Ufni-nell Uniuetaity ffiibravy Sltliaca, New fork THE JAMES VERNER SCAIFE COLLECTION CIVIL WAR Literature THE GIFT OF JAMES VERNER SCAIFE CLASS OF 1869 1919 . .». — Qows when this volume was taken. To renew this book copy the call No. and give to the librarian. RULES All Books subject to Recall All borrowers must regis- ter in the library to 'borrow books for home use. All books must be re- turned at end of college year for inspection and repairs. Limited books must be r»> turned within thef our weak limit and not renewed. Students must return all books before leaving town. Officers should arrange for the return bf books wanted during their absence from town. Volumes of periodical! and of pamphlets are hdd in the library as much ai possible. For special pur- poses they are given out for a limited time. Borrowers should not uae their library privileges for the benefit of other personi. Books of special value and gift books, when the giver wishes it, are not allowed to circulate. Readers are asked to fa- port all cases of booln marked or mutilated. Do not deface books by marks and writing. CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 1924 092 908 536 Cornell University Library The original of tliis book is in tlie Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924092908536 H ^ HISTORIES SEVERAL REGIMENTS AND BATTALIONS NORTH CAROLINA GREAT WAR l86l-'65. WRITTEN BY MEMBERS OF THE RESPECTIVE COMMANDS. EDITED BY WALTER CLARK, (Lieut. -Colonel Seventieth Regiment N. C. T.)- VOL. PUBLISHED BY THE STATE. RALEIGH: E. M. UzzELL, Printer and Binder. 1901. l-L CONTENTS. PAGE. Preface v Generals from North Carolina, by the Editor xi Regiments and Brigades, by the Editor xiii Naval Ofpiobhs from North Carolina, by the Editor xiv Organization — • Adjutant-General's Department, by Major A. Gordon 3 Quartermaster-General's Department, by Major A. Gordon— 23 Subsistence Department, by Major A. Gordon 37 Ordnance Department, by Major A. Gordon 39 Pay Department, by Major A. Gordon 45 Board op Claims, by Major A. Gordon 45 Adjutant-General's Department, by Major W, A. Graham 50 Bethel Regiment, by Major E. J. Hale 69 First Regiment, by Colonel H. A. Brown 135 Second Regiment, by Captain Matt. Manly 157 Third Regiment, by Captains John Cowan and J. I. Metis 177 Third Regiment, by Colonel W. L. DeRosset 215 Fourth Regiment, by Colonel E. A. Osborne 229 Fifth Regiment, by Maj. J, C. MacRae and Sergt.-maj. C. M. Busbee, 281 Sixth Regiment, by Captain Neill W. Ray 293 Sixth Regiment, by Major A. C. Avery 337 Seventh Regiment, by Captain J. S. Harris 361 Eighth Regiment, by Drummer H. T. J. Ludwig 387 Ninth Regiment (First Oav.), by General Riifus Barringer 417 Ninth Regiment (First Cav.), by Colonel W. H. Cheek 445, 775 Tenth Regiment (First Art.), Companies B, F, G, H, K (Heavy Batteries), by Colonel S. B. Pool 489 Tenth Regiment (same Companies), by Lieutenant J. W. Sanders — 499 Tenth Regiment, Company C (Light Battery), by Captain A. B. Williams 537 Tenth Regiment, Light Batteries A, D, F and I, by Captain J. A. Ramsay j 551 Eleventh Regiment, by Col. W. J. Martin and Capt. E. R. Outlaw, 583 Twelfth Regiment, by Lieutenant W. A. Montgomery 605 Thirteenth Regiment, by Captain R. S. Williams 653 Thirteenth Regiment, by Adjutant N. S. Smith 689 Thirteenth Regiment, by T. L. Rawley 701 Fourteenth Regiment, by Colonel R. T. Bennett 705 Fifteenth Regiment, by Lieutenant H. C. Kearney 733 Sixteenth Regiment, by Lieutenant B. H. Cathey 751 Sixteenth Regiment, by Captain L. Harrill 771 PREFACE. More than two thousand years ago Pericles, speaking of his countrymen who had fallen in a great war, said: "In all time to come, whenever there shall be speech of great deeds they shall be had in remembrance." More truly than to the Athenian soldiery can these memorable words be applied to those North Carolinians who for four long years carried the fortunes of the Confederacy upon the points of their bayonets. With a voting population at the outbreak of the war of less than 115,000, North Carolina furnished to the Confederate cause, as appears from Major Gordon's article herein, 127,000 troops, or more than one-fifth of the men who marched beneath the South- ern Cross, in addition to the Militia and Home Guards who ren- dered useful, though short, tours of duty, under State au- thority. In the first battle of the war, at Bethel, North Caro- lina was at the front and the first man killed in battle was Wyatt from Edgecombe. When the great tragedy was closing at Appo- mattox it was the men of Cox's North Carolina Brigade, of Grimes' Division, who fired the last volley at the foe. The two great pivotal battles of the war were Gettysburg in the East and Chickamauga in the West. Upon them turned the issue of the great struggle, and in both the men who fell farthest to the front, nearest to the muzzles of the enemy's guns, were from North Carolina regiments. This is demonstrated not only by the nar- ratives of eye-witnesses in these volumes but by the monuments which the Federal Government has erected on those great battle- fields to indicate the "high-water mark" to which the tide of Southern success rose, and from which, after those days of historic struggle, it painfully and slowly but surely ebbed away. Not, therefore, in boast, but in sober historic truth, on the cover of these volumes, has been inscribed the lines which tell the story of North Carolina's fidelity to duty: VI Preface. . "First at Bethel. Farthest to the Front at Gettysburg and Chickamatjga. Last at Appomattox." It is to tell the plain, unvarnished story of the men at the front that these sketches have been written by those who partici- pated therein, and by the authority and at the expense of the State they are now printed in order to hand down to posterity an authentic account of what the soldiery of this State suffered and did in the discharge of their duty. It was inscribed upon the stones piled above the Spartan dead who died at Thermopylae: "Stranger, go tell it in Lacedemon that we lie here in obedience to her command." North Carolina can never forget that in obedience to her command more than 40,000 of her bravest, best and brightest young men fill soldiers' graves from "the farthest north" at Gettysburg to that far Southern shore " Where the mightiest river runs, mingling with their fame forever." These dead have not died in vain. The cause of Southern Independence for which they fell has passed forever from among men. Not an advocate remains. But as long as valor shall move the hearts of men, as long as the patient endurance of hardship, and fatigue, and danger in the discharge of duty shall touch us, as long as the sacrifice of life for the good of one's country shall seem noble and grand, so long shall the memory of the deeds recorded in the plain, sober narratives in these volumes, written by men whose gallantry is surpassed only by their modesty, and who were more eager to handle the sword than to use the pen, be preserved and cherished by their coun- trymen. The story of these volumes is briefly told. At the meeting of the State Confederate Veterans Association at Raleigh, N. C, in October, 1894, on motion of Judge A. C. Avery, seconded by F. H. Busbee, Esq., it was "Resolved, That a history of each regiment and organization from North Carolina which served in the Confederate Army Preface. vii shall be prepared by a member thereof, and that Judge Walter Clark be requested to select the historians from each command and to supervise and edit the work; and further, that the Gen- eral Assembly be memorialized to have these sketches printed at the expense of the State." On motion of Captain W. H. Day, Judge A. C. Avery, Gen- eral Robert F. Hoke and Lieutenant-Colonel Wharton J. Green were appointed a committee to present this memorial and pro- cure the passage of the legislation desired. Already at that date (1894) nearly thirty years had passed since the close of hostilities and the steady advance of the years had driven gaps in our ranks wider than those made by the leaden hail of battle. Suitable men for the work were difficult to find for many of the regiments, and when found they often pleaded the press of business, loss of memory and increasing infirmities. But by persistent effort competent historians were secured for each regiment, except the 73d, 74th, 76th, 77th and 78th. (which being Senior Reserves, over forty-five years of age during the war, had few survivors left), and some of the battalions. As to the Senior Reserves, the only resource was to utilize some sketches heretofore written. But here another difficulty arose. Among those who promised to write the story of their regiments some died and others procras- tinated. The latter class was large by reason of the failure of the General Assemblies of 1896 and 1897 to assume the publication by the State. This, however, was done by the General Assembly of 1899, the bill being introduced and eloquently championed by Hon. H. Clay Wall, member from Richmond county and historian of the Twenty-third Regiment. Upon the passage of the act the vacancies caused by death or declination were filled up and the remaining sketches (with a few exceptions) being in hand by the spring of 1900, and the others promised, publication was begun. The printing was, for certain causes, however, so much delayed that the General Assembly of 1901 passed an act to expedite the completion of the work, which is now guaranteed to be finished during the current year. VIII Preface. The work of the several historians and of the Editor has of course been one of love and without pecuniary compensation. We would that our labors could have been worthier of the sub- ject and of our noble comrades living and dead. The State assumed the cost of publication and the work is its property, as the deeds it commemorates are the noblest inheritance of its people and their sure gage of fame. It was thought that it would add vividness to these pen-and- ink sketches of their deeds to give engravings of as many of the actors in those stirring times as could be readily obtainable. The selection of these was left, of course, to the several regimental historians. No line was drawn at rank. The only restriction has been that each picture shall have been taken "during the war or soon thereafter" — the object being to present the men as they then looked — and that the subject made an honorable record in the Great War. Major C. L. Patton, a Southerner residing in New York City and the head of a great publishing house, kindly and without remuneration undertook the supervision of the engravings and their proper grouping to go with the histo- ries of their respective commands. In this way it is believed that the interest of the work has been greatly enhanced and that this will grow as the years diminish the number of survivors. Many of their descendants, perchance, will look back as a patent of nobility to the men whose names or whose features are pre- served in these volumes. The cost of the engravings has heen defrayed by the relatives or friends of the parties. A few maps have been also added to illustrate the text. The requirement that the history of each command should be written by a member thereof was to insure authenticity. But as by reason of wounds or other temporary absence few men were every day of the four years present with their commands, and the lapse of time might cause errors of memory, the several historians were requested to refresh their memories by conversation and cor- respondence with their surviving comrades, and they also had access to the publication by the Government of the invaluable series of "Official Records of the Union and Confederate Preface. ix Armies." In addition, the sketch of each regiment as sent in was published in the newspaper of largest circulation in the section in which the regiment was principally raised, and sur- vivors were requested to note errors and omissions and to com- municate them to the writer of the regimental history. This was a heavy tax upon the columns of the press, but with the patriotism which has always characterized the editors of North Carolina this service was cheerfully and freely rendered without charge or compensation. The Confederate Veterans of North Carolina are greatly indebted for this great service in rendering onr histories more full and accurate to the Raleigh News and Observer and Morning Post, the Wilmington Messen- ger and Star, the Charlotte Observer, the Fayetteville Observer, the New Bern Journal, the Asheville Citizen, the Wayuesville Courier, and perhaps others. During the compilation of these sketches we have, up to this date, lost no less than nine of the writers of these sketches by death. Captain John Cowan, TJiird North Carolina; Captain Neill W. Ray, Sixth North Carolina; Professor H. T. J. Lud- wig. Eighth North Carolina; General Rufus Barringer, Ninth North Carolina ; Colonel Stephen D. Pool, Tenth North Caro- lina; Colonel W. J. Martin, Eleventh North Carolina; Sergeant H. C. Wall, Twenty-third North Carolina; General Robert B. Vance, Twenty-ninth North Carolina; Captain M. V. Moore, Sixth-fifth North Carolina, and there were others who died before completing their sketches and for whom substitutes were had. If errors or omissions of importance are discovered by any of our comrades as these volumes successively issue from the press, they are requested to promptly communicate the needed correc- tion to the historian of the regiment concerned, that proper amendment maj' be made among the Errata in the last volume. The most scrupulous and exact accuracy is earnestly desired in these volumes. North Carolina has grandly known how to make history. She has till now always left it to others to write it. Hence she has X Preface. never had full justice done the memory of her sons. With these volumes the reproach is taken away. Herein the historian will find authentic, reliable material, compiled by the gallant men who saw the deeds they narrate. From these volumes some yet unborn Thucydides or Macaulay of the future may draw some of his material for that history which shall transmit to all time the story of this most memorable struggle, and the historians in these pages shall have thus contributed their share in per- petuating the fame of their State and of their comrades to the most distant times. Walter Clark. Raleigh, N. C, 26 April, 1901. GENERALS FROM NORTH CAROLINA. By WALTER CLARK, LiEUT.-Coi,. Seventieth N. C. T. From General Ainsworth, Chief of the Eecord and Pension OflBce at Washington, in whose custody are the "Archives of the War Depart- ment of the Confederate States," I have procured the following certified list of the Generals appointed from North Carolina, with the date of com- mission of the highest rank attained by each, and graded accordingly to seniority of commission: LIEUTENANT-GENERALS. ^^ame. Bate of Rank. 1. Thbophilus H. Holmes 10 October, 1862 2. *Daniel H. Hill (not sent to Senate) 11 July, 1863 MAJOE-GBNEBALS. 1. W. H. C. Whiting (killed in battle) 28 February, 1863 2. BoBEKT Ransom, Jr 26 May, 1863 3. William D. Pender (killed in battle) 27 May, 1863 4. Robert F. Hoke 20 April, 1864 5. tSiEPHEN D. Ramsbue (killed in battle) 1 June, 1864 6. Bryan Grimes 15 February, 1865 brigadier-generals. 1. Richard C. Gatlin 8 July, 1861 2. L. O'B. Branch (killed in battle) 16 November, 1861 3. J. Johnston Pettigrew (killed in battle) 26 February, 1862 4. James G. Martin 15 May, 1862 5. Thomas L. Clingman '---17 May, 1862 6. George B. Anderson (killed in battle) 9 June, 1862 7. Junius Daniel (killed in battle) 1 September, 1862 8. James H. Lane 1 November, 1862 9. John R. Cooke 1 November, 1862 10. Robert B. Vance 1 March, 1863 11. Alfred M. Scales 13 June, 1863 12. Matthew W. Ransom 13 June, 1863 13. Lawrence S. Baker 23 July, 1863 14. William W. Kirkland 29 August, 1863 15. Robert D. Johnston 1 September, 1863 16. Jambs B. Gordon (killed in battle) 28 September, 1863 17. tWiLLiAM R. Coz (temporary) 31 May, 1864 XII Generals from North Carolina. 18. tTHOMAS F. Toon (temporary) 31 May, 1864' 19. tW. Gaston Lewis (temporary) 31 May, 1864 20. RuFus Baheinger IJune, 1864 21. fJoHN D. Bakey (temporary) _. ,3 August, 1864 22. Aechibald C. Godwin (killed in battle) 5 August, 1864 23. William MacRae 4 November, 1864 24. CoLLETT Leventhoepe 3 February, 1865 25. William P. Roeeets 21 February, 1865 This is a full list of the Generals appointed from North Carolina. There were several other Generals who were born in North Carolina but who went into the service from other States of which they had become citizens and which justly claim them, as Generals Braxton Bragg, Cad- mus M. Wilcox, Jeremy F. Gilmer, Gabriel J. Rains, Felix ZollicOfFer, Ben. McCullough, and possibly others. On the other hand. General D. H. Hill, born in South Carolina, had long been a citizen of this State, and General W. H. C. Whiting, born in Mississippi, and General John R. Cooke, of Missouri, threw in their lot with us and were appointed from this State and commanded North Carolina troops the whole war. General James Conner, of South Carolina, and General Alfred Iverson for a whilecommanded North Carolina brigades, but they were appointed from their respective States and do not figure properly in a list of Gen- rals from North Carolina. It is worthy of note that one-half of the Major-Generals and one in four of the Brigadier-Generals from this State were killed in battle or died of wounds during the war. The parole lists at Appomattox were signed by Bryan Grimes, Major General, and by James H. Lane, John R. Cooke, Matt. W. Ransom, William R. Cox, William MaoRae and William P. Roberts as Brigadier Generals. " Official Records of Union and Confederate Armies, Vol. 95, pp. 1S77-1S79." The parole lists at surrender of Johnston's army were signed by Daniel H. Hill and Robert F. Hoke as Major-Generals, and Thomas L. Clingman, W. W. Kirkland and Lawrence S. Baker, Briga- dier-Generals. " Official Records of Union and Confederate Armies, Vol. *Por some unexplained reason, President Davis did not send in General Hill's appoint- ment as LieatenantGenerat to the Senate and he was never confirmed as such by'that body, though at the President's request and by virtue of the President's appointment he served in that capacity. As LieatenantGeneral he commanded a corps in the Army of the West at Chicbamauga in 1863. Later he resljmed his rank of Major-Genera!. fMajor-General Ramseur was a temporary Major-General, and Brigadiei'-Generals Cox, Toon, Lewis and Barry were temporary Brigadier-Generals. These temporary appoint- ments were peculiar to the Confederate army. They were made to a command whose head was absent in prison or wounded, upon whose return It was contemplated that the temporary appointee would go baoli to his previous rank, though while occupying Iiis temporary grade he had the same rank and authority as if permanently appointed. In point of fact, each of such appointees held his rank to the close save General Barry," who went back to the colonelcy ot the Eighteenth Eegiment, being disabled by wounds' very soon after his appointment, whereupon General Conner was temporarily placed in com- mand of the brigade until the return of General Lane, the permanent Brigadier who had been absent wounded. ' Generals from NoiiTH Carolina. xiii 98, pp. 1061-1066." The other general officers from North Carolina above named were at the time of the above surrenders either dead, or ■wounded, prisoners or on detached service. REGIMENTS AND BRIGADES. North Carolina furnished seventy-eight full regiments and some twenty battalions to the Confederacy, besides a few scattering companies and a large number of individuals who served in commands from other States, of both which latter we have no data recorded in these volumes. The composition of brigades was so often changed that it was found useless to record it here. Of the regiments the Tenth, Thirty-sixth and For- tieth were artillery, and the Ninth, Nineteenth, Forty-flrst, Fifty-ninth, Sixty-third, Sixty-fifth and Seventy-fifth were cavalry regiments. Most of the battalions were artillery or cavalry. The Seventieth, Seventy-first and Seventy-second Regiments and three battalions were Junior Reserves — boys seventeen years of age, who, however, did good service at the battles of Southwest Creek and Benton- ville, and a portion of them at the bombardments of Wilmington and of Fort Branch on the Roanoke, and in other minor actions. They were brigaded and were commanded first by Colonel F. S. Armistead, then by Colonel Nethercutt and later by General L. S. Baker, and composed one of the brigades of Hoke's Division. They also aided at Belfield, Va., to repulse the enemy's advance southward. The Seventy-third, Seventy-fourth, Seventy-sixth, Seventy-seventh and Seventy-eighth were Senior Reserves, between the ages of forty-five and fifty, and rendered good service, a portion of them being under fire. All the above, being regularly in the Confederate service, have a part in these volumes. Besides these there were regiments and battalions of Home Guards, composed of those exempt from Confederate service by reason of being State officers (as justices of the peace, county officials, etc.), or for other causes, who rendered service from time to time, for short tours of duty, under the orders of the Governor. Also, in the early part of 1862 there was service rendered by Militia ordered out for short periods, in emer- gency, notably those under- Brigadier-Generals David Clark, Collett Leventhorpe and Jesse R. Stubbs for the defense of the Roanoke after the fall of Roanoke Island, and a regiment of Militia shared in the battle of New Bern. There was also doubtless valuable service rendered by the Militia in other parts of the State. But from the scope of this work, and the dearth of material at this late date, no adequate account is herein given of the services of our Militia and Home Guards, though at the time their aid was valuable. XIV Generals from North Carolina. NAVAL OFFICERS. The following appear, in the Confederate Archives, as the highest officers in the Navy, appointed from North Carolina, though there were many others of lesser rank: Name, Date of Rank. James W. Cooke Captain 10 June, 1864. John N. Maffitt Commander 13 May, 1863. James Iredell VVaddell First Lieutenant 6 January, 1864. Captain Cooke commanded the ram "Albemarle" at the capture of Plymouth, 20 April, 1864, b}' General E. F. Hoke, for which victory General Hoke and himself, with the officers and men under their com- mand, were voted thanks by the Confederate Congress. General Hoke's commission as Major-General bears that date in recognition of his service. Lieutenant James Iredell Waddell, as commander of the "Shenan- doah," was the last to bear the Confederate flag, not having heard of the fall of the Confederacy till August, 1865, when he was in mid Pacific. Commander J. N. Maffitt' s services were also conspicuous and are well known. Walter Clark. Raleigh, N. C., 26 April, 1901. ORGANIZATION OF TROOPS. ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT; QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT; COMMISSARY DEPARTMENT; ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT. By major, a. GORDON. ORGANIZATION OF TROOPS. THE ADJUTANT-GENERAIv'S OFFICE. HOW GOVERNOR ELLIS RAISED THE FIRST TEN REGI- MENTS OP STATE TROOPS FOR THE WAR, AUTHORIZED BY THE LEGISLATURE — THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE — ORGANIZATION OF OTHER REGIMENTS DURING THE WAR — THE STATE'S CARE FOR ITS TROOPS. By MAJOR A. GORDON, Staff of Adjutant-General of North Carolina. The Legislature met May 1, 1861, and authorized Governor Ellis to raise ten regiments of State Troops for the war before the State Convention met. An Adjutant-General and other staff officers were authorized for these troops. Major James G. Martin, on his arrival at Raleigh, after his resignation from the United States Army, was appointed by the Governor Adjutant- General of this corps. Most of the officers of these regiments were appointed by the Governor prior to this, and several of them were well advanced in recruiting. The first six regiments were put in camp and were soon armed, drilled and equipped, and sent to Virginia. The Fifth and Sixth participated in the first fight at Manassas. The Seventh and Eighth were not ready for some time afterwards. When fully recruited and equipped the Seventh was sent to New Bern, N. C, and the Eighth to Roanoke Island. The Ninth (First Cavalry) was camped at Warrenton and everything done to equip it for service as fast as circumstances would permit. There was considerable trouble in getting this regiment ready for service. Horses were purchased in Kentucky, and after getting the horses neither the State nor 4 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Confederate States could furnish saddles and sabres. An agent of the State was dispatched to New Orleans to purchase saddles to make up the number wanted ; this done, there still remained a deficiency in sabres, which could not be purchased. The Second Cavalry, formerly Spruill's Legion, was camped at Kittrell Springs, both of these regiments having about sabres enough to do for one. In this condition of affairs the Governor and Gen- eral Martin appealed to the officers of the Second Cavalry to give up enough of their sabres to equip the First Cavalry, which they did with some reluctance, and with the assurance of the Adju- tant-General that the State would do everything in its' power to equip the Second Cavalry as soon as possible. The First Cav- alry was soon after this ordered to Virginia. Every effort was made to get the Second ready for service, which was done late in the fall of the year, and it was then> ordered to New Bern, N. C. The Tenth Regiment State Troops was artillery. Five com- panies of this regiment were light batteries — Eamseur's, Reilly's, Brem's, Moore's and Sutherland's : the first two were sent to Virginia, the other three remained in the State till later. During the first year of the war the other companies were assigned to duty in the forts below Wilmington. These regiments were all transferred to the Confedei-ate States, and the State had very little to do with them from that on, except to furnish clothing to the men and horses to the cavalry regiments and light batteries.. The Adjutant-General's office of North Carolina was practically done with them on their transfer to the Confederate States. Now, let ns look at the volunteers and see what had been done in that line. Colonel John F. Hoke was Adjutant-General under the old laws of the State, and it was through his office that the volunteers were organized. The First Volunteers were organized ahead of any other regiment in the State; the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh soon followed. The first six were sent to Virgina, the Seventh to Hatteras. The Eighth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth and Fourteenth Volunteers were organized between the 15th of June and 18th of July, 1861. All of these regiments, when organized, armed Organization of Troops. 5 and equipped, were transferred to the Confederate States. Colo- nel John F. Hoke was elected Colonel of the Thirteenth Vol- unteers, and he resigned the office of Adjutant- General. The Governor ordered General Martin to take charge of both offices, that of the State Troops and Volunteers, until the Legislature met, when that body elected General Martin Adjutaut-Geueral of the State, and conferred upon him all the military power of the State, subject to the orders of the Governor. It con- solidated under him the Adjutant-General, Quartermaster-Gen- eral, Commissary, Ordnance and Pay Departments. The double sets of Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.. State Troops, and 1, 2, 3,. 4, etc.,Volunteers created some confusion, especially at Rich- mond, where they were unable to keep up the distinction. This led to an understanding between the two offices that the State Troops should retain the nun^bers 1 to 10, and the First Volun- teers to be numbered Eleventh Regiment North Carolina Troops (First Volunteers), etc. This caused some little dissatisfaction at first among the volunteers, but it soon passed away. There was some irregularity about the election of field officers of the Ninth Volunteers, and the Governor withheld the commissions. Into this vacant number was placed Spruill's Regiment, the Nineteenth North Carolina Troops, Second Cavalry. The next regiment organized was the Twenty-fifth at Ashe- viile on the 15th of August, the Twenty-sixth at Raleigh on the 27th of the same mopth, and the Twenty-seventh soon followed. Most of the companies of this regiment were intended originally for the Ninth Volunteers. The Twenty-eighth Regiment was organized at High Point, September 21st. We are now in Sep- tember, 1861, with twenty-eight regiments organized and twelve or thirteen more in sight at the Adjutant-General's office, and as yet neither the Convention nor Legislature had made any pro- vision for clothing the troops; and if it was expected that the Confederate Government would furnish clothing, it was getting very plain that the troops would suffer before the winter was over. In this state of affairs the Legislature directed General Martin, late in the month of September, to provide winter cloth- 6 NoETH Carolina Troops, 1861-65. ing, shoes, etc., for the North Carolina Troops. The time was very short, and it was no small task, and he went about it with his usual energy. He organized a clothing manufactory in Ral- eigh, under Captain Garrett, an efficient officer in that line of business ; every mill in the State was made to furnish every yard of cloth possible, and, in addition, Captain A. Myers was sent through North Carolina, South Carolina, and as far as Savannah, Ga., purchasing everything that could be made avail- able for clothing the troops. In addition to what the State fur- nished on such short notice the ladies of North Carolina, God bless them, nobly came to the assistance and furnished blankets, quilts, etc. Many carpets were torn up, lined with cotton, and rqade into quilts; by the combined efforts of the ladies and State officers the troops of North Carolina were clothed during the first winter of the war, if not exactly according to military regu- lation, in such a manner as to prevent much suffering; and after this winter the State was in better condition to supply the wants of her troops. Mention will be made of this subject hereafter, when we come to the fall of 1862. We will now take up the organization of the troops. Next comes the Twenty-ninth at Asheville, September 24th; the Thir- tieth, October 7th, at Weldon; the Thirty-first soon followed at Haleigh, and before it was well armed was sent to Roanoke Island. From a combination of circumstances, which could not be overcome at the time, this regiment was the worst armed that the State sent to the front. The State did not have the arms to furnish, and the Confederate States declined to furnish any more arms to twelve-months volunteers. Great trouble was experi- enced in furnishing arms from this time till late in the spring of 1862. The Thirty-second was organized with six companies of North Carolina infantry, that went to Norfolk, Va., without the formality of going through the State offices. Additional com- panies were added by the State to make up the regiment. The Thirty-third was composed of companies enlisted for the war. Some of them were intended for the first ten regiments of State Troops, and being slow in recruiting, were left out; but enough Organization op Troops. 7 were added to make a full regiment. The Goveruor appointed the field officers for this regiment. When armed and equipped it was ordered to Newbern. The Thirty-fourth was organized, as far as my memory serves, at High Point, October 26th, and when ready for service was sent to Virginia. The Thirty-fifth was organized near Raleigh, November 8th, and in January was sent to New Bern. The Thirty-sixth was made up of artillery companies. Serving in the forts below Wilmington, they were all in service several months before being organized into a regi- ment. The Thirty-seventh was organized at High Point, No- vember 20th. When the officers recruiting companies for this regi- ment tendered them to the State they were told that arms could not be furnished by the State. They then proposed to come to camp with their private rifles, and, if necessary, go to the field with them. They brought them tp camp. When they were supplied with better arms I am unable to state. The Thirty-eighth was organized at Raleigh, January 17, 1862. When ready it was sent to Virginia. The Thirty-ninth was organized at Asheville, and when armed and equipped went across the mountains to Tennessee (Decem- ber 1, 1863). The Fortieth was heavy artillery, and thecompa-, nies forming this regiment were on duty in the forts below Wil- mington several months before its organization as a regiment (September, 1862). The Forty-first was a cavalry regiment, and the companies put in this regiment were also on duty many months before a regimental organization. This was the last of the twelve-months volunteers. The dates given in Moore's " Roster " of the commissions of the field officers of the Thirty- ninth, Fortieth and Forty-first are not correct. These regiments were organized soon after the Thirty-eighth, which is given cor- rectly, and before the Forty-second, which took place April 22, 1862. The State had in January, 1862, forty-one regiments armed and equipped and transferred to the Confederate States Army; twelve of these for the war, one for six months, twen- ty-eight for twelve months, and, in addition, several battalions and independent companies. The above is what was accom- 8 North Caeolina Troops, 1861-65. plished between the passage of the ordinance of secession and the middle of January, 1862. The Forty-second, although mentioned above, belongs to the troops raised in the spring of 1862, and will be mentioned hereafter with them. The foregoing narrative is well known to all those who have kept up with the military history of the State. We will now take up matters not so well known — official business between the Executive office and the Adjutant-General's office; also mat- ters relating to the defense; all of which are so blended to- gether that the history of the one cannot be given without the other. This is more particularly the case, as the Adjutant-General of North CaroHua was for several months in command of the defenses of the State, while Adjutant-General also. The State was invaded by a large military force under Gen- eral Buruside, who captured Roanoke Island on the 8th of Feb- ruary, 1862. It was very plain to military men that the object of the Buruside expedition was the capture of New Bern, Golds- boro and Raleigh, which it was expected to do, while McClel- lan's army was to do the same at Richmond, Va. Both armies expected to move at the same time. The Adjutant-General of North Carolina was very much concerned about the safety of New Bern, N. C. He sent an officer of his staff to look at the forts and find out the number of troops available for the defense. That officer was shown the defenses by Major Robert F. Hoke, then of the Thirty-third, serving at New Bern, afterwards Major- General. After inspecting the forts, etc.. Major Hoke remarked that unless greater energy was displayed in the near future than in. the past the place could not be successfully defended, all of which was plainly to be seen. This state of affairs was reported to the Adjutant-General. He in turn reported the matter to the Governor. The Legislature, at the fall session of 1861, directed the Adjutant-General to reorganize the militia of the State, and appointed him Major-General of the same when called into ser- vice. General Martin believed that the Legislature expected something more than a paper organization of the militia, and he requested the Governor to call out ten thousand State militia to Organization of Troops. 9 help defend New Bern. This the Governor declined to do, on the ground that he expected the Confederate Government to defend the place. Whether he wrote to the Government or not for re-inforcements cannot be stated positively, but the impression in the Adjutant-General's office was that he did. No re-inforce- ments were sent, and on the 14th of March, 1862, New Bern fell into the hands of Burnside. On the following day General Martin went to Kinston to confer with General Branch, to find out the actual condition of his army, and see if the State could render any assistance. That day the writer went to the Govern- or's office, the Adjutant-General doing this daily, to receive the Governor's orders, if any. While there the defenseless condition of the State was discussed by ex-Governor Bragg, who was pres- ent, and at this time aide to Governor Claris. Governor Bragg was in favor of calling out the militia, and somewhat urged the Governor to do so. This Governor Clark declined to do, but authorized the Adjutant-General's office to write to the militia captains of the State "to have one-third of their command in readiness." This order was somewhat changed in the Adjutant- General's office — made more effective. The captains were ordered to detail (draft was probably the word used) one-third of their men; the men so drafted, or any others, were given permission to volunteer for the war. This order struck a wave of patriotism that was floating over the State from east to west, which was almost dormant for some months on account of the Government refusing to furnish arms to twelve-months volunteers. Promi- nent men in every county of the State vied with each other in raising troops, and many of those not actually going to the field were as busy helping as those going. Instead of getting one- third, the writer believes that fully two-thirds of those liable to service volunteered under this call. In all, twenty-eight regiments and several battalions promptly volunteered. The Adjutant- General's office was daily crowded by men offering companies for service. The Eleventh Eegiment (Bethel) was reorganized at High Point, April 18th; the Forty-second at Salisbury, April 22d, and at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh, were organized the 10 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Forty-third, Forty-fourth, Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth, Forty-sev- enth, Forty-eighth, Forty-ninth, Fiftieth, Fifty-second, Fifty- third, Fifty-fourth and Fifty-fifth, all between the 21st of April and 19th of May. The Fifty-first was recruited in the Cape Fear district and organized at Wilmington. The State had now in a very short time fifteen splendid regiments organized and ready for service, except the arms, which will be mentioned later. All the military departments of the State were taxed to the utmost to clothe, feed and equip this large number of troops who so promptly came to the defense of the State, In addition to those mentioned above twelve or thirteen more regiments were in sight at the Adjutant-General's office, to be taken care of when fully recruited. On or about the 15th day of May, 1862, General Martin was surprised by receiving a letter from General R. E. Lee and a Brigadier-General's commission in the Confederate States Army, and informing him that he was expected to take command at Kinston on or about the first of June, relieving General Rob- ert Ransom. This commission at first General Martin declined, and wrote General Lee that he had a commission from the State of North Carolina, and as the troops to be commanded would be from the State, he would prefer to serve with the commission he had. To this General Lee replied that the Government did not wish to call him out under his State commission, and that every available man in North Carolina was to be moved to Virginia except four regiments, which he was to take from camp at Raleigh to Kinston, and that "he was expected to take com- mand during the emergency." These were the words used by the great chieftain. Under the circumstances he accepted, though not a very agreeable position to be in, the command of a large State, with only four or five available regiments, and an enemy esti- mated at upwards of twenty thousand in his front. On or about the night General Martin received his commission as Brio-adier- General the Governor of North Carolina received a communi- cation from the War Department of the Confederate States Army giving him in full the plan of the campaign to crush McClellan's army, and asking his co-operation with the North Carolina Troops Organization of Troops. 11 in camp not yet turned over to the Confederate States. This was to reconcile him to the moving of all the troops then in the State to Virginia. The statement above, that the War Depart- ment would communicate the plans of one of the most famous battles of the world more than a month before a shot was fired might, without explanation, seem incredulous. The State of North Carolina had at this time fifteen regiments, each near a thousand strong, not yet turned over to the Confederate States. These troops were raised on the Governor's call for the defense of the State, as shown in this narrative, and he could have kept them for that service if so disposed. This was the only body of reserve troops in the Confederacy, at least no other State had anything approximating it, and it was very important for Gen- eral Lee to receive this re-inforcement, hence everything was made fully known to the Governor of North Carolina. In brief, the plan, as told me by my chief, was to concentrate everything that could be taken out of North Carolina and elsewhere on McClel- lan's army and crush it before Burnside could move from New Bern. It seemed to be understood that the 1st of July was the time fixed for the movement of Burnside's army ; this was given by the Confederate States War Department from Richmond. The Governor of North Carolina was informed that the defense of his State would be an easy problem after the defeat of McClellan's army, and would not be overlooked. The Governor and Adjutant-General of North Carolina went into the plan heart and soul, and did everything in their power to make it a success; they, and they alone, knowing what the Con- federate Government and'General Lee expected North Carolina and them to do. About this time the State received a shipment of arms from England, landed at Wilmington, exact number not recollected now, probably two thousand. They were given, to the troops now waiting for them. The Confederate Government now came to the assistance of the State in arming the troops at Camp Mangum, and before the 1st of June every one of them was armed and ready for service. The troops serving 12 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. in the State were quietly and gradually withdrawn and sent to Virginia. General Holmes, who was in command, moved to Petersburg. Branch's Brigade was withdrawn and Daniel's Brigade also; the latter had a brigade, though not yet a commis- sioned brigadier. Ransom's command moved on the 2d of June to Eichmond, and on that date General Martin took command at Kinston. His brigade consisted of the Seventeenth, Forty- fourth, Forty-seventh and Fifty-second. The Fiftieth was ordered to Plymouth and the Fifty-first was still at Wilming- ton. This left six regiments of infantry in the State. The Sec- ond Cavalry was on picket duty as close to New Bern as possible. The three artillery regiments, Tenth, Thirty-sixth and Fortieth, were on duty in the forts below Wilmington, except the light batteries of the Tenth, which were in Virginia ; this was the force in the State on the 2d of June, 1862. The Twenty-ninth and Thirty-ninth were in the Army of Tennessee; all the rest in Virginia. Everything-passed off quietly for two or three weeks — a calm before the desperate struggle. When the struggle com- menced at Richmond, General Lee was fearful that Burnside would find out the defenseless condition of North Carolina, and move forward. Every night he telegraphed to General Martin at Kinston, "Any movements of the enemy in your front to-day?" On the night of the sixth day's fighting at Richmond the War De- partment telegraphed to the Governor of North Carolina, "Any troops in your State that can be spared?" The reply was, "None but Martin's Brigade at Kinston; you can move it if wanted." It was ordered to Virginia that night and left early next morning, but the seven days' fighting was over before it got there, and it was ordered to camp near Drury's Bluff. The State had now left in it two regiments of infantry, the Fiftieth and Fifty-first, the last ordered from Wilmington to Kinston. One cavalry regi- ment and three artillery regiments, the Twenty-ninth and Thir- ty-ninth, as already stated, were in the Army of Tennessee, the other forty-seven regiments in Virginia — that was North Caro- lina's contribution to the spring campaign of 1862. And if the defeat of McClellan's army was not as complete as expected, it Organization of Troops. 13 certainly, from the foregoing showing, was not the fault of North Carolina or North Carolinians. From the Governor down to the humblest private, all nobly did their duty. The Governor exposed his own Capital to save that of the Confederacy and a sister State; only one regiment of infantry, one of cavalry, two or three batteries of artillery between him and an army estimated about twenty thousand strong. The risk taken in North Caro- lina at this time was very great. After the battles at Richmond matters remained quiet for a few weeks, both in Virginia and North Carolina, and the i^djutant-General of the latter State, with his brigade, was camped near Drewry's Bluff. In a short time the enemy commenced raiding in North Carolina, and the Governor telegraphed to the War Department to send General Martin and his brigade back to North Carolina. General Lee ordered General Martin to take command of North Carolina, but would not let the brigade return. On showing him the con- dition of the State, he allowed one regiment to return, and directed General Martin to organize more troops for the defense of the State. General Martin returned to Raleigh, assumed his duties as Adjutant-General of the State, and also commanded the troops on duty. We will now glance at the organization of more regiments. The Fifty-sixth was organized at Camp Mangnm, July 31st; the Fifty-seventh, if memory serves right, was organized at Salis- bury ; the Fifty-eighth, Sixtieth, Sixty-second, Sixty-fourth and Sixty-fifth were organized west of the Blue Ridge, and when armed and equipped went to the Army of Tennessee. McDowell was the first Colonel of the Sixtieth, not Lieutenant- Colonel, as put down in Moore's " Roster." The Fifty-ninth and Sixty-third were cavalry regiments, and were raised and organized in the East. When ready for service, both of them went to Virginia. The Sixty-first was organized at Wilmington. All of these regi- ments volunteered for the defense of the State, as originally called for by the Governor in the Adjutant-General's order of March 6th or 7th; also the Sixty-sixth and Thomas' Legion. The Sixty-sixth was formed out of Nethercutt's and Wright's 14 North Carolina Teoops, 1861-65. Battalions. Some of the companies of this regiment had been on duty since 1861, but the regiment was not organized till 1863. The next regiment is the Sixty-seventh, Whitford's. Captain Whitford had a company in the Tenth Regiment, which was raised in the East, and was probably on duty at New Bern when that place fell into the hands of the enemy. At all events, when he was in camp at Swift Creek, in June, 1862, he kept a com- plete system of picket duty all the way to New Bern, and some- times brought communications from there. These services were considered so valuable that his company was detached from the Tenth and another company put in its place, and he was authorized to raise additional companies, which he continued to do till he had a large regiment. It was principally recruited near the enemy's lines. Here the writer will branch off a little and state that the peo- ple of the East, under the trying circumstances in which they were placed, were loyal to the State and Confederate Govern- ments. Every person that could move from New Bern did so when it fell into the hands of the enemy. The young men and old men also from the surrounding country flocked to the nearest camps, hence the raising of the Sixty-seventh Eegiment. The Sixty-eighth was raised in the extreme eastern counties of the State under the same circumstances as the Sixty-seventh. The Sixty- eighth was not transferred to the Confederate States, but remained in the State service till the end of the war. Moore's "Roster" does not give the strength of this regiment. The writer was on duty in it for a short time in ] 864. It might safely be put down at one thousand then, perhaps more before the surrender. It was well known that there were many prominent men in the East opposed to the war. The so-called Governor Stanly, when in New Bern, tried to communicate with them, and proba- bly succeed in getting letters to some of them. He also made a trip up the Pamlico to see some of the prominent men there. This was reported by scouts at the time. He did see one or more prominent men of that section, but he got no aid or encourage- ment there. He was plainly told that there was no Union senti- Organization of Troops. 15 ment in the State, and it is more than probable that the plain truths told him at there interview led him to resign and leave the State soon afterwards. The writer found out accidentally about this interview after the war was over. One prominent man of the East lost his life trying to serve the Confederacy in a diplomatic way. I allude to the Hon. James Bryan, of New Bern. In June, 1862, he applied to the Commanding-General for permission to go North by flag of truce; it was at a time when no flags were permitted, consequently Mr. Bryan's application was sent to the War Department. In a few days an answer was returned that President Davis wanted to see Mr. Bryan. He was informed of this, and promptly went to Richmond. He was requested by President Davis to go to Washington and sound the public men there upon what terms they would be willing to a separa- tion. This was all the writer learned of the mission. He went to Washington, remained there some time, and then returned to New Bern, which place he was not permitted to leave, and died there of -yellow fever. This is a case of which nothing was ever known in the State. There are some doubts in my mind as to his own sons knowing of the mission he had from the President. We will now get back to the Adjutant-General's work proper. The next regiment is the Sixty-ninth; this was originally Thomas' Legion, and had been on duty since 1862. Two battalions belonged to this organization ; both of them were detached in Virginia, and with the view of getting more efScient service, the legion organization was discontinued in the winter of 1864 and the regimental adopted. This regiment was raised in the West, and remained on duty there till the end. The next and last regiment of the line is what Moore puts down as the Seventy- fifth. This was the Seventh Confederate Cavalry, and was originally recruited by orders from the War Department. Two companies of this regiment were from Virginia, two from Georgia, six from North Carolina. The f ,d officers of this regiment were appointed by the War Department. At the request of General Martin the Hon. 16 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. E. R. Bridgers, of the Confederate Congress, got a law passed through that body that the North Carolina Troops in the Sev- enth Confederate Cavalry should be detached with the view of organizing a full regiment of North Carolina Troops. The com- panies from Virginia and Georgia were very weak in men and horses, and as the regiment was on duty in North Carolina in the summer and fall of 1863, it was recruited so as to make it almost, if not altogether, a North Carolina regiment. Besides above, through the Conscript Bureau of the Confederacy, there was organized the Seventieth, Seventy-first and Seventy-sec- ond (Junior Reserves), who were nearly twelve months in service, and the Seventy-third and Seventy-fourth (Senior Re- serves), who rendered short tours of service. There were also a number of battalions, but the writer is not able to give much of a history of them. They seem to be pretty well accounted for in Moore's "Roster," except Henry's Battalion. This had six com- panies in it, and was probably five hundred strong. Lieutenant- Colonel Kennedy's Battalion was composed of Georgians and North Carolinians, as Moore states. Kennedy was a. native of North Carolina, moved to Georgia, raised some of his command in the State of his adoption, moved with them to North Caro- lina and raised more. These irregularities the Adjutant-Gen- eral's office tried to prevent, but sometimes they were in service before anything was known of the case. Some companies went to Virginia without reporting to the Adjutant- General's office. This, if memory serves right, was the case with the First Bat- talion, and perhaps others. We will now try to give a history of the clothing of this large army the State put in service. When the Legislature in 1861, directed General Martin to furnish clothing for the North Carolina Troops, there were then only about thirty regiments in service. In less than a year that number was more than doubled and it became very plain to General Martin that the resources of the State were not adequate to the demands of the army. la August, 1862, he laid the matter before Governor Clark and asked permission to buy supplies abroad and a ship to transport ■Okganization of Troops. 17 them. The Governor's term of service being near an end, he declined to give any orders, and requested the matter to lie over till Governor Vance was inaugurated. Soon after Governor Vance's inauguration General Martin brought the matter to his attention. The Governor- took it under advisement for a few days. Soon his attention was called to the subject again, and he requested General Martin to come to the Executive ofBce that night and meet two or three prominent men, when the matter would be discussed on both sides. The Hon. B. F. Moore was the leader of those present. He took the ground that the Governor and Adjutant-General had no authority by law to pur- chase a ship, and that they would both be liable to impeachment if they did so. General Martin took the ground that the laws of North Carolina made it his duty to furnish clothing to the troops, and voted funds to do this; that the resources of the State were not equal to the demand ; that transport ships were used in all modern armies, and that they were as necessary as wagons, mules, etc., of which the law made no mention. The Gov- ernor reserved his decision that night, but when asked for it the next day he authorized General Martin to buy the ship and clothing for the troops, and signed sufficient bonds for this purpose, which were afterwards placed in the hands of the State agent sent abroad. The next thing for the Adjutant-General to do was to get a man of ability and responsibility to be sent as agent to England. The Governor made no suggestions on this point. On the recommendation of Major Hogg, Mr. White, of Warrenton, was selected as State agent to go abroad to purchase the ship and supplies, and Colonel Thomas Crossan was sent to command the ship, and well did they perform this and every other duty intrusted to them by tlie State. In due time the steamer "Lord Clyde" was purchased, afterwards named "Ad- Vance," and arrived safely in Wilmington with supplies for the troops. Governor Vance got a great deal of credit for this, while General Martin, who was the real author of it, got practically none. From this time forward it is certain that the North Carolina Troops were better clothed than those of any other State. In March, 2 18 North Caeolina Teoops, 1861-65. 1863, the Legislature declared the office of Adjutant-General vacant for the reason that General Martin had accepted a commis- sion from the Confederate States. He never drew any salary from the government for the services he rendered while Adju- tant-General of North Carolina. After this he resumed com- mand of a brigade, and the duties of the office were next per- formed by General D. G. Fowle for a few months. The troops of the State were practically organized before General Martin left the office. The only regiments that were raised afterwards were the Sixty-seventh and Sixty-eighth, and perhaps two or three battalions besides the Junior and Senior Reserves. In March, 1863, the writer's connection with the Adjutant- General's office ceased, and he is not able to give any detailed history of what took place afterwards. Major Graham, who was assistant to General Gatlin, can su|)ply this part of the nar- rative. There is nothing said here of the troops who took the forts on the coast and the Fayetteville Arsenal early in 1861. Major Graham Daves, who was Private Secretary to Governor Ellis, could furnish this. No man in the State is more able or better qualified to do it. The three reports would give as com- plete a history as can be secured at this late date. The three war Governors of the State, Ellis, Clark and Vance, are dead. The four war Adjutant-Generals are also dead, Hoke, Martin, Fowle and Gatlin, and with them a great deal of the war history of the State is lost, but the secretaries of the former and assistants of the latter are still living, and enough can yet be collected to make a I'espectable showing. Governor Vance is known to history as the War Governor of the State. The rec- ords show that fifteen regiments were organized before Governor Ellis' death, and there were at least fifteen more in active state of recruiting. All the other regiments of the North Carolina Troops were organized during Governor Clark's term, with the exception of the Sixty-seventh and Sixty-eighth and some two or three battalions — exclusive of Reserves organized under the Conscript Bureau. It was Governor Vance that authorized the purchase of the supplies from abroad and a ship to transport them. This act Organization of Troops. 19 endeared him to the people of the State more than any other act of his life, perhaps more than all the others combined, numerous and creditable as they were. Something might be expected here as to the probable .number of troops sent to the field. The writer, stating facts as known to him,- does not like to go into the realms of conjecture. Major Moore has devoted a great deal of time and attention to the matter and, although his work is unfortunately not complete, it is the best there is. He furnishes the names for several regi- ments that had from fifteen to eighteen hundred men. It is almost certain, from what is known of the rest of the regiments, that if a correct list could be had the whole line of seventy-three regiments would average sixteen hundred each ; the battalions, eight thousand, total. This would give a total of nearly one hundred and twenty-five thousand men actually in the field dur- ing the war. Add to this the Senior Reserves, etc., and there is an aggregate of one hundred and twenty-seven thousand men, a very moderate estimate, probably. The exact number will never be known unless an effort is made in the near future to get the names of those missing before their comrades are dead. A few words in regard to the records in the Adjutant-Gen- eral's office. When troops were mustered into service the origi- nal muster-rolls were deposited in the Adjutant-General's office. Soon after the first troops were transferred to the Confederate States the Adjutant-General requested them to send copies of their muster-rolls to Raleigh. Several of the commanding offi- cers objected, as involving too much clerical work in time of war. The matter was dropped by the Adjutant-General, as he had no power to enforce this request. He, however, requested a copy of the monthly regimental returns, which most of the command- ing officers sent. Here it may be proper to say something in regard to the cloth- ing furnished by the State. All the clothing was manufactured by the State and then turned over to the Confederate Quarter- master at Raleigh, his receipts taken for the same and the issues made by him. So hard pressed was the Confederacy that on one 20 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. or two occasions during the writer's service in Raleigh it had to draw on this depot for the troops of other States. The State presented claims to the Confederate States for the clothing fur- nished, which were paid, if there were any funds on hand to pay with. The Convention appointed a Board of Auditors at Raleigh to audit the war accounts of the State. The board consisted of the Hons. B. F. Moore, P. H. Winston and S. F. Phillips, who audited all the accounts of the diiferent war bureaus of the State. During General Martin's term of office they never found a mis- take in a single voucher or disbursement, as everything was strictly according to law, something extraordinary in time of war. This they were at all times ready to admit, although not very ardent admirers of the military policy of the State. It is conceded by all that the State of North Carolina put more troops in the field during the war than any other Southern State. We can go further, and claim that these troops were bet- ter armed and equipped before leaving the State, and certainly better clothed during the entire war, than those of any other State. The State of North Carolina was the only one thait fur- nished clothing for its troops during the entire war. It was the only State that engaged in direct trade with England, purchas- ing its supplies and transporting them with its own ship. In this respect it was not only ahead of its sister States, but also of the Quartermaster's Department Confederate States Army, for that department never owned a transport ship during the whole of its four years' existence, although its credit abroad was ample for years. It is probably true that it got some supplies through the blockade, by the " Sumter " and other vessels, before they were turned into armed cruisers, but it is here asserted, without fear of successful contradiction, that the Quartermaster's Department Confederate States Army never owned or purchased a transport ship during the war. And, as a matter of history, it was in the fall of 1863 before any regulations were adopted by the Con- federate States in regard to getting supplies by blockade-runners. An order was issued then requiring all vessels to take out and in Organization of Troops. 21 one-third of their cargoes for the Confederate States. This was one year after North Carolina was running the blockade in full blast with its own steamer. That ought to be sufficient proof of our claims. Now, if our claims are correct that the State furnished more troops, and that they were better equipped and clothed than those of our sister States, there must be some reason for this. All of these things could not happen by accident. In the opinion of the writer there were three reasons : 1st. When the Legislature elected General Martin Adjutant- General of the State it conferred ample power on him and voted him sufficient money. He had power and money combined, both very essential in war. 2d. General Martin brought to the discharge of this office a great deal of energy and mature judgment, which a long expe- rience in the line and staff of the United States Army gave him, and he went into it heart and soul, expecting to win, and so well did he lay the foundations of the business at Raleigh that none of his successors, so far as known, made the slightest change in the methods adopted by him. Third and last reason. The intense loyalty of the people of the State made the matter much easier for the success of the cause desired. There was no staying inside the enemy's lines in North Carolina. These were the causes of North Carolina's superior military establishment. Mention has been made here of the loyalty of the people of the East; it would not be just to the West if omitted. The great majority of the people of the West were equally as loyal and true as their brethren of the East. No taint of disloyalty was attached to any prominent man in the West: this the writer knows well, as he was on service there the last eight months of the war. It is, however, true that there was a streak of disloy- alty in a few of the counties bordering on East Tennessee. This was not occasioned so much by Unionism as a dislike to be con- scripted into the army. Several men from that section went across the lines to Tennessee and joined the notorious Kirk's command. 22 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Three or four companies of North Carolinians were in that com- mand, which gave a great deal of trouble during the last months of the war, and in one of these raids killed the Hon. W. W. Avery, of Burke, while he was at the head of a band of citizens pursuing the raiders. The War Department, at the suggestion of General Martin, who commanded this district at the close of the war, suspended the conscript law, and there were no more runaways. Major A. C. Avery was also authorized to raise a regiment for local ser- vice. Some progress was made in recruiting several companies for this regiment, but the Major was captured during Stoneman's raid. The regiment was never organized, and, as far as known, the Major did not get his colonel's commission. This was the last effort made to raise troops in the State before the war closed. The writer has now given all the information that memory can furnish at this late date; but one secret remains, and that has been sealed in his breast since July, 1861, and here it is: On the day after the battle of the first Manassas Governor Clark got a telegram from the War Department informing him that there was not powder enough in the Confederacy for another day's fight, and requesting him to put nitre agents in the field. This state of affairs was known only to five men in North Caro- lina, Governor Clark, Colonel Barringer (his aide). General Mar- tin, Mr. Pulaski Cowper, the Governor's Secretary, and the writer. Here, as elsewhere, the Adjutant-General's office of North Caro- lina promptly came to the rescue and appointed several nitre agents throughout the State. Their names cannot be given at this late date or any detailed history of their operations, though they were considerable, and continued until the end of the war. It was at the request of the Adjutant-General's office of North Carolina that Colonel Gorgas, Chief of Ordnance Confederate States Army, took possession of the Salisbury Machine Shop, which was turned into an arsenal, and also the Cranberry Iron Works both of which were so serviceable to the Confederacy. It is prob- able that mistakes were made of omission and commission, but who could have guided such a revolution without making them? If MAJOR JOHN DEVEREUX, Quarter Master General. Okganization of Troops. 23 we consider the condition of the State and the Confederacy, both entering the war without a supply of arms and only one day's supply of powder, as stated above, it is a wonder to those who topk an active part in the war that so much was accomplished with such slender means to begin with, and it must remain a wonder to future generations also. Such was the condition of affairs at Raleigh in the spring of 1862 that spears had to be manufactured and put in the hands of several of the new regi- ments coming to Camp Mangum. No guns of any kind or pat- tern could be obtained. No doubt some of these spear-heads are lying around Camp Mangum yet, if not eaten up by rust. I have now complied with the request made of me, and regret very much that this history is so meagre, particularly in regard to the organization of the troops, but I have not a scrap of mili- tary history of any kind except Moore's " Roster," and cannot give anything like a full history. It is the best I can do from memory. Following this will be given a history of the operations of the Quartermaster, Commissary, Ordnance and Pay Departments of the State. QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL' S DEPARTMENT. The Quartermaster's Department of the State of North Caro- lina at the commencement of the war was under the direction of Colonel L. O'B. Branch, Quartermaster-General, Lieutenant- Colonel Samuel J. Person, Majors A. M. Lewis, T. B. Venable, Wm. S. Ashe and John W. Cameron, Captains Abraham My- ers Robert Rankin and Moses A. Bledsoe. There are very few records of the early operations of the department available for this report; in fact, it seems few. have been published. This is probably owing to Colonel Branch's resignation from the department to accept command of the 24 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Thirty-third Regiment North Carolina Troops during the sum- mer of 1861; but that it was ably and well managed, as was every- thing else that Colonel Branch and the officers associated with him had anything to do with, is well known to the writer ajid those who had any business transactions with the department. The rapid and satisfactory equipment of the troops hurriedly called into service fully attest this. Most of the officers of the department followed the example of their chief and took service in other positions. On the 20th of September, 1861, the department was reorgan- ized according to the law passed on that date, and General James G. Martin was elected chief of all the war departments of the State. Major John Devereux was appointed Chief Quarter- master, which position he kept from that date to the end of the war. It was under his immediate direction and supervision that the operations of the department were so ably conducted during the rest of the war. He was assisted by Captain Moses A. Bledsoe, in charge of transportation and other duties; by Captain Abra- ham Myers, in purchasing supplies, and Captain I. W. Garrett, the latter in charge of the clothing manufactured by the State. After Captain Garrett's resignation Major Dowd was put in charge of that business. In addition to the above there were two State agents, Captain W. H. Oliver in the eastern and Captain •James Sloan in the central part of the State. The names of these agents do not appear on the " North Carolina Roster," as they were not staff officers, but both of them performed valuable services, and should not be lost sight of here. By the law of September 20th the Governor was required to furnish clothing to the North Carolina Troops in the field, then about thirty thousand men. The officers of the department and the resources of the State were taxed to the utmost to accomplish this before severe weather, as no preparations had been made for it by the State and no law on the subject prior to September 20th, probably supposing that the Confederate States would supply the troops after they were transferred, but it was getting plainer every day that the Government was not able to do it. The unpleasant Organization op Troops. 25 truth must be stated that the Government did not realize what was ahead of it, and lacked energy to supply the troops from the beginning. In confirmation of this statement the views of the Hon. Judah P. Benjamin, Secretary of War, will be given under the head of Ordnance Department. Everything that could be made available in the State for clothing the troops was purchased, and the factories cheerfully furnished every yard of cloth they could. Major Devereux and his assistants were quite busy collecting and Captain Garrett equally so manufac- turing. As fast as the articles were received every effort was made by all the officers of the department to furnish the troops with clothing before the severe weather of winter set in. With the large and valuable help given by the ladies of the State, who furnished blankets, quilts and carpets to be cut up into the size of small quilts and lined, and many other articles, the troops of North Carolina were clothed during the first winter of the war in such manner as to prevent much suffering. In the spring and early summer of 1862 the department was again severely tried to furnish supplies to the large number of troops who volunteered for the defense, of the State, but with good management and energy it provided for them all, about twenty-five new regiments and several battalions, putting at that date the number of regiments up to sixty-five. In the fall of 1862 it was getting plain that the resources of the State were not adequate to the demands of such a large army, especially as the Confederate Government was also drawing supplies from the State, although the Quartermaster-General of the Confederate States Army agreed to withdraw his agents and let the State purchase everything and turn over to the Confederate States what was not needed for the North Carolina Troops. This agreement was not kept. It is probable that the necessities of the Quartermaster's Department compelled it to break the agree- ment— we will be charitable on this point. General Martin, in his report to the Governor in November, 1862, says: "Some articles are very difficult to be obtained at any price', especially blankets and shoes. In regard to shoes. 26 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. there are materials enough in the State to supply all that are required for our own troops and citizens at reasonable prices, provided the agents of the Confederate States do not come into competition with us and speculators can be prevented from tak- ing them out of the State." Governor Vance, in his message to the Legislature in Novem- ber, 1862, says in regard to clothing: "I beg to call your atten- tion to the great and almost insurmountable difficulties encoun- tered by the Quartermaster's Department in providing clothing, shoes and blankets for our troops. During the administration of my predecessor an arrangement was entered into, according to a resolution of the General Assembly, with the Quartermas- ter's Department Confederate States Army, by which North Carolina was to receive commutation for clothing her troops, and clothe and shoe them herself. And on our agreeing to sell to the Confederate States all the surplus supplies that could be pro- cured in the State, they agreed to withdraw their agents from our markets and leave the State the whole field without com- petition. This would have enabled the State to clothe and shoe her troops comfortably, and it could have furnished to the Confed- erate States all that was to be had anyhow at reasonable rates; but it was immediately violated. The country was soon and is still swarming with agents of the Confederate States, stripping bare our markets and putting enormous prices upon our agents. This is especially the case in regard to shoes and leather. The consequence has been our troops could not get half supplies from home and nothing at all from the Confederate Government be- cause of our agreement to furnish them ourselves." Notwithstanding the difficulties encountered, as above stated, the operations of the Quartermaster's Department for the twelve months commencing October 1, 1861, and ending September 30, 1862, were very large and, all things considered, very satis- factory. General Martin, in his report to the Governor, says the dis- bursements for the year are as follows (we omit cents): Organization or Troops. 27 Clothing, .... $1,263,042 Camp and garrison equipage, 269,404 Mules, wagons and harness, 20,600 Forage, 15,630 Horses for two regiments of cavalry, 142,459 Wood, 3,114 Miscellaneous, consisting of trans- portation, buildings, hospital ex- penses, etc., .... 213,304 Pay of troops. 1,032,427 Bounty, ..... 1,572,745 $4,532,725 Showing a total for the department for the year of over four and a half million dollars. We will now copy a statement of the issues of clothing, camp and garrison equipage issued by the Quartermaster's Depart- ment at Raleigh, N. C, to North Carolina Troops during the fiscal year ending September 30, 1862: "Hats 8,918, caps 61,949, coats 27,380, jackets 48,093, over- coats 22,598, pants 85,779, drawers 85,597, shirts 110,723, pairs socks 47,155, blankets 28,185, pairs shoes 75,809, pouches 927,. guard-caps 627, knapsacks 33,471, canteens 25,598, canteen- straps 9,676, haversacks 30,264, camp kettles 3,156, mess pans 6,703, spiders 597, pots and ovens 1,227, oven lids 161, hatchets 784, axes 1,919, axe handles 1,739, picks 938, pick handles 933, tents 4,282, officers' tents 531, hospital tents 287, tent flies 452, pounds nails 6,012, spades and shovels 1,583, drums 215, fifes 82, flags 22, flag-staffs 11, pounds castings 1,734, pairs boots 32, knapsacks 935, tin cups 340, plates 220, buckets 15, yards wool cloth, 11,810, yards cotton cloth 2,178, dozen buttons 14,023, pounds thread 89, yards carpeting 521, frying-pans 25, blank books 2, bed sacks 220, stoves 3, coffee-pots 21, saws 5, augers 2 broom 1, cap-covers 418, oil-cloth caps 45, yards oil-cloth 20, 28 NoETH Cakolina Teoops, 1861-65. letters 6,000, figures 4,000, mattresses 9, camp-stools 42, buckets 38, bedsteads 112." All of these articles were manufactured in the State, and showed plainly that the department was quite busy and energetic. It is here due to the memory of three able, faithful and efficient offi- cers, who had charge of the business under their chief, to state that most of the purchases and payments for these supplies were made by Major John Devereux, the articles of clothing were manufactured by Captain Garrett, except shoes, which were made in different establishments and issued to the troops by Major Pierce. This brings us down to the operations of the department in getting supplies through the blockade. To General Martin be- longs the credit of engaging in this business. He tried to get Governor Clark's consent to it, but on account of his official term expiring soon he left the matter to his successor. Soon after Governor Vance's inauguration General Martin explained to him everything about the supply of clothing, etc., and asked his approval of the scheme to purchase a ship in England and get supplies from there. The Governor took the matter under advisement. His attention was called to the matter again a few days later. On that occasion he asked General Martin to call at the Executive office that night and he would call in two or three lawyers, as he would like to have both sides of the question discussed. The meeting that night was quite warm, that is, the discussion of the law between the Hon. B. F. Moore, the spokesman of those present, on one side, and General Martin on the other; the law and everything connected with the mili- tary supplies being discussed. The Hon. B. F. Moore took strong grounds against the State entering the blockade business, and finally told Governor Vance and General Martin that if they engaged in the business they would both be liable to im- peachment. General Martin took the ground that the laws of the State made it his duty to supply clothing to the troops in the field; that a large sum of money was appropriated for the pur- Organiza.I'ion of Troops. 29 pose without any restriction as to where purchases were to be made; that the supplies of the State were not adequate; that the Con- federate States were paying the State large sums of money for clothing; that the Confederate notes could be turned into cot- ton and with cotton bonds buy the ship and clothing without any additional expense to the State, the cotton bonds and cot- ton itself used simply as bills of exchange, where neither the State notes nor Confederate currency would be available. As to the purchase of a ship, General Martin took the ground that he had as much right to do that as to purchase many other articles not mentioned in the law, it being well known that transport ships are a part of the equipment of all modern armies. The Governor reserved his decision that night, but next morning, when called upon for it, decided to support General Martin in his effort to sustain the army. The Governor at no time expressed any opinion of the law until his final approval came, although he had called in able and influentiallawyers to hear their opinions. The facts of the case are that the law did not authorize or prohibit blockade-running. The manner of getting the clothing was left to the discretion of the Quartermaster-General, subject to the approval of the Governor. General Martin did not want to violate the law — no man was more particular in that respect — and if it had looked like a violation Governor Vance would not have approved it. This was the only law on which there was any difference of opinion during the war. Governor Vance approved General Martin's construction of it, the Legis- lature approved the Governor's action, and that ended the legal question raised. Governor Vance received a great deal of credit for the blockade-running, but it is safe to say that had it not been for the energetic manner in which General Martin advo- cated this measure it would not have been commenced, although he got very little credit for it, except from the few who were aware of the facts. It is true that Governor Vance deserves credit for his approval of the liberal construction of the law which authorized it, after hearing the opinions of able and inilu- eutial lawyers against it. In addition to their opinions there was 30 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. the influence of an able and unscrupulous politician at Raleigh, who at this time tried to throw every obstacle in the way of the success of the Confederate cause. He thought he could control Vance, as he had been influential in nominating and electing him. Vance, however, sided with the army. This was the first step in getting away from that influence. The above is the inside history of what took place before the Governor's approval of the blockade business. After the Gov- ernor's approval of the scheme, General Martin appointed Mr; John White, of Warrenton, N. C, State agent to go abroad, and also Colonel Thomas N., Crossan, formerly of the United States Navy, both of whom were to act together for the purchase of the ship. The Governor promptly signed the bonds for the pur- chase of the ship and supplies, and they were placed with Major John Devereux, who, as chief disbursing officer of the Quarter- master's Department, had charge of the matter from that time forward. In due time they' were turned over to Mr. White, when ready to go abroad. It is proper here to state that Mr. White and Colonel Crossan purchased a first-rate steamer, the "Lord Clyde," a splendid vessel in every respect. All the busi- ness intrusted to Mr. White and Colonel Crossan was ably and satisfactorily done ; no better agents could have been selected. Colonel Crossan made two or more trips in charge of the "Ad- Vance" and then retired. The '"Ad-Vance" made seven or eight trips to Wilmington and took in a large amount of military supplies for the North Carolina Troops and for the Confederacy also. The writer has tried to get the exact amount of army supplies imported by the State, but regrets to say that he has not been able to do so, although kindly assisted by Mrs. Hinsdale, who placed her father's papers (Major John Devereux), or rather "what was left of them not captured by the Yankees," at his disposal. The papers wanted could not be found. The fol- lowing report from Major Devereux to the Governor is pub- lished : Organization of Troops. 31 STATEMENT OF BLOCKADE OPERATIONS. Sum raised on cotton bonds Advanced by parties in England Disbursements now due in Wilmington Sum raised on rosin bonds Cash balance Sterling — One-half steamer "Ad- Vance" on hand — original cost £35,000, less 10 per cent, tear and wear __ One-fourth interest in three steamers — ■ 3,788,066 pounds cotton at 5d. Sale of 4,080 bales cotton at £50 £. s. 119,700 98,969 1 250 47,500 47,248 18 £313,668 15,750 15,000 78,918 204,000 £313,668 The report says: "Orders have been sent out by the Governor for scythe-blades, railroad findings and other articles not charged in the above account, no bill of them having been received. Mr. White's salary as commissioner has not yet been settled, and is not charged. Owing to the difficulties of communication, Colonel MacRae has not settled his account for the transaction by which rosin bonds were issued. It is believed that £6,000 would be the utmost extent of any further charge to be made. There is a large amount of goods, consisting of cloth, blankets, shoes, cot- ton and wool cards, card machines and factory findings now on the way and in the islands, of which no account has been taken. The goods are paid for, and, when received, will much increase the above balance. The purchase money of the "Ad- Vance" was partly paid in bonds, as entered above, and partly in cotton. The cotton is added to the stock on hand." Major Devereux's report above shows plainly that the fears of the Hon. B. F. Moore and others that the State might sustain loss were groundless. The cotton paid for the ship and supplies without drawing on the State Treasury. At all events, what was not paid at the date of the above report was paid after- wards. 32 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Mr. White's report, which accompanied the Governor's mes- sage in May, 1864, was not published, and cannot be given here. The writer asked Captain William H. Oliver, who took an "active part in purchasing supplies for the blockade-running, for a statement. He says : "Early in 1863 I was commissioned by Governor Z. B. Vance an agent for the State of North Carolina to purchase cotton for blockade-running purposes. The instruction which I received through Major John Devereux, Chief Quartermaster for North Carolina, was to buy every bale of cotton that I could purchase, and to pay a stipulated price of twenty cents per pounds. I went at once to the sections nearest the Federal lines, so as to get all the cotton out of the reach of the Federal troops if a raid should be made by them. " In a short time I purchased about seven thousand bales and paid for the same about seven hundred thousand dollars. On account of the scarcity of railroad accommodation it was a tedious matter to get the cotton moved. "Arrangements had been made to ship the cotton as fast as possible by running it through the blockade at Wilmington, N. C. A large portion of the cotton was taken to Graham, N. C, it being unsafe to leave it in the eastern part of the State. "Mr. John White, of Warrenton, N. C, was appointed agent for the sale of it in England. Mr. White sailed from Charles- ton, S. C.,on the steamer "Leopard" on the 15th day of Novem- ber, 1862. A number of cargoes were shipped to him, and from a report of his to Governor Vance it will be seen that he pur- chased with the proceeds of cotton and North Carolina cotton bonds — "The steamship "Lord Clyde," afterwards known as the "Ad- Vance," at a cost of £35,000— $175,000. 150,115 yards gray cloth 6-4 wide. 11,023 " " " 3-4 " 28,582 " " flannel 6-4 " 83,173 " " " ^3-4 " Organization op Troops. 33 2,978 yards brown canvas padding. 25,887 pairs gray blankets. 37,692 " woolen socks. 26,096 " army shoes. 530 " cavalry boots. 1,956 Angola shirts. 7,872 yards gray flannel shirts. 1,006 cloth overcoats. 1,002 " jackets. 1,010 pairs cloth trousers. Quantity of sole and harness leather. 20,000 pairs army shoes. 10,000 " gray blankets. 1,920 " flannel shirts. 5,800 yards army cloth 6-4. 10,000 " " " 7,000 pairs cotton and wool cards. 5 machines for making cotton cards, with wire sufficient to keep them running twelve months. "A large quantity of the cotton was delivered by order of Gov- ernor Vance to Messrs. John Newland & Sons, at Saxapahaw Factory, to be manufactured into cloth and yarn. The cloth was delivered to the Quartermaster for the use of the army and the yarn was exchanged in Virginia for leather, which was made into shoes. The card machines were put up in Mr. William H. Willard's factory, and a large number of pairs of cards were made and distributed by me all over the State. "At the close of the war about two hundred bales of the cotton were at Graham, N. C, and it was taken by Colonel D. Heaton of the United States Treasury Department. " Very respectfully, "William H. Oliver." We give Captain Oliver's statemeut with the full knowledge and understanding that it is by no means complete. It embraces only a portion of the articles received. 3 34 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. The Governor, in his message to the Legislature in Novem- ber, 1863, says: "The enterprise of running th< lockade and importing army supplies from abroad has proven a most com- plete success. You will see from the report that large quantities of clothing, leather and shoes, lubricating oils, factory findings, sheet-iron and tin, arms and ammunition, medicines, dye-stuifs, blankets, cotton bagging and rope, spirits, coffee, etc., have been safely brought, besides considerable freight for the Confederacy. Two thousand and ten bales of cotton have been sent to Liver- pool, the proceeds of which were deposited to the credit of the State, less the amount of the expenses of the vessel. With what we have imported and the purchases in our home markets I think I can safely say that the North Carolina Troops will be com- fortably clothed to January, 1865." It will be seen that the Governor mentions several articles not in Captain Oliver's -statement, such as "arms, ammunition, medi- cal supplies," etc. In fact, neither of the reports are complete, for the State continued to bring in supplies for twelve months after the date of the Governor's message. The most complete and trustworthy report we have on the subject is Governor Vance's address before the Association of the Maryland Line, delivered in Baltimore, February 23, 1885. He said : "By the general industry and thrift of our people, and by the use of a number of blockade-running steamers, carrying out cot- ton and bringing in supplies from Europe, I had collected and distributed from time to time, as near as can be gathered from the records of the Quartermaster's Department, the following stores: Large quantities of machinery supplies, 60,000 pairs of hand cards, 10,000 grain scythes, 200 barrels bluestone for the wheat growers, leather and shoes for 250,000 pairs, 50,000 blan- kets, gray-wooled cloth for at least 250,000 suits of uniforms, 12,000 overcoats (ready-made), 2,000 best Enfield rifles (with 100 rounds of fixed ammunition), 100,000 pounds of bacon, 600 sacks of coffee for hospital use, $50,000 worth of medicines at gold prices, large quantities of lubricating oils, besides minor Organization of Troops. 35 supplies of various isinds for the charitable inatitutions of the State. Not only was the supply of shoes, blankets and clothing more than sufficient for the supply of the North Carolina Troops, but large quantities were turned over to the Confederate Grov- ernment for the troops of other States. In the winter succeed- ing the battle of Chicamauga I sent to General Longstreet's Corps 14,000 suits of clothing complete. At the surrender of General Johnston the State had on hand, ready-made and in cloth, 92,000 suits of uniforms, with great stores of blankets, leather, etc. To make good the warrants on which these pur- chases had been made abroad the State purchased and had on hand in trust for the holders 11,000 bales of cotton and 100,000 barrels of rosin. The cotton was partly destroyed before the war closed, the remainder, amounting to several thousand bales, was captured, after peace was declared, by certain officers of the Federal army." This shows that the operations of the blockade-running were a complete success, and fully justified the judgment and expecta- tions of Governor Vance and General Martin when they engaged in it. We will now drop the blockade-running and look at the issues to the troops. General Gatlin, in his report to the Gov- ernor, under date of May, 1864, says: " quartermaster's DEPART.MENT. " This department has furnished clothing, camp and garrison equipage, pay, bounty and transportation for the troops and paid other miscellaneous accounts. The disbursements for the eighteen months ending the 31st of March, 1864, are as follows (we omit cents) : Clothing, camp and garrison equipage, $ 6,862,043 Mules, wagons and harness, . . 14,147 Forage, 5,593 - Horses for two regiments of cavalry and artillery, ' 147,801 36 NoETH Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Wood, $ 6,655 Miscellaneous, 204,143 Pay of troops, .... 432,071 Bounty, 1,669,974 Cotton, 2,150,998 Advances to officers, . . . 186,803 $11,680,128 "The Confederate States have paid for clothing since the 1st of January, r863, the sum of $6,008,373.38, and there is still due for clothing turned over in the first quarter of the present year $1,247,236." It seems from General Gatlin's report that the State was issu- ing clothing to the army at the rate of nearly five million dollars a year. Notwithstanding all that the State of North Carolina did for the army, it is well known to those who were in the army that it was often greatly in want of shoes and clothing, and it is sad to contemplate what would have been the condition of the gallant Army of Northern Virginia without the great help which North Carolina gave it, ia which most of her troops were. It is well known that the Army of the West was still harder pressed for supplies. It had no State to do for it what North Carolina did for Lee's army, and it appears from Governor Vance's speech at Baltimore that the State had to dispatch "14,000 suits of clothing complete" to General Longstreet's Corps of that army, after the battle of Chicamauga. And after furnishing its own troops and other Confederate troops when necessary, the State had on hand at the surrender "92,000 suits of uniforms and great stores of blankets and leather." The reports fully show that the Quartermaster's Department of the State of North Carolina was ably managed from the beginning to the end. In this respect it was a long way ahead of the Confederacy, which was so sorely pressed all the time. We have no later reports of what was done the last year of the war, but as the State of North Carolina had an abundant supply of everything, and the Confederacy had not, it is reason- able to suppose the issues were very large. Organization of Troops. 