonel Palmer came out from Asheville under a flag Sixty-Fourth Regiment. 071 of truce and after he returned I heard the soldiers talking and from what was said they made me believe there would be no parole for me. I then made up my mind to take care of myself. They had two of their own men under guard for some misdemeanor. The man that £niardee- gotten feuds and animosities not yet entirely effaced from the minds and memories of the families of those w^ho fell victim.s on either side there. In February, 1863, the two battalions- were at Big Creek Gap and Greenville, Tenn. In April, 1863, they were on outpost duty in Kentucky in the brigade commanded by Colonel John S. Scott, and 31 July, 1803, at Bell's Bridge under General J. W. Frazer. No troops ever had more bitter and disagreeable duties than were at times im])osod upon the men and offif^ers of this command in East Tennessee. One of the first fatal conflicts after the organization came on Christmas day, 1862, at a point on Watauga, river, near Dugger\s Fen'y, in Cartef County, Tennessee. A few days before, some citizens of North Carolina had been waylaid and robbed near by, by a marauding band who informed their victims that the troops of the regiment were to be secretly attacked soon by the same band. The attack came from men concealed in ambush on the bluffs above the river bank while the column was on itvS march. A sharp fight ensued which resulted in the killing of one sol- Sixty-Fifth Regiment, 677 dier from tlie regiment and the wounding of others. A num- berof bushwhackerswere killed outright and several captured. Two of the latter were tried and condemned to death by a court-martial. They were hanged promptly to the most con- venient tree near the spot where they were captured. For the execution of these men, some five or six of the officers of the Sixty-fifth regiment were, after the surrender of the Con- federate armies, indicted in the State courts of Tennessee on the charge of murder ; and for several years afterward, these gentlemen had to fight not only the criminal prosecutions, but other suits were filed against them for damages claimed by the families of the bushwhackers executed. There were numerous other conflicts with the disaffected East Tennesseeans during the winter of 1862 and spring months of 1863, while the two battalions remained on duty in that country ; but none of such a serious character as the one just referred to. For the subsequent history of the movements and actions of the command, T am indebted to material furnished me by two of the leading officers of the line in the regiment, officers who had more and better opportunities for seeing in person the trying conflicts of the men than the writer, who, as a ''quartermaster," is not generally supposed to have been in the quorum pars of the fighting corps. The historic narra- tive which follows is mainly from the pens of Captains B. R. Brown and W. E. McDowell. Captain Brown writes: IN KENTUCKY. "About 1 May, 1863, we were ordered to Knoxville, Tenn., and thence to Kentucky, where we joined Brigadier-General Pegram on the Cumberland river, near Mill Spring, and where we at once encountered the enemy's cavalry under General Wolford, in our first appearance there on the picket lines, and where Captain Gillespie and about fourteen of his men were captured. We lost three men also at Steubenville, where Colonel Goode, of the Tenth Confederate Cavalry, came to our assistance." After some months of picket duties on the Kentucky fron- tier, and in operation against the enemy's raiding expedi- 678 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. tions, the command went into quarters at Big Creek Gap, Tenn., and was engaged in picketing along the outposts along the line of the Cumberland river. The enemy threw a force between us and Knoxville, scattering our support (mainly Tenth Confederate) ; but the Sixty-fifth North Carolina Reg- iment succeeded in cutting its way through the Cumberland mountains, and reached Knoxville, Tenn., after the evacua* tion of that city by the Confederate infantry. In an artillery attack upon the command at Loudon the regiment suffered. The command moved down the Tennessee river to the sup- port of Bragg in front of Chattanooga. On 31 August, 1863, the Sixty-fifth Regiment belonged to Davidson's Brigade, Pegram's Division in Forrest's Corps, 51st Vol. Official Rec- ords Union and Confederate Armies, p. 20. On 30 Novem* ber, 1863, the regiment is reported in Harrison's Brigade, Wharton's Division in Cavalry Corps commanded by General W. T. Martin. BJf. Vol. Official Records Union and Confed- erate Armies, p. 453. IN GEOKGIA. At Braysville, Ga., it met the enemy, capturing a company of the First Kentucky Infantry (Federal) in the advance of General Crittenden's Corps. In the action a portion of Hart's Georgia Cavalry participated. We in this affair had a number of men wounded. Soon after another engagement with the enemy M'as had, but without important result. Cap- tain Brown continues : ''On the night of 1'7 September, 1863, Company A was de- tached, and ordered to follow a portion of Howell's battery. At daylight we crossed the Chickamauga at Reed's Ford, re- porting there to General Forrest. The remainder of the reg- iment had also been moved forward in the same direction; and before sunrise we were all engaged with the enemy at close range in conflicts which lasted several hours. In the meantime the woods between the two lines of battle caught on fire and prevented any advance from either side. Our command was then withdrawn and placed on duty at Alexan- der's Bridge on the Chickamauga, where we remained during the remainder of the great battle." Sixty-Fifth Regiment. 679 chickamauga. In the action of Saturday in the opening of the battle of Chickamauga we lost a number of valuable men and officers killed and wounded. Captain Brown continues : "After this battle the command was sent with other troops in DibbrelFs Brigade with Colonel Morrison, of the First Georgia Cavalry, to the support of Longstreet at Knoxville. When near Phil- adelphia advance squadrons of the regiment were charged by a brigade of Federal cavalry by which we suffered a heavy loss. A portion of the command also encountered, and for a while successfully resisted the advance of Federal General Wilder's Brigade at a church near Mouse creek. In this ac- tion we were assisted by Georgia troops of Rucker's Legion. The enemy's cavalry, however, advanced in force and drove us from our position, inflicting upon us additional serious loss." In these two engagements the organization of the regiment was seriously impaired. Many of the men dispersed by the onslaught of the Federal cavalry, and in the loss of their horses, and being also practically in the enemy's country, made their way as best they could to their nearby homes in l^orth Carolina. In April, 1864, the regiment was in Har- rison's Brigade, Hume's Division, Wheeler's Cavalry Corps, Army of Tennessee. 7^ Vol. Official Records Union and Confederate Armies, p. 650. Soon thereafter, the regiment was in rendezvous camp near Asheville, IST. C, to recruit, where orders were received for the whole command to take up line of march, and report for duty to the officer com ma riding the Department of Eastorn North Carolina at Finstuii, iST. C. JN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. Arriving at Kinston early in the spring of 1864, the regi- ment began picketing the outposts in front of New Bern and other points on the coast of North Carolina covering a line about fifty miles long. During the time we had various en- gagements with bodies of the enemy. One of these conflicts was at Heath's mills, where we captured a number of the Federals. Colonel Folk was cut off from the command and captured in a night attack at this place. In this attack Lieu- 680 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. tenants Kilpatrick and Dehart were killed ; two brave officers falling at the post of duty. Colonel Folk was released after a few weeks' confinement in one of the Northern prisons, and he rejoined his command at Kinston. On 20 Sepleniber, 1864, seven gallant men of this regi- ment entered the enemy's lines at Deep Gully, near New Bern, routed a company of Federal cavalry, capturing twelve horses with accoutrements and arms, and aftemvards sup- pressed a picket post, killing one and capturing five men, and all without loss to themselves. Their names were Sergeant James Greaver, Privates Murray Brown, Patterson Moss, Hiram Gregg, Thomas Sullivan, John Houston and Wil- liam Johnson. The most important of the engagements in Eastern North Carolina was the assault upon and capture of Fort Croa- tan, near New Bern, and the bringing away of a number of the enemy's guns and the garrison which consisted of Lieu- tenant Whiting and a company of Rhode Island troops. An- other gallant ex]:)loit in which the men of the regiment from companies A (Brown) and F (Moore) participated was in the capture and destruction of the Federal gunboat "Albe- marle," on the Koanoke river. In tlie fall of 1864 the two companies of Brown and Pitt were stationed at Williamston, together with Lee's (Alabama) battery and several companies of the Fiftieth Regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel John C. Vanhook, to guard against an advance of the enemy from Washington or Plymouth. Later the Fiftieth were replaced by four companies of the Seventieth North Carolina (First Junior Reserves) under Major Walter Clark, who took com- mand of the post, including the cavalry and artillery. Major Clark was a mere boy of 17 or 18, but he had the hearing and command of a born soldier and displayed the executive talent wliicli ho has since shown. The enemy made many attacks, especially at Foster's Mills and Gardner's bridge, but were always driven back. When the Junior Resen^es were called off to meet the en- emy at Belfield, Va., the enemy came up from below and a sharp fight between the two companies of cavalry with Lee's Battery and the enemy took place 11 December at Spring Sixty-Fifth Regiment. 681 Green, which was very creditable to our forces. Our small force, faced by over 1,000 of the enemy, fell back on the 12th to Butler's bridge near Hamilton, where they were rein- forced by four companiesi under Lieiutenant-Cblonel Broad- foot, of the Seventieth hurried back from Tarboro, and the Sixty-eighth. Though several hundred of the enemy, piloted by a traitor, crossed the stream below and fired upon us in our rear during the night, they were driven back with small loss to- us except the capture of Colonel Hinton and his Adju- tant of the Sixty-eighth. The Sixty-fifth, it may be said, finally covered the retreat of tlie Confederates from Eastern North Carolina in the ad- vance of Schofield from New Bern. It had been assigned to Bearing's Brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia, but never joined it, being detained by events in North Carolina. On 10 February, 1865, Companies A and F, under com- mand of Captain Barton F. Browai, were still on the Roanoke and the rest of the regiment under Major J. J. Spann was be- low Kinston, according to the Official Reports of that date published by the United States Goveniment. On 17 March, 1865, they are reported as being at Goldsboro and on 25 March, after the battle of Bentonville, they were ordered by Gen. Bragg to scout on the Cape Fear in rear of the Federal army, but on protest of Gen, Hampton, this order was revoked. Vol. 100 Official Records Union mid Confederate Armies, pp. 691-693. The regiment was then attached to Butler's Cavalry Division and aided to cover the historic retreat of Johnston's army as it fell back from Raleigh to Greensboro and until the final surrender at the latter place. The men disbanded when near Salisbury, The survivors — about 300 — wending their way home as best they could afoot and on their half famished horses. I should like to speak fully of the personnel of this regi- ment, if the limits of the space assigned me permitted expres- sion. But when we come to consider the principle of patriot- ism which prompted the organization of the North Carolina soldiery, I am loath to make attempt at any separation of the elements, officers and men. To the heroism and devotion of the private soldiers of North Carolina is largely due the im- 682 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. mortal honors achieved by her sons on the many hard fought fields of the war. I place the valor and courage of the hum- blest private who did his duty on the highest plane beside those whose genius directed. In the bitter and long struggle the men always fought at a disadvantage; they were greatly outnumbered ; and they were never placed on an equal footing Avitli their enemies in points of equipment and resources. These facts we all knew. And when the victor lays claim for equal honors in valor in the struggle, we can simply point him to the official records which show that it required three millions of the Federals — among whom were more than five hundred thousand of our own Southern people — and more than six hundred thousand men enlisting from foreign lands — five to one in all — to vanquish in battle and fire, the armies of the Confederacy. These armies never reached six hun- dred and sixty thousand soldiers, all told, enlistment and con- scriptions, from beginning to the end of the war. North Carolina has her share of the glory, as well as her part in the great overwhelming sorrows of that long struggle. That glory was well achieved as we all know, as much through the heroism of the private, as through the wisdom of her many justly distinguished officers. And hence, I feel that it is half wrong in any writer who refers to one without fully honoring the other, yet as the history of the world is largely the history of a few great leading individuals of genius and strong dominating characters, T must crave pardon of my old comrades of the Sixty-fifth if I mention only a few^ of the prominent officials of the command. I trust that these com- rades also will gladly welcome the brief references to those whom I have space for naming. I would have gladly rtien- tioned others; but as I have been so long separated from North Carolina and her immediate sons ; and as some of my old comrades to wliom T liave appealed for aid in refreshing and strengthening the memory have failed to respond to my inquiries, I shall have to confine my notices to the few of whom T have personal knowledge at this writing. Colonel George N. Folk, the commander of the regiment, has been so long and so well and favorably known to the peo- ple of North Carolina as one of her most eminent lawyers, Sixty-Fifth Regiment. 683 that it is unnecessary for me to refer to him at length here. He is a native of Virginia, but when quite a young man, just admitted to the bar, sought his fortunes in Watauga county of this State. He was a representative of that county in the State Legislature at the outbreak of the war. After the war lived in Caldwell county in the enjoyment of a lucrative lav^ practice. Lieutenant-Colonel A. H. Baird is a Buncombe County man, since removed to Texas, related to the late Senator Vance. He is a man who has always steod high as the im- personation of a lofty chivalry, courage and patriotism. Major J. J. Spann is a successful farmer living near Hen- dersonville. He has always been a genial, conscientious, Christian gentleman. Major Siler died recently at his home in Macon county, 'N. C, a noble whole-souled man without fear and without reproach. The adjutant of the regiment was Lieutenant J. H. Merrimon, since the war a prominent lawyer at Asheville, honored also by judicial honors in his district. The Quartermaster of the regiment was the pres- ent writer. Captain M. V. Moore, a native Tennesseean, whose present home is Auburn, Ala. After the war he en- gaged for several years in business in Lenoir, 'N. C. Later he was on the editorial staff of the Atlanta Constitution, and a contributor also to numerous magazines and other papers. The Surgeon of the regiment was Dr. Thos. A. Houston, (a relative of General Sam Houston, of Texas), of Tennessee. The Assistant Surgeon was Dr. Leon F. Sensabaugh, a tal- ented gentleman, who died soon after the war. His home was Franklin, Macon county, N. C. Another Assistant Surgeon was Dr. Kobert C. Rhea, of Tennessee. His home, Shown's X Roads, was in that State. Rev. Mr. Porter, a Presbyterian from Charleston, S. C, was Chaplain. I am not familiar with his history. Captain Brown, of Company A, is a Tennesseean, a suc- cessful farmer and stock raiser near Shown's X Roads, John- ston county. He is a knightly gentleman and was a beau ideal among the cavalrymen — brave, dashing, quick and wise. Captain Council, of Company B, lives at his home in 684 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'65. Boone, N. C, a useful and much beloved physician. He has been in the State Legislature several times. Captain Dobson, of Company C, died some years ago at his home in Macon county — a noble, high-toned, broad- minded gentleman of the old school. Captain Causler, his successor, has been sheriff of his county a number of years since the war — a very popular bachelor. Captain Gash, a gallant and spirited young officer, of a splendid impulse and purpose, went west and died in Texas soon after the war. Captain Siler, an amiable friend and a brave soldier, has also recently died. His successor. Captain McDowell, lives on his farm in Macon county, a quiet conservative citizen of many good parts, tO' whom I am indebted for much informa- tion of historic value in this sketch. Captain Moore, I leara, is a farmer living near Hayes- ville, N. C, from whicli place most of his men were enlisted. He has always been highly and justly popular among those who knew the brave and gentle "Irishman." Captain Folk married and settled soon after the war in Sumpter county, S. C, where he has recently died, greatly beloved by all who knew him. Captain Tate died soon after the war in Burke county — a noble type of gentleman, a sterling representative of one of the best families in the State. T am unacquainted with the history of the other Captains. It would have given me pleasure to name such of the minor officers and privates whose heroic careers merit the pages of fame. M. V. Moore. Auburn, Ala., 26 April, 1897. THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN fOUNOATlONS. SIXTYSIXTEI REOIMENT. 1. I). S, Davis, Major. 2. John E. Lynch, 1st Lieut., Co. A. (.Killed at Petersburg.) 3 R. B. Carrington, Private, Co. A. 4. Chas. H. Penney, 2d Lieut., Co. B. SIXTY-SIXTH REGIMENT. By GEO. M. ROSE, Adjutant. The Sixty-sixth Regiment of I^orth Carolina Troops was organized at Kinston, JST. C, in August, 1863, by Gen- eral James G. Martin, at that time commanding the District of North Carolina, by combining tlie Eighth Battalion of Partisan Rangers, consisting of six companies, which had done faithful and gallant serv'ice in the eastern part of the State as an independent command under Major J, H. Neth- ercutt, and which had for more than a year been of gi-eat ser- vice to the anny in that portion of North Carolina, doing scouting and outpost service, almost every man in the battal- ion being from that section of the State and perfectly familiar with tlie character of tlie country and the positions occupied by the enemy, and the Fourth Battalion of four companies which had been doing service as bridge guards and, also, doing scouting service under the command of Major Clement G. Wright, of Cumberland county. Upon the organization of these ten companies into the Sixty-sixth Regiment, A. Duncan Moore, who commanded a battery of light infantry from Wilmington, then stationed at or near Kinston, was made its Colonel. Colonel Moore was a brilliant young officer who had been at the West Point Military Academy and was an officer of remarkable appear- ance and soldierly bearing. J. H. ISTethercutt w^as made Lieutenant-Colonel, and Clement G. Wright was appointed Major of the Regiment. W. G. Williams Adjutant and J. H. Kinyoun, Surgeon. Company A — Was largely from Orange county, and was commanded by Joseph W. Latta, Captain ; Albert C. Fau- cett, First Lieutenant ; James G. Latta and J. C. Lynch, Sec- ond Lieutenants. 686 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Company B — Was mostly from the counties of Nash and Franklin, and at the time of the organization of the regiment W. S. Mitchell was its Captain ; W. A. Moore, First Lieuteai- ant; D. N. Sills and J. B. Bunting, Jr., Second Lieutenants. Company C — Captain, David S. Davis; First Lieutenant, R. E. Davis ; Second Lieutenants, James Williams, Jr., and Jesse Holland. This company was from the counties of Wayne and Lenoir. Company D. — W. T. Robinson, Captain ; T. H. Kerney, First Lieutenant ; W. A. W. Askew and Lewis Bynum, Sec- ond Lieutenants. This company was from the counties of Jones and Lenoir. Company E — Steven S. Quinnerly, Captain ; I. K. With- erington, First Lieutenant; W. M. Dennis and John Hall, Second Lieutenants. This company was from the counties of Lenoir and Carteret. Company F — Willis J. Raspberry, Captain; Chris. D. Foy, First Lieutenant; Frank Foy and S, Sidney Carter, Second Lieutenants. This company was from Jones and Lenoir. Company G — E. B. Blackmer, Captain; W. J. Williams, First Lieutenant; W. C. Brandon and J. W. Walker, Sec- ond Lieutenants. This company was from Lenoir county, largely. Company H. — James G. Davis, Captain ; Willis W. Cher- ry, First Lieutenant; Robert J. Swinson and Edward Wil- liamson, Second Lieutenants. This company was from Du- plin and Onslow counties. Company I — Jesse P. Williams, Captain; Josiah W. Smith, First Lieutenant; Silas W. Venters and Luby Har- per, Second Lieutenants. This company was largely from Wayne, Onslow and Jones counties. Company K — John P. Sykes, Captain; Alvin Bagley, First Lieutenant; D. J. Knowles, Second Lieutenant. This company was largely from Wayne and ISTew Hanover coun- ties. The appointment of Colonel Moore caused, at the time, some* friction among the officers, as he was unknown to all Sixty-Sixth Regiment. 687 of them, but he had not been long in the regiment before they recognized him as a good soldier, a fine disciplinarian and as brave an ofiicer as ever fought for the cause of his coun- try, and after they had witnessed his conspicuous courage, before his death in Virginia shortly afterwards, he became the idol of his regiment. IN EASTERN XORTH CAROLINA. Shortly after its organization, the Regiment was ordered to Wilmington, where it remained some time around the city, doing light picket duty and perfecting the ofiicers and men in drill, and in fitting them for the arduous and dangerous duties w^hich they were very soon to assume. In the latter part of March, 1864, the Regiment was or- dered to Weldon and from there to Plymouth ; remaining at the latter place about two or three weeks. It ^vas then or- dered to Tarboro, by way of Washington, and thence to Vir- ginia, reaching Petersburg about 12 May, 1864, and was im- mediately assigned to picket duty beyond that City, and on 13 and 15 May it was first exposed, as a Regiment, to fire, at Port Walthal Junction, where the Regiment, or part thereof, w^as sent forward to dislodge one or two pieces of artillery w^hich was doing effective service for the enemy upon our lines. The Regiment acted gallantly in its first ''baptism of fire" as an organized regiment. That portion of it which had belonged to Nethercutt's Rangers had long. since heard the sound of "shot and shell" and knew the dangers of a sol- dier's life, but this was the first occasion on which the reg- iment, as such, had taken part in battle, and its gallantry was conspicuous and favorably commented upon by command- ing officers. PETERSBURG. . Upon its arrival at Petersburg, it was assigned to Kirk- land's Brigade, Hoke's Division, and ever aftenvards formed a part of the division so long commanded by that heroic sol- dier and remained a part of his division until the final roll was called. After this fight, the regiment was ordered back to Peters- 688 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. burg, and tlie next day took part in the engagement at Ber- muda Hundreds, on the north side of the James. Here it M'as engaged through three days with heavy skirmishing with the enemy ; the tliird day of which tlie enemy was driven to its fortifications, with heavy loss in killed and wounded. The loss to the regiment was also heavy. Having repulsed the force with which it was engaged, temporary fortifications were then thrown up, the men using bayonets, tin plates and anything available and which they could put to immediate use. The enemy soon advanced again in heavy force and the charge made by them proved little better than a slaughter pen for them. Lieutenant Davis, of Company C, was disa- bled while assisting in getting a piece of artillery into posi- tion, and was so badly wounded that he was never afterwards able to return to the sei'vice. The regiment remained here and near Bermuda Hundreds until about 1 June, picketing and skirmishing almost every day, Hoke's Division having been ordered to reinfoi?e Lee's army, which luid just engaged in the battles of :he Wilderness and Spottsylvania, it marched to form this juiiction, and on 1 June reached the bloody field of Cold Harbor in time to take a very memorable part in that battle. On the first day of that fight, the enemy charged our front with three columns, but in a few moments the ground was covered with their dead and wounded, and the few survivors falling back to the woods, could not be forced to the front any more on that day. In the series of fights which ended on 3 June, Colonel A. D. Moore was mortally wounded by a ball striking him in the neck and he died in a very few miniites thereafter. The writer of this sketch did not have the pleasure of knowing Colonel Moore personally, as he was not assigned to the regi- ment until after he had given up his life to the cause, but so long as he remained with the regiment, and he did so until it w^as finally disbanded, the memory of his heroic courage was ever present to the officers and men of his command, and oftimes has he heard them comment upon his gallantry and the soldierly qualities he had always exhibited the short time it was given him to command the regiment. SiXTv-SixTH Regiment. 