37 SUBSISTENCE DEPARTMENT. The Subsistence Department of the State of North Carolina at the comoaencement of the war was under the direction of Colonel William Johnston, Major D. G. Fowle, Captains Wm. W. Morrison, David Schenck, Augustus S. Merrimon and John Devereux. Colonel Johnston was a man of energy, with broad views and enlarged ideas. One of the first things he did after it was plain that the war was coming was to send an agent to Louisville, Ky., to purchase a large amount of supplies at that place, which he had hurriedly shipped to Chattanooga before an embargo was placed on the railroads. By so doing he got a large lot of provisions from an exposed point and saved the resources of the State. Had this example been taken by the Confederate States Commissary the supplies of the Confederacy would not have been so scant. On the 1st of September, 1861, Colonel Johnston resigned to take charge of the railroad of which he was president, and all the other officers of the department accepted other duties. After the reorganization of the department.in September, 1861, Major T. D. Hogg was Chief Commissary, and continued in charge to the end of the war. The writer tried to get reports of the operations of the department from the officers still living, but failed, except one letter from Major Hogg, in which he says : "Judge Clark asked me to write out the Commissary Depart- ment, and I told him I did not know there was anything to write. Also, that you told me when we first met that General Martin, when he asked for anything in my department, would expect me to have it. I made up my mind that if .the. people would part with their commissary stores and take paper money for payment General Martin should have what he called for. The conse- quence was that my supplies grew during the whole war, and at the close of it I was feeding about half of Lee's army. Major, 38 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Carringtou would come to me begging, and I told him to get Yaoce's order and he should have anything I had." This is not very long, but it is a very important historical .fact that near the end of the war the North Carolina Commissary was, feeding about half of Lee's army. General Martin's report in November, 1862, says: SUBSISTENCE DEPARTMENT. The disbursements for the year are, . $586,767 Sales to Confederate States, . |1 57,412 Value of stores on hand, . . 24,395 181,807 Actual expenses of the department, $404,960 General Gatlin's report gives The actual expenses of the department, $1,080,958 Sales to Confederate States, . 301,197 Stores on hand, . . . 410,070 711,267 Actual expenses of the department, . $369,691 This is the last published report in May, 1864. As the de- partment had $410,070 in supplies on hand and still adding from March 31, 1864, till the end of the war, it was able to furnish considerable to Lee's army. No department of the Confederate States Government was so severely criticised as the Commissary. In the army and out of it, in the newspapers, particularly the Richmond Examiner, and even in the halls of Congress, its inefBciency was forcibly pointed out. The soldiers of the Confederacy had for about a year only one-third of a pound of meat ration issued to them. Many believed it was due to want of energy of the department. Presi- dent Davis finally made a change, but, alas, so late that no human being could overcome the disadvantages which surrounded the Confederacy. Therefore, those who are familiar with war events will not be in the least surprised to learn that the better managed Commissary of North Carolina was, before the end of the war, " feeding about half of Lee's army." Organization of Troops. 39 ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT. A writer in the Enoydopcedia Britanica, under the head of North Carolina, says: "At the breaking out of the war between the States in 1861 North Carolina, strongly averse to secession, sought by every means to avert the conflict, remaining unmoved after all the surrounding States had seceded, and was forced into the struggle almost last of the Southern States, and when there remained only the alternative of a choice of sides. Being near the seat of war, and yet for the most part outside of it, the State contributed more largely to the commissary supplies of the Con- federacy, and also sent into the field a larger number of troops and lost more men in battle than any other Slate, her soldiers having a conspicuous share in all the great battles from Bull Run to Petersburg." There is the case clearly, correctly and concisely stated. The State so averse to war had to choose sides, and when President Lincoln called for troops Governor Ellis replied, "I can be no party to this wicked violation of the laws of this country, and especially to this war which is being waged upon a free and independent people." Governor Ellis seeing plainly the dangers that threatened the State, a few days later ordered the capture of the Fayetteville Arsenal and the forts on the coast. With the heaven-born inspiration of a great com- mander, he did not delay to give the enemy time to capture or destroy the arsenal, as was done in the two great Southern States of Virginia and Missouri. In the former the arsenal at Harper's Ferry was destroyed by United States soldiers and in the latter it was captured and the guns turned against the brave Missourians. For the following list of arms captured at Fayetteville the writer is indebted to his friend, Mr. Cowper, who obtained the informa- tion from Colonel Pemberton and Major Hale : [From the Observer, Thursday, April 25, 1861.1 "The arsenal was surrendered on Monday, April 22, 1861, at 3 P. M. 40 ISToETH Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. "The arsenal buildings and machinery have probably cost the United States more than a quarter million dollars. The ma- chinery especially is very perfect for the manufacture of every implement of war. There are four brass six-pounders and two brass twelve-pound howitzers, forming a complete "battery," in military phrase, with all the horse trappings, and two old make iron six-pounders, thirty-seven thousand muskets and rifles, with other military stores and a large quantity of powder. Lieu- tenant John A. Pemberton of the Fayetteville Light Infantry is temporarily in charge of the arsenal." We beg leave to branch off a little and here state that Colonel Pemberton has now in his possession the first cannon-ball shot from the Federal side at Bethel on North Carolina Troops, which came near killing General D. H. Hill. The capture of the Fayetteville Arsenal, with its thirty-seven thousand stand of arms, placed North Carolina in the front rank of Southern States. Ten or twelve thousand of these were given to the State of Virginia, not quite so fortunate as North Caro- lina, on account of the destruction of the arsenal at Harper's Ferry, already mentioned. These arms were rapidly placed in the hands of the North Carolina Troops as fast as recruited, and there appeared to be no trouble till it came to the turn of the Thirty-first North Carolina Troops. This regiment was organ- " ized on the 19th of September, 1861, and the writer well recol- lects several interviews from both Colonel Jordan and Lieuten- ant-Colonel Fowle in regard to arms for their regiment. The arms of the State were already issued, and the Confederate Gov- ernment refused to furnish arms to twelve-months volunteers. The officers of the Thirty-first had to collect arras in the counties in which the companies were raised ; as far as memory serves principally from the militia the old arras they had. In this condition the regiment was sent to Roanoke Island, the worst armed up to this date turned over by the State. But it was the best the State could do. From that time till the spring of 1862 the State was greatly pressed for arms. Some old arms were Organization op Teoops. 41 collected from the militia, altered aad repaired and made service- able. General Martin made contracts with several establish- ments for this kind of work. His report to the Governor shows that contracts were made by which three hundred were to be altered and repaired every month. The Confederate States fur- nished arms for the Thirty-third North Carolina Troops, as that regiment was enlisted for the war; but at present memory can- not recall any other arms received from the Government till the spring of 1862, when the troops at Camp Mangum were armed to go to Richmond. In the fall of 1861, month not recollected now, the Hon. Judah P. Benjamin, Secretary of War, in a letter to the Governor of North Carolina, said it would not be necessary to make large contracts for military supplies for any great length of time, as the war would not last long, or words to that effect. This baneful idea entertained by the head of the War Depart- ment no doubt paralyzed all the departments of the Government, and most valuable time was lost in procuring war materials. With a very imperfect blockade the first year of the war, very little advantage was taken of it by the Confederate Government, and none by the States. It is undoubtedly true that the Gov- ernment imported some war materials, but nothing commensurate ^with its wants. In the fall of 1861 from every Southern State came a call for arms, with the Government unable to supply but very few. The Governor of the great Commonwealth of Vir- ginia, unable to get arms from the Government, sent an officer to the Governor of North Carolina with a request for arms, hoping that some could be furnished. The Governor of North Caro- lina had none to furnish. From " Pollard's Southern History of the War" it appears that the Southwest was equally as bad off for arms as the States of Virginia and North Carolina. The historian, in writing about General A. S. Johnston's army at Bowling Green, Ky., in October, 1861, says: "He repeatedly called upon the Government for re-inforcements. He made a call upon several States of the Southwest, including Tennessee, for a large number of troops. The call was revoked at the 42 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. instance of the authorities in Richmond, who declined to furnish twelve-months volunteers with arms." The fact of the case is, the Government had very few arms to furnish, and volunteering came almost to a stop on that account. The writer is satisfied that North Carolina could duriug the fall and winter of 1861 have had ten thousand more men iu the field had there been arms to put in their hands. What is true of North Carolina, with its thirty-seven thousand stand of arms to start with, must be equally true in regard to the other States. The Confederate Government could have had one hundred thou- sand more men in the field in the spring of 1862 if it had used energy in getting arms for them. With cotton selling in the South for ten cents in currency and in Liverpool for forty to fifty cents in gold, and only an imperfect blockade, there was no valid reason why the arms should not be on hand. The idea entertained by the War Department, as above stated, we fear, is responsible for it all, and found the South unprepared at every point attacked in the spring of 1862. This unprepared condi- tion cost the South millions of property, important territory never firmly regained, thousands of valuable lives, and perhaps its independence. The valor of the Confederate soldiers, who at every point fought against fearful odds, saved the South from being overrun in the spring of 1862, and not the energy dis- played by the Government in getting prepared for the struggle. We will now return to North Carolina history proper. Gov- ernor Clark and General Martin, though both extremely hopeful of the final results of the war, were not so hopeful as the Secretary of War. Soon after the Secretary's letter was received the Governor dispatched an agent to England to purchase arms for the State. The first installment, two thousand, was received in the spring of 1862, no transportation could be obtained for them sooner; and Governor Vance reports two thousand more received by the "Ad- Vance." This is all we can trace up, but believe more were received. During the fall of 1861 General Martin made arrangements with several small establishments in the State to make arms. Organization of Teoops. 43 He engaged two Frenchmen to make sabres, swords, bayonets, etc., at Wilmington. They manufactured a large number, which were immediately given to the troops, sabres being greatly needed for the cavalry. Some mechanics in Guilford county entered into a contract to make three hundred new rifles per month. The Governor referred to this contract in his message to the Legislature. As near as can be ascertained, ten thousand rifles were received under this contract, making a total of fifty- one thousand stand of arms put in the hands of soldiers by the State of North Carolina. A large number of old arms were al- tered and repaired, of which no accurate account can be given here. The State encouraged every effort for manufacturing every- thing needed for the troops. Here we will copy a report of the issues of the Ordnance Department of the State of North Caro- lina from June 30, 1861, to September 30, 1862: "Twenty-one thousand one hundred and forty muskets, 6,831 rifles, 609 Hall's carbines, 2,241 pistols, 2,057 swords, 43,898 cartridge-boxes, 22,773 belts, 39,999 waist belts, 41,131 cap pouches, 33,889 bayonet scabbards, 24,096 gun slings, 1,390,934 cartridges, 34,244 pounds cannon powder, 44,754 pounds mus- ket and rifle powder, 1,572,850 musket caps, 64,959 pounds lead, 1,660 saddles, 1,136 saddle-bags, 1,327 bridles, 1,193 halters, 834 bridles, 104 martingales, 838 holsters, 18 sets artil- lery harness, 4,105 pounds musket balls, 253 pounds buckshot, 81 boxes cannon ammunition, 893 double-barrel shotguns, 13 single-barrel guns, 559 pounds blasting powder, 93,000 shot- gun caps, 1,361 pairs spurs, and 2 six-pound field brass pieces." General Martin's report of the expenditures of the department from October 1, 1861, to September 30, 1862, was $512,713. General Gatlin's report from October 1, 1862, to March 31, 1864, was $1,160,595. No later reports were published, and owing to the death of all the officers who had charge of the department, no detailed account can be given for the last year of the war. In connection with the Ordnance Department will be given an account of the effort made by the State for the manufacture 44 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. of powder. General Martin, in his report to the Governor, says: "The State, through Governor Clark, advanced Messrs. Waterhouse & Bowes ten thousand dollars towards erecting the Raleigh Powder Mill. After the mill was put in operation it was destroyed by explosion. At the solicitation of Governor Clark they purchased the paper mills for the purpose of build- ing another mill, and twelve thousand dollars was advanced to them. Both of these sums are to be refunded in four equal installments. This sum, with the private funds of Messrs. Waterhouse & Bowes, being inadequate to complete the mill, you [Governor Vance] advanced them eight thousand dollars. The mill will be near enough completed by the first of Decem- ber to commence operation, and will yield weekly about four thousand pounds powder." The above investment was secured by mortgage to make the State safe. The enterprise proved a complete success, and we find in General Gatlin's report the following year that the State turned over to the Confederate Government over half a million dollars' worth of powder and paid the State for the amount ad- vanced. There is every reason to believe it did equally as well the last year of the war, though no reports are available. The State also engaged in the manufacture of ammunition. General Gatlin, in his report, says: "The operations of the car- tridge and moulding factory were for a time impeded on account of the great difficulty of procuring lead, but a good supply of that article having been accumulated by means of the State's importing vessels, the factory is now in full operation." The policy of the State from the commencement of the struggle was to encourage the manufacture at home of everything needed, and the Adjutant-Generals of the State always had the ready approval of Governors Clark and Vance for everything that was likely to succeed and help the Confederate cause. From these reports it can be seen that the State was engaged in importing arms and manufacturing them in the State also, making sabres, swords saddles, etc. Also in aiding the development of the powder mill and the manufacture of ammunition. Nothing that could be of service to the Confederacy was overlooked. Organization of Troops. 45 PAY DEPARTMENT. The operations of this department were under the charge of Major A. M. Lewis, Paymaster, assisted by Lieutenant E. G. Lewis, Assistant Paymaster. Its duties being clearly defined by law, did not involve any of the intricate questions of supply and demand of the other departments. It is, however, proper to state here that the duties were at all times satisfactorily performed. The disbursements under this head are included in the Quarter- master's Department. .BOARD OF CLAIMS. The Convention appointed a Board of Claims, or rather board of auditors, composed of the Hons. B. F. Moore, Samuel F. Phillips and P. H. Winston, three very able lawyers. It was the duty of this board to examine all the accounts and see that the expenditures were made according to law. To the eter- nal honor of the disbursing officers of the State of North Caro- lina during the war, this learned body was not able to find any mistakes or any disbursements not strictly within the letter of the law. We will now sum up what North Carolina did during the war. It put in the field not less than one hundred aud twenty-seven thousand men, and in all probability more, and issued to them, without the assistance of the Confederate States, fifty-one thou- sand stand of arms and all the necessary equipments. It fur- nished horses for two regiments of cavalry and several light batteries, with all the necessary equipments for both branches of 46 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. the service. Also equipments for the three other regiments of cavalry, where the men furnished their own horses. It had sabres, saddles, etc., manufactured for the cavalry before the Confederate States could supply the troops raised with them. It furnished transportation to the troops to camps of instruction and well drilled them before they were turned over to the Con- federate States. It furnished subsistence, clothing, camp and garrison equipage for the troops as raised, and continued to clothe them to the end of the war. When its supplies of cloth- ing and shoes were found inadequate it sent to England, pur- chased a fine steamer and brought in several cargoes of army supplies and various other things greatly needed. To lessen the risk of capture, it sold one-half of the "Ad-Vance" and invested in three other steamers. It shipped to England a large amount of cotton to pay for the ship and supplies. The money paid by the Confederate States for clothing was invested in cotton, and with the cotton more clothing and supplies were purchased. This was able financial management without costing the State one dollar; and it kept the troops of North Carolina well clothed during the war. The State bought a large portion of the provisions used in the early part of the war at Louisville and horses for the first cav- alry from the blue-grass regions of Kentucky, securing them from remote points and saving State supplies, before the Con- federacy awoke to the importance of getting supplies from ex- posed places. We will give a detailed statement of the expenditures by North Carolina for the war. General Martin's report from October 1, 1861, to September 30, 1862: Quartermaster's Department, . . $4,502,729 Subsistence, .... 404,956 Ordnance, 512,731 General Gatlin's report from October 1, 1862, to March 31 1864: Organization of Troops. 47 Quartermaster's Department, . . |11, 680,131 Subsistence, 1,080,958 Ordnance, 1,160,595 Sales of powder to the Confederate States, 521,563 There is no published report of the ex- penditures from the commencement of the war to September 30 — we estimate low, 600,000 No published report of the expenditures later than March 31, 1864— we estimate, 6,000,000 $26,363,663 Here we have a total of over twenty-six million dollars con- tributed by North Carolina to the war, without mentioning the arms taken at Fayette ville. In regard to the estimate of six millions for the last year of the war. General Gatlin says in his report "there is still due $1,247,235 for clothing turned over in the first quarter," showing that the issues of clothing alone would araouut to about five million dollars. One, million for all the other articles is undoubtedly below the mark. The State of North Carolina exercised its full sovereign powers in the prose- cution of the war from the beginning, and did not become an applicant for support from the Confederate Government. On the contrary, the Government was always heavily in debt to it for supplies of all kinds. If a correct and unbiased history of the war is ever written it will undoubtedly be seen that North Carolina put more men in the field, according to its white population in 1860, than any other State North or South, and that its devotion to the cause and energy in prosecuting the war cannot be matched by any other State. The pages of history may be searched in vain for greater achievements by any State or country than those accomplished by North Carolina during the war. With its ports blockaded, fur- nishing twenty-six million dollars' worth of supplies to the Con- federate cause, a considerable portion of which was brought from 48 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. abroad, and, as Governor Vance says, "considerable other freight for the Confederacy." Last, though not least, from Major T. D. Hogg's report it appears that the Commissary Department of North Carolina "was feeding about half of Lee's army" before the sun of the Confederacy went down. In every department the State of North Carolina ably sustained the army and Gov- ernment, almost stepping outside of its legitimate duties in engag- ing in the manufacture of powder and ammunition for the Gov- ernment, as already mentioned. We can state without fear of contradiction, that no Southern State can show anything approxi- mating this record. The State of North Carolina has reason to be proud of the record made by her troops in the field, which is known wherever the English language is spoken. It has equal reason to be proud of the record made by the executive and military departments of the State. Great credit is due to the three War Governors of the State — Ellis, Clark and Yance. Each and all of them supported the Confederate Government without any friction, which, unfor- tunately, was not the case in some other States. Credit is also due to Colonels Hoke, Branch and Johntson for valuable services during the early stages of the war, to General Martin for the splendid condition in which the troops of North Carolina were organized andthe efficiency of the military departments established according to his directions, and for his energetic perseverance in advocating the blockade-running until he finally secured its approval, and to General Gatlin for the efficient discharge of the duties while he was Adjutant-General. General Fo'wle was so short a time in charge that nothing of any special importance occurred to note here. But while giving credit to each and all of these, we must not overlook the valuable services performed by three unassuming, faithful and efficient officers at Raleigh, Major John Devereux, Chief Quartermaster, who, in addition to his other duties, so ably managed all the details of the blockade business; Major T. D. Hogg, Commissary, whose store-houses were always well filled, and Captain A. W. Lawrence, Ordnance Officer. They and their assistants had to perform all the detail Organization of Troops. 49 duties of the vast amount of business done at Raleigh during most of the war, all of which was well done. We cannot close this narrative without saying something about the women of the State of Noi'th Carolina. No women in any age or country were more devoted to a cause than were those of North Carolina to the Confederacy. The women of the State, by their love, devotion and fortitude, contributed as much to the Southern cause as the men who were fighting the battles, and they are now foremost in raising monuments to the dead and preserving the records of the struggle, as they were foremost in all good works during the war. In the dark and dismal winter of 1861, when neither the State nor Confederacy was able to sup- ply the troops as they should have been, the women of North Caro- , lina, in addition to what they contributed through the State officers to be sent to the army, sent direct during the last three months of that year, according to "Pollard's History," three hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars' worth of supplies, which were recorded at the passport office in Richmond and permits given to have them taken to the army. This is the only record we have of voluntary contributions, but we know they were continued to the end of the war. Many cases have come to the knowledge of the writer where these kind acts were continued to disabled soldiers and their families long after the war was ended. I will now bid the old guard farewell. Though temporarily absent from the State, I hope to be there again before the final roll-call; but be that as it may, the glorious achievements of the North Carolina Troops, with which I have been humbly associ- ated during the war, will remain dear to me as long as memory lasts. Respectfully submitted, A. Gordon. HuLDA, La., April 9, 1900. ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE. JANUARY I, 1863, TO THE SURRENDER— THE BREAK-UP. By MAJOR WILLIAM A. GRAHAM. Major Gordon, Assistant Adjutant-General during General Martin's administration, in closing his article on the history of the Adjutant-General's office to that time suggested that I should continue the history to the close of the war. This is the object of this paper, with such addenda as may appear of interest. The Adjutant-General, I think, was elected or confirmed by vote of the General Assembly. Governor Vance was elected Governor in August, 1862, and inaugurated January 1, 186.3. The principal candidates for Adjutant-General were Hon. (after- wards Governor) Daniel G. Fowle, of Wake, and Captain John Randolph (of Northampton county), Company H, Second North Carolina Cavalry. The Legislature, by resolution or act, con- ferred upon the Governor the right to appoint the Adjutant- General. Daniel G. Fowle was appointed. Major R. S. Tucker was appointed Assistant Adjutant-Gen- eral. He commanded an independent cavalry company, which was placed in the Third North Carolina Cavalry on the forma- tion of that regiment. After several months' service General Fowle resigned on account of a disagreement between him and the Surgeon-General as to the right of the latter to report directly to the Governor and not through the Adjutant-General's office the Governor sustaining the Surgeon-General. Brigadier-Gen- eral R. C. Gatlin was appointed. He had been an officer in the United States Army, was brevetted for gallantry in the Mexi- Organization of Tkoops. 51 can war, and had served as Brigadier-General in tiie Confederate army. In October, Major Tucker resigned and Captain W. A. Gra- ham, of the North Carolina Cavalry, was appointed Assistant Adjutant-General. He had been wounded at Gettysburg, July 3d. The officers of the department to the close of the war were Brigadier-General R. C. Gatlin, Adjutant-General; Major W. A. Graham, Jr., Assistant Adjutant-General; Lieutenant John B. Neathery, Assistant Adjutant-General; Lieutenant I. H. Ben- nett, Assistant Adjutant-General; Lieutenant T. W. Slocum, As- sistant Adjutant-General. Roll of Honor Department — Major James H. Foote, Assistant Adjutant-General. Surgeons — Edward Warren, M. D., Surgeon-General; Otis F. Mason, M. D., Surgeon in charge Richmond Hospital. Quartermaster — Major John Devereux, Quartermaster; Major Henry C. Dowd, Quartermaster; Captain Thaddeus McGee, As- sistant Quartermaster. Commissary — Major Thomas D. Hogg, Commissary. Paymaster — Major W. B. Gulick. Ordnance Officer — Lieutenant Josiah Collins. The passage of the conscript act by the Confederate Con- gress early in 1862 declared all men between eighteen and forty-five years of age subject to military duty, except those designated by the States as necessary for State service and exemp- tions specified by law. These exemptions were preachers, school teachers, overseers of twenty negroes, manufacturors and their laborers, editors and printers, and perhaps others not now recol- lected. The Confederate States, through its conscript bureau, executed the law, collecting and forwarding the conscripts to the armies. There was nothing for the State to do along this line. The State exempted the State and county officers, justices of the peace, officers of the militia regiments and the Sixty-seventh and Sixty- eighth Regiments North Carolina Troops, Henry's Battalion, 52 NoETH Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Wynn's Battalion and some companies which had been enlisted as State forces. The State officers, justices of the peace and militia officers were organized into companies and by counties into battalions and were designated by law as Home Guards. The field officers were appointed by the Governor for the different counties. Colonel Collett Leventhorpe, who had been Colonel of the Thirty-fourth Regiment and also Colonel of the Eleventh Regiment, and who had been severely wounded at Gettysburg, was appointed to command the State Home Guard, with the rank of Briga- dier-General. The force when called into the field made, I think, four regiments. It was used to arrest deserters from the Confederate army, quell disturbances, and was called to Wil- mington in December, 1864, to assist in repelling General B. F. Butler's attack. I do not recollect that it was ever actually engaged in battle with the Yankees. In 1864 Congress extended the ages of service in the conscript act so as to include seventeen to eighteen and forty-five to fifty years. The former were designated Junior Reserves, the latter Senior Reserves. They were organized by counties into compa- nies of each class and these into regiments and battalions. The conscripts (eighteen to forty-five years) were not so organized, but when they reported to the bureau they were assigned to regi- ments whose ranks had been reduced in numbers, without any consideration as to where the companies were enlisted. There were three regiments and several battalions of Junior Reserves and two of Seniors. ROLL OF HONOR. In 1862 this department of the Adjutant-General's office was established. Major James H. Foote was appointed to manage it. The object was to procure a history of each soldier furnished by the State, and have it arranged by companies and regiments. Blanks were prepared similar to muster-rolls.for a description of the service of each soldier. These were copied into books pre- pared after the same manner. A history of the regiment as a whole was to precede the history of the soldier by companies. If the Organization of Thoops. , 53 officers to whom these blanks were sent to be filled had attended to having it properly done the history of the North Carolina soldiers would have been complete. Many of these officers (under false ideas of modesty, perhaps) paid little attention to the matter, and the blanks were either never filled or not returned to Major Foote when completed. Deeds of themselves and com- rades which would add lustre to the record and correct or con- tradict misrepresentation by others will never be known. The average North Carolinian is a queer citizen, in that he seems to hold the opinion that if a man or a company perform the duty assigned, and is satisfied at the time with their conduct, it does not matter whether any one else knows of it, or what opinion they may have of the transaction. I think about two-thirds of the companies returned the blanks more or less completed. They were copied in the books and are now in the Adjutant-General's office or the State Library at Raleigh. IMPRESSING negroes TO WORK ON THE FORTIFICATIONS. This was done by the Home Guard. The orders were issued from the Adjutant-General's office, and perhaps would now be mistaken for a circular from political headquarters, as they con- tained the following sentence: "This order is to embrace all male negroes between twenty-one and forty-five years of age in your district." The number called for being stated by the Confederate author- ities, one out of a specified number (generally eight, I think) was taken. None were taken from those owning only one, unless the quota was unfilled from those owning more. Sometimes it was necessary to "lump" the owners and decide in some way which one negro should be selected. After collecting the negroes they were|earried to the designated places and turned over to the Confederate officers. THE "ad- VANCE." The "Ad- Vance" continued to run the blockade to Ber- muda, making a trip in about sixty days, carrying out cotton and Bringing supplies for the soldiers. North Carolina clothed 54 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. the soldiers she furnished the Confederacy and the Government paid the State. The consequence was that the North'Carolinians were better clothed than the troops of any other State, and this fact gave Governor Vauce a warm place in the soldiers' hearts. The Governor had a supply of cotton and wool cards imported by the "Ad-Vance," which were very valuable to the soldiers' wives and daughters in preparing yarn for clothing. I suppose some of these, although well worn and now discarded, are held as heir-looms by women of this generation. It was necessary in running the blockade to use coal that would not make much smoke. A supply was kept on hand for the ship at Wilmington. In September, 1864, the Confederate Cruiser "Tennessee," coming into Wilmington, took on its de- parture the coal intended for the next trip of the "Ad-Vance." This made it necessary to use inferior coal, and, being tracked by the smoke, the "Ad- Vance" was pursued by the blockading fleet and captured. Governor Vance called the attention of the Legislature to this, and recommended that demand be made on the Confederate Government for payment for the ship and cargo. THE officers OF THE HOME GUARD. The officers of the Home Guard appreciated their position as much as any set of men connected with the war. If the corre-. spondence of the office has been preserved there are many letters and reports that would be entertaining to those who were further to " the front." One captain (from Moore county, I think) wrote about as follows : "Mr. Gov. Vance: " Dear Sir : — If I was Governor, I'll agree to go to hell if I wouldu't be Governor." Then followed a complaint of some man in his neighborhood who was distilling corn, which he thought ought to be kept for the soldiers' families, and he desired authority and orders to stop him forthwith. Oeganization of Troops. 55 OLD men's guard. In the summer of 1864, in many of the towns, the men above the Senior Reserve age, or exempt from disability, formed com- panies, procured arms and drilled " in the cool of the evenings" several times a week. They presented a picture of a peculiar type. I have frequently seen one of them who served in the United States Congress in Monroe's administration repairing to the rendezvous under a silk umbrella, raised to ward off the sun, while his colored dining-room servant brought up the rear, carrying the musket with which he was to drill. He was not alone in thus showing his zeal for his country's defease. As they stood in line the commander often repeated the command : "Gentlemen, please keep your pieces erect." lee's army in 1865. Each month there were sent to the regimental commanders of North Carolina Troops blanks for reports, partly to ascertain how much clothing it was necessary to prepare. The reports which came in March, 1865, one month before the surrender, showed thirty-five thousand men for duty, as I now recollect. PREPARATIONS FOR EVACUATION. It seemed certain that General Sherman would reach Raleigh in his march, and in February and March, 1865, the books and papers not necessary for daily use were boxed and shipped to Statesville. General Joe Johnston's army, with General Beau- regard's (the latter were troops serving on the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina), assembled between Ral- eigh and Goldsboro, near Selma. At the invitation of General Johnston, Governor Vance reviewed these troops. After General Lee evacuated his lines around Richmond all people who appre- ciated the situation believed the end was nigh. It was no sur- prise when at the depot at Hillsboro, on Monday night, April 11th, the train brought the news " General Lee has surrendered." Governor Swain had written Governor Graham to meet him in 56 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Raleigh the next day to confer with Governor Vance on the situation. They were thus on hand when needed. General Johnston, after the battle of Bentonsville, having announced his intention to evacuate Raleigh at an early day, Governor Yance sent them as a commission to General Sherman to se- cure the city from pillage,' to preserve the property of the State, and to learn what his intentions were as to the officers of the State. Governor Graham prepared the papers, and a per- mit to pass the lines having been signed by Lieutenant-General Hardee, an engine drawing a coach in which were the commis- sioners, Surgeon-General Warren, Majors Devereux and Hogg, and Colonel J. G. Burr, of the Governor's staff, was started. For some reason General Johnston or President Davis tele- graphed General Hardee to withdraw the permit He signalled the outposts and the train was stopped, and started on its return. General Kilpatrick's advance, traveling the dirt road, struck the railroad ahead of the car, and, although it bore a white flag, fired into it, commanding a halt, and insisted they were prisoners. They were sent to General Sherman's headquarters, who said they had come out in good faith and should be allowed to return the same way, but that it was now too late to go that night. They laid their business before him. Governor Graham spent the night with General Sherman in his tent. Governor Swain, with General Frank P. Blair, who had been a student at Chapel Hill under his presidency. LINCOLN on the CAPTURE OF DAVIS. General Sherman, in conversation, told Governor Graham that he had seen the President the week before, and asked him if he wished him to capture Jeff Davis. Mr. Lincoln replied: "I will tell you a circumstance. Once there was a temperance lecturer in Indiana, who, on going home after the lecture with a sister, asked for a drink of water. She asked him if he would not like to have something stronger in it. "He replied: "If you could get a little in " unbeknownst " to me, I would't care if you did." Organization of Troops. 57 This appears to have been said at a Cabinet meeting. After- wards, when Stanton, Secretary of War, seemed anxious to capture President Davis, General Sherman remarljs in a post- script to a letter to Chief Justice Chase ("Records War of Rebel- lion," p. 412, No. 100) "to this hour the War Department has sent me no orders to hunt for, arrest or capture Jeff Da\'is, but on the contrary, as near as I know, their wish is that he escape, provided it be unknown to them." GOVERNOR VANCE LEAVES RALEIGH. General Sherman agreed to have measures taken to pre- serve the property of the State and city. As to the affairs of the State, he said that when " there was no interference with him he had nothing to do with them, but left them for the courts to deal with." General Hardee informed Governor Vance that he would "uncover" the city at 12 o'clock that night. At that hour Governor Vance left Raleigh and pro- ceeded to Hillsboro. General Sherman returned the commis- sioners to Raleigh early the next morning, as the Confederates were leaving and the Yankees entering the city. Governor Graham was to endeavor to go on to Governor Vance and Gov- ernor Swain to remain in Raleigh to see that protection was afforded. Between St. Mary's and where the Agricultural and Mechanical College- now stands Governor Graham found him- self between the lines and a brisk skirmish just opening. The Confederates retiring, he saw no opportunity of reaching Governor Vance, and returned to the city to make other arrange- ments. Report that he had been wounded between the lines had reached General Sherman, and he seemed much relieved to find it not so. Conveyance was procured from a friend, and Governor Swain joining him, they came on to Hillsboro the next day, reaching there about 8:30 P. M. They found Governor Vance taking tea with Governor Graham's family. The commissioners made their report, but as Raleigh had 68 NoETH Carolina Troops, 1861-65. been evacuated it was thought best to make no attempt to return until the Confederate authorities had been conferred with. The following is a copy of the papers carried by the com- missioners. ("Records War of Rebellion," p. 178, No. 100): State of North Caholina, Executive Department, Raleigh, April 12, 1865. General W. T. Sherman, Commanding U. S. Forces: Sir :— Understanding that your army is advancing on this capital, I have to request, under proper safe conduct, a personal interview at such time as may be agreeable to you, for the purpose of conferring upon the subject of a suspension of hostilities, with a view to further communica- tion with the authorities of the United States touching the final termi- nation of the existing war. IE you concur in the propriety of such a proceeding I shall be obliged for an early reply. With high respect, your obedient servant, Z. B. Vance. Headquarters Military Division op the Mississippi — In the Field, Gulley's Station, N. C, April 12, 1865. His Excellency, Z. B. Vance, Governor of North Carolina: Sir: — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communi- cation of this date, and inclose you a safeguard for yourself and any member of the State government that chooses to remain in Raleigh. I would gladly have enabled you to meet me here, but some interruption occurred to the train by the orders of General Johnston after I had passed within the lines of my cavalry advance, but as it came out of Raleigh in good faith it shall return in good faith, and will in no measure be claimed by us. I doubt if hostilities can be suspended as between the army of the Confederate Government and the one I command, but I will aid you all in my power to contribute to the end you aim to reach, the termination of the existing war. I am truly, your obedient servant, W. T. Sherman, Major- General. (Inclosure). Headquarters Military Division op the Mississippi — In the Field, Gulley's Station, N. C, April 12, 1865. All officers and soldiers of this army are commanded to respect and protect the Governor of North Carolina and the officers and servants of the State government, the Mayor and civil authorities of Raleigh, pro- Organization of Troops. 59 vided no hostile act is committed against the oflBcers and men of this army between this and the city. W. T. Sherman, Major-Oeneral Commanding. The train of cars now here in charge of Colonel James G. Burr of the stafi' of Governor Vance can pass to and from Raleigh without let or hindrance until further orders. All guards and pickets will see that it is not interfered with or destroyed. W. T. Sheeman, Major-Oeneral Commanding. The Governor's staff was now as follows: The writer, As- sistant Adjutant-Greneral, Colonel D. D. Ferrebee, Lieutenant Julius Juthrie, C. S. Navy, and Captain James A. Bryan, Ord- nance Officer Lane's Brigade, who was in Raleigh at the time of the evacuation of Richmond. THE GOVERNOR AND STAFF ON THE MOVE. We left Hillsboro on Saturday morning, going to Haw River, whence Governor Vance went by train to Greensboro, to meet President Davis, but he had left before his arrival. The staff spent the night with Mr. Swepson. Water-courses were much swollen by recent rains, and we had to swim several creeks en route to Haw River — the river was very high. Planks were laid across the railroad bridge, teams were unhitched and the wagons and cannon pulled over by hand. The teams were either led over or swam through the river. Next day we went to Company Shops (now Burlington), and received a telegram from the Governor to come on to Greens- boro. The news of Lee's surrender seems to have been kept from Johnston's army. As we passed through the camps near Greensboro that evening about dark I heard a soldier calling to a comrade and telling him that it was certainly so, "for he had seen one of Lee's men in Greensboro that day who had his parole." It had been more than a week since the surrender, and it is remarkable how it could have been kept from being known to the whole army. 60 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. RAIDED BY WHEELER's CAVALRY. At Greensboro there were large quantities of cloth and other supplies belonging to the State. These had been guarded by the Home Guard, but on the coming of Johnston's army Lieu- tenant-Colonel A. C. McAlister, Forty-sixth North Carolina Troops of Lee's army, who was in Greensboro with a portion of his regiment, was assigned to the duty. Some of Wheeler's Cavalry determined to take the cloth, and organized a crowd of about fifty for the purpose. They were warned not to go, and told' with whom they had to deal, but on they came. When they were within one hundred yards of Colonel McAlister's division the front rank began to fire over their heads, hoping thus to stop them, but still they came on. He then commanded: "Men, lower your pieces. Fire!" Three were unhorsed, and so badly wounded that they died. The others precipitately left the field, and there was no further trouble with the State's supplies. The North Carolina officers about Greensboro of Lee's and Johnston's armies besought Governor Vance to have these sup- plies issued or to let the soldiers take what they wanted, as "the end had come." He was willing for each one to have what was necessary for his personal use, but said " it was the State's prop- erty, and he had no right to destroy it." As we' came from Hillsboro, about eight miles out we over- took two of Wheeler's Cavalry with one horse to a buggy, another tied to this one, while one of the men was eopiing from a house leading another, followed by a woman and half a dozen children, begging him to leave the horse. These were the family of a soldier in Lee's army, the horse the only work animal they had. The Governor met him at the road and told him if he did not give up that horse he would "arrest him and go to General Johnston's headquarters to see that he was shot as a horse thief." The horse was released. The thanks and rejoicing of the mother and family was a touching scene. The buggy was loaded with what had been plundered from citizens. This straggling, plun- dering horde, known as " Wheeler's Cavalry," seemed to be an Organization of Troops. 61 organization to itself, and it is to be regretted that the brave men who were with the General at the front have been so often confounded with this crowd. To us, who had served with Jeb Stuart, it was a new "arm of the service"; we had seen noth- ing like it, although we had been almost to Harrisburg, Penn., in our campaign. The nearest approach was the stragglers on the Gettysburg campaign, whom General Stuart designated as " Company Q," and disbanded by general orders, referring to them as a " disgraceful organization." governor VANCE MEETS JEFF DAVIS. From Greensboro the Governor telegraphed President Davis for a conference. I accompanied him to Charlotte, but was not present at the conference, which was held in Mr. Thomas W. Dewey's parlor (now the Observer building). The proceedings were about as follows: After a general conversation on the sit- uation. Governor Vance said: " Mr. President, I have come to see what you wish me to do." The President replied in substance that "it was a time for every man to stand to his post and do his duty." After a short silence. General J. C. Breckinridge, Secretary of War (the Cabinet being present), said: "Mr. Presi- dent, I do not think you have answered the Governor's ques- tion." Mr. Davis replied rather tartly: "Well, what would you tell him to do?" General Breckinridge said: "The end is evi- dently near, and .he should make the best terms he can for his people and his State." Mr. Davis replied: "You would?" THE ARMISTICE. Generals Johnston and Sherman had agreed upon terms to close the war, which were submitted to their respective govern- ments for approval. A truce or armistice was declared until the decisions of the governments were known. The day I was in Charlotte, James H. Orr and some one else went towards Lin- colnton to carry General Stoneman notice of the armistice. That day the bridge at Rozzelle's ferry was burned. General E. D. Johnston, who was in the peach orchard on the Mecklenburg 62 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. side, with a few others in line, had a silver dollar in tis breast- pocket badly dented by a ball fired by Stoneman's men from the Gaston side of the river. There was a large quantity of leather and rubber belting and some cloth in a house standing about where Mr. Clinard's store now is. That afternoon some of the citizens broke the store open and helped themselves to the goods — as they thought the Confederacy was dead, they administered on its effects. THE CROWD WAS BROKE. At 12 o'clock that night we went in a box-car to Salisbury and "put up" at the hotel kept by Dr. ^Y. H. Howerton. He declined to take Confederate money in payment for breakfast and lodging. Governor Vance had not a cent of specie. I had seven dollars. When I left Hillsboro my father had fifteen sil- ver dollars belonging to my brother James (who was with Lee), and he gave me seven of it. He did not have a cent of specie of his own. At that time he was a Confederate States Senator. Neither he nor Governor Vance had favored secession in the beginning, but when they gave their adhesion to the Southern cause they nobly stood by it. The currency with which the nation paid its soldiers they considered good enough for them, and there is no stronger proof of faithfulness to duty assumed in our history than this incident affords. Dr. Howerton declined to receive the silver, but said it ,was useless to take Confederate money, and simply marked our names paid. I think General Wade Hampton was also present, and, like the Governor, had nothing but Confederate money. Dr. Howerton did the same for him. After breakfast we went to the depot and down to the old round-house. While in it we heard firing at the depot, first an occasional shot, then vollies. We thought Sherman had advanced and that we were prisoners. Some one had fired the boxes of ammunition piled on the depot platform. THE RETURN TO GREENSBORO. On the return to Greensboro, the Confederacy being at an end, Governor Vance was desirous to communicate with General Sher- Organization of Troops. 63 man. He went with Generals Johnston and Breckinridge and Hon. J. H. Reagan to Hampton's outpost, near Strayhorn's (now University Station). Here the others held several consultations, to none of which was the Governor invited. He took offense at this treatment and the manner of his transportation back to Greensboro. I bore several letters between him and General Johnston on the subject. All was satisfactorily adjusted. While at General Hampton's outpost news came of Lincoln's assassination, and Governor Vance abandoned his trip to Raleigh. During the armistice several hundred of General Johnston's soldiers came to Governor Vance's headquarters (the brick office opposite the court-house — Messrs. Scott's law office) and called on him and General J. C. Brown, of Tennessee, for speeches. They responded on the close of the war on the basis laid down by Generals Johnston and Sherman. While in Greensboro Gov- ernor Vance was entertained by his warm personal friend and colleague in the United States Congress, Hon. John A. Gilmer. On going into Governor Vance's room on Sunday morning, he informed me that we were prisoners; that the Yankees had occu- pied the town the night before. It was concluded that flight was impossible, even if advisable; that I should go up town and surrender, and tell them that he was ready to do so. On going to the court-house, I fovind that the Yankees, who had come by train from Danville, had returned. Sherman's affront to halleck. President Johnson had rejected the Johnston-Sherman plan to close the war. Stanton, as Secretary of War, and General Halleck, as Commander-in-Chief, had ordered Generals Sheridan and Wright "to pay no attention to General Sherman's armis- tice," but to push into North Carolina and capture President Davis. The subsequent history of this order, and how General Sherman publicly affronted General Halleck in Richmond and Stanton at the grand review in Washington, makes an interesting chapter of history, but I cannot spare space for it in this con- nection. It can be gotten from the official "Records of the Re- 64 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. bellion," No. 100. General Johnston Dotified General Sherman of the presence of these troops. He complained to General Grant, and they were withdrawn. Johnston's surrender. Governor Vance went that day half way to Danville by rail to meet Governor Smith (Extra Billy) for consultation. They held this to themselves, and I do not know the trend of the conversation, but it was concluded that nothing could be done. Generals Johnston and Sherman having on April 26th agreed upon terms for the surrender of Johnston's army similar to those between Lee and Grant, Brigadier-General Hartranft, of Pennsylvania, came to Greensboro to arrange and accept the paroles. He had no orders as to the ofBcers of the State govern- ment. General Schofield, who had been assigned to this depart- ment, came to Greensboro and took quarters at Governor More- head's. I bore a message from Governor Vance to him, request- ing an interview. It was a bright moonlight night; the sentinel was stationed in the front walk, about one hundred yards from the house; when I was fifty steps from him, bringing his gun "to ready," he called out: "Halt; who goes there?" I replied: " Friend, without the countersign." He answered back, " Who? " I repeated my reply, with the addition, " I have a message from Governor Vance to General Schofield." He called the corporal of the guard, I advanced, and on explaining my errand to him, I was conducted into the house. General Schofield soon came in, and on reading the paper, remarked : " Tell the Governor I will be happy to receive him at his convenience," I named 8 :30 o'clock for our return. Mr. Gilmer and I think Major A. M. McPheeters, the Gov- ernor's Private Secretary, accompanied us. Governor Morehead also came iu the room. After a little introductory talk, the Governor told General Schofield that he desired to talk with him about matters in the State, and particularly about his (the mountain) section of it. He thought there would be much trouble and turmoil if the troops kept there for police duty Organization op Troops. 65 should be those who had enlisted in the United States service from that section; it would be best to send regulars and not vol- unteers. General Stoneman thanked him for the suggestion, and said he would consider it. One of the cavalry regiments of the United States army was sent there. It was the regiment to which Captains Hayes and Ward belonged. After discussion as to matters belonging to the State for some time, the Governor asked him what he would do with him. He replied he had no orders as to him or any civil officer. The Governor replied that he would in a day or two join his wife at Statesville, and if wanted he would be found there. LAST MAN TO LEAVE THE CONFEDERACY. The Governor asked General Schofield to forward to Presi- dent Johnson a communication asking for a permit to send a commission to Washington to arrange with the Federal authori- ties as to the affairs of the State. Governor Graham was sum- moned by telegraph from Hillsboro. He prepared a paper to be sent to President Johnson, asking that he and Hons. John A. Gilmer and Bedford Brown be sent a permit to visit Washing- ton. Mr. Brown was summoned from his home in Caswell county, and a conference was held as to the mission. President Johnson refused to receive the commission or send a permit, as requested; but a short time afterwards summoned Governor Holden, whom he appointed Provisional Governor. Governor Holden had done more to promote secession than any man in the State. A day or two aftewards, at about 9 o'clock. Governor 'Vance boarded the train for Salisbury and Statesville, and at 10:30 I did likewise for Hillsboro, being, as I claim, the last man in North Carolina to leave the Confederacy. A few weeks afterwar4s Governor Vance was arrested at Statesville and con- fined for several weeks, with other Southern Governors, in the old Capitol at Washington. W. A. Graham. Machpblah, N. C, April 26, 1900. Regimental Histories. 'BETHEL '' REGIMENT (FIRST VOLUNTEERS). 1. D. H. Hill, Colonel. 2. James H. Lane, Major. 3. J. B. Starr, Lieut.-Colonel. 4. Charles B. Cook, 2d Lieut., Co. H. 6. E. J. Hale, Private, Co. H. 6. Thomas Capehart, 23 Lieut., Co. M. 7. J. M. Sims, Private, Co. C. £. W. B. Taylor, Corporal, Co. C. 9. E. F. Hoke, Major. (Picture in 21st Regiment.) 10. W. G. Lewis, 2d Lieut., Co. A. (Pic- ture in 43d Regiment.) 11. P. M. Parker, 2d Lieut., Co. I. (Pic- ture in 30th Regiment.) 12. F. W. Bird, 2d Lieut., Co. L. (Picture in nth Regiment.) THE "BETHEL" REGIMENT. THE FIRST NORTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERS. By MAJOR EDWARD J. HALE. "First at Bethel; last at Appomattox!" is an epigram which embodies the spirit of all the serious acts of North Carolina. She has not exhibited those boastful qualities which seem to characterize the peoples of new countries. She had passed her century before she discovered that it was the making, not the ■writing, of history which chiefly distinguished her, and recorded the fact in her recently adopted motto. It may be said of her as the Duke of York said of Richard's noble father : "In peace, was never gentle lamb more mild; In war, was never lion raged more fierce." When we consider these peculiarities of our mother State, assimilating her more nearly than her sisters to old-world com- munities, with their repose and reserved strength, we will be prepared to understand the secret of the surprises which she gave to her neighbors. It will also explain why so few general offi- cers were accorded to her at first, and so grudgingly, and how it came about, before the war had ended, that the North Carolina contingent in the Army of Northern Virginia were masters of the situation. Indeed, no thoughtful soldier of that army, ob- serving the course of events in the last year or two of ithe war, could hesitate to believe that if it had lasted a year longer the leadership of the army, saving Lee himself, would have been supplied by North Carolinians — that is to say, by those who contributed the greater number of soldiers as well as the greater 70 NoETH Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. losses in battle. The turning of the tide at Gettysburg, so dis- heartening to the South, seemed only to inspire the troops of our glorious State with greater fortitude as they entered upon the losing battle which Grant's new methods imposed in the death grapple of 1864 and 1865. Bearing these things in mind, we may review with composure the attitude of North Carolina before the outbreak of hostilities, and feel the thrill of compensated pride at the celerity and pon- derousness of her blows afterwards — whether delivered by the First Regiment, setting the pace at Bethel Church, or by any of its successors. The contrast in her two moods constitutes one of the sublimest episodes of history. The General Assembly of North Carolina met on the 19th of November, 1860. South Carolina passed her ordinance of seces- sion on the 20th of December. Mississippi followed on the 9th of January, 1861; Florida, on the 10th; Alabama, on the 11th; Georgia, on the 19th; Louisiana, on the 26th; and Texas, on the 1st of February. Amid the profound agitation which these events produced, North Carolina preserved her equanimity as a State, though her people were divided. Those who favored join- ing the newly formed Confederacy advocated the calling of a convention. Those who opposed secession opposed the calling of a convention. There were, however, a large number who opposed secession as inexpedient, who nevertheless favored the calling of a convention. Such a body, it was thought, could observe the course of events, and be ready for action if circum- stances required. On the 30th of January the General Assembly passed a bill for an election to determine the question of calling a convention and at the same time for choosing members of the convention if called. The 28th of February was named as the day for the election. The call of the convention was rejected by a narrow majority, some seven hundred and fifty; but the number of dele- gates chosen who were known as "unionists" — that is, wh& thought secession inexpedient unless coercion of the seceded States were attempted — was eighty-two; while the number of those The Bethel Regiment. 71 who were known as " secessionists " — that is, those who favored immediate action — was thirty-eight. FKOM PEACE TO WAE. On the 12th of April hostilities began in Charleston harbor. On the 15th, Mr. Lincoln issued his proclamation for coercion. On the 17th, Governor Ellis issued his patriotic rejoinder, con- vening the General Assembly in "special session" on the 1st of May. On the 18th of April the leading organ of the majority contained an editorial which voiced their sentiments, as these were affected by such a stupendous change in their affairs, and which it will be enlightening to quote as follows: " It is needless to remind our readers how earnestly and hon- estly we have labored to preserve our once great and glorious and beneficent Union. In its existence we have believed were involved that inappreciable blessing, peace; that sound form of liberty and law inaugurated by the Constitution of the United States; and the security, nay, even the existence, of that domes- tic iustitution out of which have arisen all our national troubles. In the new aspect of affairs, we see no reason to change any opinion that we have expressed, that the difficulty ought to have been peaceably settled, and would have been if good men had been influential. We believe now, as heretofore, that by the exercise of that patience which the immense issues at stake de- manded, there would have been a peaceful settlement. We believe now, as heretofore, that a fratricidal war for such a cause is a wrong of which we would not be guilty for a thousand worlds. But with all these opinions unchanged, there is a change in the condition of affairs — a change with which neither we nor the people of North Carolina have had aught to do — over which they have had no control, but which of necessity will shape their action. The President's proclamation is "the last feather that breaks the camel's back." It shows that the professions of peace were a delusion and a cheat, or, if ever really entertained, that peaceful intentions have been abandoned. War is to be prose- cuted against the South by means of the seventy-five thousand 72 iNOETH Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. men called for; and North Carolina has been officially required to furnish a quota of the seventy-five thousand. Will she do it? Ought she to do it? No, no! Not a man can leave her borders upon such an errand who has not made up his mind to war upon his own home and all that he holds dear in that home. For ourselves, we are Southern men and North Carolinians, and at war with those who are at war with the South and North Carolina. With such feelings we attended the large and almost impromptu meeting of Tuesday last, and one of us was unex- pectedly called upon to take a part in that meeting. Its calm and dignified determinations met his full concurrence, though it was the saddest public duty he was ever called upon to perform. The future seems to us full only of evil. A civil war, in which it will be hard to say whether victor or vanquished is the greater sufferer. A civil war, whose end no man can see, but full every day of its long and sad years of woe, woe, woe. The impover- ished, the down-trodden, the widow and the orphan, will here- after heap bitter imprecations upon the bad men who have brought these terrible evils of desolation and death upon a great and prosperous and happy people. Thank God! that we can say we have labored for peace, and have had no wish but to avert the dire calamities in a way honorable to both sections." History — history which the government is preserving in im- perishable records — has shown with what unequaled fidelity the people in whose behalf these words were written redeemed their new obligations. It was in harmony with these noble character- istics that North Carolina should have been (with exception of her daughter, Tennessee) the last State to secede from the Union, and, as the world now knows, the foremost, once having taken the fate- ful step, in all that was required to make secession good — in harmony with her conservative and peace-loving disposition, once the battle was joined, that she poured out her blood and treasure in greater volume than any of her sisters; that, possess- ing but one-tenth of the white population of the seceded States, she contributed one-fifth of their armies; and that she mustered at Appomattox a greater number of arms-bearing men than all The Bethel Regiment. 73 others of them. That she should also have supplied the chief portion "of the Confederacy's troops engaged in the first pitched battle of the war may not be attributed to accident, but rather to the complete condition in which she sent her first troops across the Virginian border, her First Regiment of Volunteers. For this reason they were sent to Yorktown, which was then the post of danger. The hastily assembled meeting referred to in the editorial quoted was a public meeting held on Tuesday, the 16th of April, the day on which Mr. Lincoln's proclamation was received in the most of the towns of the State. Its resolutions called for the taking of "all proper steps to maintain, secure and defend the rights of North Carolina as one of the Southern States"; request- ing the Governor to "forthwith convene the General Assembly, with a view to legislative action in this crisis"; and pledging their support and adherence " to the Governor and authorities of the State in such manner as may be deemed necessary to be taken to assert our rights and defend our soil." Similar meetings were held and similar resolutions adopted in all the towns and counties as soon as news of the proclamation came to hand. The remarkable feature of this movement was that it was not concerted; yet it was simultaneous, and the voice of the people throughout the length and breadth of the State was as that of one man. With sublime confidence in themselves, they had declared for peace in the face of unprecedented clamor; but, with no less significance, they made it known that, if the time of action should come, they would not be behind the foremost. Thus the State which had declared for the Union, two to one, on the 28th of February, became an armed camp, marshaled for ■resistence to the Union, on the 17th of April, less than fifty days. NORTH CAROLINA ORGANIZES HER FIRST REGIMENT. It was under such circumstances that the troops which formed the First Regiment volunteered. They were the cream of the State's uniformed militia, and they included in their ranks, when 74 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. filled and ready for leaving home, probably the highest average order of men ever mustered for war.* Local industries in North Carolina at that day were in a com- paratively high state of development. These companies were completely equipped in an incredibly short time. More than half their members were either new, or were literary and profes- sional men who had enrolled themselves in them as a matter of local pride.f The State supplied arms, but all other equipments — uni- forms, tents, knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, and so forth — were required to be supplied by the volunteers or their organizations. The large harness and other leather manufactories, carriage fac- tories and metal working establishments which were a marked feature of our dispersed industrial development before the war, each locality taking care of its own volunteers, supplied a much more efficient means for meeting such an emergency than the present system of concentration which the adverse result of the war introduced. We have recently witnessed the deplorable delay with which the volunteers in the late Spanish war were equipped, notwithstanding the unlimited resources of the reunited Republic, with its more than doubled population and its concen- trated wealth. Contrast with this the record of the North Caro- lina of 1861, as follows: The companies of the First Regiment volunteered on the 17th of April, 1861; they were formed into a regiment at the State capital by successive orders from the Adjutant- General's office, issued on April 19th, May 9th, May 12th and May 16th; three of them (the two Fayetteville companies and the Lincoln company) were in Richmond on the 18th of May, the other seven arriving on the 21st; and they had fought and won the first battle of the war by the 10th of June! *The Charlotte Democrat of May 1, isiil, aaid: "This regiment is said to be the finest looking body of men ever assembled in the State." tTheYorktown correspondent of the above paper, writing on May 27th of the extra- ordmary character of the rank and file of the First Regiment, said that among the pri- vates were " two editors and a number of lawyers and doctors." The chaplain too the Kev. Mr. Yates (smce a. distinguished Doctor of Divinity), was taken from the ranks of Company B, one of the Charlotte companies. The Bethel Eegiment. 75 ITS COMPLETENESS OF EQUIPMENT AND ORGANIZATION. Military men know that this astonishing result could not have been accomplished if completeness of equipment and organiza- tion had been sacrificed to celerity of movement. It is believed that no other regiment, then or afterwards, was set out in the field in such style as the First North Carolina Volunteers when they were mustered on the plain of Yorktown in the last week of May. Such was the judgment, also, of impartial critics. The Petersburg (Virginia) Express of Monday, May 20, 1861, con- tained the following : "Three companies of the First Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers — the Fayetteville Independent Infantry, Captain Huske; the Fayetteville Light Infantry, Captain Starr, both from Fayetteville, and the Southern Stars, Captain Hoke, from Lincoln county — arrived in this city by a . special train from Raleigh at 7 : 30 o'clock on Saturday evening. Each company had its full complement of one hundred and nine men, thor- oughly armed and in the best spirits. If we may form an opin- ion of the whole regiment by the material and appearance of the above three companies, we should unhesitatingly pronounce it to be one of the finest in the world. North Carolina marshals her bravest and her best for the coming contest, and sends to Vir- ginia men who will uphold and transmit without blemish to posterity the honorable and enviable glory and fame of their patriotic sires. Drilled to perfection and armed to the full — with brave hearts to lead and brave hearts to follow — they will do their duty, and that nobly." The same paper of Wednesday, May 22d, said : "The remainder of the First Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers, numbering seven companies and over seven hundred 76 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. must say that this is the best equipped regiment which has yet made its route through our city. Everything seems to have been provided for them that a soldier could desire — arms, ac- coutrements, knapsacks, haversacks, canteens — in fact, nothing is wanting." Said the Richmond Examiner ot Thursday, May 23, 1861: = " Without waiting for the form of a legal secession, the State of North Carolina commenced sending her gallant sons to join those who were already in the tented field. On Wednesday morning the rest of the regiment (of which the first installment arrived on Sunday*), amounting to seven hundred, reached this city by the southern road at one o'clock. They were soon formed into line and marched through the city, in splendid style, to the airs of a fine band. Those who saw their close columns and steady march as they moved down Main street, in perfect order, their polished muskets glistening in the moonlight, with Done of the usual attendants of loafers and negroes crowding upon the ranks, describe the scene .as almost spectral in its ap- pearance, so regular and orderly were its movements." The value of these voluntary testimonials from the newspapers of the capital State will be apparent when it is remembered that nearly all the troops which had come to Virginia from the origi- nal Confederate States passed over the same Petersburg and Richmond highway. The fact that the troops of those States had been organized and drilled for at least six months, and de- sired war, accentuates the achievement of North Carolina, which dealt with men who were private citizens a month before, and who, for the most part, were opposed to war: Nor was expert testimony lacking to the same effect. Dr. Battle, of the University, reports that General Gabriel J. Rains, when he visited the First Regiment on the Yorktown Peninsula, declared that it was "the best regiment he had ever seen." (General Rains was graduated from the United States ^Saturday night. The Bethel Regiment. 77 Military Academy in 1827, and from that time until the breaking out of the war served with distinction in the regular aripy. At the time of his visit he was a general officer of the Confederacy and in command of the First Division of Magruder's Peninsula Army). THE REGIMENT AS ORGANIZED. By reference to the Adjutant-General's orders in the appen- dix to this article it will be seen that several changes were made in the companies assigned to the First Regiment. When com- plete and ready for departure for Virginia its organization was as follows: Daniel H. Hill, Colonel. Charles C. Lee, Lieutenant-Colonel. James H. Lane, Major. J. M. POTEAT, Adjutant. John Henry Wayt, Commissary. Dr. Peter E. Hines, Surgeon. Dr. Joseph H. Baker, Assistant Surgeon. Dr. John G. Hardy, Assistant Surgeon. Rev. Edwin A. Yates, Chaplain. Company A — Edgecombe Guards — Captain, John L. Bridg- ers; First Lieutenant, Whitmel P. Lloyd; Second Lieutenant, William S. Long; Junior Second Lieutenant, W. G. Lewis. Company B — Hornet's Nest Rifles — Captain, Lewis S. Wil- liams; First Lieutenant, William A. Owens; Second Lieuten- ant, William P. Hill; Junior Second Lieutenant, Thomas D. Gillespie. Company C — Charlotte Grays — Captain, E. A. Ross; First Lieutenant, E. B. Cohen ; Second Lieutenant, Thomas B. Trot- ter; Junior Second Lieutenant, C. W. Alexander. Company D — Orange Light Infantry — Captain, Richard J. Ashe; First Lieutenant, James R. Jennings; Second Lieutenant, Richard B. Saunders; Junior Second Lieutenant, Richardson Mallett. Company E — Buncombe Miflemen — Captain, William Wallis 78 NoETH Carolina Teoops, 1861-65. McDowell; First Lieutenant, Washington Morrison Hardy; Second Lieutenant, George Henry Gregory; Junior Second Lieu- tenant, James Alfred Patton. Company F — LaFayette Light Infantry — Captain, Joseph B. Starr; First Lieutenant, Frank N. Koberts; Second Lieutenant, John A. Pemberton; Junior Second Lieutenant, George Sloan. Company G — Bu7'ke Rifles — Captain, Clark Moulton Avery; First Lieutenant, Calvin S. Brown; Second Lieutenant, John A. Dickson; Junior Second Lieutenant, James C. S. McDowell. Company H — Fayetteville Indepmident Light Infantry — Cap- tain, Wright Huske; First Lieutenant, Benjamin Robinson Huske; Second Lieutenant, Charles BettsCook; Junior Second Lieutenant, Hector McKethan. Company I — Enfield Blues — Captain, D. B. Bell; First Lieu- tenant, M. T. Whitaker; Second Lieutenant, F. M. Parker; Junior Second Lieutenant, Cary W. Whitaker. Company K — Southern Stars — Captain, William J. Hoke; First Lieutenant, Wallace M. Reinhardt; Second Lieutenant, Robert F. Hoke; Junior Second Lieutenant, Ed. E. Sumner. The field officers were the three ranking officers of the North Carolina Military Institute at Charlotte, Colonel Hill, known by his old army title of Major, being the commandant. They were all men of distinction in their profession. Hill had been graduated from West Point in 1842; had par- ticipated in nearly every important engagement in the Mexican war; and had won the brevet of captain at Contreras and Cheru- busco, and of major at Chapultepec. He resigned from the army in 1849 to become Professor of Mathematics at Washing- ton College, Virginia. In 1854 he became a professor in David- son College, and, in 1859, commandant and manager of the Military Institute at Charlotte. At the outbreak of the war he was made commandant of the camp of instruction at Raleigh. Lee was graduated high in his class at West Point in 1856; became Second Lieutenant of Ordnance in the army; resigned his commission in 1859, and became a professor at the Charlotte The Bethel Regiment. 79 Military Institute. He was made major and second in command at the camp of instruction at Raleigh. Lane was one of the two "star graduates" of his class at the Virginia Military Institute, and a graduate of the University of Virginia. He became Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Tactics at the Virginia Military Institute; later, professor of those departments at the Florida State Seminary; and then Pro- fessor of Natural Philosophy in the Charlotte Military Institute. He was made drill-master and adjutant of the camp of instruc- tion at Raleigh. AT THE FRONT IN VIRGINIA. The regiment was immediately sent to the front, and, as we have seen, reached Richmond in two detachments — the first, composed of the two Fayetteville companies and the Lincoln company, under Colonel Hill, arriving there on Saturday night, the 18th of May; and the second, composed of the remainder of the regiment, Under Lieutenant-Colonel Lee, arriving on Tues- day night, the 21st. Thus, as the Richmond Examiner said. North Carolina had patriotically anticipated the legal act of secession, and she had actually put nearly four hundred of her troops on Virginia soil before its occurrence. No other State, it is believed, did as much. The regiment went into camp at Howard's Grove, and remained at Richmond until the Friday following. May 24th. As North Carolina was still technically in the Union, and Virginia, whose ordinance of secession was passed on the 17th of May, did not transfer her military establishment to the Con- federacy until June 7th, our North Carolina troops on Virginia soil were for some days in the position of allies of Virginia. As such they were under the supreme command of General Robert E. Lee, Commander-in-Chief of the Virginia forces. General Lee had but three weeks before (April 20th) resigned his posi- tion in the United States Army as Lieutenant-Colonel of Albert Sidney Johnston's Second Regiment of Cavalry. His appear- ance at this time was strikingly different from that in which he 80 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. subsequently became familiar to the Army of Northern Virginia. His hair was close cropped, his complexion fresh and ruddy, his face smooth-shaven, except for a black, military-looking mus- tache. His movement was quicker; his figure — graceful, as can- not be forgotten, and erect to the last — more lithe. He was, altogether, a phenomenally handsome man, the model of a sol- dier. 'In a year's time he looked ten years older. ' EVENTS LEADING TO THE FIRST CLASH OF ARMS. Of the four lines* by which General Scott had planned the invasion of Virginia — from Washington; from Fortress Mon- roe; by the Cumberland Valley; and from Ohio, by the Kana- wha, into Western Virginia — that from Fortress Monroe became the natural one, with the transfer of the Capital of the Confed- eracy from Montgomery to Richmond. Except that the first mentioned served the double purpose of protecting the Federal Capital, the Fortress Monroe line would undoubtedly have claimed his chief attention. The splendid base which that great military work, one of the largest in the world, supplied, and the ideal route which the Yorktown Peninsula presented for his marching troops, with the broad waters of the James and the York Rivei's open to his navy on either flank, were considerations which must otherwise have fixed his choice. It is probable that the situation at the moment of the First Regiment's arrival in Richmond would have destined them to Northern Virginia; but circumstances were rapidly shifting the theatre of operations. After the evacuation of the Gosport Navy Yard by the Fed- eral authorities on the 21st of April, Richmond was thrown into alarm by the reports of the approach of the Federal gun-boat "Pawnee'' up the James. On the 6th of May Federal vessels chased steamers to within twelve miles of Gloucester Point, on the York River, opposite Yorktown, and fired upon them. On May 7th the special agent of the Confederate Government reported to the Secretary of War (L. P. Walker), from Rich- mond, that intelligent and distinguished men in Richmond *Major Jed Hotchkiss, in Confederate Military History, Vol. Ill, page 43. The Bethel Regiment. 81 " believe Virginia on the very brink of being carried back, and say no man but President Davis can save her. * * * There is disappointment that he does not assume entire direction of affairs here. * * * General Lee has ordered Louisiana troops to Harper's Ferry. * * * "phe South Carolina troops refuse to move unless under orders from Montgomery."* On the 11th of May, Rev. Dr. W. N. Pendleton (afterwards brigadier- general of artillery), who had been a classmate of President Davis at West Point, wrote to the President at Montgomery as follows: "As you value our great cause, hasten on to Rich- mond. Lincoln and Scott are, if I mistake not, covering by other demonstrations the great movement upon Richmond. Sup- pose they should send suddenly up the York River, as they can, an army of thirty thousand or more; there are no means at hand to repel them, and if their policy shown in Maryland gets footing here, it will be a severe, if not a fatal, blow. Hasten, I pray you, to avert it. - The very fact of yonr presence will almost answer. Hasten, then, I entreat you; don't lose a day." On the 18th of May (the day after Virginia's secession) the United States ship "Monticello" fired on the Virginia battery at Seweli's Point, and again on the 21st. On the 22d, Majpr-General Benjamin F. Butler, United States Army, was transferred from the Depart- ment of Annapolis and assigned to' the command of the Depart- of Virginia, with headquarters at Fortress Monroe; a^nd nine additional infantry regiments were sent there. On the 23d, a Federal regiment made a demonstration against Hampton, three miles from Fortress Monroe. At Hampton and other points in the Peninsula country there was considerable disaffection to the Confederacy. It was under these circumstances that the destination of the First North Carolina Volunteers, the crack regiment of the day, was decided. They were ordered to Yorktown, the " post of danger and of honor,"t as the papers of the day described it. Breaking camp at Richmond on the 24th of May, they proceeded ♦Confederate Military History, Vol. Ill, page 128. tFayetteville Observer, May 27, 1861. 6 82 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. by rail to West Point, ou the York River, and by^steam-boat (tlie " Logan ") the rest of the way, landing at Yorktown the same afternoon. Upon the boat was Colonel John B. Magruder, of the Provisional Army of Virginia, lately a distinguished artil- lery major of the United States Army, who had just been assigned (May 21st) to the command of the Department of the Peninsula, including the York and James Rivers. Between the time of the regiment's arrival at Yorktown and the 6th of June it was kept incessantly at work, drilling and in- trenching. While engaged in the latter it was interesting to these new disciples of Mars to trace the outline of Cornwallis's works erected in defense against 'their forefathers four score years before. Sometimes their spades and picks would renew, some- times demolish, those ancient war marks, and occasionally they would unearth a souvenir of battle. A company of mounted men, called the Old Dominion Dra- goons, appeared shortly after the regiment's arrival, having their rendezvous at Yorktown; though doing picket duty between Yorktown and the enemy's posts at Hampton (three miles from Fortress Monroe) and Newport News, some twenty-one miles away. At Newport News, General Butler had caused a very strong intrenched camp to be established, garrisoning it with several regiments, among them the Seventh New York, the First Vermopt and the Fourth Massachusetts, together with a portion of the Second United States Artillery. On the 28th of May two more companies of Virginia cavalry were ordered to Yorktown, and Cabell's Battery of light artillery was transferred thither from Gloucester Point. On the 10th of June the Louisiana Zouaves (the First Louisiana Battalion), under Lieutenant- Colonel Coppens, were ordered from Richmond to Yorktown. At the same time a number of companies of Alabama troops were concentrated at Yorktown from Gloucester Point and Rich- mond and organized into a regiment under Colonel John A. Winston. Major George W. Randolph (the successor, shortly after, of Mr. Walker as Secretary of War) had a small battalion of artillery at Yorktown; and Lieutenant-Colonel William D. The Bethel Regiment. 83 Stuart, of .the Third Virginia Regiment, and Major E. B. Mon- tague, were sufficiently near to reach Bethel Church, each with three companies, on the morning of the lOtb, the day of the battle. Such was the military situation — so far as the troops with which we had to confront General Butler were concerned — for several days before and after the battle of Bethel. About two weeks before, a party of some three hundred Federal troops had come up from Hampton and occupied Bethel Church. They remained a day or two, and left a number of incriptions on the walls of the church — "Death to the Traitors!" "Down with the Rebels!" and the like — which were read with interest by our men upon arrival. Colonel Magruder determined to put a stop to these bold incursions, and made his dispositions accordingly. the battle of bethel.* On Thursday, the 6th of June, Colonel Hill, under orders from Colonel Magruder, proceeded with the First North Caro- lina Regiment to Big Bethel Church. This place is situated on the Hampton road about thirteen miles from Yorktown-, some eight miles from Hampton, and about the same distance from Newport News. Major Randolph, with four pieces of artillery, accompanied the expedition. The march from Yorktown was accomplished by about dusk. It was a trying one, as it was made in heavy marching order, with knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, loaded cartridge-boxes, often a Bible in the knapsack, and with a tin cup and an extra pair of shoes dangling from either corner of this rather boxey affair. The light marching order of Jackson's foot-cavalry was as yet a sealed chapter of the regulations. A drizzling mist had set in before dark, and it was the regiment's first experience at cooking with ramrods and bivouacking without tents. •There is no detailed account of the battle of Bethel in the offlcial records. Indeed, General Butler (" War of the Eebellion," Vol. II, page 82) declares that it would serve no useful purpose, liowever interesting such an account would be, to attempt to make it in the abseuce of a " map of the ground and details." Endeavor has been made, therefore, in this article, to construct such an account by a comparison of the various official reports of both sides which have been published. 84 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. There was not even a hamlet about the church at that time^ and no doubt it is the same to-day — simply a grove beside and on the west side- of the road, with a large, unpainted woodeu country meeting-house standing in the midst of the grove and facing the road. The regiment had traversed a sandy level up to this point, but here the land falls oif to the southward and to the right and left of the road, the depression on the right, back of the church, being somewhat precipitous. A creek which forms the headwaters of the northwest branch of Back River flows in this depression, a branch of the creek coming through the ravine back of the church. A flat wooden bridge carried the road over 'the creek, a hundred yards or so southeast of the church. Some three miles beyond Big Bethel was Little Bethel Churchy where our mounted pickets had an outpost. The two maps* herewith illustrate the country adjacent to the battlefield and the battlefield itself. On the morning of the 7th, Colonel Hill made a reconnais- sance of the ground with a view to fortifying it. He gives the result in his official report as follows: " I found a branch of Back River on our front, and encircling our right flank. On our left was a dense and almost impassable wood, except about one hundred and fifty yards of old field. The breadth of the road, a thick wood, and narrow cultivated field covered our rear. The nature of the ground determined me to make an inclosed work, and I had the invaluable aid of Lieutenant- Colonel Lee of my regiment in its plan and construction. Our posi- tion had the inherent defect of being commanded by an immense field immediately in front of it,t upon which the masses of the enemy might be readily deployed. Presuming that an attempt would be made to carry the bridge across the stream, a battery *Upon map No. 1, of Plate No. XVIIl, of the atlases accompanying the Government's publication, " War of the Rebellion," as a basis, an outline map has been prepared of so much of the York Peninsula as may be useful for the present purpose. A map of the battlefield of Bethel has also been prepared from a tracing of the original map made by General Lewis (then Second Lieutenant of Company A) a few days after the battle. The positions of the Federal troops have been located by a study of their oflJicial reports. Those of tho Confederates are as given in Lieutenant Lewis's map, and are those' held just before the opening of the battle. There were some important changes afterwards^ and these are noted in detail further on. t Across the stream. 1. Ship Point, 2. Camp Payetteville (Cockletown). 8. Camp Eains. The Bethel Eeg.iment. 85 was made for its especial protection, and Major Randolph placed his guns so as to sweep all the approaches to it. The O(?cupation of two commanding eminences beyond the creek and on our right would have greatly strengthened our position, but our force was too weak to admit of the occupation of more than one of them. A battery was laid out on it for one of Ran- dolph's howitzers." There were but twenty-five spades, six axes and three picks in possession of the command, but these were plied so vigorously all day and night of the 7th and all day on the 8th that the work began to show the outlines of a fortified camp. On the afternoon of the 8th, Colonel Hill learned that a ma- rauding party of the enemy was within a few miles of the camp, and called for a detachment to drive them back. Lieutenant Frank N. Roberts, of Company F, "promptly responded," says Colonel Hill in his report, "and in five minutes his command was en route." Colonel Hill detached Major Randolph, with one howitzer, to join them, and Lieutenant-Colonel Lee (of the First Regiment) volunteered to take command of the whole. They came upon the marauders, five miles off, "busy over the spoils of a plun- dered house." A shell from the howitzer put them to flight. Soon after information came that seventy-five marauders were on the Back River road. Colonel Hill called upon Captain McDowell's company. Company E, "and in three minutes it was in hot pursuit." A howitzer was detached to join them, and Major James H. Lane (of the First Regiment) volunteered to command the whole. The marauders were encountered, after a long march, near New -Market Bridge. Within sight of the flags, at Hampton and hearing of the drums calling to arms. Lane opened fire and drove the enemy across the bridge, wound- ing a large number of the marauders and capturing one. Col- onel Hill afterwards declared that the boldness of this attack, made under the very guns of the enemy's chief camp, brought on the battle of Bethel. As a result of this expedition, so the 86 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. citizens reported, two cart loads and one buggy load of dead and wounded were taken into Hampton. None were hurt on our side. Colonel Magruder carue up the same evening and assumed command. On the uext day (Sunday) a fresh supply of intrench- ing tools enabled the men to make further progress on the works. Colonel Hill says in his report : " We were aroused at 3 o'clock on Monday morning* for a general advance upon the enemy, and marched three and a half miles, when we learnedf that the foe, in large force, was within a few hundred yards of us. We fell back hastily upon our intrenchments, and awaited the arrival of the invaders." Meanwhile, information of the activity of our troops had reached General Butler at Fortress Monroe. He organized a force consisting of nearly all of seven infantry regiments and of artillery sufficient for serving four gutis, which were carried with the expedition. In his report to Lieutenant-General Scott he says that his instructions to this force were "to drive them (the rebels) back and destroy their camp" at Little Bethel. This being accomplished, a couple of regiments were "to follow im- mediately upon the heels of the fugitives, if they were enabled to get off, and attack the battery on the road to Big Bethel while covered by the fugitives." General Butler's confidence was destined to receive a rude shock. He had but recently left the Annapolis department, where he would have become familiar with the circumstances of the evacuation of Alexandria on May 6th, J and of the Confed- erate disaster at Philippi, in Western Virginia, on June 3d.§ Prestige, so far, was decidedly against us, and General Butler's expectation of the surprise and rout of our forces was not un- natural. Prestige counts for much in war as in other human affairs, and it was a matter of vast consequence upon which side *June loth. ■fA purse of S225 was made up by the officers of the regiment after the battle and pre- sented to the old lady who brought the information. t" War of the Rebellion," Vol. II, pages 23-27. llbid., pages G9-74, The Bethel Regiment. 87 it should remain after the first serious shock of arms. Great as was the responsibility, therefore, which fate and their own state of preparedness had thrust upon our North Carolinians, they were presently to exhibit a signal proof of their ability to meet it. General Butler laid his plans carefully.