689 PROMOTIONS. Upon his death, Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. Nethercutt be- came Colonel of the regiment; Clement G. Wright, Lieuten- ant-Colonel; and David S. Davis, Captain of Company C, was promoted to Major, their commissions bearing date 3 June, 1864, the day of the memorable battle of Second Cold Harbor. The regiment, with Hoke's Division, remained in the neighborhood of tlie battlefield some ten or twelve days, ex- posed to the sharpshooters and mortar shells of the enemy, but on the 14tli was ordered with the rest of Hoke's Division back to Petersburg. The regiment arrived there two days afterwards, about the 16th, after a hurried march to get ahead of the enemy. When the division reached Petersburg, late at night, it found the anny of General Grant had gotten in possession of the outer works before the division could get there ; but we iminediately went to work and eotablished an- other line as best we could in the dark. 16 MAY, 1864. The next morning the enemy came on in force ; our pickets were driven in, and the line assaulted and hardly pressed. The assault on the right wing was made in such force and pressed so far back that it was necessary for a part of the line to retire and a break was made, but the division was ordered to assist in driving the enemy out of the breach which had been made, and it was quickly done and the line re-estab- lished. Here the troops entrenched themselves and remained for some considerable time, exposed to hardships and priva- tions common at that time to the whole army in front of Petersburg. The troops virtually lived under ground, and it was dangerous for a person's head at any time to be ex- posed, so near together were the two lines, in some places hardly more than a hundred yards apart. All cooking had to be done in the rear or in trenches ; and all rations brought to the officers from their messes had to be brought in the night time. The soldiers frequently, as a matter of amusement, would place their hats on the end of their bayonets or ram- rods and raise them a little above the top of the ground and 44 690 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'(55. in a few iniimtes tliey would be perforated with bullets from tlie Yankee sharpshooters; and woe to the man who exposed himself within range or within sight of one of those sharp- shooters. The picket lines of the two armies were within speaking distance of each other, and frecpient conversations were had between tlieni wlie^n tlie officers would permit it to be done; and at all times, both day and night, solid shot or mortar shells fell in the midst of our line. Here both armies settled for the rest of the summer, and the regiment remained on Mortar Hill and near the memor- able crater, until the latter part of August, when it was moved to the right of Petersburg, where it remained until about 29 or 30 September, when Hoke's Division took up its line of march back to Richmond and down the river to take part in the memorable fight of Fort Harrison. The brigade to which the Sixty-sixth was attached was not actually engaged in that fight, but remained in supporting distance and was ready, if it had been ordered so to do, to take part in the assault. Upon the resignation of W. G. Williams, who was Adju- tant of the regiment up to that time, the writer, wdio had been a cadet at tlie Virginia Military Institute, and who had re- cently been appointed First Lieutenant in the regular Con- federate Army, was assigned to duty as Adjutant of this regiment. Tlu^ facts given above were related to him by the officers with whom he was associated ever aftenvards in the regiment until the surrender at or near High Point It is to be regretted that some one who was familiar with the gallant ])art the regiment took up to that time in the battles around Petersburg and Ilichmond, had not been selected to do full justice to the gallant officers and men of this regiment — than whom there were no better in the Confederate Army. He has no personal knowledge, and has only gathered these dates and facts from the records or traditions in the regiment at the time of his assignment to it, and from facts gathered since he was called upon to write a sketch of this regiment. He joined the troops while in winter quarters on the Darby- town road in September, 1864, and from that day until 2 May, 1865, was with the command the whole time, not being absent a single day, and the facts given hereafter in the Sixty-Sixth Regiment. 691 sketch are of his own knowledge, and the matters are known to him. north of the JAMES. Hoke's Division after the battle of Fort Harrison, was kept on the north side of the James, between what is known as the Darbjtown and the Charles City roads, and was left there for the purpose of watching the movements of Grant on that side of the river and for the purpose of holding a considerable part of his command there, and preventing it from taking part in the siege of Petersburg. It was assigned to the work of throwing up breastworks, strengthening the approaches, occasionally making demonstrations upon the enemy and repelling assaults upon our line, though no very serious action took place while occupying this position. The division was composed of the brigades of Colquitt, Clingman, Haygood and Kirkland, the Sixty-sixth being part of Kirk- land's Brigade. New and comfortable winter quarters had been built ; the line had been greatly strengthened ; abatis had been placed in front of the breastworks, and the men were not only ready, but anxious for an attack to be made upon them. Several demonstrations were made and easily and gallantly repulsed. While occupying these lines in November, 1864, word fre- quently came that our division was to be ordered to North Carolina. Whenever it became the duty, as was often the case, of the officers to wake up the men at the sound of the long roll in the night time and an order was given to prepare ra- tions for three days, word would be given out along the line that we were going to North Carolina. A shout along the whole line would be raised and Gaston's grand old song, "The Old North State," could be heard from every North Carolina mouth in that division. On more than one occasion, how- ever, instead of going to North Carolina as a division, the order was given to "Unsling knapsacks and go over the breast- works" upon some demonstration, or to engage in some skir- mish to direct Grant's attention in that direction. On 27 October, or about that time, a strong demonstration was made against us, and with a shout and a cheer the enemy 692 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'05. were easily repulsed, leaving a large number of dead and wounded in our front, and not a man in our whole line hurt. KKTIKX TO .NORTH CAKOLI^■A. On 22 December, however, an order came in the night time arousing the division for the purpose, really, this time, of going to Xorth Carolina, Hoke's Division having been or- dered to Wilmington. The Sixty-sixth Regiment hroke camp on the morning of 22 December, marched to IJichmond and crossed the river to Manchester where it remained several hours in the snow and sleet waiting for transportation to Danville. We were placed on and in box cars and flat cars, and the train made its way slowly from Richmond to Danville amid snow, sleet and rain, and the severest bitter cold we had ever experienced. There was no opportunity to have tires, no way to keep ourselves warm and the train worked its way along, the men frequently having to get off and nm alongside of it to keep themselves warm, and to fill the tender with water, by buckets, from the mud holes on the side of the track, and to gather wood to keep the fire in the engine burning. In this way we reached Danville about 23 December, and made our way to Greens- boro with such transportation as we could get. and there took the train for Wilmington. The Colonel of the regiment noting the suffering of his men, telegraphed to the Governor at Raleigh that it was necessary that some stimulant should be furnished his troops for them to stand the bitter cold, and when the regiment reached the city of Raleigh, it found on the old depot a baiTel of corn, persimmon or some other sort of "juice" ready for their consumption. It also found that the Legislature of Xorth Carolina had just adjourned, and some of the members were at the depot waiting for transpor- tation home and were willing to take any means of convey- ance that was furnished them. The soldiers very soon left nothing in the barrel but ''an empty sound," and a more jolly crowd from there to Goldsboro, along with the members of the Legislature, was never seen in Xorth Carolina, I ex- pect, before nor since. The "Solons" did not seem to appre- ciate their suiToundings, and the men had their fun with Sixty-Sixth Regiment. 693" them. On reaching Goldsboro the train was boarded for Wilmington, and all along the line from Goldsboro to Wil- mington, especially at Magnolia and Mt. Olive, the ladies hearing of our coming, had such provisions as they could spare from their scanty store to give tO' the regiment as it passed by, the Sixty-sixth being on the foremost train and get- ting the best share of all that was prepared for us. WILMINGTON. Our regiment reached Wilmington during the night of the 24th, and on the morning of the 25th, Christmas day, took up its weary march along the sandy road below Wil- mington in the direction of Sugar Loaf Hill. As it went along and drew nearer and nearer to Fort Fisher, the sound of the shelling from the gunboats assembled there could be more and more distinctly heard, and as we reached a point just below Sugar Loaf Hill and near wbere "Carolina Beach" now is, the shelling from the gunboats became terrific, but as it was impossible to land troops with transports and keep up the shelling at the same time, we were very soon engaged in quite a strong skirmish with those of the enemy who had landed and were about to land and they were soon driven back. Immediately after this first shelling was over, the division commenced to build a line of breastworks from the top of Sugar Loaf Hill diagonally across the strip of land between it and the ocean and in the direction of a battery which was located on the beach. Here we remained for some days, throwing up the fortifi- cations which we made strong and, to us, seemed impregna- ble for any land attack that could be made by land forces; but we were not long allowed to remain. General Bragg having been assigned to the command in that locality, we were ordered back to Wilmington and went into camp a mile or two east of Wilming'ton for the purpose of holding a grand review. WHY FORT FISHER FELL. We remained in that camp some days, and while on review the enemy again made his appearance in front of Fort 694 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Fisher; this time not in command of "Beast Butler," but General Terry. We were ordered back to our old line, but before we were able to make the weary march from Wilming- ton down, the enemy had succeeded in making a lodgment upon the shore, and had thrown up a line of breast works which General Hoke considered it was impracticable for his men to attack, as his division would be exposed to an en- filade fire from the enemy's grmboats. It has always been the opinion of most of the officers connected with Hoke's Division, so far as I have been able to ascertain those opinions, that if his division had been allowed to remain at Sugar Loaf and not have been carried to Wilmington for the purposes of review, that the troops of the enemy could never have made a landing and Fort Fisher would never have fallen into their hands. It is well known that it fell by reason of the land attack and not by reason of the fire from the gunboats. If Hoke's divis- ion had been where, it seemed to the officers, it ought to have been, this landing of troops could never have been made and there never would have been a land attack upon Fort Fisher. It is useless, however, to speculate upon what might have been and what might not have been, under such circumstances. General Sherman was going in the direction of the centre of North Carolina and if he had kept on his march, his anny would have been in the rear of Fisher and it would necessa- rily have been abandoned any way, but we would have been saved the loss of the gallant soldiers who met their death at Fisher and would have been spared the humiliation of having had that fort, even after a gallant defence, taken from us. On the night after its fall, the scene was brilliant ; rockets and roman candles were thrown in every direction from the gunboats in its front, and the soldiers of Hoke's Division had to grind their teeth and bear the humiliation of not having "been there" to prevent the fall of Fisher, and to listen in silence to the shouts and huzzas of the enemy over their vic- tory. The division, after the fall of Fort Fisher, remained on the Sugar Loaf lines, strengthening the same, living amidst sand and dust and on unsifted corn meal and spoiled Nassau bacon until life became almost unendurable, but the spirit of the Sixty-Sixth Regiment. 