* Instructions were given Brigadier-General Pierce, commanding at Hampton, to send forward Colonel Duryea's Fifth New York Regiment (Zouaves) at one o'clock on the morning of the 10th, by way of New Market Bridge, and thence by a by-road to a point between Little Bethel and Big Bethel, with the object of taking our out- post there in the rear. Colonel Townsend's Third New York Regiment, with a couple of mountain howitzers, was instructed to support Duryea, marching about an hour later. At the same time Colonel Phelps, commanding at Newport News, was directed to send out a battalion under command of Lieutenaut-Colonel Washburn in time to make a demonstration upon Little Bethel in front, and to have him supported by Colonel Bendix's Sev- enth New York Regiment with two field-pieces. Washburn's Battalion was made up of three hundred men from the First Vermont and three hundred men from Wash- burn's own regiment, the Fourth Massachusetts. The two field- pieces were of the Second United States Artillery (regulajs), under command of Lieutenant Greble. The two mountain how- itzers with Townsend were manned by a detachment from Col- onel Carr's Second New York Regiment, " under the direction of a non-commissioned officer and four privates of the United States Army." The two supporting regiments, Townsend's and Bendix's, were expected to effect a junction at the fork of the road leading from Hampton to Newport News, about midway between New Market Bridge and Little Bethel. The movement was so timed that the attack on Little Bethel should be made at daybreak. In case of failure .to surprise the outpost at Little Bethel, General Pierce, if he thought it expedient, was directed to attack the work at Big Bethel. •" War of the RebelliOD," page 77 et seq. 88 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. In General Butler's "plan of operations" were instructions to "Burn up both the Bethels. Blow up, if brick." Artillerists to "handle the captured guns," and "spikes to spike them," were also to be provided. Everything went according to the plan, up to a certain point. Duryea and Washburn had arrived at the places assigned thena, and Bendix's supporting regiment had arrived at the fork of the road where the junction was to be made with Townsend. As day dawned Townseud's Regiment, with General Pierce and his aide-de-camp in advance, were within a hundred yards of Bendix's position, when suddenly the latter opened upon Townsend's col- umn with both artillery and musketry, killing two and wound- ing nineteen, four of the latter being officers. General Pierce says that he was on the point of ordering a charge upon the sup- posed enemy when the mistake was discovered. Duryea and Washburn, hearing the firing in their rear, "reversed their march," to use General Butler's expression, and joined their belligerent reserves. Pierce held a council of war, decided to attack Bethel, and sent to Butler for re-in forcemeats, who dispatched to him Colonel Allen's First and Colonel Carr's Second New York Regiments. The enemy's forces, therefore, which were engaged against us at i^ethel, may be summed up as follows: First New York, Colonel Allen,*- . . 750 Second New York, Colonel Carr,* . . 750 (A detachment acting as artillerists). Third New York, Colonel Townsend, . . 650 Fifth New York, Colonel Duryea, . . 850 Seventh New York, Colonel Bendix,* . . 750 First Vermont,! 300 Fourth Massachusetts,! .... 300 (Both under Lieutenant-Colonel Washburn). Second U. S: Artillery, Greble's Detachment, say, 50 Total, 4,400 *Thi8 is the average of the known strength of Duryea's and Townsend's Regiments IS given in Pierce's report, "War of the Rebellion," Vol. II, page 83. ' fBendix's report, Ibid.^ page 88. The Bethel Regiment. 89 General, staff and couriers, and four guns. General Pierce's General Order No. 12, given in his report, also mentions Colonel McChesney's command as one of those designated to be held in readiness along with Allen's and Carr's. If also sent forward, that would swell the total to some 5,200. While these proceedings were taking place with the enemy, the First North Carolina Volunteers were hurrying forward, over Lee's and Lane's familiar course, towards New Market Bridge. It is certain that neither of the marching columns was aware of the action of the other — the North Carolinians starting out from Big Bethel at three o'clock in the morning, and Butler's army from Hampton and Newport News at one o'clock and two o'clock. Except for Bendix's daybreak fight and the consequent delay, we should probably have come upon Duryea's and Wash- burn's troops a little to the Yorktown side of Little Bethel. Our forces as assembled for battle may be thus summarized: First North Carolina Regiment, Colonel Hill, . 800 Three companies of the Third Virginia Regi- ment, Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart,* . . 208 Three companies of Virginia troops. Major Montague (estimated), . . . .150 Battalion of Virginia Artillery, Major Randolph (estimated), . . . . . .150 Douthatt's, Phillips's and Jones's companies of Virginia Cavalry (estimated), . . . 100 Total, 1,408 Randolph reports one rifled (iron) Parrott gun, three how- itzers, and one rifled howitzer on the ground. He sent, besides, one howitzer to the "Half- Way House," some three miles away, and one howitzer had previously been posted "in the rear of the road leading from the Half- Way House." At nine o'clock the head of the enemy's column (Bendix's Seventh New York) appeared in the road, half a mile away, and ♦Stuart's report, " War of the Rebellion," Vol. II, page 97. 90 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. soon they seemed to fill it. Who will forget that tremendous moment, ushering in the war! A few minutes after nine o'clock a shot from Eandolph's Parrot gun, aimed by himself, screamed away at them. It hit the earth just in their front and ricocheted.* They fell away from the road like a mist before the sun, their artillery at once replied, and the battle began. The positions of the several companies of the First North Carolina Regiment at the opening of the battle, and their changes of position during its progress, were as follows: Company A, Captain Bridgers, was posted in the dense wood, or swamp, beyond the works, beyond the creek, and to the left of the road. They were deployed as skirmishers. When Brown's howitzer was spiked and abandoned. Company A was transferred to the right, where they attacked the enemy and recovered the howitzer. Company B, Lieutenant Owens, on the south face of the works. From this position the company took part in the repulse of the enemy^'s first attempt on our right and in the repulse of Winthrop's attack. Company C, Captain Ross, on the left of Company B, and occupying the adjacent part of the east face of the works. After the temporary capture by the enemy of Brown's abandoned how- itzer, Company C was ordered (with Company A) to recapture it. When this was done they were returned to their original posi- tion, where they took part in the repulse of Winthrop's attack. Company D, Captain Ashe, at the northeast angle of the works. Company E, Captain McDowell, on the north and northwest faces of the works. Company F, Captain Starr, in the woods to the north and left of Company D's position, with exception of a detachment under Lieutenant Roberts, stationed at a ford a mile below the bridge. Company G, Captain Avery, was thrown beyond the stream, to the right of the road, near an old mill-dam, where they took part in the repulse of the enemy's first advance on our right. *Bendix says in his report: "Before we had got ready for action the enemy opened their Are upon us, striking one man down at my side at the first shot." The Bethel Regiment. 91 Subsequently they were mover! forward to the support of the howitzer which had replaced the spiked and abandoned one. Company H, Captain Huske, on the west face of the works, on the right (north) of Montague's Battalion. Shortly after the fight began Company H was moved forward to the support of the main battery (Randolph's), southeast of the church. When Winthrop made his attack upon the southeast angle, half of the company, under Lieutenants Cook and McKethan, were sent thither by Colonel Magruder, where they took part in the repulse of Winthrop. Company I, Lieutenant Parker, on the right (north) of Com- pany H's first position, and extending to the northwest angle of the works. During the progress of the battle Company I was deployed in front of its position in the works and remained thus until it was over. Company K, Captain Hoke, in the woods on the left (north) of Company F. During the battle Company K was deployed one hundred and fifty yards in front of its position, in anticipa- tion of Winthrop's skirmishers striking there. Upon their fail- ure to do this, it was withdrawn to its original position. At the close of the battle Company K was sent forward, as described further on. Lieutenant- Colonel Stuart's three companies were stationed on the hill to the extreme right, beyond the creek, where he com- pleted the slight breastwork erected to protect his command. Major Montague's three companies were stationed on the west face of the works, back and northwest of the church. Upon Stuart's retirement to this point, shortly after the action began, Montague's command was ordered to a point a mile and a quarter to the left. The enemy making no demonstration in that quar- ter, they took no other part in the action. Randolph's artillery was posted as follows: The Parrott gun and one howitzer in the main battery on the right of the road, near the front of the church; a howitzer under Captain Brown in the battery erected on the right, beyond the ravine; a howitzer near the bridge, on the right of the road; the rifled howitzer on 92 North Carolina Troops, 18 61-'65. the left of the road, behind the right of the redoubt erected there.* The three coQipanies of cavalry (dismounted) were posted in rear of the whole.f A detachment of fifteen cadets from the North Carolina Mili- tary Institute was posted beside the last mentioned howitzer. How these dispositions for defense appeared to the attack- ing party is revealed by their reports of the battle. Captain Judson Kilpatrick, of Duryea's Fifth New York (afterwards the cavalry general who had the interesting experi- ence with Wheeler's Cavalry near Fayetteville in 1865), with two companies of his regiment, acted as the enemy's advance guard. He says that he drove in our pickets at eight o'clock, and then made an "armed reaonnaissance" of our position and forces. He was much impressed with what he saw. He "found the enemy with about- from three to five thousand men posted in a stroug position on the opposite side of the bridge, three earth- works and a masked "battery on the right and left; in advance of the stream thirty pieces of artillery and a large force of cavalry." J General Butler's view, from Fortress Monroe, was different. He reiterated in his report his conviction that we had not more than a regiment during the battle, and that if his orders " to go ahead with the bayonet," after the first volley, had been obeyed, the "battery" would have been captured. When within a mile of our position, General Pierce halted his *The following is a summary of such portions of Major Randolph's i-eport as are useful to the present purpose; The howitzer on the right (under Captain Brown) was spiked early in the action by the breaking of a priming-wire, and was withdrawn. It was re- placed near the close by Moseley's howitzer, brought up from the Half- Way House. The ford on the left being threatened, the howitzer at the bridge was withdrawn and sent to that point. The rifled howitzer was withdrawn from the left of the road and sent to the rear when tliat was supposed to be threatened. The same disposition was subsequently made of the howitzer in the main battery near the church, leaving only the Parrott gun there. Randolph says in his report: "The fire was maintained on our side for sometime by the five pieces posted in front"; but one of them being spilled and another sent to the ford early in the' action, "the fire was continued with three pieces, and at no time did we afterwards have more than three pieces playing upon the enemy." He reports ninety- eight shot altogether fired by his artillery. As his first shot was shortly after nine o'clock and his last at half past one o'clock, that would be an average of one in three minutes. The three wounded in his battalion received their injury, in the words of his report, "from the fire of musketry on Our left flank, the ground on that side between us and the enemy sinking down so as to expose us over the top of the breastwork erected by the North Carolina regiment." (The fire of musketry alluded to was from Winthrop's attaclt- ing force). fMagruder's report, " War of the Rebellion," Vol. II, page 91. JKilpatrick's report, " War of the Rebellion," Vol. II, page 89. The Bethel Regiment. 93 column, and thea, witliiu eight hundred yards of our works, formed his troops in line of battle. Duryea's Fifth New York was placed od the right (our left) of the road. Washburn's Vermonters and Massachusetts men, after some preliminary movements, were also sent to the right and placed in extension of Duryea's line. Townsend's Third New York was formed on the left (our right) of the road. Bendix's Seventh New York, which had brought up the rear in the march from the scene of his daybreak fusillade, was now ordered to the front.* The head of his column was dispersed, as we have seen, by Randolph's opening shot, after which, as Beudix reports, he did the best he could "as skirmishers in the woods" (on our left), finally taking position with Washburn's command. Bendix had one piece of artillery with him when he first moved to the front. This seems to have been joined by the three other pieces, when all were served, under Greble's command, in or near the orchard to the left (our right) of the road. The first movement upon our lines was made by two com- panies of Townsend's Regiment, advancing as skirmishers against our right. They were promptly driven back by our artillery, one of Stuart's companies, and companies B and G of the First North Carolina. Meanwhile, Duryea's and Washburn's troops, advancing against our left, made several attempts to charge our works, but, were prevented by the creek. f During these attempts they approached the old ford below the bridge, where Colonel Hill had posted a picket of some forty men under Lieutenant Roberts. This led Colonel Magruder to re-inforce the latter with Werth's company of Montague's Battalion and the howitzer at the bridge, which latter drove back the enemy with one shot. J Townsend now moved forward his whole regiment in line of battle against our right, with one hundred of Duryea's Fifth Regiment (Zouaves) as skirmishers on his right. In this forward *Bendix's report, "War of the Rebellion," page 88. tPieree's report. Ibid., Vol. II, page 85. tWerth's report Ibid., page 103. 94 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. movement, TowDseDd reports that one of his companies (presum- ably the one on his left flank) got separated from the rest of the regiment by a "thickly- hedged ditch" (probably the ravine mentioned in Stuart's report), but continued to march forward in line with it. Captain Brown's gun having been disabled and withdrawn some time before, Colonel Stuart reported to Colonel Magruder the advance of this heavy force (which he estimated at fifteen hundred, accompanied by artillery), and the advance, also, of " a line of skirmishers down the ravine on my right," obscured from his own view but discovered by his scouts. He was accordingly directed by Colonel Magruder to fall back to the works occupied by Montague, back of the church, and the whole of our advanced troops (that is, those across the creek, on the right of the road) were withdrawn. At this critical moment Colonel Hill called Captain Bridgers, with his Company A, of the First North Carolina, out of the swamp (on the left) and directed him to occupy the nearest ad- vanced work (on the right of the road). He also ordered Cap- tain Eoss, with his Company C, of the First North Carolina, to the support of Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart. "These two captains, with their companies," says Hill, "crossed over to Randolph's battery, under a most heavy fire, in a most gallant manner. As Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart had withdrawn. Captain Ross was detained at the church, near Randolph's battery. Captain Bridgers, however, crossed over and drove the Zouaves out of the advanced howitzer battery, and re-occupied it. It is impos- sible to overestimate this service. It decided the action in our favor." Of this decisive movement Colonel Magruder says in his hasty report, made the same day: "Whilst it might appear invidious to speak particularly of any regiment or corpsj whefe all behaved so well, I am compelled to express my great appreciation of the skill and gallantry of Major Randolph and his howitzer battalion and Colonel Hill, the officers and men of the North Carolina regiment. As an instance The Bethel Regiment. 95 of the latter, I will merely mention that a gun under the gallant Captain Brf)wn of the howitzer battery having been rendered unfit for service by the breaking of a priming-wire in the vent, Captain Brown threw it over a precipice, and the work was occu- pied for a moment by the enemy. Captain Bridgers, of the North Carolina regiment, in the most gallant manner, retook it and held it until Captain Brown had replaced and put in posi- tion another piece, and defended it with his infantry in the most gallant manner. Colonel Hill's judicious and determined action was worthy of his ancient glory." In Colonel Magruder's second report, dated June 12th, he again refers to the subject, saying: "I cannot omit to again bring to the notice of the General Commanding-in-Chief the valuable services and gallant conduct of the First North Carolina Regiment and Major Randolph of the howitzer batteries. These officers were not only prompt and daring in the execution of their duties, but most industrious and energetic in the preparations for the conflict. The firing of the howitzer batteries was as perfect as the bearing of the men, which was entirely what it ought to have been. Captain Bridgers, of the North Carolina regiment, re-took in the most daring manner, and at a critical period of the fight, the work from which Captain Brown of the artillery had withdrawn a disabled gun to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy, and which work had been subsequently occupied by the enemy. Captain Bridgers deserves the highest praise for this timely act of gal- lantry." Stuart was now sent back to his original position; he and Captain Avery, with his Company G, of the First North Caro- lina, drove off some skirmishers advancing through the orchard ; and the enemy's operations ceased on that side of the road. It is interesting to note that the same company of Townsend's men who were separated from the rest of their regiment, and were supposed by Stuart to be moving to outflank him, were 96 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. mistaken by Townsend for a flanking party from our side. Townsend says, referring to this company of his regiment: "Upon seeing among the breaks in the hedge the glistening bayonets in the adjoining field, I immediately concluded that the enemy were outflanking us, and conceived it to be my duty immediately to retire and repel that advance. I resumed, therefore, my original position on the left of Colonel Duryea. Shortly after all the forces were directed to retire, the design of the reconnaissance having been accomplished." A very potent body of men that separated company proved to be. We were now as secure, says Colonel Hill, as at the beginning of the fight, and as yet had no man killed. Foiled on our right flank, the enemy now made his final efibrt upon our left. A column consisting of Washburn's command of Vermont and Massachusetts troops, led by Major Theodore Winthrop, of Gen- eral Butler's staff^, crossed over the creek and appeared at the angle on our left. They came on with a cheer, no doubt think- ing that our work was open at the gorge and that they could enter by a sudden rush. "Companies B and C, however," says Colonel Hill, "dispelled the illusion by a cool, deliberate and well directed fire. Colonel Magruder sent over portions of com- panies G, C and H of my regiment to our support, and now began as cool firing on our side as was ever witnessed. The three field officers of the regiment were present, and but few shots were fired without their permission. * * * They (the men) were all in high glee, and seemed to enjoy it. * * * Captain Winthrop, while most gallantly urging on his men, was shot through the heart,* when all rushed back with the utmost precipitation." Major Theodore Winthrop, the officer referred to, was Gen- eral Butler's acting military secretary, who represented General Butler upon General Pierce's staff. He was of the old Massa- *Private G. W. Buhman aad private Steve Kussell, of Company H (Fayettevillel pri- vate Molver, of Company 0 (Charlotte), and Captain Ashe, Company D (Chapel Hill) for his negro servant, claimed the firing of the fatal shot. The Bethel Regiment. 97 chusetts family of Winthrop, but the son of Francis Bayard Winthrop, of New Haven, Connecticut. The fight at the angle lasted but twenty minutes. It seemed to completely discourage the enemy, and he made no further effort at assault. It is no doubt to this period that Colonel Ma- gruder refers in his report when he sets the ending of the battle at half past twelve o'clock, whereas Major Randolph says the last shot was fired at half past one o'clock. Meanwhile, Colonel Allen's First New York and Colonel Carr's Second New York had come up. General Pierce threw Allen's Regiment into the lane on his left which Townsend's Third Regiment had occupied at the beginning of its advance, and from which it had now retired ; and he placed Carr's Regi- ment in the position which had been occupied by Duryea's Fifth Regiment, now withdrawn. Under protection of this new line the dead and wounded were ordered to be collected and carried off. The retreat then began, Allen's and Carr's Regiments cov- ering the rear. The following extract from Major Randolph's report gives us a glimpse of Alien's and Carr's Regiments as they arrived on the field: "After some intermission of the assault in front, a heavy col- umn, apparently a re-inforcement, or reserve, made its appear- ance on the Hampton road and pressed forward towards the bridge, carrying the United States flag near the head of the column. As the road had been clear for some time, and our flanks and rear had been threatened, the howitzer in the main battery* had been sent to the rear, and our fire did not at first check them. I hurried a howitzer forward from the rear, loaded it with canister and prepared to sweep the approach to the bridge, but the fire of the Parrott gun again drove them back. The howitzer brought from the Half- Way House by Lieutenant Moseley arriving most opportunely, I carried it to the battery on the right to replace the disabled piece. On getting there, I *By the "main battery" Major Randolph means the one near the church, containing the Parrott gan and a howitzer. 7 98 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. learned from the infantry that a small house in front was occu- pied by sharp-shooters, and saw the body of a Carolinian lying thirty yards in front of the battery, who had been killed in a most gallant attempt to burn the house. I opened upon the house with shell for the purpose of burning it, and the battery of the enemy in the Hampton road being on the line with it, and supposing probably that the fire was at them, immediately returned it with solid shot. This disclosed their position, and enabled me to fire at the house and at their battery at the same time. After an exchange of five or six shots a shell entered a window of the house, increased the fire already kindled, until it soon broke out into a light blaze, and, as I have reason to be- lieve, disabled one of the enemy's pieces. This was the last shot fired.* They soon after retreated, and we saw no more of them." Lieutenant John T. Greble, of the Second United States Ar- tillery (regulars), was killed "by a cannon shot," says General Butler, and General Pierce tells us that this occurred "just at the close of the action." He was in command of the enemy's artillery, and was regarded as an able as well as a gallant officer. Captain Hoke, with his Company K, of the First North Caro- lina, now advanced and explored the woods in front. Upon his ascertaining that the road was clear, some one hundred dragoons, under Captain Douthatt, pursued the enemy as far as New Mar- ket Bridge, which the latter tore up behind hipi. "The enemy in his haste," says Colonel Hill, "threw away hundreds of can- teens, haversacks, overcoats, etc.; even the dead were thrown out of the wagons," and "the pursuit soon became a chase." THE TWO CRISES OP THE BATTLE. It will be seen that there were two crises in the battle; one when Bridgers made his brilliant charge and recaptured the redoubt from which our troops had withdrawn upon the advance of Townsend's Regiment and a portion of Duryea's; the other *Elsewhere ia his report, " War of the Rebellion," Vol. II, page 99, Major Randolph fixes the hour at which the cannonading ceased at half past one. The Bethel Regiment. 99 when Company B, re-inforced by portions of Companies C, G and H, repulsed "Winthrop's bold attack. It is probable that the failure of either of these splendid efforts of the North Caro- linians would have given victory to the enemy. The ordeal which those companies underwent in running the gauntlet of the enemy's concentrated fire, in passing in the open from the left to the right and from the right to the left, was a trying one for unseasoned troops, but from which not a man flinched. A SUMMARY. Summing up the achievements of his command, Colonel Hill says: "There were not quite eight hundred of my regiment engaged in the fight, and not one-half of these drew trigger during the day. All remained manfully at the posts assigned them, and not a man in the regiment behaved- badly. The com- panies not engaged were as much exposed and rendered ecjual service with those participating in the fight. They deserve equally the thanks of the country. In fact, it is the most try- ing ordeal to which soldiers can be subjected, to receive a fire which their orders forbid them to return. Had a single com- pany left its post our works would have been exposed ; and the constancy and discipline of the unengaged companies cannot be too highly commended. * * * j cannot speak in too high terms of my two field officers, Lieutenant- Colonel Lee and Ma- jor Lane. Their services have been of the highest importance since taking the field to the present moment." In another part of his report. Colonel Hill says: ''We had never more than three hundred actively engaged at any one time" — meaning troops of all arms. For Colonel Hill's acknowledgments to his staff and to his company officers and others in detail, the reader is referred to the extract from his report given in the appendix to this article. After the battle was over and the enemy had retreated, the Louisiana regiment arrived, after a forced march from York- town. On the other hand, as a set-off against this ex post facto re-inforcement, it is worth recording that an associated press dis- 100 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65 patch, dated at Fortress Monroe, June 10th, stated that Colonel McChesney's Regiment formed a reserve for General Pierce's army, and also that Colonel Hawkins's Regiment had "moved from Newport News" during the day. Yorktown being exposed, the battlefield was occupied by cavalry, and the i-emainder of the troops, including the Louisiana regiment, were marched back to the former place the same night. THE DEATH OF WYATT. The body of the Carolinian whom Major Randolph saw lying thirty yards in front of the recovered battery was that of private Wyatt, of Captain Bridgers's Company A (Edgecombe Guards), of the First North Carolina Regiment. When Bridgers recap- tured the battery he found in his front the house mentioned by Major Randolph, used as a shelter for the enemy's sharp-shooters^ as described. At Colonel Hill's suggestion, Captain Bridgers called for five volunteers to burn it. Corporal George Williams and privates Henry L. Wyatt, Thomas Fallon, John H. Thorpe and R. H. Bradley responded. At once they leaped the works and went on their dangerous mission. "They behaved with great gallantry," says Colonel Hill in his reporb. On the way Wyatt was killed, and the others were recalled. Of Wyatt, Colonel Magruder's report says : " Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon the heroic soldier whom we lost. He was one of four who volunteered to set fire to a house in our front which was thought to afford protection to our enemy, and advanc- ing between the two fires, he fell midway, pierced in the fore- head by a musket ball. Henry L. Wyatt is the name of this brave soldier and devoted patriot. He was a member of the brave and gallant First North Carolina Regiment." In the Virginia volume of the "Confederate Military History," Major Jed Hotchkiss, its author, says: "It is generally admitted that young Wyatt was the first Confederate soldier killed in action in Virginia daring the civil war." As that was also the first battle of the war, it may be recorded that Wyatt was the first Confederate soldier killed in battle in that war. "BETHEL" REGIMENT (FIRST VOLUNTEERS). 1. George Williams, Corporal, Co. A. 3. R. H. Bradley, Private, Co. A. 8. Henry L. Wyatt, Private, Co. A. (The 4. Jolin H. Tllorpe, Private, Co. A. first Confederate soldier slain in bat- tle, June 10, 1861, at Bethel.) The Bethel Ebgiment. 101 Private John H. Thorpe, an honor graduate of the University of North Carolina, one of the four companions of Wyatt, after- wards a captain in the Forty-seventh Rgiment, thus describes the death of Wyatt : " When we got there [the redoubt] I saw a Zouave regiment of the enemy in line of battle about three hundred yards away. Our boys popped away at them, but the fire was not returned. Then, in good order, they marched away down the New Market road. Probably the order to retreat had been given the whole Federal army. A few minutes later Colonel Hill, passing from our right through the company, said: 'Captain Bridgers, can't you have that house burned?' and immediately went on. Cap- tain Bridgers asked if five of the company would volunteer to burn it, suggesting that one of the number should be an officer. Corporal George T. Williams said he would be the officer and four others said they would go. Matches and a hatchet were provided at once, and a minute later the little party scrambled over the breastworks in the following order: George T. Wil- liams, Thomas Fallon, John H. Thorpe, Henry L. Wyatt and R. H. Bradley. A volley was fired at us as if by a company, not from the house, but from the road to our left. As we were well drilled in skirmishing, all of us instantly dropped to the ground, Wyatt mortally wounded. He never uttered a word or a groan, but lay limp on his back, his arms extended, one knee up and a clot of blood on his forehead as large as a man's fist. He was lying within four feet of me, and this is the way I saw him. * * * To look at Wyatt one would take him to be tenacious of life; low, but robust in build, guileless, open, frank, aggressive." Wyatt's body was soon taken off the field by his comrades, who carried him to Yorktown the same night, where he died. He had apparently not recovered consciousness from the time he was struck. His body was carried to Richmond the next dav, where he was buried with military honors from the Rev- erend Mr. Duncan's church. 102 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Camps were named for Wyatt during the war; his portrait has been placed in the State Library at Raleigh; and his memory, as well as that of the First Regiment, is perpetuated in the in- scription: "First at Bethel; last at Appomattox!" cut upon the Confederate Monument in front of the Capitol. Henry Lawson Wyatt was a son of Isham and Lucinda Wyatt, of Tarboro. He was twenty years of age at his death. His parents had moved to Tarboro in 1856 from Pitt county, though he was born during their early residence in Richmond, Va. IMPORTANCE OP THE BATTLE OP BETHEL. The battle of Bethel was but a small afikir in itself, if we compare it with the sanguinary conflicts between vast bodies of men of which it was the precursor. But it made a profound impression upon the country, raising the enthusiasm of the South to the highest pitch,* repressing disaffection there, and at the same time chilling the ardor of their adversaries at the North. It was the cause of crimination and recrimination between the Federal officers engaged and responsible for it, and their several adherents. Loud calls were made in the Northern press for the removal of General Butler, notwithstanding the placatory assur- ances, in anticipation, which his official reports contained. Among the latter were the declarations that " we have gained much more than we have lost," and that "while the advance upon the bat- tery and the capture of it might have added eclat to the occasion, it would not have added to its substantial results." The chief of these appears to have been that "our troops have learned to have confidence in themselves under fire." The New York Tribune declared that the President would do well to make peace with the Confederacy at once, if he was not willing to send gen- erals into Virginia who were " up to their work." The Herald, *An illustration is presented by the experienoeof Lieutenant W.E. Kyle (commander of sharp-shooters in General iVToRae's Brigade), who was a private in Company H. After the battle of Bethel he wrote of the victory to his relatives in Christiansburg Va. his native place. The fact that this native of Virginia had been able to take part in winning a victory over the invaders of Virginia, because he had become a citizen of North Carolina and a member of a North Carolina regiment, excited the emulation of the youth of his old home to such an extent that great numbers, who had held back, hastened to enter the service. The Bethel Regiment. 103 which sustained General Butler as "evidently the right man in the right place," said that the Confederates had at Bethel "six batteries of rifled cannon and sixty-eight twelve-pound howit- zers," and enough men to admit of the capture (there or there- abouts) of " twelve thousand prisoners." The Charleston (S. C.) Courier of June 17th contained this: "By a letter received in this city yesterday, we learn that a great reaction has taken place among the moneyed men of New York and Boston, and that petitions are now circulating to be laid before Congress, asking the peaceful recognition of the Southern Confederacy and the establishment of amicable relations by friendly treaties. The petitions set forth that unless the war is brought to a close very speedily New York and Boston are ruined cities." In the South, on the other hand, the result was hailed as an augury of the early triumph of the Confederacy, which had thus demonstrated its ability to overcome four times its numerical strength on the battlefield — a disproportion almost exactly repre- senting the relative populations of the two sections. In the Virginia Convention, on the 17th of June, Mr. Tyler (ex-President of the United States) submitted a series of reso- lutions, which were unanimously adopted, eulogizing Magruder, Hill and their officers and men for the recent brilliant victory at Bethel Church. Mr. Tyler followed the reading of his resolu- tions in a speech of great eloquence and force. There was, he said, but one instance on the whole page of history that could be cited as a parallel to the victory at Bethel Church — that was the battle and the victory of Buena Vista, "where the, gallant Davis, now our President, with his Mississippi regiment, and the invincible Bragg, with his grape and canister, turned the fortunes of the day and routed an enemy of about five to one." The Richmond Dispatch said: "It is one of the most extraor- dinary victories in the annals of war. Four thousand thoroughly drilled and equipped troops routed and driven from the field by only eleven hundred men. Two hundred of the enemy killed, and on our side but one life lost. Does not the hand of God seem manifest in this thing? * * * The courage and con- 104 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. duct of the noble sons of the South engaged in this battle are beyond all praise. They have crowned the name of their country with imperishable lustre and made their own names immortal. With odds of four to one against them, they have achieved a complete victory, putting their enemy to inglorious flight, and giving to the world a brilliant pledge of the manner in which the South can defend its firesides and altars." The Richmond Whig said: "The rush, the dash, the elan of our boys was, however, the great and distinguishing feature of the affair. Cool and determined as Bonaparte's veterans, they pitched into the fight with the gaiety of school-boys into a game of ball. They have taken the step which is the augury and earnest of victory. Their dashing bearing, in the face of four times their number, will inspire a spirit of emulation among all our forces, and lead to the rout of the invaders wherever they show themselves." Nor was there any disposition to withhold credit from North Carolina as the chief actor in the great achievement. The press of the capital Slate was" lavish in its praise of our regiment. Said the Petersburg Express: "All hail to the brave sons of the Old North State, whom Providence seems to have thrust forward in the first pitched battle on Virginia soil in behalf of Southern rights and independence." Said the Richmond Whig: "The North Carolina regiment covered itself with glory at the battle of Bethel." Said the Richmond Examiner, the leading paper of the Con- federacy: "Honor those to whom honor is due. All our troops appear to have behaved nobly at Bethel, but the honors of the day are clearly due to the splendid regiment of North Carolina, whose charge of bayonets decided it, and presaged their conduct on many a more important field. Virginia's solemn sister is justly jealous of glory; her simple, honest, courageous popula- tion are weary of the grand silence of their forests of pine ; they have come out to fight with a deep determination to make their mark, which both friends and foes have yet to fathom. Of this occasion North Carolina may be content. No forced praise and The Bethel Regiment. 105 empty compliments are necessary now ; for every statement of the facts, made no matter by whom, or how, brings out the steady valor and decisive action of her sons and representatives in a light too clear to leave any place for error, or cause for regret, except that the foe neither would nor could await their advancing line of steel." In our own State, Governor Ellis promptly recommended to the Convention that Colonel Hill, the commander of the North Carolina Troops, be promoted to the rank of Brigadier, and that a full brigade be formed and placed under his command. In the Convention, on June 15th, Mr. Venable offered a reso- lution, which was unanimously passed, as follows : "Resolved, That this Convention, appreciating the valor and good conduct of the ofiScers and men of the First Regiment North Carolina Volunteers, do, as a testimony of the same, authorize the said regiment to inscribe the word ' Bethel ' upon their banner." CASUALTIES IN THE BATTLE -OF BETHEL. There appears to have been no regular return made by Colonel Magruder of th'C losses sustained on our side. The following is a summary compiled from the reports of the commanders of the several bodies of Confederate troops engaged or on the ground : Command. Killed. Wounded. Total. Hill's First North Carolina Regiment, 16 7 Randolph's (Virginia) Howitzer Bat- talion, 3 3 Stuart's three companies of the Third Virginia Regiment, Montague's three companies, The three companies of Virginia Cavalry, Grand total, 1 9 10 106 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. The names of these ten are as follows : First North Carolina. — Henry L. Wyatt, private, Company A, mortally wounded; Lieutenant J. W. Ratchford, aide-de-camp to Colonel Hill, wounded; Council Rodgers, private, Company A, severely wounded; Charles AVilliams, private, Company A, severely wounded; S. Patterson, private. Company D, slightly wounded; William AVhite, private. Company K, wounded ; Peter Poteat, private. Company G, slightly wounded. Randolph! s Howitzers. — Lieutenant Hudnall (commanding the howitzer in Hill's lines on the left of the road), wounded; H. C. Shook, private under Hudnall, wounded ; Johu Worth, private under Hudnall, wounded. The tabulated report of the Federal losses which General But- ler gave in his report to Lieutenant-General Scott, dated June 16th (that being the only one which appears printed in any of the Federal reports), is as follows : CASUALTIES IN THE UNITED STATES FORCES AT BIG BETHEL, JUNE 10, 1861. C'omma//*s\ Killed. Wounded. Missing. Aggregate Staff, 1 .. ■ . •• 1* Infantry, Fourth Massachusetts, 1 1 First New York, . . . 2 1 3 Second New York, 2 1 3 Third New York, . . . 2 27 1 30 Fifth New York, . . 6 13 19 Seventh New York, . . 3 7 2 12 First Vermont, . . . 2 3 1 6 Second United States Ar- tillery, 1 1* Total, .... 18 53 5t 76 *The staff officer killed was Major Theodore Winthrop. Lieutenant John T. Greble (Second United States Artillery) was also among the slain. ■j-Colonel Magruder's report gives three as the number of pri3oners taken by us. The Bethel Regiment. 107 In Colonel Magruder's second report (June 12th) occurs this: "I have now to report that eighteen [Federal] dead were found on the field, and I learn from reliable citizens living 6n the road that many dead, as well as a great many wounded, were carried in wagons to Harapton. I think I can safely report their loss at from twenty-five to thirty killed and one hundred and fifty wounded. I understand the enemy acknowledge one hundred and seventy-five killed and wounded." Colonel Hill's report says: "The enemy must have lost some three hundred. I could not, without great disparagement of their courage, place their loss at a lower figure. It is inconceiv- able that five thousand men should make so precipitate a retreat without having sustained at least that much of a reverse." General Pierce, commanding the Federal troops, says in his report* of June 12th to General Butler: "For killed, wounded and missing, please refer to my former report." The " War of the Rebellion" records, from which the reports quoted in this article are derived, contain but one report from General Pierce, that of June 12th. General Butler's first report, dated June 10th, says: "I am informed by him [Geiieral Pierce] that the dead and wounded had all been brought off." He adds: "Our loss is very consid- erable, amounting, perhaps, to forty or fifty, a quarter part of which, you will see, was from the unfortunate mistake, to call it by no worse name, of Colonel Bendix." General Butler's second report, dated June 16th, says: "It is a pleasure to be able to announce that our loss was much less even than was reported iu my former dispatch, and appears by the official report furnished herewith."* He adds: "I have been very careful to procure an accurate account of the dead, wounded and missing, in order that I may assure those friends who are anxious for the safety of our soldiers and an exact account may be given of all those injured. There is nothing to be gained by any concealment in this regard. The exact truth, which is to »The inclosure is the tabulated return given above, showing eighteen killed, fifty- three wounded and five missing. 108 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. be stated at all times, if anything is stated, is especially neces- sary on such occasions." No reason is given by General Butler for inchiding in his report this protest against concealment of the truth.* As will be observed, the reports are contradictory. Colo- nel Magruder, after duly ascertaining the number of their dead left by the enemy and found by our men upon the field, stated that there were eighteen. General Pierce informed Gen- eral Butler that " the dead and wounded had all been brought off." Again: General Butler's first report set the losses' at, "perhaps, forty or fifty." His second report announced that the loss (given therein at. seventy-six) was much less than in the former dispatch — that is, less than forty or fifty. Taking the statements quoted altogether, it would seem that Colonel Hill's chivalric method of estimating the enemy's losses for him»is the more satisfactory. ARMS IN USE AT BETHEL. In studying the battle of Bethel, the fact must not be lost sight of that the weapons used were different from those of the pres- ent day. Otherwise we should be unable to comprehend the statement in General Pierce's report that he formed his line of battle, apparently with a sense of security, at only eight hundred paces from our works, or the statement in Major Randolph's report that the advance guard of the enemy remained for ten or fifteen minutes at a distance of "about six hundred yards in front of our main battery" before fire was opened upon them. Although that was less than forty years ago, it is a fact that the theory of the instantaneous explosion of gunpowder still prevailed ; Armstrong had not invented his gun-jackets of wrought iron coils; and the rifled Parrott which played such an *The associated press accounts of Jane loth, published in the Northern papers, said : "This has been an exciting and sorrowful day at Old Point Comfort." The same papers contained a letter dated the same evening from Old Point, which said: "It has been ascertained that there were one hundred killed and two hundred wounded. And even now it is thought from the scenes witnessed at Portress Monroe that the battle was far more sanguinary in its effects than the latter version would indicate. They are still bringing in the killed and wounded by boats and other conveyances, as I close this let- ter." The Baltimore Sun learned from a passenger on the boat from Old Point that "the number of killed and wounded was estimated at Fortress iVIonroe at one thousand at least. The fire of the Confederates was extraordinarily fatal." The Bethel Eegiment. 109 important part in the artillery fire at Bethel was merely cast-iron. The small arms which were used with such deadly effect by Companies A, B, C, G and H, of the North Carolina' regiment, were either smooth-bore Springfield muskets, carrying a round ball weighing an ounce, or " buck and ball," or they were rifles that carried a round bullet quite as innocent as the musket ball of pointed tips and hollow-coned bases. It is tVue that French chasseurs were armed with a rifle throwing an elongated ball with a hollow-coned base as far back as 1840, or thereabouts, and that Captain Minie had improved this by adding an iron cup to fit into the cone, and that the English had substituted a wooden plug for Minie's cup in their Enfield rifle of 1855. But we are not a military people, and, in peace, have rarely, if ever, as a government, kept abreast of the other civilized nations in improved arms, though teaching them many lessons during war. There is no reason to believe that at the outbreak of the war of 1861 the stock of arms owned by the United States was different at any of their arsenals from those found in the Fayetteville Arsenal, which were of the kind referred to above. We find Governor Ellis, on the 25th of May, 1861, notifying President Davis that thirty-seven thousand stand of arms in the Fayetteville Arsenal (of the kind referred to) were at his dis- posal, and we find General Butler, on the 27th of May, in his report to General Scott,* appealing to the latter to send him more ammunition, especially "buck and ball," suitable to the smooth- bore musket, with which "the major part of my command is provided." Again, in General Pierce's reportf of Butler's "plan of operations" for the Bethel expedition, we find this item: "Duryea to have the two hundred rifles; he will pick the men to whom they are intrusted." Indeed, the papers of the day ridiculed the talk about "improved arms," declaring that it was the men (the man behind the gun, we call it now) which was the important thing. J Major Randolph reports that his navy howitzers were mounted •" War of the Rebellion," Vol. II, page 63. 'flbid.^ page S3. tRiohmond Dispatch, June, 1861. no North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. upon the running-gear of ordinary wagons, thus seriously inter- fering with their turning in the ordinary road, and that the fuses for his most effective piece, the rifled Parrott, were already cut, and for nothing less than four seconds, too great an interval for the distance between the opposing forces at Bethel. The enemy's equipment was no doubt more complete, but, with the exception of the defects noted by Major Randolph as above, there is no reason to believe that either side had the advantage in arms. All the armies at that period were armed with muzzle-loaders, except that of the Prussians, who had adopted, a couple of decades before, a needle-gun, then so clumsy and defective that no other nation followed her example. It was 1864 before the Spencer maga- zine rifle made its appearance in our war (in the hands of Sheri- dan's command). It was not until the same year that the gen- eral adoption of breech-loaders was even so much as recom- mended for the British army; and Sadowa, which humbled Austria, and made the German empire possible because the Prussians used their needle-guns and the Austrians their muzzle- loaders, was not fought until 1866. Indeed, it was nearly the close of the campaign of 1864 before our engineer officers began to recognize the change required in field defenses by the use of such long-range weapons as we then possessed. These were chiefly the Enfield rifle, which had come into use by us some thirty months before. After the battle of Bethel two more companies were assigned to the regiment, as follows: Company L— Bertie county — Captain, Jesse C. Jacocks ; First Lieutenant, Stark A. Sutton; Second Lieutenant, Francis W. Bird; Junior Second Lieutenant, J. J. Speller. Company M— Chowan county— Captain, J. K. Marshall; First Lieutenant, (Dr.) Llewellen Warren ; Second Lieutenant, E. J. Small; Junior Second Lieutenant, Thomas Capehart. The Bethel Regiment. Ill PROMOTION OF COLONEL HILL AND CLOSING SERVICE OF THE REGIMENT. The history of the First Regiment from this time until the date set for its muster out of service, November 13th, was un- eventfuly It changed its camp a number of times, and it Sid a great deal of drilling, digging and other work on fortifications — uncongenial labor for the kind of men who composed its ranks, but performed cheerfully and without murmuring. On the 22d of August the regiment was moved from York- town to Ship Point, a place some eight miles distant, uear the . mouth of Poquosin River, and facing the Chesapeake. On the 3d of September an election was held for a successor to Colonel Hill, who had just been promoted (September 1st) to be Briga- dier-General. Lieutenant-Colonel Charles C. Lee was elected Colonel; Major James H. Lane, Lieutenant-Colonel; and Lieu- tenant Robert F. Hoke, of Company K, Major. "The new Ma- jor was Second Lieutenant of his company, and had been com- mended by Colonel Hill, in his report of the battle of Bethel, for "great zeal, energy and judgment as an engineer officer on various occasions." He was. a native of Lincolnton, and was educated at the Kentucky Military Institute. Hill was generally regarded as the officer entitled to the chief credit for the victory at Bethel. Indeed, Major Randolph, in his admirable report to Colonel Magruder of the operations of his artillery, made occasion to say: " I am happy at having an opportunity to render my acknowledgments to Colonel Hill, the commandant of the North Carolina regiment, for the useful sug- gestions which his ^perience as an artillery officer enabled him to make to me during the action, and to bear testimony to the gallantry and discipline of that portion of his command with which I was associated. The untiring industry of his regiment in intrenching our position enabled us to defeat the enemy with a nominal loss on our side." An officer of the regiment* says, as a matter within his knowledge, that it was dne to Colonel •Lieutenant J. A. Pemberton, of Company F. 112 The Bethel Regiment. Hill that the stand against Pierce's advancing army was made at the strong position (which Hill had intrenched) on the York- town side of the creek instead of on the Hampton side. Never- theless, Magruder, as the ranking officer, was made a brigadier- general on the 17th of June. North Carolina was still the Bceotia which unfriendly critics had pictured her in the period of agitation preceding the war; and we find that in January, 1862, out of a list* of ninety-three general officers of the Con- federate army, but six (Holmes, Hill, Loring, Gatlin, Rains and Branch) were accredited to North Carolina. Of the five full generals, none were from that State; of the fourteen major- generals, five were ahead of Holmes, our only one; and of the seventy-four brigadiers, twenty-one appear ahead of Hill, the first North Carolinian in the list. Nevertheless, North Caro- lina had so many more troops in the field at that time than her proportion, as compared with several other States, that in the call for troops made by the Confederate Government in February, 1862, her quota was less than half that of the others.f Once in the national arena. General Hill rose to great distinc- tion. He became a major-general in the course of a few months and lieutenant-general in July, 1863. On the 6th of September, after having thoroughly fortified Ship Point, the regiment was moved to Cocklestown, six miles distant from Yorktown and nine miles from Bethel. On the 9th of September, Mr. John W. Baker, Jr., presented a flag to the regiment in behalf of the ladies of Fayetteville, in whose honor the camp was then named "Camp Fayetteville." Upon the flag the word "Bethel" was inscribed, in accordance with the resolution of the State Convention. On the 21st of September, Lieutenant-Colonel Lane was elected Colonel of the Twenty-eighth Regiment, then being organized at High Point. An election for Lieutenant-Colonel to fill the vacancy resulted in the election of Captain Joseph B. Starr, of Company F. The new Lieutenant-Colonel was a native of Fay- *Oharlestoa (S. C.) Courier. tFayetteville Observer, February 24, 18C2. The Bethel Regiment. 113 etteville; educated at Middletown Academy, Counecticut; an adventurous visitor to California at the age of seventeen, and a prosperous wholesale merchant in his native town at the outbreak of the war. He was described at the time as "a rigid disciplin- arian, but loved and respected by his company." The field officers were now as follows: Colonel, Charles C. Lee; Lieutenant-Colonel, Joseph B. Starr; Major, Robert F. Hoke. In addition to the staff officers named in the first part of this article, J. B. F. Boone had become Quartermaster, and after him. Lieutenant R. B. Saunders, of Company D. Changes were made in the company officers as follows: Company A — After the battle of Bethel, Captain Bridgers was made Lieutenant-Colonel of Heavy Ai^tiHery (Tenth Regi- ment North Carolina Troops), though resigning shortly after- wards. On the ,7th of September, First Lieutenant Whitmel P. Lloyd was made Captain; Junior Second Lieutenant W. G. Lewis was made First Lieutenant, and Kenneth Thigpen, Junior Second Lieutenant. Company B — Captain "Williams was appointed by the Sec- retary of the Treasury Produce Loan Agent for North Carolina, and resigned. First Lieutenant Owens became Captain, the other Lieutenants went up one grade, and Junius French became Junior Second Lieutenant. Company F — An election was held on September 30th to supply the vacancy caused by the promotion of Captain Starr. The next three officers went up one grade each, and Orderly Sergeant Benjamin Rush, Jr., was elected Junior Second Lieu- tenant. Company G — Second Lieutenant John A. Dickson died of pneumonia shortly before the regiment was disbanded, and Cor- poral M. D. Arrafield was elected to succeed him. Company I — Captain Bell resigned August 31, 1861. Sec- ond Lieutenant Francis M. Parker was elected to succeed him and Carr B. Corbett was elected Junior Second Lieutenant. On the 16th of October, Captain Parker was elected Colonel of the 8 114 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Thirtieth Regiment, and First Lieutenant M. T. Whitaker be- came Captain. Company K — Upon the promotion, on September 3d, of Sec- ond Lieutenant E. F. Hoke to be Major, Orderly Sergeant Wil- liam R. Edwards became Junior Second Lieutenant. Subse- quently Second Lieutenant Sumner appears to have resigned,* when Lieutenant Edwards became Second Lieutenant, and Ser- geant Albert Sidney Haynes succeeded him as Junior Second Lieutenant. There were no changes in the other companies. While the regiment was at Camp Fayetteville, in September, a meeting of the officers was held, of which Captain C. M. Avery was chairman and Lieutenant Richardson Mallett was secretary, to protest against a proposition to change the name of the regi- ment. The proceedings of the meeting will be found in the appendix to this article. On the 8th of October the regiment was moved to Camp Rains, four miles distant from Camp Fayetteville ; on the 20th to Bethel Church; on the 24th to Yorktown; on the 25th back to Bethel Church; and on the 1st of November to Yorktown. On the 8th, 9th and 11th of November detachments of four companies each left Yorktown for Richmond, where the regiment was mustered out of service on the 12th, and returned to North Carolina by the 13th. STRENGTH OF THE REGIMENT. Moore's "Roster" gives one thousand one hundred and thirty- six as the total number of officers and men in the "Bethel Regi- ment." There must have been many more than that, for there were twelve companies in it, and the newspapers of the day reported the ranks as being very full. The records of the Fay- etteville Independent Light Infantry, which served as Company H of this regiment, show one hundred and nineteen as the num- ber serving in that company, whereas the "Roster" gives the names of but one hundred and five. The same rate of error in the rest *Southern Historical Society's Papers, Vol. XVIII, page 64. The Bethel Eegiment. 115 of the regiment would give a total of one thousand two hundred and eighty-seven. A TRAINING SCHOOL FOR OFFICERS. The First Regiment has been described as a nursery or train- ing school for officers. Two circumstances, the one growing out of the other, made it so, viz.: its unique personnel and its short term of service. The companies composing it had volunteered immediately upon the receipt of Mr. Lincoln's proclamation and for the long term of service prescribed by the existing State law. But the State authorities limited its service to six months,* a pro- ceeding due, it is believed, to their recognition of the remark- able character of its rank and file. How far the view described was justified by the result will appear from the subjoined list of members of the First Regiment who became commissioned offi- cers in other commands of the Confederate service. As will be seen, four of them were general officers. Hill, as already stated, reached that rank in September, 1861; Lane attained it in No- vember, 1862; Hoke in January, 1863; and Lewis in the summer of 1864. Upon Colonel Hill's promotion. Major Lane received a com- plimentary vote for Colonel and almost a unanimous vote for Lieutenant-Colonel. When he was elected Colonel of the Twen- ty-eighth Regiment, the First Regiment presented to him a sword of honor and other valuable testimonials. He was described by the press of the day as "deservedly the most popular man, per- haps, in the regiment." He distinguished himself at Hanover Court House, in 1862, in extricating his regiment when cut oiF by the overwhelming force of Fitz John Porter, and was praised by General Lee therefor. Upon the death of General Branch at Sharpsburg he was urged by Stonewall Jackson for promotion to Brigadier-General. When appointed to that rank, six weeks afterwards, he was but twenty-seven years of age, being then the youngest general officer in the service. His brigade of North •Adjutant-General to Colonel Hill, April 19, 1861. 116 North Caeolina Troops, 1861-'65. . Carolinians became one of the most famous in military history. At Spottsylvania, when Hancock overran Johnson's Division and took the right wing of Lee's army in rear and enfilade. Lane's promptness and military genius and the discipline and courage of his brigade stayed the victorious host and threw them back upon their reserves. He was, in the campaigns of 1864 and 1865, the senior brigadier of the "Light Division" of the Army of Northern Virginia. Except for the sudden opening of the campaign of 1865 earlier than was expected, he would, it was understood, have received the rauk, which he had long before won, of, a division commander. At the outbreak of the war, when the junior officers were in the habit of drilling their squads in the streets about the Capitol Square in Raleigh, the late Mr. Badger took great interest in watching them from his residence. He singled out young Hoke,, the Second Lieutenant of the Lincoln company, as the likeliest of them all, and often said that he was destined to high com- mand. He became Major of the First Regiment in September, as we have seen. After the disbandment of the regiment he was appointed Major of Colonel Branch's Regiment, which was just then being organized, and which became the Thirty-third. Upon Branch's promotion in January, 1862, he was promoted to be Lieutenant-Colonel. Colonel Avery having been captured at New Bern, Lieutenant-Colonel Hoke commanded the regiment in the battles about Richmond in 1862. He was promoted to be Colonel, and took part in the Second Manassas and Sharps- burg campaigns. Upon Colonel Avery's return, he was assigned to the command of the Twenty-first Regiment, of Trimble's Brigade. This brigade he commanded in the battle of Fred- ericksburg with such notable skill that he was appointed Briga- dier-General in the succeeding January (1863). On the 17th of April, 1864, he won fame by the capture of the fortified town of Plymouth and three thousand prisoners. Congress voted him- a resolution of thanks, and he was appointed a Major-General,. with rank from the date of his victory. Upon the organization of the First Regiment, William G. The Bethel Regiment. 117 Lewis was Junior Second Lieutenant of Company A. Upon its disband ment he had risen to First Lieutenant. On the 17th of January, 1862, he was appointed Major of the Thirty-third Regi- ment; on the 26th of April, 1862, he was promoted to be Lieu- tenant-Colonel of the Forty-third Regiment; for his services at the siege of Plymouth, 1864, he was promoted to be Colonel; and for his services in Beauregard's campaign against Butler, shortly after, when he commanded Hoke's old brigade, he was promoted to be Brigadier-General. He participated in Early's victorious march down the Shenandoah Valley to Washington and in the subsequent battles with Sheridan. In the retreat from Petersburg, in a desperate fight of the rearguard at Farm- ville, two days before the surrender at Appomattox, he was severely wounded and taken prisoner. This gallant officer par- ticipated in thirty-seven battles and heavy skirmishes. officers contributed to other commands in the confederate service. GENERAL OFFICEES. Daniel H. Hill, Lieutenant-General, P. A. C. S.; Robert F. Hoke, Major-General^ P. A. C. S.; James H. Lane, Brigadier- Oeneral, P. A. C. S.; William Gaston Lewis, Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S. OFFICERS OF THE GENERAL STAFF. J. W. Ratchford, Major, A. A. General, P. A. C. S.; E. J. Hale, Jr., Major, A. A. General, P. A. C. 8.; J. C. MacRae, Captain, General L. S. Baker's Staff (also Major of Battalion in Western North Carolina); Charles W. Broadfoot, First Lieuten- ant, A. D. C. to General T. H. Holmes (also Lieutenant-Colonel First Regiment Junior Reserves); Theo. F. Davidson, Lieuten- ant, A. D. C. to General R. B. Vance; Thomas J. Moore, Lieu- tenant, Artillery Officer to (general D. H. Hill. Surgeon Peter E. Hines, a distinguished physician, became Medical Director of the Department of Petersburg, and then, by authority of the Secretary of War, was appointed Medical Director of the General Hospitals of North Carolina. 118 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. REGIMENTAL AND BATTALION OFFICERS.* Colonels — James H. Lane, Twenty-eighth Regiment; Fran- cis M. Parker, Thirtieth; Charles C. Lee, Thirty-seventh; Clark M. Avery, Thirty-third; William J. Hoke, Thirty-eighth; James K. Marshall, Fifty-second; William A. Owens, Fifty-third; Eobert F. Hoke, Twenty-first; James C. S. McDowell, Fifty- fourth; Hector McKethan, Fifty-first; Washington M. Hardy, Sixtieth; W. G. Lewis, Forty-third; Robert L. Coleman, Six- tieth; John H. Anderson, Second Junior Reserves. Total, 14. Lieutenant-Colonels — John L. Bridgers, Tenth Regi- ment; H. W. Abernathy, Thirty- fourth; Francis W. Bird, Elev- enth; John T. Jones, Twenty-sixth; Joseph H. Saunders, Thirty- third; Eric Erson, Fifty-second; Alfred H. Baird, Sixty-fifth; Joseph B. Starr, Fifth Battalion; Charles W. Broadfoot, First Junior Reserves; Whitmel P. Lloyd, Senior Reserves. Total,^ 10. Majors — Egbert H. Ross, Eleventh Regiment; Benjamin R. Huske, Forty-eighth; Charles M. Stedman, Forty-fourth; James R. McDonald, Fifty-first; W. W. McDowell, Sixtieth; James C. MacRae, Battalion in Western North Carolina; F. J. Hahr, Commandant Conscript Camp; John N. Prior, Senior Reserves,^ Inspector Eighth District, Conscript Bureau. Total, 8. Adjutants — French Strange, Fifth Regiment; J. C. Mac- Rae, Fifth; Stark A. Sutton, Forty-fourth; Richardson Mallett, Forty-sixth; E. J. Hale, Jr., Fifty-sixth; W. C. McDaniel, Fifty-fourth; John H. Robinson, Fifty-second; Spier Whitaker, Jr., Thirty-third; Thomas J. Moore, Fifty-ninth; E. M. Clayton, Sixtieth; John W. Mallett, Sixty-first ; Junius French, Twenty- third. Total, 12. Other Staei' Officers — William R. Edwards, A. Q. M., Thirty-eighth Regiment; George W. Wightman, A. C. S., Fifth;. J. T. Downs, A. C. S., Sixty-third; George B. Baker, A. Q. M., Conscript Camp; John G. Hardy ^of Burke), Surgeon, Sixth Regiment; J. Geddings Hardy (of Buncombe), Surgeon, Sixty- «In the lists which follow the colonels, lieutenant-colonels, majors and adi-utants of the regiments of the line are placed in the order of date of commission; the comnlnv ofBcers, alphabetically. ' .u^auj t The Bethel Eegiment. 119 fourth; D. McL. Graham, Assistant Surgeon, Thirty-seventh; Charles G. Gregory, Assistant Surgeon, Thirtieth; L. L. Warren, Surgeon; Jesse H. Page, Chaplain, Seventeenth. Total, 10. Non-commissioned Staff — Charles Haigh, Sergeant- Major, Sixty-third Regiment; E. P. Powers, Sergeant-Major, Fayette- ville Armory Guard. Captains — S. B. Alexander, Company K, Forty-second Regiment; W. E. Ardrey, K, Thirtieth; M. D. Armfield, B, Eleventh; George B. Atkins, B, Fifth Battalion; T. J. Brooks, D, Forty-first Regiment; Calvin S. Brown, D, Eleventh; Thomas Capehart, Third Battalion; Thomas W. Cooper, C, Elev- enth Regiment; E. M. Clayton, K, Sixtieth; D. A. Culbreth, C, Fifty-fourth; Lawson A. Dellinger, A, Fifty-second; Alex- ander R. Carver, B, Fifty-sixth; W. D. Elma, I, Thirty-seventh; J. F. Freeland, G, Eleventh; S. A. Grier, D, Sixty-third; B. F. Grigg, F, Fifty-sixth; W. L. Hand, A, Eleventh; A. Sidney Haynes, I, Eleventh; H. W. Home, C, Third; Lemuel J. Hoyle, I, Eleventh; James R. Jennings, G, Eleventh; G. B. Kibler, B, Fifty-fourth; W. J. Kincaid, D, Eleventh; Jesse W. Kyle, B, Fifty-second; J. A. McArthur, I, Fifty-first; Robert Mc- Eachern, D, Fifty-first; John McKellar, A, Sixty-third; D. A. Monroe, K, Thirty-eighth; James H. Morris, F, Forty- third; E. R. Outlaw, C, Eleventh; Thomas Parks, B, Elev- enth; B. F. Patton, B, Sixtieth; T. W. Patton, C, Sixtieth; L. A. Potts, C, Thirty-seventh; Alexander Ray, D, Fifty- third; K. J. Rhodes, E, Fifty-sixth; Frank N. Roberts, B, Fifty-sixth; David Scott, D, Fifty-third; George Skirven, Mallett's Battalion; George Sloan, I, Fifty-first Regiment; E. J. Small, F, Eleventh; John F. Speck, G, Fifty-seventh; Edward W. Stilt, I, Thirty-seventh; L. B. Sutton, F, Fifty- ninth; John M. Sutton, C, Third Battalion; Frank M. Tay- lor, G, Thirty-second Regiment; W. B. Taylor, A, Eleventh; William T. Taylor, B, Fifty-sixth; John H. Thorpe, A, Forty- seventh; Isaac N. Tillett, G, Fifty-ninth; M. C. Toms, A, Six- tieth; J. J. Watford, F, Fifty-ninth; W. P. Wemyss, D, Fay- etteville Armory Guard; Carey Whitaker, D, Forty-third; Sol. 120 NoETH Carolina Troops, 1861-65. H. White, G, Thirty-second; J. Marshall Williams, C, Fifty- fourth; James M. Young, K, Eleventh. Total, 57. First Lieutenants — C. W. Alexander, Company A, Eleventh Eegiment; W. R. Alexander, I, Sixtieth; John H. Anderson, D, Forty-eighth; Thomas W. Baker, T>, Forty-third; K. J. Braddy, C, Thirty-sixth; G. W. Buhman, B, Forty-first; John A. Burgiu, K. Eleventh; E. M. Clayton, B, Sixtieth; W. A. Connelly, A, Avery's Battalion; David A. Coon, I, Eleventh Regiment; Thomas C. Fuller, B, Fifth Battalion; David P. Glass, K, Thirty-fifth Regiment; Charles Carroll Goldston, H, Forty-sixth; Joseph L. Hayes, F, Fifth; A. J. Hauser, D, First; H. R. Home, A, Fifth Battalion; W. E. Kyle, B, Fifty-second Regiment; H. C. Lowrance, D, Sixtieth; Jarvis B. Lutterloh, E. Fifty-sixth; M. S. Marler, B, Fifty-fourth; James McKee, C, Seventh; J. P. McLean, H, Fiftieth; J. H. Myrover, B, Fifth Battalion; O. P. Pittman, B, Sixty-third Regiment; D. H. Ray, A, Fifth; Thomas RufSn, D, Fifty-ninth; Angus Shaw, K, Thirty-eighth; Thomas G. Skinner, Fifth Battalion; J. J. Speller, Commandant Conscript Camp Guard; Ed. E. Sumner, D, First Regiment; R. W. Thornton, B, Fifty-sixth; G. W. Westray, A, Forty-seventh; J. S. Wliitaker, D. Forty-third; T. L. Whitaker, D, Twenty-fourth; John Whitmore, B, Fifth Battalion; B. Franklin Wilson, K, Forty-second Regiment; E. J. Williams, I, Thirty-first. Total, 37. Second Lieutenants — Marshall E. Alexander, Company B, Fifty-third Regiment; W. T. Battley, E, Fayetteville Arm- ory Guard; William Beavans, D, Forty-third Regiment; W. R. Boon, B, Fifty-first; O. J. .Brittain, D, Eleventh; John W. Burgin, K, Eleventh; Charles B. Cook, A, Sixty-third; Au- gustus Cotton, E, Seventeenth; G. A. Cotton, E, Seventeenth; S. W. Davidson, C, Sixtieth; T. F. Davidson, F, Sixtieth; W. T. Dickerson, K, Eleventh; S. H. Elliott; J. P. Elms, I, Thirty-seventh; G. H. Gregory, J. C. Grier; P. B. Grier, Eleventh; George H. Haigh, Conscript ,Bureau; R. H. Hand, A, Eleventh Regiment;' M. M. Hines, B, Twenty-third; James W. Huske, B, Fifty-second; Isaac Jessup, B, Fifth Battalion; The Bethel Regiment. 121 R. B. Kerley, B, Fifty-fourth Regiment; J. G. McCorkle, E, Eleventh; J. H. McDade, G, Eleventh; D. M. McDonald, B, Fifty-sixth; H. A. McDonald, K, Thirty-eighth; McMat- thews (of Mecklenburg); James D. Nott, A, Sixty-third; O. A. Ramseur, I, Eleventh; Benjamin Rush, B, Fifth Battal- ion; J. M. Saville, H, Eleventh Regiment; H. H. Smith, A, Fifth; B. W. Thornton, B, Fifty-sixth; J. H. Triplett; J. L. Warlick, B, Eleventh; Portland A. Warlick, B, Eleventh; R. M. Warlick, K, Forty-ninth; Jones M. Watson, G, Elev- enth; James W. Williams, G, Eleventh; G. W. Wills, D, Forty- third; Joseph H. Wilson, K, Forty-second; G. W. Worjey, K, Eleventh. Total, 43. A recapitulation of the foregoing gives: Four general offi- cers, seven officers of the general staff, fourteen colonels, ten lieutenant-colonels, eight majors, twelve adjutants, ten other staff officers, fifty-seven captains, thirty-seven first lieutenants and forty-three second lieutenants; total, two hundred and two. From this must be deducted the number of names which appear more than once. Three of the general officers appear also iu the list of colonels; five of the officers of the general staff appear also in the regimental and* battalion field and staff, and one of them twice; an adjutant appears also in the list of line captains; and a lieutenant of a regiment of the line appears in another list. Nearly all the .officers enumerated held more than one office, by promotion; but it was necessary to repeat only those just mentioned. Deducting these eleven, we have a net total of one hundred and ninety-one commissioned officers con- tributed by the First Regiment to other commands in the Con- federate service — being more than the full complement required for four regiments. Of these officers, the commands of more than two-thirds of them formed part of the regular establish- ment of the Army of Northern Virginia: that is to say, the division of D. H. Hill and the brigades of D. H. Hill, Lane, Hoke and Lewis were of that army — as were also the commands of three of the officers of the general staff above mentioned; of ten of the colonels; of five of the lieutenant-colonels; of three of 122 North Cakolina Teoops, 1861-65. the majors; of ten of the adjutants; of six of the other regimental staff; of forty-five of the captains; of twenty-five of the first lieu- tenants; and of twenty-nine of the second lieutenants. Deduct- ing from this total of one hundred and fo%, five names which have been counted twice therein, we have a net total of one hundred and thirty-five commissioned officers contributed by the Bethel Regiment to that immortal army. FROM BETHEL TO APPOMATTOX. The list of members of the First Regiment who were present at the battle of Bethel and who also surrendered at Appomattox must, in the nature of things, be short, for death and disabling wounds and other of the adverse chances of war would leave but few survivors of those who found their way into the Army of Northern Virginia. For example, to go no further than the grade of colonel, it will be found that of the fourteen officers of that i-ank con- tributed by the First Regiment to other commands, five (Lee, Avery, Marshall, Owens and McDowell) were killed or mor- tally wounded in battle, while two others (Parker and W. J. Hoke) were disabled by wounds and retired, and another (Lewis, who had reached the grade of general) was, as described above, wounded and captured two days before the surrender. Again, there are no doubt omissions in the list which has been obtained, though every effort has been made to secure the names of all. Subjoined is a list of those who have been reported by the com- pany historians. The names (including General Lane's) are ar- ranged alphabetically, and the company or command in which each served at Bethel and at the surrender are set opposite: John Beavans, private Company I — Seargeant Company D, Forty- third. D. McL. Graham, private Company H — Assistant Surgeon Thirty-seventh. E. J. Hale, Jr., private Company H — Major, A. A. G. (Lane's staff). W. E. Kyle, private Company H — First Lieutenant Com- pany B, Fifty-second. The Bethel Regiment. 123 James H. Lane, Major and Lieutenant-Colonel — Brigadier- General. J. A. McKay, private Company H — private Williams's Battery. John H. E-obinson, Sergeant Company H — Adjutant Fifty- second. Charles M. Stedman, private Company H — Major Forty-third. W. B. Taylor, Corporal Company C — Captain Company A, Eleventh. J. S. Whitaker, private Company I — First Lieutenant Com- pany D, Forty-third. Spier Whitaker, Jr., private Company D — Adjutant Thirty- third. J. Marshall Williams, private Company H — Captain Com- pany C, Fifty-fourth. CONCLUSION. The facts collated in this history of the First North Carolina Regiment exhibit its remarkable character. They show that it was the natural outgrowth of the conditions from which it sprung; that it expressed the peculiarities of the people whom it repre- sented, their gentleness^ in manner, their resoluteness in deed; that the celerity and completeness with which it was organized and equiped have no parallel in our history; that it spilled the first blood in battle in defense of the cause which its State was almost the last to embrace; that, while it had never before heard a hos- tile bullet, it exhibited the discipline and behaved with the steadi- ness of veterans at Bethel Church; that its victory there was won against odds which represented the numerical superiority of the North over the South; that in this, and in other respects, its triumph in that initial battle produced consequences of the most far-reaching kind, possibly holding Virginia in the Confederacy, and certainly reshifting the theatre of war; that it raised the hopes of the South to the highest pitch and correspondingly de- pressed those of the North; that its contributions of trained sol- diers to the rest of the army constitute a unique feature of mili- tary history; and that in this, and in all other respects, it deserved the place assigned it by the authorities of the State as Fugleman of the regiments. 124 North Caeolina Troops, 1861-65. APPENDIX. Adjutant-General's Orders Organizing the First Regiment. Reference has been made to orders from the Adjutant- Gen- €ral's office issued on April 19th, May 9th, May 12th, May 15th and May 16th, organizing the regiment. They were as follows : Adjutant- General's Office, Raleigh, April 19, 1861. Colonel:— You are hereby commanded to organize the Orange Light Infantry, Captain Ashe; Warrenton Guards, Captain Wade; Hornet Nest Eifles, Captain Williams; Enfield Bluea, Captain Bell; Lumberton Guards, Captain Norment; Duplin Rifles, Captain Kenan; Charlotte Grays, Captain Ross; Thomasville Rifles, Captain Miller; Granville Grays, Captain Wortham; Columbus Guards, Captain Ellis, into a regi- ment to be designated the "First Regiment of North Carolina Volun- teers." The cadets of the North Carolina Military Institute can be attached to this regiment with the consent of their parents and guardians. The seat of war is the destination of the regiment,, and Virginia, in all prob- ability, will be the first battle ground. The service of this regiment will not exceed six months, but the men should be prepared to keep the field until the war is ended. The gray or the blue blouse will be recognized as a suitable uniform. Arms are now in Raleigh for the use of the regiment, and the men will be fur- nished with them promptly. The regiment will be moved into Virginia as soon as possible, but will not be led into battle until the field officers are of the opinion that the men are fit for such duty. You will order an election for field oflBcers of the regiment on Friday, the third day of May. The cause of Virginia is the cause of North Carolina. In our first struggle for liberty she nobly and freely paured out her blood in our defense. We will stand by her now in this our last efibrt for independ- ence. By order of the Governor: J. F. Hoigi:, Adjutant- Oeneral. Colonel D. H. Hill, Commanding Camp of Instruction, Raleigh, N. C. The Bethel Regiment. 125 Adjot ANT- General's Office, Ealeigh, May 9, 1861. {General Orders No. 7). , The following companies of volunteers now stationed in this city are hereby organized into a regiment, to be mustered into the service of the State agreeably to such regulations as shall hereby be determined upon, viz.: 1. Edgecombe Guards, Captain John L. Bridgers. 2. Enfield Blues, Captain D. A. Bell. 3. Hornet Nest Rifles, Captain Lewis S. Williams. 4. Burke Rifles, Captain 0. M. Avery. 5. Buncombe Rifles, Captain W. W. McDowell. 6. Southern Stars, Captain W. J. Hoke. 7. Randlesburg Rifles, Captain A. A. Erwin. 8. LaFayette Light Infantry, Captain W. G. Matthews. 9. Orange Light Infantry, Captain Richard J. Ashe. The companies will be ari'anged in the regiment and the relative ranks of the officers will be fixed when the same shall have been mustered into service. The commanding oflicer of the camp of instruction will hold an elec- tion for field ofiicers of the above regiment at 10 o'clock a. m. the 11th inst. The companies not already at the camp will repair there at the time designated, where they will be stationed until further orders. * *********** All orders heretofore issued inconsistent with the foregoing are hereby annulled. Arms will be issued to the troops as soon as they shall have been or- ganized into regiments. By order of the Governor: J. F. Hoke, A djutant- General. AdjutaNt-Genekal's Office, Raleigh, May 12, 1861. {Special Orders No. S). The following return of the election for field officers for the regiment of volunteers organized at the camp of instruction in this city, pursuant to General Orders No. 7 frofti this oflace, dated May 9, 1861, is published for the information of all concerned: Camp op Instkuction, Raleigh, May 11, 1861. To General J. F. Hoke, Adjutant- General: Sir: — In accordance with instructions, I hereby transmit the result of the election this day held for field ofiicers of the First North Carolina Regiment : 126 North Caeolina Troops, 1861-65. For Colonel— D. H. Hill received 652 votes; Charles 0. Lee, 39; C. 0. Tew, 2; scattering, 3. For Lieutenant-Colonel— Charles 0. -Lee received 657 votes; Mr. Bur- gwyn, 29; D. H. Hill, 13; Major Stokes, 2; scattering, 4. For Major — James H. Lane received 610 votes; Mr. Lovejoy, 83; scat- tering, 5. Respectfully submitted, Charles C. Leb, Major Camp of Instruction, Acting Colonel. The officers elected as above will enter upon their duties accordingly, and all persons placed under their command will respect and obey them accordingly. By order of the Governor: J. F. Hoke, A djutant- General. Officers commissioned as per above date, the 11th. Adjutant-General's Office, Raleigh, May 15, 1861. Sir: — You are hereby detailed to muster in the troops of the First Regiment this afternoon at four o'clock p. m. A justice of the peace will be requested to be present to administer the necessary oath. J. F. HOKB, Adjutant-Qeneral. Colonel C. C. Lee, Camp of Instruction, Raleigh, N. C. Adjutant-General's Office, Raleigh, May 16, 1861. {Special Orders No. 5)- Colonel: — The Randlesburg Rifles, Captain Erwin, not having the number of men required by law, are detached from the First Regiment, and the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry,* Captain Huske, are ordered to supply their place, and will take the same position in the regiment occupied by that company. Major Lane is detached as mustering oflicer to muster into the service of the State the Fayetteville Light Infantry. The LaFayette Light Infantry, Captain Starr; the Fayetteville Inde- pendent Light Infantry, Captain Huske, and the Southern Stars, Cap- *This company and the LaFayette Light Infantry were detained, by orders at Fav- etteviUe, for service in the capture of the United States Arsenal at that place which was .effected on the 22d of April. They were put to guard duty over that great property until May 1st, when the LaFayette left for Ealeigh, and May 9th, when the Independent com- pany followed. For this reason they were not included in the earlier orders for organi- zation of the regiment. ° The Bethel Regiment. 127 tain Hoke, will leave for Richmond, Va., on Saturday morning, and will have two days' rations of meat and bread for each member of the company. The remaining companies will move for the same point on Monday or Tuesday next, and will have a like supply of provisions pre- pared. By order of the Governor: J. F. Hokb, A djutani- Oeneral. EXTRACT FROM COLONEL HILL'S OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE BATTLE OF BETHEL. A detachment of fifteen cadets from the North Carolina Mili- tary Institute defended the howitzer under Lieutenant Hudnall, and acted with great coolness and determination. I cannot speak in too high terms of my two field officers, Lieutenant-Colonel Lee and Major Lane. Their services have been of the highest importance since taking the field to the present moment. My thanks,' too, are due, in an especial manner, to Lieutenant J. M, Poteat, Adjutant, and Lieutenant J. W. Ratchford, Aide, both of them cadets of the North Caro- lina Institute at Charlotte. The latter received a contusion in the forehead from a grape-shot, which nearly cost him his life. Captain Bridgers, Company A; Lieutenant Owens, commanding Company B ; Captain Ross, Company C ; Captain Ashe, Com- pany D; Captain McDowell, Company E; Captain Starr, Com- pany F; Captain Avery, Company G; Captain Huske, Company H; Lieutenant Whitaker, commanding Company I; Captain Hoke, Company K, displayed great coolness, judgment and efficiency. Lieutenant Gregory is highly spoken of by Major Lane for soldierly bearing on the 8th. Lieutenants Cook and McKethan, Company H, crossed over under a heavy fire to the assistance of the troops attacked on the left. So did Lieutenant Cohen, Company C. Lieutenant Hoke has shown great zeal, energy and judgment as engineer officer on various occasions. Corporal George Williams, privates Henry L. Wyatt, Thomas Fallon and John Thorpe, Company A, volunteered to burn the house which concealed the enemy. They behaved with great gallantry. Wyatt was killed and the other three were recalled. 128 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Sergeant Thomas J. Stewart and private William McDowell, Company A, reconnoitered the position of the enemy, and went far in advance of our troops. Private J. W. Potts, of Company B, is specially mentioned by his company commander; so are Sergeant William Elmo, Company C; Sergeants C. L. Watts, W. H. McDade, Company D; Sergeant J. M. Young, Corporal John Dingier, privates G. H. A. Adams, R. V. Gudger, G. W. AVerley, John C. Wright, T. Y. Little, J. F. Jenkins, Company E; E. W. Stedman, M. E. Dye, H. E. Benton, J. B. Smith, Company F; G. W. Buhmann, James C. MacRae, Company H. Casualties — Private Henry L. Wyatt, Company K, mortally wounded; Lieutenant J. W. Ratchford, contusion; private Coun- cil Rodgers, Company A, severely wounded; private Charles Williams, Company A, severely wounded; private S. Patterson, Company D, slightly wounded; private William White, Com- pany K, wounded; private Pet^r Poteat, Company G, slightly wounded. Permit me, in conclusion, to pay a well-deserved compliment to the First Regiment North Carolina Volunteers. Their patience under trial, perseverance under toil and courage under fire have seldom been surpassed by veteran troops. Often work- ing night and day, sometimes without tents and cooking uten- sils, a murmur has never escaped them to my knowledge. They ha\^e done a large portion of the work on the intrenchments at Yorktown, as well as those at Bethel. Had all of the regiments in the field worked with the same spirit there would not be an assailable point in Virginia. After the battle they shook hands affectionately with the spades, call- ing them "clever fellows" and "good friends." The men are influenced by high moral and religious senti- ments, and their conduct has furnished another example of the great truth that he who fears God will ever do his duty to his country. The Bethel Regiment. s 129 THE protest against CHANGING THE REGIMENT'S NAME. IFrom the FayeiteviUe Observer, October 7, 1861.'] MILITARY MEETING. At a meeting of the ofHcers of the First Regiment North Carolina Volunteers, now stationed at Camp Fayetteville, near Yorktown, Va., on motion, Captain C. M. Avery was called to the chair, and Lieutenant R. Mallett appointed secretary. The chairman explained the object of the meeting to be to take the sense of the officers of this regiment relative to the change of our title. On motion of Lieutenant Thigpen, Cap- tains R. J. Ashe, W. W. McDowell and Lieutenant B. R. Huske were appointed a committee to draft resolutions for the action of the meeting. The committee withdrew and in a short time returned and reported the following preamble and resolu- tions, which were unanimously adopted, and ordered to be for- warded to the Richmond Dispatch and Examiner, the North Carolina State papers, and the Charleston Mercury, for publi- cation : "Whereas, on the 28th day of September, A. D. 1861, to our, surprise and mortification, an order from Colonel J. G. Martin, Adjutant-Generill of the State of North Carolina, was read, directing that this regiment should in future be known as the Nineteenth Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers; there- fore, be it "Resolved, That having been iha first regiment from North Carolina to enter the State of Virginia; the first regiment from any State to meet and repulse the invader; the first regiment to receive the approbation of our countrymen by resolutions of their national and State couucils; that having been intrusted by the people of North Carolina with a flag upon whose folds is in- scribed 'The First Regiment of North Carolina' by the hands of ouf country-women; and that having been exposed to the dan- gers of battle and endured the hardships of camp, in this our only campaign, as the First Regiment, we do hereby enter, in behalf of those whose graves may be seen, humble though th«y 9 130 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. be, in sight of their trials and labors; in the name of those whose" enfeebled health attests their patience and fortitude; and in the name of those who yet live, proud of their appellation and of the associations of which it reminds them, our most earnest pro- test against said change. "Resolved, That we have shown by all of our actions since the call for volunteers our earnest desire to promote the good of the cause, and that while we are still willing to make further sacri- fices for the same plirpose, we are not willing to surrender our name to minister to the caprice of any one, or to subserve the convenience of a few office clerks, and that we will never submit to such an imposition until we have exhausted every means of redress consistent with our eificiency and character." C. M. Avery, R. Mallett, Chairman. Secretary. Note. — It is probable that if the action recorded in the above proceed- ings had been Ijnown, the Bethel Regiment would have been placed first in Moore's "Roster," in accordance with the fact that it was the first regiment organized by the State. It is placed in the "Roster" after the Eleventh Regiment, which succeeded it. THE BETHEL FLAG. The Atlanta Journal in 1881 contained an article concerning the "Flag of Bethel," from which the following extracts will be interesting: "The color company of the First North Carolina Regiment was Company E, formerly the Buncombe Riflemen, of Asheville. The flag they carried into Big Bethel fight was the first one bap- tized in blood in a field engagement during the war. This flag was made by Misses Anna and Sallie Woodfin, daughters of Colonel Nicholas Woodfin; Misses Fannie and Mary Patton, Miss Mary Gaines, Miss Kate Smith, and perhaps other young ladies of Asheville, N. C, and presented to the Buncombe Rifle- men. The flag was made of red, white and blue silk, the mate- The Bethel Regiment. 131 rial contributed from the dresses of tiie young ladies. Miss Anna Woodfin was chosen, in behalf of the young ladies, to pre- seiit the flag, her father making the presentation speech. Cap- tain W. W. McDowell, in behalf of his company, received it. The Misses Woodfin are cousins of the late lamented Henry W. Grady. This flag was taken to Richmond, and when the Rifle- men became the color company of the regiment it became the regimental flag of the first fight of the war. On the return home Captain E. M. Clayton, now of Clarksville, who had suc- ceeded Captain McDowell in the command of Company E, brought the flag with him, and has sacredly kept it through many vicissitudes until the present day. After it came out of service Miss Anna Woodfin wrought on its white bar with blue silk the word 'Bethel.'" The flag which was presented to the First Regiment by the ladies of Fayetteville on the 9th of September, 1861, and upon which the word "Bethel" was inscribed in accordance with the resolution of the Convention, is now in possession of Mr. E. R. McKethan, of Fayetteville. THE OLDEST MILITARY COMPANY IN THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. The Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry, which went into the service as Company H of the First Regiment, was the oldest military organization in the South. It is the oldest in the United States, with the exception of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston. It was formed in 1793 to assi,st President Washington against Citizen Genet, of France, and has had an unbroken organization since. It served in the war of 1812, at the same time maintaining a company of "substitutes" in the field at its own expense; it was of the escort of General Lafayette on his visit to Fayetteville in 1825; it sent a detail of its members to the Mexican war ; it served in the war between the States, as we have seen, as Company H, First North Caro- lina Regiment; and it served in the recent war with Spain as Company A, Second North Carolina Volunteers. 132 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. In 1819, by special act of the Legislature, for its long and distinguished services, its commanders, from that time forward, were endowed with the rank of major, and its four next officers with that of captain, a distinction conferred upon no other com- pany in the State. It represented North Carolina at the Phila- delphia Centennial in 1876, at the Yorktown Centennial in 1881, and at the Constitutional Centennial at Philadelphia in 1887; and was one of the two organizations from North Caro- lina in the line at the Dewey celebration in New York, Septem- .berSO, 1899. ITS ORGANIZATION AFTER THE RETURN FROM YORKTOWN. [Extract from Major J. C. MacRae's Address on the Eighty-first Anniversary.'] The organization of your company was not lost after its return from Yorktown; and on February 22, 1862, an election of offi- cers was had, and Peter M. Hale, who had been a private through the whole tour of service in the field, was elected Major Commanding. This was a just tribute to one who had, in the intimate association of camp-life, endeared himself to all his comrades. In March, 1862, the company again offered its ser- vices in defense of our liberties. It was then composed of about forty men; but before its services were accepted most of the members had volunteered in other commands and gone to the front. So on the 1st of April, 1862, when the Clarendon Guards went to Fort Fisher, they carried in their ranks the commander and twelve men of your company — all that was left. NOTES OF THE COMPANIES. In addition to the large list of officers contributed by the First Regiment to other commands in the Confederate service it is believed that the majority of the remainder of the regiment re- enlisted, though it has been impossible to trace them all. Al- though the Eleventh Regiment was officially known as the suc- cessor of the First Regiment, and numbers of its officers came The Bethel Eegiment. 