695 troops never flagged ; they were always willing to do their full duty, and always glad to see the enemy in their front. Al- most every day there would be fighting upon the skirmish line ; and sometime in February, I do not now know the date, an attack in considerable force was made upon us by a negro regiment in command of white officers. The fact of seeing those negro troops in front of us exasperated the men and they fought with great gallantry and easily repulsed the at- tack made upon us. While here, almost every day the gun- boats of the enemy were shelling our line, and we could see the shells about the size of the hoop of a barrel, as they left the mouth of the cannon on the gimboat and came bouncing over the water toward our lines. The men exposed them- selves frequently in claiming the parts of the shells when they had burst, so as to make rings and other ornaments out of the brass parts connected therewith. As soon as the missile burst you would see men running in every direction toward the place for the purpose of finding the broken parts. We here buried ourselves literally under the ground, and the shelling had little or no effect upon us. About 18 February, the division received orders to move back to Wilmington. This we did, and occupied for a day or so a line much nearer to Wilmington — the breastworks of which can now be seen on riding from Wilmington to the beach on the Seacoast Railroad. About the 'Jist or 22d, the regiment marched to Wilmington, disheartened and dis- pirited because we were falling back and leaving our "City by the Sea" unprotected and unguarded. RETREAT FROM WILMINGTOlSr. The enemy were rapidly pressing us, and we fell back across the ISTorth East river over a pontoon bridge below the railroad bridge, and had scarcely gotten a skiniiish line out before the enemy appeared upon the opposite side of the river. The main part of the division had fallen back and es- tablished a line on the edge of the sand hills, back of the swamps, but a good strong force was left at the public road crossing and at the railroad bridge. Very soon the enemy, supposing that no troops had been left at all upon the north 696 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. bank of the river, came down to the water's edge for the pur- pose of getting- water, with torches and other lights in their hands, and s()nie of their cavalry which was in force on their side of the river appeared on the hanks. All at once the sharpshooters (jn our side opened lire upon them with deadly effect and they soon scattered back to the rear. We were falling back, but the men were cool and deliberate, not hur- ried at all in their marching and ready at all times to face about and meet the foe. The Sixty-sixth Kegiment, part of the time, acted as rear guard of the division and did its full duty in retarding the approach of the enemy's cavalry. We remained a short time near JsTortheast river, when we fell back toward Goldsboro and stopped at what was then called "Duplin Cross Roads." Here we remained some days, the division expecting, during its stay here, to receive orders to march to Fayetteville for the purpose of joining General Hardee's army and impeding the army of Sherman in his march northward. But these orders never came, and the division was ordered to Kinstou tO' meet the army of General Schofield, who was moving from ISTew Bern to join forces with General Sherman, While at Duplin Cross Roads, Lieutenant-Colonel C. G. Wright was taken sick and sent to his home in Greens- boro, where he died about the 13th of the month, and Major D. S. Davis was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel in his stead, and Captain W. P. Robinson was recommended for Major. HATTLE OF SOUTH WEST ("REEK. We arrived at Kinston on 7 March, and immediately crossed the Neuse river and took position on the railroad some two or three miles below. On 8 March a flank movement was made by Hoke's Division to our right and around the left of the enemy's forces, near Cobb's ^Mill. We took them c<)ni])l('t('ly liy siii-prisc, :iiid after a gallant attack we effectu- ally routed them, capturing a hirge number of prisoners and inflicting a great loss u])on them. After having driven the troops back ujxiu their lines, we faced about and started to make another attack u]i(>n them over the same ground from Sixty-Sixth Regiment, 697 which we had shortly before routed them. The field was cov- ered Avith dead and dying, broken guns, empty saddles, dis- mantled caissons and artillery and cavalry horses in great numbers. The field officers were afoot, the regiment being commanded by Major Davis, Colonel JSTethercutt during this fight, lieing familiar with the ground, acting as Chief on Gen- eral Hoke's staff. Seeing two fine looking black horses stand- ing side by side, the commanding officer. Major Davis, and the writer left the line and ran with all their might to cap- ture these horses, and imagine their surprise to find that their ham-strings had been cut and the animals could not move out of their tracks. Some very fine horses, however, were ob- tained by some of the more fortunate ones. On 9 March a similar attempt was made upon the left flank, but for some reason it was not carried out; I suppose, because the situation of the country would not permit of it. We, therefore, retired at night to our old position in the line near the railroad and slept comfortably, dreaming of what would be before us on the moiTow. On the 10th another attack was made upon the enemy's left flank, at or near Wise's Fork. For some reason our lines were not extended sufficiently far to our right and his left, and an order was given too soon to charge the enemy's line, and when the charge was made we found that the enemy had prepared for us with his breastworks facing both ways, and the same protected by small pines, which had been cut down, lapped over each otlier and their limbs trimmed and point- ing in our direction. When the Sixty-sixth was within about fifty yards of the enemy, it was ordered to lie down to pro- tect itself from the galling fire from the breastworks. The troops on the left of our line did not seem to take in the situ- ation, and did not come to our support, and we were com- pelled to fall back, leaving a large number of the men of the regiment dead and dying on the field. How many were killed or how many were taken prisonei's, we were never able to find out. We only know that at least one-half of the regi- ment was left upon that field, and the balance of it, under the command of Major Davis, was cut off from the rest of the army and was in the rear of the enemy's position. But 698 North Carolina Trooi's, 1861-65. for his knowledge of the line and the knowledge of others who were with us, we would evidently have been captured. However, by taking the swamps and by-paths we avoided meeting any considerable armed force of the foe, and late in the night made our way back to Kinston, to which place the army had retired. BENTONVILLE. On the next day we took up our march for Goldsboro and to Bentonville, crossing the Neuse river near Smithfield. Here we joined General Stewart's Corps in the Army of the West, and took part in the memorable three days' fight at Bentonville, 19-21 March, 1865, the last well organized and well fought battle of the war in North Carolina. This fight commenced 19 March near the little village of Bentonville. Kirkland's Brigade was well to the front, with its right resting upon a road that ran along the edge of a field, in which was situated a large white house, that was occupied by the sharpshooters of the enemy. The line was rather a crooked one, the Sixty-sixth Regiment being the farthest to the front, at the point of a bow. Here a very severe attack was made upon us in which we lost a number of men, among others the gallant Council Wooten, a young man from near Kinston, who was killed suddenly while bravely and defiantly waving the colors of the regiment in front of the enemy. The sharpshooters of General Sherman's army located in the trees, got in their best work, and many a gal- lant soldier fell during the 19th and 20th from well directed shots of these sharpshooters. On the 20th it became neces- sary for Kirkland's Brigade to straighten its line and while in the act of so doing, a very severe attack was made by a Pennsylvania division. The men of Kirkland's Brigade were engaged in rolling together logs and making such de- fences as they could when the attack was made upon us. The men were ordered to lie down behind such obstnietions as they could find, and to await the order to fire until the ad- vance came very near to them. Wlien the enemy got within, say 100 yards, the order was given to fire; tlie men immedi- ately raised upon their knees and fired a volley full in front Sixty-Sixth Regiment, 699 of the advancing foe. Their ranks were mowed down like wheat before the scythe, and the attack was repulsed with great loss to the attacking division. Just at this moment an order was given by the commanding officer, Major Davis, to the writer, who was standing near him, to take the picket line to the front, the commanding ofiicer of the picket line having been killed. When the line went forward, the whole front was covered with the dead and dying, and showed the effect of troops obeying the commands of their officers, to shoot low and wait until the enemy was near upon them. Just at this time, it is said, that General Joseph E. John- ston paid a very high compliment to the troops of Hoke's Division, and Kirkland's Brigade in particular. General Johnston was lying somewhere in the rear, resting after his arduous labors of the three days, when some aide, riding rapidly up, said: "General, they are attacking Kirkland's Brigade." The General quietly rolled over on his pallet and said: "Let them attack. I know of no brigade in the South- em Anny I would sooner they would attack." During the three days' fight at Bentonville, Major Davis was commanding the regiment, Colonel J^ethercutt having been assigned to the command of the brigade of Junior Re- serves, which took so gallant a part in that fight. On the 21st, General Sherman's army having been only slightly impeded in its march toward Goldsboro, made a flank movement in the rear of General Johnston's army, which necessitated its falling back during the night across the creek near which the little town of Bentonville was lo- cated. After we crossed the creek the enemy appeared in quite a force on the opposite side of a creek and some little skirmishing took place, but no actual harm was done. They shortly vanished from our front, and our army quietly retired through Smithfield to a camp on the line of the railroad, near where Selma now is, and that was the last armed force that we saw in our front during the war. THE LAST RETREAT. We remained at this camp some few days, and on 10 April wearily took up our line of march from there, through Ra- 700 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. leigli, Haw River, near Greensboro, and to Busli Hill near High Point. After the division had arrived at a place near Center church, some eight or ten miles from Greensboro, the armis- tice of ten days had been agreed upon between General Sher- man and General Johnston, and the officers and men saw that the end was not far. Word came to them about this time that General Lee had surrendered at Appomattox, and hundreds of both officers and men did not desire to suffer the humilia- tion of surrender ; they, therefore, left in large numbers during these ten days, knowing that they had fought a good fight, they had kept the faith, and they now desired not to suffer the humiliation of surrender. A part of the regiment, however, when the order to march was given, left Center church and marched to Bush Hill, where on 2 May, 1865, the weary remnant of this regiment, which started out 1,100 strong, now" reduced by death, sickness and capture to less than a hundred, signed their paroles and scattered to their various homes. During the time the regiment was engaged in service many changes had taken place among the rank and file; numy had fallen in battle; a record had been made for the regiment which was imperishable; its field officers had changed; its company officers had been killed and captured; and now the flag which had waved over them so long in glory and triumph, had gone down in blood and tears, but, thank God, it had gone down amidst gloom and defeat as pure, as bright, as untarnished in tliat last decline as when the first ray of morning light proclaimed its rising dawn. It would be impossible for me to give the times and places where the officers and men were killed and captured, or even to enumerate their names or to refer to tlieir bravery. Where all did so well, it is needless to particularize. Sufficeth to say, that all did the best they could ; their cause was lost, and the only duty that now remained to them was to return to their homes and attempt to build up the shattered fortunes of tliemselves and rehabilitate their State. I know, in conclusion, that I have given but a very im- perfect sketch of the part that this gallant regiment took in Sixty-Sixth Regiment. 701 the war between the States, but when it is recalled that every field officer, but one, has passed away, and that all the com- pany officers, so far as I am now able tO' find out, except five, have also ''crossed over the river," and I have been unable to see or communicate with those left behind, I feel that I have done the best I could. For the changes in the Company Officers, reference is made to Moore's Roster of North Carolina Troops, Vol. IV, p. 107-132. Geo. M. Rose. Fayetteville, N, C, 26 April, 1901. THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY. ASTOR, LEHOX AND TltOEN f«UN0ATION«. SIXTY-SEVENTH KEGIMENT. 1. John N. Wliitford. Colonel. 3. J. P. Myers, Captain, Co. K. a. R. W. Whai ton, Lieut.-Coloncl. 