133 from the latter, but a small portion of its rank and file was thus derived. The authorities relied on for the history of the sev- eral companies indicate that the men of companies A, B, C, D, G, H, I, K, L and M were scattered in their re-enlistments through diiferent regiments. Captain Ross, of Company C, and some of his officers went into the Eleventh Regiment as Company A, but Moore's "Roster" shows but three privates common to the two companies. Company E (Buncombe) seems to have gone largely into the Sixtieth Regiment and other commands in the Army of Tennessee. Company F went largely into Starr's Bat- tery, Company B, Fifth (Thirteenth) Battalion. The first death in the regiment was that of private Julius Sadler, of Company B, who fell from the platform of the cars on the way from Richmond to Yorktown, May 24th, 1861, and was instantly killed. Private Hilton, of the same company, be- came one of Hampton's famous scouts. Of Company C (the Charlotte Grays) not a member was of age. Lieutenant David A. Coon, of Company K, was wounded nine times, and still carries several balls in his body. Private James M. Abernathy, of the same company, became Assistant Surgeon to Surgeon General Warren in the State service, and private J. F. Reinhardt became a noted scout. [The writer is indebted to General Lane for valuable documents; to General W. G. Lewis for items concerning Company A; to Major J. G. Harris, Captain W. B. Taylor and Lieutenant J. H. Wilson for items concerning Companies B and C; to Doctor Kemp P. Battle and David McCauley, Esq., for those for Company D; to Hon. Theodore F. David- son and B. F. Patton, Esq., for Company E; to Colonel J. B. Starr for Company F; to Judge Avery for Company G; to Captain John H. Robin- son for Company H; to Colonel F. M. Parker for Company I; to Profes- sor Charles L. Coon and Sheriff (Lieutenant) David A. Coon for Com- pany K; to Hon. F. D. Winston and Captain L. B. Sutton for Company L, and to W. M. Bond, Esq., Mr. J. R. B. Hathaway and Captain Thomas Capehart for Company M.] E. J. Hale. Faybttevillb, N. C, April 9, 1900. FIRST REGIMENT. 1. H. A. Brown, Colonel. 5. L. C. Latham, Major. S. M. S. Stokes, Colonel. 0. John Benbury, Captain, Co. A. 3. J. N. Harrell, Lieut.-Colonel. 7. T. D. Boone, Captain, Co. F. 4. T. L. Skinner, Major. 8. John A. Morgan, 1st Lient., Co. A. !). J. C. Scarborough, Sergeant, Co. I. FIRST REGIMENT. By colonel HAMILTON A. BROWN. "While we envy not others their merited glory, we feel it to be our bounden duty to North Carolina, to our gallant soldiers, and to our dead heroes, that we should be fairly represented in history's story." — Gen- eral Eamsbue. This regiment was organized at the race track near Warren- ton in the spring of 1861, Governor Ellis appointing Mumford Sidney Stokes, Captain of Cpmpany B, from Wilkes county, Colonel; Matthew W. Ransom, of Halifax county, Lieutenant- Colonel, and John A. McDowell, of Bladen county. Major. Colonel Stokes had been an officer in the United States Navy for more than ten years. He was also Major of a North Caro- lina regiment in the Mexican war, and was presented with a handsome sword by his soldiers after that war. Colonel Ransom was a distinguished statesman and lawyer of Weldon, and was promoted to Brigadier-General during the war. Major McDowell was a successful business man of Bladen county. The other field and stafiF officers by succession and appoint- ment were as follows: John A. McDowell, Colonel from Lieu- tenant-Colonel; H. A. Brown, Colonel from Lieutenant-Colonel; John A. McDowell, Lieutenant-Colonel from Major; H. A. Brown, Lieutenant-Colonel, promoted from Company B; J. N. Harrell, Lieutenant-Colonel, promoted from Company F; John A. McDowell, Major; T. L. Skinner, Major, promoted from Company A; J. S. Hines, Major, promoted from Company C; J. N. Harrell, Major, promoted from Company F; L. C. La- tham, Major, promoted from Company G. 136 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Adjutants — J. S. R. Miller, Caldwell county; French Strange, Cumberland county; T. H. W. Mclntire, New Han- over county; L. J. Curtis, Wilkes county; John A. Morgan, Per- quimans county. Sergbant-Majors— T. H. W. Mclntire and W. G. Allen, Wm. H. Proffett and J. Edward Purvis. Quartermasters — G. L. Dudley, J. D. Boone. Commissaries — J. W. Hackett, Owen Fennell, R. A. Spain- hour. " Surgeons— H. I. Macon, C. J. Gee, N. M. Scales, L. C. Coke. Chaplains — J. H. Spainhour, J. K. Howell,W. R. Gwaltney. COMPANY officers. Company A — Chowan County — Captains: T. L. Skinner, J. A. Benberry, F. W. Bond, T. L. Johnston. First Lieutenants: J. A. Benbury, J. L. Bratten, L. C. Benbury, T. L. Johnston, J. A. Morgan. Second Lieutenants: L. C. Benbury, T. L. Johnston, J. A. Morgan, A. R. Stamer, J. D. Williams, W. H. McNider. Enlisted men, 121. Company -B — Wilkes County — Captains: M. S. Stokes, J. B. Gordon, H. A. Brown, T. S. Bouchelle. First Lieutenants: M. A. Parks, T. S. Bouchelle, J. A. Hampton, W. W. Vannoy, L. J. Curtis. Second Lieutenants: T. S. Bouchelle, J. A. Hamp- ton, W. W. Vannoy, J. W. Peden, T. C. Miller. Enlisted men, 170. Company C — New Hanover County — Captains: J. S. Hines, H. L. Fennell, W. H. Thompson. First Lieutenants: H. L. Fennel, W. H. Thompson, J. J. McMillan, T. H. W. Mclntire. Second Lieutenants: Owen Fennell, W. H. Thompson, J. J. Mc- Millan, O. R. Scott, Charles Marsteller. Enlisted men, 164. Company D — Orange and Lincoln Counties — Captains: E. M. Scott, J. W. Williamson. First Lieutenants: Edward Sum- First Regiment. 137 ner, A. P. Houser. Second Lieutenants: A. J. Houser, Wm. Howard, A. W. Cheek, P. H. Grady, J. G. Scott, D. E. Stokes. Enlisted men, 167. Company E — New Hanover County — Captains: J. A.Wright, F. W. Moore. First Lieutenants: J. L. "Wboster, J. G. Wright. Second Lieutenants: J. G. Wright, G. L. Dudley, R. F. Lang- don. Enlisted men, 140. Company F — Hertford and Northampton Counties — Captains: J. N. Harrell, Thomas D.Boone. First Lieutenants: W. S. Shep- pard, J. P. Jenkins, Second Lieutenants: C. F. Lyop, J. P. Jenkins, T. D. Boone, J. F. Adkins, L. C. Lawrence. Enlisted men, 156. Company G — Washington County — Captains: L. C. Latham, N. J. Whitehurst. First Lieutenants: N. J. Whitehurst, J. A. Latham. Second Lieutenants: J. A. Latham, T. S. Holliday, T. N. Bishop, J. M. Hargett. Enlisted men, 152. Company H — Martin County — Captains: R. W. Rives, J. S. R. Miller, Alfred Mizel. First Lieutenants: N. B. Fagan, J. R. Mizel. Second Lieutenants: E. Burrows, J. R. Mizel, J. H. Keen, J. M. Guyther. Enlisted men, 152. Company I — Wake County — Captains: J. H. Foote, J. H. Fowler. First Lieutenants: H. J. Fowler, W. D. Scarborough, J. A. Harlsfield. Second Lieutenants: H. J. Fowler, J. H. Terrell, H. L. Patterson, M. F. Scarborough, E. A. Carver. Enlisted men, 158. Company K — Halifax County — Captains: S. H. Gee, W. H. Day. First Lieutenants: A. L. Pierce, C. Branch. Second Lieutenants: W. R. Williams, John Wynn, D. E. Stokes, R. J. Day. Enlisted men, 157. In July, after the organization was perfected, the regiment was ordered to Richmond, and was assigned to General Holmes' Brigade, at Brooks' Station, near the mouth of Acquia Creek. 138 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. While here Company B was detached and ordered to the mouth of Acquia Creek to man the heavy guns in the batteries stationed there, and was engaged in several skirmishes with the enemy's gun-boats. In the spring of 1862 a portion of the North Carolina Troops, iucluding this regiment, was ordered to Golds- boro to meet an advance of the enemy from New Bern. About this time Lieutenant-Colonel Ransom was elected Colonel of the Thirty-fifth Regiment, and accepted; Major McDowell was made Lieutenant-Colonel; Captain Skinner, of Company A, Major. The regiment having been again ordered to Richmond, arrived on the ibattlefield of Seven Pines just after the battle had been fought. Here it remained for several weeks, chiefly on picket duty, with an occasional skirmish with the enemy, and lost several of its men. While here a new brigade was formed, composed of the First and Third North Carolina, the Fourth and Forty-fourth Geor- gia, and Brigadier-General R. S. Ripley was assigned to its command, Major-General D. H. Hill being in command of the division. SEVEN days' battles. On the 26th of June, after a circuitous and fatiguing night march, the regiment arrived in the vicinity of Mechanicsville. Here a detail of one company from each regiment was made, and Major DeRosset, of the Third, was placed in command. The object of this select battalion was to clear the way and examine the bridge across the Chickahominy. (A mine was thought to have been placed under it by the enemy). In order to under- ' stand their duties more fully, the officers were sent to the top of a hill near by, from which could be seen the route intended, etc. On this hill, and in range of the enemy's guns, a group of dis- tinguished Confederates were assembled, composed of President Davis, Mr. Randolph (Secretary of War), Generals Lee, Long- street and D. H. Hill, waiting to hear General Jackson's guns on the north side of Mechanicsville before ordering an advance. General Jackson being delayed. General Lee ordered an ad- vance of this portion of the line after hearing the guns of Gen- First Regiment. 139 eral A. P. Hill at Meadow Bridge. After the battalion alluded to had examined and crossed the bridge, and cleared the field of skirmishers, Ripley's Brigade, having been selected as the assault- ing column, was ordered across the bridge and to form line of battle. It advanced to the attack in front of the splendid artil- lery of the enemy strongly posted across the pond at Elyson's Mills. The slaughter was terrific, yet the regiment pressed forward in the face of this murderous fire for more than half a mile, advancing steadily to what seemed inevitable destruction, till it reached the pond, when it was ordered by the right flank and took shelter in a skirt of woods below. In this assault Col- onel M. S. Stokes was mortally wounded, Lieutenant-Colonel McDowell badly wounded and Major Skinner killed. Captains James A. Wright, of Company E; R. W. Rives, of Com- pany H; four Lieutenants, and more than half of the men of the regiment were killed and wounded. On the 27th, the enemy having retreated, this regiment, with the army, pursued him in the direction of Cold Harbor by way of Bethsaida Church. There being now no field officers and but few company officers in the regiment. Major W. R. Cox, of the Second Norih Caro- lina Regiment, was ordered to fake command in this battle. In the charge that followed through the dense ,undergrowth this regiment became separated from its brigade, and acted as a support to Garland's Brigade. It lost several men, killed and wounded. The following day was spent in burying our own and the Federal dead. The next day the Chickahominy was crossed at Grape Vine Bridge and the march continued in the direction of White Oak Swamp via Savage's Station. Here, after a sharp skirmish, the enemy was repulsed. From this point the regiment marched in the direction of Malvern Hill by way of Quaker road, and turn- ing to the right after passing the church, was soon under fire from the enemy's guns on Malvern Hill. The troops taking shelter under the crest of the hill, formed line of battle and were ordered by General Hill to assault the strong natural position of the enemy on the plateau. Arriving 140 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. at the crest and in full view at close range of the enemy's infan- try and artillery, this regiment, together with the third, went by the left flank, in perfect order, and took advantage of a cut in the road. At this place that gallant soldier, Colonel Gaston Meares, of the Third, was killed while bravely leading his regi- ment. General Charles Winder, of the Stonewall Brigade, then assumed command of this and the Third Regiment. Night came at last to end this bloody and disastrous struggle, the enemy retreating. The next day the dead of these two regi- ments (First and Third) were found nearer to those of the enemy than were those of any other troops on this part of the line, proving that they approached nearer the enemy's line of battle than any of the regiments that fought on this part of the field. The regiment suffered heavily iu this engagement. Among the killed was Captain John Benbury, of Company A, beloved and mourned by the entire regiment. At this battle Captain Brown, of Company B, was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, and Cap- tain J. S. Hines, of Company C, Major. The regiment remained for several days in this locality, Major-General D. H. Hill's Division, of which it was a part, having been left to watch McClellan's movements. While here, Lieutenant-Colonel Brown and Major Hines were detailed to go to Raleigh to pro- cure the regiment's quota of conscripts. They returned with about five hundred. These men proved to be excellent material for soldiers, brave and willing, as was fully proven on many a bloody field afterward. After being assigned to their proper companies and sufficiently drilled, the regiment, with the divis- ion, was moved by rail to Orange Court House. SOUTH mountain CAMPAIGN. About the 9th of August the regiment moved in the direction the army had taken, passing the battlefield of Cedar Mountain, and was in reserve at Second Manassas and antilly. After- wards it crossed the Potomac at Point of Rocks and camped near Frederick, Md., where it remained for several days, then crossed the South Mountain at Crampton's Gap and remained First Regiment. 141 at Boonesboro until the 14th, when it participated in the battle at the Gap, its position being on the right of the Braddock road. At one time during this battle six companies were hotly engaged, losing several men. SHARPSBURG CAMPAIGN. After dark the army withdrew and moved in the direction of Sharpsburg, where it arrived on the morning of the 15th, tak- ing position iu a cornfield on the ridge north of the town. Here we fared abundantly on green corn and pumpkins, till the firing of the enemy's artillery in the afternoon admonished us of more important matters. Oq the following day this regiment, with the brigade, while supporting a battery, was subjected to a heavy fire from the enemy's artillery across the Antietam. At daylight on the 17th the firing began at close range. The troops were soon moved by the left flank, at double-quick, and occupied a posi- tion at a burning farm building. After a hard battle of an hour, General Ripley having been wounded in the neck, the ad- vance to the front and left was ordered by Colonel Doles, of the Fourth Georgia, now in command. The troops obeyed with alacrity, manifesting more than their usual determination and efficiiency, crossed a formidable fence and moved through a skirt of woods in which General Mansfield, commanding a corps of the enemy, was killed. After an irresistible effort on our part, the Federals were driven from, and we gained possession of, the celebrated cornfield. There being now a lull in the firing, three distinct lines of the enemy could be plainly seen approaching. As they advanced they were reviewed by a Federal officer, with hat in hand, riding rapidly in front of each line. We were near enough to hear the angry and determined cheers of his men. On, on, this vast army approached our thin ranks. Word was passed: "Fix bayonets, boys!" We nerved ourselves for the attack, which was murderous beyond description, con- tinuing for more than an hour and a half. Ripley's Brigade, after bearing the brunt of the battle, was ordered to retreat, the 142 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. enemy not pursuing. The manner of this. retreat was slow and in order and under General Hill's personal supervision. Observ- ing an abandoned caisson, he, Hill, ordered the soldiers to remove it from the field, remarking: "We will not leave the enemy so much as a wheel." The retreat was continued to the Dunkard Church on the Hagerstown road, where, after being supplied with animunition, our lines were reformed, the enemy making no further demonstrations on that day. The following day the troops rested on the field, in plain view of the enemy's lines, and during the night crossed the swollen Potomac. The loss of the regiment in this battle was more than fifty per .cent, of the number engaged, including some of its best officers and men, among the number Captain Bouchelle, of Com- pany B. After resting for several weeks in the lower valley, the army moved by way of New Market Gap, passing Orange Court House in the direction of Fredericksburg. While in bivouac for the night near Gordonsville, General Hill issued an order requiring company commanders to see that the bare- foot men made moccasins for themselves of the hides 'just taken from the beeves. The next morning on the march General Hill observed one of the soldiers, private Vanhorne, of Company H, without shoes or moccasins, and immediately arrested. Captain Miller of that company for disobedience of orders. Captain Mil- ler demanded and obtained an investigation, which showed that he had until a late hour, and after marching twenty-one miles, as- sisted his men in carrying out the General's order; that at mid- night private Parker, of Company B, arrived in camp bare- foot, cold and hungry, and was naturally attracted to the butch- er's-pen where, learning of the recent order of Hill, he went to work at once to shoe himself. As he wore number twelve shoes, it took so large a portion of the material that there was none left for private Yanhorne. Upon this statement of facts Captain Miller was released. Be it stated, however, to the credit of both Parker and Vanhorne, that their shoeless feet had marked the bloody dust on many a hard fought field. The regiment and brigade continued its march to Port Royal on the Rappahannock, where it remained for several days. First Regiment. 143 first battle of fredericksburg. 'On the morning of the 12th of December the troops moved back in the direction of Fredericksburg, marching the greater part of the night and reaching Hamilton's Crossing on the morning of the 13th. In this battle this regiment was in the sec- ond line until the evening of the first day, when it took posi- tion in the first line. The enemy being driven back, the Con- federates lay on the field, anticipating another furious battle, and " bitterly thought of the morrow." Before dawn the line was advanced to the railroad, within three hundred yards of the enemy, but no blood was shed this day, and but one shot was fired. This was from a small cannon of the enemy, aimed at a Georgia Lieutenant in the act of robbing a dead Federal in front of picket-lines. He soon beat a hasty retreat, amidst the cheers and jeers of both armies. The enemy sent a flag of truce on the 14th, asking permission of General Jackson to remove their dead and wounded, who were lying in heaps on that por- tion of the railroad occupied by this regiment. The permission was promptly granted by the General. The troops were em- ployed during the dark and rainy night following in tearing up the railroad — an extremely difficult task — as orders were giv^n to accomplish this work in silence, as well as in the dark, " without lights and without noise." The enemy retreated, and thus ended the first battle of Fredericksburg. After this the regiment built and occupied winter quarters on the Rappahannock, near Skinker's Neck. There the winter of 1862-'63 was spent on picket duty along the river. While sta- tioned at this point the regiment, which had been in Major- General D. H. Hill's Division, was now changed to Jackson's old division, commanded by Major-General Trimble, and our gallant Georgia comrades, the Fourth and Forty-fourth Regi- ments, were exchanged for the Tenth, Twenty-third and Thirty- seventh Virginia Regiments. These regiments, with the First and Third North Carolina, formed a new brigade, and Brigadier- General R. E. Colston was assigned to command it. It will be seen from this statement that the First and Third North Caro- 144 . North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. lina Regiments had not been, up to this time, brigaded with other North Carolina troops, nor were they so brigaded during the war. Without the slightest reflection on our gallant friends and comrades in arms — the Georgians and Virginians — we do assert that it was both unfortunate and unjust that these regi- ments were not immediately associated with their own State troops, for these two being the only regiments from North Caro- lina in this, the Stonewall Division, trouble and discomforture were necessarily entailed by such an arrangement. Our mails were miscarried, we were often neglected, and sometimes forgot- ten, in the distribution of army stores, clothes, provisions, etc. The field of promotion was also narrowed, and our achievements on the field frequently shared by others. Governor Vance made repeated efforts to effect a more satisfactory arrangement, with- success. CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN. On the 29th of April this regiment left its camp at Skinker's Neck and marched to Hamilton's Crossing, thence in the direc- tion of Chancellorsville. On the 2d of May, Saturday morning, while waiting in the road on the east of Chancellorsville, the members of this regiment witnessed an interview between Gen- erals Lee and Jackson. These generals went apart from their staff ofiBcers and sat down upon the leaves. General Lee un- folding a map that he had taken from his pocket, and pointing out to General Jackson with a pencil on the map, who nodded assent. In a short while General Jackson arose and called Major Pendleton, his chief of staff, and through him ordered the troops to move by the left flank. Then commenced that grand strategic movement that has since been the wonder and admira- tion of the world. Rapidly marching around the enemy's lines to his right and rear, crossing the plank-road and arriving on the old turnpike about 4 p. m., two and a .half miles west of Chancellorsville, having marched in all more than fifteen miles in a few hours, and about five miles in a direct line from the starting point in the morning, Jackson's Corps had been de- tached from the main body of the army to make this attack. First Regiment. 145 On this march regimental commanders were ordered |o march in rear of their regiments with a guard of strong men with fixed bayonets, to prevent straggling. Immediately on arrival at the stone road the troops were formed in three lines of battle, Col- ston's Brigade being in the second line. The order to advance was obeyed with promptness. Rushing on towards the enemy's camp, the first scene that can be recalled was the abundant sup- ply of slaughtered beef and rations cooking. We captured piles of fat knapsacks and piles of fatter Dutch- men. Private Alexander Faw, of Company B, remarked that the thick woods through which we were passing was like a strainer, letting the lean and the lesser Dutchmen escape, while we secured the fat ones'. The Federal General Schimmelfennig's Brigade suffered heavily as prisoners. In the language of a North Caro- lina General, " Hungry men seized provisions as they passed the camp, and rushed forward eating, shouting and firing." The whole affair was a wild scene of triumph on our part. Thus continued the pursuit until night, when the enemy made a stand within a mile of the Chancellor house. Here great confusion ensued. The two front lines having become mingled, were halted and reformed. This regiment, being in better allignment than most of the others. General Jackson in person ordered it to advance as skirmishers in front of the line. Shortly after being thus deployed it was charged by a company of Federal cavalry, which proved to be a part of the Eighth Pennsylvania. The greater portion of them were unhorsed and captured. This was a critical period in the battle, and General Jackson seemed un- usually anxious. He gave instructions to the Colonel of this regiment to fire upon everything coming from the direction of the enemy. These instructions were turned over to Colonel Avery, of the Thirty-third, who relieved this regiment, and obedience to them resulted in that most distressing calamity, the wounding of Gen- eral Jackson by his own men. On being relieved, this regiment assembled on the road, rejoined its brigade, and protected itself as well as possible from the terrific cannonading of the enemy 10 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. that followed. On Sunday, the 3d instant, the regiment was formed on the right of the road, and, advancing, captured the first line of the enemy's works — a barricade of huge logs with abatis in front. The portion of these works that crossed a ravine and swamp, and which was favorable to the occupancy of the enemy, was assaulted three times by the Confederates before it was finally held. This regiment, with the major part of the brigade, participated in the last two of these charges. It was then that General J. E. B. Stuart, who was in command (Gen- erals Jackson and Hill having both been wounded on the even- ing before) ordered the whole line forward. The enemy's earth- works in front were carried by storm and many pieces of artil- lery which occupied them were captured. We were now in full view of the Chancellor house, and the captured guns were turned on the fleeing enemy. Soon the Chancellor house was in flames, and a glorious victory perched upon our banners. The Confederate line was again moved forward and executed a wheel to the left, bringing this regiment and brigade immedi- ately to the Chancellor house, hence this brigade, which had been commanded since early in the day by Lieutenant-Colonel Brown (Captain Latham being in command of the regiment, Colonel McDowell and Major Harrell having been wounded), was the first of the Confederate troops to reach the Chancellor house, Lieutenant-Colonel Brown being the fifth brigade com- mander that day, as per his report in " War Records." During one of these assaults alluded to above this brigade became de- tached from the division, and when it arrived at the Chancellor house was between two of Major-General Rodes' brigades. On the 6th the brigade marched to U. S. Ford on the Rappahannock. While here the enemy was permitted by General Lee to lay a pontoon-bridge and send over several hundred ambulances to the battlefield of Chancellorsville for his wounded. The officers of this regiment and brigade acted on the part of the Confed- erates to carry on these negotiations, and General Sharp, Deputy Provost Marshal of the Army of the Potomac, acted on the part of the enemy. A whole week was consumed in effecting this First Regiment. 147 object, after which the brigade was removed and operations resumed. The troops now returned to the viciuity of Freder- icksburg. Early in June, soon after the Chancellorsville battle, Major- General Edward Johnson was assigned to command the Stone- wall Division, and General George H. Stewart to command Cols- ton's Brigade. The division was now composed of Paxton's, or the First Brigade, known as the Stonewall Brigade, Jones', or the Second Brigade, and George H. Stewart's, the Third Brigade. WINCHESTER CAMPAIGN. From its bivouac near Fredericksburg the army now marched in the direction of Winchester, the Second Corps crossing the Blue Ridge at Chester Gap. Arriving at Winchester, it partici- pated in the battle of the 13th and 14th of June, which was very disastrous to the Federals und Milroy. After the battle on the evening of the 14th, Johnson's Division was ordered to inter- cept and capture the routed enemy, and for this purpose the di- vision marched all night, and by a circuitous route by way of Jordan's Springs, arrived at daybreak near Stephenson's Depot, on the Valley pike. During a sharp battle at this place, in which the regiment was sorely pressed. Lieutenant John A. Morgan, with a squad of men, saved the day by taking command of and operating a Confed- erate battery which this regiment was supporting, after nearly all the regular artillerymen had been killed or wounded. Several hundred of the enemy threw down their guns and surrendered. Portions of four regiments, with their colors, sur- rendered to this regiment. At this stage of the battle the regiment volunteered to reconnoiter the field to the Carter house, a mile distant, and succeeded in capturing two hundred horses. It was then that General Johnson ordered the regiment to mount these horses and pursue Milroy, who had escaped in the direction of Harper's Ferry. It failed in this object, how- ever, and, after a day's travel of many miles, returned to camp with no further victory to boast or booty to claim; but, 148 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. on the' contrary, entirely satisfied with its equestrian expedi- tion, and realizing that there could be better things in a soldier's experience than to "jiue the cavalry." In this last battle the regiment lost the gallant Captain Miller, of Company H, for- merly Adjutant of the regiment. On the 18th the regiment crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown and encamped near the Dunkard Church, on the battlefield of Sharpsburg. While here the Eev. George Patterson, the Chaplain of the Third North Carolina Regiment, having been solicited, read the burial service over the noble heroes of the First and Third Regiments who had fallen in this battle in 1862 and were buried near this church. This solemn and touching scene will ever be one among the memorable incidents in the annals of the war. GETTYSBtlRG CAMPAIGN. From this camp the regiment, with the brigade, marched via Hagerstown to Chambersburg, Greencastle and McConnellsburg to the vicinity of Carlisle and on to Gettysburg, having marched twenty-five miles the last day, but arrived too late to participate in the engagement of the first day. The position of the regiment the next day was about two miles east of the town, the regiment being the left of the brigade and extreme left of the army. The greater portion was deployed as sharp-shooters. In the charge that took place at 4 p. M. this regiment, after crossing Rock Creek, assembled on the right, and with the brigade as- saulted and captured the enemy's works at the southeast base of Gulp's Hill. Lieutenant Green Martin, of Company B, was the first to enter the works, where he received a mortal wound. At this juncture the officer in command of this regiment sent a mes- sage to Major-General Johnson to the effect that with re-inforce- ments he could cut the Baltimore pike. Smith's (Extra Billy) Virginia Brigade was sent, but arrived too late to accomplish the desired end. On the morning of the 3d the second line of the enemy's works, strongly posted on Gulp's Hill, was assaulted. The fighting here was desperate, the enemy using his artillery at close range and with great effect. The attack failed and we fell First Regiment. 149 back to the works that we had first captured and at night re- treated to the position occupied on the first day, west of the town, leaving most of our dead, thirty-eight in number, on the field. "Victory deserted the Southern arms on the gory field of Gettys- burg. Though ten thousand of her heroic dead and wounded lay scattered from bloody Gulp's Hill to stony Round Top, yet the ghastly sacrifice did not attain the end for which it was made. Standing amidst the wreck and carnage of that fatal field, Lee realized for the first time the loss of his great captain, Jackson, upon whose banners victory ever perched. This was the last offensive movement that the Gonfederacy was able to sustain. Next day we turned our faces toward Virginia, and after several skirmishes and hard marches, arrived at Williams- port, Md., and forded the swollen Potomac on the 15th, the men having to put their cartridge-boxes on their bayonets to keep them above the water. After various marches via Front Royal and Page Valley, and with some skirmishing, we reached Orange Gourt House early in August, participated in the Bristow cam- paign in October, by having an occasional skirmish with the enemy. On the 27th of November this regiment was engaged in a short, sharp fight at Payne's Farm, where the commanding officer of the regiment, Lieutenant-Golonel Brown, was shot through the hand, when lock-jaw threatened, and the com- mand was turned over to Gaptain Latham. In this battle the enemy was driven from the field after a loss of several of the regiment's best men. At Mine Run the regiment was engaged in several skirmishes, but in no general battle. Thus ended the campaign of 1863, and the regiment built winter quarters near the Rapidan, and did picket duty along the river at Mitchell's Ford during the winter of 1863-64. Golonel McDowell having now resigned, Lieutenant-Golonel Brown was promoted to Golonel, Major Harrell to Lieutenant- Golonel and Gaptain Latham to Major. The regiment was now thoroughly reorganized and the vacancies filled with competent company officers, carefully selected, all of them an honor to their 150 North Carolina Troops, 18 61-65. State, as subsequent events bore ample testimony. The perfect discipline and efficiency attained by this regiment during this winter, and the high compliment afterwards paid it on the bat- tlefield of the Wilderness by Lieutenant-General Ewell and Major-General Johnson, were due in a great degree to tl^p efficient management and co-operation of Lieutenant-Colonel Harrell and Major Latham, not only on the field, but to their assistance in training and drilling the men in camp. Credit is also due to the faithful assistance of competent and willing company officers, several of whom, among them Captains Boone, Thompson, Day^ Johnson, Mizell and others, had been promoted from the ranks, and were veterans of many a bloody field in previous campaigns. E,ev. W. R. Gwaltney, Chaplain of the regiment, wrought a good work here also. A large chapel was constructed, in which regu- lar services were held for the soldiers. He also established a. school for them, which did much to improve their condition in every way. THE WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN. On the 4th of May camp was broken and the regiment, with the brigade and division, marched in the direction of Locust Grove and met the enemy on the evening of the 15th in the first day's battle of the Wilderness, where, after a hard fight, a por- tion of the regiment captured two pieces of artillery and more than one hundred prisoners in an opening on the old stone road. The regiment had witnessed and had taken part in the capture of many batteries, but the manner of this capture was both novel and thrilling. The Colonel of the One Hundred and Forty- sixth New York, Jenkins, whose regiment was opposite in the enemy's line, being killed, his command gave way and sought protection in a gully in rear of the battery. A portion of the First Regiment, Lieutenant O. R. Scott being one of the lead- ing spirits, suddenly emerged from a thicket of pines and at- tacked the battery on the flank. Here the fighting was desper- ate, clubbed-guns and bayonets being used. -"Twas claw for claw, and the devil for us all." Lieutenant Shelton, command- ing this battery (Battery D, New York Light Artillery), Cap- First Regiment. 151 taiu Wlnslow having been wounded, at last surrendered two guns, the other two escaping. This portion of our regiment, having crossed the road and obliqued too far to the right, was now in rear of the enemy's lines opposed by General Rodes on the right of the road. At length General Rodes succeeded in routing this portion of the enemy's line and a perfect stampede ensued. We could only avail ourselves of the above-named gully, from which we had just captured so many of the enemy, while this vast herd of fleeing Federals came rushing through and over us without firing a gun or speaking a word. While we were yet in this temporary concealment, Lieutenant-Colonel Lightfoot, of the Sixth Alabama, in pursuit of the routed foe, dashed up to this battery, mounted the guns and, with flag in hand, claimed the capture. We in turn rose up from this now famous gully and, to his astonishment and disappointment, proved to him that the prize and the honor were ours. The remaining portion of the regiment, with the brigade, arrived in time to assist in reclaiming the battery from Colonel Lightfoot and the Sixth Alabama. The ene'my being re-inforced, made another advance, and we were in turn driven back to our first position, leaving the guns between the lines. We, however, removed them from the field on the night of the 6th, after the firing had ceased. SPOTTSYLVANIA CAMPAIGN. On the night of the 7th the movement was commenced by the right flank and the march was continued throughout the next day, the 8th, through the dust, heat and smoke (the woods being on fire), the regiment arriving in the evening near Spottsylvania Court House. The enemy was marching on a road nearly parallel with ours, and where the roads came together, at sundown, a brisk engagement took place. While going into this action, on the right by file into line, color- bearer W. H. Lee was decapitated by a shell. Captain Thompson picked up the colors, and bore them until the regiment had finished the movement and taken- its place in 152 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. line. Just before advancing a volunteer was called for to bear the colors in the battle. A stripling, with gosling voice, tat- tered jacket, ragged trousers and powder-burnt face, in the im- mediate presence of the murderous legions of Hancock, and bear- ing the thenceforth honored name of Reams, stepped to the front and said : "I'll take the ilag, Colonel," and the flag, its folds still dripping with the warm blood of noble Willie Lee, was deliv- ered into his hands. Lieutenant-General Ewell, who had wit- nessed the tragic death of gallant Lee, inquired: "What youth is that who has left his father's fold and come here and assumed the duties of a veteran?" On being told that it was John Reams, of Company F, he said that he would gladly approve any recommendation that might be made for his promotion, but the 12th came before the promotion, and on that day the regi- ment was captured by the enemy. Color-bearer Reams, deter- mined not to surrender the flag, tore it from the staff and carried it in his bosom to a Northern prison. The night of the 8th and the day of the 9th were spent in building works. On the 10th, General Doles' works having been captured immediately on the left, this regiment and brigade were sent to his assistance. After a most sanguinary battle of two hours, in which we lost some of our bravest and best men. Lieutenant Larkin Curtis among the number, the works were recaptured and we returned to our position in line. The regi- ment rested on the 11th. On the morning of the 12tb, dark and rainy, a fitting prelude to a day that was dark in the fullest sense of the term, the enemy made a desperate assault on the salient angle occupied by Jones' Brigade, this regiment being immediately on the right of it. For a short time the fighting was desperate. The terrific onslaught of this vast multitude was irresistible, there being a rectangular mass of twenty thou- sand Federal troops, not in line of battle, but in column of regi- ments doubled on the centre, supported by a division on each flank, in all more than thirty thousand troops concentrated against this one point. The portion of the works assaulted by this for- midable colnijin was little more than four hundred yards wide. First Regimemt. 153 The Confederate troops occupying this angle were Jones' Brigade and the First Regiment, numbering about two thousand. The clash of arms and the murderous fire around this bloody angle are indescribable. Every one who was present will ever remember the wreck and the anguish of that dark and direful day. Let it also be remembered that this regiment did its whole duty here, as on all other occasions; that it did all that mortal man could do, and proved even in defeat true to its State and country. All but about thirty of the whole regiment were captured, the Col- onel wounded and captured and recaptured three times; the last time from the enemy's ambulance corps, who, in turn, were made prisoners, and bore him to the Confederate rear instead of the Yankee rear, as was their intention. A hickory tree, said to be sixteen inches in diameter, was cut down by min- nie balls alone and fell near our works. From this time until the close of the war the regiment was a mere company, but pre- served its organization, and was, with the Third, transferred to Cox's Brigade and participated in all the battles in which that brigade was engaged between Spottsylvania and Richmond. VALLEY CAMPAIGN OF 'l864. About this time General Early .was assigned to command the Second Corps, and was ordered to Lynchburg to meet Hunter's raid, at which point the corps arrived on the 18th, and after some skirmishing the enemy withdrew during the night and was driven from this portion of Virginia, leaving his artillery and a portion of his train. General Early then marched in the direction of Staunton, passing Lexington; the cemetery in which General Jackson had been buried lay on the right of the road which we traveled. "We passed into the cemetery with muffled drums, field officers dismounting, bands playing funeral dirges, banners drooped and arms reversed. A mound covered with beautiful June flowers, a flag-staff standing near, told the men who had followed him wherever he had led that beneath that unostentatious pile of valley soil lay the body of Stonewall Jackson. A hush as deep as midnight fell upon those men in 154 NoETH Carolina Troops, 1861-65. their ragged gray, and the eagle eyes of the veterans grew moist, as they thought of the glory they had won under the leadership of the most unique soldier of the age." From this point Jthe army marched in the direction of Washington City by way of the Valley and Monocacy Junction, near Frederick, where abat- tle took place, the enemy being greatly damaged. Next day, after a long march through the dust and heat, the regiment and the army reached Silver Spring, in view of the dome of the Capi- tol, where, after some further skirmishing. General Early find- ing himself confronted by an overwhelming force and his flank threatened, withdrew to the Valley by way of Leesburg and Snicker's Gap. General Early now organized a corps of sharp- shooters from the different regiments in the Second Corps, this regiment furnishing its quota, and its Colonel was appointed to command the corps of sharp-shooters thus formed. After this the sharp-shooters were engaged in almost daily skirmishes with the enemy, and took part in the battles of Win- chester, August 17th; Cliarlestown, August 21st; Smithfield, August 29th; Bunker's Hill, September 3d, and in the bloody and disastrous battle of Winchester, September 19 th, in which the veteran General Rodes, who had ever been equal to occasion, was killed, and also some of our bravest and best officers and men, the true and genial Captain Tom Boone, of Company F, being among the wounded in this unfortunate battle. In this engagement the Confederates, ten thousand in number, met thirty thousand of the enemy. General Early retreated and took posi- tion at Fisher's Hill, where he was again overpowered, and re- treated up the Valley to Waynesboro. The Confederates being re-inforced, returned down the Valley, and marched, on the night of the 18th of October, around the end of the Mansanutton mountain, crossed the Shenandoah at Bowman's Ford, and at- tacked the enemy at daylight in his rear, the sharp-shooters cap- turing twelve pieces of artillery before the main body arrived. This strategy on the part of General Early was pronounced by military critics to be equal, or even superior, to that of General Lee at Chancellorsville. Oa account of overwhelming odds, the First Regiment. 155 Confederates were prevented from following up their advantages, and our decided victory of the morning was turned into a signal defeat before the day was over. A portion of this regiment and the sharp-shooters were under the immediate command of Gen- eral Ramseur, who, collecting his veterans behind a stone fence, and fighting like a lion, in this his last battle, was mortally wounded. Although this regiment had never been in his com- mand it had, as if by accident, been thrown with him in many bloody battles, and his undaunted courage and heroic conduct inspired many a faltering spirit to revive and "rush on to victory or to death." A patriot, a hero, a martyr! "Out of its scabbard, never hand Waved sword from stain as free." The army again retreated up the Valley, and after the defeat of Sheridan's Cavalry at Rhode's Hill, near Mt. Jackson, the Val- ley campaign of 1864 ended. After this the Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia returned to Petersburg and took up winter quarters within a few miles of the city. About the middle of February, 1865, the First, with the other troops of the corps, moved south of Petersburg, to near Sutherland's Depot. Here the regiment remained until about the middle of March, when the troops were ordered into the trenches in front of Petersburg, and there it remained until the night of the 24th of March, when that portion of the regiment, with the sharp-shooters which had been engaged in the assault and capture of Fort Stedman before daylight, as a portion of the assaulting column, including its commander, Colonel Brown, was captured by the enemy, under the command of General McLaughlen, but was shortly afterwards recaptured, and in turn captured General McLaughlen and his com- mand. General McLaughlen asked permission to surrender his sword to General Gordon. Permission was granted, for the reason that it was not certain that he was a prisoner, or would be long, as captures and recaptures were so frequent. Upon his surrendering his sword to General Gordon, he was 156 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. moved back to the Confederate rear and was safe, a prisoner. After this the fort was stubbornly held by the Confederates against great odds for more than four hours, when, by a sudden rush on the part of the enemy on the right, the lines were closed and the greater part of the sharp-shooters, together with Colonel Brown, their commander, were cut off and forced to surrender. , APPOMATTOX. The march from Petersburg to Appomattox was but a series of engagements until the memorable day of the 9th of April. This brigade was now commanded by that veteran soldier. General W. R. Cox, who, as his men were retiring, ordered a halt, and the com- mand was given: " Right about, face! " It was promptly obeyed, and once more, and for the last time, these few ragged, foot-sore and half-starved North Carolinians stood in the strength of their invincible manhood, opposed to the men they had met and had driven back on many a bloody field. Once more the command rang out in the clear, firm voice of the intrepid Cox: "Ready, Aim, Fire!" And the last volley fired by the Army of Northern Virginia was by North Carolina troops, this regiment among the number. "Defeated, but not dishonored." And so should we, as true sons of Carolina, in the education of our children, teach them to ever refuse that savage lesson that " Might makes right." Teach them that "Right lives in a thousand things; Its cradle is its martyr's grave, Wherein it rests awhile until The life that heroisms gave Revives again at God's own will, And rights the wrong." Note.— This imperfect sketch of the First Regiment has been written from memory and such memoranda as could be collected. Much assist- ance has been rendered by Captain T. D. Boone, a member of the regi- ment. Also, acknowledgments for suggestions and favors are due Judge Walter Clark and Colonel T. S. Kenan. H. A. Brown. Columbia, Tenn., April 9, 1900. SECOND REGIMENT. 1. William E. Cox, Colonel. 5. D. W. Hurtt, Major. 2. Charles C. Tew, Colonel. 6. W. M. Norman, Captain, Co. A. 3. John P. Cobb, Colonel. 7. W. T. Faircloth, Captain and Assistant 4: George L. Kirby, Surgeon, Q. M. SECOND REGIMENT. By MATT. MANLY, Captain Company D. The Second Regiment was organized with the following offi- cers of the field and staff: Chaeles C. Tew, Colonel. William Pkeston Bynum, Lieutenant-Colonel. William R. Cox, Major. Nicholas Collin Hughes, Adjutant. William T. Fairgloth, Quartermaster. Louis Hilliaed, Commissary. W. H. CouETS, Surgeon. Geoege L. Kieby, Assistant Surgeon. ' Stewaet Devane, Assistant Surgeon. Rev. Dr. Alfred A. Watson, Chaplain. The commissions of the field officers of the Second Regiment were dated May 8, 1861, and those of the original company officers May 16, 1861. Dr. Courts was soon succeeded by Dr. James B. Hughes, and Dr. Devane by Dr. L. H. Stith. Dr. Hughes, after two years of arduous service in attending the men through the dreadful diseases of the camp, when fever and pneumonia swept away so many, and through the campaign of the first two years, was promoted to Surgeon of the brigade. The survivors of the Second have a most grateful feeling toward him and the highest respect for his skill and devotion. Dr. George L. Kirby succeeded Dr. Hughes, and remained with us until the regiment was greatly reduced in numbers, when he was given a more important post. He gave most faithful atten- tion to every duty, and whether under the fire of the enemy's guns, 158 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. ministering to the wounded, or soothing the last moments of the poor fellow dying with fever, he was the same loyal friend. N. Collin Hughes served as Adjutant until the death of Col- onel Tew, when he was promoted to the staff of General Petti- grew, and was killed at Gettysburg. He was a leader among the high-spirited gentlemen of the Second. His handsome presence and charming manners made him a delightful compan- ion, and his superb courage a noble comrade in arms. Dr. Stith made a most efficient Surgeon, notwithstanding that he had lost an arm. He now lives at Suffolk, and had two sons in the army in Cuba. Rev. Dr. Watson, our Chaplain, besides his attention to his clerical duties, gave valuable services as a scout. His informa- tion of the topography of the country was of great value to our commanding officer. He had the profound respect of every man. Company A — New Hanover Cown^y-r-Captain, Edward D. Hall. This company was transferred to the artillery, and did duty on the Cape Fear under Captain Calvin Barnes. Captain Hall became Colonel of the Forty-sixth North Carolina Troops. His place and designation was taken by a company of fine fellows from Surry — Captain, James B. Waugh; Lieutenants, W. .M. Norman, Benjamin F. Bray, W. O. T. Banner. Captain Waugh was mortally wounded at Chancellorsville, and died May 28, 1865. His company was one of the first in the charge, being well in front, and his red-lined cloak made him a conspicuous mark. Lieutenants Norman and Banner took their men so far to the front that Norman fell badly wounded and Banner into the hands of the enemy. Officers and men, 128. Company B — Wilson County — Captain, John Howard; Lieu- tenants, John C. Gorman, Calvin Barnes, Orrin Williams, William Howard, Robert E. Calder, Garry Fulghum, B. J. Barnes, L. B. Boyette, W. G. Ferrell. Captain Howard was mortally wounded at Sharpsburg, Sep- tember 17, and died October 4, 1862. Second Regiment. 159 Calvin Barnes was appointed to the command of Company A, and transferred with the company. John C. Gorman then became Captain, which rank he held to the end. He was wounded several times. His last wound was received near Petersburg, in April, 1865. Orrin Williams was promoted, and transferred. The company was greatly indebted to Lieutenant Robert E. Calder for its discipline and proficiency in drill. Lieutenant Calder was a cadet of the Hillsboro Military Academy. He was a very popular officer, and was painfully wounded at Malvern Hill, losing an eye. Lieutenants Bemzan Barnes and Ferrell were also wounded at Malvern Hill, while Garry Fulghum and L. B. Boyette were paroled at Appomattox. Company C — Carteret County — Captain S. D. Pool and his company were transferred to the artillery, and served on the coast. He became Colonel of the Tenth North Carolina Troops (First Artillery). Its place was supplied by a fine company from Wayne and Duplin counties — Captain, Gideon M. Roberts; Lieu- tenants, W. T. Faircloth, David Cogwell, W. W. Loftin, Nathan B. Whitfield, George W. Britt, Stephen Williams, Thomas W. Crow, Joel Jones, Thaddeus Jones. Captain Roberts resigned in 1862. Lieutenant W. T. Faircloth having been promoted to a cap- taincy, and made Quartermaster, N. B. Whitfield was given command of the company. He served until May 11, 1864, and was killed at Spottsylvania. Captain Faircloth (now Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) was a faithful officer in a most responsible position. W. W. Loftin died in 1864. Officers and men numbered 133. Company D — Wilson and Wayne Counties — Captain, Walter S. Stallings; Lieutenants, Isaac C. Applewhite, Matt. Manly, W. H. H. Cobb, J. C. Pierce, Wyatt E. Yelverton, W. H. Apple- white. I. C. Applewhite was wounded at Sharpsburg, and resigned. 160 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Matt. Manly was made Captain while in a prison hospital from wounds received at Chancellorsville. In a great number of battles this company was commanded by Lieutenant Yelverton, with W. H. Applewhite the only other officer. Both of these officers were desperately wounded on several occasions. Applewhite, although shot through the lungs at Chancellorsville, was again with his comrades before the next battle. Better soldiers never stood before the guns of an enemy; true exponents of the character of the men they led. Lieutenant W. H. H. Cobb was made Assistant Surgeon, in which position he rendered most admirable service. It was after' his baptism of fire on the bloody field of Cold Harbor that he was promoted to the medical staff. In the medical corps of the regiment must be mentioned Hos- pital Steward, Joseph M. Caho, after the war the venerable Sheriff of the new county of Pamlico. Many a man owed his life to his skillful treatment and cheerful attention. His memory is a sweet one to us all. Captain Stallings became Major at the death of Colonel Tew, and Lieutenant-Colonel upon the promotion of Colonel Cox, and was the ranking officer of the regiment when killed. He received the wound from which he died at Castleman's Ford, near Berry- ville, July 18, 1864. He was repeatedly warned that he was exposing himself needlessly, but he could not be restrained. A shell burst near him, severing an artery, from which he bled to death. If any one could be said to have fir,st place in the hearts of the men of the Second Regiment, it was Walter Stallings. His was a rare spirit, gifted with every grace, and sensitive to every pulse of nature; a scholar of delightful wit and charming vivacity, and a man of gentle manners and finest courage. Eager in a charge and striking hard and quickly in retreat, beloved wherever he was known, a noble and generous heart was stilled when his life's blood ebbed away. CoMPAN-^ E— 1^5 men from Guilford and Ifi from Samp- son County — Captain, J. M. Morehead; Lieutenants, Henr^ C. Second Regiment. 161 Gorrell, Joseph M. Morehead, James Turner Scales, James M. Hobson, J. E. Fraley, John M. Hobson. Captaio Morehead was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel of the Forty-fifth Regiment. Henry C. Gorrell was made Captain, and killed in Chicka- hominy Swamp, in one of the reconnaissances in force in Mc- Clellan's front in June, 1862. Lieutenant Scales commanded the company until he was pro- moted to Lieutenant-Colonel. He was wounded at Spott- sylvania, and again near Petersburg, and was the senior officer of the Second at Appomattox. James M, Hobson, J. T. Fraley and John M. Hobson were excellent soldiers. John Hobson received his bullet at Chancellors- ville with many another good man. James Hobson was captured at Spottsylvania after a race for a stand of colors. One of the color-bearers of the enemy, some- thing bolder than his comrades, planted his staff well in front and stood by it to meet our attack. Jim Hobson, with his eye on the Victoria Cross, or what was equivalent to it with us, "Well done, old fellow," from his companions, or hoping to get a men- tion in general orders, if the eye of the General should be happily on him, dashed forward to capture him. Hobson had no fire- arms, and could only secure the colors by outrunning the man. The race was a fast one — "nip and tuck" — with Hobson gaining, but the course was too short, and both disappeared in the line of the enemy. Hobson caught his man, but it was too late, and he kept on to Fort Delaware, where he saw enough of the Stars and Stripes. His son, Lieutenant Richmond P. Hobson, comes fairly by his gallant spirit. Company F — Graven County — Captain, Hugh L. Cole; Lieu- tenants, N. N. Chadwick, Roderick Wetherington, Henry J. B. Clark, Furnifold G. Heritage, W. C. Brewer, with Daniel Lane First Sergeant. Captain Cole took great interest in his company, and brought it up to a high state of efficiency by his attention to every exercise during the long months in camp of instruction. He was pre- 11 162 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. vented by ill health from leading his company in the hard march- ing of the campaigns, and was obliged to surrender his command. He was promoted to the rank of Major. Lieutenant Chadwick became Captain upon the promotion of Major Cole. Henry J. B. Clark was killed in a railway accident, a very young, but promising officer. Heritage and Brewer, both fine soldiers, were promoted from the ranks. Heritage was killed at Petersburg. Brewer bears the scars of many desperate wounds. He commanded the skir- mishers of Cox's Brigade in the Valley campaign. Corporal Silas Fulcher, of this company, was the third color- bearer shot May 12th. He lost a leg. Officers and men, 146. Company G — Jones County — Captain, Harvey A. Sawyer; Lieutenants, S. E. Koonce, W. J. Dickerson, Robert H. Jones, Hiram A. Sawyer. Captain Sawyer, a very popular and efficient officer, was wounded at Malvern Hill, and died July 15, 1862. Orrin Williams was promoted from Company B, and made Captain. He was succeeded by W. J. Dickerson. After the capture of Lieutenant Dickerson at Kelly's Ford the company was commanded by Robert H. Jones, whose never-failing punct- uality and courage in battle gained the admiration of all his comrades, as his unselfish disposition had made him beloved by them. Andrew Sawyer was killed at Fisher's Hill. Company H — Wayne County — Captain, James A. Washing- ton; Lieutenants, Donald D. Munroe, John P. Cobb, James W. Gulick, Bryan W. Cobb, N. B. Whitfield. Captain Washington was promoted to the command of the Fiftieth and John P. Cobb was made Captain. After the dis- abling of Lieutenant James W. Gulick by a severe wound in the knee at Malvern Hill, and the retirement of Lieutenant Monroe, Bryan W. Cobb was made Captain. He was from the Military Academy at Hillsboro. Second Eegiment. 163 Lieutenant Whitfield was killed. John P. Cobb, who commanded the company in many bat- tles, and was subsequently Colonel of the regiment, was wounded at Malvern Hill, Chancellorsville and Cold Harbor in 1864, and lost a leg while leading the regiment at Winchester. Alexander Murdock, of this company, was Ordnance Sergeant of the regiment, and Henry C. Prempert, Drum-major. Prem- pert directed the best drum corps in the division. The day of battle found him and his boys under the bursting shells in the rear of the line, too busy among the wounded to think of danger. Every officer in the regiment will remember the hospitable tent of Jim Washington and John Cobb, where th° '^°°* eating and drinking that Wayne county could furnish w srously offered to all who came, and the merriment was accompanied by the pleasant voice and exquisite violin of Sergeant Billie Bryan, of Company I. Bryan died in Richmond from wounds and the hardships of the campaign. Company I (Beauregard Rifles) — Graven and Pamlico Counties — Captain, D. W. Hurtt; Lieutenants, John P. Dilling- ham, Edward K. Bryan, Silvester Taylor, R. J. Gilbert, JST. C. Hughes, Israel B. Watson, John J. Hall. Captain D. W. Hurtt was most distinguished as commanding officer of the skirmishers of the brigade. He was wounded at Sharpsburg, and again, very severely, in the head at Gettysburg. John P. Dillingham was detailed as Quartermaster, and in 1862 was made Adjutant. He was a most popular and faithful officer. N. Collin Hughes was selected as Adjutant, and was a most valuable officer in the organization of the regiment. E. K. Bryan, after the Sharpsburg campaign, was made Ad- jutant of the Thirty-first Regiment. Lieutenant Watson was wounded and made a prisoner. John J. Hall was reported missing at Spottsylvania, and his fate still remains clouded with uncertainty. Sergeant Isaac Taylor Almore was killed in the great battle of May 12, 1864. 164 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Company K (Elm City Cadets) — Craven and Pamlico Counties — Captain, George C. Lewis; Lieutenants, Alexander Miller, Richard D. Hancock, Joseph F. Hellen, William Calder, W. J. Street. Captain Lewis was wounded near Richmond in 1862, and resigned. Alexander Miller was made Captain in 1862, which position he held until the close of the war, having been captured at Kel- ley's Ford. Richard D. Hancock was severely wounded at Chancellors- ville. He commanded the company at Spottsylvania and the regiment at Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, taking part in all the painful marches of the Valley campaign of IS ding a faithful service of four years April 9, 18,65. W. J. Street, at one time First Sergeant, was wounded at Chan- cellorsville, Sharpsburg and Spottsylvania. The command of his company fell upon him on many occasions. Lieutenant Hellen was promoted, and transferred to the de- fenses of the Cape Fear. William Calder, after serving with distinction with the corps of skirmishers of the brigade as originally formed, was promoted to the First Battalion. W. A. Johnson was killed at Malvern Hill, Benjamin Cook at Chancellorsville and James Hancock at Cold Harbor in 1864. This company and Company F each had thirteen men killed at Chancellorsville. The companies composing the regiment went into camp of in- struction at Garysburg, a little beyond Weldon, opposite the camp of the Fourth Regiment, with which for three years we were associated on nearly every battlefield. At the time of the battle of Manassas the Second Regiment, being ordered to Virginia, went to Richmond, thence northward near the Potomac, where for six months it was engaged in severe drilling and other camp exercises and in picket duty on the bleak south bank of the Potomac. Second Eegiment. 165 When Burnside took New Bern the Second from Virginia Tvent to Goldsboro, and from there, in the' spring of 1862, went to Camp Wyatt, near Fort Fisher, where during the day the men were drilled and threw up walls of sand and at night patrolled the beach and fought fleas. Such duty not being to their liking, the officers of the regiment asked to be sent to the front in Virginia. This was not a " home guard " regiment. It was "in for the war," and the reports of the bloody but glorious battles of Williamsburg, Seven Pines and others made it wish to share the honors with the other North Carolina regiments. In June the Second was sent to Virginia, and saw some ser- vice in the repeated feints made daily upon McClellan's front before the great campaign called the Seven Days' Battles. The conduct of the regiment in these battles was that when ordered forward it never halted until directed by the command- ing officer so to do. At Mechanicsville, June 26th, we were the first troops to cross the bridge (just repaired by the pioneers) leading up to the town. Mr. Jefferson Davis rode immediately in front. An officer advised that it would be safer for him to go by the ford, a sug- gestion that was courteously declined. His wish was to share every danger. Is it a wonder that we loved him? The march up the hill was made under a terrific shelling — the enemy had had our range, and the shells burst frequently among us. At Cold Harbor the regiment, after undergoing the difficult and trying ordeal of receiving several fatal volleys from our own troops, sprang to the charge, and slackened pace only when both flanks were uncovered and the enemy was flying. At Malvern Hill it received orders directly from General D. H. Hill, when the message came from General Jackson: "Press forward on the right, the enemy is retreating." Going out of the woods, wheeling to the left across the open field, thence through the pines and up into the deadly cornfield in the face of such volleys of grape and shrapnel as we had never met before, it fought until night came, and the firing dwindled from rapid volleying to infrequent single shots. The fight was over, the 166 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. wounded began crawling away to find friends and the litter- bearer came to give assistance. Preparation was soon made for the Maryland campaign, in which the desperate situation on South Mountain was changed to one of security by the determined courage of D. H. Hill's Division aud the great battle of Sharpsburg was to add renown to our arms throughout the world. The Second was hotly en- gaged on South Mountain and fought in so many directions that DO one knew which was front. General Hill informed some of the men who were getting excited, seeing the blue coats in the rear, that the front was where the enemy appeared, and the maskets would carry as well in one direction as another. Hill's presence was always sufficient to give full assurance that we were in the right place, and we had only to fight to win. There was never a better soldier, or a man better qualified to judge of the merits of one. The clash of battle was not a con- fusing din to him, but an exciting scene that awakened his spirit and his genius. The survivors of the Second lay upon his hon- ored grave a chaplet of immortelles in token of esteem and affection. The battle of Sharpsburg was fought September 17, 1862, on the hills in front of the town of that name, and so called. The generals of the United States forces called the battle Antietam, the name of a creek two miles away, where McClellan retired to claim a victory. The part the Second Regiment took in this battle is told best in few words on medallions of metal near the crest of the hill at the end of "Bloody Lane." On the anniversary of the battle,. September 17, 1897, when the magnificent monument was dedicated to the Philadelphia brigade, a party of veterans of the United States army were looking over the field, when one saidt "I was standing near this spot when Meagher's Brigade charged over that hill. There was never anything finer. The troops that could stand against that brigade were good ones. Let us go and see." They went over to the "Bloody Lane," and along it until they came to the inscription : " Here Meagher's New York Secoxd RegimeKt. 167 Brigade charged, and, afier a bloody and desperate encounter at thirty paces, were obliged to retire," etc. Within a few feet stood the opposing inscription: " Here Anderson's North Caro- lina "Brigade stood and checked the advance of the enemy, driv- ing him back with great slaughter." At thirty paces ! They were gallant gentlemen that could stand and fight in the open field at thirty paces, and hearts of oak that could drive back such a foe — "Anderson's Brigade of North Carolina" (the Second, the Fourth, the Fourteenth, the Thir- tieth). The survivors of the Second North Carolina Troops salute the' honorable commissioners who marked the field. The brigade of General Thomas Francis Meagher was the most distinguished organization in the Army of the Potomac. Its charge at Marye's Heights had never been surpassed for desperate courage. With all their splendid organization, equip- ment and 'prestige, "the faithful few," as General D. H. Hill addressed Anderson's Brigade, were able to meet fhem in the open field and force them to retire. During the battle in this bloody lane Colonel Charles Cour- tenay Tew was killed, his body falling into the hands of the enemy. Colonel Tew was not immediately with his regiment when he was shot, having been called to direct the movements of the brigade upon the wounding of General Anderson, and was on the left, not in view of his own men. He was shot through the head and placed in the sunken road near the gate- way of the lane that leads to the farm-house, with his back to the bank nearer the enemy. Here he was found, apparently un- conscious, the blood streaming from a wound in the head, with his sword held by both hands across his knees. A Federal sol- dier attempted to take the sword from him, but he drew it toward his body with the last of his remaining strength, and then his grasp relaxed and he fell forward, dead. This account of Colonel Tew was given the writer by a soldier of the Eighth Ohio upon the field of Sharpsburg in the summer of 1897. The sword was given by the soldier to the colonel of 168 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. his regiment, who unfortunately is no longer living, and the sword, having passed into other hands, cannot be recovered. Colonel Tew had a military school at Hillsboro when he offered his sword to the Governor of North Carolina. He had rnade a tour of Europe, partly on foot, and had visited many of the great army posts, studying military service and the art of war, and was pre-eminent in every accomplishment of a gentleman and a soldier. The nobility of his disposition and the purity of his life gained for him the truest respect of every man. When knighthood was in flower he might have worn the golden rose of virtue. No word unworthy a maiden knight of old was ever spoken by him in the hearing of his officers or men. His pres- ence was a sanctuary. He has followed those who, pure in heart, sought the Holy Grail, and who now reflect its ineffable light. After the battle of Sharpsburg, General Lee withdrew into Virginia, and the Second Regiment went into camp near Wiia- chester. Later, Hill's Division moved near Front Royal, on the Shenandoah;' where General Hill, much annoyed by the enemy being reported at every point of the compass, called for volun- teers for "extra and dangerous service," the object being to find the enemy. Many volunteered, among them Lieutenant Wilson T. Jenkins, of the Fourteenth. Those selected were, for the most part, from the Second. The regiment moved back into the Valley, but soon took up its long march to the south bank of the lower Rappahannock to meet Burnside, who expected to take the shortest road to Rich- mond by way of Fredericksburg. It was on this march, late one evening, that General Hill issued his memorable order that threw consternation among the company officers. It was to the effect that should any man be seen on the march next day without shoes the officer commanding the company should be "placed in arrest and recommended to be dropped." It was late at night before, we understood that the skins of the newly-killed beeves were to be made into moccasins. All night was consumed in the work, as there were nearly one hundred men of the regiment without shoes. Next day the SECOND REGIMENT. 1. W. H. H. Cobb, Assistant Surgeon. 2. Eichard D. Hancock, Ist Lieut., Co. K. 3. W. J. Street, 8ii Lieut., Co. K. 4. E. K. Bryan, ad Lieut., Co. I. 6. E. J. Brooks, Ordnance Sergeant, Co. L 6. A. J. Casey, Private, Co. H. 7. N. Colin Hughes, 1st Lieut, and Adjt. 8. S. R. Street, Corporal, Co. K. Second Regiment. 169 regiment appeared like a lot of cripples, the raw hide having curled and shrunk in the most uncomfortable way. At the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, the Second Regiment was on the right, and not engaged, except in receiving the enemy's fire of shell. The casualties in the regiment were regarded as few, but were more than the losses of any regiment in the great battles of the present decade. Burnside, not liking the greeting he received on the south side of the river, re-crossed, and allowed us to prepare our winter quarters in security. The spring of 1863 found the regiment hard at work getting into shape again. All the duties of camp were thoroughly ob- served. The men of the Second were distinguished for their bearing, and when detailed for any detached service their famil- iarity with every duty was noticeable. A most valuable corps of sharp-shooters was created for the brigade by taking forty men from each regiment. This corps, under Major D. W. Hurtt, Friday before the battle of Chan- cellorsville, received the compliments of General (Stonewall) Jackson, who was looking on when it drove the enemy's line across a field and captured some prisoners. Ramseur mentions Major Hurtt and his skirmishers in his official report. The Second was doing picket duty on the Rappahannock when the enemy, under Hooker, began his movement by the right flank. Friday morning the regiment, under Colonel W. R. Cox, was moved up towards Chancellorsville, driving in the enemy's out- posts. That night it lay so near the opposing line all orders s^ere given in the lowest tones. The parole or sign and countersign were employed — the first time in our experience. " Liberty" was the parole "And Independence" the countersign. Its use was dangerous, except among the most intelligent and .steady men. To have lefii out the "and" that night would have cost a man his life. Saturday the memorable march of Jackson's Corps was made, encircling the enemy's right flank and bringing us upon the backs of Siegel's men about sunset. In the early morning the 170 North Cakolina Tkoops, 1861-'65. Second halted in the road immediately opposite, where a few feet from us sat General Lee and General Jackson, and we wit- nessed the ceremonious salutations among officers of high rank in the field. What became of Siegel's Corps is a matter of his- tory. The honors were with our generals that day. The next day the men with the guns were entitled to the glory. General Grimes, then commanding the Fourth Eegiment, has given an account of why we charged, and who should have charged, mentioning that "three companies of the Second Regi- ment charged" at the same time and with his regiment. Seven companies of the Second charged, but they went in echelon, the left leading and going far beyond the enemy's breastworks, while the right did not reach it. Our going forward in this order was by General Ramseur's command. Ramseur had just parted from Grimes, and given orders to go forward. As he approached our left he said: "Forward, Second!" The three captains stood half-faced to the right, with eyes upon Colonel Cox, who was plainly in view, waiting for his command, as in duty bound. The men in the line were stooping like athletes when General Ramseur said: "Forward at once!" The three companies got the word first and dashed forward at top speed, encouraged to believe that the fastest charge is the safest. Colonel Cox, as soon as he understood the movement, led all forward except three companies on the right, which were neces- sary to protect our flank. We drove the enemy from his works and down a hill, uncovering his batteries, which then had full play on us at two hundred yards. We silenced the guns immediately in front, but the enfilading fire was most disastrous. The regiment, although successful in driving the enemy, lost three-fourths of those present within about fifteen minutes — three hundred out of four hundred. A short time before the battle of Chancellorsville the color- guard of the regiment was reformed, consisting of a sergeant and a corporal from each company. Kindred Lewis was the ser- geant selected. Every member of the regiment looked with pride upon this splendid young soldier and his companions who Second Regiment. 171 stood beside him. Tall, erect, in action like the herald Mer- cury, he bore high the blue saltier on its field of crimson. When the command "Charge!" was given, he rushed forward to mount the wall of the enemy's defense. In that moment every member of the color-guard was shot, and Lewis, who had leaped upon the wall, fell forward on the outer side, killed instantly. The regiment returned sadly to camp. The next campaign was into the enemy's country. At Gettys- burg, on the first day of the battle (July 1, 1 863), the Second Regi- ment moved into the town, and was in Rodes' Division when he occupied Oak Hill, breaking the enemy's line and throwing him into confusion. The skirmishers of the brigade engaged a Penn- sylvania regiment on the streets of the town and took its flag from the color-bearer. Major Hurtt was severely wounded and Ed. McLacklan killed. The second day the brigade was in advance to the stonewall on Cemetery Hill. Ramseur asked to be allowed to push forward and secure the position, but there were reasons why it could not be done. On the retreat the corps halted at Hagerstown, where General Cullen A. Battle, of Alabama, who had just won the wreath of a general officer by the very highest service in the field, was requested to announce to the troops that Pembertou had sur- rendered Vicksburg to Grant. The effect of the news of the disaster was to make the troops wish to renew the battle at once. Upon the return to Virginia the Second was engaged at Mine Run and at Kelly's Ford, where we were unfortunate enough to lose many of our best men by wounds and by capture. Com- panies B, F and K were on picket duty, and not receiving timely support, were the heaviest losers. Winter quarters were chosen at Orange Court House. Early in the spring of 1864 Grant began his "On to Richmond" campaign by way of Spottsylvania, and met with such resistance as the world never saw in the open field. The weakening of a part of the line under General Edward Johnson being known, Han- cock seized the opportunity and, under cover of a fog, at dawn drove Johnson back, capturing most of his command. Then 172 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. came the crowaing glory of the career of Ramseur's Brigade — the same faithful few — the Second, the Fourth, the Fourteenth and the Thirtieth. Ordered into the breach, they drove the enemy out of the angle just taken and back through every line to his formidable breastworks, reclaiming all our lost ground. At Chancellorsville the brigade received through General Lee a message of praise from the dying lips of General Jackson. On the field at Spottsylvania, General Lee directed Ramseur to thank his men, and to say that they had saved that part of his line. Ramseur was made Major-General, and Cox, under whose command we had fought since South Mountain, was given a brigade. Happily for us, it was the old brigade, and we were destined always to fight under his direction. On May 22d we had a sharp fight at Hanover Junction, and at Cold Harbor, June 2d, we were hotly engaged and lost severely. Soon after our struggle with Grant we were ordered to Lynch- burg to meet Hunter, who had come up the Valley of Virginia. Other troops had preceded us, but we followed down the Valley and sent our skirmishers into Harper's Ferry on the 4th of July to feast on the dinner prepared by the United States officers for " the day we celebrate." General Early, in whose corps we then were, turned to the eastward, toward Washington. At the Monocacy River our march was impeded for a short time by General Lew Wallace, of "Ben Hur" fame. He gave us several hundred prisoners before flying behind the defenses of the city. Our regiment came in view of Washington, but it was not to be supposed we could take a city of such size and so defended. After our return to Virginia we had a sharp and bloody engagement at Castleman's Ford on the Shenandoah, near Perryville, under General Cox. Here the noble-hearted Stallings fell. The enemy had the ad- vantage of position after we had driven him back, and he could not be dislodged. Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek — these were bloody battles, and never did the steadfast courage of our men show Second Eegiment. 173 more conspicuously than on these fields. Moving about under the dreadful hail of shell and shot, charged by the thundering cavalry of Sheridan, their lines overlapped, no reserves to fall back upon, their beloved leaders, Rodes, E,araseur, Stallings, dead, and Cobb perhaps fatally wounded, they never lost their grim determination, but fought in every direction, and kept to- gether, whether driving the enemy or retreating before over- whelming numbers. At Winchester, under Rodes, we went to the support of Ramseur, and drove the enemy across the hills until so far ad- vanced we were recalled. In the retreat from Winchester the brigade, under Cox, held the enemy in check and saved the artillery corps. At Fisher's Hill the division was commanded by General C. A. Battle. The men of the Second remember him and his mag- nificent brigade with kindest feeling and admiration, whether fighting one another with snow balls or by their sides fighting the enemy of our country. Lieutenant Richard D. Hancock commanded the regiment. The brigade, under Cox (it was known as Cox's Brigade from the battle of Spottsylvania, 12th May, 1864), after fighting all day against fearful odds, withdrew intact at the close of the day. The Second Regiment suffered severely in this fight. Ramseur took command of the division after Fisher's Hill. No general officer was ever nearer to the hearts of his men than Ramseur. He came to the brigade with his arm hanging use- less at his side from a wound received in 1862, and soon won the aff^ectionate regard of every man in his command. "He was as full of valor as of kindness; "Princely in both." Within one month of the battle of Winchester, after an all- night march, we came, at dawn, upon Crook's Corps. With a few regiments fresh enough to meet with the cavalry and present an unbroken front to the enemy, we could have swept the Valley. Cox's Brigade captured more prisoners than his brigade num- 174 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. bered, and sent thousands flying down the Yalley. But Rani- seur's Division could do no more. In the three battles within a month we were much reduced in numbers, and in such a charge as Cedar Creek, where the enemy was flying, and in the subsequent encounters of the day, when the field was lost, our men were much scattered. New Market was the place appointed for rendezvous, where all the living came together again. The division from this time was commanded by General Bryan Grimes, a worthy successor to such commanders as Hill, Rodes and Ramseur, our former division generals. It was under Grimes and Cox and James T. Scales that the regiment gave the final proof of their quality. The battle in the snow in the Valley, November 22d, was full of hardships. Pursuing cavalry on foot, with shoes that hardly held to their feet, was painful in the extreme. In December the Second Regiment came near Richmond and took part in the hard campaign before Petersburg. Toward the end of March the division made a briHiant charge, driving the enemy from his works and capturing twelve pieces of artillery and a number of prisoners. The troops of the division on the 1st of April were at their former trade, retaking the works from which others had been driven, and restoring the line, and on the 6th covering the retreat of the army and keeping the enemy in check by desperate fighting throughout the day. Grimes seemed to possess a charmed life, always to be seen in the most exposed positions. The bullets were apparently unable to reach him. Cox, equally reckless of personal danger, was not so fortunate. He received five wounds at Chancellorsville alone, be- sides many others at different tiaies. We always looked upon General Cox as of our regiment (we were never separated), and his history is the story of the Second Regiment. He appeared to the clear eyes and honest heart of Ramseur as "the manly and chivalrous Cox, of the Second North Carolina, the accom- plished gentleman, splendid soldier and warm friend, who, though wounded five times, remained with his regiment until Second Regiment. 175 exhausted." Such was his character in the eyes of the men of the Second. On April 7th a charge was ffiade for the relief of Mahone, who was hard pressed. The enemy was driven back and a number of prisoners captured. General Lee again expressed his appreciation of the conduct of the North Carolinians. The Gen- eral seemed to have the gift of prophecy^ and gave the North Carolinians on the field the meed of praise which was to be long withheld in the history of their country. The 8th was spent in marching towards Appomattox, which was passed during the night. Sunday, the 9tfa of April, found the regiment in front of the town, where it engaged the enemy, and were driving him when withdrawn and ordered to join the other divisions of Gordon's Corps. Then the last scene of the greatest drama of modern times — the surrender, the cry of mortification, the curse of defiance, the tears of sorrow for our friends slain in battle, and above all, the noble words of our great-hearted leader: "Human fortitude should be above human calamity!" The highest claim to distinction that any man in this country can make is that he enlisted for the defense of his State at the first call to arms, and fought with the armies in the field to the last day at Appomattox. All whose names are not inscribed on that last immortal roll are envious of the honor. The officers and soldiers' of the Second paroled at Appomattox were: Officers — William. R. Cox, James Turner Scales, Robert H. Jones, Richard D. Hancock, Garry Fulghum, Larry B. Boyette, William J. Street, William T. Faircloth, William B. Bell, Samuel P. Collier. Company A — John E. Banner, James G. Burt. Company B— Elliot Todd, W. C. Batts, Thomas Flowers, Hodge Bass, Raiford Fulghum, Charles Maddry, Irvin Boykin, Bunyon Stett, John C. Wells, Wiley Statt, John Renike,- Simeon Moore. 176 North Carolina Troops, 1861-66. Company C — Furney Herald. Company D — Benjamin A. Howard, J. T. Edmundson, John W. Fort, Franklin Webb, Harris Lamb, Leary B. Lamb, Wil- liam Mumford, James T. Mitchell, William J. L. Mears. Company E — L. R. Colley, L. W. Hackett, John Sills, John T. Warren. Company F— Daniel Lane, David Johnson, James Brinkley, Lewis C. Taylor, John A. Poteat, Erasmus F. Page, Robert J. Flake. Company G — John Saunders, H. H. Young, Stephen Alli- good. Company I — George W. Fulghum, John Austin, David Powers, A. C. Powell. Company H — Jacob Williams, Robert Williams, Warren Corbett, William B. Pike. Every man who came safely through to that day should be entitled to wear a badge indicating the distinction; then on every ninth of April "should their names, familiar in our mouths as household words, be freshly remembered." Matt. Manly. New Bern, N. C, April 9, 1900. THIED REGIMENT. 1. Gaston Meares, Colonel. 5. John F. S. VanBokkclen, Capt.,Co. D. 2. Wm. Lord BeRosset, Colonel. C. John Cowan, Captain, Co. D. 3. E. H. Cowan, Lieut.-Colonel. 7. James I. Metts, Captain, Co. G. 4. William M. Parsley, Lieut.-Colonel. 8. Rev. Geo. Patterson, D.D., Chaplain. 9. Thomas F. Wood, Assistant Snrgeon. THIRD REGIMENT. JOHN COWAN, Captain Company D. JAMES I. METTS, Captain Company G. The Third North Carolina Infantry, like all of the other regi- ments sent by North Carolina to the field in the late civil war, wrote for itself and the people from whom it came, upon the field, retrieving lost but perilous positions in battle, in the bivouac, upon the march, as well as in its number of slain and wounded, a history, which hitherto locked up in the memory of its members, remains as yet, a score and a half of years since the eventful Appomattox, to be recited. A proud boast it is of the sons of the " Old North State" that they are not trumpeters of their own achievements, whether in the forum, in legislative hall, or upon the field of battle; and who can gainsay, since the colonization of the area which is now bounded by the State lines of North Carolina, that they have stood the peers of any with whom they came in contact? So especially did the spirit of Christian charity, "in honor pre- ferring one another," inspire her soldiers from 1861 to 1865. Fired by an emulative zeal to attain unto the highest perfection of duty, they recognized the common cause of all Confederate soldiers. They were so imbued with that spirit of magnanimity, that rather than pluck one laurel from the crown which adorned the brow of their fellow-soldiers, they vied with each other in adding to that emblem of triumph. So, the history of one regiment of North Carolina Troops is the history of another, save in the details which mark their respective achievements in the different spheres in which fortune called them to move. If encomiums of commanders, congrat- 12 178 NoETH Caeolina Teoops, 1861-'65. ■ ulatory orders for duty under the most disheartening and adverse circumstances, and the indisputable facts of deeds accomplished count for naught, then only are the North Carolina soldiers without a record. Histories may have been published, false in conception and untrue in statement, "the conceits of a warmed or overweening brain," but the steadfast faith, the admiring gaze has been riveted upon the soldiery of North Carolina from Maryland to Texas. Yea, more; some who have written from another than our stand-point, who saw the conflict, its course and operations through different lenses than those of the Southern side have, in their impartial judgment, accorded the highest word of praise to North Carolina Troops. The hillocks of Virginia, the swamps of Georgia, the sands of the beach are mute cenotaphs of her dead. Unparalleled in their devotion to the Union, they were devout; loyal to the cause of the Confederacy, they were sincere. Figures are the most potent arguments in establishing the truth or falsity of any proposition or cause. This regiment, one of ten authorized by the Constitutional Convention, enlisted for the war, and was composed of field offi- cers, Gaston Meares, Colonel; Robert H. Cowan, Lieutenant- Colonel; William L. DeRosset, Major, all of Wilmington, N. C, and comprised the following companies : Company A was raised in Greene county, and commanded by Captain Robert H., Drysdale. Company B was raised in Duplin, and commanded by Cap- tain Stephen D. Thruston, M. D. Company C was raised in Cumberland, and commanded by Captain Peter Mallett. , Company D was raised in Wilmington, and commanded by Captain Edward Savage. Company E was raised in Onslow, and commanded by Cap- tain M. L. F. Redd. Company F was raised in Wilmington, and commanded by Captain William M. Parsley. Third Regiment, 179. Company G was raised in Onslow, and commanded by Cap- tain E. H. Rhodes. Company H was raised in Bladen, and commanded by Captain Theo. M. Sikes. Company I was raised in Beaufort, and commanded by Captain John R. Carmer. Company K was raised in New Hanover (now Pender), and commanded by Captain David Williams. The several companies were ordered to assemble at Garys- burg; and in the latter part of May they began to report to the officer in charge of the camp. A portion of the Third was or- dered to Richmond early in July, where it was joined some weeks later by the remaining companies. A few days after the first battle of Manassas the regiment was ordered to report to Major-General T. H. Holmes at Acquia Creek, and went into camp near Brooks' Station, on the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad, later moving camp to a point near the Potomac River. As winter approached, having meantime built substantial quarters, they took up their abode therein immedi- ately in rear of the lower battery of those constructed for the de- fense of Acquia Creek. Upon the evacuation of the line of the Potomac, the Third North Carolina, with the First, was ordered to Goldsboro to meet an expected advance of Burnside from New Bern, remaining thereabouts until early in June, 1862. In May, Lieutenant-Colonel Cowan having been promoted to the colon- elcy of the Eighteenth North Carolina Infantry, Major DeRos- set was made Lieutenant-Colonel and Captain Savage, Major. It was with sincere regret that the regiment parted with Col- onel Cowan; the officers and men of the command loved him, and he Was recognized as the one as much as any other by whom the regiment had been brought to its efficiency in discipline and especially in drill. The esteem in which he was held was mani- fested by the regiment by the presentation upon his departure ot a magnificent horse. The First and Third North Carolina Troops were under the 180 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. same brigade commanders from first to last; but, unfortunately, were brigaded with troops from other States until the capture at Spottsylvania Court House, 1864, of so many of the regi- ment, and never received proper meed for their achievements. First, Colonel John G. Walker was assigned to command the brigade, then consisting of the First and Third North Carolina and the Thirtieth Virginia and First Arkansas. The regi- ment having been ordered to Richmond, arrived on the battle- field of Seven Pines just after the battle had been fought. Here it remained for several weeks, chiefly on picket duty, with an occasional skirmish with the enemy, losing several of its men. While here a new brigade was formed, composed of the First and Third North Carolina, the Fourth and Forty-fourth Geor- gia, and Brigadier-General R. S. Ripley was assigned to its command, Major-General D. H. Hill being in command of the division. The march from Richmond was most trying to the raw troops of the brigade, who had not then received their baptism of fire. Passing thousands of dead and wounded from the time they left the cars until they arrived on the battlefield, the groans and cries of the wounded were not calculated to inspire the boys with a martial spirit. During the period from that date to the opening of the battles around Richmond the command was in camp about six miles from Richmond, drilling and preparing for the summer cam- paign. Late in the evening of June 25, 1862, Colonel Meares re- ceived orders to march, and proceeding early next morning in a northerly direction, we halted on the high hills on the south of the Chickahominy where it is crossed by the Mechanicsville pike. On the 26th of June, after a circuitous and fatiguing night march, the regiment arrived in the vicinity of Mechanicsville. Here a detail of one company from each regiment was made, and Lieutenant-Colonel DeRosset, of the Third, was placed in com- mand. The object of this select battalion was to clear the way and examine the bridge across the Chickahominy. (A mine was Thibd . Regiment. 181 thought to have been placed under it by the enemy). In order to understand its duties more fully, its officers were sent to the top of the hill near by, from which could be seen the route in-^ tended, etc. On this hill, and in range of the enemy's guns, a group of distinguished Confederates were, assembled, composed of President Davis, Mr. Randolph (Secretary of War), Generals Lee, Longstreet and D. H. Hill, waiting to hear General Jack- son's guns on the north side of Mechanics ville before ordering an advance. General Jackson being delayed, General Lee ordered an ad- vance of this portion of the line after hearing the guns of Gen- eral'A. P. Hill at Meadow Bridge. After the battalion alluded to had examined and crossed the bridge, and cleared the field of skirmishers, Ripley's Brigade having been selected as the as- saulting column, was ordered across the bridge and to form a line of battle. It advanced to the attack in front of the splen- did artillery of the enemy strongly posted across the pond at Ellyson's Mills. The regiment pressed forward in the face of this heavy fire in open field for more than a mile, advancing steadily to what seemed inevitable destruction, until it reached the top of the hill, when a halt was ordered, bayonets fixed, and a charge, led by Colonel Meares, was made down the hill, which was checked by the canal; and after lying down a short while, the regiment was ordered to the right and rear, and up the hill, taking shelter in a skirt of woods, where we remained until just before daybreak. We were so near the enemy that the least noise, even the snapping of a twig, provoked their fire. From thence, before day, we marched to Mechanicsville and were placed in line of battle under a heavy artillery fire in the rear of the Eighteenth North Carolina Infantry, until the enemy were driven from their works on the opposite side of the creek. The Third North Carolina lost perhaps less than either of the other regiments. Major Savage being the only one of the field ofiScers wounded. Joining, after the battle, the forces of General Jackson, the command was marched by a circuitous route to Cold Harbor, or 182 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Gaines' Mill, where the battle took place on the afternoon of June 27th. Here the regiment, under the command of Colonel Meares, with the exception of a small portion which had some- how become detached, was exposed to a musketry and a very severe artillery fire, and endured the ordeal known among all soldiers to be the most trying to which they are subjected, that of being under fire without being engaged in the fight. March- ing thence, after two or three days' delay, the brigade found itself in front of one of the bridges over the Chickahominy, which had been destroyed by the enemy on the south side, who had crossed the day before on the famous " grape-vine " bridge, some distance above. Here, being exposed to the enemy's fire of artillery without the means of replying, Ripley was withdrawn into a heavy woods on the northwest side of the road, lying there all day under the artillery fire, at times very annoying, but with little loss. This was the day of the battle of Frazer's Farm, a few miles lower down the stream. Next day, the enemy having withdrawn and the bridge hav- ing been repaired, Ripley crossed and marched on Malvern Hill, arriving there at noon, and was posted immediately in the rear of what was known as the Parsonage, on the near side of the road leading by Malvern Hill, and on the left of the army. Be- ing ordered to advance, the whole line moved forward up the hill, across the parsonage yard, into the road beyond. Being under a most terrific fire of musketry and canister, and in close proximity to the enemy stationed in an open field in front, the left of the regiment penetrated the woods beyond, into the open field, where it engaged the enemy, making several charges upon him, led by Captain David Williams, of Company K, and causing the battery in front to move back. To Captain Williams and his men great praise should be accorded for their gallantry. The right of the regiment, then in the road, after firing several rounds, was ordered by Colonel Meares to lie down. At this point Captain Parsley, of Company F, was wounded iu the neck, fell, and Colonel Meares, being very near, went to him. The Third Regiment. 183 regiment was thrown into some confusion prior to reaching this position, owing to the fact that the Parsonage and yard referred to were an obstruction. About an hour before dusk word came from the left that Cap- tain Brown, commanding the First North Carolina, was hard pressed, and wanted assistance, when the gallant Colonel Meares gave the command to move by the left flank. He, being on foot in the road in front of the line, upon reaching a point near the left of the Third, stopped, and mounting the bank on the side of the road, was using his field-glass surveying the Federal lines, when he was instantly killed by a slug from a shrapnel fired from a battery directly in front, said to be the Third Rhode Island Battery, not over . seventy-five yards distant. Colonel Meares was a digflified and elegant gentleman and a true type of a soldier. Kind, humane, intrepid, he always commanded the admiration of his regiment, for in him they recognised a leader who would lead. Night came at last to end this bloody and disastrous struggle, though the firing was kept up until about 11 o'clock. Darkness revealed the explosive balls which the Yankees fired at us, as they struck the fences in front and rear and the undergrowth. The removal of the wounded back to Bethesda Church, our hospital, was pushed with vigor. So great was the loss of all commands in the field and road that one could walk hundreds of yards on the dead and wounded without touching the ground. The next day the dead of these two regiments, the First and Third, were found nearer to those of the enemy than were those of any other troops on this part of the line, proving that they approached nearer the enemy's line of battle than any of the regiments that fought on this part of the field. The regiment suffered heavily in this engagement. The Third held its posi- tion during the night and bivouacked near that point for several days, when the brigade was ordered back to the old camping- grounds nearer Richmond. Ripley lay in camp for several weeks, while details were made to work on the intrenchments in 184 North Caeolina Troops, 1861-'65. our front and for several miles down towards the Chickahominy, and other details gathered arms from several battlefields. In the latter part of July, Colonel DeRosset returned from Ealeigh, and brought with him four hundred conscripts, who were at once divided into squads, and, under command of non- commissioned officers, were drilled several hours daily. This not only helped to discipline the raw levies, but hardened them somewhat, thus enabling them the better to stand the strains in- cident to the march into Maryland, which soon followed. About the 9th of August the regiment moved in the direction the army had taken, passing the battlefield of Cedar Mountain, and was in reserve at second Manassas and Chantilly. After- wards it crossed the Potomac at Point of Rocks and camped near Frederick,'^Md., where it remained for several days, then crossed the South Mountain at Crampton's Gap and remained at Boons- boro until the 14th, when it participated in the battle of the gap, Ripley's Brigade marched by a road leading towards the Boonsboro and Sharpsburg pike. On reaching a point on the crest of the hill, just after crossing the Antietam on the stone bridge, the command was placed in line of battle under the hill, the right of the Third North Carolina, in the absence of the Fourth Georgia, on the right of the bridge, and resting on the Boonsboro pike. This was on the evening of the 15th, and the brigade remained in that position until the evening of the 16th, under a heavy artillery fire from the enemy's guns on the side of the creek, but without loss, being well protected by the crest of the hill under which they lay. We now give in full the graphic account of the battle of Sharpsburg, written by Colonel S. D. Thruston. COLONEL THRUSTON'S ACCOUNT. On the evening of the 16th September, 1862, being in line of battle in front of the town of Sharpsburg, a little be- fore sunset we were moved, left in front, from this position, along the Sharpsburg- Hagerstown pike, some distance to the left, until reaching the mouth of a lane (apparently a private Third Eegiment. 185 road leading to a farm) leading in a generally perpendicular direction from the pike to the Antietam; following this lane a short distance, we again filed to the left, across the field and halted under the brow of a hill, on which and in front was a white farm-house (Mumma's) about two hundred yards distant. A little to the right and rear of this honse was an apple orchard surrounded by a rail fence. In this position we slept, to be aroused at early dawn of the 17th by the guns of the enemy. Before advancing to the attack the house was set on fire by order of General Hill, three men from the Third North Carolina In- fantry— Lieutenant Jim Clark was one of the three, also Jim Knight — volunteering to perform the duty. The order to advance was then given, and we moved up the slope of the hill until reaching the fence around the orchard, where we halted to give time for the left centre of the brigade to pass the obstruction of the burning house. (It was at this fence Ripley was hit in the throat). The house being passed, the Third North Carolina Infantry mounted over the fence and through the orchard, when the order was- given to change direc- tion to the left, to meet the pressure upon General Jackson, near what is known as the Dunkard Church, on the Sharpsburg- Hagerstown pike. This change of front was admirable, though executed under a heavy fire of infantry and artillery. Owing to this change our line of battle was five hundred yards further to the left than that of the early morning, when first ordered to ad- vance, which brought us in close connection with the troops of the right, and in the deadly embrace of the enemy. I use the word embrace in its fullest meaning. Here Colonel DeRosset fell, severely wounded, and permanently disabled, Captain Thruston taking command at once. It was now about 7 : 30 A. m. Jackson's troops were in the woods around and west of the Dunkard Church and north of the Sharpsburg-Hagerstown pike. As we came up he advanced and drove the enemy back across a corn field and into a piece of woods east and north of the church; here the enemy, being re- inforced by Mansfield's Corps of three divisions, returned to the 186 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. assault, and the fight became desperate for an hour. The two weak divisions of Jackson aud one brigade of D. H. Hill fought and held in check the six divisions of Hooker and Mansfield. So tenaciously did these brave troops cling to the earth, that when re-inforced by Hood and two brigades of D. H. Hill, they were still north of the pike and contending for every inch of ground between it and the corn field in front. At the moment when their ammunition was absolutely exhausted, and all had been used from the boxes and pockets of their wounded and dead comrades, the re-inforcements of Hill and Hood, above referred to, came up and stayed the tide for a short time. Now Sumner, with his three divisions, put in an appearance, when our thin lines were slowly pressed back, by weight of numbers, into the woods and beyond the church to the edge of a field to the south, through which the? divisions of Walker and McLaws were hurrying to our assistance. When the Third North Carolina laid down on the edge of the field to allow their friends to pass over them to the front, there was not one single cartridge in the command, and every gun was empty. It was now about 10:30 o'clock A. M., so that the men of this gallant regiment had been fighting vast odds for three hours, never quitting the field until absolutely pushed off, and not then until every cartridge of the living and the dead had been exhausted. One curious incident of this morning's battle was when Mans- field's Corps came into action a Federal division marched up, and halting in column of battalions in the west woods, part of the time within one hundred yards of the right of the Third North Carolina, made no effort to advance, although for five hundred yards to our right there was nothing to prevent its doing so. Nor did this division make any show of resistance until attacked b^ Colquitt's and Garland's Brigades (the latter under Colonel D. K. MacRae), when we were re-inforced by General Hill. The only grounds upon which we can account for this are that this division was covering the movements of Richardson and French, who were preparing to assault our centre, now desperately weakened, at a point now known as the Thied Regiment. 187 "Bloody Lane." This conjecture is based on the fact that these two divisions did make an attaclc at that point a short time after Hill had sent his two brigades from that position to re-inforce the left, and just as Walker came to the relief of Hill. It is a fact, that for five hundred yards on our right, that is, from the right of the Third North Carolina to the left of Hill, there was a gap in our lines, directly in front of which, in the early part of the engagement, a Federal division halted and remained halted until it was filled by a part of Walker's Division. The gap existed, and the enemy was expected every minute to march through. In the June "Century" Longstreet (page 313) speaks of Col- onel Cooke's holding a fence without ammunition, while his staff (Longstreet's) fought two guns of the Washington Artillery. He does not say that while working the guns the Third North Carolina, having refilled its cartridge-boxes, and going to the front a second time, volunteered to relieve Colonel Cooke's Twenty-seventh North Carolina, and while doing so two more full batteries also came to his relief, from whose duels with the enemy the Third North Carolina suffered severely. He says nothing about my message to him by Lieutenant Craig, who rather exaggeratingly delivered it thus : " Captain sends his compliments, and requests re-inforcements, as he has only one man to every panel of fence, and the enemy is strong and very active in his front," and his reply : " Tell Captain Thruston he must hold his position if he has only one man to every sixteen panels of fence. I have no assistance to send him." Nor does he say how faithfully this order was obeyed, by which the regi- ment remained on that hill and under that fence, with the rails of which the enemy's artillery played battle-dore and shuttle- cock from midday of the 17th until 10 o'clock A. M. of the 18th, with not so much as one drop of water. Yet these are facts, and stand a monument to the soldierly endurance of the Third North Carolina on the memorable field of Sharpsburg. It was while riding with General D. H. Hill on the morn- ing of the 18th, to obtain a regiment to relieve the Third North 188 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Carolina from that position at the fence, that he said: "Your regiment fought nobly yesterday." The words are well remem- bered, as we all know that a compliment from General Hill was of the rarest sort. The tenacity with which the Third Regiment held its ground in front of the Dunkard Church, entirely unsupported on its right, and with a very thin line on its left, with three separate lines of the enemy pelting it mercilessly in front and a reserve column standing like a hound in the leash on its immediate right, wait- ing its chance to pounce upon it as soon as any wavering was seen; its steadiness when ammunition began to run short, and the cartridge-boxes and pockets of the wounded and dead were emptied to meet its necessities; the sullen backward step, as inch by inch it was pressed from its line, all pronounce it, with voices loud, a fearless, enduring, self-reliant body of as glorious men as were ever led to battle. Every man seemed to know and feel the responsibility of his position ; seemed to know that there was no help to send him, and that he must do or die until relief had time to reach him from the rear, or Lee's army was doomed. And how thoroughly was that duty performed. Twice, be- fore any relief or re-inforeements came, did the regiment, when reduced to a handful, but that handful dauntless, stand and receive the volleys of the Federals at twenty paces, and then, with a yell, dash and drive back the foe. As Colquitt's Brigade dashed in splendidly on our right, the joyful yell : " Come on, boys; we've no ammunition, but we will go with you!" was heard over the din of battle. But human endurance has a limit. At this moment the third re-inforcement, in the shape of Sum- ner's Corps, was marched to the Federal assistance, and our brave boys were forced stubbornly and sullenly from the field. Their duty was nobly done; their -sacrifice had enabled Walker and McLaws to come up, and the day was saved. Thus was fought, and successfully, the battle of thg Third North Carolina Infantry at Sharpsburg; and if it had been re- tired from service and had not fired another gun, the endurance fearlessness, tenacity and valor of that day would have been a Third Eegiment. 189 crown of glory suitable to adorn the brow of the bravest of the brave. In truth, this one North Carolina regiment was in the vortex of the fire, the pivot upon which success or annihilation turned, and thank God, it stood the test and saved the day. Of the twenty-seven officers who went into action on that memorable morning all save three were disabled and seven killed. Captain McNair, of Company H, was badly wounded in the leg early in the day, but refused to leave, although urged to do so by the Colonel, and soon after gave up his life-blood on his country's altar. The official report of the division commander gives the loss in the Third North Carolina, but it is less than was reported at the close of the day by Lieutenant J. S. F. Van Bokkelen, acting Adjutant, who stated that of the five hundred and twenty car- ried into action only one hundred and ninety could be accounted for. Ripley's Brigade, after bearing the brunt of the battle, was ordered to retreat, the enemy not pursuing. The manner of this retreat was slow and in order, and under General Hill's personal supervision. Observing an abandoned caisson, he (Hill) ordered the soldiers to remove it from the field, remarking : " We will not leave the enemy so much as a wheel." We continued the retreat to the Dunkard Church, on the Hagerstown road, where, after being supplied with ammunition, our lines were reformed, the enemy making no further demonstration on that day. The following day the troops rested on the field, in plain view of the enemy's lines, and during the night crossed the swollen Potomac at Shepherdstown, marched to Bunker Hill, where they biv- ouacked for several weeks, being employed in watching the enemy and tearing up the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at night, near Martinsburg, Charlestown and Harper's Ferry. After resting several weeks in the lower valley the army moved by way of New Market Gap, passing Orange Court House in the direction of Fredericksburg. While in bivouac for the night near Gordonsville, General Hill issued orders re- quiring company commanders to see that the bare-footed men 190 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. made moccasins for themselves of the hides just taken from the beeves, and the brigade continued its march to Port Royal, on the Rappahannock, whpre it remained for several days. On the morning of the 12th of December the troops moved back in the direction of Fredericksburg, marching the greater part of the night, and reached Hamilton's Crossing on the morning of the 13th. This regiment was in the second line until the evening of the first day, when it took position in the first line. The enemy being driven back, we lay on the field, anticipating an- other furious battle, and " bitterly thought of the morrow," but no blood was shed this day. The enemy sent a flag of truce on the 14th, asking permission of General Jackson to remove his dead and wounded. The enemy retreated, and thus ended the first battle of Fredericksburg. After this the regiment built and occupied winter quarters on the Rappahannock, near Skinker's Neck. Here we spent the winter of 1862-'63 on picket duty along the river. While sta- tioned at this point this regiment, which had been in Major- General D. H. Hill's Division, was now changed to Jackson's old division, commanded by Major-General Trimble, and our gal- lant Georgia comrades, the Fourth and Forty-fourth Regiments, were exchanged for the Tenth, Twenty-third and Thirty-seventh Virginia Regiments. These regiments, with the First and Third North Carolina, formed a new brigade, and Brigadier-General R. E. Colston was assigned to command it. Lest the continuity in the promotion of the field officers should not be apparent to all, and especially such as are unacquainted with the military gradation below the rank of a general officer, we formulate it with the following result : After the death of Colonel Meares at Malvern Hill, Lieutenant-Colonel DeRosset was promoted to Colonel, Major Savage became Lieutenant- Colonel, and Captain S. D. Thruston, Major. You will observe in Colonel Thruston's account of :the battle of Sharpsburg (not report, as it appears, for it was written some years after the war) that he refers to himself as Captain; his commission as Major had not then reached him, owing to the rapid and uncer- Third Eegiment. 191 tain direction of the movements of the army, and consequently the greater uncertainty of the mails. It not infrequently hap- pened that commissions were dated months prior to their being received by officers in the Army of Northern Virginia for whom they were intended. Subsequent to the battle of Sharpsburg Colonel Savage resigned on account of ill health, Major Thi'us- ton then became Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain William M. Parsley was promoted to Major. Subsequently Colonel DeRosset resigned his commission, having been disabled by a wound re- ceived at Sharpsburg. By regular gradation then Lieutenant- Colonel Thruston became Colonel, Major Parsley became Lieu- tenant-Colonel, and Captain W. T,. Ennett was promoted to Major. Such was the personnel of the field officers prior to the battle of Chancellorsville, in May, 1863, and so it remained until the close of the war. The regiment was ever after this- time commanded either by Colonel Thruston or Lieutenant- Colonel Parsley, as further narration will show, save for three days after the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Parsley, which oc- curred April 6, 1865, and until the surrender, April 9, 1866, when Major Ennett was in command. On the 29th of April, 1863, this regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel S. D. Thruston, left its camp at Skinker's Neck and marched to Hamilton's Crossing, thence in the direc- tion of Chancellorsville. On the 2d of May, Saturday morning, was commenced that grand strategic movement which has since been the wonder and admiration of the world. Rapidly march- ing around the enemy's lines to his right and rear, crossing the plank-road and arriving on the old turnpike about 4 o'clock p. M., two and a half miles west of Chancellorsville, having marched in all more than fifteen miles in a few hours, and about five miles in a direct line from the starting point in the morning, Jackson's Corps had been detached from the main body of the army to make this attack. Regimental commanders were ordered to march in rear of their regiments, with a guard of strong men with fixed bayonets, to prevent straggling. Immediately on arriving at the stone 192 North Carolina Troops, 1861-66. road the troops were formed in three lines of battle, Colston's Brigade being in the second line. The order to advance was obeyed with promptness. Rushing on toward the enemy's camp, the first scene that can be recalled is the abundant supply of beef and slaughtered rations cooking. The Federal General Schiramelfennig's Brigade suffered heavily as prisoners. The whole affair was a wild scene of triumph on our part. Thus we continued the pursuit until night, when the enemy made a stand within a mile of the Chancellor house. Here great confusion ensued. The two front lines having become mingled, were halted and reformed. Shortly after it was charged by a com- pany of Federal cavalry, which proved to be a part of the Eighth Pennsylvania. The greater portion of them were unhorsed and captured. This was a critical period in the battle, and General Jackson seemed unusually anxious. The iighting was kept up until night, when this regiment was relieved and put in the second line, and during the first part, and even up to midnight, they were exposed to a terrific cannonading. Our men were completely exhausted from the forced march and the three or four hours of brisk fighting. Our position had to be changed from the time that we were placed in the second line until about midnight, and most of the time without avail, until the enemy's fire ceased, before our men could get any rest. They would locate our troops in the second line and so time the fuses that their shells would explode just over our heads. On Sunday, the 3d instant, the regiment was formed on the right of the road, and, advancing, captured the first line of the enemy's works — a barricade of huge logs with abatis in front. The portion of these works that crossed a ravine and swamp, and which was favorable to the occupancy of the enemy, was assaulted three times by the Confederates before it was finally held. During one of these assaults Colonel Thruston was wounded, and the command devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel Parsley, who remained in command during the campaign of 1863, known as the Pennsylvania campaign. This regiment participated in the last two of these charges. It was then that Third Eegiment. 193 General J. E. B. Stuart, who was in command (Generals Jack- son and Hill having been wounded on the evening before), or- dered the whole line forward. The enemy's earth-works in front were carried by storm, and many pieces of artillery, which had occupied them, were captured. We were now in full view of the Chancellor house, and the captured guns were turned on the fleeing enemy. Soon the Chancellor house was in flames, and a glorious victory perched upon our banners. The Confederate line was again moved forward, and executed a wheel to the left, bringing this brigade and regiment immedi- ately to the Chancellor house, hence this brigade, which had been commanded since early in the day by Lieutenant-Colonel Brown, of the First North Carolina Infantry, the other ofiicers of the brigade ranking him having been wounded,^was the first of the Confederate troops to reach the Chancellor house. Dur- ing one of these assaults alluded to above, this brigade'i^became detached from the division, and when it arrived at the Chancel- lor house was between two of Major-General Rodes' brigades. On the 6th the brigade marched to U. S. Ford. While here the enemy was permitted by General Lee to lay a pontoon bridge and send over .about one thousand ambulances to the battlefield of Chancellorsville for his wounded. The ofiicers of this regi- ment and brigade acted on the part of the Confederates to carry out these negotiations, General Sharp, Deputy Provost Marshal of the Army of the Potomac, acting on the part of the enemy. A whole week was consumed in effecting this object, after which the brigade was removed and operations resumed. The troops now returned to the vicinity of Fredericksburg. Early in June, 1863, soon after the Chancellorsville battle, Major-General Edward Johnson was assigned to command the Stonewall Division and General George H. Stewart, Colston's Brigade. The division was now composed of Paxton's, or the First Brigade, known as the Stonewall Brigade; Jones', or the Second Brigade; and Colston's, now George H. Stewart's, the Third Brigade, Lieutenant-Colonel Parsley being in command of the Third Eegiment. 13 194 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. The army now marched in the direction of Winchester, cross- ing the Blue Ridge at Chester Gap and participating in the bat- tle of Winchester on the 13th and 14th June, 1863. This bri- gade marched all night, and by indirect route arrived at day- light on the 15th five miles below Winchester. This movement was intended to intercept and capture the fleeing troops of Gen- eral Milroy, who had been driven from Winchester on the pre- vious evening. After a sharp contest at Jordan Springs more than twenty-five hundred of the enemy threw down their guns. This engagement, though of short duration, was decidedly of an active character on both sides, and this regiment, as was its wont, was in the thickest of the fray. In this battle George Rouse, of Company D, was killed, and Lieutenant Craig and others wounded. Our position being in a railroad cut, we were in a great measure protected from the enemy's bullets. While Stewart's Brigade /om^i'/i^ the battle, a guard from the Stonewall Brigade was sent to Richmond with the prisoners, and were highly commended for gallantry, which praise belonged to this brigade. On the 18th June, 1863, the regiment crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown and encamped near the Dunkard Church, in a piece of woods embraced in the battlefield of Sharpsburg. While here and in the quietude of twilight, when all nature seemed to be in repose, and so emblematic of those weary souls which slept peacefully under the sod of this spot, made so mem- orable by the heroism displayed by them scarcely a twelvemonth ago, the First and Third Regiments assembled, and with arms reversed and to the roll of the muflied drum marched to the bat- tlefield, where the Rev. George Patterson, Chaplain of the Third, read the burial services. A detail of men under the command of Lieutenant James I. Metts (afterwards Captain) had previ- ously during the day fired a military salute over the spot where their bodies were buried. Upon this solemn occasion many tears stole down the bronzed cheeks of the old veterans, and all heads were bowed in grief. From this camp the regiment, with the brigade, marched via Third Eegiment. 195 HagerstowD to Chambersburg, Greencastle and McConnelsburg, to the vicinity of Carlisle, from which point we counter-marched, and after a very long and tiresome march, on the 1st of July, 1863, arrived at Gettysburg about 7:30 o'clock, and filed to the left, nearly encircling the town. Here we lay in line of bat- tle until the evening of the 2d, when about 6 o'clock we were ordered forward. We were on the right of the brigade and were ordered to connect our right with the left of Nichols' (La.) Bri- gade, and at the same time by yvheel to the right to properly prolong their lines. We did so, thereby in some degree discon- necting our regiment from the rest of the brigade. We contin- ued to the front, driving the enemy's skirmishers before us with- out trouble, and with very little loss, until we met his line of battle at his first line of breastworks. He was, however, driven from those, and soon thereafter we received a front and oblique fire from behind his second line of breastworks, to which he had fallen back. He was soon driven from the por- tion from which we received the oblique fire, and then the fire from the front seemed even more terrific. A steady firing was kept up until 10 o'clock p. M., when, as by common consent, it ceased, re-opening at 4:30 o'clock next morning. We here found our ammunition nearly exhausted, some men having not more than two rounds. We partially refilled our cartridge-boxes from those of the dead and wounded, of whom there was a great number, and held this position that night and the next morning, exposed to a terrific fire until about 10:30 o'clock p. m., when we were ordered to move by the left flank along the line of the captured breastworks, and to cross them and form line with the rest of the brigade to charge the enemy's works on what was sup- posed to be his right flank. The few men then remaining in the regiment were formed on the right of the brigade and very' soon thereafter were ordered forward, the line advancing beauti- fully under the heaviest fire, until we found our regiment alone moving to the front, unsupported, when the officers and men were ordered to withdraw, which was done slowly and without confusion, the regiment being greatly reduced (one company — 196 North Caeolina Troops, 1861-'65. Captain John Cowan's — and part of another being detached to fill up a space between the regiment and the Louisiana brigade). Too much praise cannot be given to the officers and men of our command for their coolness and bravery, for the promptness with which they obeyed all orders given them, and their untiring zeal generally. The enemy was driven back to the Baltimore turnpike in this charge by Stewart's Brigade, which came so near inflicting a critical blow on the enemy's extreme right flank. Had this gallant movement been supported the charge of Long- street would not have been necesssary. That last charge on the third day was a cruel thing for the Third. They had borne their full share of the engagement, not even enjoying the protection of the works they had captured from the enemy, by reason of their position, other regiments of the brigade happening by the fortunes of the battle to have them (breastworks) in their front. There they stood, heroes, holding their ground unprotected, receiving a most deadly fire, giving in turn, like true soldiers, what they could from their decimated ranks, most of their comrades being already down, dead or wounded, until ordered to the right to join the balance of the bri- gade to participate in the charge. The battle of Gettysburg is generally conceded to have been the hardest fought battle of the war on either side; at least of those in which General Lee's army was engaged. This regiment certainly suffered more in killed and wounded than in any of the many battles in which it was engaged. What fearful slaugh- ter it endured is shown beyond peradventure by the figures. Entering the battle with three hundred guns, it was greatly reduced by the killing and wounding of two hundred and twenty- three men. When the regiment was mustered after the battle, seventy-seven muskets were all that could be gotten in the ranks, and it lost no prisoners and had no stragglers. The loss was within a fraction of seventy-five per cent. Colonel Parsley, Captain E. H. Armstrong and Lieutenant Lyon were the only officers, perhaps, not killed or wounded. Next day we turned our faces toward Virginia, and after sev- Third Regiment. 197 eral skirmishes and hard marches, arrived at Williamsport, Md., and forded the swollen Potomac on the 15th, the men having to put their cartridge-boxes on their bayonets to keep them above the water. After various marches via Front Royal and Page Valley, and with some skirmishing, we reached Orange Court House early in August and participated in the Bristow cam- paign in October, 1863, with an occasional skirmish with the enemy. Prior to going into winter quarters, while in bivouac, the order was given about noon of November 27th for the march instanter, probably to go in force on a reconnoitering expedition, as the sequel would seem to show. However, on the first and only day of the march, about 3 o'clock p. m. on November 27, 1863, the battle of Payne's Farm was fought by Johnson's Di- vision, of which this regiment formed a part. This was de- cidedly one of the most unique battles, in all the details con- nected with it, in the annals of warfare, being conducted, seem- ingly, regardless of tactical evolutions. A body of troops march- ing slowly along a country road, with no idea that their progress would be impeded or their right to proceed peaceably questioned, indulging in the characteristic chat which was usual among troops of the "same persuasion," passing two or three cavalry- men dressed in gray, who had reined their horse to the side of the road and were quietly at a stand-still, ostensibly waiting for the column to pass, and when questioned by the men, as they would reach them, as to the whereabouts of the enemy, or in the usual vernacular, " have you seen any Yankees around this way ? " with the utmost assurance replying, " No, there are no Yankees within miles of this place." Imagine that under such condi- tions, and within a few minutes after the rear of the column had passed the point where the cavalrymen, who doubtless were' spies, were stationed, this small body of troops being suddenly fired upon; what consternation, demoralization, is likely to ensue among any troops, raw or veterans, and yet these heroes of many a hard-fought battle, who had been in so many perilous positions, stood the test of this hazardous situation. Skirmishers are at 198 NoKTH Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. once thrown out, and meet with a hot fire. They are confronted either by a line of skirmishers vastly outnumbering them, or by a close line of troops ; they are checked and have to be re-inforced to enable them to hold their ground. The enemy, which proved to be French's Corps of infantry, has evidently flanked us, for our line of battle is immediately formed perpendicular to our line of march, and facing the direction from which we were marching, and then begins as warm a contest as this regiment was ever engaged in for the same length of time. It seemed as if the enemy was throwing minnie-balls upon us by the bucket- full, when the battle got fairly under way. The First and Third North Carolina Regiments charged across a field and routed the men who were there in a skirt of woods and in their front. Our casualties were many for a fight of such short duration. General Johnson's horse was killed under him; he immediately mounted the horse of a courier and continued the direction of the battle. We drove the enemy back, completing the job by nightfall, and then pursued our way to Mine Run. So adroitly did General Johnson handle his troops at Payne's Farm, and so successfully did he extricate them from the chaotic situation de- scribed, being further successful in repelling the enemy who were, numerically, by long odds superior to his command, that he was complimented in a special congratulatory order by General Lee. Reaching Mine Run, we remained in line of battle several days. Pickets in force were of course kept out day and night. The weather was as cold as we ever experienced; raining, too, which added to the disagreeableness of the situation. The men on the picket-line were almost benumbed with cold, for fires were prohibited by special order, as if to emphasize the precarious situation at this particular juncture. Officers in command of the picket-lines did endeavor, and successfully, to keep up the spirits of the men; not that the men were wanting in patriotic fervor, or that their characteristic fortitude had abated one jot or tittle, but human endurance hath limits, and poorly fed, and worse clad, their sufi^ering was intense. When the men were stationed on the picket-line after dark, they remained sta- Third Regiment. 199 tionary until relieved the next night, and were expected to be the eyes and ears of that particular post or point; for the inter- val between the pickets was short, and each man was required to exercise the extremest surveillance over that part assigned to him individually. There was a consolatory reflection even at that time, founded upon the hypothesis that "misery loves com- pany," to-wit, the enemy were in the same plight we were. There we lay, watching each other for several days, and beyond an occasional artillery duel, for a short time, and an occasional fire of musketry from one side or the other at some soldier who was sent out from one of the flanks to ascertain what he could, nothing occurred. The temperature was well down to zero and the biting cold was such as to chill the warmest resolu- tion, and when both sides marched (or stole) away, each was glad. This ended the campaign of 1863, Wnd the regiment built and occupied winter quarters near the Rapidan River and did picket duty along that river at Mitchell's Ford during the winter 1863-'64. The writers again find themselves under special obligations to Colonel S. D. Thruston, who has so vividly de- scribed events from the 4th to the 10th, when he was wounded; and as he says in an elaborate account covering those seven days : " The only object is simply to put upon record, for history, those men and comrades who at the time had no one to do that duty for them." On the morning of May 4, 1864, the brigade, commanded by General George H. Stewart, being on pfcket along the Rapi- dan, discovered the columns of the Federal army in the distance, moving to the right, and apparently to the river below. The order soon came to be ready to move, and at midday the brigade took up the line of march in the direction of Locust Grove, a point on the old stone pike running from Orange Court House to Fredericksburg. This point was reached and passed in the evening of the same day, and the brigade went into bivouac about two and one half miles beyond. The night was passed in quiet. The next morning (May 5th) about 10 :30 o'clock, a few 200 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. scattering shots being heard in the front, the troops were called to arms and put in motion towards the firing. We soon discov- ered that the Sixth Corps of the Federal army was posted in line of battle, while the remainder of the Array of the Potomac was passing on the right, along the road from Germania Ford, immediately in the rear of this line to cover the movement. Ewell's Corps, our brigade forming a part, and the Sixth Fed- eral Corps were then both in what was known and always called the Wilderness, the name being derived from the character of the land, which is described as "covered with a matted growth of scrub oak, stunted pine, sweet-gum brush and dogwood," and the two corps of which we write were only separated by a few hundred yards. Stewart's Brigade was in column on the. pike a very few minutes after the firing began at 10:30 oclock A. M. Line of battle was immediately formed in the following order: The Third North Carolina to the right, the First North Caro- lina across, and the Virginia regiments to the left of the pike. It was now 10:30 o'clock a. m. (The line advanced and struck a stout line of Federal infantry in a thicket of pines skirting a field. This line of Federals was assaulted, and after a hard fight the Third North Carolina Regiment and the First North Caro- lina Regiment captured two pieces of artillery and more than one hundred prisoners. Here Colonel Jenkins, of the One Hundred and Forty-sixth New York Regiment, was killed. Lieutenant Shelton, commanding the battery (Battery D, New York Light Artillery), the captain, Winslow, having been wounded, at last surrendered two guns, howitzers, the other two escaping. We attempted to bring oiF the two guus captured, and did get them some distance, but the enemy, being re-inforced, made an ad- vance, and we were in turn driven back to our first position, leaving the guns between the lines. Preceding and up to the capture of the howitzers referred to the fighting was des- perate, muskets and their butt-ends and bayonets being used. At one time there was such an intermingling of troops that con- fusion decidedly predominated; every man was going it on his own hook, for it was a hand-to-hand contest. We recall that Thied Eegiment. 201 in a gully which formed a part of the topography of this battle- field, and which ran for more than a brigade front, Confederates and Federals were so nearly on even terms, or at equal advan- tage, that they were simultaneously demanding each other to surrender. However we succeeded in establishing the superior- ity of our claim, and came off victors. It was now about 2 o'clock p. M. No more fighting was .done on this front, save a few picket shots and a feeble attempt of the enemy late in the afternoon to recapture the two guns, which still remained be- tween the lines and at a point to which we had pulled them in the morning. This was a signal failure, and the repulse was largely assisted by the men of the First and Third North Carolina. After dark the two howitzers were brought in by details from the two North Carolina regiments. We would like just here, and in connection with the joint cap- ture of a section of that battery, to emphasize the afiinity which obtained between the First and Third North Carolina Infantry. Beginning their military career together, fate had not separated them for now three years; military duty of whatever kind that was assigned to one befell the other also; the glory of the one was the boast of the other, the misfortune of one the sorrow of the other; they achieved renown in common, they suffered de- feat together. In the early morning of the 6th, Stewart's Brigade was closed in to the left, until its right rested on the pike, with Jones' (Virginia) Brigade on its right, which connected with the left of Battle's (Alabama) Brigade. Several vigorous attempts were made during the day by the enemy by attack upon that quarter, to force the line to the left, but they were as vigorously repulsed, and then we would return to our position of the morning. The morning of the 7th revealed the enemy gone, and the day was spent by the men in congratulations. Late in the even- ing of this day the brigade began closing or extending — cannot call it marching — to the right, which continued during the en- tire night, the men having no time for rest or sleep. The morn- ing of the 8th dawned bright and hot. The line of march was 202 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. taken up and pushed with vigor, notwithstanding the heat, dust, parching thirst and smoke and fire of burning woods. The nature of the march was sufficient to convince those heroes that their presence was required to meet the foe on some other field, and gallantly did they toil through the day. As the sun was hiding behind the western wood the brigade was thrown in line to the support of General Rodes' Division, in front of the Spottsylvania court-house, but was not engaged. After dark it marched and counter-marched in search of a position, and at 10 P. M. was formed in line and ordered to throw up works in that salient which proved so disastrous on the 12th following. By daylight of the 9th, in spite of the fatigue and loss of sleep on the night of the 7th and the terrible march of the 8th, the en- tire brigade, with no tool except the bayonet and tin plate, was intrenched behind a good and defensible rifle-pit. This day was spent in strengthening the lines, scouting to the front, and that sleep, so much needed. The works or fortifications referred to assumed the shape of, and were always designated as, the "horse- shoe." The morning of the 10th found the brigade closed to the right, connecting with the left of Hill's Corps, with Jones' Bri- gade on our left, occupying the works in the salient proper. Late in the afternoon Doles' Brigade, whose position was on the left of Jones' Brigade, was attacked about sunset, and was pressed back upon Stewart's rear, followed closely by the exul- tant enemy. Orders to "Fall in," "Take arms," "Face by the rear rank," and "Forward" were repeated in quick succession. The brigade responded with alacrity, and soon was moving steadily, though moving in line of battle by the rear rank, through a small strip of woods into a field (in which stood a dwelling), and there meeting the enemy, immediately attacked. The work here was sharp and quick, resulting in the repulse of the Federals across and out of Doles' works and their occupation by Stewart. It was, however, soon discovered that Stewart did not cover Doles' entire front to the left, and fifty or more of the enemy were having a happy time enfilading the lines. Lieu- tenant Robert Lyon, with Company H, Third North Carolina — Third Eegimejit. 203 the then left company — was formed across and perpendicularly to the line, and, moving promptly down the left, drove them off. Before this could be accomplished the Third North Carolina, on the left, had suffered severely. Many men were wounded, in- cluding Colonel S. D. Thruston, seriously, and Lieutenant Cicero H. Craige and Sergeant-major Robert C. McRee were killed. Lieutenant-Colonel Parsley, of course, after Colonel Thruston was wounded, was in command of the regiment. The brigade was then moved back to its original position and re- mained inactive throughout the 11th. Just after night-fall of the 11th the artillery, for some reason or other which was never apparent to those not high in authority, if to them, was removed from their position on this part of the line, and for aught we know, from all parts, the direct effect of such withdrawal, com- mencing to be felt on the 12th, was never fully recovered from. We had great generals, but they were human, and "to err is human." At the peep of dawn on May 12, 1864, dark and rainy, an attack was made by the Federals en masse on Jones' Brigade, occupying the salient angle of this doomed "horse- shoe," the shock of which was felt throughout the entire Con- federacy. No pen can adequately portray what occurred then and there. The weather, thus early, was a fitting prelude to a day that eventuated in so great sorrow and anguish. The ele- ments seemed to portend impending fate — ^hopes blasted, aspira- tions crushed. The First North Carolina was on the right of Jones' Brigade, and their commander, the brave Colonel Hamil- ton A. Brown, says: "For a short time the fighting was des- perate. The terrific onslaught of this vast multitude was irre- sistible, there being a rectangular mass of twenty thousand Fed- eral troops, not in line of battle, but in column of regiments doubled on the centre, supported by a division on each flank — in all more than thirty thousand concentrated against this one point. The portion of the works assaulted by this formidable column was little more than four hundred yards wide. The Confederate troops occupying this angle were Jones' Brigade 204 NoETH Carolina Teoops, 1861-'65. and the First North Carolina Eegiment, numbering about two thousand." The clash of arms and the murderous fire around this bloody angle are indescribable. The enemy sweeping to the right and rear of the fortifications and striking the Third North Carolina Regiment, which ad- joined the First North Carolina, and capturing that entire regi- ment, with very few escapes, pursued their way into the lines of A. P. Hill's Corps, making many captures there. Lieutenant- Colonel Parsley, commanding the Third North Carolina Infan- try on that morning, and who was captured in his works, says : "Stewart faced the rear rank and continued to fight inside the lines until a second column attacked him in front, when, find- ing himself betweeen two fires at short range, he was compelled to surrender." At what particular point the enemy was checked on our right we do not know, as we were captured with Lieu- tenant-Colonel Parsley. The prisoners of war hauled in by the Federals on that morning we have heard estimated at three thousand, including Major-General Edward Johnson, Brigadier- General Stewart and other brigadiers, and very many field and line officers. Captain E. H. Armstrong was killed. Some asper- sion has been cast, and that, too, by one high in command, upon Jones' Brigade, for not holding their ground when attacked that morning (12th). Such a judgment, in our opinion, is not only at fault, but has a tinge of garrulous fatuity, or is predicated upon malevolence. In the name of all that is reasonable, fair, or an equitable decision as to another, how could about two thousand men, probably less, withstand the combined attack of thirty thousand men, concentrated upon a point of four hundred yards, and resist them successsfully, and that, too, without an important arm of the service (the artillery) aiding them, for, as we have said, it had been removed from their front ? Remem- ber this was in an open space. The breastworks referred to were trenches, in depth not more than four and one- half or five feet. We have said this much in sheer justice to Jones' Brigade, for we do not believe that any similar number of troops could be Thied Regiment. 205 found anywhere who could have done more than was done by them. We count any brigade fortunate which was not exposed to such a test. At this time such portions of the First and Third Regiments as were not captured on May 12th were consolidated and placed in General W. R. Cox's Brigade. On the night of May 21st the army was withdrawn from its position to meet the enemy, who had retired toward the North Anna. On the morning of the 23d we confronted the enemy near Hanover Junction, where the line of battle was formed and earth-works thrown up. May 24th the enemy attacked the sharp- shooters and drove them from their position, but after a sharp and hand-to-hand fight for several minutes they were driven to the opposite side of the breastworks and the assault was con- tinued several hours. The enemy several times attempted to recapture the works, but were as often repulsed. A heavy rain having set in and darkness approaching, the enemy retired. Shortly after dark the army retired towards Richmond to meet the enemy, who were moving in the same direction. Nothing save frequent skirmishing occurred until the afternoon of May 30th, on which the battle of Bethesda Church occurred. Further skirmishing took place May 31st, June 1st, and the battle of Gaines' Mill, June 2d, and Cold Harbor, June 3d, in all of which the First and Third (consolidated) participated. After the battle of Cold Harbor, June 3d, the Second Corps, composed of Ramseur's, Rodes' and Gordon's Divisions, under the command of General Early, was directed to proceed to the Valley of Vir- ginia for the purpose of destroying or capturing Hunter, who was in camp near Lynchburg. General Breckinridge and Major- General Robert Ransom, commanding the cavalry, were awaiting our arrival. Hunter, upon learning of the arrival of the Confeder- ates on the 18th, under the cover of night, made a hasty retreat. Early on the morning of the 19th we commenced pursuit, and just before night overtook the enemy's rear at Liberty, where a skirmish ensued, and again at Buford's Gap, on the afternoon of the 20th. The pursuit was continued on the 21st through 206 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Salem, Va., where another skirmish took place. After resting a day, we resumed the march in the direction of the Potomac River, reaching Staunton on the morning of the 27th, then marched in the direction of Harper's Ferry, which was reached on the morning of July 4th. Here Bolivar Heights was captured about 10 o'clock a. m., and about 8 o'clock p. M. the enemy were driven from Harper's Ferry across the river to Maryland Heights. On the 6th the corps crossed the Potomac at Shep- herdstown, and engaged the enemy in the rear of Maryland Heights. The battle continued nearly all day. We moved through Crampton's Gap toward Frederick, and after many skirmishes reached Frederick Md., on the morning of the 9th, where General Wallace's Division of Federals was strongly posted on the eastern bank of the Monocacy River. After a stubborn fight the enemy was driven from the field, leaving in our hands six or seven hundred prisoners, besides killed and wounded. Our loss in killed and wounded was severe. The march was resumed on the 10th in the direction of Washington City. As the weather was hot and the roads dusty, it was very trying to our troops, who arrived in front of Fort Stevens on the evening of the 11th, within sight of the dome of the Federal Capitol. After reconnoitering and skirmishing a couple of days, and upon hearing of the arrival of two additional corps at Wash- ington from the Army of the Potomac, our troops were with- drawn on the night of the 12th, and we crossed the Potomac on the night of the 15th near Leesburg, followed by the enemy's cavalry. We then moved towards the Valley of Virginia, crossing the Blue Ridge at Snicker's Gap on the 17th of July, the Federals slowly following. On the afternoon of the 18th Rodes' Division attacked the enemy at Snicker's Ford, di-iving them in the Shenandoah River, where they lost heavily in killed and drowned. On the 19th the division moved towards Stras- burg, and on the afternoon of the 20th to the support of General Ramseur, but arrived after the engagement had ceased. The division then retired to Fisher's Hill, remaining until the enemy was attacked at Kernstown, on the 24th, and driven across the Third REaiMENT, 207 Potomac into Marylaud. Rodes' Division then marched and counter-marched between the Potomac and Fisher's Hill until September 22d, during which time it was engaged almost daily in skirmishing, and took part iu the battles of Winchester, August 17th; Charlestown, August 21st; Smithfield, August 29th; Bunker Hill, September 3d; second battle of Winchester, September 19th ; Fisher's Hill, September 22d. On the morning of September 19th this division, while moving in column up the Martinsburg road to the support of General Ramseur, who was engaged with Sheridan's army near Winchester, was unex- pectedly called to attention, faced to the left and moved forward to engage the enemy, who had advanced to within one hundred yards of the road. After a brief and vigorous assault the Fed- erals commenced falling back, and were driven through the woods and the open fields until Cooke's Brigade was brought to a temporary halt and Cox received orders to push forward his brigade. At this time General Rodes was shot in the head by a ball, and fell from his horse. The troops pushed on, unaware of this calamity, and struck a weak line of the enemy. At this point the Federals were severely punished, and fell back, leaving their killed and wounded. A large number of officers and men, who were secreted in a ditch, were captured. We pursued the enemy with a hot fire beyond the crest of a hill, on which Grimes had established his line. Here Evans' Brigade, upon meeting a heavy fire, fell back, which exposed this brigade to a concentrated, direct and left-oblique fire. At the request of General Cox, a battery was placed on a hill in our rear, and the brigade fell back and formed behind it, which opened with tell- ing effect upon the enemy's heavy lines. They laid down, and the victory appeared to be ours. While our loss in men and offi- cers had been severe, the troops had good spirits. Here Colonel S. D. Thruston -was severely wounded, the command devolving upon Lieutenant-Colonel Parsley. After remaining until about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, we discovered that the Federals were in our rear, and fell back in good order to the Martinsburg pike and formed on the left of our troops. Here we were exposed, 208 NoETH Carolina Teoops, 1861-66. without any protection, to a heavy artillery fire, which was tell- ing upon our men. We were then faced about and commenced retiring deliberately to the hills, all the troops conforming to this movement. General Early, through a stafi' officer, directed General Cox to return, when we were faced about and moved to the front. Upon reaching the turnpike, we were ordered by General Early to fall back, which we slowly accomplished. Our troops now retreated toward Fisher's Hill. While retreating in column, this brigade was ordered to protect the artillery then passing. Facing about, we were deployed, and advanced be- tween the enemy's cavalry and our artillery, which was done with great spirit and promptness. In this manner we moved on, protecting the artillery until near dusk, when we found General Ramseur with his division thrown across the turnpike to prevent pursuit. About the time this brigade and the artillery crossed his line the enemy made a spirited charge to capture the guns, which was met with a well-directed fire from Ramseur's men, which stopped further pursuit. After our defeat at Winchester we fell back and formed line of battle behind Fisher's Hill. After the fall of General Rodes, General Ramseur was placed in charge of his division. On the 22d we had a skirmish with the enemy. About dusk the brigade was promptly formed across the road to cover the retreat. We advanced rapidly to a fence, where we met the enemy in a hand-to-hand encounter, repulsed him, and stopped pursuit for the night. Here Colonel Pendleton, of the artillery, fell, mortally wounded. After the defeat at Fisher's Hill we fell back up the Valley as far as Waynesboro, where re-inforcements were received. October 1st we returned down the Yalley, reaching Fisher's Hill on October 13th, and there formed behind breastworks. A flanking move- ment was directed by General Early, and we commenced mov- ing soon after dark. The night was consifmed by a very fatiguing and exhausting march, which was conducted with the greatest secrecy. We crossed Cedar Creek at early dawn, being joined- here by Payne's Cavalry, who at full speed advanced upon and captured Sheridan's headquarters. But for his ab- Third Eegiment. 209 sence they would have captured him. The first warning Crook's Corps had of our presence was the rebel yells and volleys of our musketry, which sent them hastily from their camp, leav- ing all behind. This victory was delightful to our troops, after so many repulses. So great was the demoralization of the enemy after this little brigade drove back a division ten times its num- ber, meeting with but slight resistance, that by 8 o'clock we had captured all of their artillery and from one thousand five hun- dred to two thousand prisoners. The Federals were in retreat. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon Sheridan, having joined and rallied his troops, the tide of battle was turned, and the Confed- erates were driven up the Valley to New Market. Here Major- Geueral Ramseur was killed endeavoring to rally his troops, where they remained until about the 22d of November, when Ramseur's Division routed General Sheridan, commanding a considerable body of cavalry, between New Market and Mount Jackson. This ended the Valley campaign of 1864, and Briga- dier-General Bryan Grimes was promoted to Major- General, and assigned to the command of this division. About a week before Christmas this regiment and other troops composing the Second Corps returned to Petersburg and went into winter quarters at Swift Creek, about three miles north of the city. About the middle of February, 1865, we moved to Southerland's Depot, on the right of the Army of Northern Virginia. Here the regiment remained until the middle of March, when it was ordered into the trenches in front of Petersburg, where it remained until the night of the 24th of March, when General Gordon's Corps, this brigade forming a part, was massed opposite Hare's Hill, where the distance between the lines was, one hundred yards. On the morning of the 25th the division corps of sharji-shooters, com- manded by Colonel H. A. Brown, surprised and captured the enemy's pickets and entered his main lines. This regiment, with the other troops of the division immediately following, oc- cupied the enemy's works for some distance on either side of Hare's Hill, and held them against great odds for about five hours, during which time the enemy poured a deadly fire into the 14 210 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Confederates from several batteries, and having massed large bodies of infantry, forced the withdrawal of the Confederates, with considerable loss in killed, wounded and prisoners. We then resumed our position in the trenches. About 11 o'clock on the night of April 1st the enemy opened a heavy cannonading all along the line, under cover of which they attacked in heavy forces at several points, making a break in the division on our right. On Sunday morning, the 2d, at daylight, they made a breach in the line held by the brigade of the left centre of the division, and occupied our works for some distance on either side of Fort Mahone. The division attacked the enemy at close quarters, driving him from traverse to traverse, sometimes in a hand-to-hand fight, until the works were retaken up to a point opposite Fort Mahone, which was finally captured. The Con- federates thus regained the entire works taken from the division in the early morning. The enemy, however, promptly moved forward and recaptured the Confederate line and Fort Mahone, leaving Grimes' Division still in possession of that portion of the line retaken from the enemy in the early part of the day, and which was held until the lines in front of Richmond and Peters- burg were opened, when we, with the army, commenced to retreat. Marching day and night, with only short intervals of rest, we reached Amelia Court House on April 4th, where the ex- hausted troops rested a few hours. Being closely pursued by the enemy, the march was resumed that night. General Bryan Grimes, then Major-General commanding the division, was assigned to the position of rearguard. General Cox still commanding our brigade and Lieutenant-Colonel Parsley the regiment. The enemy's cavalry, elated over their successes, frequently rode into the Confederate lines, making it necessary to form a line of battle across the road in column of brigade, while the others continued to march. This running fight continued until the afternoon of the 6th, when at Sailor's Creek, near Farmville, Va., a general engagement ensued, where the Confederates, over- whelmed by superior numbers, retreated along the bridge at Third Regiment. 211 Farmville. Here the gallant hero, Lieutenant-Colonel Parsley, gave up his life, being shot in the head with a minnie-ball. Who ever knew Willie Parsley, that did not love him? We write not the empty words of the mere panegyrist; we speak the words of a candid soberness and truth. He so impressed all with whom he came in contact that no one who ever met ever forgot him. He was the soul of honor. Without fear, he was without reproach. Knowing how to obey, he was the better fitted to command. There was not the semblance of dissimula- tion in any trait of his character. You always felt after an in- terview with him that he was guided and controlled by an hon- esty of purpose. He commanded in an especial degree the esteem and confidence of his superior officers. A report emanating from Colonel Parsley, they knew, told the exact status of the subject- matter upon which they were seeking information. They fre- quently came to his headquarters socially and enjoyed his hospi- tality. On duty he was the officer; duty done, he was the kind, genial gentleman and friend. Strictly conscientious in the dis- charge of his religious obligations, no asceticism marred the beauty and symmetry of a well-ordered life. The scales of jus- tice in his hands were well poised between his company officers and the rank and file in their commands. Every man in his regiment could appeal to him and be heard. Young in years, he was experienced in true wisdom, and would have been a most capable officer in any of the gradations of rank. Killed in the battle of Sailor's Creek, at the early age of twenty-four, no Con- federate soldier who yielded up his life was more sincerely mourned, and no one remembered with more grateful recol- lection. Beyond Farmville, on the morning of the 7th, the division charged the enemy and recaptured a battery of artillery which had been taken by him. We continued the march towards Lynchburg upon a parallel road to that the enemy had taken for the purpose of intercepting us. We reached Appomattox Court House on Saturday evening, the 8th, where the exhausted troops bivouacked until about the middle of night, when this division 212 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. was ordered from the position of rearguard to the front to open the road towards Lynchburg, now occupied by the enemy in large force. About sunrise on Sunday morning, April 9, 1865, this division (Grimes') engaged a large body of the enemy's cavalry, supported by infantry, and drove them more than a mile, capturing a battery and several prisoners. While engaged in this pursuit, they were ordered back to a valley. This brigade was commanded by the veteran soldier, General W. E.. Cox, who, as his men were retiring, ordered a halt, and the command was given: "Right about, face!" to meet a cavalry force which was coming down upon him. It was promptly obeyed, and once more and for the last time, these valiant, ragged, foot-sore and half-starved North Carolinians withstood in the strength of their invincible manhood the men whom they had met and driven back on many a bloody iield. In the clear and firm voice of the gallant Cox the command rang out : "Ready, Aim, Fire!" and the last volley fired by the Army of Northern Virginia was by these North Caroli/ia troops, this regimen! among the number. Defeated, but not dishonored ! On leaving the valley, we learned the sad intelligence that the Army of Northern Virginia had surrendered. Sad and gloomy indeed were the faces of those noble heroes, who could not realize that General Lee would ever surrender. The fragment of the First and Third Regiments, commanded by Major W. T. Ennett, since the loss of Colonel Parsley on the 6th, was bivouacked with the brigade (Cox's), Grimes' Division, Gordon's Corps, and prepared the muster-rolls for the final capit- ulation. Od the morning of April 12th they laid down their arms, dispersed on foot, many ragged and without shoes, and made their way to their desolated homes. And now let us recite the " roll of honor" : Colonel Gaston Meares, killed in the battle of Malvern Hill ; Captain Thomas E. Armstrong, killed in the battle of Chancellorsville; Captain John F. S. Van Bokkelen, wounded in the battle of Chancellors- ville, died within a month afterwards. It was with grief, and that, too, without alloy, that the death Third Regiment. 213 of Captain Van Bokkelen, which occurred in Richmond, Va., was announced to the regiment while on the march in the cam- paign of 1863. He was universally popular and almost idolized by his own men. But twenty-one years of age, and full of youth- ful ardor, intelligent, with an acute conception of his duties and an indomitable energy in pursuing the line of conduct which a discriminating judgment dictated, to him, possibly, more than to any other officer of the company which he commanded, was due the high morale to which that company attained. Captain David Williams, Captain E. H. Rodes, Captain E. G. Meares, Lieutenants Duncan McNair, Thomas Cowan and Wil- liam Quince, killed in the battle of Sharpsburg; Lieutenants Tobias Garrison, Henry A. Potter and Thomas Kelly, killed in the battle of Gettysburg; Captain E. H. Armstrong, Lieutenant Cicero H. Craige and Sergeant-major Robert C. MoRee, killed in the battle of Spottsylvania; Lieutenant-Colonel W. M. Pars- ley, killed in the battle of Sailor's Creek, near Farmville; and that host of non-commissioned officers and privates (would that their names were accessible to us, that we might locate each in- dividual as to company and record his merit) who yielded their lives under the banner of the Confederacy. Good soldiers and true men they were, discharging duty under any and all condi- tions. Their hearts' blood flecked the soil of Virginia, Mary- land and Pennsylvania, and the fields of battle in those three States attest their prowess. Nor yet would the history of the Third North Carolina In- fantry be complete without reciting the names of Dr. J. F. McRee, Surgeon, and Doctors Josh C. Walker, Kenneth Black and Thomas F. Wood, the well-beloved and faithful physicians, Captain Roger P. Atkinson, Captain R. S. Radcliffe, Captain Wil- liam A. Gumming, Major W. T. Ennett, Lieutenant Amos Sid- bury, Lieutenant Ward, Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Savage, Captain Richard F. Langdon, Lieutenants I. J. Pickett, S. P. Hand, George B. Baker, N. A. Graham, L. Moore, W. H. Barr and Robert H. Lyon, who have all died since the capitula- tion. Adjutant Theodore C. James has also crossed "the narrow 214 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. stream of death." Our pen falters when we attempt to pay tribute to his memory: companion of our youth, friend of our manhood. For him to espouse a cause was to make it a part of his very self. Intrepid, no more courageous soldier trod the soil of any battle- field upon which the Army of Northern Virginia encountered a foe. The impulses of his nature were magnanimous; no grovel- ing thoughts unbalanced the equity of his judgment. True to his friends and to principle, he remained as "constant as the northern star, of whose true, fixed and resting quality there is no fellow in the firmament." Leaving his right arm upon a battlefield of Virginia, and exempt for that cause from further military duty, he disdained any privilege which such disability brought to him, but continued in active service until the last shot had been fired and " arms stacked " forever. We have endeavored to compile a correct history of the regiment with which we served as Confederate soldiers. If errors of commission have crept in, or if there be any of omis- sions, it is with sincere regret on our part; nor should they have occurred, save that we were ignorant of them. The memories of the martyrs of the " lost cause" are too precious to be relegated to oblivion through any laches on the part of those who could prevent it, or whose duty it is to preserve them. A duty owed first to the dead — and to the living. John Cowan, James I. Metts. Wilmington, N. C., 9th April, 1900. ADDITIONAL SKETCH THIRD REGIMENT. By colonel W. L. DeROSSET. Gaston Meares, of Wilmington, N. C, was appointed by Gov- ernor Ellis to the command of the Third Regiment of State Troops, and Robert Harper Cowan and William Lord DeRosset were commissioned, respectively, Lieutenaot-Colouel and Major of the same regiment. Steps were at once taken to form the regiment, first from material already partially organized into companies and partly by regular enlistments under company officers likewise appointed by the Governor. This regiment, one of ten authorized by «the Constitutional Convention to be raised, enlisted for the war, and all officers were appointed by the Governor, with the understanding clearly had that all vacancies should be filled by promotion or appoint- ment by recommendation of the commanding officer. [The companies, with names of their respective captains, and counties from which raised, are given in the sketch of Captains Cowan and Metts, page 178, ante.] The several companies were ordered to assemble at the camp of instruction at Garysburg as faet as their ranks were filled, and in the latter part of May they began to report to the officer in charge of the camp. Colonel Meares and Lieutenant-Colonel Cowan reported at the camp about June 1st. Major DeRosset, having been ordered to Fort Macon to relieve Colonel C. C. Tew, of the Second North Carolina Regiment, of the command of that post, was delayed in joining his command until some two weeks later. Meanwhile, the men were being drilled in the school of the soldier, prepara- tory to company drill ; and so soon as Major DeRosset reported 216 North Carolina Troops, 1861-66. for duty he was ordered to take charge of the drilling and dis- ciplining of the force. Colonel Meares moved West from Wilmington, where he was born, when quite a young man and settled in Arkansas, whence he went into the war with Mexico as Adjutant of one of the first regiments raised in that State ; subsequently being elected to command on the death of its colonel (Yell). At the begin- ning of our late difficulty he reported for duty to the Governor and was at once commissioned as Colonel. Lieutenant-Colonel Robert H. Cowan was also a native of Wilmington, and was prominent in the politics of the State, both locally and as a Representative in its legislative halls. Upon the reorganization of the twelve months regiments, he was elected Colonel of the Eighteenth, thus severing his connec- tion with the Third in May, 1862. Major DeRosset, likewise a native of the same place, had been connected with the local military for seven years, most of the time as an officer of the Wilmington Light Infantry, having carried that company into service, which was later assigned to the Eighteenth. A portion of the Third was ordered to Richmond early in July, where it was joined some we'eks later by the remaining companies which had been left at Garysburg under Major De- Rosset. A few days after the first battle of Manassas the regiment was ordered to report to Major- General T. H. Holmes, at Acquia Creek, and went into camp n^ar Brooks' Station, on the Rich- mond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad, later moving camp to a point near the Potomac River, and, as winter approached, having meantime built substantial winter quarters, they took up their abode therein, immediately in rear of the lower battery of those constructed for the defense of Acquia Creek. Upon the evacuation of the line of the Potomac the Third North Carolina, with the First, was ordered to Goldsboro to meet a supposed advance of Burnside from New Bern, remain- ing thereabouts until early in June, 1862. In May, Lieutenant- Thied Eegiment. 217 Colonel Cowan having been promoted, Major DeRosset was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain Savage, Major. The First and the Third North Carolina Troops were under the same brigade commanders from first to last, but, unfortunately, were always brigaded with troops from other States, and never received the deserved meed for their achievements. First, Colonel John G. Walker was assigned to command, the brigade then consisting of the First and Third North Carolina and the Thirtieth Virginia and First Arkansas; but Colonel Walker proved to be the junior colonel in the brigade, and General Holmes asked for and obtained a commission for him as brigadier-general, and he continued in command. Brigadier-General Roswell S. Ripley next had its command, and upon reaching Richmond on the evening of the last day's fight at Seven Pines a change was made in the composition of the brigade and the Fortieth and Forty-fourth Georgia Regi- ments took the places of the Virginia and Arkansas troops. The Third reached the battlefield only in time to be held in reserve late in the evening, but were not ordered to participate. The march from Richmond was most trying to the raw troops of the brigade, who had not then received their baptism of fire, passing thousands of dead and wounded from the time they left the cars until they arrived on the field; and the groans and cries of the wounded were not calculated to inspire the boys with a martial spirit. During the period from that date to the opening of the battles around Richmond the command was in camp about six miles from Richmond, drilling and preparing for the sum- mer campaign. Late in the evening of June 25, 1862, Colonel Meares received orders to march, and proceeding early next morning in a north- erly direction, was halted on the high hills on the south of the Chickahominy where it is crossed by the Mechanicsville pike. Lieutenant- Colonel DeRosset was here again detached and ordered to take charge of a battalion composed of one company from each regiment, and to advance, crossing' the stream, to Mechanicsville; but after reaching the middle of the creek he was 218 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. ordered to assemble his command and cross on the bridge. The battalion was thus thrown on the left of the brigade, advancing left in front, and, on being drawn up in line of battle on the north side, went into action, charging the enemy's position, which was well fortified on the further side of a small stream about one-half mile from the pike. The brigade suffered severely in this attack, mainly from the stupid manner in which it was put into action. The Forty-fourth Georgia was almost annihilated, having lost heavily in killed and wounded, the others mostly routed. The Fortieth Georgia lost its colonel early in the action, and were more or less demoralized. The First North Carolina perhaps suffered in killed and wounded more than either of the regiments, if not of all combined. They had the misfortune to be immediately in front of the heaviest of the Yankee batteries, which swept the approaches with grape and canister continuously. The Third North Carolina lost perhaps less than either of the others, Major Savage being the only one of the field officers wounded. Joining after that battle the forces of General Jackson, the command was marched by a circuitous route to Cold Harbor, or Gaines' Mill, where the battle took place on the afternoon of June 27th. Here but a small fraction of the Third was exposed to direct musketry fire, for reasons none but General Ripley could explain, and the officers of the command are not known to have said that any explanation was vouchsafed. Marching thence, after two or three days' delay, the brigade found itself in front of one of the bridges over the Chickahominy which had been destroyed by the enemy on the south side, he having crossed the day before on the famous "grape-vine" bridge, some distance above. Here, being exposed to the enemy's fire of artillery without the means of replying, Ripley was withdrawn into a heavy woods on the northwest side of the road, lying there all day under the artillery fire, at times very annoying, but with little loss. This was the day of the battle of Frazer's Farm, a few miles lower down the stream. Next day, the enemy having withdrawn and the bridge re- Third Regiment. 219 paired, Ripley crossed and marched on Malvern Hill, arriving there at noon, and was posted immediately in the rear of what was known as the Parsonage, on the near side of the road lead- ing by Malvern Hill, and on the left of the army. Being or- dered to advance, the whole line moved forward, and from the peculiar conformation of the land in front, the hill up which Ripley moved being almost an isolated knoll, upon reaching the top each regiment was found to be represented in the mass of disorganized troops occupying the yard of the Parsonage and the road in front. The officers of the several commands seemed not to have noted the conformation of the ground, and as each com- pany reached the foot of the hill it would change direction to go up the shortest road, thereby bringing about the trouble as seen at that point. Meantime a terrific fire of artillery and infantry swept the field, and the men involuntarily hugged the ground. Here they lay for some time, men falling every minute, and some leaving the field in search of surgical assistance- There was no possibility of doing anything, so far as could be seen by the field officers, and Ripley had not been seen about the lines after the first order was given to advance. About an hour before dusk word came from the left that Captain Brown, com- manding the First North Carolina, was hard pressed, and wanted assistance, when Colonel Meares determined to re-inforce him, and gave the command to move by the left flank. He, going on foot into the road in front of the line, upon reaching a point about opposite the left of the Third, stopped, and mounting the bank on the side of the road, was using his field-glass, surveying the Yankee lines, when he was instantly killed by a slug from a shrapnel fired from a battery directly in front, said to be the Third Rhode Island Battery, not over seventy-five yards distant. Colonel Meares was a man of marked individuality. Re- spected by his superior officers, beloved by his subordinate offi- cers, and even by the most humble private, his untimely death was deeply deplored by ail alike. It is certain that he would have been recommended for promotion. The Third held its position until withdrawn sometime during 220 NoETH Carolina Troops, 1861-65. the night, aud bivouacked near that point for several days, when the brigade was ordered back to the old camping-grounds nearer Richmond. Colonel DeRosset having been promoted to the command of the Third, decided to visit Raleigh for the purpose of recruiting the regiment. The losses in officers of the Third were numerous, but several were temporarily disabled by wounds. Some vacancies occurred about this time, and the conspicuous gallantry of Cicero H. Craig caused his recommendation for promotion, and he was at once put on duty, by brigade orders, as Lieutenant of Company I. Just here it is well to put on record an instance showing how the officers of the Third held to the original understanding with the Governor that all promotions and appointments should be made by or upon the recommendation of the commanding officer of the regiment. Upon the report made to Governor Clark in person by Colonel DeRosset, the Governor promised to have the commission for Lieutenant Craig mailed to him without delay, but upon being approached by two officers of Company I, who represented to the Governor that if Craig was made lieutenant of the company the men would resist and disband, he revoked his order for the commission, and ordered an election to be held in the company to fill the vacancy. Upon receipt of the com- munication from the Adjutant-General, Colonel DeRosset ad- dressed the Governor, declining to hold an election in his regi- ment, and should he insist upon it, that he could consider his resignation as being before him. Further explanation was made that the parties who informed the Governor of the condition of affairs in Company I had not participated in the late fights, and were hardly in position to form an intelligent opinion of the facts, and that the discipline of the men in his regiment was his responsibility as much as that of the company officers, and he would be responsible for results. As a finale, both officers referred to very soon ceased to hold their positions, and, for some forgotten reasons, were allowed to go home. The Governor ex- Thikd Regiment. 221 pressed himself as fully satisfied, and immediately sent on Craig's commission. Apropos, as to elections to fill vacancies, wliile near Goldsboro, in the spring of 1862, a vacancy occurred in the office of Second Lieutenant of Company G. Orders came from headquarters one afternoon to hold an election to fill the vacancy. Colonel Meares, after reading the order, passed it to Lieutenant-Colonel DeRosset, with the instruction that he should see that the order was carried out. Not seeing his way clear, but knowing the feelings of Colonel Meares as to permitting elections, DeRosset walked off in the direction of the camp of that company, hoping for some solution of the problem. Fortunately he found Lieutenant Quince of that company in charge, the captain being absent from camp. Quince had been educated as a soldier in the ranks of the Wilmington Light Infantry, and DeRosset knew he could be depended upon. At once handing the order to Quince, he. Quince, threw up his hands with horror at being called upon to be the instrument in carrying out such an order. DeRosset replied that the opinions of all the regimental, field and staff, as well as most of the line officers, were well known to be against such a system, but the order was imperative, and must be obeyed. Re- maining in hearing, and feeling that fun was ahead, DeRosset, standing behind the captain's tent, heard the following, almost literally related: Lieutenant Quince — "Sergeant, make the men fall in with arms." This was done quickly, and, addressing the men, he read the order, and remarked : " Men, there are two candi- dates for the office," naming them, "and there is but one of them worth a d — n, and I nominate him. All who are in favor of electing Sergeant , come to a shoulder. Company^ shoulder arms ! " Then, turning to the Orderly Sergeant, re- marked: "Sergeant, take charge of the company and dismiss them." Inside of fifteen minutes from the time the order was handed the Colonel, Lieutenant Quince handed in his report: "That an election had been held in accordance with Special Order No. — , and that 222 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Sergeant had been unanimously elected." This put a stop to all talk about elections for some time, and, after Craig's pro- motion, the subject was never again mentioned. Ripley lay in camp for several weeks, while details were made to work on the intrenchments in our front and for several miles down towards the Chickahominy, while other details gathered arms from the several battlefields. Up to this time the Third was armed principally with smooth- bore muskets, but with the ample supply of the Springfield rifled muskets gathered from the field and captured, there was enough to supply our whole army with the improved gun. Orders came from headquarters that all muskets should be turned in and the troops armed with the rifles. Colonel DeRosset believed firmly in the great efficiency of the smooth-bore with buck and ball cartridges, and, after a consultation with General Ripley, secured a modification of the order as applying to the Third North Carolina, and was allowed to retain muskets for eight companies, arming the two flank companies with the rifles. He always insisted that it was owing to the good use of the buck and ball at close range at Sharpsburg that the Third were enabled to do so much damage, and to hold their position after advancing for so long a time. In the latter part of July, Colonel DeRosset returned from Raleigh and brought with him four hundred conscripts, who were at once divided into small squads, and, under command of non-commissioned officers, were drilled several hours daily. This not only helped to discipline the raw levies, but hardened them somewhat, thus enabling them the better to stand the strains inci- dent to the march into Maryland, which soon followed. During this period, awaiting marching orders, the first execu- tion under sentence of a military court took place in the brigade on the person of an Irishman who had deserted and was captured in his effiDrts to reach the enemy's lines. He belonged to Cap- tain Dudley's company, of the First North Carolina, and the ■firing party was from his own company, who did their sad duty like true soldiers. Third Regiment. 223 About the time that Jackson was lookiug for Pope's " head- quarters," from Culpepper to Manassas, Ripley received march- ing orders, and the brigade went by rail to Orange Court House. Here the brigade bivouacked for several days, ofiBcers and men wondering why we were held back, when it was evident that hard work was going on at the front. However, marching orders came at last, and after much time given to preparation, we finally took the road for Culpepper Court House, thence in a northerly direction to the Alexandria and Luray pike, striking that road about sundown at a point called Amisville. To the amazement of the field and line officers, instead of marching toward Warrenton, where it was generally understood Lee had passed, the head of the column was changed to the left. One of the officers here rode up to the head of the column, and accosting General Ripley, asked if he had any objection to saying where we were marching to. His reply was: "I am going to see my sweetheart at Luray." He thereupon ordered a halt, and to go into bivouac at once and prepare rations as issued, having just received by courier orders from General Lee to march at once, and quickly, to Manassas Junction. Next morning, after a deliberate breakfast, the column counter-marched and reached Warrenton about 2 or 3 o'clock P. M. The General repaired to a private house for refreshments, directing the command to pro- ceed to a point a mile or two out on the Manassas road and bivouac, with special instructions to the officers left in command to have the column drawn up in line on the road ready to march at 4 o'clock A. M. next day, but not to move until he came up. The command was on time, and stood in a drenching rain until about 7 o'clock, when Ripley appeared, and the column moved on. Arriving at the Junction about 3 or 4 o'clock p. M., in full hearing of the desperate conflict going on a short distance ahead of us, we were deliberately filed off the road in an opposite direction and halted, bivouacked there that night and next morning crossed Bull Run at Sudley's Ford, having passed over perhaps the bloodiest portion of the field, where the dead and many wounded still lay in the sun. Marching through a country 224 jSTorth Carolina Troops, 1861-65. entirely destitute of water for several miles, we finally reached the Alexandria and Leesburg pike, where a halt was made to allow the men to drink and fill their canteens. Moving on in the direction of Alexandria, which point was understood to be Lee's objective point, we came up while the battle of Ox Hill was being fought, and were held in reserve until its close, falling back next morning to a beautiful country-seat known as Chan- tilly, where we bivouacked for several days. The march into Maryland then commenced, and we moved towards Leesburg, where we received rations again and prepared them for another march ; bivouacked there for twenty-four hours, and then taking a road direct to the Potomac, crossed at Point of Rocks ; thence moving down the bank of the river along the canal to Point of Rocks, where, taking our last view of old Virginia, we took the road for Frederick City direct, halting there for two or more days. The army moved westwardly along the Great Western turn- pike, crossing the mountains, and bivouacked that night a little beyond Boonsboro. On the evening of Saturday, September 13, 1862, the brigade was counter-marched toward the mountain and placed in line of battle on the north side of the pike, near the fobt of the mountain, again in reserve. Next morning, Sunday, Colonel Doles, with the Fourth Georgia, was detached and or- dered to take position in a gap on the north side of the pike, and the other three regiments were moved up the mountain, and just to the east of the tavern on the summit filed to the right, and moved along the summit road, having, before leaving the pike, passed the body of General Garland, who had just been slain at the head of his command. Leaving this road, they moved by one leading diagonally down the mountain, and, on reaching the foot, were halted some half mile to a mile from the pike, on the south. Here General Ripley concluded that his command and that of General George B. Anderson were cut off from the troops on his left, and assuming command of the division, notified Colo- nel DeRosset to take command of the brigade. General Ander- son seemed to have moved up the mountain very promptly, and Third Eegiment. 