4. T. W. Carr. 1st Lieut., Co. K. 5. Wui r. Lane, -'d liieut, Co. I). SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT. By RUFUS W. WHARTON, Lieutenant-Colonel. The Sixty-seventh Eegiment (N". C. Troops), was organ- ized in January, 1864, and was composed of nine companies of infantry and one of cavalry. The several companies had been organized a considerable time prior to the organization of the regiment. Some of them in the early part of the war, and had been employed on outpost duty in the vicinity of New Bern and Washington, N. C, after those towns fell into the hands of the enemy early in 1862. These companies and the regiment, after its organization, were paid, fed and clothed entirely by the State of North Carolina, were subject to the orders of the Governor of the State and could not be removed beyond the limits of the State without his consent and order. In fact, however, they were under the immedi- ate command and subject to the orders of the Confederate officer in command of the military district of Eastern North Carolina. The field officers and staff of the regiment were : John N. Whitford, of Craven county. Colonel. RuFUs W. Wharton, of Forsyth county, Lieutenant-Col- onel. Edward Whitford, of Craven county, Major. Samuet- G. Schenck, of Beaufort county, Adjutant. Thomas M. Robinson, of Beaufort county, Quartermas- ter. Wiley F. Higgins, of Craven county. Commissary. Joseph Graham, of Orange county, Surgeon. William H. Morrow, of Orange county, i^ssistant Sur- geon. The writer of this sketch, at the time of his appointment by Governor Vance, belonged to the Army of Northern Vir- 704 North Carolina Troops, 18(51 -'65. ginia, in which he hnd served from and including the first battle of Bull Run u]) to that time. lie is, therefore, unable to give a (h'tailed account of tlie services of the several com- panies ('< nil posing the regiment prior to the time when he joined the same, which was in Februai'v, 1M>4; soon after the Pickett expedition against Xew Bern. The regiment participated in that expedition, being a jiart of the troops in- tended to attack Fort Anderson, opposite New IJci'u, on the north side of A^ense river. The conditions under which the attack was to be made did not occur, and no attack was made. When the writer joined the regiment he found seven com- panies encamped at Coward's bridge, on Contentnea, twelve miles below Kinston. Company A, from Craven, James H. Tolson, Captain ; Company B, from Craven, Stephen Bar- rington, (\iptain ; Company C, from Wilson, T). W. Edwards, (^aptain ; (\)ni])any E, diaries A. White Ca])tain ; Company E, from Craven, David P. Whitford, Captain; Company G, Asa W. Jones, Captain; (Vmpany I, from Pitt, Edward E. White, Ca])tain. The other three companies, viz: (\>mpany D, from Craven, Daniel A. Cogdell, Captain; Company H, from Dnplin, Jones and Craven, Christopher D. Eoy, Cap- tain; and Company K (cavalry), from Wayne, Joseph D. Myers, Captain, were encajnped some mil(>s in front, nearer the enemy's lines, and engaged in sccniting and doing picket duty in the vicinity of New Beni and Washington. Captain Eoy was a man of fiO years, was six feet and a half high, wore a long, flowing white beard that reached to his waist and was uni(|ue both in personal appearance and in the influence which he wielded over the men of his company. He was familiarly known in the regiment by the name of "Tecum- seh." When the writer first saw him he was marching at the head of his company of O;") or 70 men, who were following him, rndian-like, in single file. As the men had had but little o])j)ortunity for com]iany and none at all for battalion drill, the companies at regnmeTital camp, spent the next few weeks in these exercises. About the last of April, 18fi4, another expedition against New Bern was undertaken, this time under command of Major-General R. E. Hoke, who had just won his promotion - ( Sixty-Seventh Regiment. 705 by the brilliant battle and capture of Plymouth, jST. C. In the expedition the Sixty-seventh headed the column. ISToth- ing of importance happened until we reached Deep Gully, eight miles from New Bern. Here we came on a strong out- post of the enemy which made some resistance, but was quickly driven in by the Sixty-seventh, which remained in this vicinity for the next two days, while General Hoke pro- ceeded with the balance of the troops, down the Trent, on the south side, to the vicinity of New Bern. Before the capture of New Bern, which was almost a certainty, was accomplished General Hoke, to his great disappointment, received orders to hasten back to Virginia Avith his command. He arrived in Petersburg just in time to save that city from capture. The regiment returned to its former position and continued in the same service as before for a short time, but was soon removed to the vicinity of Kinston, where it remained, doing outpost duty until October, when it was ordered to Washing- ton and Plymouth, N. C, to relieve the troops stationed at those points. Occasionally we had to repel incursions made by the en- emy, outside of his lines and sometimes we made incursions into the territory occupied by him. In one of these raids a squad of men, about fifty strong, led by Major Whitford, proceeded down Nense river on the north side to a point several miles below New Bern, crossed the river in boats at night and made its way to the Atlantic & North Carolina Railroa in door and make no alarm, at the peril of their lives. They then placed a keg of powder, v/hich they carried with them, in the light house and connected it with a trail of powder to which they a])plied a sldw match. The match failed to ignite the pow- der and as the steamer on guard had begun to move up near to the light house, one of the party procured from the keeper's house a shovel of live coals and running near the door of the light house, threw the coals on the trail of powder. The keg of powder exploded and 'the tall structure was so badly wrecked as to be unsafe for further use. In June, ]8()1-, a strong party of Federals and Buffaloes, as the natives who joined the enemy, w'ere called, attempted to capture Captain C(\ii,dell and his company. They were on outpost duty ten miles i)elow Kinston on the south side of the Neuse. Ca])tain Cogdell was on the alert and did not fall into t]w ti-ap set for him. They did, however, capture Colo- nel G. X. Folk, of the Sixty-fifth North Carolina (Sixth Cav- alry). At the lime he was attempting to rcju-h (/Ogdell. As before stated, the Sixty-seventh was ordered to relieve the troo])s stationed at Washington and Plymouth, N. C, in October, 18()1. The writer and three com]ianies stopped in Washington while Colonel and ^fajor Whitford, with the other seven (•()m])anies ])rof'eeded to Plymouth. Plymouth is oniv ei^'lit miles above tlu^ mouth of the Roan- oT<(' and was ])i'olc('t('(l l)y the (^onfedcralc ram Albemarle, which was anchored a sliort distance b('h>w the town and which had done such line service tho ]M-cvioiis s])ring at the cai)tur(^ of the town from the Fi'derals, thongb defended by Sixty-Seventh Regiment. 707 geveral gunboats on the river and several thousand troops, well fortified, on the land. It was a part of the duty of the gari-ison to keep a strong guard on the ram day and night, to protect it from any effort that might be made secretly to de- stroy or injure it. About a week after Colonel Whitford assumed command at Plymouth, during a dark night, a small steam launch which had approached without noise or any otlier sign of its presence, was suddenly discovered by the sentinel on duty, very near the ram and approaching it rap- idly. The sentinel immediately fired on the approaching boat, but in an instant it struck the side of the ram and at the same time exploded a toi-pedo or some explosive of great force. The parties in the launch attempted to back it off, but failed. In the darkness and confusion one of the boat's crew jumped into the river and escaped unnoticed. Two others and the launch were captured. A large hole was torn in the side of the ram by the explosion and it immediately sank to the bottom, though a portion of it still remained above water. Two days thereafter several Federal gunboats came up the river and shelled the town until the garrison was with- drawn. The party who escaped by swimming ashore was Lieutenant Gushing, of the Federal navy, and was entitled to the credit of planning and carrying out the attack on the ram. Immediately after the abandonment of Plymouth, the writer was ordered to remove all the military stores in Wash- ington and withdraw from the place. There were quite a large number of heavy guns mounted in the several forts in and around the town — some weighing 10,000 pounds, and no means of getting them to a place of safety except by hauling them seven miles into the country. Two weeks were spent in executing the order. After the evacuation of Plymouth and Washington, IST. C, Colonel and Major Whitford, with the greater part of the regiment, returned to Kinston, wdiile the writer with the bal- ance was stationed at Greenville for a few weeks. About this time Colonel Whitford, Avith a part of the regiment, went to Hamilton, on the Roanoke, to repel an invasion of that section by the enemy who came up the river in gunboats. The en- 708 North Carolina Trooi'S, 1861-65. emy were soon driven back with the loss of one of the gun- boats. In January, 1865, the enemy made a demonstration in force from New Bern, on Kinston, and came within four or five miles of the town, but were promptly driven back by the Sixty-seventh and other troops then at Kinston, Nothing else of importance occuiTed in that district until the latter part of February, 1865, when General J. D. Cox, with a large Federal army advanced from New Bern on Kin- ston, with the purpose of making a junction, at some point further west, with Sherman, who was coming from South Carolina in that direction. General Braxton Bragg, with such Confederate troops as could be spared from other points, w^as sent to meet him. The two armies met at South West Creek four and a half miles east of Kinston, where for two days, 8 and 9 March, 1865, there was sharp fighting and several hundred prisoners cap- tured, mostly by the division of General R. F. Hoke, to which the Sixty-seventh was attached. On the first day of the battle General Hoke, with his command, the Sixty-seventh, being in front, executed quite a brilliant manoeuver by which lie surprised and after a short fight, captured about 700 Federals. The next day General Hoke made another attempt to out- flank and surprise the enemy on another part of his lines. This time the Federals were on the alert and gave him such a wann reception that he withdrew to his own side of the creek. After contesting the advance of the enemy four days, General Bragg withdrew to tlie north side of the Neuse, destroyed the bridge over the same and marched in the direction of Golds- boro. General Hoke with his division, remained in the vicin- ity of Kinston two or three days longer and then joined Bragg at Goldsboro. At Goldsboro the Sixty-seventh and Sixty- eighth, the latter commanded by that brave officer and ex- cellent gentleman, Lieutenant-Colonel Edward C. Yellowley, were formed into a brigade and placed under command of Colonel John jST. Whitford, of the Sixty-seventh. At that time tlio Sixty-seventh reporte'd 700 for duty and the Sixty- eighth r;00: total 1,000, 00 Vol Official Eccords Union and Confederate Armies, p. 1424. Sixty-Seventh Regiment. 709 The Sixtv-seventh and Sixty-eighth were ordered from Goldsboro to a bridge over Neuse river a short distance east of Bentonville. We reached the bridge about noon, when the enemy appeared in large numbers on the opposite, the south side. On that side the river is bordered by a swamp about half a mile wide. After posting a strong skirmish line on the south side, in the swamp, the balance of the brigade formed a line on the north side above and below the bridge and near the river. Early next morning the enemy attacked in force and gradually drove our skirmishers back, who, when near the bridge, quickly crossed over, setting fire as they did so to some combustible material which had been placed there. The brigade remained near the bridge until it was nearly con- sumed and then withdrew, the object having been accomplish- ed which was to prevent the enemy from crossing to the north side of the river during the battle of Bentonville. We then joined General Johnston's army at Smithfield a day or two after the battle of Bentonville. We remained at Smithfield one day and then marched Eastward by way of Wilson and Tarboro. Our purpose was to get to the rear of the enemy and interrupt and destroy as much as possible the enemy's transportation, which was by both river and rail from New Bern via Kinston and Goldsboro. The Sixty-eighth remained near Tarboro. The Sixty- seventh proceeded to Greenville and went into camp in the grove at the north end of the Greenville bridge. These two regiments were accompanied by a battalion of the Thirty- sixth North Carolina (Second Artillery) acting as infantry, and commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel John D. Taylor. IN REAR OF THE ENEMY. Erom Tarboro a small company of cavalry was sent over to Greene county in the direction of Kinston, which had sev- eral skirmishes with the enemy's forage parties, in one of which Lieutenant Titus Carr, in consequence of the falling of his horse, was captured. From Greenville Company A, of the Sixty-seventh, a large and fine company, commanded by Captain James H. Tolson, was dispatched to Neuse river, be- tween New Bern and Kinston, with instructions to operate 710 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. both on the river and railroad running from the former to the latter place. Many of the men in this company were citi- zens of Craven county and familiar with the country and would doubtless have done good service had not the war prac- tically ended a few days thereafter. They tore up the rail* road at one point and captured and burnt a steamer and two barges on tlie river, all loaded with supplies for the Fed' erals. On 9 April Colonel Jno. N. Whitford made the follow-' ing report (OS Official Becords Union and Confederate Armies, llSJf.) : "On 5 April Lieutenant Marshall, Com- pany F, Sixty-seventh N'orth Carolina, burnt the steamer Mystic, near Maple Cypress. On the same day Captain Tol- son, (Company A, Sixty-seventh Keg-iment, destroyed a transport loaded with commissary stores near Cowpen Land- ing, and on the 7th instant four privates of Company A, viz: George Hill, Turner May, William Salter and R. Brewer, captured and burned a side-wheel steamer, the Minquas, and two barges, all loaded with quartermaster's and commissary stores. Very little was saved from the boats." The four men named opened fire with their muskets on the steamer which was immediately run aground on the other sideof the river. The crew and passengers, of whom there was a considerable number aboard, jumped into the mud and water on the shore side and made their way into the swamp. The captors having no boat, swam over to the steamer and after securing the flag and papers of the steamer and a few other articles, set iire to all three of the vessels and returned to their own side of the river. The flag and papers were brought to the writer of this sketch at Greenville. In the same report Colonel Whitford further says: "On the 5th instant Captain Joseph M. White, Company E, Sixty- seventh Regiment, captured fifteen negroes and two Yankees at Riddle's Ferry engaged in trying to raise a sunken craft. The reason T ha\'e not forAvarded you a report of my com- mand is lu'cause the companies and regiments are scattered so far apart that it is impossible to get a report from them." These wore bold operations in the rear of the whole Fed- eral army. There were uumy other daring feats, but the falling back of Johnston's army prevented further official Sixty-Seventh Regiment. 