225 Ripley ordered Colonel DeRosset to do likewise. Lieutenant- Colonel Thruston was ordered to take a company of skirmishers, covering the front of the brigade, and soon reported that troops were in his front, and later that General G. B. Anderson was moving across his front. General Ripley, remaining at the foot of the mountain, was informed of the situation, and at once ordered his brigade to fall back. It was then moved by the left flank up a road leading diagonally up the mountain and halted, occupying that position until quietly withdrawn sometime between 9 o'clock p. m. and midnight. General Ripley again assumed command of his own brigade and marched by a road leading towards the Boonsboro and Sharps- burg pike. On reaching a point on the crest of the hill, just after crossing the Antietam on the stone bridge, the command was placed in line of battle under the hill, the right of the Third North Carolina, in absence of the Fourth Georgia, on the right of the brigade and resting on the Boonsboro pike. This was on the evening of the 15th, and the brigade remained in that posi- tion until the evening of the 16th, under a heavy artillery fire from the enemy's guns on the east side of the creek, but without loss, being well protected by the crest of the hill under which he lay. Meantime the battle had opened on our left, and as that seemed to be the point at which McClellan would make his greatest effort. General Ripley was ordered in that direction and biv- ouacked to the east of the Hagerstown pike, directly opposite the Dunkard Church and south of the Mumma farm house, which latter was destroyed by fire early next morning. About daylight on thfe 17th the Federal artillery opened, and one of the first guns, from a point near which McClellan made his headquarters, fired a shell which fell just in front of the brigade, wounding some sixteen officers and men of the Third. The advance was soon ordered, and the enemy was first encount- ered in an open field a little to the south of the famous corn field near the East Woods, and the smooth-bore muskets with the buck and ball cartridges did most excellent service, being at very close 15 226 NoETH Caeolina Teoops, 1861-'65. quarters, not over one hundred yards from the first line of the three lines of the enemy. There being quite a gap in our lines on Ripley's right, a change of front was made to meet a flank attack by the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania, a new and large regiment, and the Third North Carolina, being still on the right, met with heavy losses from this attack before the movement could be made with assured safety. General Ripley had been slightly wounded in the throat early in the action and the brigade was now under the command of Colonel George Doles, of the Fourth Georgia, the ranking officer. About the time that the movement in changing from front to rear began, Colonel DeRosset was severely wounded, and per- manently disabled. Lieutenant-Colonel Thruston at once took command, and charged the enemy, maintaining his advanced position until forced back by mere weight of numbers. From this time the Third North Carolina was under the command of Colonel Thruston, who succeeded to the full command upon the resignation of Colonel DeRosset, some months later, when it was definitely determined that the wound of the latter had disabled him permanently for active service. There were few, if any, regimental commanders in the Army of Northern Virginia who were the superior of Colonel Thruston, if his equal, in all that goes to make up an intelligent, able and successful leader. He was painfully wounded during this action, but refused to leave the field. Of the twenty-seven officers who went into action on that memorable morning all save three were disabled and seven killed. Captain McNair, Company H, was badly wounded in the leg early in the day, but refused to leave, althougb urged to do so by the Colonel, and soon after gave up his life-blood on his coun- try's altar. The official report of the division commander gives the loss in the Third North Carolina, but it is less than was reported at the close of the day by Lieutenant J. F. S. Van Bokkelen, Acting Thied Regiment. 227 Adjutant, who stated that of the five hundred and twenty carried into action only one hundred and ninety could be accounted for. Of the conscripts who were enlisted in the Third North Caro- lina about one hundred succeeded in keeping up with their comrades and taking part in the Sharpsburg battle. During this engagement, while the whole line was busily engaged in their deadly work, one of the conscripts was observed calmly walking up and down behind his company, and upon being asked why he was not in ranks and firing, replied : " I have seen nothing to shoot at, and I have only sixty rounds of cartridges; I don't care to waste them." He was instructed to lie down, and being shown the blue breeches under the smoke, his face bright- ened up at once as he began firing. Seldom was truer cour- age displayed than by this man, who, under his first experience in battle, having evidently been left behind as his company double- quicked to the front, came up after the smoke from the first volleys had obscured everything, and could see nothing in front. It would indeed be interesting to know this man's name and fate^ but such cannot be, for he probably sleeps in a soldier's grave in the famous corn field, unhonored and unsung, where so many comrades lie buried. Of the original captains of the Third North Carolina: Captain Drysdale died in winter quarters at Acquia Creek during the winter of 1861-'62,'and was buried in Goldsboro. He died of pneumonia contracted in the performance of his duties. Captain Thruston held each office in succession until he reached the colonelcy. He lives in Dallas, Texas, and is an honored member of the medical profession. Captain Mallett, having been appointed conscript officer of the State, with the rank of Major and subsequently Colonel, resigned his captaincy. He now lives in New' York. Captain Savage, afterwards Lieutenant-Colonel, resigned after the battles around Richmond. He now resides in New York. Captain Redd resigned his commission in the early part of 1862. He is now a farmer in Onslow county. Captain Parsley, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of 228 North Caeolina Teoops, 1861-65. his regiment, was killed only three days before the surrender at Appomattox, respected and beloved by all. Captain Rhodes was wounded at Sharpsburg, and as he has never since been heard of, it is supposed he died of his wounds. Captain Sikes, having absented himself from his command during the seven days' fight, and gone to his home without proper leave of absence, was allowed to resign. Captain Carmer resigned his commission soon after the battles around Richmond. Captain Williams, known by his men as "Pap," as brave a man as ever lived, was disemboweled by a rifle shot from the enemy's batteries at Sharpsburg, and sleeps in a soldier's grave, with his blanket for a shroud, in the front yard of the house in rear of the village, which was used as a field hospital near the Shepherdstown pike. W. L. DeRosset. Wilmington, jST. C, 9th April, 1900. FOUBTH REGIMENT. 1. Eryan Grimes, Colonel. a. E. A. Osborne, Colonel. 2. George B. Anderson, Colonel. C. J. E. Stansill, Major. 3. James H. Wood, Colonel. 7. J. P. Shaffner, Chief Surgeon. 4. John A. Young, Lieut. -Colonel. 8. Rev. W. A. Wood, Chaplain. 9. J. M. Iladley, Assistant Surgeon. FOURTH REGIMENT. By colonel E. A. OSBORNE. To write a full and accurate history of this noble body of n would require far more time, ability and space than the pres writer can command. But as the honor and distinction of wi ing a brief sketch has fallen to my lot, I cheerfully and gr£ fully address myself to the task, feeling at the same time dee] conscious of my unworthiness and inability to handle suet theme. I cannot conceive of a braver, truer, nobler, more voted and self-denying body of men than was this splendid re ment of North Carolinians. In every position, under the m trying circumstances in which men can be placed, from the ca of instruction to the close of a four years' war — a war that volved more hardships, more persevering courage and fortitu more self-denial, more devotion, more true manhood and end ance, more love of home, of country and of principle, and m true heroism on the part of the men of the South than has b manifested at least in modern times, these devoted men, e forgetful of self, and following firmly and steadily in the lead patriotic duty, without pay, and suffering for the bare neces ries of life most of the time, never flinched nor murmured; 1 endured with sublime patience and fortitude the hardships the camp, of the march, of the bivouac, and the many terri scenes of strife, and blood, and carnage, through which tl passed during these four long and terrible years of suffering a trial. In writing this sketch I must be content to give a mere outl of actual occurrences. The facts simply stated speak for the selves. They need no embellishment to commend their act to the admiration of all who value and love what is brave i 230 NoETH Carolina Tboops, 1861-'65. true aud manly. The UDvaruished story o^ these brave and de- voted mea who gave themselves for the cause they loved fur- nishes such examples of heroic valor, unselfish devotion and unwavering faithfulness as will be an inspiration and an honor to their countrymen in all future ages. The Fourth Regiment of North Carolina State Troops was organized at Camp Hill, near Garysburg, N. C, in May, 1861. The field officers at first were: George Buegwyn Anderson, Colonel. John Augustus Young, Lieutenant-Colonel. Bryan Grimes, Major. Dr. J. K. King, Surgeon. Dr. B. S. Thomas, Assistant Surgeon. Captain John D. Hyman, Commissary. Captain Thomas H. Blount, Quartermaster. Thomas L. Perry, Adjutant. Rev. William A. Wood, Chaplain. R. F. SiMONTON, Commissary Sergeant. F. A. Carlton, Sergeant- Major. Elam Morrison, Quartermaster's Sergeant. Fourth Kbgiment. 231 COMPANY OFFICERS OF THE FOURTH REGIMENT AS ORIGINALLY ORGANIZED. Company A — Iredell County — Captain, A. K. Simonton; First Lieutenant, W. L. Davidson; Second Lieutenant, W. G. Falls; Second Lieutenant, William F. McRorie. Company B — Rowan County — Captain, James H. Wood; First Lieutenant, A. C. Watson; Second Lieutenant, J. F. Stancill; Second Lieutenant, J. fl. Harris. Company C — Iredell County — Captain, John B. Andrews; First Lieutenant, James Rufus lieid; Second Lieutenant, W. A. Kerr; Second Lieutenant, Joseph C. White. Company D — Wayne County — Captain, J. B. Whittaker; First Lieutenant, Alexander D. Tumbro; Second Lieutenant, J. J. Bradley; Second Lieutenant, R. B. Potts. Company E — Beaufort County— Cn-piaan, David M. Carter; First Lieutenant, Thomas L. Perry; Second Lieutenant, E. J. Redding; Second Lieutenant, Daniel P. Latham. Company F — Wilson County — Captain, Jesse S. Barnes; First Lieutenant, J. W. Dunham; Second Lieutenant, P. N. Simms; Second Lieutenant, Thomas E. Thompson. Company G — Davie County — Captain, William G. Kelley; First Lieutenant, Samuel A. Kelley; Second Lieutenant, Thomas J. Brown; Second Lieutenant, Samuel A. Davis. Company H — Iredell County — Captain, Edwin Augustus Osborne; First Lieutenant, John Z. Daiton; Second Lieutenant, Hal. H. Weaver; Second Lieutenant, John B. Forcum. Company I — Beaufort County — Captain, W. T. Marsh; First Lieutenant, L. R. Creekman; Second Lieutenant, Noah B. Tuten; Second Lieutenant, Bryan S. Bonner. Company K — Rowan County — Captain, F. Y. McNeely; First Lieutenant, W. C. Coughenonr; Second Lieutenant, Mar- cus Hofflin; Second Lieutenant, W^illiam Brown. Promotions in Company A during the war — W. L. Davidson to Captain, W. G. Falls to Captain, W. F. McRorie to Captain, W. K. Eliason to First Lieutenant, F. A. Carlton to First Lieutenant, A. S. Fraley to Second Lieutenant, J. Pink 232 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Cowan to Second Lieutenant, T. M. C. Davidson to Second Lieutenant, W. R. INlcNeely to Second Lieutenant. Non-commissioned Officers in Company A — E. F. Mor- rison, W. T. J. Harbin, W. L. Shuford, D. A. Doherty, E. C. Rumple, P. A. Siiafer, C. D. Murdock, J. A. Stikeleather. Promotions in Company B during the avae — J. F. Stancill to Captain, J. H. Hilliard to Captain, T. C. Watson to Captain, J. W. Shinn to First Lieutenant, Joseph Barber to Second Lieutenant, Isaac A. Cowan to Captain, James P. Burke to Second Lieutenant. Non-commissioned Officers in Company B — J. W. Phifer, E. F. Barber, B. Knox Kerr, Rufus Mills, M. S. Mc- Kenzie, John Hellers, H. C. Miller, "William A. Burkhead, D. W. Steele, B. A. Knox. Promotions in Company C during the war — Claudius S. Alexander to Captain, W. A. Kerr to Captain, G. A. Andrews to Captain, T. W. Stephenson to First Lieutenant, J. C. White to First Lieutenant, J. A. S. Feimster to Second Lieutenant, S. A. Claywell to Second Lieutenant, John C. Turner. Non-commissioned Officers in Company C — James A. Sommers, J. J. Troutman, S. J. Thomas, A. J. Anderson, J. C. Norton, D. P. Dobbin, Edward May, John C. Turner, A. M. White, J. A. Feimster, F. A. Shuford, R. O. Sinster. Promotions in Company D during the war — Alexander Tumbro to Captain, M. C. Hazelle to Captain, T. G. Lee to Captain, Lovett Lewis to Captain, R. B. Potts to First Lieuten- ant, J. B. Griswold to Second Lieutenant, Cader Parker to Second Lieutenant. Non-commissioned Officers in Company D— Robert A. Best, James C. Cotton, M. C. Hazelle, John Holmes, James Brewer, George Casey, J. J. Ellis, R. W. Hodgins, Robert Peel, J. H. Pearsall, J. R. Williams, J. W. Harrison, D. L. Howell, J. R. Tumbro. Promotions in Company E during the war — D. G. Latham to Captain, T. M. Allen to Captain, J. H. Carter to Captain, C. K. Gallagher to Captain, E. L. Redding to Second Fourth Regiment. 233 Lieutenaat, S. J. Litchfield to First Lieutenant, M. T. William- son to Second Lieutenant. Non-commissioned Officers in Company E — J. F. Lucas, Joseph Cutler, Joseph Whegget, George Litchfield, S. B. Whitley, T. R. Petterton, C. E. Perry. Promotions in Company F during the war — John W. Dunham to Captain, H. M. Warren to Captain, T. G. Lee to First Lieutenant, T. F. Thompson to Second Lieutenant, S. Y. Parker to Second Lieutenant, W. V. Stevens to Second Lieuten- ant, T. B. Stith to Second Lieutenant, J. D. Wells to Second Lieutenant. Non-commissioned Officers in Company F — W. R. Hamraell, R. B. Lancaster, W. P. Fitzgerald, J. B. Farmer, J. H. Marshburn, R. H. Watson, W. E. Winstead, W. O. Wootten, J. L. Burton, J. B. Farmer. Promotions in Company G during the war — S. A Kelley to Captain, B. J. Smith to First Lieutenant, D. J. Cain to First Lieutenant, D. G. Snioot to Second Lieutenant, C. A. Guffy to Second Lieutenant, W. B. Jones to Second Lieutenant. Non-commissioned Officers in Company G — R. D. Brown, B. B. Williams, P. P. Haynes, L. S. Millican, C. A. •Guffy. Promotions, in Company H during the war — John B. Forcum to Captain, A. M. D. Kennedy to First Lieutenant, Julius A. Summers to First Lieutenant, J. B. Stockton to Second Lieu- tenant. Non-commissioned Officers in Company H — J. M. Albea, H. H. James, S. H. Bobbit, I. P. Maiden, H. P. Wil- liams, T. M. Ball, J. A. Holmes, John A. Feimster, Stark Gra- ham, A. L. Summers, John Barnett. Promotions in Company I during the war — Edward S. Marsh to Captain, B. T. Bonner to First Lieutenant, N. B. Tuten to Second Lieutenant, T>. C. Styron to Second Lieutenant, C A. Watson to Second Lieutenant, Edward Tripp to Second Lieutenant, James A. Herrington to Second Lieutenant. Non-commissioned Officersof Company I — C. C. Archi- 234 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. bald, Charles Tripp, Zack B. Caraway, B. B. Ross, R. R. Tuten,- Henry L. Clayton, Charles Tripp. Promotions In Company K during the war — W. C. Coughenour to Captain, Marcus Hofflin to Captain, Moses L. Bean to Captain, William Brown to Second Lieutenant, Hamil- ton Long to Second Lieutenant, A. N. Wiseman to Second Lieu- tenant. Non-commissioned Officers of Company K — W. C. Fra- ley, James Bowers, John E. Renter, John L. Lyerly, James Crawford. Number of Privates in the Fourth Regiment — Com- pany A, 153; Company B, 109; Company C, 170; Company D, 98; Company E, 172; Company F, 109; Company G, 108; Com- pany H, 246; Company I, 82; Company K, 129. Total, 1,376. The following persons composed the regimental band, which was a most efficient body of men, always at the post of duty, and during 1864-'65 acting as litter-bearers and hospital nurses in time of engagements: E. B. Neave, Chief Musician; W. R. Gorman, John Y. Barber, Thomas Gillespie, John T. Good- man, W. A. Moose, J. C. Steel, Nat. Raymer, Charles Heyer, M. J. Weant, Green Austin, Brawley, E. B. Stinson, Patterson. The regiment was ordered to leave camp Hill, near Garys- burg, N. C, and proceed to Richmond Va., on the 20th of July, 1861, where we remained until the 29th of July, when we were sent to Manassas Junction, Va., arriving there some days after the bloody engagement which was the first great battle of the war. Here we remained doing post and fatigue duty and drilling dur- ing the summer and winter. Colonel Anderson having been as- signed to the command of the post. While at Manassas the men suffered fearfully with sickness, and many valuable young men succumbed to the various forms of disease that assailed us there. There were many other troops there, and almost every hour in the day the funeral dirge could be heard and the firing of the doleful platoon sounded out upon the air almost continually, reminding us that death was busy in FouETH Eegiment. 235 *the camp; and almost every train that left the station carried the remains of some soldier boy back to his friends at home. But when the winter came the men regained their health, and having become inured to camp life, and accustomed to taking care of themselves, they were soon in fine spirits. In fact, when we left Manassas Junction on the 8th of March, 1862, they had the appearance and bearing of regular troops, and were in a measure prepared for the terrible ordeals through which they were des- tined to pass in the course of the next few months. The brigade was now composed of the Forty-ninth Virginia, the Twenty- seventh and Twenty-eighth Georgia, and the Fourth North Carolina Regiments, and was under the command of Colonel Anderson, and the regiment in command of Major Grimes, Lieu- tenant-Colonel Young having been sent to Richmond to attend to business connected with the command. After a march of several days, we went into camp at Clark's Mountain, near Orange Court House and about three miles from the Rapidan River. Here we remained until the 8th of April, when we were ordered to Yorktown. At this place we had our first experience in contact with the enemy — doing picket duty and having some skirmishes with his pickets. We also were subjected to the fire of their gun-boats on the river. THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. On the night of the 4th of May, 1862, Yorktown was evacu- ated. Major Grimes was now in charge of the picket-line, Lieu- tenant-Colonel Young in command of the regiment, and Colonel Anderson still in command of the brigade. Major Grimes held the picket-line until the troops had gotten under way, and then, about daylight, he withdrew and joined the regiment about noon. The next day the enemy attacked the Confederate forces at Williamsburg. Our brigade had passed through the town, but upon hearing the firing in the rear, we quickly faced about and marched in the direction of the engagement. The rain was pour- ing and the streets of the town covered with mud. The doors, yards and balconies were crowded with women and children 236 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. t wild with excitement, waving handkerchiefs and banners, and* urging us on to the conflict. We passed a number of wounded men, some streaming with blood and pale with exhaustion, be- ing borne upon litters or supported by comrades. The excite- ment and enthusiasm of the mem became intense. The air rang with shouts as we pressed forward, eager for the fray. We marched directly to the field of battle and -were formed in line. The air was alive with the roar of artillery and musketry and the shouts and shrieks of men, some in tones of triumph and others in cries of pain. The balls flew thick around us, and a few of our men were wounded; but we were not actively en- gaged. The day was far spent, and the mists of night soon gathered over the field and put an end to the strife. We passed the night on the field, wet and faint with hunger and fatigue. The night was cold; no fires were allowed, and the men suffered greatly. Some would have died if they had not kept in motion by stamping, marking time, or crowding together in groups to keep each other warm. This was the 5th of May; a day long to be remembered as the first actual experience we had on the field of battle, and wit- nessed the dire results of war. All night long we could hear the cries and groans of some wounded men in our front, and an occasional shot from the picket-line told of the presence of the foe, which would not permit them to be taken care of. The next day we resumed the line of march towards Rich- mond. The roads were muddy from the rains and stirred up by the artillery and baggage trains. The men literally waded almost knee-deep in mud most of the day. Their rations were exhausted, and that night each man received an ear of hard corn for his supper; but not a murmur did I hear. The boys parched their corn and ate it with the best grace they could command, and were glad to rest quietly for the night. The next day we were supplied with rations. On the 13th of May we came to the Chickahominy E.iver, where we remained until the battle of Seven Pines, or Fair Oaks. Fourth Eegiment. 237 THE BATTLE OF SEVEN PINES, OR FAIR OAKS. The day before this bloody engagement was hot and sultry. The regiment was kept under arms all day, and frequently changed its position as if expecting an engagement. About sunset we went into bivouac and were ordered to prepare rations for the next day. The men were stirring until late at night, and then, tired and jaded, they sought repose. But soon a most terrible thunder-storm came down upon us. -It seemed as if heaven and earth were being torn to pieces, while the rain came down in torrents upon the men, who were poorly sheltered, some with little fly tents and many with only a single blanket on a pole instead of a tent. But towards morning the storm passed away, leaving the air cool and bracing; and the men slept. The 31st was a lovely May morning, and the sun rose bright and clear. The men were full of life and the woods resounded with their voices and movements. Breakfast was soon dispatched and the order 16 "fall in" was given. The regiment was in fine condition. Twenty-five commissioned officers and five hundred and twenty men and non-commissioned officers reported for duty on the morning of the 31st of May, 1862; and as they filed out and moved off toward the battlefield of Seven Pines they presented a splendid picture of manhood, energy and courage. The brigade was still under command of Colonel Anderson, the regiment under Major Grimes, Lieutenant- Colonel J. A. Young having been sent home on special duty. Early in the afternoon we were drawn up in front of the enemy's works near the Williamsburg road, under cover of a heavy forest, within one-fourth of a mile of the enemy's batteries and redoubts. A formidable abatis, formed by felling a dense grove of old field pines and cutting the limbs partly off so as to form obstructions to our approach, lay between us and the enemy's works. The ground was also covered with water in many places — from six inches to waist-deep. The Fourth Regiment was to the left of the stage road, the right being near the road, which ran diagonally across our front, crossing the enemy's line a little to the left of the front of the Fourth Regiment. A very heavy redoubt was 238 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. in front of us, bristling with artillery supported by a mass of infantry and flanked on either side by extensive earth-works filled with men supported by artillery. We had not been in this position but a few minutes when the enemy opened on us with his artillery. A fearful storm of shot, shell, grape and canister tore through the trees, plowing up the ground on every side and cutting down the branches and saplings around us. Soon the order was passed along the line to move forward. The men sprang to their feet without a word and advanced to the assault. For many rods we made our way through the obstruc- tions above mentioned, under a terrible fire of musketry and artillery, which we could not return with any effect on account of the confusion into which we were thrown by the obstructions and the great difiieulty of getting over them. Heavy musketry on the right indicated that the battle was raging there with ter- rible fury. Onward moved our devoted men, until at last the open field was reached within one hundred yards of the enemy's works. The men quickly resumed their places in line of battle and opened fire upon the enemy with such deadly eScct as to cause a momentary lull in the storm of deadly missiles that were assailing us. But again the enemy renewed his fire with redoubled fury. Our line moved on to within fifty or sixty yards of the enemy's works. The men were falling rapidly. We halted near a zigzag fence to await support on the right, which had failed to come up. The enemy's fire continued with unabated fury, and it was evident that the regiment could not remain there without being utterly destroyed. The writer of this narrative looked around for a field officer. Major Grimes was near, sitting calmly on his iron-gray horse, with one leg thrown over the saddle bow, as afterwards so often seen on the battlefield. I seized his leg to attract his attention. He leaned toward me with his ear near my face to hear what I had to say. " Major," I shouted, " we can't stand this. Let us charge the works." "All right," said the Major, "Charge them! 'Charge them!" I rushed back to the front of my company, leaped over the fence, and waved them forward with hat and sword. My company, H, rushed forward, Fourth Regiment. 239 and the whole regiment instinctively moved with them, yelling and firing as they advanced. In front of our left was a field battery which was instantly silenced, also the heavy battery in front of our centre and right. On we rushed with such impetuos- ity and determination that the enemy abandoned everything and retired. We captured the works and six pieces of artillery. But again we had to halt to await necessary support on the right and left. The writer of this sketch was wounded at this point within a few rods of the breastworks. After the works were captured in the first assault the line retired to the fence from which we had made the charge, to await re-inforcements, which arrived in a few minutes, when the whole line advanced and drove the enemy entirely away. When the second charge was ordered the regiment passed over the same ground over which they had charged but a little while before. It was appalling to see how much the line had been reduced in numbers. The heavy, compact, orderly line of half an hour previous was now scarcely more than a line of skirmish- ers, but they moved with the same boldness and determination as before. The ground was literally covered with the bodies of their dead and wounded comrades, yet they moved steadily for- ward, directing their fire with telling efiPect until within a few paces of the fortifications, when the enemy again retired from his works. Of the twenty-five commissioned officers and six hundred, and fifty-three men and non-commissioned officers every officer except Major Grimes was killed, wounded or disabled, while of the men seventy-four were killed and two hundred and sixty-five were wounded. Major Grimes had a horse killed under him in the charge. His foot was caught under the horse, and it was with much difficulty that he was extricated from his helpless condition. While on the ground and unable to rise, he waved his sword and shouted : "Go on, boys ! Go on !" Upon regaining his feet he saw that his color-bearer, James Bonner, of Company K, was killed, when he seized the flag himself and rushed forward, waving his men on to the charge. After the works were captured John A. Stike- 240 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65 leather, of CompaDy A, asked to be allowed to carry the flag; and from that day to the close of the war, except when necessarily absent for a short time, he bravely bore the regimental colors. A few minutes after the -enemy was driven from his works he began to rally in rear of his tents. Major Grimes order- ed his regiment into a piece of woodland near by, and opened fire upon him. In moving at double-quick across the open field, to seek the cover of the woods, he discovered that the enemy was throwing up breastworks on his right. He charged, driv- ing him away and taking a number of prisoners. The night was spent upon the field. The men being worn out, were glad to stretch themselves upon the ground and rest, surrounded, as they were, by dead and wounded men and animals, while the air was filled with cries and groans of the wounded and dying. The conduct of the officers and men in this notable conflict was splendid beyond description. Their coolness and delibera- tion in making their way through the abatis, under the most galling fire at short range; the firmness and calmness with which they reformed their weakened and disordered line and awaited orders in the open field within seventy-five yards of the enemy's works, under the same awful and destructive fire; the coolness and precision with which they delivered their fire under all these trying conditions; the irresistible firmness and determination with which they made that wonderful and heroic charge in the very jaws of death; the calmness and sullenness with which they retired when the danger of being flanked was apparent, and the grim and unwavering determination with which they returned to the second charge and continued to fight, all displayed a spirit of courage and manliness worthy of any men the world has ever produced. It would be a privilege to record the list of the gallant men who fell in this fight, but time and space for- bids. Their names may not be known to history or to fame, but their comrades knew them and loved them. We believe the world is better and humanity is honored and ennobled by the lives of such men, and that both are the poorer by their un- timely loss. Fourth Regiment. 241 The figures in regard to the number of the men engaged and of those killed and disabled are taken from Colonel G. B. Anderson's ofificial report of the battle. In all this carnage these heroic men never for an instant wavered or showed the slightest trepidation. It was as if some superhuman spirit had been infused into them, and nothing but death itself could stop them. The writer shall never forget his feelings as he lay upon that bloody field wounded and helpless, and saw those brave men pressing on in the face of that death- dealing fire. On they went, their ranks growing thinner and thinner, until within a few paces of the enemy's works, be- hind which masses of bayonets were gleaming. Surely they will all be made prisoners. But no. The forest of gleaming steel begins to waver, and then to move away in confusion; and the works are ours! Three color-bearers were among the killed, and Major Grimes then took the flag and carried it through the remainder of the fight. It may be proper to say a word in regard to the absence of Lieutenant-Colonel John A. Young from the regiment at this battle and thereafter. He had been for some time before the war, and at its beginning, a manufacturer of woolen cloth; and had been sent home to procure clothing for the men of the regi- ment, which he abundantly supplied. Colonel Young was also afflicted with a distressing and incurable disease, which rendered him unfit for active military service. This was a great sorrow to him, as he was a devoted patriot and naturally of a military spirit. But being assured that he could serve his country more effectually at home than in the army, he at the earnest request of Governor Vance, as well as of friends in the army and at home, resigned his commission and devoted himself to manufacturing clothing for the soldiers. This he did at much pecuniary sacri- fice to himself, insomuch that the close of the war found him almost a bankrupt in estate. He devoted himself specially to supplying the wants of the Fourth Regiment, at one time sup- plying every member in the regiment with a uniform and cap at his own individual cost, and his enterprise, industry and munifi- 16 242 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. ceuce contributed greatly to the comfort and welfare of North Carolina soldiers generally. After the battle of Seven Pines, until the 26th of June, we were mainly occupied in resting, drilling and recruiting the regiment. THE BATTLE OP MECHANICSVILLE. On the 26th of June we crossed the Chickahominy River and joined the troops about to engage in the battle of Mechanicsville. Soon the regiment was under heavy fire, which lasted for several hours, in that most trying of all positions, supporting other troops who were actively engaged in battle. There was a bat- tery in front of us doing great damage to our troops. General D. H. Hill ordered Major Grimes to charge this battery with his regiment, the Fourth. Major Grimes informed him that he had only a mere skeleton of a regiment, and that the attempt would be futile, as there were not more than one hundred and fifty men and officers for duty. The General then ordered him to hold himself in readiness to make the charge in case others who had been ordered forward should fail to take the battery. The charge was made by the other troops and the enemy driven away. We then resumed our position on the right of the brigade- cold harbor. For some time the enemy seemed to be retiring before us. After a great deal of marching and manoeuvering, we came within sight of the retreating foe. The men raised a shout and set out at double-quick in pursuit. Major Grimes took the flag and rode forward, leading the charge, the men following in good order. Suddenly a volley from the enemy's guns admonished us that there was serious work at hand. Hitherto we had been moving in column. Line of battle was quickly formed. The brigade recoiled for a moment, but soon recovered, and stood their ground like men. The firing of musketry in our front was very heavy and incessant. We were ordered to change our position to a piece of woodland on the left, where we remained Fourth Regiment. 243 for some time, while the battle raged with fury in our front and on our right. We were then ordered forward in line of battle across an open field, after crossing which we passed through a piece of woods, when suddenly we encountered a line of battle concealed in the underwood in front of us. They opened fire on us. Our line halted and poured a volley into their ranks. Volley after volley followed as our men steadily advanced. Soon the enemy gave way. We now had a little time to rest and reform our line. Soon we heard heavy firing in front and to the right, when it was discovered that some of our troops were pressing down upon the enemy's left. In front of us was an open field with a ridge extending across parallel with our line, towards which we advanced. On reaching the top of the ridge the enemy was seen lying in an old road, seeking shelter behind its banks and other objects that afforded him protection. The order was given to charge, and the men responded with a shout, rush- ing across the field in the face of a furious fire. The scene was terrific beyond description. The yells of our men, the roar of musketry, the thunder of artillery, the shrieks of the wounded and dying, the screaming of shells, with the loud commands of the officers, all combined to excite and stimulate the men, who rushed across the field, closing up their ranks as their comrades fell, cut down by the enemy's fire, who held their ground stub- bornly until we were almost near enough to cross bayonets with him, when he gave way and fled in confusion. It was now night, and the men, exhausted with the terrible efibrts of the day, were glad to unroll their blankets and rest upon the ground. Such was the part borne by the Fourth Regiment in the battle of Cold Harbor. We lost heavily in proportion to our numbers. Of one hundred and fifty men eight were killed and fifty wound- ed. Among the wounded was the brave and faithful soldier, Captain John B. Andrews, who died afterwards from his wounds. Colonel Grimes had a horse killed under him, and led his men on foot until another was captured, which he rode the balance of the day. John A. Stikeleather, our color-bearer, acted with such coolness and bravery as to elicit the public commendation of the 244 North Caeolina Troops, 1861-65. regimeDtal commander. Many instances of individual bravery might be mentioned if time and space would permit. Among the killed in this battle was the brave and gallant Captain Blount, who, though Quartermaster of the regiment, and not bound to go into danger, was acting as volunteer aid to General Anderson that day, and was shot while carrying the flag of one of the regiments. Major Grimes was made Colonel of the regiment. Captain Carter Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain James H. Wood, Major. Colonel Carter's wound disabled him to such an extent that he was retired to light duty, and Major "Wood was made Lieutenant- Colonel in his place and Captain Osborne promoted to Major. Lieutenant-Colonel Wood's wound was also of a very stubborn character, and rendered it necessary for him to be put upon light duty for many months. The regiment participated in other movements of the army around Richmond, engaging in various skirmishes during the memorable campaign of the, seven days' fight. Together with the Fifth North Carolina Regiment it was detailed to bury the dead and both thus escaped the disastrous assault at Malvern Hill on the 2d of July. The brigade was reorganized so as to consist of the Second, Fourteenth, Thirtieth and Fourth North Carolina Regiments, and with the rest of Lee's army moved into Maryland, passing over the battlefield known as Second Manas- sas, crossing the Potomac near Leesburg. We encamped near Frederick City, and theuce, crossing the Blue Ridge, encamped near Boonsboro. BOONSBOEO. On the 14th of September we took part in what is known as the battle of Boonsboro, or South Mountain. We had marched a few miles beyond the mountain pass, where we spent the night of the 13th of September in camp. Early on the morning of the 14th we were ordered back to the pass at double-quick. Soon we heard cannonading and musketry, indi- cating that a battle was in progress. When we reached the Fourth Regiment. 245 summit of the mountain we found the enemy in heavy force pressing our men. The brigade under General Anderson was divided, he taking the Fourteenth and Thirtieth North Carolina Regiments to the left, or north of the pass, and directing Colonel Tew to take the Second and Fourth to the south of the road, or to the right, facing Frederick City. Filing some half mile to the right, we formed line of battle and moved in the direction of the firing; but when we approached the scene of action the firing ceased, and we found that the enemy had been repulsed by Gen- eral Garland's Brigade, but at the cost of the life of that gallant and faithful soldier, whose lifeless form was borne past us before we reached the scene of action. We then took position on the brow of the ridge. While iu this position the writer heard firing in front of our line, and started to make a reconnaissance to ascer- tain the cause. He cautiously crossed the stone fence behind which we lay and started to follow a wooden fence joining it at a right angle, when a shower of bullets clattered against the stone fence, admonishing him that his njovements were being closely observed by deadly foes. He quickly sought shelter behind the wall from which he had ventured, satisfied with his advanture, and thankful to escape unhurt. The regiment was then ordered to make a reconnaissance to the front and right, through the woods. Company H, under command of Captain Osborne, was deployed as skirmishers, with instructions to move slowly and silently through the thick forest and dense underwood in front of the regiment. Our progress was necessarily very slow, as the woods were very dense and the ground very rugged and moun- tainous. We moved toward the south and swung around gradually toward the east, marching about three-fourths of a mile, when we discovered a heavy force of the enemy in a field on the crest of the ridge, with a battery of field artillery. I at once reported this fact to General Anderson, who had now come up with the regiment, and quickly returned to the front, and was surprised to find the whole force of the enemy moving down upon us in line of battle. They opened upon us a heavy fire. Our men received them firmly, returning their fire with spirit. We 246 NoETH Carolina Troops, 1861-65. had the advantage of shelter in the dense woods, while the enemy- was in the open field, and must have suffered severely; but soon night drew on and put a stop to the engagement. We then returned to the road from whence we had started early in the afternoon. Thus ended one of the most trying and, in some respects, one of the most splendid days of the war. General D. H. Hill had with the small force of about five or six thousand men bafiled and held in check all day long a force of probably ten times as many men, and enabled General Lee to get his forces together at Sharpsburg. The men bore themselves with much coolness and courage throughout the entire day. Oar loss in killed and wounded was small, but among them some of our best men. At night the army was withdrawn and moved to the vicinity of Sharpsburg, where we arrived at 11 o'clock on the 15th and remained in line of battle most of the time until the morning of the 17th. The regiment was now under command of Captain W. T. Marsh, Colonel Grimes having been com- pelled to retire from the fieid on account of an injury received on the morning of the 14th at Boonsboro. SHARPSBURG, OR ANTIETAM. Wednesday, the 17th of September, 1862, was a day that will go down in history as having witnessed one of the great battles of the war. Anderson's Brigade had been on the right of the division from the 14th until the morning of the 17th, when it was moved to the old road, afterwards known as the "Bloody Lane." The Fourth Regiment was commanded by Captain Marsh, the Second by Colonel Tew, the Thirtieth by Colonel Parker, the Fourteenth by Colonel Bennett, the brigade by General George B. Anderson, General D. H. Hill having com- mand of the division. The Thirtieth was on the right of the brigade, the Fourth next, then the Fourteenth, and the Second was on the left. About an hour after sunrise the enemy came in sight and began the attack at once. Anderson's Brigade was partially protected by the bank of the old road above mentioned, which ran parallel with the line of battle in rear of the crest of Fourth Regiment. 247 a ridge which concealed our men from the enemy's sight until they were within seventy-five or eighty yards of us. About nine o'clock the enemy's line of battle appeared, mov- ing in magnificent style, with mounted officers in full uniform, swords gleaming, banners, plumes and sashes waving, and bayo- nets glistening in the sun. On they came with steady tramp and confident mien. They did not see our single line of hungry, jaded and dusty men, who were lying down, until within good musket shot, when we rose and delivered our fire with terrible effect. Instantly the air was filled with the cries of wounded and dying and the shouts of brave officers, trying to hold and encourage ' their men, who recoiled at the awful and stunning shock so unexpectedly received. Soon they rallied and advanced again ; this time more cautiously than before. Our men held their fire until they were within good range again, and again they rose to their feet and mowed them down, so that they were com- pelled to retire a second time; but they rallied and came again, and the battle now became general all along the line. The roar of musketry was incessant and the booming of cannon almost without intermission. Occasionally the shouts of men could be heard above the awful din, indicating a charge or some advantage gained by one side or the other. Horses without riders were rushing across the field, occasionally a section of artillery could be seen flying from one point to another, seeking shelter from some murderous assault, or securing a more commanding posi- tion. Soon Captain Marsh was mortally wounded and borne from the field. The command of the regiment then devolved upon Captain Osborne, who in turn was wounded and borne from the field. One by one the other company officers fell, either killed or wounded, until Second Lieutenant Weaver, of Company H, was in command of the handful of men who were left, and then he was killed bearing the colors of the regiment in his hand. The regiment was left without a commissioned officer; but the men needed none, except for general purposes. There were not more than one hundred and fifty men for duty, every one of whom seemed to realize his own value, and to act 248 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. with that cool and determined courage which showed that he understood the emergency, and was determined to do his best. All day long the battle raged with almost unabated fury and with varying results, sometimes one side gaining the advantage and then the other. As the day wore away the contest seemed to gather new force. The enemy renewed their efforts to gain what they had failed to achieve during the day, while the Confederates were equally determined to defeat their aims. The flower of the two great armies had met in open field, and neither was willing to leave the other in possession. The Northern troops displayed wonder- ful courage and obstinancy during the entire day, while our men held their ground with equal courage and determination. Gen- eral Anderson and Colonel Parker were wounded. Colonel Tew was killed, and Colonel Bennett had command of the brigade. The men of different regiments became mixed with each other so that all distinct organization of regiments was broken up, and all identity lost — still the men maintained their positions in line, and fought like heroes. General Hill was with his men all day long, encouraging and cheering them by his presence and by his cool and fearless bearing. On two occasions the enemy approach- ed to within about thirty yards of our line, but each time they were forced to retire. Late in the day the enemy forced his way beyond the right of the brigade, and Colonel Bennett found it necessary to retire from the "Bloody Lane." This he did in good order, and in doing so passed within sixty yards of the right flank of the enemy's line; but they were so hotly engaged with one of our lines in front that they did not observe the Colonel's movement until he had extricated his men from their dangerous position, and passed some distance to the enemy's front and left. Finding a piece of artillery which had been abandoned, the Colonel manned it and opened fire upon the enemy's line. Captains Harney and Beall with Sergeant P. D. Weaver, all of the Fourteenth, were the men who manned the gun. In this movement the Fourth Regiment lost a number of men from companies I and K, on Fourth Regiment. 249 the left, who were taken prisoners: being separated from the right by a little hillock, they did not know the retreat had taken place until they were in the hands of the enemy. This new position was held during the rest of the day. The command remained on the field until night, when the battle ended. They then bivouacked in a grove near by. The next day the brigade was commanded by Major Collins, Colonel Bennett having been disabled. The Fourth Regiment was commanded by Orderly Sergeant Thomas W. Stephenson, of Company C. General Hill had the brigade formed, and made a lit- tle speech to them, calling them "the faithful few," warmly com- mending their courage and fortitude during the fearful conflict of the day before. In this battle General George B. Anderson, who commanded the brigade, was wounded. His wound proved fatal, and the Confederacy lost one of its noblest defenders. He was the first Colonel of the Fourth Regiment. The writer of this sketch knew him well and loved him much. He was a perfect speci- men of a man in every way. A graduate of West Point, a devoted Churchman, a pure and chivalrous gentleman, as modest and chaste as a woman, as brave and daring as a man could be. His was a very great loss. The 18th day of September was spent near the hard fought field of the day before, in constant expectation of another engage- ment, while details were occupied in burying the dead and caring for the wounded; our own wounded being sent across the river to the Virginia side. At night all remaining baggage and troops crossed over; the writer of this narrative being left at the house of Mrs. Boteler, in Shepherdstown, Va., where he lay for six weeks in a most helpless and precarious condition from the wound received on the 17th, and where he received every atten- tion that human kindness could provide on the part of the mem- bers of the family, and also from Mr. Darnell, a faithful nurse detailed from the hospital, to whom he is indebted for his life. He would also mention with gratitude, his faithful negro servant, Gus, who remained with him during the time in spite of the 250 North Caeolina Troops, 1861-65. efforts that were made to induce him to go away with the North- ern troops, who held the town where we were. On the 20th of September the regiment took part in the attack that was made on the Northern troops who had crossed the river near the town. This engagement proved disastrous to the enemy, many of them being killed, and many drowned in the river as they retreated across. Afterward the command was removed to the neighborhood of Fredericksburg, where it spent the winter doing picket duty and recruiting its numbers. The writer hav- ing been captured while wounded, in Shepherdstown, was not exchanged until after the battle of Fredericksburg. FREDERICKSBURG. On the 13th of December our brigade was placed in position to support the artillery, preparatory to the battle of Fredericks- burg, which took place on the 15th. We were held in reserve until after the enemy had made the first charge, when the brigade was moved forward and took the front line, which it held the remainder of the day. Our loss in this engagement was but trifling, as we were protected by breastworks most of the time. Immediately after the battle of Fredericksburg we went into winter quarters on the south bank of the Rapidan River, where we remained for the balance of the winter. CHANCELLORSVILLE. On the 1st of May, 1863, the enemy bagan to make demonstra- tions indicating a purpose of beginning the campaign. We now began that grand movement which, but for the untimely wound- ing of General Jackson, would have resulted in the entire destruction of Hooker's army. The brigade was commanded by the brave and gallant Ramseur, who displayed remarkable cour- age and skill in managing it during this campaign, and as long as he continued in command. The regiment was commanded by Colonel Grimes. After much skirmishing, and then a long and circuitous route, we found ourselves on the extreme right of Fourth Eegiment. 251 Hooker's army. This was the 2d of May. Though late iu the afternoon, and the troops much fatigued, line of battle was formed, and the attack begun. We struck the enemy squarely OH the. flank, and everything gave way before us until night put a stop to our advance. Many prisoners and much baggage and stores were captured. We slept on the field that night, and on the 3d of May was fought th.e battle of Chancellorsville. The left of the Fourth Regiment was near the great road which ran in rear of the enemy's works and nearly parallel with them, our line of battle extending to the right of this road at right angles with it. At daylight the battle began, Jackson's Corps, now under Stuart, attacking the enemy's right, while other troops engaged their front. Ramseur's Brigade was formed in the rear of Paxton's brigade that held a line of breastworks which we had captured the day before. This brigade was ordered to advance and charge the enemy in front, but they failed to comply with the order, whereupon General Ramseur, who was present, and heard the command, offered to make the charge. The order was then given in the presence of Colonel Grimes, when they both hurried back to the brigade and ordered the men forward. When the breastworks were reached the men who occupied them were lying down, our men passing literally over them and across the works, formed line of battle in front of the enemy, in the face of a destructive fire. The command "Double-quick" was given, when the Fourth Regiment, under Colonel Grimes, and part of the Second, under Colonel Cox, moved forward and drove the enemy from their works. There were several batteries on the hill in front, but when the infantry left the works the artillery was quickly abandoned. These batteries had done ter- rible havoc among our troops as they approached the enemy's lines. Several efforts were made by the enemy to recover their works, but they were driven back each time with heavy loss. Afterwards they extended their lines and came down upon our right flank, threatening to cut off our retreat, when we were com- pelled to fall back and rejoin the other part of the brigade, which still occupied the line from which the charge had been made. 252 NoKTH Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Colonel Grimes received a severe contusion in this part of the engagement, and when he reached the breastworks referred to he fell fainting to the ground. He soon revived and was ready for action again. Meanwhile General Rodes came up and ordered the troops, who had refused to charge, to move forward, when the whole line, thus re-inforced, returned and captured the entire line of works. Our loss was very severe. Forty-six oiScers and men were killed outright, fifty-seven wounded, and fifty-eight captured, out of three hundred and twenty-seven officers and men who went into the engagement. General Cox, in his address on the "Life and Character of General Ramseur," gives a copy of a letter from General Lee to Governor Vance, in which he speaks in terms of high praise of the conduct of Ramseur and his brigade in this engagement, and states that General Jackson had sent him a message to the same effect, after he was wounded, in reference to his conduct the day before. General Ramseur in his official report says : " The charge of the brigade, made at a critical moment, when the enemy had broken and was hotly pressing the centre of the line in front with apparently overwhelming numbers, not only checked his advance, but threw him back in disorder and pur- sued him with heavy loss from his last line of works. Too high praise cannot be accredited to officers and men for their gallantry, manly courage and fortitude during this brief but arduous campaign. " The advance of the line on Friday was made under the eyes of our departed hero (Jackson) and of General A. P. Hill, whose words of commendation and praise bestowed on the field we fondly cherish. And on Sunday the magnificent charge of the brigade upon the enemy's last and most terrible stronghold was made in view of General Stuart and General Rodes, whose testimony that it was the most glorious charge of that most glorious day, we are proud to remember and report to our kindred and friends. All met the enemy with unflinching courage; and for privation, hardships and splendid marches, all of which were Fourth Regiment. 253 cheerfully borne, they deserve the praise of our beautiful and glorious Confederacy." The victory was complete, and we were left in undisputed possession of the field. Nothing could surpass the dashing skill and courage of the brilliant and accomplished Ramseur on this occasion, and the day before, while the intrepid Grimes shone with magnificent splendor by his side. They were like two lion- hearted brothers, while the gallant Cox, heroic Parker and the brave and sturdy Bennett, always in the thickest of the fight, and where duty called, constituted a galaxy that any country might well be proud to own. It was a dearly bought victory — many of our best young men laid down their lives that day. After a few weeks' rest and recuperation the command was again on the move, BRANDY STATION. On the 9th of June we supported the Confederate cavalry at Brandy Station. Though under fire, we were not actively engaged. We then went to the Valley and assisted in driving the enemy from Berryville and Martinsburg, and on the 15th of June crossed into Maryland with Lee's airmy and participated in the Gettysburg campaign. The conduct of the men on this march through the enemy's country was orderly and gentlemanly in the highest degree. There was no straggling, no disorder and no plundering. The only disturbance of the property of the country the writer saw was the men helping themselves to the splendid supplies of cherries that grew along the lanes through which we passed. GETTYSBURG. On the 1st of July, 1863, we moved off about sunrise toward Gettysburg. About 3 o'clock p. m. we arrived at the scene of action. The battle bad begun, as was apparent from the roar of artillery and musketry in our front and to the right. The Fourth Regiment was on the left of the brigade, under Colonel Grimes. We were ordered forward in advance of the main line 254 NoETH Carolina Troops, 1861-65. of battle. We had only moved a few paces when our direction was changed by the right flank. Marching a few hundred yards, we were recalled by General Rodes and formed on a hill, in connection with the Second Regiment, to repel an attack that was threatened from that quarter. In a few minutes a brigade of Federals appeared in our front, moving obliquely to the left instead of advancing towards us. Genera! Rodes then ordered the Second and Fourth Regiments to advance upon them. Soon we were exposed to a severe fire, enfilading our lines from the woods on the right, which caused Colonel Grimes to change front to the right. We then advanced upon the enemy, and being joined by the other two regiments of the brigade, we drove them before us in much confusion, capturing a large number of prison- ers. We were the first to enter the town of Gettysburg, and halted to rest on the road leading out toward the west. Here we remained until night, when we were ordered to make a night attack; but after approaching within a short distance of the enemy's lines the order was countermanded, and we returned to the position first occupied. On the 3d of July we were under heavy firing from the enemy's guns, but only a few men were hurt, as we were protected by a ridge. We lost some valuable men in this battle, among whom was Lieutenant John Stockton, of Company H. He was a brave, modest, conscientious, Christian soldier, just in the beginning of his manhood. The regiment behaved splendidly in this battle. In fact, the men had become so much accustomed to marching and fighting that we never thought of their doing otherwise. On the 5th of July, Ewell's Corps began the retreat from Gettysburg, and the regiment formed part of the rearguard of the army, which position it occupied until ^ the army recrossed the Potomac at or near Hagerstown. The men bore the hard- ships and privations of this most trying campaign with remarka- ble cheerfulness and fortitude. After crossing the Potomac into Virginia, we went to Orange Court House, where we remained doing picket duty until about the middle of November, when we went into winter quarters some eight miles from that town, Fourth Eegiment. 255 and spent the winter doing picket duty on the Eappahannock, participating in the skirmish at Kelley's Ford, and also at Mine Run. SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. On the 5th of May, 1864, General Grant began his movement toward Richmond, having crossed the Rapidan with more than a hundred thousand men. From that day until the close of the campaign the regiment was actively engaged almost every day. On the 8th of May two companies of the regiment were detailed to strengthen the line of sharp-shooters commanded by Major Osborne, now numbering, so re-inforced, some three hundred men. After manoeuvering for some time with the enemy, Gen- eral Ramseur rode to the front and ordered a charge. The men moved off in a double-quick, crossing a field some two hundred and fifty yards wide, and driving the enemy's skirmishers before us. We encountered a line of battle on the top of the ridge. With a shout, the men pushed forward, and the enemy's line gave way, leaving their baggage in heaps where they had piled it pre- paratory to an engagement. On the 9th of May we had a sharp encounter with the enemy in force. After some twenty minutes fighting, we advanced upon them, when they retired. On the lOth and 11th our sharp- shooters were actively engaged, day and night, and the regiment kept in line of battle most of the time. On the evening of the 11th an attack was made upon our right, breaking the line. General Battle's (Alabama) Brigade rushed in and supported the line that had been driven back, and with the aid of our brigade, which charged the enemy's right flank, they were driven back and the line was restored after a most stubborn and determined resistance on the part of the foe. On the morning of the 12th of May the euemy made a furious assault upon General Edward Johnston's line, half a mile to our right, breaking the line and capturing many men. Rodes' Division was ordered to retrieve the loss. The fate of the army was at stake. Ramseur, with his brigade, led the charge, and in the face of the most murderous fire drove back the foe and restored the broken line. Ramseur 266 jSToeth Caeolina Troops, 1861-'65. was wounded in this charge when near the retaken works. Colo- nel Grimes took command of the brigade for the remainder of that day and for some days after. Lieutenant-Colonel Wood was now in command of the regiment, and continued in com- mand until his death. He was a most faithful, brave and consci- entious Christian soldier; a lovely gentleman and skillful officer. The broken line was retaken after a most fearful encounter, and held until after 2 o'clock at night, during which time we repelled more than twenty distinct and desperate attempts of the enemy to retake the works we had recaptured in the morning. Speaking of the battle of the 12th of May, an army cor- respondent of the London Herald says : "Ramseur's Brigade of North Carolina Troops being, ordered to charge, were received by the enemy with stubborn resistance. The desperate character of the struggle along that brigade was told terribly by the rapidity of its musketry. So close was the fighting there for a time, that the fire of friends and foe rose up rattling in one common roar. Ramseur's North Carolinians dropped thick and fast, but he continued with glorious constancy to gain ground, foot by foot. Pressing under a fierce fire reso- lutely on, on, on, the struggle was about to become one of hand- to-hand, when the Federalists shrank from the bloody trial, driven back, but not defeated. They bounded on the opposite side of the earth-works, placing them in their front, and renew- ed the conflict. A rush of an instant brought Ramseur's men to the side of the defenses; and though they crouched close to the slopes under an enfilade from the guns of the salient their musketry rattled in deep and deadly fire on the enemy that stood in overwhelming numbers but a few yards from their front. Those brave North Carolinians had thus, ih one of the hottest conflicts of the day, driven the enemy from the works that had been occupied during the previous night by a brigade which until May the 12th, had never yielded to a foe — ' The Stonewall.' " ** *****^ Ramseur, though suffering much from the wound in his hand would not leave the field until the fight was over, and soon FOURTH REGIMENT. 1. W. C. Cougliinoiir, Captain, Co. K. a. William F. Kelly, Captain, Co. G. 3. S. A. Kelly, Captain, Co. G. 4. Jesse S. Barnes, Captain, Co. F. 5. John B. Andrews, Captain, Co. C. 0. H. M. Warren, Captain, Co. F. 7. M. L. Bean, Captain, Co. K. 8. Tliomas M. Allen, Captain, Co. E. Fourth Regiment. 257 afterwards resumed the command of his brigade with his arm in a sling. This was one of the most splendid achievements of the war, and was accomplished in magnificent style. Ramseur, on his fiery steed, looked like an angel of war. Grimes, too, was on his horse, the very picture of coolness, grira determination and undaunted courage, while Wood and the other officers and men moved into the horrible conflict like men of iron and steel. The enemy, flushed with their temporary success, stood their ground with persistent and stubborn firmness, and poured into our ranks a destructive fire. But onward moved our lion-hearted men, closing up their rapidly thinning ranks, and pouring a continuous storm of leaden hail into the enemy's ranks, as he slowly, but stubbornly retired, until he reached the line of works, as described above, from which he was driven almost at the very point of the bayonet. The pits at the breastworks were filled with water from recent rains; many dead and wounded from both sides were lying in the pits when we reached them. The water was red with human gore. The bodies of the dead were dragged out, and the men took shelter in their places, which they held for the balance of the day. The writer received a painful contusion from a ball that passed through a heavy canteen of water which he carried, and which no doubt saved his life. After recovering from the temporary shock, he resumed his place in line of battle, where he remained the rest of the day. After the battle General Rodes thanked the brigade in person, saying they deserved the thanks of the country, and that they had saved Ewell's Corps. General Early also made a similar statement in regard to this occasion. Our loss included some of the best of our brave and well tried men. Among the number was Cap- tain William McRorie, of Company A, as brave and gallant a youth as ever drew a sword. About 2 o'clock in the morning we changed our position to one more advantageous, which we held until the 19th of May. The position occupied by the brigade was just to the left of "the bloody angle," the right of the Fourth Regiment extending to within a few rods of the 17 258 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. angle, where the trees were literally cut down by minie- balls from the enemy's guns. This was one of the most prolonged and stubbornly contested engagements of the war. It began about halfpast ifive in the morning and lasted until near two o'clock the next morning, and the enemy made very many assaults upon the lines during the time, but without avail. On the 19th of May we made a flank movement upon the left of Grant's army, which resulted in a heavy engagement. Here we met the enemy in the open field, without breastworks on either side. Both sides were determined to do their best, and displayed the most undaunted courage. Night put an end to the engagement, and the next morning found both armies some dis- tance from the scene of the engagement. Our loss was sixty- five men killed and wounded. Among the former was the brave and gallant Christian soldier, Augustus Byers, and among the latter the writer of this narrative. In speaking of this engagement of the 19th of May, General Grimes in his notes says: "Two of the 'Old Guard' killed — Gus Byers . and Taylor. The old Fourth lost sixty-five killed and wounded." The regiment was under the command of Colonel Wood, and acted with its usual courage and firmness under a very trying ordeal, being at one time completely flanked by the enemy ; but by a skillful movement we changed front to the left and met the foe in good order. This was an open field engagement, and both sides deported themselves with much courage and determination. After this the command was kept continually on the move until the army reached the vicinity of Richmond ; in fact, for the rest of the summer and fall. On the 22d of May we reached Hanover Junction, after much manoeuvering and skirmishing, the enemy endeavoring to flank us. On the 25th a severe fight came ofi", and again on the 30tb, in both of which the enemy was repulsed. Our loss in these engagements was small. Again on the 3d of June a fierce and bloody engagement occurred, in which the enemy again retired. This was one of the bloodiest fights of the campaign, and the enemy's loss was very heavy. Fourth Regiment. 259 On the 13th of June the division moved in the direction of South Anna River to meet the reported advance of General Hun- ter. General Grimes was now in command of the division, in the absence of General Rodes. On the 4th of July Harper's Ferry was captured with con- siderable stores and a number of prisoners. This was a gala day for the Confederates. The enemy had prepared a sumptuous feast, and was celebrating the day, when our men made the attack, drove him out of the town, and captured everything just as he was about to begin the feast. Of course our hungry and thirsty men enjoyed the booty to the fullest extent. On the 6th of July the command crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown, Va., and on the 7th passed through Fredrick City, going towards Washington City, meeting with slight resistance from the few troops who were left there. At the Monocacy River we encountered General Wallace, who had been sent to intercept and resist our advance. His troops occupied the east bank of the river, but his skirmishers were on the west side. These were driven back, and after a short engagement the whole Federal force gave way, leaving the field, with their dead and wounded, in our hands, with five or six hundred prisoners. The Federals fought well, and our loss was severe; but the troops were in good spirits. The command moved on to Rock- ville on the 10th, and on the 11th reached Eleventh Street Pike, which leads into the City of Washington, and advanced to the neighborhood of Fort Stephens. After two or three days we be- gan the retreat for Virginia, during which there were frequent skirmishes but no important engagements. The command recrossed the Potomac at Leesburg, crossed the Blue Ridge at Snicker's Gap and the Shenandoah at Snicker's Ford. snicker's gap. On the 18th of July the regiment participated in a fierce and bloody encounter with the enemy near Snicker's Gap. Several brigades of Federal troops had crossed to the south side of the Shenandoah, leaving a considerable force on the north bank as a 260 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. ■ support and a cover for their movements. This force could not be reached by our men, but isept up an annoying fire upon us while we engaged the force on the south side of the river. Here occurred one of the most exciting scenes of the war. The enemy pursuing Ewell, had crossed to the south side of the river. Our men hurried back to meet them, and when they came in sight the enemy had formed line of battle parallel with and on the south side of the river. Our men were in lineof battle on the ridge several hundred yards to the south. About half way between the two lines, in the valley, was a stone fence. As soon as this was seen our men made a dash for it. The Federals seeing this, and knowing the value of such a defence, made a dash for it at the same time. Away went both lines of battle at full speed as fast as their feet could carry them, scarcely taking time to fire a single shot, both lines running for dear life to gain this coveted prize. But our men had the advantage of down grade, and gained the wall, while the enemy was some fifty or more yards away, and in much disorder. He instantly faced about when he saw that our men would reach the wall first, and beat a hasty retreat, making for the ford at which he had crossed. Our men opened fire upon him and he suffered heavily, leaving many of his men and three regimental flags on the field. The brigade charged the enemy and drove him in and across the river, capturing many prisoners. Among the soldiers who fell that day was the brave and gallant Colonel James H. "Wood, who was in command of the regiment at the time he fell. No better man died during the warthan this splendid soldier. He was a Christian gentlemen, a young man of much promise, and a rnodel soldier; brave, gallant and faith- ful. He died at the post of duty, giving his life a willing sacri- fice for the cause of liberty, which he loved more than life itself. At this engagement also fell Colonel W. A. Owens, of the Fifty- third (N. C.) Regiment, and Lieutenant-Colonel W. S. Stallings, of the Second (N. C.) Eegiment. All of these brave and gallant men were much beloved in the army and at home, and in their deaths the cause lost three of its most splendid men. Fourth Regiment. 261 After this fight the enemy's sharp-shooters annoyed our men very much with their long-range rifles, firing from the tree-tops. A man of the Fourth Regiment, whose name I have not been able to learn, discovered one of these sharp-shooters in the top of a tree. He ran from tree to tree until within range of his own gun, and brought him down the first shot. The enemy's men ran oiut and fired upon this daring Confederate, while our men rushed to his rescue; but they could not save him — he fell pierced with bullets. There was no more firing from the trees at that place. The command of the regiment now devolved upon Captain S. A. Kelly, of Company G, who continued in command until wounded and captured at the battle of Winchester, when Major Stansill was put in command, which he retained until the month of March, when he gave it up on account of a wound, and Cap- tain Forcum commanded it until the surrender. The brigade, under command of General William R. Cox, was kept constantly on the move in the neighborhood of Berry ville, Newtown, Mid- dletown, Strasburg, Kearnstown and Bunker Hill, sometimes tearing up the railroad track ; again skirmishing with the enemy, and then resting for a few days, awaiting orders; at one time crossing the Potomac and going as far as Hagerstown, Md. ; then returning rapidly to Bunker Hill, and from there to Winchester ; and then again to Strasburg and Harper's Ferry. The health and spirits of the men were good, and they were always pleased to be in motion, even if it involved a skirmish with the enemy. At Stevenson's Depot and Berryville there was considerable fighting, with variable results; sometimes retreating, and some- times advancing ; but most generally the latter, as the enemy's forces were at that time usually small, and they not much dis- posed to make a stubborn fight. THE BATTLE OF WINCHESTER. On the 19th of September the brigade was under arms at an early hour. About 10 o'clock a. m. line of battle was formed by three brigades of the division. Grimes (Rodes') on the 262 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. « right, Cox in the center and Cooke on the left. Our command was on the left of the Winchesler and Martinsburg road. ^ We soon engaged the enemy, who had approached near our position, and who after a short encounter gave way. Cox pressed him vigo- rously through an open field, while Grimes drove him through the woods, Cooke supporting our left. At this point General Rodes was killed, but the men did not observe the fact at the time. So they pressed on, driving everything before them, and captured a number of prisoners who had secreted themselves in a ditch. The brigade moved on to the crest of the ridge where Grimes had formed his line. Here General Evans' Brigade was driven back, leaving our left exposed. A battery was sent to our relief and the advance of the enemy checked at this point. Between 4 and 5 o'clock we fell back in good order, as the enemy had passed our left and threatened our rear. Line of battle was formed upon the crest of some hills, from which we advanced, again driving the enemy, but being outflanked, we had to retire again, which was done in good order. The whole army was now in retreat. Our division held the enemy in cheek until the greater part of our men had withdrawn, and then retreated in column for some distance, when the brigade formed line of bat- tle and protected the artillery until night. We then continued the retreat until we came to Fisher's Hill. The Fourth Regi- ment was actively engaged with the brigade during this engage- ment and suffered considerably. Among the killed was the brave and devoted soldier. Lieutenant T. W. Stevenson, of Company C, and a number of our best men of the ranks. This was a most disastrous day for the Confederacy. The brave and gallant Rodes and many valuable officers and men were killed. The battle lasted nine hours, and the men were under arms for forty-eight hours, with but little chance for rest or rations. The command returned to Strasburg, from there to New Market, fighting much of the way, and keeping in good order. From Port Republic we marched to Weir's Cave, thence to Waynesboro, Mt. Sidney, Harrisonburg, and back again to New Market. Fourth Eegiment. 263 CEDAR CREEK, Our next encounter with the enemy was at Cedar Creek. By a well planned flank movement, after marching all night, we attack- ed the enemy at daylight on the 19th of October, 1864. The surprise was complete, and the enemy fled from his tents without arms, and many of the men in their night clothes. So completely were they demoralized that a whole division fled before our little brigade, having made but slight resistance. Some six thousand prisoners and much artillery and baggage were captured. Until 3 o'clock everything was ours. But between 3 and 4 o'clock p. M. the enemy rallied under the direction of General Sheridan, who met the retreating columns about that time, turned them back, and wrested most of the fruits of the victory, except the prisoners, from our grasp. Ramseur, the brave successor of the gallant Rodes, was mortally wounded, and our command barely escaped being captured. As an evidence of the severity of this i5ght, there stands a marble shaft on the field with an inscription which states that it marks the place where the Eighth Vermont Regiment fought that day, and that of one huodred and sixty- four men and sixteen officers they lost one hundred and ten men and thirteen officers killed and wounded. The loss of the Fourth Regiment in this fight was comparatively small, but among the number was the brave and gallant Lieutenant William Richard McNeely, of Company A, than whom a better soldier never drew a sword. Among the wounded was John A. Stikeleather, the faithful standard-bearer of the regiment, who soon recovered, however, and bore the colors of the Fourth Regiment until the surrender. When Ramseur fell. General Grimes, our former Colonel, took command of the division, which he retained until the close of the war. This was a sad day for our cause. We were simply overpowered by numbers, the enemy having about five men to our one. As it was, our division held its own, or rather was victorious, until the troops on the left gave way about 4 o'clock 264 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. in the afternoon, and then it was compelled to retire, but retained its organization and saved the army from a complete rout. A KIGHT ATTACK. On this campaign occurred one of those most trying experi- ences to a soldier's nerves, namely, a night attack. It was known that the enemy was in the neighborhood. After night the men were ordered to lay aside everything that could make a noise, such as canteens, tin cups, pans, etc. At a late hour, when all was quiet, an order was passed down the line in a whisper to move slowly and stealthily forward. After going considerable distance and approaching near the enemy's line, some one stepped on a rail, or a pole, which broke with a loud report. Instantly every man fell with his face to the ground. A stream of fire blazed out along the enemy's line, and a shower of bullets whistled over their heads. The next instant the men were on their feet firing and yelling as they advanced. The lines were so near and the movement of our men so rapid that the Federals could not reload their guns, so they fled through the woods in the dark, and our men were glad to rest until morning. On the 23d of November the command was marched from New Market to meet a heavy force of cavalry that approached Rood's Hill. After considerable fighting the enemy was routed and driven away. The ground was covered with snow, and the men suffered much from cold and exposure. On the 13th of December, 1864, the command went to Petersburg, where they spent the winter, sharing the dangers and hardships of the seige. On the 25th of March, 1865, General Grimes made an attack upon the enemy's works at Petersburg, capturing a number of prisoners and twelve pieces of artillery; but the Fourth Regiment did not participate in this affair, as the courier got lost in the dark and failed to deliver the orders to the officer in command. The 1st of April, 1865, the enemy attacked the line on our right and left, bat did not molest our brigade. The fight at Fort Gregg was very fierce, and the men of our command saw the fall of that stronghold, but could afford no assistance, as their own front Fourth Eegxment. 265 would have been exposed had they left their position. On the 6th, Grimes' Division was covering Lee's retreat, when a determined stand was made at Sailor's Creek and the enemy held in check until both flanks of the division were turned by supsrior numbers, and the command was saved from capture by a rapid retreat. Grimes staid with his men until all were over the creek and the bridge destroyed, then plunging his horse, Warren, into the water, crossed over under a perfect storm of bullets and made his escape. On the 7th of April Cox's Brigade, with two others, under General Grimes, formed line of battle and hurried to the relief of General Mahone, whose line was giving way before the enemy. A charge was made and the enemy driven back and a large num- ber of prisoners captured. General Lee complimented the men in person for their gallantry on this occasion. On the 8th the men marched all day, hungry, tired and sore, but cheerful and brave. About 9 o'clock that night heavy firing was heard in front, when the men were ordered forward, and marched most of the night, passing through the town of Apporaatox Court House before day, Sunday morning, the 9th, and engaged in the fight which occurred near that place. The enemy was repulsed and the men were withdrawn after driving the enemy from his posi- tion, and the division started to rejoin the main body of Gordon's Corps. General Grimes rode forward and asked General Gordon where he should form his men. The general answered, "Any- where you please." Struck by this answer. Grimes asked for an explanation, when he was told that the army had been sur- rendered by General Lee. I close this part of this sljetch with the following quota- tion from an address delivered by Henry A. London, Esq., of Pittsboro. After telling how General Grimes had planned and carried out successfully the last fight made by any part of General Lee's army on the 9th of May at Appomattox Court House, and had driven the enemy away from General Lee's front, driving them for nearly a mile, he continues: "General Grimes then sent a messenger to General Gordon, 266 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. annouDcing his success, and that the road to LyDchburg was now open for the escape of the wagons. Then, to his great surprise, he i-eceived orders to retire, which he declined to do, thinking that General Gordon did not understand the commanding posi- tion held by him. General Gordon still continued to send orders to withdraw, which General Grimes continued to disregard, still thinking that General Gordon was in ignorance of his position, until finally an order came from General Lee himself, and then slowly and sullenly our men began to retrace their 'Steps over the ground from which they had so successfully driven the enemy. This withdrawal was conducted in an orderly manner, although in the immediate front of a greatly superior force. At one time the enemy, with loud cheers, made a sudden rush as if to overwhelm our little band ; but the brigade of General W. R. Cox ( which was bringing up the rear) faced about, and with the steadiness of veterans on parade, poured such a sudden and deadly volley into the astonished Federals that they hastily retired in confusion. This was the last volley fired at Appomattox, and the last ever fired by the grand old Army of Northern Virginia." SOME OFFICERS AND MEN OP THE FOURTH REGIMENT. Colonel George B. Anderson has been spoken of. He was a remarkable man. He had a handsome figure, was a fine horse- man; a splendid tactician; had a clear, musical voice; a mild blue-gray eye; a fine golden beard, long and flowing, and a very commanding presence. His discipline was mild, but firm; and his courage and patriotism of the very highest order. He was a firm believer in God and a devout Churchman. Lieutenant-Colonel John Augustus Young has also been mentioned. He was a gentleman of the olden type; a Christian of a high order, and a devoted patriot; kind and genial in his nature; and a devoted Southern man. If he had been permitted to remain with the regiment he would no doubt have proved himself a worthy successor to the peerless Anderson. Colonel Bryan Grimes was a soldier of a very high order. His coolness and unwavering courage, as well as his judgment Fourth Regiment. 267 and skill, commanded the confidence and respect of all who knew him, and he was widely known. He was a most conscientious, man, and a firm believer in the Gospel of Christ. Colonel James H. Wood was cut down in the beginning of a most promising career. He was a true and faithful soldier. Cool, dashing and skillful. A man who feared God and eschewed evil. His loss was most deeply felt in the regiment. He was not quite twenty-four years old. Major A. K. Simonton fell just in the beginning of the war. He was a prominent figure in the regiment, and gave promise of a most brilliant career. He was a soldier by nature, and a gen- tleman in every sense of the word. Lieutenant-Colonel David M. Carter was a prominent lawyer before and after the war. He was a brave and sturdy soldier. Being permanently disabled by a wound received at Seven Pines, he was assigned to duty as Judge Advocate of the General Court- martial, where he continued until the close of the war. Captain F. Y. McNeely resigned early in the war on account of bad health. He was killed by the enemy in the raid that was made upon Salisbury at the close of the war. Captain Jesse S. Barnes was killed at Seven Pines. He was a splendid young officer of great promise; a most intelligent, genial and promising man; a man of education, young and talented ; a good soldier, and very highly esteemed in the regi- ment. Captain William T. Marsh was mortally wounded at Sharps- burg. He was standing within two feet of the writer of this sketch when stricken. He was a man of education, intelligence and great force of character and a good soldier. Major John W. Dunham was also a prominent character in the Fourth Regiment. He was a gallant soldier, and a man of unusual promise. His wound, received early in the war, dis- abled him for life, and finally, after untold suffering, caused his death. Captain W. C. Coughenour was also a striking figure in the Fourth Regiment. He entered the service as First Lieutenant of 268 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Company K, and was in all the engagements with the regiment but one; and was twice wounded. He was Brigade Inspector under Generals Eamseur and Cox, and in 1865 was made Inspector-General of Dearing's Cavalry Brigade, afterwards Gen- eral Roberts' Brigade. As good and true a man as ever lived. Major J. F. Stansill did good service in the Fourth Regiment. He was in most of the battles with the regiment, and was five times wounded. He was a man of courage and always at the post of duty. Captain John B. Andrews was a man much beloved in the Fourth Regiment. As gentle and modest as a woman, yet a brave and faithful soldier. He was wounded at Cold Harbor,, from which he died. Captain John B. Forcum, of Company H, was one of the faithful men of the regiment. Seldom sick or wounded, he was always at his post, and was in command of the regiment at the surrender. Conspicuous among the officers of the regiment were the mem- bers of the medical staff. Dr. J. K. King was a very striking man in person, character and ability. He soon resigned on account of bad health. Chief Surgeon J. F. Shaffner, M. D., was a young man of splendid ability ; a man of education and fine attainments, and always faithful to the important task committed to him. Assistant Surgeon J. M. Hadley, M. D., was also a man of €ducation, talent and ability, ever working in harmony with his chief. Hospital Steward, Dr. J. W. Guffy, was also a most excellent man, and as fuithful to his duty as a man could be. The patient and untiring devotion of these gentlemen to the interest and welfare of the men of the regiment won for them the undying gratitude of us all. Captain Thomas H. Blount and Captain John D. Hyman were Quartermaster and Commissary of the regiment. Both were men of education and ability. Though non-combatants, yet Fourth Regiment. 269 both volunteered as aids to General Anderson. The former was killed and the latter permanently disabled. Captain W. G. Kelly commanded the regiment in the battle of Fredericksburg, after which he resigned, and his brother. Cap- tain S. A. Kelly, was appointed in his place. The latter bravely led his company through many trying and bloody campaigns, and was for some time in command of the regiment. He was wounded and captured at Winchester in 1864. Captain W. S. Barnes was for two years Adjutant of the regi- ment. But when Colonel Grimes was promoted he was made Captain and given a place on his staff, where he continued till the close of the war. All know how true and faithful he was. No better man ever wore the gray than Captain Marcus Hofflin. He was transferred to light duty on account of lameness in his feet, after he had seen much hard service and suffered very much. Captains C. S. Alexander, W. G. Falls and William McRorie were a splendid trio — school-mates of the writer. Alexander and Falls fell at Chancellorsville and McRorieat Spottsylvania. He fell within two feet of the writer, and expired without a groan. Lieutenant W. R. McNeely, who fell at the battle of Cedar Creek, was one of Iredell county's heroes. He was senior officer on the left of the regiment when he fell, and his loss was a serious one to his command. He was a cool and skillful officer and a good man. Lieutenants James Rufus Reid and Joseph C. White were two shining lights in the regiment. The former, though scarcely seventeen years old, a man in character, and much beloved by liis seniors and subordinates, fell a victim to disease early in the war. The latter was killed at Seven Pines. Lieutenants Watson, Cowan, Barber and Burke, of Company B, were all good men, and did their duties well while in the war. Lieutenant Thomas J. Brown was a good soldier. He was transferred to the Forty-second Regiment and became its Ma- jor. Lieutenants F. A. Carlton and A. S. Fraley were good soldiers and an honor to the cause. W. K. Eliason was assigned 270 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. special duty and also J. A. Cowan. Captains W. A. Kerr and G. A. Andrews were most excellent men; both were delicate m constitution. The former resigned early in the war and the latter was permanently disabled by a wound and died soon after the war. Lieutenant J. Pink Cowan, of Company A, was a brave and gallant soldier. He was killed at Chancellorsville. Lieutenant Thomas L. Perry, of Company E, was a most gallant soldier ; a man of education and intelligence, and faith- ful to his duties. He was mortally wounded at Seven Pines. Private William M. Durell, of Company K, was a good soldier. He was a Northern man, but devoted to the cause of the South, and fought through the war as a matter of principle. Captain E. S. Marsh was a good soldier and a worthy suc- cessor of his brother, the gallant and devoted soldier. Captain William T. Marsh, who was mortally wounded at Sharpsburg. He was appointed Major of the regiment, permanently disabled by a wound, and put upon light duty. Lieutenant Hamilton C. Long was wounded at Seven Pines, and resigned. Lieutenant J. W. Shinn was a talented and noble soldier, deli- cate in health, but always at his post. He fell a prey to disease. Lieutenant John Z. Dalton resigned early in the war. There was no better soldier and no stronger character in the regiment than Captain H. M. Warren, of Company F. W. O. Wootten, of the same company, was a good soldier. Also, Cap- tain T. M. Allen, who was wounded and captured. He was a good soldier. The writer remembers Lieutenants Creekman, Tuten, Bonner and Styron, of Company A, as good representative men of their section. We were blessed in having two good and faithful men of God as chaplains. The first was the Rev. William A. Wood. He soon resigned on account of ill health, and was succeeded by the Rev. Robert B. Anderson. Both were men of ability and did good service in their holy calling. The survivors of the Fourth Regiment will no doubt remem- FOURTH REGIMENT. 1. W. S. Barnes, Ordnance Sergeant. 2. James Rufiis Reid, Ist Lieut., Co. C. 3. J. D. Wells, 1st Lieut., Co. F. 4. William Richmond McNeely, IstLieut., Co. A. John A. Stikeleather, Ensign, Co. A. John G. Young, Sergeant-Major. Ben Allen Knox, Sergeant, Co. B. A. Friedhiem, Corporal, Co. K. Henry C. Severs, Private, Co. K. Fourth Regiment. 271 ber James Stinson and Mr. Bagley, the two faithful couriers, who were always conspicuous figures in time of battle. John G. Young, the Sergeant-major of the regiment, was also a well known character in the regiment. He volunteered in 1863, when about sixteen years of age; was for a time drill-mas- ter, having been a cadet; was never sick^ wounded, nor absent until the surrender. He asked leave to bring home the flag of the Fourth Regiment, but was not allowed to do so. Henry Severs was another brave Mecklenburg boy of about the same age. He was with General George B. Anderson when he was wounded, and assisted in helping that noble hero from the field of Sharpsburg. Private Augustus Byers, of Company A, was a representa- tive Southern man. A man of education and considerable means, he chose to serve as a soldier, and was killed near Chan- cellorsville, the 19th of May, 1864. He was a splendid man and a good soldier. Many members of the regiment were transferred and given offices in other commands. Among the number were the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel, J. McLeod Turner, of the Seventh North Carolina, and Major T. J. Brown, of the Forty-second North Caro- lina, before mentioned. Colonel H. C. Jones, of the Fifty-seventh Regiment, was at one time a member of Company K, though I believe this was before the Fourth Regiment was organized. Lieutenants Lee, Parker, Stith, Stevens and Thompson, all of Company F, made good soldiers and received promotion. Lieutenant T. M. C. Davidson, of Company A, was pro- moted from the ranks. He was a good soldier. Lieutenant Thomas W. Stephenson, of Company C, was a fine specimen of a soldier. Always ready for duty, and never flinching from danger. The same may be said of J. A. S. Feims- ter and S. A. Claywell of the same company. Captains Latham and Gallagher, of Company E, were good soldiers. The former was retired on account of wounds received in battle. The latter took his place in 1863, and served till the end of the war. Lieutenants Litchfield and Williamson sustained 272 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. themselves well as soldiers, and were highly esteemed in the regiment. Lieutenant Litchfield was killed in 1864, at or near Cold Harbor. Captain I. H. Carter, of Company E, was a brave soldier. He was killed at Fredricksburg in 1863. Lieutenant Guffy, of Company G, was a first-rate man. Lieutenants Smith, Cain, Smoot and Jones, of the same company, all stood well. Lieutenant Edward Tripp, of Company E, was a brave and faithful soldier, who had command of the company for quite a while, and was wounded and captured in 1864. Lieutenants Kennedy, Summers and Stockton, of Company H, were good representative men of Iredell county. Lieuten- ant Summers was badly wounded at Chancellorsville while act- ing as Adjutant of the regiment, and forced to accept light duty during the balance of the war. Weaver, of the same company, died a glorious death at Sharpsburg, as has been told, and Stock- ton at Gettysburg. Lieutenant A. N. Wiseman, of Company K, was a model soldier. As Orderly Sergeant of his company he had no superior, and as a commissioned officer he was all that could be desired. He received a mortal wound at Winchester in 1864. Cap- tain C. A. Hunt, of Lexington, was with him in his last moments. Captain M. L. Bean, also of Company K, was a true and gal- lant officer. He and A. C. Carter, of Company K, volunteered to make a bold reconnaissance at Gettysburg to ascertain the enemy's position, and saved the regiment from what might have been a fatal surprise, such as befell one of our brigades the same day. Lieutenant E. J. Redding, of Company E, a bold and gallant youth, fell at the post of duty in the bloody conflict at Seven Pines. Ben Allen Knox, Sergeant in Company B, was a gallant soldier, serving throughout the war with courage and fidelity. In looking over the list of officers and men of the grand old regiment, the writer is reminded that it would take a volume to Fourth ' Eegimbnt. 273 mention what might be said of hundreds whose names I would be happy to mention, who are equally as deserving as those I have named. A few have been selected here and there as represen- tative men among the others. A list of the privates if it could be printed with this sketch would be a memorial of as brave and true men as the world has ever known. The survivors of the Fourth Regiment will no doubt remem- ber three figures that would not be out of place in a complete picture of the regiment, and will, therefore, permit me to men- tion Colonel Grimes' negro boy, Polk, Captain Carter's man, Jim, and the writer's boy, Gus : Polk, the typical mulatto, Gus, the ignorant, but loyal African, and Jim, the devoted and faithful slave. SOME INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. It is a grateful privilege to mention the great kindness bestowed upon the members of the Fourth Regiment, as well as upon the Confederate soldiers generally, by the people of Virginia during the war. Their hospitality and kindness were unceasing and almost unbounded. Conspicuous among those with whom we came in contact was Mr. George S. Palmer, of Richmond. His name is a synonym for all that is generous, kind and hospitable. The writer was a partaker of his kindness, and that of his noble wife and daughters on many occasions — once when sick, and three times when wounded. The writer also remem- bers one occasion when there were some eighteen wounded offi- cers of the Fourth Regiment in the house of Mr. Palmer. This was just after the battle of Seven Pines. He was a man ot ample means, his heart and soul were in the cause of the South, and it was his delight to spend and be spent for that cause. On the 20th of May, 1864, the writer having been wounded the day before, was placed in an ambulance with Colonel F. M. Parker, of the Thirtieth Regiment, a most gallant and faithful soldier, who also had been wounded and was very weak. Cap- tain Fred. Philips, since Judge Philips, of Tarboro, had 18 274 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. charge of the wagon train, and took the best of care of us as we were conveyed towards Richmond with the other wounded men. The day was hot and we were parched with fever and thirst; but he supplied us from time to time with refreshing draughts of buttermilk and ice which the good people of the country gave him. It was served in a horse-bucket; but never was sweeter or more refreshing draughts served, nor men more grateful than we were. In one of the iights in the Valley campaign of 1864, private McCanless, a gallant member of Company K, was captured by a Federal soldier, who was marching him through the woods, when they came upon another man of the same company, who was separated from his command, and making his way back as fast as he could run. "Halt!" shouted the Federalist; but instead of halting the man increased his speed. "Halt!! Halt!!!" shouted the Union soldier again, and bang went his gun. But his aim was bad, and the man escaped. "Now," said McCan- less, " you may help yourself; I, too, am going back," and with that he departed through the woods, leaving his captor standing with his empty gun in his hand, and made his escape. On the 19th of May, 1864, as we were preparing to attack the enemy's flank and rear. General Ramseur sent Captain Jenkins, of the Fourteenth Regiment, to capture what was supposed to be a squad of pickets. The Captain divided his squad of sharp- shooters in order to make a dash from opposite sides upon an old house where the supposed pickets were thought to be. At the signal agreed upon the men rushed upon the house, but instead of a few pickets a whole regiment of Federals rose up and fired upon the Captain's little band. The Captain, of course, beat a hasty retreat, and joined the command; and soon the whole line was engaged. General Ewell had his horse killed in this engagement. It fell on the General's wooden leg, pinning him to the ground. G. D. Snuggs, of Company K, and Sergeant Barnett, of Company H, assisted in extricating the General from his difficulty. As soon as he was relieved he called, out: "Men, are we driving them? Are we driving them?" FoxTETH Eegiment. 275 In passing through Lexington, Va., on the 21st of June, 1864, General Rodes directed Colonel Wood, of the Fourth Regiment, to lead the column with his regimental band playing a funeral march as they passed by the grave of Stonewall Jackson. It was a very impressive scene as the brave old veterans of so many battles filed slowly and sadly by the last resting-place of their departed hero. On the retreat from Fisher's Hill, the 22d of September, 1864, where Ewell's forces were badly demoralized, and the loss of the whole command seemed imminent. General Ramseur called on his old brigade to hold the enemy in check and protect the retreating Confederates. General Cox, who was in command, did this in splendid style, held the enemy in check until night, and then continued the retreat up the Valley. This retreat was made in two lines of battle, parallel with each other, some half mile apart, in which order General Ewell moved his entire corps all the next day, stopping occasionally to offer bat- tle when the enemy approached too near. On the 9th of April, General Grimes had been fighting the enemy with his division up to the very hour of the surrender, and some say until it had actually taken place j and the Fourth and Fourteienth Regiments were the last of his division that were engaged, so the men of these regiments say. At Gettysburg, when we started to make the night attack, Colonel Grimes, who could not see very well at night, sent for Corporal Friedheim, of Company K, to guide him and be with him in that trying ordeal. He knew full well that he could trust this man ; for there was no braver or truer soldier in the army than A. Friedheim. General Grimes told the writer of one of his men who, on the 9th, hearing something said about General Lee's surrender, came to him and asked if the report was true. "Yes," said the General, "it is, I am sorry to say, too true." Whereupon the poor fellow burst into tears, and cried out: "Blow, Gabriel, blow, I do not want to live another day." Another one, a member of Company K, Fourth Eegiment, 276 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. whose name I cannot remember, set hia gun down at the sur- render with a sigh, saying: "Sit there, Betsy, you've made many of them bite the dust." At Seven Pines the writer was shot through the thigh. While lying on the field a Federal soldier came along with his gun. As he approached near where the writer lay he covered him with his pistol and ordered him to halt, throw down his gun and come to him. The soldier obeyed, and was made to assist him from the field. In the same battle the writer saw a Confederate soldier get into a panic and run with all his might to the rear, but recovering his self-possession, he returned to the line as i%pidly as he had fled, and went on through the battle; he was never known to flinch after this, and was, after going through many bat- tles, killed in an act of conspicuous bravery. He did not know that' the writer saw him, nor was he ever told that any one saw' him. In the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, on the 12th of May, 1864, private Thomas Sprinkle, of Company H, was detailed to furnish the men with ammunition during the fight. This was a peculiarly dangerous duty at any time, but never more so than in this fight, as the approach to the line from the rear was through a perfect storm of bullets aimed at the men behind the fortifications. But for hours the brave boy with ruddy, beardless face, continued to bring the needed supplies, but late in the afternoon he failed to reach the line, and was never seen again. Walker Anderson, the Ordnance Officer of the brigade, was killed the same day. It was at this battle that several trees, from twelve to fourteen 'inches in diameter, were shot until they fell, cut down with minnie-balls. They stood at the angle of the breastworks, and were in full range of the enemy's fire from front and both flanks. At Gettysburg, as we entered the town after the enemy retired from our front, Lieutenant Harney, of the Fourteenth Regiment, was carried to the rear mortally wounded. Passing within a few feet of the writer, he displayed a Union flag which he had cap- tul-ed on the heights, where he had gone with the sharp-shooters. Fourth Regiment. 277 He entreated that the troops would advance and capture the heights, as the enemy was in utter confusion and helpless. His dying request was that the banner should be sent to President Davis. Lieutenant Harney was a splendid soldier, had seen ser- vice in the war with Mexico, and was devoted to the cause of the South. In the heavy skirmish which took place near Spottsylvania Court House on the 8th of May, 1864, the regiment advanced upon the enemy about sundown and threw them into complete disorder. We pushed on until dark, when we were compelled to halt, as we could not distinguish friends from foes. Private Heilig, of Company K, captured a Federal colonel and brought him out. The colonel showed fight, but was induced to submit. Colonel Grimes gave Heilig the colonel's pistol as a reward for his cour- age. Poor fellow, he was not permitted to enjoy his prize "but a little while, as he was killed on the 12th. When the enemy surprised and broke the line of General Doles on our right on the 10th of May, 1864, Major Hardaway, of Alabama, stood his ground, serving one of his guns himself until the enemy reached the breastworks. One of them mounted the gun the Major was serving, and waved his hat with a triumphant shout; but the Major knocked him off with his sword and sullenly retired with his face to the foe, until Battle's Alabamians and the Fourth North Carolina came to the rescue. He went back with the infantry and was the first to reach the line, and opened fire on the retreating foe. The writer saw him a few minutes later, and his hat and clothes were riddled with bullets. He was a grand man. A notable experience with the regiment was the march from Port E,oyal to Fredericksburg just before the battle in Decem- ber, 1862. The weather was very cold, snow was on the ground and the roads one continuous slush from six to twelve inches deep, and blocked with wagons and artillery. The night was pitch-dark, there being neither moon nor stars, and the march continued all night long. The men were compelled to remain on their feet most of the time, as there were few places to rest 278 NoETH Carolina Troops, 1861-'65 upon for the mud; sometimes marching a few rods, or a few hundred yards, and then waiting fifteen, twenty or thirty minutes on account of the blocking of the roads by the stalling of teams and wagons in front. During the skirmish on the 11th of May, 1864, near Spottsyl- vania Court House, Sergeant Houlshouser, of Company K, was sitting with his back against a good sized tree, our part of the line not being then engaged, whfen a cannon-ball struck the opposite side of the tree, killing him instantly by the shock. On the 5th of May, 1864, as General Rodes' Division was moving in line of battle so near the enemy as at one time to com- pel Ramseur's Brigade to take position in rear of the main line to avoid exposure to the enemy's fire. General Ramseur re- monstrated with General Rodes on account of being placed in the rear. General Rodes told him in a jocular way that if he " would move those Yankees away from there he could place his brigade in line." Whereupon General Ramseur deployed his men and made a rush through the woods, firing and yelling, and soon cleared the woods of the enemy's sharp-shooters; when he put his brigade in position on the left. It should be borne in mind, however, that the enemy had all they could attend to in another part of the field at that time. In the winter of 1863 many of the men had no shoes and were suffering much from cold as the troops were on the march. General Hill ordered that every man who had no shoes should be provided with raw hide moccasins. Some of the men com- plied with the order, but soon found they were of no use for when the sun came out they became too hard, and when the ground was wet they could not keep them on their feet. When James Bowers, of Company K, fell at Seven Pines with the flag of the regiment in his hand, he said to a comrade: "Tell Mr. Bruner (the man with whom he had lived) that I died with my face to the enemy." THE LAST SCENE OF THE WAR. The Fourth Regiment was on the right of the brigade at Appomattox on the 9th of April, 1865, and was the first in the Fourth Regiment. 279 brigade to stack arms. When this was done General Grimes called them to " attention " for the last time, and had them to file past him in order that he might shake hands with each man, and as he did so, with streaming eyes and faltering voice, he said: "Go home, boys, and act like men, as you have always done during the war." CONCLUSION. I have endeavored to give a faithful sketch of this grand body of men; but I am painfully aware of having failed to do the subject justice. Thirty-five years of labor and toil have effaced many important incidents from a mind constantly crowded with the cares and duties of official and ministerial life. Besides, I have been compelled to write in the midst of many pressing cares and labors, and to procure my facts from other sources of infor- mation than my own, not having kept a record of the events as they occurred. And here I wish to acknowledge my deep indebt- edness to Captain John A. Stikeleather, the Rev. W. A. Wood, D. D., and Mr. Pulaski Cowper in the letters of General Grimes, edited by him ; to Mr. Nathanal Raymer, a member of the band of the Fourth Regiment, who sent me his letters written during the war under the signature of "Nat," in The Statesville Ameri- can; for the notes kept by Dr. Shinn, of Company B, and the note-book of Mr. E. B. Stinson of the band of the Fourth Regiment. Also, for many items of interest by Mr. G. D. Snuggs, a gallant member of the Fourth Regiment, and a splendid member of the corps of sharp-shooters. And last, but by no means least, for very valuable information furnished by Captain W. C. Coughenour, Dr. J. F. Shaffner and Captain M. L. Bean. I have also received valuable items from Captain H. M. Warren and Sergeant-major John Graham Young, R. O. Leinster, Dr. J. C. Hadley, Mr. Henry C. Severs, Captain S. A. Kelley, Major Stansill and others, for all of which I am very grateful. In looking over the history of the Fourth Regiment the writer is reminded of many facts that throw light upon the history and character of the organization. A marked characteristic of our men 280 NoETH Carolina Troops, 1861-65. was their sobriety and piety. The writer does not recall a half dozen instances of drunkenness in the regiment during the war, and but few of gross profanity or immorality. They were a pious and orderly set of men. The camps often resounded with hymns and songs. Among the latter "Annie Laurie " was a great favorite; also " Dixie," and " My Old Cabin Home." Prayers were conducted in many of the tents, and religious services were well attended. Pro- fanity amongst the officers was seldom heard. Colonel Anderson's example and iniluence in this respect was very marked ; also that of Lieutenant-Colonel Young, and Major Grimes, though of a quick and fiery temper, was careful never to take the Holy Name in vain. They were all God-fearing men, and not given to loose talking nor drink. The writer never heard any conversation at headquarters that would have offended the most modest and religious feelings. The company officers were gener- ally of high moral character, and many of them were Chris- tian men whose influence was felt among their rank and file. In fact they only represented the men of the ranks, from whence they had been taken. E. A. Osborne. Charlotte, N. C, April 9, 1900. FIFTH REGIMENT. 1. Duncan K. McRae, Colonel. 3. T. M. Garrett, Colonel, 2. Jolin W. Lea, Colonel. 4. P. J, Sinclair, Lieut.-Colonel. 5. John C. Badham, Lieut.-Colonel. FIFTH REGIMENT. By MAJ. JAMES C. MacRAE AND SERGT.-MAJ. C. M. BUSBEE. This was oue of the tea regiments organized under the act of the General, Assembly of North Carolina, May 8th, 1861, en- titled: "An Act to Eaise Ten Thousand State Troops"; and it is to be distinguished from the Fifth Volunteers, afterwards called the Fifteenth North Carolina Regiment. It was formed in camp of instruction at Halifax in July, 1861, by the assignment to it of the following named field officers: Duncan K. MacRae, Colonel; Joseph P. Jones, Lieutenant- Colonel; John C. Badham, Major; Lieutenant Isaac A. Jones, of Company H, Acting Adjutant; Captain John Kirkland, Acting Quartermaster; Captain James M. Jones, Acting Com- missary-Sergeant; Dr. James A. MacRae, Surgeon; Dr. John K. Ruffin, Assistant Surgeon. It was composed of: Company A, from Cumberland, Captain P. J. Sinclair. Company B, from Gates, Captain W. J. Hill. Company C, from Johnston, Captain E. D. Sneed. Company D, from Craven, Captain Jacob Brookfield. Company E, from Rowan, Captain Samuel Reaves. Company F, from Bertie, Captain Thomas M. Garrett. Company G, from Wilson, Captain N. A. H. Goddin. Company H, from Gates, Captain S. B. Douge. Company I, from Caswell, Captain John W. Lea. Company K, from Rowan, Captain Ham. C Jones. While these companies are stated to be from certain counties, they were enlisted in large numbers from other counties; for instance, about one hundred and fifty men of this regiment were 282 " North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. from Chatham; and later, the depleted ranks were filled with conscripts from different parts of the State. The regiment reached Manassas on July 19th, 1861, and was attached to the brigade of General Longstreet, and participated in the battle of the 21st, its position being on the extreme right; it was not engaged in the most serious conflict of that day, although being exposed to the enemy's fire, it lost several men. It was in the advance upon the retreat of the Federal army, which it assisted in driving into Washington. During the winter of 1861-62, having been .assigned to Early's Brigade, it was stationed at Union Mills on the Orange & Alexandria Eailroad, engaged in outpost and picket duty in front of the Confederate lines. At one time it held position on Mason Hill in sight of the Capitol at Washington, and was daily engaged with the enemy's skirmishers. In the intervals of its outpost duty it was thoroughly drilled in preparation for the arduous work in store for it in the near future. During this winter, Lieutenant-Colonel Jones, having been assigned to other duty, resigned his position in the regiment; Major John C. Badham was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel and Captain Peter J. Sinclair, of Company A, was promoted to Major; Lieutenant James C. MacRae, of Company D, was made Adjutant; Captains Sneed and Goddin resigned and Lieutenants Mullins and Thompson were made Captains in their stead of Companies C and G. Dr. MacRae resigned and Dr. Ruffin was transferred to another command, and Dr. Wingfield became Surgeon of the regiment. On the change of front to meet the advance of McCIellan upon Richmond, Early's Brigade was among the first to reach General Magruder on the Peninsular. It w^s immediately put in position in the defensive works near Yorktown, and remained in the trenches, constantly on duty, until the evacuation of York- town on May 3, 1862, being the last of the Confederate troops to leave the works. Passing from the rearguard, it marched up the Williamsburg road, and on the night of May 4, 1862, bivouacked in the field beyond Williamsburg, under orders to Fifth Regiment. 283 take up its line of march at daybreak in the direction of the Chickahominy. Its part in the affair at Williamsburg deserves more than casual mention. Owing to the determined pressure of the Federals upon the rearguard of the Confederates, Early's Brigade was counter-marched into Williamsburg, where it rested in the campus of old William and Mary College during the morning, awaiting orders. The battle on the right of the Confederates, below Williamsburg, was very severe during the day, and the enemy was not only held in check but driven back with great slaughter. In the afternoon it was found that the Federal troops had taken possession of an old abandoned redoubt on the extreme left, and somewhat in advance of the other works, which had been erected for the defense of Williamsburg, and was seriously annoying our troops by an enfilading fire from its batteries. Early's and Rodes' Brigades, under command of Major-General D. H. Hill, were sent to the left of the Confederate line with orders to retake this redoubt and silence its batteries. Under the immediate direction of General Hill, four regiments of Early's Brigade were marched to the left and disencumbered of all impedimenta in the open ground, which was separated from this redoubt by thick woods. Of the four regiments to compose the attacking party the Twenty-fourth Virginia, Colonel Terry, led by General Early in person, was on the left and covered by woods, immediately opposite the redoubt. The Fifth North Carolina was on the right and opposite an open field about eight hundred yards from the redoubt to be attacked. At the word of command the brigade in line of battle passed into the intervening woods, from which this regiment soon emerged in a field of heavy plowed ground, in full view of the enemy, who immediately opened upon it with artillery. In the face of apparent destruc- tion, but in obedience to direct orders from the Major-General commanding, this regiment began the advance. It was at once necessary to change front forward on the left company, and the movement was made with precision under a heavy artillery fire. On account of the continued advance of the left company and 284 North Caeolina Tkoops, 1861-'65. the heavy condition of the soil the right of the line, though at a double-quick, was delayed in reaching its alignment; the left companies were halted to give time for the balance of the regi- ment to reach the line, when the whole command halted, dressed upon the left, and at the word of command pressed forward to the attack, marching as on dress-parade, without firing a gun. In front of the redoubt were five regiments of infantry, sup- porting a battery of ten pieces of artillery, with clouds of skirmishers in their advance. The charge of the Fifth North Carolina on this occasion has rarely been surpassed in the history of war for its heroism and gallantry. Pressing on from the first in the face of the battery, entering into the plunging fire of the infantry, wading into a storm of balls, which first struck the men in the feet and rose upon their nearer approach, it steadily pressed on. The Twenty-fourth Virginia had now emerged from the woods at a point on the left and nearer the enemy, driving the skirmishers before it. From the thickness of the woods in their front, the center regiments not having come up, the Fifth Regiment obliqued to the left to touch its comrade, the Twenty-fourth Virginia, when all pressed forward, driving the enemy before them. Not until within close range was the command "Commence firing" given, when it began to fire and load as it advanced. The enemy's skirmishers retired, the battery retreated into the redoubt, with the infantry behind it, and opened fire again from the intrenchments. Instances of individual heroism would fill a volume. The members of the color-guard were shot down one by one, and as each man fell the battle flag was passed to the successor. When the last sergeant fell. Captain Benjamin Robinson, of Company A, took it and bore it at the head of his company until the staff was shot to pieces. The officers and men were falling rapidly under the withering fire of grape and canister and musketry. Lieutenant-Colonel Badham was shot in the forehead and fell dead ; Major Sinclair's horse was killed and he was disabled ; Captain Mullins, of Company C, received his mortal wound and fell upon the field; Captains Garrett and Lea and Jones were Fifth Regiment. 285 all shot down, as were many of the subalterns, among them Lieutenant Thomas Snow, of Halifax (who was killed far in advance of his company, cheering on his men); Lieutenants Boswell, of Company A; Clark, of Company G; Hays of Com- pany F. In fifty yards of the redoubt this regiment, or what was left of it, reached a small fence and ditch with a slight embankment next to the enemy. Here it took cover, continuing to fire, the Twenty-fourth Virginia on its left. Victory was in its grasp, the enemy had been driven to his intrenchment; one fresh regi- ment was all that was needed to go over the works, but none ever came; instead thereof an order to retreat. Too few in number to continue the attack (at the beginning of the fight these two regiments did not number a thousand men), in obedi- ence to orders, the regiment retired to the cover of the woods on its left, leaving a large majority of the officers and men dead and wounded on the field. Lieutenant-Colonel Badham was one of the first men of the State, a lawyer by profession and a political leader. Had he lived he would have had all its honors. It would extend this sketch too much to mention the gallant boys who here, at the threshold of the conflict, laid down their lives. Four hundred and fifteen men were counted as they went into action ; seventy-five answered to the roll-call in the morning, and nearly all of the missing were either killed or wounded. General Hancock, who commanded the Federals in their front, said of the Fifth North Carolina and Twenty-fourth Virginia: "They should have immortality inscribed on their banners." Next morning the Confederate army resumed its march, with- out further opposition, to the Chickahominy, where was witnessed an event never before known in war — the election of officers for all the volunteer regiments from North Carolina and a conse- quent reorganization, in face of the enemy. General Early having been seriously wounded while leading this regiment, the command of the brigade devolved upon Colo- 286 North uaeolina Troops, 1861-65. nel MacRae, whose feeble physical frame soon succumbed to severe illness. General, Samuel Garland took command, Major Sinclair, now promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding the regiment. The depleted ranks soon began to fill up with con- valescents returned from the hospitals, for there had been much sickness engendered by the exposure in the trenches at York- town. By the battle at Seven Pines there were more than two hundred men for duty. Lieutenant MacRae had then been pro- moted to Captain and Acting Adjutant-General, and Lieutenant F. J. Haywood became Adjutant. In this battle Colonel Mac- Rae endeavored to take command, but from sheer weakness was unable to do so. Under Lieutenant-Colonel Sinclair the regi- ment, with others of Garland's Brigade and Hill's Division, drove the enemy from its position, but again at serious loss in officers and men. One of the killed was Lieutenant Isaac A. Jones, of Company H, who for a time acted as Ajutant. Young, enthusiastic, brave, he took his place among the immortals in the hour of victory. Through all the series of battles around Richmond this regi- ment followed the fortunes of Garland's Brigade, with but a handful left at Malvern Hill. During that very brilliant series of movements, ending in the utter defeat of Pope by Jackson at Second Manassas, the division of D. H. Hill remained near Richmond for its protection, in which time it again replenished its ranks with the return of those who had recovered from their wounds and sickness and the assignment of conscripts, many of whom, though late in joining the army, were first-rate material and made good soldiers. Lieutenant F. J. Haywood was made Ordnance Officer on General Garland's staff. In September, 1862, the regiment marched into Maryland, stood with Hill in that grand stand at South Mountain which saved the army, divided as it was in the face of vastly superior forces, the other half assigned to capture Harper's Ferry, and re- combined to beat double its number at Sharpsburg. In these magnificent battles it lost heavily again. Brave Garland fell. Col- onel MacRae taking command, was himself disabled and soon after Fifth Regiment. 287 compelled by feeble health to leave the army. General Iverson be- came brigade commander, and Captain Thomas M. Garrett suc- ceeded to the colonelcy. The resignation of Lieutenant-Colonel Sinclair soon followed; Captain John W. Lea was made Lieuten- ant-Colonel and Captain W. J. Hill Major; Lieutenant Fab. J. Haywood, who had served upon the staff of General Garland, became again Adjutant of the regiment. It was now attached to Bodes' Division, Ewell's Corps, Array of Northern Virginia. Returning to Virginia, there was to this regiment and brigade a season of comparative rest in the vicinity of Winchester, and later on the Opequon, but this period of inactivity was short, for in December, 1862, after rapid marching, it reached its place in front of Fredericksburg to meet the advance of Hooker. Though engaged in the battle of Fredericksburg, its losses were small, the regiment and brigade not being greatly exposed. But at Chancellorsville it bore a distinguished part, losing heavily again in officers and men. All of its field oflBcers were wounded, and the command of the regiment devolved upon that brave and capable officer. Captain Speight B. West, under whom it served through the campaign which led to Gettysburg, where it suf- fered severely on the first day's fight, its four captains present — West, Robinson, Taylor and Jordan — all being wounded, though two of them, Robinson and Jordan, reported for duty again the next day. It lay, unable to strike a blow, under a tremendous fire of artillery and sharp-shooters, during the fatal battle of the third day at Gettysburg. Its loss at Gettysburg is reported in the "Records of the Rebellion" at thirty-one killed and one hundred and twelve wounded. The list of casualties sent with General Iverson's report cannot be found. A large majority of the officers were killed or wounded. Adjutant Haywood was left upon the field severely wounded. From Gettysburg, Iver- son's Brigade proceeded by forced march to Hagerstown, where it had a brilliant encounter with the enemy's cavalry, driving them out of the town. On the return to Virginia it was engag- ed in all those maneuvers on the Rapidan and Rappahannock which occupied the fall of 1863. 288 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. In October, at Bristoe Station, under Lieutenant-Colonel Lea, Colonel Garrett commanding the brigade, it crossed Raccoon Ford and charged the enemy's battery near Stevensburg, driving him across the Rapidan. In the report of this engagement, Captain T. N. Jordan, of Company F; Lieutenant C. E. C. Rid- dick, commanding Company B, and Corporal A. Overton, of Company F, are mentioned as having exhibited great courage and daring. Colonel Garrett's good conduct was especially mentioned by General Fitzhugh Lee. At Mine Run, in November, Captain Benjamin Robinson, Company A, with two corps of sharp-shooters, about seventy- five strong, drove in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Massa- chusetts Regiment, killing and capturing a number of them, including the lieutenant-colonel. Captain Robinson was specially mentioned by General Johnson and General Rodes, and recom- mended for promotion. The regiment remained in winter quarters on the Rapidan during the winter, and in the early spring was sent to Taylors- ville, a station on the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad, about twenty miles from Richmond, to rest and recuperate ; but it went to the front at the opening of the cam- paign in the early days of May, 1864, with full ranks, its field officers all present, and the spirits of the veteran soldiers good. By forced marches (going in one day thirty-three miles) it went from Taylorsville to the Wilderness, reaching the latter on the afternoon of the last day of the battle, and immediately went into action as a part of the force with which General Gor- don turned the right flank of the Federal army. This engage- ment first brought Gordon before the public eye as a soldier of eminent capacity. The regiment greatly distinguished itself in this fight and in the quickly following battle of Spottsylvania. On the 10th of May the brigade was sent out on a reconnaissance on the right of the army, where it became engaged with Burn- side's Corps, and after a stubborn fight was compelled to retire. In this engagement Captain Robinson and also Captain Davis were both seriously wounded. On the 11th, with Daniel's FIFTH EBGIMENT. 1. Eayner Erookfleld, Captain, Co. C. 3. Jacob Brookfleld, Captain, Co. D. 2. L. M. Davis, Captain, Co. K. 4. F. J. Haywood, Jr., Adjutant. 5. Jos. G. Hayes, 1st Lieut., Co. F. Fifth Eegiment. 289 Brigade, it recaptured a battery which had been taken by a division of Federals and drove back the Federal troops with great slaughter. In this fight there was a good deal of bayonet fighting, and Colonel Garrett was conspicuous for his bravery. On the 12th came the great battle of Spottsylvania. In the early morning, before daylight, the brigade was awakened by sharp firiug and, hurrying to the front, found that the entire division of General Edward Johnson had been captured, and that the brigade was expected to fill the gap and arrest the onward assault of the enemy, which was in great force, being the corps of General Hancock. This was in the "angle" or " horse-shoe," as it has been called from its shape, a place made memorable by the fierceness of the conflict which raged there all the day. Into the breach the brigade went, the morning fog being so thick that at ten paces one could not distinguish friend from foe, and was subjected to an enfilading fire from right and left. In less than fifteen minutes after going into action five officers were killed, including Colonel Garrett, shot through the head, and Lieutenant Edward Smedes, a gallant young officer from Raleigh. Colonel Garrett was a gallant soldier and had won for himself an enviable reputation for conspicuous personal courage and capacity for commanding troops. Many others were killed and many captured, among the latter being Lieu- tenant Anderson, of Fayetteville, and Sergeant-major Busbee, of Raleigh. During the day's battle the regiment bore a con- spicuous part and maintained its reputation as the "Bloody Fifth." It carried into the fight about four hundred and fifty, and at the evening roll-call only forty-two answered. It is said that in this battle and in the "horse-shoe" the fiercest musketry fighting of the war occurred. In the War Department at Wash- ington, among the relics, is a section of the trunk of a whiteoak tree which was cut down in this fight at the "angle" by minie- balls alone. Lieutenant-Colonel John W. Lea now became Colonel of the Fifth. Major Hill was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain J. M. Taylor acting as Major, and as part of Johnston's Brigade, 19 290 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Ramseur's and then Pegram's Division, Ewell's Corps, it went to the Valley to its old commander. Early, made the brilliant advance movement across the Potomac, was with Gordon when he drove Lew Wallace from Monocacy into Baltimore, and for a second time stood in sight of the Capitol at Washington; but closer approach was not written in the book of Fate, and Early turned back into Virginia. Then began the series of reverses, cul- minating at Fisher's Hill, which called forth all the manhood of Johnston and his North Carolinians, whose "thin gray line," as the rearguard of Early's army, held Sheridan in check. In November, 1864, Colonel Lea was in command of the brigade and Captain Edward M. Duguid of the regiment. The winter of 1864-'65 was spent on the banks of the Staunton River, the regiment being scattered along that stream to guard the ferries in order to prevent the passage of deserters from Lee's army. Toward the last of March it was called back to its place at the front, and took position in the trenches at Petersburg, its officers and men living in holes in the ground just in rear of the trenches which they were guarding. There, in repelling attacks and in sorties from the works, it filled the full measure of its duty. ■ In the battle of Fort Steadman it bore a gallant part. When Petersburg was evacuated the regiment constituted part of the rearguard, and on that sad retreating march from Peters- burg to Appomattox, when unceasing fighting by day and hurried marching by night fell to the lot of those brave men who consti- tuted the shattered remnant of the Army of Northern Virginia, it bore its full share of the conflicts and held its honorable record to the bitter end. Examples of sublime personal courage were of daily occurrence, notable among them being Lieutenant Wal- ter R. Moore, Jr., commanding the sharp-shooters, who was killed in a skirmish near the town of Farmville. At Appo- mattox it marched through the little town under the fire of a Federal battery and took its place in line of battle, formed beyond the town, to charge the Federal batteries which were opening the battle to the left and front. Awaiting the order to advance, the firing suddenly ceased and down the road came a Fifth Regiment. 291 white flag in charge of a Federal oflBcer, soon known to be Gen- eral Custer. The Army of Northern Virginia had surrendered ! The history of the Fifth North Carolina Regiment is the history of the Army of Northern Virginia. It joined this army at First Manassas and nev^er left it until "bugles sang truce" and the last charge was arrested at Appomattox, April 9th, 1865. Its history is written in the blood of its officers and men, the greater part of whom sleep beneath the soil of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Among all the heroic commands forming the army under Lee, no regiment has a more honorable record, and at the end, amid the Appomattox hills, a few worn men, doing their duty to the last, were all that was left of the old Fifth North Carolina, the regiment which had so early earned and so long maintained a title to immortality. Here are the names of those who laid down their arms with Lee: John W. Lea, Colonel, commanding the brigade; J. M. Taylor, Captain Company G, commanding the regiment; George T. Parker, Captain Company H; M. T. Hunt, First Lieuten- ant Company E; James W. Lea, Second Lieutenant Company I ; J. N. Pearson, Surgeon ; H. W. Williams, Assistant Surgeon ; Sergeant-major C. M. Busbee, Musician J. J. Johnston. Company A — Privates Daniel Albertini, David Ayres, Abram Holder, Jesse Johnston, Retus Jones, William Sanders, Andrew Watson. Company B — Sergeant Henry Clay Williams, Private Wil- liam Smith. Company C — Sergeant Jesse K. Whitley, Corporal K. J. Ballard, Privates J. W. Barber, Augustus Corbit, Nasoow Creech, Josiah Dean, Jonas Faulk, J. B. Honeycutt (Hunnicutt), J. W. Hines, J. A. Lee, Monroe Lee, Whitley Messer, Abram O'Neal, Ransom Penny, Thomas H. Sasser, W. H. Smith, W. R. Strickland, Samuel Strickland. Company D — First Sergeant R. L. Willis, Carporal J. R. Benson, Corporal Robert Johnston, Privates J. A. Douglas, William Young, M. A. Kifenic, J. W. Guilford. Company E — Sergeant W. J. Bond, Corporal G. W. Long, 292 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Corporal John Soott, Privates John Barringer, E. D. Council, Stephen Daves, Jacob Hartman, Benjamin Herndon, D. A. Holt, J. W McCenney, W. L. Parker, Frank Parnell, Jacob Pense, William Williams. Company F — Privates W. H. Eady, Preston Lane, Thomas Perry, J. C. Treece. Company G — Privates W. J. Barringer, A. T. Davis, J. T. Lamb, Luther Lentz, J. T. Manning, P. J. Pless, W. A. Wil- liams. Company H — Privates John D. Brice, Elbert Cross, James D. Johnson, Tobias Lentz, Nathan Morgan, S. R. Starns, Isaac Williams. Company I — Sergeant H. C. Hubbard, Privates Joseph Beaver, A. G. Cash, Absolom Cress, D. W. Leach, Frank Julian. James C. MacRab, Raleigh, N. C, C. M. BuSBEE. April 9, 1900. SIXTH REGIMENT. 1. Charles F. FlBlier, Colonel. 4. R. P. Webb, Colonel I' T..^o'^Zt^^"'Z\ , '■ Samuel McDowell Tate, Lieut-Colonel. 3. IsaaeErwm Avery, Colonel. 6. Alphonso C. Avery, Captain, Co. E. 7. C. M. Mobane, 1st Lieut, antl Adjt. SIXTH REGIMENT. By captain NEILL W. RAY. When the country was passing through the throes of the early part of 1861 the writer of this sketch was a cadet at the North Carolina Military Institute at Charlotte, N. C. It was a time of great excitement — stirring events of great import were fol- lowing each other in rapid succession, and every mail was anx- iously waited for. State after State was seceding from the Union. There was talk in the U. S. Congress of coercing, of subjugating, and, if necessary, exterminating the seceders. A war- cloud was looming up on the horizon ; military companies were organizing; an army had been gathered at Charleston; all eyes were turned toward Fort Sumter. The cadets partook of the general excitement, and as the operations in and around Charleston became more and more serious they became restive. Our Superintendent, Major (afterwards General) D. H. Hill, went down there, and when, after a few days' stay, he returned to the Institute, the whole corps assembled to hear him tell what he had seen and heard. He gave a full account of what was being done by General Beauregard and his Confederates, of their plans for preventing the re-inforcement of Sumter, and for capturing it, by bombardment, if necessary. Several of the cadets expressed a desire to go at once to the seat of war, for fear, as they said, Sumter would be taken and the war be over before they could have a chance to see anything of it. To them Major Hill said, in a very serious manner : " Young gentlemen, if there be one hostile gun fired at Sumter, we will all see enough of it before the war is over." Prophetic words ! Soon thereafter that gun was fired, and its booming and the crashing caused by its shot echoed and re-echoed far and wide. 294 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. The people of North Carolina had appeared to hesitate about withdrawing from the Union, but it was not because of their indifference to the doctrine of "State Rights" and "community independence." In the matter of secession they showed the same conservatism that characterized their deliberations whilst considering the Constitution before agreeing to become one of the United States. They cherished a hope for a pacific settle- ment of the questions then disturbing the country. When all overtures for peace had failed. Fort Sumter was bombarded and taken, and thereupon, the President of the United States called for troops to put down the rebellion — to coerce, to subju- gate an independent State — then all the people, with few excep- tions, manifested their willingness to resist any such attempt. North Carolina took her place promptly on the side of consti- tutional rights and civil liberty, and most nobly did she main- tain and hold her position to the bitter end. The ofBcers and teachers of the Institute, being military men, promptly offered their services to their State. It was soon apparent that the school could not be continued. Most of the cadets went to their homes in their own States to volunteer. Colonel Charles F. Fisher, then President of the North Caro- lina Railroad, in pursuance of his purpose to raise a regiment, brought a number of men from along the North Carolina Rail- road and Western North Carolina Railroad and quartered them in that part of the barracks that had been vacated, and he asked that those cadets who were still remaining should drill his men. They willingly did so, and some of them were offered positions in the regiment. In that way the writer became a member of Fisher's Regiment. It was soon decided that a better place for the camp of instruction would be Company Shops. So all were carried down there, and the work of organization and instruction was carried on as rapidly as practicable. The camp was in an old field along the railroad, just east of the shops. It is now a part of the town of Burlington. Nearly every day there were train loads of troops passing from the Southern States "on to Sixth Regiment. 295 Virginia." Their clieers were greeted with hearty responses by our men. The few pages to which this sketch must be compressed will not admit details as to the organization of the diiferent companies. For a roll of the officers and men at the organization, and for subsequent changes by resignations, promotions, deaths and trans- fers, reference must be had to the "Roster of North Carolina Troops," heretofore published by authority, from which, imper- fect though it be, it would be necessary to copy in order to give names. For casualties in battle, deaths from wounds and disease, killed and captured, reference must be had to the muster-rolls, morning reports and other records on file in the proper depart- ment, or at Washington, where the " Records of the Rebellion " are being compiled — access to which is to me at present impracticable. What is called for, as I understand it, is a short summary of the part performed in the Confederate war by each of the seventy- five regiments, eleven battalions and nine independent batteries of North Carolina Troops — so short a history of each that all can be published in two or three volumes of convenient size. Suffice it then to say, as to the organization, that the Sixth North Carolina State Troops was duly organized on the 16th May, 1861, at Company Shops, with C. F. Fisher as Colonel, W. T. Dortch as Lieutenant-Colonel, and C. E. Lightfoot as Major. When the regiment was about to leave for Virginia, Lieutenant-Colonel Dortch, on the death of Governor Ellis, resigned by reason of his office in the Legislature. Lightfoot was made Lieutenant-Colonel and Captain Webb, "of Company B, was made Major. CoMPAXY A was first commanded by Captain R. M. McKin- ney, who had been one of the Professors at the North Carolina Military Institute. Before the regiment was fully organized he was made Colonel of the Fifteenth Regiment and S. S. Kirkland was made Captain. Company B, Captain R. F. Webb; then Captain W. K. Parrish. The men were mostly from Orange county. Company C, Captain W. G. Freeland, from Orange county. 296 North Carolina Troops, ]861-'65. Company T>, Captain S. McD. Tate. The men were mostly from Bnrke county, some from Catawba and McDowell. Company E, Captain T. E. Avery, with men from Burke, McDowell, Mitc^hell and Yancey counties. (Company F, from Alamance, Captain J. W. Wilson. Company G, from liowan, C-aptain J. A. Craige. Company H, from Caswell, Captain A. A. Mitchell. Company I, from Wake and Chatham, Captain R. W. York. Company K, from Alamance, Captain J. W. Lea. iVfter the first organization many changes were made, and, from time to time during the war, a great many recruits were enlisted from many other counties and assigned to the diiferent companies; and it is su])posed that, from first to last, there were perhaps as many as two thousand men that belonged h) the regi- ment. The men were all mustered in for the war, and this regiment was organized as one of the ten regiments called for to serve during the war, and was always known as the Sixth North Carolina State Troops. When the regiment was reported as ready for service a day was fixed for our departure for the seat of war. On the appointed day a great many people from the surrounding counties came in to bid good-bye to their sons, their brothers, their fathers, their husbands. It was a sad day — I will not attempt to recall or to describe its scenes. The Southern soldier volunteer's fare- well ! — no artist can picture it. But, trying as it was to bid farewell undfir such circumstances, yet not one of the thousand flinched. When the roll-call was sounded and the command "Fall in" was given the tears were brushed from their eyes; they took their places in the line, and as their uames were called each one firmly answered "Here!" Here, ready to leave home and dear ones — ready to do, to dare, to suffer, and, if need be, to die, in defense of the rights which, by the Constitution^ belong to me and my fellow-citizens, and to my State, and the States that are confederated with her — ready to resist, and, if possible, drive back the armed invasion being made by troops Sixth Regdiest. 297 from Northern States, arrogating to themselves that they are "the United States"; forgetting that by the terms of the laws and ordinances by which they came into and adopted the Cons- titution of the United States their States had no right to attempt the coercion or subjugation of any other States. With such convictions and such patriotic motives, the men of the Sixth Regiment North Carolina Troops were banded together; and assured of the justness of thfir cause, confiding in their leaders, and with well-grounded hopes of success, started in for the war. Taking the cars at Company Shops, we were carried to Raleigh and stopped there for a few days, during which we were called on to act as escort at the funeral of Gov- ernor Ellis. Leaving Raleigh, we were carried by way of Wel- don to Petersburg and then to Richmond. Vie stopped there for a day, awaiting transportation, camping at the old Fair Ground. President Davis reviewed the regiment, making a short speech to us. From Richmond we were carried, by Gor- donsville, to Manassas, and thence by way of the Manassas Gap Railroad to Strasburg; from which point we marched hurriedly to Winchester. Halting for a short while in the streets of Win- chester, we heard all sorts of rumors as to the expected attack by the enemy. Here our men first experienced that kind, patriotic hospitality which made famous the noble women of the army-stricken sec- tions of our country. As the two armies, for four years, swayed back and forth, leaving them within the lines of first one and then the other of the contending armies, they were always prompt and willing to help fill the haversack or even the canteen of the Confederate soldier, after their homes were so devastated that they could furnish nothing but cold water. The regiment was assigned to General Bee's Brigade, and we were soon hurried out and given a place on the extreme left of the line of battle which General Johnston had formed to meet the expected attack from the enemy. This looked more like war than anything we had seen. Every trooper that came in from the front was anxiously watched, but no enemy came. 2: North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. On the 18th of July the line was broken and we were marched back through Winchester, and then eastward. General Beaure- gard's army at Manassas was threatened, and we were marching to his relief. Wading the Shenandoah, we hurried right along up the mountain at Ashby's Gap. On the 19th, General Bee complained of the straggling, but we were urged forward by what we then thought was a forced march — later in the war we would not have thought it unusual. During the night of the 19th our regiment was halted at a station on the Manassas Gap Railroad. On account of some delay in getting cars, it was late in the evening of the 20th that we were counted into box-cars — so many on top and so many inside. There were ugly rumors as to obstructions placed on the track, evidently intended to impede our progress. With such rumors, with a train of box- cars full of sleepy, tired men, inside and on top, in the night, and through a mountainous country, it was a dangerous ride. We safely reached Manassas Junction on the morning of the 21st. Disembarking there, we could hear the firing of guns — the battle had begun — and we were marched off hurriedly in the direction of the firing. As we neared the battlefield we could hear the rattling musketry and exploding shells. We began to meet wounded men — we saw blood — the war was a reality. Some of the wounded were badly hurt, whilst others had slight wounds, about the hands for instance, and some of our men were so unsoldierly as to envy those who had escaped with only such slight wounds as would give them a furlough. We were led on, avoiding exposed places so as to keep out of sight of the enemy, until we were brought up in front of what is known as the " Henry House," near which a battery of artillery was posted and throwing its deadly missiles into the Confederate lines. This was Rickett's Battery. It was but a short time — it seemed only a few minutes — before these guns were silencQ,d and captured. But in those few minutes Colonel Fisher and many others had been killed. The regiment had received its baptism of blood. The enemy, however, was still extending their right beyond our left. It was a critical time. On this Sixth Regiment. 299 ridge or plateau, on which the "Henry House" stood, was the hardest fighting of the day. Here it was that General Bee, a short while before he was killed, bravely calling on his men to stand firm against the heavy columns that were coming against them, pointed down the line to General Jackson, saying: "Look at Jackson, he stands like a stone wall ! " — words that will never die. On this ridge, the turning point of the first battle of Manassas Plains, Generals Jackson and Hampton were wounded, Generals Bee and Bartow and Colonel Fisher were killed, together with hundreds of others whose names were not so prominent, but whose conduct was as heroic and whose lives were as precious to their country and kindred. Before the enemy could bring up their fresh columns to regain the lost position, their lines on the extreme right began to waver. General Kirby Smith, who was bringing up the other part of the Army of the Shenandoah, appeared on our extreme left, and then began a retreat, which soon became a stampede, which would have enabled the Confederates to have gone into Wash- ington if they had pressed forward. Much has been written as to the effect of this first great battle of the war on the two sections of the country. The Confeder- ates have always lamented their lost opportunity of capturing Washington. The Federals have always tried to believe that their defeat was a blessing in disguise. Our regiment lamented the death of our Brigadier-General, Bee, who, in the six days that we were in his brigade, had won the respect and confidence of all ; and among our many dead we especially lamented the loss of Colonel Fisher — noble, true, brave, almost to a fault. He had the qualities that would have made him most useful in the army. No better provider for his men could be found; they were devoted to him. After the battle our brigade was commanded by General W. H. C- Whiting, and was known as the Third Brigade. We were camped for a week or two at Bull Run, but, to be in a healthier location, we were moved back and camped near Bristow Station, a place that afterwards became famous. Whilst here Colonel 300 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. W. D. Pender came to us and took command. The regiment suifered severely from sickness and many died of disease. lu the fall of 1861 we were moved down near Freestone Point, on the Potomac, above Dumfries'. There we staid until cold weather, and then built winter-quarters. During the fall and winter we took our turn in picketing along the Potomac and on the Occoquan, and in guarding the batteries that were intended to command the river at Quantico and Evansport. Sometimes there would be alarms, and sometimes, whilst we were guarding these batteries, there would be long-range duels, and a few shells would be thrown at us, but we had no serious fighting. The winter 1861-62 was uneventful. About the 8th of March, 1862, in accordance with orders, we burned our winter- quarters, with a great deal of our baggage, camp supplies, etc., and marched southward, crossing the Rappahannock at Falmouth, and pitched our camp near- Fredericksburg. We were not pressed or hurried in the retreat, the movement seemed to be a deliberate one, and the necessity for the immense destruction of baggage and supplies of all sorts, which took place by order when the army fell back from Manassas, has never been made apparent. At Fredericksburg a number of recruits joined the regiment. Toward the latter part of March it was found that large num- bers of troops from McClellan's army were being transported down the Potomac. We were ordered to move again, and, leav- ing Fredericksburg, we took the road towards Richmond. After marching as far as Wilford Station, we were placed on board the cars, but were stopped at Ashland. After a few days' stay there, we started again in light marching order and went by the coun- try roads to Yorktown, arriving there towards the last of April, and were camped west of the town near the Williamsburg road. During our stay at Yorktown there were several alarms, and we were called into line several times, but the enemy did not advance. It was soon evident that some important movement was in contemplation. The preparation that was being made seemed to be for fighting the enemy there. Sixth Regiment. 301 On the morning of the 4th of May we were called quietly into line, and our regiment was formed across the Williamsburg road, facing toward Yorktown. Regiment after regiment filed by — that movement had been going on all night — the whole array- was falling back, and we were assigned the post of honor, the rearguard on that road. There was nothing between us and McClellan's advancing array but a few cavalrymen. Again and again, many times during the forepart of that day, as our army passed on, we would drop back and reform our line across the road, prepared for the enemy's advance, but we had no fighting to do. When we got in sight of Williamsburg and the forts and earth-works that had been prepared for defense there, we expected to see them fully manned by our troops. But the troops were all resting around promiscuously, apparently with- out any expectation of an enemy. When we reached the earth- works we were not halted, but were marched right on, and after passing through the town we took the road that bore towards York River. That night when the camp-followers and strag- glers came into camp, they told us that our army had been sur- prised at Williamsburg, and that many men were killed. That surprise ought not to have taken place. Some one was negligent. On the next day we still continued in our march to lean over towards York River. General Franklin, with a large force, was going up the river on transports, escorted by gun-boats, and we were to prevent him from getting between General Johnston and Richmond, or interfering with the retreat. We had quite a bat- tle near Barhamsville, or Eltham's Landing. The enemy after- wards claimed it a success. We thought we succeeded. We did not drive his fleet down the river, he had too many gun- boats, but we prevented his coming off the river to impede the movements of our army. The army was now well on its way on the retreat from the Yorktown peninsula. The ordnance stores and other supplies that had been abandoned must have been immense. Some of it was brought down to the lines near Yorktown within a day or 302 NoETH Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. two before the retreat began. Was that good manag-ement? Was it a necessary loss? The march back towards Richmond was very disagreeable. There had been a great deal of rain ; the roads were very bad, muddy and miry. We got separated from our commissary wagons. The men suffered with hunger. One evening when the regiment was filed out of the road to camp — they had been without rations and none were in sight — a wagon came along loaded with corn in the ear. It was intended for the horses, but the men were so hungry that, upon the sug- gestion by some one that parched corn would do for subsistence, they rushed for the wagon and would have emptied it but for the interference of the guard, who told them that the commissary wagon was coming. When the army got within the lines that were finally chosen for the defense of Richmond our camp was north of the city. On the 29th and 30th of May we had heavy rains. A fearful thunder-storm passed over our camp. One stroke of lightning in our brigade disabled for a time about thirty men, of whom it was said that four died. The description of that storm as given ' in the Richmond Examiner the next morning was most graphic. It was remarkable as a literary production. In consequence of these heavy rains the Chickahominy River was much swollen, and General Johnston, who had withdrawn most of his army to the south side of that stream, thought it a good time to attack McClellan, whose army was on both sides of the river. On the 31st of May we were hurried out in the direction of Seven Pines and joined in the attack. For a while we drove the enemy in fine style. They must have been completely surprised, for we passed through camps in which we found their dinner in the kettles being cooked, and in some cases it was smoking-hot on their camp-tables. After driving them back for a considera- ble distance they began to make a stand, and the fighting became furious. As we afterwards learned, we were not far from Fair Oaks Station, and nearly opposite the "Grape-vine Bridge," which was a new bridge constructed by them. Re-inforcemejits Sixth Eegiment. 303 from the north side were pouring across this bridge and our advance was stayed. General Johnston, together with President Davis and General G. W. Smith, with a numerous staff, came up in the rear of our brigade. Here it was that General John- ston was wounded. That was nearly night, and as it was a dark evening the heavy battle-smoke soon made it impossible to see, and the firing ceased and we made no further advance. The next morning, Sunday, June 1st, found the two armies still in front of each other. But no heavy fighting was done on our part of the line. They did considerable shelling from the north side of the Chickahominy. So ended the battle of Seven Pines and Fair Oaks. After this battle Colonel Pender was promoted and Captain I. E. Avery was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the Sixth Regiment. About the 12th to 13th of June our division was placed aboard the cars at Richmond and carried by way of Lynchburg and Charlottsville to Staunton, and disembarking there, started down the Valley. But we made only one march in that direction when we met General Jackson's men coming up the Valley pike ■ towards Staunton. We were turned about and marched by way of Waynesboro and across the Blue Ridge at Rockfish Gap towards Charlottsville. Our road was nearly along the railroad, and we could see train-load after train-load of troops moving east. Finally our turn came, and we were taken up and hauled to Trevillian's Depot, and thence were marched, bearing at first towards Fredericksburg, but at last turned to Ashland. Here we were told that Lee was going to capture McCIellau's army or drive him away from Richmond. We were on his right flank, and were to move early in the morning of the 26th. We did so, but before we had gotten in rear of McClellan's right, or had time to attack him, the Confederates in front of his lines at and near Mechanicsville charged him in front. They carried the works, but at fearful loss. Our brigade. Whiting's, had had only a slight skirmish in crossing Totapotamoi Creek, and if Jackson had been allowed a little longer time the enemy could not have awaited the attack in front, for Jackson was about to 304 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. strike him in the rear. Whose fault or by whose mistake was the great loss of Confederates at Mechanicsville? On the 27th we took part in the battle of Gaines' Mill, or Cold Harbor, one of the most noted and hotly-contested battles of the war. The enemy, under General Fitzjohn Porter, was strongly posted on the east bank of Powhite Creek. His artillery was on top of the ridge, in front of which were two lines of infantry, so placed on the hill-side that the artillery and the two lines of infantry could all fire over each other on the advancing Confederates; and to reach their line we had to cross the creek in a deep ravine. They had felled the timber so as to hinder an attacking force. Our brigade, Whiting's, was formed in line, with Hood's (Texas) Brigade, as I recollect, on our left, and had moved forward until we were about within range of the enemy's musketry. A short halt was made. The field of bat- tle was before us: cannons belching forth fire and smoke; burst- ing shells; riderless horses rushing wildly about; smoking lines of infantry ; charging columns gallantly led by mounted officers; wounded men being borne to the rear, whilst the dead lay motionless and still ! It was the reality of the pictures given us by artists. There had been an unsuccessful attempt to drive the enemy from his strong position. Our line Was in readiness. The gallant Whiting, riding along in front of the line, was cheered by our men, and, turning to the line, raised his hat in acknowledgment of the salute, and called out, saying: "Boys, you can take it ! " and motioned towards the enemy's position. "Forward!" was the command all along the line. The advance across the open field on the west side of the creek; crossing the creek and working our way up the hill through the fallen timber; driving the two lines of infantry from behind their breastworks and capturing the artillery posted on the ridge behind them, was a severe test of those qualities which have made the Confederate soldier famous. It was a military feat which the historians of the war do not seem to have appreciated. The Sixth Regiment did its part in driving the enemy from a position which, after we had taken it and had time to view the situation, looked as if Sixth Regiment. 305 it shpiild have been impregnable to troops attacking it in front. It has been said that President Davis watched this attack from where he was on the south side of the Chickahominy; saw its success, and, not knowing the troops or their commander, eulo- gized them, and said: "That charge has saved Richmond." When the battle ended it was getting dark. The loss of this position compelled the Federals to withdraw to the south side of the Chickahominy, which they did during that night, destroy- ing the bridges. McClellan was retreating to the James. Our pursuit was delayed until the bridges could be rebuilt. When we crossed to the south side the battle of Savage Station had been won. We passed through the battlefield on the 30th and assisted in forcing the passage of White Oak Swamp, which the enemy was stubbornly holding, in order to give time for his trains to get away. We were on the left of the line at Malvern Hill, and although under a terrible fire, supporting our artillery, we were not ordered to charge the enemy. On the morning of the 2d of July the enemy was gone, and we were marched in pursuit, and found him at Harrison's Lauding. Our lines were formed promptly, skirmishing began, and we thought we were to attack him at once, but General Lee concluded that his posi- tion, protected as it was by gun-boats, was too strong. McCIel- lan's army had not been captured, but the seige of Richmond had been raised. After watching the enemy for a few days, we were marched back to the neighborhood of Richmond, where we camped until August, when we started on the campaign known as the Pope campaign, so called because the Federal army was commanded by General John Pope, who rendered himself infamous by his uncivilized warfare and cruel treatment of citizens, and who withal made himself ridiculous by his braggadocio orders, which were followed by bad generalship and consequent defeat. Our brigade was commanded by Colonel (afterwards General) E. M. Law, and was in General Hood's Division. We took part in a number of skirmishes along the Rappa- hannock, and near Warrentou Springs, and when General Jack- 20 306 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. son, at Manassas and Bull Run, was about to be separated from the other portion of the army, whilst we were marching hur- riedly to his relief, we found the enemy disputing our passage through Thoroughfare Gap. No time was to be lost. Com- munication with Jackson was necessary. We were filed by a narrow path up the mountain side to the summit on the left of the pass. The enemy was driven back and left the pass or gap open. From our position on the top of the mountain, on the evening of the 28th, we could see the firing of the guns and the explosion of the shells in the fight against Jackson, far away on Bull Run, or near it, but we could not hear the sound of a gun. Early on the 29th we were on the march to the relief of Jack- son, who had hard fighting, as we judged by the heavy firing which was then plainly to be heard. As soon as we came up our division. Hood's, was formed in line across the Warrenton turnpike and moved forward to attack the enemy's line, which was then pressing hard upon Jackson. We drove him back. We were heavily engaged also on the 30th, when the enemy was forced to give up the field. When the battle was over we found that the two armies had occupied about the same positions that were held by them on the 21st of July, 1861, except that they were reversed. The last stand by the enemy was made on the ridge or plateau on which stood the " Henry House," made famous as the scene of the severest part of the battle known as First Manassas. After the battle of Ox Hill on the 30th we were marched towards the Potomac, and fording it, we marched to Monocacy Bridge, near Frederick, in Maryland. Thence we went along the Baltimore and Ohio turnpike, crossing the mountains at Boonsboro, marching by the side of our wagon-trains all the way to Hagerstown. We were there only a short time, when we heard cannonading in the direction of Boonsboro. We were hurried back, and when we reached Boonsboro we heard heavy fighting upon the mountain. We were carried up to the pass and were first formed in line on the south side of the pike, and then to the north side and afterwards to the south side again, Sixth Regiment. 307 but we were not heavily engaged in the battle. Early the next morning we found that our army had moved in the direction of the Potomac, and we were acting as the rearguard. Many times during the day our regiment was formed into line across the road, as the army fell back towards Sharpsburg. The enemy came in sight several times, but did not attack. When we reached the top of the hill above Sharpsburg, where the Federal ceme- tery now is, we found a considerable part of the army resting there. Lee and his staff were there, and soon a courier arrived bringing news of the capture of Harper's Ferry. About that time the enemy was seen placing a battery in the field north of the Antietam. He began throwing shells. The. camp-follow- ers were soon going further towards Virginia. But, under the direction of General Lee, the different commands were deploying into line. He was retreating no longer. Our brigade was carried west along the Hagerstown road to the Dunkard Church — St. Mumma's — where the Smoketown road branches off to the north. Forming our line along the Hagerstown road, we remained there during the rest of that day, the 15th of September, and on the 16th until late in the evening. Then the cavalry reported that the enemy was moving with strong lines and coming up in front of us. Our lines were then pushed forward in the direction of the Smoketown road ^ome distance, perhaps a quarter of a mile. Our regiment was on the east side of the Smoketown road, along a fence and skirt of woods, known as East Woods in the accounts of the battle. Sometime after dark a line of men was discovered moving along our front from our right towards our left, so unconcernedly that they were at first supposed to be Confederates, but when they were hailed and found to be enemies one volley from our line scattered them and we were not molested further that night. At sometime during the night, perhaps about one or two o'clock, we were carried back to (what was then) woods near the Dunk- ard Church. It is now a cleared field. Here we were told to rest. But early in the morning of the 17th, when it was hardly light, the battle opened. Our position, though we were then in North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. the second line, was a very trying one. The enemy's guns in our front poured shot and shell into us, whilst we were exposed to a cross-fire from his long-range guns, posted on the northeast side of Antietam Creek. The infantry in our front were soon engaged. There was an incessant roar of cannonading, and the roll of musketry was terrific. Wounded men were going back through our lines by scores. The battle was raging awfully. Our line was called into action, and moved to the front up the Smoketown road and between it and the Hagerstown pike. The front line had made a noble stand, but it was being pressed back. The enemy, with fresh lines, was pushing forward when we met him. Here it was that, for the first time in the war, I saw our men fix their bayonets in action, which they did at the command of General Hood, who was riding up and down the line. We broke the enemy's line and held our place for a while, but he was bringing up fresh columns and( overlapping our left, and we were forced back. The enemy seemed to be over- coming us until our left was re-inforced by troops that were ordered up from our right. They engaged the enemy and drove him back again to the north of the Dunkard Church, and our lines were re-established. There was no further heavy fighting on that part of the line. The heavy fighting in the afternoon was near the stone bridge east of the town. If the future historian will study the battle of Sharpsburg, the positions of the two armies and the number of troops belong- ing to each, he will be forced to conclude that it should be con- sidered one of the most noted battles of the war, and that Lee's army covered itself with glory there. Remaining on the field during the afternoon and night of the 17th and all day of the 18th without any renewal of attack, the army on the night of the 18th moved across the Potomac into Virginia. We camped there for sometime near a big spring northwest of Winchester. Toward the latter part of October, General McClellan showed signs of an intention to advance into Virginia, east of the Blue Ridge. So we were marched across the mountains, and were kept marching until we were brought Sixth Regiment. 309 up in front of Fredericksburg. Here we learned that McClellan had been removed and that Burnside had been placed in com- mand of the Army of the Potomac. As we neared Fredericks- burg we met old men and old women and children, some on foot, some in carriages, some being hauled in wagons; many of them apparently too sick to travel ; all vacating the town because the Federal commander had threatened to bombard it, which he did do a few days thereafter. It had been decided to organize the army anew and to brigade the troops by States, but the Sixth remained with Law's Brigade until after the battle of Fredericksburg, when it was placed, together with the Twenty-first, the Fifty-fourth and Fifty-sev- enth North Carolina Regiments, in a brigade commanded by General R. F. Hoke. Our brigade during the battle of Fredericksburg was on the line between Hamilton's Crossing and the to.wn, about in front of the Barnard House. General Franklin commanded that por- tion of the Federal army which confronted us. His attack was very powerful, and soon after the battle began the enemy took advantage of an interval that was inadvertently allowed in the line on our right towards Hamilton's Crossing and broke through. Here it was that General Gregg, of South Carolina, was mortally wounded. But the enemy's success was only temporary, for he was soon repulsed, and he did not, after that, show much disposition to press forward. Late in the afternoon our brigade was called upon to drive the enemy from an advanced position which he was holding along the railroad where it crossed Hazel Run or Deep Run. The Fifty-fourth and Fifty-seventh Regiments (N. C.) were placed in advance by General Law, at the request of their Colonels, McDowell and Godwin, and they drove the enemy in handsome style clear away from the railroad. General Law's Aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Smith, was killed in the effort to stop the two regiments in the pursuit of the enemy. This line we held. On the morning of the second day thereafter we found that there was no enemy in front of us. He was 310 North Carolina Tkoops, 1861-65. on the north side of the Rappahannock. The campaigns of 1862 were over. We went into winter-quarters on the hills southwest of Hamilton's Crossing in December, 1862, but were removed to Hoke's Brigade during the winter, which was in camp near Jackson's headquarters on the right of the line, and during the winter did our share of picketing along the river between Fredericksburg and Port Royal. General Burnside made an unsuccessful attempt to advance in January, 1863, but was forced to abandon it on account of the mud, and that movement was known as Burnside's "Mud March." He resigned, and General Hooker was placed in com- mand of the Army of the Potomac. When he made his advance in what is known as the Chancellorsville or the Wilderness cam- paign, our brigade was near the same part of the line which we occupied during the battle in December before. There was no very heavy fighting near Fredericksburg until the 4th. General Sedgwick, who was in command of the enemy's forces about Fredericksburg, moved out of the town, attacked and captured Marye's Hill, where there had been such awful destruction of life in December previous; and he appeared to be moving so as to strike the right of General Lee's line of battle up toward Chan- cellorsville. Our brigade was commanded by General Hoke, and we were at once moved from our position below Deep Run, so as to attack the enemy, who was then on the hills south of the town. The conflict was sharp, but short, and the enemy was soon on the retreat. In this fight General Hoke was wounded. By the next morning Hooker and his army were again on the north side of the Rappahannock. After a short rest our brigade was moved westward and crossed the Rapidan towards Culpep- per Court House; and after the battle of Brandy Station we were carried by long, hurried marches over the Blue Ridge, crossing the Shanandoah at Port Royal, and thence to Win- chester. There we took part in the battle which resulted in the capture of Milroy's command, although he himself escaped. There was a large number of prisoners, and one of our regi- Sixth Regiment. 311 ments, the Fifty- fourth, was detailed to guard them and carry them up the Valley to Staunton. The Sixth Regiment and the other two regiments of the brigade went on in that series of movements which culmiaated at Gettysburg. We crossed the Potomac near Shepherdstown and passed through Sharpsburg, where we had lost so many of our regiment in September before ; thence on past Hagerstown, and nearly' to Chambersburg. We then bore to the right or easterly across the mountains, passing Heidlersburg, Berlin and other towns, and on to York. There we stopped and rested for a few days, camping in the old Fair Grounds. General Gordon, with a brigade of our division, pushed on still further towards Philadelphia and burned the bridge over the Susquehanna at Columbia. Leaving York, we soon found that we were retracing our march. On the afternoon of the 1st of July, when we, as it afterwards appeared, were within a few miles of Gettysburg, and whilst halted for a rest, although we could not hear or see any signs of battle, an order was passed along down the line to inspect arms and examine the cartridge- boxes and see that all were well supplied with ammunition, and directing also that there should be no straggling. Moving for- ward, we soon heard cannonading in our front, andsoon there- after we were in hearing of musketry. The road was cleared for the artillery to come forward, and we were formed into line of battle to protect it. The battle was raging on the west and northwest of the town, and we were engaging the lines that were formed on the north of the town. In the artillery duel that took place here, one of the guns which our regiment supported was disabled by a shot from one of the enemy's guns, which struck our gun exactly in the muzzle and split it. That might be called a center-shot. The enemy seemed to fight with more desperation and gallantry than we had been accustomed to in our engagements with him in Virginia. He was upon his own soil, and it was no longer a sentiment about the old flag, it was a fight for home. But our mfen were never more unfalter- ing. The long line of battle moved with great steadiness across the wide-extended fields of wheat which were just ready for the 312 JS^OETH CaeolixVa Troops, 1861-'65. reaper. There was, on that field, another Eeaper gathering in a numerous harvest from the fields of Time. As we moved for- ward, one by one our men were left dead or wounded on the field behind us, but still our line advanced, and although the enemy made a determined stand we could see his line thinning down. Just north of the town, and a little to the east of the depot, he held his line until Our men crossed bayonets with him. Swords were used on him, and when the artillery which he was protecting fired its last round the stream of fire from the mouth of the gun crossed our line. It was necessary for him to be thus desperate in holding this position in order to protect the retreat from Seminary Ridge. The artillery was being car- ried back from Seminary Ridge, through the town, to Cemetery Hill. He was in full retreat through the town. We thought the battle of Gettysburg was over ; and so it was, for when we passed to the southeast side of the town and got in sight of Cemetery Hill we could see him placing his first gun on East Cemetery Hill, and we could see no troops out east of Cemetery Hill towards Culp's Hill. Our men were anxious to proceed and take possession of Cemetery Hill, and it was only by posi- tive orders that a halt was made. The line was soon reformed along a little rivulet that runs northeastwardly from Cemetery Hill, and between the town and Culp's Hill. But we had no orders for any further advance. As soon as it began to grow dark we could hear sounds of what might have been thousands of axes cutting down the timber on Culp's Hill. He made breastworks and lined the Cemetery Hill with artillery, and placed a battery on a small hill between Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill, and his guns were also protected by earth-works which he threw up during the night. By the morning of the 2d all these places were full of infan- try, and his artillery was so posted as to be able to fire over the heads of his infantry, whilst a strong line of skirmishers was in front of all, which was frequently relieved. He kept up a galling fire on us all day. There was a terrific cannonade between the enemy's guns and ours, which were posted on the Sixth Regiment. 313 north and east of the town. This was not very destructive to our infantry line, because, being in the valley, the shots passed over us. But late in the afternoon, after the artillery had about ceased firing, couriers and aids were seen riding rapidly from one com- manding officer to another. We knew what that meant. The order was given: "Forward, Guide Eight!" Hays' Brigade of Louisiana was on our right; ours, the Sixth Regiment, was next to Hays'; Colonel Isaac E. Avery, of the Sixth, was in command of our brigade; Lieutenant-Colonel S. McD. Tate was in com- mand of the regiment. Never can that time be forgotten. Every man in the line knew what was before him. We had seen the enemy gathering on Cemetery Hill; we had laid under the fire of his numerous guns; we knew the preparations he had made for us. Yet, promptly at the command, the line moved forward, and in a few minutes we were in full view of the enemy's bat- teries and his lines of infantry. His sharp-shooters emptied their rifles at us and fell back to their main line at once, and every gun was brought to bear upon us. The fire was terrific, but our men moved forward very rapidly, bearing to the right, having the batteries on Cemetery Hill as their objective point. As we approached the hill the guns on Battery Hill, over to- wards Culp's Hill, had an enfilading fire on us. Still our men rushed forward, crawled over the stone wall near the base of the hill, drove from behind it a strong line of infantry, and went still forward to the top of the hill, and silenced the numerous pieces of artillery that had been so advantageously posted. We had full possession of East Cemetery Hill, the key to General Meade's position, and we held it for several minutes. It was then after daylight had gone down, the smoke was very dense, and, although the moon was rising, we could not see what the enemy was doing, but we could hear him attempting to rally his men, and more than once he rallied close up to us. But our men had formed behind a rock wall, and as he ap- proached we fired a volley into him, which drove him back. This occurred at least twice. No one who has never been in a similar 314 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. position can understand how anxiously we looiied for re-inforce- ments. None came, however, and before long orders came for us to fall back to our original position. By not supporting Hoke's Brigade of North Carolina and Hays' Brigade of Louisiana in the storming and capturing of Cemetery Hill the battle of Gettysburg was lost. I do not know whose fault it was, but I feel assured in saying that it was not the fault of the storming column. It did its whole duty and fell back only when orders came for it to do so. Much has been written about the battle of Gettysburg, and what was accomplished by the different conamands and the troops from the different States. But, at the risk of being charged with immodesty, I venture to claim that the storming and capturing of Cemetery Hill on the evening of the second day was not sur- passed by anything that was done during the three days' fight. The facts on which the claim is based will appear to any one who will go to the spot. He will there see the positions of the contending armies and the strength of the hill. The breastworks and embankments protecting the enemy's guns are still plainly visible. Its defenses and the lines of the positions of its de- fenders a-re all marked by durable monuments. And on the top- most summit he will find a cluster of monuments, the inscrip- tions on which recite the desperate assault made by Hoke's and Hays' Brigades on the 2d of July, 1863, and especially men- tion the hand-to-hand conflict, after the last round of ammuni- tion had been fired and the capture and spiking of the enemy's guns by the Confederates. I did not know at the time of the battle that the men had spiked the enemy's guns. But on a visit to the battlefield since the war I met one of the cannoneers who helped to man those guns on that evening, and he told me of what a terrible raking fire they had at us until we got close up to the hill; of how many shots they fired to the minute from each gun; and he said it was a fact that several of their guns were found to have been spiked by our men, as shown by the recitals inscribed on those monu- ments. Sixth Regiment. 315 These are records that cannot be gainsaid, and they will endure. I refer to them with pride: not for myself, but for my regiment, and especially for and on behalf of the troops from North Carolina, whose glorious deeds at Gettysburg have been so much ignored. The noble soldierly bearing of the many regiments of North Carolina troops that took part in that three days' fight — on Semi- nary Ridge and Rock Creek on the first day, and with General Johnson on Gulp's Hill on the evening of the second and morn- ing of the third day, and in the charge on Cemetery Ridge on the third day, have not been given due prominence in the accounts of the battle of Gettysburg. But here, on Cemetery Hill, those who felt the prowess of her troops have contributed to their fame by inscribing their deeds on imperishable tablets, which they have erected on the highest ground and in the most conspicuous position on this most noted battlefield of the war — a battlefield which, by reason of the vast sums of money expended on it, is destined to be made one of the most noted battlefields in the world. The tourist or traveler visiting this field in days to come, as he goes from point to point with a well-informed guide, will hear him, in describing the operations of the two armies on the first day, on the second day and on the third day, make frequent mention of the North Carolina troops. From the point known as "The Bloody Angle" he will de- scribe Pickett's charge, so called because General Pickett was in command of the assaulting columns, a charge very unjustly spoken of as " The charge of Pickett and his Virginians," to the prejudice of troops from other States that participated in it, among whom were several regiments of North Carolina troops, who acted well their part, and will be duly mentioned in all true accounts of the fight. When they come to stand on Cemetery Hill, to which every visitor will go, for from it nearly all the field can be pointed out except Lee's right on the Emmettsburg road, and Meade's left on Roundtop, the guide will point westward toward Cashtown 316 NoETH Carolina Teoops, 1861-'65. and the Chambersburg pike, where the fighting began. North Carolina was there. He will then point out Seminary Ridge, beyond which the Federal General Reynolds was killed; the railroad cut; and the rock wall from which the Federals were driven after a most determined stand. North Carolina was there. He will turn towards the field on the north of the town, where Ewell's Corps came in and where the Federal General Bartow was killed ; and still further to the east, where Early's Division fought along Rock Creek and near the brick-yard, and through the town. North Carolina was all along there. Turning then directly east, he will call attention to the monuments, two or three miles off, which mark the place of the cavalry fighting. North Carolina was there too. Then he will show Gulp's Hill, where General Johnson and his men did such noble work and came so near being successful in their efforts to turn Meade's right flank. North Carolina was there. And to conclude his description from this point of view, the guide will then tell how Hays' Louisiana Brigade and Hoke's North Carolina Brigade (then commanded by Colonel I. E. Avery), after laying under fire all day, some of which was a ter- rible cannonade, emerged in line of battle from the little valley that runs through Gulp's field, and charged up the hill through the shot and shell and grape and canister and ball that was poured upon them by the well-posted Federals. He will point to where Avery fell, and tell how they still came on and on, driving back the infantry and then encountering the gunners, who resisted even to a hand-to-hand struggle, until finally the guns were silenced and spiked; and he will then ask that the records of those facts may be read in the inscriptions on the costly, durable monuments erected there by the Federal regi- ments and batteries that were in the fight. North Carolina loas there. The Confederate soldier — the North Carolina Confederate soldier — may glory in the records of Gettysburg. In the charge on this hill, the Sixth Regiment being on the Sixth Regiment. 317 right of the brigade, next to Hays' Brigade, was the only regi- ment of the North Carolina brigade which went on Cemetery Hill, towards which its advance was directed by Colonel Tate. The other regiments of the brigade, the Twenty-first and Fifty- seventh, being on the left, were brought up more directly against Culp's Hill. On the 3d day we remained in line along near the southern edge of town. We could hear the fighting to the south of us along the Emmettsburg road, but we were not heavily engaged at any time during the day — only constant firing on the skirmish line. On the 4th we were in line along Seminary Ridge. On the night of the 4th we could see that our army was leaving Get- tysburg, and when day came on the 5th we found that our brigade was again given the post of honor as the rearguard on one of the roads by which the army was crossing the mountains towards Hagerstown. It is claimed that General Meade was victorious at Gettys- burg, and in one sense he was, but it was by no means a decisive victory. We were all day on the 5th making the short distance be- tween Gettysburg and the foot of the mountains, and we were not seriously molested by any pursuit until late in the evening, after sundown, when we were well in the mountains. The enemy ran up on a hill in our rear and threw a few shells at us, but when our sharp-shooters deployed and started towards him he suddenly fell back, and we were molested no more. We next formed our line of battle up and down the Potomac, near Hagerstown, the river, by reason' of the continued rains, being too deep to be forded. Here was another chance for Gen- eral Meade, if his army was elated by his achievements at Gettysburg. General Lee's army remained in line ready for an expected attack, but no attack was made. When the river became passable the pontoons were placed, and portions of the army 318 iSfoETH Carolina Teoops, 1861-65. crossed on the bridge, whilst others forded. "We were back into Virginia again. The Gettj'sburg campaign was over, but many, many noble soldiers who crossed over with us in June now failed to answer to their names at roll-call. After getting into Virginia we were carried back and camped a few miles northwest of Winchester. Whilst stationed there we were ordered to prepare for marching, and late one evening we started westward toward the Alleghany mountains. We marched all night, and in the morning we were at the western base of the mountains in West Virginia, and took the roads leading northward. The object of our expedition was to capture some of the enemy's forces that were guarding a gap to the north of us; but they had gotten information of our movements and escaped, and we came back to camp. We were soon in motion again, and were marched up the Valley and crossed over to the eastern side of the Blue Ridge and on to the neighborhood of Culpepper Court House and the line of the Rapi- dan. We took part in all those movements and engagements in the early part of October, along the Rappahannock and near Warren- ton Springs, which led up to the disastrous engagement at Bris- tow Station on the 14th of October. Meade's army was falling back towards Washington, and we were in pursuit. Our brigade had formed east and west across the road in his rear, and we were fast closing in on him. But General Hill struck him on the flank, near Bristow, just south of Cedar Run, with two brigades. General Warren turned his whole force on him and played on him with artillery that was posted on the north side of the run. Hill's brigades were re- pulsed with terrible loss. The eifort to cut the enemy in his retreat had failed. We then fell back to the north side of the Rappahannock, tearing up the railroad from Cub's Run all the way back to Rappahannock Station. As every thing grew quiet we were directed to prepare winter- quarters, and did so with a hearty good-will. By the 7th of November we were tolerably well prepared for winter; but in Sixth Regiment. 