711 reports and the lapse of time and the death of so many actors prevent an authentic and accurate recital of them now. It should be remembered that the Sixty-seventh and Sixty- eighth were North Carolina Regiments, which were never mustered into Confederate serv^ice and were paid by the State. About this time some veterans of Lee's army arrived in our camp and told us the sad news of Appomattox. In a few days the country was full of parties of disbanded Confederate soldiers returning to their homes. Knowing that our cher- ished cause was lost in all things except in the influence which the heroic deeds, the cheerful endurance of hardships and dangers by the Confederate soldiers and the patriotic and un- selfish devotion of the women of the Confederacy would ex- ert upon all who should hereafter read the true history of the four years' w^ar, the Sixty-seventh was also disbanded. Most of the officers and men were from the eastern counties of the State and went directly to their homes. The writer with Cap- tain T. M. Robinson, and a few officers and men who were from the counties of Wayne and Green, made their way to Stantonsburg in the latter county, and on 28 April, 1865, were paroled by a detachment of Federals from Goldsboro. The writer had been in the service four years less two week=. Many of the men and officers w'ere much affected by this termination of all our labors and sufferings in the cause of self government. The writer well remembers the inconsola- ble grief of Lieutenant John W. Aldridge, now a resident of Pamlico county, a good soldier and man. May he live long and prosper. RuFTJS W. Wharton. Washington, N. C. , 28 April, 1901. J THE NEW YORK PUBUC LIBRARY. ASTOR, 'ENOX »NVi TtLDEN fiOU -O.-vTI^vwa.. SIXTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT. 1. James W Hinton, Colonel. 2. W. H. Bagley, Major. SIXTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT. By J. W. EVANS. Corporal, Company D. The Sixty-seventh and Sixty-eighth Regiments were raised for the protection of the State, mustered into its ser\'ice and were never turned over to the Confederacy, though as a mat- ter of fact they were under the orders of Confederate generals like any other, except that they could not be, and never were, ordered beyond the State borders, beyond one slight incursion of this regiment into East Tennessee. The regiment was organized in July, 1863, with the fol- lowing Field and Staff officers : James W. IIintox, of Pasquotank, Colonel. He had been Lieutenant-Colonel of the Eighth Regiment. Edwaeb C. Yellowley, of Pitt, Lieutenant-Colonel, who had sei-ved also in the Eighth Regiment as Major. Jos. J. Edwards,, of Hertford County, was Major, and on his resigiiation April, 1864, William H. Bagley, of Pasquo- tank, Captain of Company A, of the Eighth Regiment, suc- ceeded. On the resignation of the latter in June, 1864, Wil- lis B. Sanderlin, of Camden, Captain Company B, was pro- moted to Major. Joseph W. Hixtox^ of Pasquotank, Adjutant. Jno. W. Sessoms^ of Bertie, A. Q. M. Lewis C. Lawrence, of Hertford County, A. C. S. Jno. W. Hutchings was Surgeon and was succeeded by Thomas M. Nixon. Jesse C. Shannon, Assistant Surgeon, succeeded by J. T. F. Cummings. Company A — From Pasquotanh — Captains, John T. El- liott and Thomas H. Tamplin. First Lieutenant, Wm. J. Munden ; Second Lieutenants, Thomas H. Tamplin and An- drew J. Turner. Company B — From Camden — Captains, Willis B. Sander- lin and F. M. Halstead ; First Lieutenant, F. M. Llalstead ; Second Lieutenants, Enoch Stephens and Willis Morrisett. 714 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. CoMPA.xY C — From Camden — Captain, Caleb B. Wal- ston. First Lieutenant, William P. Walston. Company D — From Hertford — Captains, Hillary Taylor and Levi Askew. First Lionfenants, Levi Askew and Wm. P. Taylor ; Second Lieutenants, Wm. P. Taylor and David A. Parker. Company E — From Hertford — Captain, Langley Tayloe. First Lieutenant, Benj. B. Williams (of Bertie) ; Second Lieutenants, John Britt and Joseph Holloman. Company F — From Bertie — Captains, John T. Mebane and Wm. M. Sutton. First Lieutenants, W. M. Sutton and James A. Leary ; Second Lieutenants, James A. Leary, Van- Burcn White and Nchemiah Bunch. CoivrPANY G — From Pasquotank — Captain, Cyrus W. Grandy. First Lieutenant, Benjamin McHomey; Second Lieutenant, Francis B. Sykes. Company II — From Choii-an — Captain, Richard Keogh. First Lieutenant, Bichard Keogh ; Second Lieutenants, Jas. C. Warren and James McCoy. Co:mpany I — From Gates — Captains, Iv. H. L. Bond and W. M. Daughtry. First Lieutenant, W. M. Daughtry; Sec- ond Lieutenants, Richard B. Odom and Thos. B. Walton. Company K — From Hertford — Captain, Simon B. Poole. First Lieutenants, Goo. W. Thompson and John A. Parker. Second Lieutenants, .loliu A. Parker and Cadmus Capehart. There were changes among the officers and the names of some officers are omitted, hut they can not now be recalled by the writer. Colonel Ilinton was a prominent lawyer and orator and after the war removed to Norfolk, where he died. Lieuten- ant-Colonel Yellowley was also a prominent la\\'yer at Green- ville and ill early iiianhf)od had, under great provocation, killed a man in a duel, an event which was thought to have saddened his whole life. ]\Iajor Bagley was after the Avar for many years clerk of our Supreme Court. He married the daughter of Governor Worth and Avas the father of Worth Bagley, the gallant young officer of tlie United States N'avy who fell at Cardenas in 1S!IS in the h(\2:inning of our Avar Avith S]iain. Sixty-Eighth Regiment. 715 The writer cannot recall the date of his enlistment in what became afterwards Company D, of the Sixty-eighth Regi- ment, North Carolina Troops, but it was at a X roads about five miles from Harrellsville, Hertford County, IST. C, bet- ter known as Bethlehem Baptist Church, and where Watson Lewis, Jr., resided and kept a store, and it was in this store house that I signed the muster roll and that Watson Lewis, Jr., witnessed my signature, about thirty-eight years ago, then not being quite 1.8 years of age. The names of the field and staff officers of the Sixty-eighth and the commissioned officers of the several companies re- corded in Moore's Roster and above recited are familiar and most of the officers are yet well remembered. Being clerk of the Superior Court of Dare coimty at the time the Roster was filed in the office and not finding the names of the privates of the several companies of the Sixty- eighth Regiment recorded therein, I felt much surprised and cannot jet understand why a record of the field, staff and com- missioned officers of the companies could be found and no roll of the privates. I therefore deem it proper to mention here the names of as many of my comrades as T can remember of the company to which I belonged, viz. : Co:mpaxy D — First Sergeant, John B. Slaughter; Second Sergeant, John H. Perry; First Corporal, William Downing; Fourth Corporal, John W. Evans ; Fifer, Bartimeus Wiggins ; Drummer, Joseph Willoughby. Privates : John Downing, Thomas K. Evans, Judson L. Evans ; George W. Perry, Jos. Perry (brothers), John Chambray, Julius J. Hayes, Perry Mitchell, John W. Simons, Richard Baker, Joseph Baker, Wm. H. Eley, John Baker, Sr., Travis J. Taylor, Francis L. Evans, Freeman Evans, Thomas T. Taylor, Dewitt C. Miller, Simeon P. Saunders, Frank Saunders, Kindred Hollomon, William Hays, Henry Mitchell, Henry C. Sharp, Horatio Taylor, Samuel M. Aumack, Joseph Davidson, Z. W. Lassi- ter, George W. Valentine, Henry D. Harrell, Daniel Barnes, all of Hertford county ; Richard Rountree, James T. Parish, James Brinkley, of Gates county ; Samuel M. Pearce, Simon Todd, Moses Todd, of Bertie county. 716 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. on the ciiowan. This corapanj was encamped for a few months at the Bethlehem church during which time the United States transports which were provided with guns equal to the capac- ity of the vessel plied the Chowan river and a squad of about thirty of the company were sent out in command of Captain Hillary Taylor and ]Major Joseph J. Edwards, to learn of the movements of these vessels and also to aid those who were en- gaged in bringing bacon and live hogs across the river from Chowan county for the commissary. Being on the hillside of the river at Coleraine, Bertie county, we saw a large side- wheel steamer steaming down the river and Major Edwards desiring to test our accuracy with our new Enfield rifles, com- manded us to occasionally fire at the steamer, which caused her commander to In-ing her within about three-quarters of a mile of the shore when she fired a small shell at us that came directly over our heads and exploded which created some con- fusion ; but being able to secrete ourselves behind the hills, we were lost to view and the steamer soon sped away with no cas- ualties to either side. This was our first experience. We re- turned to camp, and soon thereafter at about 1 o'clock, a. m., the beat of the long roll aroused our slumbers, orders were given tO' be in readiness for marching at once, and the com- pany was hurriedly marched to Harrellsville. The Federals in the meantime had invaded tlic village be- fore we could get there, their supposed purpose being to cap- ture bacon and other commissary stores and commit the usual depredations on the citizens. Our coni]:»any being only a squad and not knowing the strength of the enemy, our oflicers did not deem it wise to mak(? a charge in blank darkness but being acquainted with the location of the village they flanked it, and in doing so aroused a suspicion of the enemy's picket guard, that fired a scattering ball at our shadow, but without doing any execu- tion or locating our whereabouts. When we had reached a po- sition to make a surprise attack on tliem, should they return to the place whence they came before the dawn of day, a miraculous incident occurred. One of our comrades, Mr. Sixty-Eighth Regiment. 717 Geo. W. Valentine, an elderly man, had lagged considerably in the rear and upon his advance, was discovered by some of our men who commanded him to halt, but the old gentleman not being well drilled in military tactics and this being his first experience in a skirmish, paid no attention to the com- mand and continued his advance that caused, to his great sur- prise, a volley of bullets fired at him, but fortunately was not hit, and was recognized only when he cried out: ''In the name of God, are yO'U going to kill me." Thus having made our location known to the enemy, a hasty retreat was necessary. We made our way through the fields in the darkness until we reached a pine thicket about one and a half miles down the road towards the river, and there awaited the return of the enemy, with breathless silence until near 10 o'clock, a. m., when their approach brought us to arms. The road was full for quite a distance with the soldier enemy in advance of their pillaged plunder, (consist- ing of negroes of both sexes, and every size and age, horses and vehicles of every kind and even the contents of the wardrobes of our best people) . We gave them a volley that demoralized them and put them to flight toward the river where the vessels were lying awaiting their return. Still not knowing their strength we did not advance upon them, but took a quick step retreat to where there was no danger. Returning to our camp, we passed through the village and viewed the smoul- dering remains of several valuable buildings and other prop- erty. OEGANIZED INTO A EEGIMES^T. Shortly thereafter we were moved and put in quarters for the remainder of the winter and spring near Jackson, North- ampton county, jST. C, where the companies from Princess Anne county, Va., Currituck, Camden, Pasquotank, Chowan, Gates and Bertie counties and two other companies from our own Hertford County, joined us. We were there organized into the Sixty-eighth Regiment. l^o accident or incident occurred while in quarters at the above named place. On or about 1 May, 1864, the regi- ment was moved to Weldon, and only remained a short time ; 718 North Carolina Troops, 1S61-'65. but durino- the stay tliere a young' officer by the name of Stock- ton, from the central part of the State, who had but a short time previous joined the regiment, was drowned in Roanoke river \\]\'i]o taking a swim, and so far as this writer knows, his remains were never recovere(h On 1 June, 1864, the regiment tlien at Wcldnn rc]i(irred 548 present. lOS Vol. O^Jicidl Rvconh (In ion and Confederate Armies, p. 088. MOKGAXTOX. From tliis point the regiment was sent in July lo Morgan- ton, ]N . (\, to protect property and citizens. W-j arrived tiiere only a few days too late to meet a band of bushwhacking guer- rillas known as Kirk's army. They had made a raid on an encam]:)ment of -lunior lieserves about three miles from Mor- ganton, ncai' the then terminus of tlie Western Xorrh Caro- lina Tiailroad, and on 28 June had captured more than one liundred of them. Hon. W. W. Avery was killed in the pur- suit of Kirk's army. Their attack u])on the Juniors was made in a silent hour of night. After we had been encamped for awliile where the Juniors had been, the Hon. Zebulon B. \'ance, who was canvassing the State for the guliernatorial cluiir for a second term, paid us a call and made an address in his ow^n humorous way. After having delivered his speecli rehiting to ]ml)lic affairs, he said that he was glad that he had had the pleasure of meeting us, and complimented our healthy, stalwart soldierly appearance, and said that he hoped no one of the regiment would have to be sent to the hospital for want of drinking water, as we were from the eastern part of the Stat<\ for he had been informed that we had searched the hill and mountain sides, and even the valleys, for tadpole water to drink. This was too much for us to bear, our Colonel Hinton thought, without a retort, who was much like the Governor for wit and humor, and so he related a story that went with- out contradiction. He said that shortly after the outbreak of the war, while Tvoan(;ke Lsland was being fortified, an ad- ditional force of troops being necessary, it happened that the troops sent were from the western part of our State. When the steamer that transported them, having made the run Sixty-Eighth Regiment. 719 down the Albeiiiarle sound in the night time, at the dawn of day came in view of the island, the troops arousing from their slumbers, began taking a view of their surround- ings and discovered tlie men at the fort on the island getting out to their Avork with wheelbarrows. One of them called out to his comrade and exclaimed : "Boys, have those few^ men over yonder dug this great ditch already ?" and then the Governor surrendered himself amidst the cheers of the men, and said he was captured. EAST TEI^NESSEE. Shortly after this event preparations w^ere made under m;\rching orders to raid the section of country from which Jvirl^'s army came, and each C(Hnrade being provided with as many rations as he could carry, together with a soldier's other equipment, we moved under command of our Lieutenant-Col- onel, E. C. Yellowley, and went along the line most of the way as far as graded, of the Western JSTorth Carolina Railroad then turned off and crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains via Bakersville, the county seat of Mitchell County, and on into Tennessee, knov/n as the Crab Apple section. We then re- tnrned on nearly the same line of march as w^e went, l^oth- ing was accomplished so far as the writer has any knowledge, farther than to make an impression upon the people that it would not be wise on the part of Kirk's army to make an- other raid as herein referred to. We did not meet an op- ]ios]7ig foe nor were attacked save one gun shot that was fired by an enemy in ambush, that was impenetrable at night by reason of the campfires tliat shone against the thick- est forr^st that ever grevv' on a mountain side, and no pursuit could be made. The shot fired took effect in the thigh of the camp servant of Tieutenant W. P. Taylor, wdio w^as lying on a log bench by a campfire, but the wound proved to be of no cons^^quence. ^I'lie marching over the rocky I'oads was hard to endure, yet the ])Icturesque mountain scenery, the good water, milk, but- ter and honey tliat was found in great abundance, will ever be remembered by the members of the Sixty-eighth Regi- ment. 720 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. salisbury. Shortly after our rcliini to camp near Morganton, the reg- iiiu'iit was ordei-ed to Salishnry, N. C, to guard a large num- ber of Federal prisoners. Upon our arrival the ground within tlie prison was covered with men and within three dr^}■s thev had dng themselves holes in the ground covering the entrance to each with a little mound, so that they were most co'.ripletcly protected fi'om the open air and weather. The liaidship, disease and death among that mass of hmnan beings iliis writer prays never to Avitness again. We had no casualty or death in our ranks during the time of our service around the Salisbury prison, save the accident that occurred to -Tames P. Roberts, of Comi)any I, in the old prison building. ^\lien on guard duty he unthoughtedly, with his right arm resting on the muzzle of his rifle, with his foot fired the rifle which shattered his arm and caused its amputa- tior.. Ivemained at Salisbury until about the first of Decem- ber, 18H4, when we were ordered to the eastern part of the State, the first stop, as the writer reuit^nibers, was at Halifax, Avhere we remained for a few days only. Thence the com- maud was sent to Tarboro, iST. C, but only remained a short time. butler's bridge^ near HAMILTON. It being learned that tlie Federals were advancing from the vicinity of riyiuouth, IST. C, to make an attack on the fort at Kainbow Banks, near Hamilton, X. C, we were ordered on a hasty nuirch in the afternoon of 12 December, 1864, and marched with an occasional rest till dark, when a beauti- ful pine thicket Avas reached. Orders were given to rest, as was supposed, foi- the night. The temperature was falling to a low point; yet the weather was clear, and being very tired, we were very soon snugly retired in beds of new pine straw as comfortably as any squad of soldiers ever enjoyed; but at the hour of midnight, our sound and ha]ipy slumbers was disturbed by the beat of the long roll, which all knew meant to lie in readiness quickly, ami then orders were given to march. At that hour it had become very cold, the road- ^ev^ ^OR*"! UB^^"^ 0^ Sixty-Eighth Regiment. 721 bed was frozen hard and a march of about ten miles was made without a rest. At Butler's bridge, two miles from Hamil- ton, four companies of the Seventieth ISTorth Carolina (First Junior Reserves) and two coinpanies of the Sixty-fifth (Sixth Cavalry) and a section of Lee's (Ala.) battery, all under Lieutenant-Colonel C. W. Broadfoot of the Seventieth had been stationed at a creek, crossing the public road. The en- emy, piloted by some buffaloes (traitors), crossed the creek below and took our troops at the bridge in the rear. We had turned off from the main road from Tarboro to Williamston in order to come in by Hamilton to reinforce from the rear our troops at Butler's Bridge. After passing through or near the village of Hamilton, our regiment wearing long cape overcoats, and it being just before the dawn of day, to the surprise of officers and men, we found that we were marching side l>y side with the enemy. Lieutenant-Colonel Yello'wley and the Colonel or officer commanding the Federal troops, were riding side by side. Yellowley supposed the other horseman was Colonel Hinton's body seiwant who was riding an extra horse of Colonel Hinton. He did not dis- cover to the contrar)^ until the Federal officer gave a com- mand tO' the person riding by his side, supposing him to be his courier. Colonel Yellowley not obeying the command,, caused a suspect that there was a jumble. Immediately the twO' Colonels separated, each commanding the attention of his troops, and a face to face skinnish took place. Several shots were fired, each side capturing some of their own men as prisoners. Having come together in the way described, and the most of the enemy gotten in advance of us, we had to fall back ; but the troops at Butler's bridge, though flanked both front and rear, escaped by the fact that the cavalry be- ing dismounted for skirmishing their horses which were held in the rear were stampeded by the sudden firing behind them broke loose and charged across the bridge. The enemy in front were stampeded by this, supposing we were advancing in force and our forces saved themselves by crosing over and turning to the right up the road to Tarboro. The enemy had turned to- the left going back towards Spring Green 46 722 North Cakomna Troops, 1861 -'65. clmrch. Colonel Jlinton, however, who was at the Sherrod hoiT.se, unkuowinti,- of these inovenients, was captured, as was liis brother, Josej)!! W. Iliuton, our Adjutant. But Adju- tant lliiiton made his escape after the break of day. The enemy ;tt dayliiiht fell back to Spring- Green on the road to W'illiiimston oiir forces followinii' and drivinii' them fiirtlier. BATTLE OF SOUTH WEST C'KEEK. Then only a shoi-t time had elapsed when the regiment was ordered to a point just below Kinston, N. C, to reinforce General Hoke's command at a place known as Cobb's Mill, an.lch, A. C. S., Haywood county, N. C. John W. Lawing, Surgeon, Lincoln county, IST. C. JoHis- C, Love, Assistant Surgeon, Jackson county, ^N". C. HezeivIah West, Chaplain, Haywood county, N. C. Alex. R. Carmack, Sergeant Major, Pennsylvania. COMPANY organization. Company A — Indian Company — Matthew Hale Love, Captain, Waynesville, N. C. ; Win. S. Terrell, First Lieuten- ant, Sononui, Haywood county, ^\ C. ; John Astoo-ga Sto-ga, Peter Graybeard and David Whitaker, Second Lieutenants, all of Swain County, X. C. Total officers and men, 113. Company B — Indian Company — G. M. Hanks, Captain, July, 18()2, Monroe county, Tenn.; James Taylor, Captain, Kovendjer, 1862; H. R. Morris, First Lieutenant; Cam. H. Taylor, Second Lieutenant, all of Cherokee, N". C. Total officers and men, 118. \V 11 ITK MEN. Company C — Uayuood County — Dr. Elisha G. Johnson, Captain and Major; Win. K. Tnill, First Lieutenant and Captain; John H. Smathers, First Lieutenant; W. D. Hall, E. W. ]\I organ and W. H. Moore, Second Lieutenants, all of Haywood county. Total ofllicers and men, 123. Company 1) — Jackson County, N. C, and Jefferson County, Tenn. — Wm. B. Love, Captain, Jackson county, N. C. ; (laniuiii C. McBee, First Lieutenant, Grainger county, Tenn. ; 'llmmas R. Smart and Henry Xeedham, Second Lieu- tenants, JcilVrson County, Tenn. ; W. W. Jones, Second Lieu- tenant, Xorth Carolina. Total officers and men, 125. Company K — Ilayirood County — Julius ]\r. Welch, Cap- tain; Thomas J. Ferguson, First Lieutenant and Captain; J. H. ]\Io<)(lv, First Lieutenant, and Win. C. Brown, Second Sixty-Ninth Regiment. 731 Lieutenant, all of Haywood county. Total officers and men, 137. Company F— J. M. McConnell, Captain; Wm. T. Welch and Robert T. Conley, First Lieutenants ; James West and Jas. Conley, all of Jackson county. Total officers and men, 127. Company Gr — Jackson County — Daniel G. Fisher, Cap- tain ; D. M. Raby, First Lieutenant ; D. J. Allen and J. B. Raby, Second Lieutenants, all of Jackson county. Officers and men, 71. Company H — Cherokee County — Thomas J. Cooper, Cap- tain, and Jas. W. Cooper, Captain; Lafayette George, First Lieutenant; Eli Ingram and -, Second Lieu- tenants, Cherokee county. Number of officers and men, 114. Company I — Cherokee Connty— Willis Parker, Captain, and Jos. A. Kimsey, Captain ; Sol. E. Egan, First Lieuten- ant, all of Cherokee county; 'N. G. Phillips, First and Sec- ond Lieutenant, and P. B. Gailer, Second Lieutenant, both of Graham county. jSTumber of officers and men, 109. Company K — T. A. Butler, Captain ; Lewis Rector, First Lieutenant ; D. H. Gallahar, Second Lieutenant, all of Fnion county, Tenn. Number of officers and men, 91. Total number of officers and men in the regiment, 1,125. As above organized this regiment presented quite a for- midable array — with a muster roll of nearly 1,200 men — most of them vigorous, patriotic and gallant. The officers were representative men in their several counties, and while unassuming to diffidence in private life and in camp, were a "lion-hearted host" in battle and upon the toilsome march. The officers were chosen from the ranks, but were not of ne- cessity greatly, if at all, superior to their men. The response to this call left few men at home, but stern duty called and its summons was obeyed. The practical leader of this regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel James R. Love, was a native of Jackson county, N. C, and had seen hard service in Virginia under Jackson, Hill and Lee. He was Captain of old Company L, of the Sixteenth 732 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. North Carolina, and at request of Colonel Thomas, he and his entire company was transferred to the Legion. Colonel Love was a graduate of Emory and Henry College, studied law and was a member of the North Carolina Legis- lature, also after the war a member of the North Carolina Constitutional Convention (1803), and later of the State Senate ; also a member of the Tennessee Senate, after his marriage and removal to that State, where he subsequently raised a family ; died twel\-e or fifteen years since, honored and respected by all. William W. Stringlield, the writer of this sketch, was a native of Nashville, Tenn., and raised near Knoxville, Tenn. He was of old N^orth Carolina stock, being a grandson of Jos. Williams, of Yadkin county. He was a private of the First Tennessee Cavalry, 1861. Captain of Company E, Thirty- first Tennessee Infantry, 1862, and Assistant Provost Mar- shal at Knoxville, 1862 ; elected Major of the Sixty-ninth Regiment 27 September, 1862, Lieutenant-Colonel, Jan ary, 1S65. After the war, married and located near Waynesville, N". C. — member of the North Carolina Legislature in 1882 and 1883, and of the State Senate in 1901. In 1895 was elected commander of the Confederate Veterans of Western North Carolina, and as a member of Military and Veteran Commit- tee, feels and takes great pride and interest in all that per- tains to the fame, fortune, welfare and success of all his old comrades, their widows and children. Captain Elisha G. Johnson, of Company C, was promoted to Major of the regiment after its return from the Valley campaign in November, 1864. Major Johnson was an in- telligent gentleman and a singularly brave soldier. He moved to Florida soon after flie war, was elected to the State Senate, and finally was iinnvU^rcd at his own home in 1875 or 1876. Captain James W. Terrell was Captain of Company A, succeeding William H. Thomas and preceding M. H. Love. He was Cliief Quartermaster of the regiment and faithful. He had the confidence of his neighbors, and has represented Sixty-Ninth Regiment. 733 them (Jackson county) in the Legislature. He now resides in Webster, N. C. Dr. Lawing was a good doctor and a kind man. Nothing known of him since the war. Dr. John Love was a kind man and good doctor. Died soon after the war from its expo- sures. A. R. Carmaek, Sergeant-Major, a Pennsylvanian by birth, was the son-in-law of a strong Union man in East Tennessee. He was a man among men, cool, clear-headed and brave ; was wounded and captured at Cedar creek ; lived in Kansas since driven from East Tennessee in 1866-'67, and died recently, 18 December, 1900, in Texas, beloved by all. Lucius M. Welch, Assistant Commissary, is a native son of Haywood county. He was quite young in those days, but made a faithful Commissary. He now lives near Waynes- ville. The Adjutant of the regiment. Captain L, M. May, was a graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., a Vir- ginia! by birth and an elegant gentleman. Aside from this the entire command was composed of citi- zen soldiery — educated for peace, but not afraid of war. After the organization and equipment of the regiment the companies were scattered throughout upper East Tennessee, between Knoxville and Bristol. The battalion of our legion whose story will hereafter be told, was sent below Knoxvdlle, toward Chattanooga, and Cleveland, Tenn., and Dalton, Ga., was raised to a regiment (Eightieth North Carolina) and becoming a part of Bragg's army was never reunited to the old Legion. ENFORCING CONSCEIPTION. About this time the enforcement of the conscript law was begun in earnest, and consequently it was a serious time in the short life of the Southern Confederacy — and thinking men were fully alive to the herculean task before us. East Tennessee was placed under martial law and many of the most prominent citizens were in rebellion against the South. The celebrated Parson Brownlow, editor of the Knoxville Whig, a widely circulated paper, who was afterw^ards elected 734 North Carolina Troops. 1 SHI -'65. Governor of Tennessee, and after the war was United States Senator, took bold grounds against the South. His paper had some circulation in Western North Carolina, and ])()rted to have done faithful service under Lieutenant-Coloiic] B. G. McDowell, of the Sixty-second, who luul refused to sui'i'endei- at Cmnberlaml Ga]) and was a gal- lant officer. The enemy in the meanwhile wei-e not idle, l)ut wore not having the ])i(Miie that they expect(Ml anywhere. Raids were Sixty-Ninth Regiment. 757 made up all the rivers towards and into the North Carolina mountains. Several parties of this kind nearly reached Ashe- ville. Two reached Waynesville, one came to Bryson City and still others were made up the Tennessee river, Hiawas- see and Valley rivers to Murphy, but no permanent lodgment was made or held by them. KIKK. Colonel J. R. Love after recruiting up a week or so arrived at Asheville and made a trip into Yancey county, heading off the notorious Kirk. About the same time the writer went with .300 men up into Greene and Washington counties, Ten- nessee, heading off Kirk also, below the "Red Banks of Chuckey," nearly opposite, and about ten miles south of Jonesboro, Tenn., about where the town of Unicoi is now located. This was about 1 January, 1865, and a snow fall of eighteen inches on the mountains and near the same in the Valley, made locomotion quite difficult. It also made the pursuit of war difficult and hazardous. This it will be re- membered, was the enemy's country indeed. We were greeted with no cheers from the brave or smiles from the fair. Meeting with neither disaster or success, I felt it my duty to retrace my snow-trodden pathway to Paint Rock and thence soon on to Waynesville, Webster, Quallatown, near Cherokee, in Swain county, on down Tuckaseegee, passing the present site of Bryson City at Bear's Ford, thence to the Tennessee river at the mouth of Tuckaseegee and mouth of Nantahala, up the same crossing the Cowee Mountains and finally the Nantahala Mountains at Red Marble Gap and down the Val- ley river to Murphy. I left behind me all the troops under Colonel Love, who went into winter quarters at Locust Old Field (Canton, N. C.) This was my task the balance of the war, a lonely, perilous and desolate one, often travelling twenty. Thirty to fifty miles absolutely alone. This was then almost a pathless wilderness. Now the pathway of the West- ern North Carolina Railroad, it was then a wild section, sparsely settled, especially along the route named, INDIANS faithful. Fortunately for our country, the Cherokee Indians inhab- 758 North Cakoi.ixa Tikjops, iS61-'65. itc'cl the wildest section and were loyal tx3 ns to the last. These big monntains extended from the great Smoky range and the Tennessee line back to the Sonth Carolina and Georgia line on the Blue Ridge. The Nantahala, Cowee, Balsam and ISTewfonnd or Pisgah ranges connected these two great ranges, and cut the water courses asnnder. This route along the railroad, beautiful and gi'and now to behold from car windows and rear platforms where "distance indeed lends enchant- ment to the view" in the hours of peace, was tlion my rough "field of operations" by day and night. In January, 1865, while I was in Cherokee county, several hundred Indiana cavalry came up the Tennessee river and captured a small party of my men at the mouth of Deep creek, now Bryson City. This was a surprise but was of little value to them, costing them much more than gained. Ghormley and Everett's Cavalry, of the Eiglitieth North Carolina (Walker's) Regiment, followed and harrassed them greatly. Clay, Cherokee and Graham counties were protected by that regiment mostly. Those counties were much infested by the Union element, some very good men among them. There were some very indiscreet and very unwise men and soldiers on our side in this section. ]\ruch bad feeling existed. This was a sort of half-way ground between Tennessee and South Carolina and Georgia. Negroes, horses and other property were stolen in Tennessee, carried to Georgia and South Car- olina and sold. My soldiers from the Valley of Virginia did not like this and T had plenty of help to put it down. I gave protection to such as deserved it and ordered the others to leave the State. Several bands of "scouts" caused much of this trouble. I ordered these to their commands, took horses, cattle and other property from them, several times at muzzles of their pistols. ; SOCO GAP. Eait:' iv^ ^larch, 1865, Colonel G. W. Kirk invaded Hay- wood county via (^ataloochee. He had about 400 cavalry and 200 infantry. It had been reported in Tennessee that Fed- eral troops would be welcomed in North Carolina. They were, but "with bloody hands to hospitable graves." Several , Sixty-Ninth Regiment. 759 good citizens, however, were killed and numerous horses stolen. Colonel Love met and fought them in Haywood county and Lieutenant Conley fought and drove them across the Balsam Mountains at Soco Gap. On the morning of 6 March, 1865 the troops located in Jackson county and Swain, met and fought them on Soco creek, thence driving them across Smoky Mountains towards Sevierville, Tenn., the writer travelling all of two nights and one day to get there. This light, insigiiificant within itself, was an era with the Indians and was only noticeable from its locality. It was fought upon a historic spot. At or over an old town house there the celebrated creek chief, "Tecum- seh," held a council of war with the old Cherokee Chief Yonah-guskee, about the year 1812, when Tecumseh tried in vain to get the Cherokee to join in this great Indian war, but this ''Old Father of the Cherokees" flatly refused. And now on the same spot both white and Indian descendants of the noble sires that fought side by side under Jackson, bravely fought the invaders of their soil, and but for the want of am- munition would have badly worsted, if not destroyed Kirk's entire force. It is but fair to say that some of Kirk's men and officers refused to obey many of his beastly orders. This raid had a good effect upon the people, drawing them more closely together and intensified Southern sentiment. The Indians themselves were always friendly to the whites and loyal to their neighbors, which fact had a potent infiuence ever after in keeping out army raids. Soon after this the enemy every^vhere became more active and aggressive. The end was now rapidly approaching, as slow as our people were to believe it. On 10 March, 1865, General J. G. Martin reported 1,745 present for duty, of which the fragments of the Sixty-second, Sixty- fourth and Sixty -ninth I^orth Carolina reported 488. MILL CREEK^ 17 APEIL^ 1865. Colonel Bartlett, of ISTew York, came up the French Broad river to near Asheville, surprising and almost capturing that place. But for the prompt and vigorous steps taken by Col- onel G. Westly Clayton, of the Sixty-second JSTorth Carolina, 760 North Carolina Troops, 18G1-'65. the place would have been taken. This was shortly prior to its final capture. Colonel J. R. Love, of the Sixty-ninth, was ordered to hold tlie gap at Swannanoa tunnel against the eneuiy a]iproaching- from Salisbury. lie met them and drove them back to Mill Creek, AfcDowell county, 17 April, 1865. About tliis time rumors of the surrender of General Lee were current, although the people discredited them. Colonel Love retui-ncd with his forces to Asheville and there with General Martin went on to Waynesville and Balsam Gap, About 25 April, General i\[artin sent written directions to the writer to go with a flag of truce to Knoxville, Tenn., to Gen- eral Stoncman regarding terms of the surrender of this De- partment. On this very day a soldier of the jS^inth ISTorth Carolina (First Cavalry) came to my headquarters at Frank- lin, Macon county, and said that General Lee had surren- dered. I put him in jail till that evening or the next morn- ing, when another soldier came in with a proper parole, show- ing sure enough that Lee had surrendered. The first soldier was, of course, released. The flag of truce went directly on to Knoxville, Tenn., one hundred miles through the moun- tains, but did not return. The bearers were all thrust into jail for refusing to take the oath after having been grossly in- sulted upon the streets, and our flag trampled under foot. Captain W. B. Beese, Captains Everett, M. H. Love, Thomas Butler, John Henderson and others, twenty-three in all, were in the party. THE T.AST FIGHT TN NORTH CAROLINA, 0 MAY, 1865. The day before out a fe^v miles south of Maryville, we were all halted and inspected by a party of eighty-four Federals After quite a parley I was ordered to surrender three of my men, Captains l^ove, Everett and Henderson, ivliich, of course, I refused to do, whereupon we were severely tlireat- ened, but finally allowed to pass on. General Martin hear- ing nothing from us at Franklin, went towards Waynesville with Major Gordon, of his staff, and while spending the night at John B. Love's, near Webster, Colonel Love, his son, came in from the front and told of liis fight with Federals that day, Sixty-Ninth Regiment. 761 !) May, alxivc and around Waynesville, and that he and Colo- nel Thomas had demanded the surrender of Bartlett's forces, and that next day, 10 ]\Iay, was fixed for a further consulta- tion. This vas the last gun fired- (luring the iva-r in- this State. SUI^RENDER AT WAYXESVILEE, 10 MAY, 1865. During one of these parleys Colonel Thomas, who was usually very cool and discreet, became (juite boisterous, especially when told that Bartlett's men were traversing the entire county and taking every horse and fat cow or ox. He demanded the surrender of Bartlett's forces and went into town with twenty or twenty-five of his biggest and best war- riors all painted and feathered off in good old style. Colonel Love arrived about this time with his 250 men. Colonel Thomas and Lieutenant Conley had three hundred more whites and 200 more Indians, all the Indians making the \velkin ring with their war whoop. Terms of surrender were .suggested and soon agi'eed to. All the officers and men were paroled and all allowed to retain their anns, amnumition, etc. This concession was agreed to on account of the disturbed con-