319 the middle of the afternoon on that day the "long-roll" was beat and we were marched about seven miles, double-quick for a great part of the way, to Rappahannock Station. West of the railroad bridge the river bends to the south, and a pontoon bridge was kept across the river. On the north side of the river there was a line of trenches, and we were hurried over into them. There were three or four pieces of artillery on a bluff near the river, just opposite the pontoon bridge, to our right. There Hays' Louisiana Brigade was posted. The ene- my's lines soon appeared in our front. Owing to some unusual state of the atmosphere, or currents of the air, we could see him firing at us, but could not hear the report of his guns until he was close up to us. He seemed to know the ground, and his heaviest attack was on our right nearest the pontoon bridge. The conformation of the ground was such that we could not direct our fire so as to bear upon the heavy lines that were thrown against Hays, and he, after a gallant resistance, was overcome, and the enemy had the battery and was in full view of the pontoon bridge, which was then within musket-range from him, and he had an enfilading fire on our part of the line, which was also receiving a fire from the enemy in our front. Our men were ordered out of the trenches to form a line to try and retake the battery, but with the enemy advancing in our front and the severe fire from the hill on which the battery was situated, it was impossible to do so. No supporting troops were coming from the south side of the river. Hays' men were re- treating, and the enemy was pouring a deadly fire into the stream of men who were rushing across the pontoon bridge to the south side of the river. Our regiment and those to our left were cut off and the river was too deep to be forded. The only chance of escape was to run the gauntlet or swim the river. It was getting dark. Some ran the gauntlet across the bridge; some swam the river. The writer was one of a considerable number who rushed across the bridge and reached the south bank safely, whilst many who attempted it fell pierced with balls and tumbled headlong into the river. A large portion of the brigade 320 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. was captured. The enemy was so intent on crowding our men back into the horse-shoe bend of the river that a considerable number, after formally throwing down their guns and being ordered to the rear, in going back found that the bridge was not guarded, and so slipped across to the south side. This fight, though of short duration, was a severe one and against great odds. We had no support or re-inforcements. The wisdom of the generalship by which our two brigades were placed on the north bank of a deep river to meet the advance of a great army is not apparent. Those of us who escaped capture re- formed our companies, and by the addition of some recruits the regiment was intact again. But we were not permitted to go into winter-quarters any more. We were kept moving, watching the enemy. He was somewhat emboldened, and attempted what was known to our men as the "Mine Run Campaign." It was about the last of November, and the weather was bitter cold. Al- though we were under a considerable artillery fire, and did some heavy skirmishing between the lines of battle formed by the two armies, yet there was no general engagement, and the enemy gave up the movement, and on December 2d withdrew his forces to the north side of the Rapidan again. The^campaigns of 1863 were ended. Early in January, 1864, we were started again and were car- ried through Richmond and Petersburg, and thence to Garys- burg, N. C. Our men began almost to believe the rumor that we were being carried to North Carolina to hunt up deserters. Unpleasant as such duty would have been, there was rejoicing at the thought of being nearer home, and with a pathos that can- ' not be described, the men sang Gaston's glorious hymn : "Carolina, Carolina, Heaven's blessings attend her," "While we live we will cherish, protect and defend her." Taking the cars again, we headed towards Weldon, but there, instead of going on the Gaston road, we went towards Golds- boro and thence to Kinston. We joined in the expedition to Sixth Eegiment. 321 New Bern, took part in the engagement at Bachelor's Creek Bridge and formed our line in sight of the enemy's breastworks in front of New Bern. But no attack was made. After a day or two there, we marched back to Kinston. When we left Kins- ton we were carried by way of Goldsboro and Rocky Mount to Tarboro, and thence were marched hurriedly to Plymouth. We took part in the storming of the outer works and final cap- ture of Plymouth, April 20th. It was in this battle and whilst storming Fort Wessels that we first had to contend with hand-gre- nades. Whilst our men were in the ditch around the fort the enemy threw hand-grenades quite freely, but they did not prove to be very destructive, and the fort soon surrendered. This was about dark on the first day, and the surrender of this fort brought us in front of the main line of works around the town. Early in the morning the battle was renewed all along the line, and the' Ram "Albemarle" was brought down the river to assist. The battle soon resulted in the capture of the town, with a large number of prisoners and considerable stores. We then marched on Little Washington on Tar River, but the enemy vacated it before we got there. Spring was now well advanced and serious work was threat- ened in Virginia. Grant was moving on the Rapidan, and the Petersburg & Weldon Railroad was threatened by troops on the south side of the James. We were hurried back towards Rich- mond, but were stopped near Belfield and Hicksford to protect the bridges in that neighborhood for a few days. Then we were carried to Petersburg to prevent Butler's forces from capturing the city. Then Butler, failing to get into Petersburg, made a heavy demonstration out from Bermuda Hundreds, threatening the Petersburg & Richmond Railroad. We were marched over there. Butler failed to take the railroad, and, as Grant said, was "bottled up." We were marched over to Richmond and northward towards Fredericksburg, and next formed in line of battle a little to the 21 322 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. north of Hanover Junction. We were back with the army of Northern Virginia again. An attacii from Grant's army was hourly expected. But there was no general engagement, only some skirmishing on our part of the line. As General Grant swung around down the river, we were marched so as to conform to his movements, and keep between him and Richmond. When he got to a point nearly north of Richmond he crossed over the Pamunkey River and advanced directly toward the city. Our line was along the Totapotamoi. On Sunday evening, May 29, 1864, the writer of this sketch had his own company and two other companies on the skirmish line quite hotly engaged until after dark. After night-fall everything was quiet, and early in the morning, before it was light, we had orders to fall back to the main line. But hardly had we gotten back to the regiment when orders were brought to him to take the same men back to the same skirmish line and hold it until heavily pressed by the enemy; and, as they pressed us, to fall back to the main line. We were soon in our place, and it was not long before the enemy came up in force in our front and as far as we could see to our right and to our left. We were on the north side of the creek, along the brow of the hill ; in front of us was a level field, in our rear wa^ a valley which had been cleared for cultivation, and the ground sloped from our line back to the run of the creek, and then up on the south side, which was wooded, back to the main line on the brow of the hill. The skirmishing soon became furious all along the line. In falling back our part of the line had to traverse the cleared ground until we began to ascend the slope on the south side of the creek, and the enemy, who rushed to the brow of the hill, poured a destructive fire into us. After we had gotten on the south side of the creek the writer, in passing from the left to the right along the line, received a shot in the ankle which disabled him entirely. Fearing capture, he, without waiting for the litter-bearers, called on his men to carry him back. Oh ! how true and good and faithful those Sixth Regiment. 323 men had, under all circumstances, been to him. Promptly when the call was made, three or four good soldiers of his company lifted him and carried him back till the litter-bearers were met. He was then carried by them to the ambulance station, and thence to the hospital, and there, when his turn came, he was placed on the operating-table, and when he awoke his left foot was gone — the surgeons said amputation was necessary. And so ended his career as an active soldier. Any further history of the regiment is based on information derived from other sources. The fighting above referred to was preliminary to the great battle of Cold Harbor on the 31st of May and on the 1st, 2d and 3d of June, in which the Federal losses were awfully heavy. The Confederate loss was comparatively small. The one was reported at about twelve hundred, the other at about thirteen thousand. Those who eulogize General Grant have a difficult task in vindicating the orders which caused such fearful losses in this battle. History tells it that he ordered charge after charge, and only desisted when his men declined to charge again. The writer, whilst lying on his cot in the hospital in Rich- mond, was told by the doctor in charge that s(jme of his old comrades had come in to see him, and when he looked up he saw that it was some of the Sixth Regiment, North Carolina Troops, who had been wounded at Cold Harbor. They told him of the awful slaughter of Federals in front of the Confederate lines. The second Cold Harbor was a decisive battle and virtually closed the overland campaign against Richmond. General Grant was foiled in his eifort to get between Lee and Richmond. Grant then decided to transfer his forces to the James River. About the 12th to 14th of June, when General Grant began to change his base to the James, the cavalry was threatening the line of the railroad towards Gordonsville, and Hunter was moving up the Valley. Early's Division, to which the Sixth Regi- ment belonged, was marched rapidly from the Chickahominy 324 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. towards Gordonsville, in which section of the country Sheridan's Cavalry was raiding. Hampton's Cavalry had checked Sheridan. Early's forces pushed on through the smoking ruins that marked the line of Sheridan's retreat, until near Gordonsville a train was met back- ing down to carry them to Lynchburg, which place was reached about sunrise on the morning of the 17th. Jumping off the cars, the men were hurriedly marched up the steep streets and out to the field west of the town, and were just in time to save it. The cavalry of General Jackson, sometimes known as " Mud-wall Jaokson," were being driven back by Hunter's men, who were advancing hilariously. But consternation struck them when they met Lee's infantry. Then followed the greatest foot-race ever witnessed in war. Back through Liberty, Buford's Gap, and across the Valley into and beyond the North Mountain the despoilers ran, strewing the line of their flight with arms, blankets, knapsacks, and even shoes and hats. General Hunter, having retreated through West Virginia to- ward the Ohio, General Early moved rapidly down the Valley, the enemy falling back before him until they reached Harper's Ferry and Maryland Heights. On the 3d, of July General Siegel's force was driven from Martinsburg across the Potomac at Shepherdstown. General Early followed, moving through Hagerstown, and thence east- ward, occupying Frederick City on the 7th. The militia that opposed the advance were dispersed by our skirmish line. As the army marched through Frederick the citizens tauntingly said : " Go ahead ! You will soon meet regular soldiers." Our men replied : " All right, they are the fellows we are hunting for!" Sure enough, at Monocacy Bridge, a few miles east of Frede- rick, General Lew Wallace, since of " Ben-Hur " fame, had a large force in position on the left bank of the river. General Early attacked him on the 8th, forced the passage of the river and drove General Wallace back towards Pennsylvania. That left the Sixth Regiment. 325 road towards Washington and Baltimore open. Early promptly set out towards Washington and arrived at Rockville on the 10th, and on the next day his forces formed line of battle in sight of the Capitol and within easy range of its powerful defenses. The Sixth Regiment laid in the front yard of F. P. Blair's place, "Silver Spring." Occasional shells Were thrown out from the big guns, but there was no general engagement. No attack was made; the works were too strong and to'o well garrisoned for Early's small force. After two or three days' skirmishing Washington was aban- doned, and the army recrossed the Potomac at White's Ford near Leesburg, and two days afterward encamped near Berry- ville. Late in the evening of the next day word came that a force of the enemy was moving from Martinsburg towards Winches- ter. By a forced night march the brigade, General Raraseur commanding, reached the front of that town about sunrise the next day. Some couriers came in with reports of a very large force of the enemy approaching. General Ramseur did not seem to think that it was a large force. He ordered the Sixth Regiment to move forward on the Pike road about two miles, to a piece of woods, to meet the enemy there. After the Sixth Regiment moved off, however, upon further information, he followed with the whole brigade. He soon galloped up to the front and gave orders for the formation of the line of battle. During the execution of this order the enemy appeared in large numbers. The Sixth, having been in advance, had just gotten into position, and had not loaded their rifles, when the enemy began firing. It was a critical mo- ment. The Sixth charged single-handed and fought until nearly surrounded ; but the enemy had overpowering numbers, and the whole brigade was outflanked, and all had to fall back to- gether. This fight was known in that part of the army as " Ramseur's defeat "; but it was not so spoken of him in dis- paragement of him or his generalship, for he was as gallant a soldier as ever lived, and he soon fell fighting nobly at Cedar Creek. 326 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. During the remainder of the summer and fall of 1864 the regiment was with Early, moving back and forth, up and down the Valley, as he would drive the enemy towards the Potomac and Harper's Ferry, and in turn be driven back up the Valley towards Staunton, the enemy having overwhelming odds always against us. ' About the 8th or 10th- of August, General Sheridan was transferred from Grant's army and took command in the Valley. Our forces under Early had fallen back to Fisher's Hill. Sheri- dan, hearing that re-inforcements were sent to Early, commenced retreating, and was pursued through Winchester and until he withdrew to Harper's Ferry and Maryland Heights. Before daylight on the morning of September 18th, while posted in front of Winchester, Sheridan, with a force of fifty-four thous- and attacked Early, who, according to reports, had only about seven thousand infantry and not more than ten thousand all told. Our line was drawn out very thin to cover the approach. The enemy charged time and again through the open field, for we had no cover. Yet our line was not broken until about sundown, and only then because the cavalry was thrown around our left flank. General Rodes, commanding the division, and General Godwin, com- manding the brigade, were killed here. From Winchester we fell back to Fisher's Hill, near Stras- burg. Sheridan followed, and on the 22d attacked us again, sending two divisions of his cavalry (he is reported to have had ten thousand cavalrymen, splendidly armed and equipped) np the Luray Valley to intercept, at New Market, any retreat by Early. - In this they did not succeed. Although the battle of Fisher's Hill went against Early, he made good his retreat to the upper Valley and escaped Sheridan's overwhelming odds. Having been re-inforced, Early again moved down the Valley, and reached Cedar Creek about the 18th of October. Sheridan's army was camped on the heights overlooking Strasburg and Cedar Creek. Our regiment, together with other infantry, was started about Sixth Eegiment. 327 midnight and marched by a cow-path or trail around the end of the Massanutton Mountain ; forded the river below the mouth of Cedar Creek ; formed line of battle before it was good day- light, and attacked the enemy, completely surprising him, and soon had him, panic-stricken, flying down the Valley turnpike towards Middletown. There he attempted to rally, but the Confederates followed closely and his retreat was continued on towards Newtown. The route seemed to be so complete that the half-famished and poorly clothed men of Early's army found the rich spoils in the captured camp and stores of the Federal suttlers too tempting, and so many of them straggled that when General Wright, who was in command of the Federals, reformed his line near Newtown, and General Sheridan came riding in from Winchester and took command, our lines were too weak to resist their attack, and before night the Federals had regained their camp. In this fight General Ramseur, commanding our division, was killed. General Early halted for the night at Fisher's Hill, and on the next day fell back further up the Valley, towards Staunton. The battle of Cedar Creek was about the last of the Valley campaign. Indeed, the Valley was so devastated by General Sheridan that our army could hardly find subsistence. During his advances and withdrawals, according to his own dispatch to his Government, " the whole country from the Blue Ridge to the North Mountain had been made entirely untenable for a rebel army. This destruction embraced the Luray galley and The Little Fort Valley as well as the main Valley." Such cruelties and barbarities shall ever remain as a stain upon General Sheri- dan's character, and upon the War Department for not rebuking him, and upon General Grant, who directed jt, and concluded his letter to Sheridan by adding: " If the war is to last another year, let the Shenandoah Valley remain a barren waste." If it be asked why, in writing this short history of the Sixth regiment, these charges of vandalism against such prominent Federal generals are inserted, the answer is : It is part of 328 North Caeolina Teoops, 1861-65. the history of the war, and it ought to be told until all the people should know it. The Sixth North Carolina Regiment, with all Early's troops, had witnessed this devastation ; they had been marching through this barren waste; they were tired and hungry too when they were roused up on the night of the 18th, and after marching all night over a rugged road and fight- ing so well on the morning of the 18th, it is easy to understand how, when tbey saw the enemy flying down the Valley pike, many of the hungriest ones turned aside to help themselves out of the rich commissary stores that they had captured. They ought not to have done so, but some of them did; and Early's force was so small, reported at only nine thousand men all told, that, counting out the killed aud wounded and the stragglers, it is not surprising that Sheridan was able to drive back those remain- ing in line. No one but those who have tried it can tell how hard it is to restrain hungry men when in sight of the food they crave. But in all these engagements and reverses the Sixth regi- ment maintained its organization and was able to show its colors after every fight. Towards the close of the fall the Sixth Regiment, together with the remaining troops of Ramseur's and Rodes' Divisions, were placed under General Gordon and sent. back to Petersburg. The Sixth Regiment occupied the line of intrenchments opposite the "Tall Tower" until January, 1865, when it was carried to the right, near Burgess's Mill and Hatcher's' Run. The enemy made a determined effort to turn the Confederate right about the 5th to 6th of February. The Sixth Regiment was heavily engaged in the attempt to beat him back. In this fighting General Pegram, commanding our division, was killed. General Grant was trying to get to the South Side Railroad; he failed in this, but he secured an extension of his lines to Hatch- er's Run. Fighting was now going on constantly oii the out- posts and picket lines. Soon after the battle of Hatcher's Run the Sixth Regiment was carried back again through Petersburg to the trenches opposite Sixth Regiment. 329 Fort Steadman. There it remained in the mud, as mauy of them expressed it, holding this part of the line until the 25th of March. Before day, on the 25th of March, the Sixth Regiment and other troops were ordered to move out noiselessly in front of the trenches, and to dash across the narrow space that divided the two armies (not more than one hundred and fifty yards); men with axes were to cut and tear away the abatis ; and as soon as it could be done, the men were to rush in, capture the fort and the lines to the right and left. That the men might know their friends, each man of the attacking force was to have a piece of white cloth tied around his left arm. This looked like a des- perate attack. The Sixth Regiment and other troops immedi- ately in front of Fort Steadman, the lines being nearest together there, were to lead. They did what they were ordered to do, and, perhaps to the surprise of our own people, and certainly to the surprise of the enemy, it worked well for a while. Every one did his part. The abatis was cut and pulled away in short order. The men rushed through, captured Fort Steadman and bat- teries to the right and- left of it. A large number of prisoners were taken and several pieces of artillery. The troops that were to support this movement on the right, towards Fort Haskell, did not succeed so well, and failed to capture it. Daylight soon came; the Federals recovered from their surprise and turned upon us their artillery, whiqh, together with the massed lines of infantry, made it, to use the words of one of the Sixth Regiment, a very hell for us. It soon became evident that the position was untenable. The supporting troops were being withdrawn. The Sixth Regiment had, in desperation, been charged against a mass of infantry coming up in their front, and they were the last to withdraw. They returned to their ditches under a severe cross-fire — more to be dreaded than any forward movement; but, to use the language of one who was there, "they came back leaving none but their dead." 330 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Within a few days Lee's army was compelled to abandon Petersburg. The battle at Five Forks was lost on April 1st, and at day-break on Sunday, April 2d, the Confederate line in front of Petersburg was broken and the Federal artillery opened all along our front. When night came the Confederates, although ground had been lost, were still holding Petersburg, but the evacuation of the city, and, as a consequence, of Richmond also, had been deter- mined on. That night the army withdrew, and whilst fires were blazing up here and there, and heavy explosions which shook the very ground followed each other in rapid succession along the Con- federate lines from Petersburg to Richmond, the Federals failed to move forward to ascertain the cause; and by daylight of the 3d the Confederates were all on the Chesterfield side, and well away from the two cities, on the roads towards Amelia Court House. In the almost continued movements, fightings and skirmish- ings of the next few days the regiment bore its part with Gor- don's Corps. Hoping to find at Amelia Court House commis- sary stores, the troops, having then been without rations for nearly two days, were told that no rations were there. The for- agers who were sent out to seek supplies -returned with almost nothing. Many of them were captured in their search for food. The road to Burkeville was occupied by -the enemy, and the retreat bore further to the north through Deatousville, and thence toward Farmville. The enemy's cavalry was striking all along the retreating line, sometimes repulsed and sometimes capturing artillery and wagons which the horses were too weak to move with any degree of rapidity. On the 6th the Appomattox was crossed at the High Bridge. On the morning of the 7th a sharp attack was made and a rush made for the Confederate wagon train. General Gordon turned on them and compelled them to withdraw, capturing some pris- oners. The retreat was then continued. On the evening of the 8th Appomattox Court House was reached. It was then an insignificant court-house village. It is now an historic place, for there, on the 9th of April, 1866, the Amy of Northern Virginia ceased to contend with the armies Sixth Eegimbnt. 331 of the United States, and General Lee on that day accepted the ter^s of surrender offered by Generial Grant. Having men- tioned General Grant's inhumane directions to General Sheridan in the fall of 1864 to devastate the Valley, it is a pleasure now to note that the terms of surrender were generous; and he is to be commended, in that afterwards, when blood-thirsty civilians were disposed to disregard them, he insisted that his Government should comply with them, and used his power and influence to that end. A flag of truce appeared on Gordon's line. General Lee was seen riding back to the village, and it was soon known all along the line that the army was to be surrendered. When General Lee returned from his interview with General Grant, the lines of battle broke and the men crowded up around him, anxious to take him by the hand. Many attempts have been made to describe the great soldier's final farewell to his troops as, overpowered by his feelings, he sobbed: " Men, loe have fought through the war together — / have done the best I could for you," and sadly rode away. The emotions of that scene — a great general and his brave, faithful soldiers weeping farewell to each other — cannot be described. The soldier-victors were generous and gave rations to the half- starved Confederates without any insulting taunts. Would that the same could be said of the political victors who controlled affairs at Washington. The 10th and 11th were occupied in preparing the lists and schedules and other papers for the surrender, and on the morn- ing of the 12th the troops, the remains of the Army of North- ern Virginia, formed for the last time. The artillery was drawn up by poor, bony horses and parked, the arms were stacked, the accoutrements deposited and the battle flags laid down. The Sixth Regiment was there, and of the perhaps two thou- sand men whose names had been on the roll, about one hundred and forty-three answered to that final roll-call. We had a regimental flag, a beautiful silken banner, on which the sister of Colonel Fisher had beautifully embroidered the coat- 332 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65. of-arms of North Carolina and presented it to the regiment at its organization. It was highly prized ; it waved over the regi- ment at the capture of Eickett's Battery at First Manassas, and over Eickett's Battery and Weidrick's Battery on Cemetery Heights at Gettysburg, July 2d, 1863. It was not always used in battle, especially after battle flags had been distributed to the army. It was generally brought out on parades and general reviews; but it was not displayed at Appomattox. It was care- fully preserved and brought to North Carolina. It is the same that was shown at the laying of the corner-stone of the Confed- erate Monument at Raleigh, May 20, 1894. The war was over; the Sixth Eegiment had served out the time for which it had enlisted. I have thus briefly sketched the principal movements and engagements in the Confederate war in which the Sixth North Carolina State Troops took part. As an organization it was dis- tinguished for its discipline and soldierly bearing. It was led to the field by one of the most heroic souls that ever drew blade, Colonel C. F. Fisher, who was killed at First Manassas. The example he set in his short career was not lost on the officers and men of his command. They were taught that, when ordered to charge a line or battery they must succeed, and that having taken a position it was to be held until they were ordered to move from it. No politicians held commissions in this regiment. There was no bickering or scheming for office or promotion, no seeking for newspaper notoriety. Their thought and desire seemed to be to serve the State that sent them to the field for the purpose of sustaining State rights and constitutional liberty. Nothing has been written concerning "the privations of the camp or toils of the march," of feet bleeding and forms shiver- ing for lack of shoes and clothing, of how our men, beginning at First Manassas, supplied themselves with improved arms cap- tured from the enemy, seeking first to get a good rifle and accou- trements and then the best they could find in the way of cloth- ing, hats, shoes and blankets. But the soldier's life was not all hardship and suffering for Sixth Regiment. 333 duty's sake. It would be interesting to tell how they whiled away the hours when not on duty by games and plays, and even theatrical performances which they improvised. Banjos, fiddles and accordeons were often heard in camp and on the march, and sometimes on the line of battle. Many and many are the humor- ous jokes and anecdotes that originated with the soldier, and he always enjoyed the ludicrous and ridiculous things that ^ere happening, even when under the fire of the enemy. One of my men, telling what he saw in one of our battles, says: "I tell you, Captain, there's a heap of funny things happens in battle if it were not for being so scared of getting killed." Much, too, might be written of the religious life that many of them led. Several instances occurred within our command in which the Bible or Testament in the breast-pocket turned the ball which otherwise would probably have caused a mortal wound. So, too, we can hope that at religious meetings in field and camp — camp-meetings, indeed — many a soldier learned how to turn the deadly shafts of sin. One specially solemn scene recurs to me as I write. It was when the regiment assembled at the regi- mental headquarters. Colonel Pender's tent, to witness his public profession of Christianity. I have spoken of it only as a regiment; no mention is made of individual acts of heroism or bravery — there were many ; the limits of this article would not permit it; nor is there any refer- ence to the few who behaved unworthily — and I feel justified in saying there were only a few. It would be unreasonable to claim that, of the two thousand men whose names were on the rolls, all were good and true. No boast is made for the regiment that it did more than its proportionate part, or that it engaged in more battles, or that it went further into the enemy's country, or that it lost in battle a greater per cent, of its men — a doubtful boast. Its record was made and must speak for itself. The only purpose of this sketch is to bring that record, in part, before the public, that it may have in condensed form what this regi- ment, in common with many others, did in the great struggle 334 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. which made the Confederate soldier famous for all time — a struggle in which a most conspicuous part was borne by the North Caro- lina troops, not the least among which was the Sixth North Carolina Troops. At the first call her men volunteered for the war, and has- tened to the Northern border of Virginia to meet the enemy at the forefront. From July, 1861, to the closing scene at Appo- mattox, they shared the fortunes of the Army of Northern Vir- ginia, Their blood, in common with thousands of others, wet the soil of Manassas Plains on July 21st, 1861. During the fall and winter of that year they listened to the roar of guns and whistling of shells along the banks of the Potomac. They were at Yorktown and Eltham's Landing, Barhanis- ville, at Seven Pines and Fair Oaks, Gaines' Mill, Savage Sta- tion, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Harrison's Landing, Warrenton Springs, Thoroughfare Gap, Manassas Plains in Au- gust, 1862; at Ox Hill, Boonsboro, Sharpsburg, Fredericks- burg in December, 1862; at Fredericksburg and the Wilderness in May, 1863; at Winchester in June, 1863; at Gettysburg, Hagers- town, Bristow Station, Rappahannock Station, Mine Run, Bache- lor's Creek, near New Bern, N. C; Plymouth, Petersburg, Han- over Junction, Totapotamoi Creek, Cold Harbor, Lynchburg, Martihsburg, Monocacy, Washington, Winchester in July and September, 1864; at Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, at Burgess's Mill, and numerous other skirmishings and fightings from July, 1861, to November, 1864; and the assault, as a forlorn-hope, on Fort Steadman on the morning of the 25th of March, 1865, and in the trenches at Petersburg, and on the retreat to Appomattox. Three times they went into the enemy's territory in Maryland and Pennsylvania, fording the Potomac six times. Theirs was not garrison or post-duty; it was their lot to fight the enemy in the field, to meet him in his advances, to check him when possible, and to follow him back and fight him in his own country and in his own strongholds; to contest inch by inch, day after day, week after week and month after month, the enemy's investment and gradual closing in on the lines Sixth Eegiment. 335 around Petersburg and Richmond ; and when numbers prevailed over the thinned and thinning lines of the Army of Northern Virginia, to fall back and back with them, until finally hemmed in and compelled to surrender. Much of blood and treasure and many precious lives had been sacrificed, and, as it has been said, the cause was lost; that is to say, the Confederates, numbering all told, from first to last, about six hundred thousand men, with very limited resources, were, after four years of varying success and disaster, finally over- powered by armies numbering about two million and six hun- dred thousand men who had unlimited resources. But the prin- ciples of right, of truth and of duty, which urged those men to the fray, and sustained them in the long-drawn struggle, will never die. " If their memories part From our land and heart, 'Twould be a wrong to them, and a shame for us." It is vain for any one to attempt to brand the Confederate soldiers or their leaders as traitors or to write them down as rebels. So-called statesmen — men of place and power, in the smallness of their souls — may speak of them as such ; demagogic politicians may roll such words under their tongues, the Govern- ment may provide a place to keep the " Rebellion Records," and statisticians may compile therefrom, monuments may dot those battlefields of " the rebellion " on which the " rebels " were defeated, but such efforts cannot succeed. The words " traitor " and " rebel " lose all their repulsiveness when applied to Lee and Jackson, or when coupled with the Confederate soldiers. Theirs was an heroic struggle for rights which the fathers contemplated and guarded when they declined to ratify or adopt the Constitution until it had been amended so as to expressly reserve " to the States respectively or to the people " "powers not delegated," as also "powers not prohibited " by it. For such rights they had, on the hustings and in the halls of CougresSj urged their plea, supported by unanswerable arguments based on the 336 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. Constitution and on the principles that underlie true republican government. But they were overruled by a majority of those who had sworn to support the Constitution, and further encroach- ments on their chartered rights were imminent, and, as a last resort, an appeal was made to arms. In that, as we have seen, Might, backed by overwhelming numbers, prevailed. The Con- federate soldier surrendered. His case is before the world. The rights which were guaranteed us, and the wrongs which drove us to war, have all been written down and published ; his heroism and his bravery, his courage and his devotion to his country, his State and his people, are all recorded in his deeds in four years of war; and, none the less,. in his submission after- terwards to laws that were forced upon us to humiliate us. His rights, his wrongs, his appeals to law and law-makers, and their denial of his rights, his final appeal to arms, his struggle, his defeat and his submission to power make up his case. He dreads not the scrutiny of candid historians or searchers after truth, nor does he fear the world's judgment on his record. Neill W. E,ay. Faybtteville, N. C. SIXTH REGIMENT. 1. B. F. White, Captain, Co. F. 4. W. G. Tiirnei-, 2d Lieat, Co. E. S. Benj Ruel. Smith, Captain, Co. G. 5. William Preston Mangum, 2d Lieut., 3. N. W. Ray, Captain, Co. D. co. B. 6. George W. Houck, Private, Co. D. ADDITIONAL SKETCH SIXTH REGIMENT. By major a. C. AVERY. ACCOUNT OP THE ORGANIZATION OP THE SIXTH NORTH CARO- LINA REGIMENT AND OP ITS CONDUCT AT THE BATTLES OP PIRST MANASSAS, SEVEN PINES AND GETTYSBURG. Wheu Lincoln issued his proclamation calling on the State of North Carolina to furnish troops to suppress the so-called insur- rection in her sister States of the South, our people with one mind united in the determination to stand by our South- ern brethren rather than aid an invading foe, though marching under the flag of the nation. So soon as the tocsin of war was sounded the companies of the State militia, already organized and drilled, were rushed into the forts on our coast, till then garri- soned by a single non-commissioned officer quartered in each of the three. The first regiment organized was the First Volunteer or " Bethel" Regiment. The men were allowed to enlist for six months. After that a number of other regiments were formed of men enlisted for twelve months. Meantime the Legislature had met in extra session and had called a convention of the people to meet in May. Colonel Charles F. Fisher and others — men of broad views and cool heads — thinking that they foresaw a protracted and bloody struggle, prevailed upon the Legislature to pass a bill author- izing the formation of ten regiments of men enlisted for three years or the war, and empowered the Governor to appoint the regimental staff and company officers. Colonel Fisher was se- lected by Governor Ellis as Colonel of the Sixth, and began with characteristic energy to select men to aid him in recruiting ten companies. After the Democrats had acquired control of the State, he had 22 338 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. been elected President of the North Carolina Railroad Company, Partisan spirit ran high, and for years, though one of the most competent, honoi;able and successful railroad presidents in the country. Colonel Fisher was bitterly abused and denounced. He met denunciation in one or two instances, as Southern men of that day often did, by challenging the author to mortal combat, and posting him as a coward when he declined to make amends. He was one of the most amiable of men, and, though quiet and undemonstrative, was affectionate to family and friends, and full of sympathy for suffering — the last man one would have thought liable to yield to this imperious custom of the times. With a grim determination to devote life and fortune to the cause he had espoused came the resolve to demand an investigation and settlement running through his entire administration of the af- fairs of the railroad company before leading his regiijnent to the scene of approaching conflicts. Consequently, after some of the companies were drilled for a time at Charlotte, all of them were brought together, organized and drilled as a regiment at Com- pany Shops, now Burlington. Honorable W. T. Dortch was first appointed Lieutenant-Colonel, and Charles E. Lightfoot, a Virginian, who had been a teacher at Tew's Military Academy at Hillsboro, was commissioned as Major. Major Lightfoot devoted himself to drilling the regiment while it was at Com- pany Shops. Colonel Fisher worked day and night, and divided his time between providing uniforms and equipments for his men, advancing out of his own means the money needed for the purpose, and reviewing, with a committee of directors, of which Mr. Edwin Holt was chairman, the railroad accounts during his administration of the affairs of the company. As the result of his restless energy, liberality and capacity for organization, the Sixth was the first of the ten war regiments ready for the field. Before it was fully equipped he was heard often to say, in response to some expression of fear by the young officers that they would be too late to participate in the struggle, that our people ought to be educated up to the idea of fighting long and desperately. He had graduated at Yale, knew the Sixth Regiment. 339 Yankee character, and realized, as few of our leading men did, the incalculable advantage of having a navy sufficient to block- ade our ports, and opportunity not 6nly to ^manufacture war supplies in the immense establishments in the Eastern States, but to bring them without hindrance from abroad. On the day that Colonel Fisher reported his regiment ready to go to the front, our first war Governor, John W. Ellis, died, and the regiment commanded by his friend and townsman was taken to Raleigh to act as funeral escort. Honorable Henry T. Clark, being Speaker of the Senate, was ioaugurated as Gov- ernor, and W. T. Dortch, being the Speaker of the House of Commons, and next in the line of succession to Governor Clark, was induced to resign. Major Lightfoot became Lieutenant- Colonel, and Captain R. F. Webb, senior Captain, was commis- sioned Major. From Raleigh the regiment was sent to Richmond, where it was reviewed by President Davis, accompanied by General R. E. Lee, and ordered on the same day to embark on the train for Winchester, where Joseph E. Johnston was in command — with Jackson, Kirby Smith and Bee as subordinates. The regiment left Richmond with rations for a day only, and failed to get supplies in passing Manassas. Consequently at Strasburg and on the first march thence to Winchester the men for the first time had a foretaste of the privations in store for them during the years that were to follow. Except the two mountain companies (D and E), the men were without food from the time they reached Strasburg till the second morning after, when they had taken their place in the line north of Winchester. The regiment was assigned to Bee's Brigade, composed then of the Second and Eleventh Mississippi, the Fourth Alabama and the First Tennessee Regiments. The names of the officers are given in Volume I, page 1 97, of the "Roster of North Carolina Troops," and need not be inserted here. Colonel Fisher had R. M. McKinney commissioned Captain of Company A, and the writer of this First Lieutenant, but Captain McKinney was elected Colonel of the Fifteenth North Carolina Regiment before a vacancy occurred 340 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. amongst the field officers, and the writer exchanged with Lieu- tenant Samuel S. Kirkland and took the same position in Com- pany E, in order to satisfy the men recruited by him. On the second morning after the regiment arrived at Win- chester drums began to beat, brigade after brigade fell into line and marched into the town of Winchester. All day we could bear the terrific old rebel yell as the men passed through the open field beyond the town ; but it was not till near night that we moved under orders to the same point, and were halted to hear for the first time a battle order, full of the Napoleonic ring. General Johnston announced, by having this order read to each regiment as it passed, that the President had called upon him to make a forced march to re-inforce General Beauregard at Ma- nassas, and save the country. The men forgot for the time the pangs of hunger and the sting of blistered feet, and moved off as if willing to run to the relief of their threatened comrades. The raw recruit never forgets, though he may not be able to de- scribe, the suffering endured in undergoing, the tortures of such a hardening process, so soon after enjoying the ease and luxury of home-life. It is the first test of his powers of physical en- durance, his strength of will and of constitution. After such an experience comes the camp fevers, invited by the depleted condition of the system, and then is witnessed in a physical sense the survival of the fittest. The regiment arrived at Pied- mont Station a short time before daylight, and the men fell rather than laid down amongst the thickly stacked shocks of a wheat field just harvested. We had not then begun to practice the apostolic plan of rubbing out the wheat for food, but some of us stretched on a hill-side upon shocks used as beds, covering head and all, and found in the morning that a heavy rain had washed out trenches under us and between the bundles. on to MANASSAS. The regiment had marched near the rear of the column and had separated from Bee's other regiments, and, as we rested in the field, it seemed for a time that we would be the last to embark on the Sixth Regiment. 341 train from Piedmont Station for the scene of conflict. In vol- unteering to render an important service, Colonel Fisher won for his regiment the right to a place in advance of Kirby Smith's Brigade, and the opportunity, which proved fatal to him, to take part in the iirst great battle of the civil war. It was reported to him that a train had been derailed, a portion of it wrecked, and that the movements of the remaining regiments wouJd be greatly delayed. He sought the senior officer and told him that he himself was a railroad president and a railroad contractor, and had in his command civil engineers and enlisted men who had been employed in track-laying and section work. As a reward for hurriedly putting the track in order, the Sixth em- barked on the next train that left for Manassas. The first Confederate troops that opposed McDowell's flank- ing column, after it crossed Bull Run on the left of our line, was the command of Colonel Evans, composed of eleven com- panies of infantry and two field pieces, stationed in the woods, near the intersection of the Warrenton turnpike and the Sedley road. (See report of General Johnston, "Official Records," Series I, Volume XT, page 474). " Here (says the report referred to) he (Evans) was attacked by the enemy in immensely superior numbers, against which he maintained himself with skill and unshrinking courage. General Bee, moving toward the enemy, guided by the firing, with a soldier's eye selected the position near the Henry house and formed his troops upon it. They were the Seventh and Eighth Georgia, Fourth Alabama, Second Mississippi, and two companies of the Eleventh Mississippi, with Iraboden's Battery. Being compelled, however, to sustain Colonel Evans, he crossed the valley and formed on the right and somewhat in advance of his position. Here the joint forces, little exceeding five regiments, with six field pieces, held the ground against about fifteen thousand United States troops for about an hour, until, finding themselves outflanked by the con- tinually arriving troops of the enemy, they fell back to General Bee's first position, upon the line of which Jackson, just ar- riving, formed his brigade at Stanard's Battery. Colonel Hamp- 342 NoETH Caeolina Teoops, 1861-'65. ton, who had by this time advanced with his legion as far as the turnpike, rendered efficient aid in maintaining the orderly char- acter of the retreat from that point, and here fell the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson, his second in command. * * "Orders were dispatched to hasten the march of General Holmes, Colonel Early and General Bonham's regiments. * * * Many of the broken troops, fragments of companies and indi- vidual stragglers were reformed and brought into action with the aid of my staff and a portion of General Beauregard's. Colonel (late Governor) Smith with his battalion and Colonel Hinton with his regiment were ordered up to re-inforce the right. * * * * Colonel Smith's cheerful courage had a fine influence, not only upon the spirit of our men, but upon the stragglers of the troops engaged. * * * '^y headquarters were now estab- lished at the Lewis house." Up to this time the Sixth North Carolina Regiment, having been detached and left behind the rest of Bee's command, which was now increased by the addition ofBartow's and another Georgia regiment, had not arrived on the field. Attention is here called to the fact that General Johnston reports Colonel (late Governor) Smith's Battalion in action while he was in the field, and before he established his headquarters at the Lewis house. General Johnston's report of the movements of Colonel Smith, and of the time when he engaged the enemy is quoted from to show, in connection with other undisputed facts, that the gallant old soldier was mistaken when he made certain charges against the Sixth, which are alluded to by Professor Hill in his history of North Carolina troops recently published. I shall rely on the foregoing report of General Johnston, General Beauregard's and Colonel Smith's own report, made when the smoke of the battle had just passed away, to disprove his statement made from memory years afterward?, and published in the Century Magazine. It was not until about two o'clock in the afternoon that Colonel Fisher reported with his regiment at the Lewis house, after Gen- eral Johnston had left Colonel Smith upon the field and estab- lished his headquarters there. Colonel Fisher halted his regi- Sixth Regiment. 343 ment in a road running along a line of fence under the hill from the Lewis house, and had his horse crippled so as to force him to dismount in going up the hill or returning from the Lewis house, where he reported for orders. In confirmation of the foregoing statement as to the time of the arrival on the field, the following extract from General Johnston's report (at page 476) is relied on : "About two o'clock an officer of General Beauregard's Adju- tant-General's office galloped from Manassas to report that a United States army had reached the line of the Manassas Gap Railroad, was marching towards us, and was then but three miles from our left flank. * * * Within a half-hour the two regiments of General Bonham's Brigade (Capp's and Kershaw's) came up and were directed against the enemy's right, which he seemed to be strengthening. Fisher's North Carolina regiment was soon after sent in the same direction. About three o'clock, while the enemy seemed to be striving to outflank and drive back our left, and thus separate us from Manassas, General E. K. Smith arrived with three regiments of Elzey's Brigade. He was instructed to attack the right flank of the enemy, now exposed to us. Before the movement was completed he fell severely wounded. Colonel Elzey, at once taking command, executed it with great promptitude and vigor. General Beauregard rapidly seized the opportunity affijrded him, and threw forward his whole line. The enemy was driven back from the long contested hill, and victory was no longer doubtful." The time of Fisher's arrival on the battlefield is therefore fixed at two o'clock in the afternoon. The regiment advanced from a point a few hundred yards to the left of the Lewis house. Col- onel Fisher had reconnoitered in our front and his evident pur- pose was to lead us by the flank up a deep ravine, which could not be seen on account of intervening woods, by Rickett, who was in command of a section of Sherman's Battery, or by the Brooklyn Zouaves, who were supporting it, and who were sta- tioned on the hill above the upper end of the ravine. The regi- ment moved up this ravine by the flank. When the column 344 NoBTH Carolina Tkoops, 1861-'65. reached a point near the upper end of the ravine, however, the enemy on the hill discovered its approach and opened with shrap- nel from the field pieces which had previously been shelling the hill near the Lewis house, but they were unable to depress their guns so as to reach us with the shrapnel, even after the regiment moved out of the gulley. Instead of moving forward into line all of the rear companies, a movement that might have been contemplated by Colonel Fisher but for the fire of the enemy, the men in front filed to the right and those nearer the center, including most of seven companies, moved forward into line without orders through a piece of woods till they came into an open field about eighty yards from the guns and the sup- porting line. Three companies (A, C and D), with a portion of a third company, with whom Lieutenant-Colonel Lightfoot re- mained, did not go into action, being cut oif in the rear (see Cap- tain White's diary). Lieutenant-Colonel Lightfoot took offense be- cause Colonel Fisher refused his request to allow him to give the commands to the regiment about the time it advanced towards the enemy. The soldiers delivered a well-aimed and fearfully de- structive fire into the line of the enemy's infantry, but especially into the artillerists. After firing a number of rounds, every soldier loading and firing at will, the enemy's guns were silenced, and but few muskets were being fired by the Zouaves. At this juncture Colonel Fisher was standing near Captain Isaac E. Avery, who was commanding the color company, when Captain Avery said to Colonel Fisher: "Colonel, don't you thiqk we ought to charge?" Colonel Fisher's reply was "Yes, Captain," and addressing the men, " Charge ! " Most of us charged straight up the face of the hill towards the field pieces, but Colonel Fisher, after giving this command, his last utterance, advanced obliquely towards the left, having discovered evidently at this early stage a reserve line of the enemy in the woods to the right and rear of the battery. In the rush his movements were unob- served and his body was found far in advance' of the point reached by any one on the left of our line, except Sergeant Hannah, of Sixth Regiment. 345 Company A, who evidently advanced with him and fell by his side. When we reached Rickett's guns we found every horse killed and the ground covered with the bodies of the dead and wounded artillerists, and of the Brooklyn Zouaves, who were distinguished by their loose red pants. The writer distinctly recalls the fact that he saw upon the hill after the charge Major "Webb, Lieuten- ant (afterwards Captain) White, Captain Avery and his Lieu- tenants, Burns and McPherson, Captain (afterwards Colonel) Craige, Lieutenants Smith and Roseboro, Captain Parrish, Lieu- tenant Lockhart, and more distinctly his old college friend, Lieu- tenant Willie P. Mangum, who about five minutes later received a wound in the side which proved fatal. The men fought as brave Southern men, who had been drilled but a few weeks, would be expected to fight. They failed to keep a perfect alignment in distinct companies. The fact is re- called that Lieutenant Mangum, whose company (Bj was next in line to his (E), remarked to the writer that he was tired, and sat down beside or under the shadow of one of the deserted guns. About the same time Corporal Henry McGee, of Company E, was seen running down through the open field directly in rear of the guns, evidently shooting at some retreating Zouaves, when, after being called back, he reached the guns, he asked an officer where his brother was, and, on being told that he was near by, said : " If he had run like some of the skulkers, I would have felt like killing him." After the regiment had driven back the supports and captured the guns, a fire was opened on the men from the woods on the right and rear of the battery by soldiers dressed in gray uniform, and our men began to return the fire with spirit. At this junc- ture a number of the officers ordered the men to cease firing, telling them that they were firing on their friends, and called to the soldiers in the woods to cease firing; but the firing became heavier, and when no longer allowed to return it, the soldiers of the Sixth fell back and reformed in the open field from which Colonel Fisher had led them into the ravine. Here they missed 346 NoKTH Carolina Troops, 1861-65. their brave Colonel, *and after they had reformed they were joined by Lieutenant-Colonel Lightfoot, who assumed command, and was ordered to move further to the left. We occupied our place in line in time to see the advance of Kirby Smith and Early on the left, and to observe from the hill the wavering of the Federal army as its line receded for a while in a series of curves, and finally broke and stampeded towards Center ville. We saw President Davis ride up to the lines and heard him speak, and then we moved forward till we were halted, at dark or afterward, in the midst of the knapsacks and guns strewn along the line of retreat. For many years the writer shared in the opinion generally entertained by the soldiers of the Sixth, who participated in the fight, that the men who fired upon us, and caused us to fall back, were Confederates ; but the story was not credited by the general officers, who could locate none of our troops in the skirt of woods referred to, and the rfegimental officers and men received no sympathy or assistance from Colonel Lightfoot, who had refused to follow Colonel Fisher in a fit of jealousy, and did not pretend to claim for the regiment the credit it deserved. It was because of the general criticism of his conduct that Governor Clark appointed Colonel W. D. Pender (afterwards Major- General) to succeed Colonel Fisher. When General Sherman wrote his memoirs it appeared from his report that a Massachusetts regi- ment in his brigade wore a gray uniform, and were mistaken by Confederates for their own men. He describes their position as that of the soldiers who occupied the woods to the left and front of the Sixth. The account given by General Sherman is the solution of what before had seemed an inexplicable mystery. We were fired upon by a regiment of the enemy, and not by Confederates. GOVERNOR smith's MISTAKE. Governor Smith went into the field as Colonel of the Forty- ninth Virginia, and no politician who entered the Confederate service won or deserved to win, from first to last, a better reputa- Sixth Regiment. 347 tion for gallantry than he. He drew General D. H. Hill to him at Seven Pines by giving a unique evidence of his coolness — going into action at the head of his brigade with a large umbrella hoisted to protect him from the sun. With this preface, the writer proposes to prove by reports of Generals Beauregard, Johnston, and of Colonel Smith himself, that he shamefully mis- represented the Sixth Regiment in charging it with bad conduct at Manassas. We have seen that General Johnston reported the Sixth as going into battle after two o'clock, and after he had left Colonel Smith engaging the enemy, and had gone to the Lewis house. General Beauregard in his report (Official Records, Series I, Vol. II, pages 492 and 493) speaks of the line of battle as formed on the right by Bee, Evans and Jackson's Brigades (with artillery etc.) and "on the left by Gartrell's reduced ranks and Colonel Smith's Battalion, subsequently re-inforoed by Falk- ner's Second Mississippi Regiment of the Army of the Shenandoah, just arrived upon the field, and the Sixth (Fisher's) North Caro- lina." It will not be questioned that General Beauregard knew what regiments "subsequently re-inforced " Colonel Smith's Battalion, as he said he did, and his account of the time of arrival of the Sixth and its going into action is corroborated by the extracts from General Johnston's report already given. What did Colonel Smith report to General Beauregard only ten days after the battle as to the conduct of the regiments sent to re-inforce him? On pages 155 and 552 of the volume con- taining Beauregard's report, already referred to, we find Colonel Smith's report, and on page 552, after mentioning the advance of a heavy column of the enemy that was about lo turn his left flank, he said : "At this critical moment two regiments came up, posted them- selves on my left, protected my flank, and opened upon the enemy at a distance of about eighty yards with admirable effect. I do not know the names of these regiments nor 'of their command- ing officers, and have to regret it, a^s it would afford me pleasure to 348 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. name them, on account of the critical and efficient service rendered. From some persons acquainted with those regiments, I ascer- tained that one was from Mississippi, and I have an impression that the other was frcm, North Carolina." Governor Smith's report, made ten days after the battle, con- curs with the report of Beauregard and Johnston, and with the account given above by the writer, as to the time and place, and as to distance of the enemy from the Sixth Eegiment. In further corroboration of the claim that General Beauregard was not mistaken as to the identity of the regiment which rendered Colonel Smith such signal service, it may be stated that the Sixth was the only North Carolina regiment engaged or sta- tioned on the part of the line referred to. The Fifth and Twenty-first were the only other North Carolina regiments in Northern Virginia, and they were stationed on Bull Run, on the right of the line — some distance from the hill in front of the Lewis house. It is to be regretted that the attention of the old hero was not called to the cruel wrong he had done at a later date to the comrades whom he wished in 1861 to thank and to honor for saving him from retreat or ruin. If further evidence is needed to prove, not only that Fisher's regiment was not stampeded, but that it rendered service quite as important as that of Colonel Smith's Battalion, it will be found in the report of Adjutant- General Rhett, on page 569 of the volume already referred to, that the Sixth was among the regiments engaged in the fight, and his report of casualties, on page 570, which shows that the loss of the Sixth was one officer and twenty-two men killed and four officers and forty-six en- listed men wounded, and the loss of the Second Mississippi was four officers and twenty-one men killed, and three officers and seventy-nine men wounded, while the loss of the Forty-ninth Virginia (Colonel Smith) was one officer and nine men killed and one officer and twenty-nine men wounded. So it appears that both of the re-inforcing regiments suffered greater loss than the regiment they relieved. Of the four officers reported wounded, the writer recalls only the names of Lieutenant W. Sixth Eegiment. 349 P. Mangum, who afterwards died, and Captain I. E. Avery, who received a flesh wound from a buckshot, which lodged in the calf of the leg, but remained with his company to the close of the day. The lamented Fisher was the first of our officers to lay down his life in the struggle. He fell like Bartow, gallantly leading his men, and North Carolina ought to have imitated the example of Georgia in doing honor to her brave son and perpetuating his fame by naming one of its counties for him. Mangum, who had presided over the United States Senate, and had been prominent as a presidential candidate, went down to his grave sorrowing for his only son. Like Webster he left no one to perpetuate his great and honored name. THE OPENING OP THE CAMPAIGN OF 1862. The Sixth Regiment spent rather an uneventful winter a few miles above Dumfries, at Camp Fisher, named in honor of our fallen Colonel. The condition of the Sixth when it left that camp for Fredericksburg in March, 1862, was a vindication of the wisdom of Governor Clark in appointing Pender to succeed Fisher. The rank and file shared in the pride of Pender, when on review at Fredericksburg, General Johnston declared it supe- rior in drill and discipline to any other regiment in the Army of Northern Virginia. Pender was still more elated at Yorktown when the regiment responded to the alarm signal at midnight by forming in battle array at the place assigned it on the line far ahead of any other regiment of Smith's Reserve Corps. These achievements were the first fruits of the patient training of the best "all-^ound" soldier, in the writer's opinion, in the Army of Northern Virginia — excepting only a few of our offi- cers of high rank. The march from Fredericksburg to Yorktown would have been devoid of special interest but for the terrible mortality amongst the new recruits, who were being stricken down with measles every day, as the troops moved to and then down the Peninsula. Of forty-six recruits taken to Company E by the writer, more then twenty fell by the way-side. 350 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. THE SIXTH AT SEVEN PINES. Whiting's Brigade was composed of the Sixth North Caro- lina, Second and Eleventh Mississippi and the Fourth Alabama Regiments — being the command of General Bee at Manassas, except the First Tennessee, which had been transferred to Hat- ton's (subsequently Archer's) Brigade, and formed a part of the Corps (as it was called) of Major-General Gustavus W. Smith. This command had been sent hurriedly to re-inforce Branch, near Hanover Junction ; but had returned and spent the night before the battle of Seven Pines, or (as the Federals called it) Fair Oaks, in a camp near Richmond. It moved to the junction of the New Bridge and Nine Mile roads. (See General Johnston's report, "War Records," Series I, Vol. XI, Part I, page 933 ) . Major-Generals Hill and Long- street attacked the left of General Keyes' command at two o'clock p. M. of May 31, 1862, after waiting from early morning, about six hours, for Huger to get into the position assigned him by Johnston's orders. (See "War Records," Series I, Vol. XI, Part I, page 940). Owing to the peculiar condition of the atmosphere neither the fire of musketry nor of cannon by Long- street's and Hill's commands could be heard by Smith's Corps, which was accompanied by President Davis and General Joseph E. Johnston. At length Major Jasper Whiting, of Johnston's staff, was sent to the right, and returning just before four o'clock p. M., reported that the battle was raging on the right. The first regiment put in motion on the Confederate left was the Sixth, under Pender. He was ordered tp press forward rapidly, with the assurance that he would be supported, but was led to believe that the enemy was not very near to his front. Hence he moved into the dense woods, a short distance from us, by the flank, until the head of the column reached a road, when the enemy's picket fired into him. The regiment was halted instantly and ordered forward into line at double-quick. Though the movement was executed in dense woods, the regiment had, in Sixth Regimejst. 351 a few seconds, formed a perfect line along the road, and in the shortest possible time thereafter Company K, Captain Lea, was thrown out as skirmishers, and was advancing at a quick-step, followed by the regiment in supporting distance. Though a number of men in the line of battle were killed and wounded, the company of skirmishers was not driven back upon the main line until the regiment reached the woods, where a part of Couch's command was said to have been in camp near Fair Oaks Station. The advance of the regiment was not, how- ever, checked for a moment there, though wistful eyes were cast at the full haversacks and boiling pots as it passed through the deserted camp of Couch. Pender, true to his training, obeyed orders by moving straight to the front, trusting to his superiors for support. The regiment passed rapidly over the road leading to Couch's center (see Couch's report, "War Records," Series I, Vol. XI, Part I, page 880), and advanced several hundred yards east of it, when a sergeant called the writer's attention to the fact that several Federal flags were visible to our left and rear, the Federal regiments being so posted that they could in five minutes have moved rapidly down the road which the Sixth had crossed and cut it off from retreat or support. The writer, whose position as First Lieutenant of the color company, threw him near to Pender, said: "Colonel, there are three Yankee flags." Without replying, Colonel Pender said, in a low tone, " Sergeant Bason, lower your flag." Then with the ringing voice, which could always be heard, and was always heeded, he gave the command, "By the left flank, file left, double-quick!" This was the only possible combination of commands that could have saved us from capture, and they were molded into a single order without hesitating for an instant. But the danger of capture or annihilation was not over still. No supporting troops were in sight. The enemy's regiments — the head of Sumner's Corps, which had crossed the Chickahominy, but had not yet effected a junction with Keyes — were resting in column by company to our left and rear in an open field, with a swamp on their right. Whether they had mistaken the Sixth for Federals, or had 352 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. determined to allow it to go unchallenged into danger, they were without doubt unprepared for Pender's next movement. When the center of the regiment reached the road leading towards Fair Oaks— without halting — Pender gave the command, "By the right flank, charge bayonets!" Meantime, as we were moving double-quick towards the road, Pender had said to his Adjutant: "Go rapidly to the rear and hasten the advance of the other regiments." When the regiment had charged within about one hundred yards of the enemy, still massed in column by company. Colonel Pender gave the order to halt and to deliver .a fire into him. This well directed fire threw the columns of Sumner into con- fusion and gave Pender time to fall back a short distance and form on the right of the Mississippi regiments, which had now come up. In a few moments the regiment went forward, with the Mississippians on its left, to a point within eighty yards of the enemy, and in the open field. This position it held, deliver- ing a steady fire until it was almost dark, and until the com- mands of Pettigrew, Hatton and Hampton had made unsuccess- ful attacks on the enemy posted in the swamps to the left of Pender. Jefferson Davis witnessed the movements of Pender's Regiment, and when the battle was over, said to him: "Your commission as Brigadier bears date of to-day. I wish that I could give it to you upon the field." Pender afterwards said to his friend, General Stephen D. Lee: "I could have coveted no greater honor than to be promoted by the President on the field of battle.'" The attack on the left was not a success. General Hatton was- killed. General Hampton wounded, General Pettigrew wounded and captured, while the aggregate loss of the Confederates was nearly twelve hundred killed and wounded. The Sixth North Carolina won the proud distinction of being the first to engage the enemy and the last to leave the field. Sixth Regiment. 353 the sixth on the second day at gettysburg. Visitors who pass over the historic field of Gettysburg are impressed with the accounts by guides of how Sickles turned the tide by advancing without orders at a certain stage of the battle. It seems to be a well-attested, though not a well-known fact, that General Lee had courteously requested Lieutenant-General A. P. Hill to consent to his giving an order directly to Pender. Major Engelhard, Pender's Adjutant, stated that just before he was wounded he said: "It is about time for me to move in obedience to General Lee's order." Major Engelhard under- stood that the movement was intended to anticipate and check- mate the subsequent advance of Sickles. But the exact purport of the order was known only to Pender and Lee, and was never disclosed to another. Well might Lee say, "I looked to him as the successor of Jackson," if he believed that his untimely fall prevented the execution of plans that, if carried out, would have changed the result of the battle and given to the Confederacy a proud position amongst the nations of the earth. Column after column of newspapers have been filled, and page upon page of histories and romances have been printed to prove, on the one hand, that Pickett's Division was entitled to all the glory of the desperate charge upon the heights at Gettysburg, on the third and last day of the fight, or on the other hand, that some of the soldiers of the other twelve States of the Con- federacy could be allowed to divide the honor with them, with- out dimming their deservedly bright record. Those who have studied the field and fitted the testimony to the ground know full well that the point where Satterfield, of the Fifty-fifth North Carolina, fell was further to the front than the utmost point reached by the most venturous of Pickett's men by a number of yards. True a few of Pickett's men crossed a por- tion of the rock wall which projected in front of other parts of it, but, after crossing, failed to keep in line with Davis' Brigade and protect its right flaiik as it marched up to the mouths of musket and cannon which were being fired from behind the 23 354 North Caeolina Teoops, 1861-65. high and unbroken rock wall near the crest of the hill and on Pickett's left. However this dispute may be settled by future historians, another controversy, which has arisen as to the honor, not simply of crossing, but of entering and occupying Cemetery Heights on the second day, ought to be settled without further delay, by admitting that Hays' (Louisiana) and Avery's (North Carolina) Brigades are entitled to share the glory equally. Colonel Tate contended that the Sixth Eegiment was the only organized command that crossed the wall and occupied the trenches behind it, though accompanied by a small squad of Louisianians of Hays' Brigade. Colonel H. C. Jones, the dis- tinguished historian of the Fifty-seventh North Carolina, states positively that his command and the Twenty-first, or the whole brigade, commanded by Avery, advanced in an unbroken line and drove the enemy from their intrenchments. The historian who contributed the article on the Louisiana troops for the Con- federate history, recently published under the editorial super- vision of General Clement A. Evans, contends, upon represen- tations of Hays' men, that they were the only organized command that occupied the heights, though a small squad of the North Carolinians joined them. Captain J. A. McPherson (then First Lieutenant), of Company E, Sixth North Carolina, who was acting as Aid-de-camp to Colonel Avery, gives the following account ^of the movements and conduct of the brigade: "Colonel I. E. Avery commanded Hoke's Brigade, composed then of the Sixth, Twenty-first, Twenty-seventh (the Fifty- fourth having been detached and left in charge of the prisoners captured at Winchester). This brigade attacked a portion of Reynold's command intrenched, with a strong fence in front of the trenches, and after marching across an open wheat field without faltering, drove Reynolds from his position and through the town to the wall on Cemetery Hill. Here brave Captain J. H. Burns, of the Sixth, was killed (in fulfillment of a wish often expressed) instantly by a ball piercing the brain. Sixth Regiment. 355 "The brigade halted in a wheat field near and to the right of the Gulp house, where it remained all night and until just before sundown on the next day, when it was ordered to move forward with Hays' Brigade and attack Cemetery Heights. "In this attack Colonel Avery led the brigade on horseback, being the only mounted man of the command, until he fell from his horse mortally wounded by a ball which passed through his neck and shoulder. After falling from his horse he took from his pocket a pencil and piece of paper, on which he wrote in indistinct characters: 'Tell my father I fell with my face to the enemy.' * * His command moved forward and scaled the heights." * * * "In June, 1896, I visited Gettysburg in company with Judge A. C. Avery, and located the place where Colonel Avery fell, which was marked by order of the Commissioners." GENERAL EARLY'S STATEMENT. In 1890 the writer addressed a letter to General Early, asking ■ what troops scaled the walls on Cemetery Heights, to which he received the following reply : "Lynchburg, Va., July 11, 1890. "Dear Sir: — Your letter of the 4th has been received, and in reply I have to inform you that at the close of the 2d of July, 1863, at Gettysburg, both Hoke's Brigade, under the command of Colonel Isaac E. Avery, and Hays' Louisiana Brigade at- tacked the enemy's works on Cemetery Hill, and entered them. Of course the Sixth North Carolina Regiment entered the works, but it was along with the rest of the brigade. Hays' Brigade brought oflF four battle flags and one hundred prisoners captured from the enemy. The conduct of Hoke's Brigade, under Col- onel Avery, was all that could be expected of it, and the Sixth North Carolina Regiment behaved well, as did the rest of the brigade. It was frequently the case that the men and ofBcers of a regiment, not being able to see what other troops did, imagined that no other troops were where they fought. In the twenty- 356 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. seventh volume, second part, of the books entitled, ' War of the Eebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies,' published under the authority of Congress, is contained my official reports of the campaign in 1863, including the battle of Gettysburg. As it may not be accessible to you, I send you a copy of my statement in regard to the attack on Cemetery Hill on the second day. This is all the information that I can give yon in regard to that aifair. " Very truly yours, "J. A. Early." A. C. Avery, Esq. The extract sent by General Early is as follows, viz. : "Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies," Vol- ume XXVII, Part II, pages 470-'71. extracts from report of general J. A. EARLY. Extract First: "Having been subsequently informed that the attack would begin at 4 o'clock p. M., I directed General Gordon ' to move his brigade to the railroad, in rear of Hays and Avery, Smith being left, under J. E. B. Stuart, to guard the York road. The fire from the artillery having been opened on the right and left at 4 o'clock, and continued for some time, I was ordered by General Ewell to advance upon Cemetery Hill with my two brigades that were in position as soon as General Johnson's Division, which was on the left, should become engaged at the wooded hill on the left, which it was about to attack, informa- tion being given us that the advance would be general, and made also by Rodes' Division and Hill's Division on my right. "Accordingly, as soon as Johnson became warmly engaged, which was a little before dusk, I ordered Hays and Avery to advance and carry the works on the heights in front. These troops advanced in gallant style to the attack, passing over the bridge in front*of them under a heavy artillery fire, and then crossing a hollow between that and Cemetery Hill, and moving np this hill in the face of at least two lines of infantry posted Sixth Eegiment. 357 behind stone and plank fences ; but these they drove back, and passing over all obstacles, they reached the crest of the hill and entered the enemy's breastworks, crossing it, getting possession of one of the batteries. But no attack was made on the imme- diate right, as was expected, and not meeting with support from that quarter, these brigades could not hold the positions that they had attained, because a very heavy force of the enemy was turned against them from that part of the line which the divis- ions on the right were to have attacked, and these two brigades had, therefore, to fall back, which they did with comparatively slight loss, considering the nature of the ground over which they had passed and the immense odds opposed to (hem, and Hays' Brigade brought off four stands of captured colors. At the same time these brigades advanced, Gordon's Brigade was ordered forward to support them, and did advance to the position from which they had moved, but M'as halted here because it wag ascer- tained that no advance vvas made on the right, and it was evident that the crest of the hill could not be held by my two brigades, supported by. this one without any other assistance, and that the attempt would be attended with a useless sacrifice of life. Hays' and Hoke's Brigades were reformed on the line previously occu- pied by them, and on the right and left of Gordon respectively. "In this attack, Colonel Avery, of the Sixth North Carolina Regiment, commanding Hoke's Brigade, was mortally wounded. With this affair the fighting on July the 2d terminated." Extract Second (page 473): "The conduct of my troops during the entire campaign, on the march as well as in action, was deserv- ing of the highest commendation. To Brigadier Generals Hays and Gordon I was greatly indebted for their cheerful, active and intelligent co-operation on all occasions, and their gallantry in action was eminently conspicuous. I had to regret the absence of Brigadier General Hoke, who was severely wounded in the action of May 6th at Fredericksburg, and had not recovered, but his place was worthily filled by Colonel Avery, of the Sixth North Carolina Regiment, who fell mortally wounded while gallantly leading his brigade in the charge on Cemetery Hill at 358 North Cakolina Troops, 1861-'65. Gettysburg on the afternoon of July the 2d. In his death the Confederacy lost a good and brave soldier." All of the eye-witnesses concur in stating that the Sixth, com- manded by Major (afterwards Lieutenant-Colonel) S. McD. Tate, was gallantly led, and engaged in a hand-to-hand encounter with the enemy intrenched behind the wall on the heights, in which men were not only killed by bayonets and pistol shots, but were clubbed by muskets and ramrods of artillerists. A letter from W. A. Hal], of Company K, states that a body of Hays' Lou- isiana troops planted their flag upon one of the enemy's guns on the heights, and about the same time the color-bearer of the Sixth was knocked senseless while planting his colors on another gun in the Federal line. Summing up all of the evidence, there is no room for doubt that the North Carolinians commanded by Colonel Avery, one and all, covered themselves with glory. If the Sixth encoun- tered the line where it was strongest, it was their good fortune to find the opportunity for which all alike were asking, to show their devotion to the cause. It is equally true that the veteran command of Hays, which had so often marched, side by side to victory, with their Carolina friends, did not falter in the face of the terrible hail of shot and shell that rained upon them from Cemetery Hill, as they moved in an unwavering line across the memorable field to the harvest of death. The Sixth Regiment was on the left of the Confederate line, and hence was not in the thickest of the third day's fight. It enjoyed again, however, proud distinction in being a part of the only command that stormed and occupied any portion of the enemy's line along the heights, from the beginning to the end of the three days' struggle. The writer has been provoked to write an account of the con- duct of the Sixth at Gettysburg by reading the Louisiana his- tory. He feels that he has so completely answered the article of Governor Smith, that the old hero, if alive, would concede that he was mistaken. He believes now that if the writer who claimed a monopoly of the honor of storming Cemetery Heights Sixth Regiment. 359 for Louisiana will calmly examine the "War Records" and listen to proof and reason, he will show that he is animated by the liberal and chivalrous spirit of such representatives of his State as Beauregard, Hays, Gibson and Nichols, by according to the comrades of Hays equal honor for the success achieved under his leadership. A. C. Avery. MORG ANTON, N. 0., July 2, 1900. SEVENTH REGIMENT. 1. Junius L. Hill, Lieut. -Colonel. 2. A. yi. Sigmon, Private, Co. K. John Hughes, Captain and Assistant Q. M. SEVENTH REGIMENT. By captain J. S. HARRIS, Company B, The Seventh Kegiment North Carolina State Troops was en- listed for the period of the war, and organized at Camp Ma- son, Alamance county, during the month of August, 1861. Reuben P. Campbell, of Iredell county, was the Colonel; Ed. Graham Haywood, of "VVake county, Lieutenant-Colonel ; E. D. Hall, of New Hanover county. Major ; First Lieutenant John E.Brown, Company D, Adjutant ; Dr. Wesley M. Camp- bell, of Iredell, Regimental Surgeon, and Dr. W. E. White, of Mecklenburg county, was the Assistant Surgeon, all to take rank from the 16th of May, 1861. Neither Commissary nor Quartermaster was assigned the regiment at first, though officers were temporarily detailed for duty in these departments. The regiment' was coniposed of the following ten companies, to-wit : Company A — Iredell and Alexander Counties — Captain, Ju- nius L. Hill. Company B — Cabarrus County — Captain, Robert S. Young. Company C — New Hanover County — Captain, Robert B. McRae. Company D — MeoUenburg County — Captain, 'William Lee Davidson. Company E — Nash County — Captain, A. J. Taylor. Company F — Roivan County- — Captain, J. McLeod Turner. Company G — Wake County — Captain, Hiram Witherspoon. Company H — Cabarrus County — Captain, James G. Harris. Company I — Iredell County — Captain, James R. McAulay. Company K — Alexander County — Captain, Martin H. Peo- ples. 362 North Caeolina Troops, 1861-65. On the 21st of August, 1861, the Seventh Regiment North Carolina State Troops was mustered into the military service of the State of North Carolina, and each soldier was paid a bounty of fifteen dollars. Captain A. Myers was the disbursing officer, and it required nearly thirteen thousand dollars to pay off the regiment. Colonel Campbell was a professional soldier, a graduate of West Point, and had served with distinction in the Mexican war. Possessed of fine administrative abilities, he introduced and practically enforced the discipline of the regular army. Upon assuming command, he remarked to his officers that he was not confident of his ability to control a thousand men, but said he, "I think I can govern forty officers." Lieutenant-Colonel Haywood was a man of fine personal ap- pearance, just in the prime of life; was possessed of a magnifi- cent voice and brilliant intellect. As a tactician, he was skillful, and under his training the regiment rapidly acquired proficiency in the various evolutions of battalion drill. Two companies, A and F, were armed with rifles, the others with the smooth-bore Springfield muskets. ORDERED TO THE COAST. Early Wednesday morning, August 28th, the Seventh Regi- ment embarked by rail for the Eastern part of the State, and reached New Bern the following morning at 5 o'clock, and was assigned quarters in the Fair Grounds. On Friday, August 30th, the regiment was regularly mustered into the military service of the Conftderate States of America (more properly speaking, transferred). On Monday, September 2d, the regiment marched to Fort Lane, on Neuse River, below town, and was busily employed on the river defenses until Sunday, September 8th, when it was taken by rail to Carolina City. Two companies, D and E, were detached and sent to Hyde county under command of Major Hall. The remaining companies went by boat to Bogue Island and encamped some four miles below Fort Macon. The Twen- Seventh Regiment. 363 ty-sixth Regiment North Carolina Volunteers, Colonel Z. B. Vance commauding, and Captain Pender's Battery were on duty when we arrived on the island. Camp and picket duties em- ployed our time until the 2d of October, when the regiment recrossed the sound and encamped near Carolina City. Early in December Colonel Campbell moved his command up the road to Newport and constructed winter-quarters, and the companies on detached service rejoined the regiment. On the 5th of March, 1862, the Seventh Regiment was taken by rail to New Bern and encamped in the Fair Grounds until Wednesday evening, March 12th, when it was reported that the enemy were coming up the river, and dispositions were accord- ingly made to have the troops in position to meet them. THE BATTLE OF NEW BERN. The Seventh and Thirty-third Regiments, encamped in town, crossed the river at an early hour Thursday morning, March 13th, and were placed in reserve some two miles in the rear of the main line, at a point where the public road from Beaufort crosses the Atlantic & North Carolina Railroad. Colonel Campbell was intrusted by General Branch with the command of his right wing, and was assigned the duty of guarding the river from Otter Creek to Fort Thompson, a distance of several miles. In consequence of vastly superior numbers, and the advantages afforded the enemy in landing troops at almost any point on the river shore, so as to take his line in reverse, Colonel Campbell, in obedience to orders, retired to the Fort Thompson breastworks. The Seventh Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel E. G. Haywood commanding, was ordered from the reserve and was posted on the main line, one company (F) on the left, and the other nine companies immediately on the right of the Beaufort road, and about half-way from Fort Thompson to the railroad — the dis- tance from the Fort to the railroad being about one mile. At an early hour on Friday morning, March 14th, final dispo- fiitious were made to receive the advancing foe. Rain had fallen in showers the previous night, and the early morning was obscured 364 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. by a fog, so much so that a party of mounted men approached almost unobserved within musket-range, evidently with the pur- pose of locating the lines. This party was fired upon by one of Latham's guns on the Beaufort road. This shot served as a signal for the Federal advance, and shortly thereafter they appeared in force on the Beaufort road and opened fire immediately in front of the Seventh Pegiment. They were promptly responded to with musketry and artillery, and with such effect as to arrest their advance, and in a short while the firing was general along the line to the river. Finding this part of the line to be well defended, the enemy extended his line and advanced up the rail- road on the opposite side. The intrenchments on that side were located higher up the road, so that when the enemy's skirmishers arrived on a line with the breastworks from the river to the rail- road, they were enabled to deliver a flank fire into the troops (the militia battalion of Colonel H. J. B. Clark) on the opposite side, under which they gave away, and all efforts to rally them were unavailing. This advantage enabled the enemy to advance troops through an undefended open ditch with but little expo- sure, and the Thirty-fifth Regiment North Carolina Troops, like- wise assailed in front and flank, gave way and did not afterwards return to the fight. Flushed with success, the enemy pushed along the vacant works, and the Seventh was the next in turn to feel the brunt of his attack, and it, too, was forced to retire, but not in confusion, for it was quickly rallied, and advancing with fixed bayonets, it gallantly drove the Federals over the breastwork's, recovering two of Brem's guns that had fallen into their hands. The brave Major Hall led the charge, and did much to inspire the confidence and courage of the Seventh, for the first time so sorely tried. The regiment continued to hold its position without re-inforcements until near noon, when it was again assailed from the same direction by an overwhelming force, and the entire line, being exposed to an enfilade fire, gave way, and the field was. hopelessly lost. Referring to the regiment on this occasion, General Branch said : i " The brave Seventh met them with the bayonet and drove Seventh Regiment. 365 them headlong over the parapet, inflicting heavy loss on them as they fled; but soon returning with heavy re-inforcements, not less than five or six regiments, the Seventh was obliged to yield, falling back slowly and in order." In this ill-fated afiair, its first fight, the regiment sustained a loss of six killed, fifteen wounded and thirty missing. Along with General Branch's command it retreated to Kinston and remained about a week, when the command was taken by rail to Falling Creek, seven miles above Kinston. branch's brigade organized. On the 31st of March, 1862, the Second Brigade, consisting of the Seventh, Colonel Campbell; Thirty-seventh, Colonel Charles C. Lee ; Eighteenth, Colonel James D. Eadcliffe; Twenty- eighth, Colonel James H. Lane, and the Thirty-third, Colonel C. M. Avery, all North Carolina regiments, was organized, and Brig- adier-General L. O'B. Branch was assigned to the command, and on the following day he returned to his former encampment below Kinston. While here Major E. D. Hall was promoted to Colouel of the Forty-sixth Regiment, and Captain J. L. Hill, Company A, succeeded him as Major of the Seventh. Adjutant John E. Brown was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel of the Forty-second Regiment, and Lieutenant F. D. Stockton, of Company F, suc- ceeded him as Adjutant. On the 1st of May, Colonel Camp- bell, in obedience to orders from brigade headquarters, proceeded with his regiment. Captain Bunting's Battery and a train of wagons to Trenton for the purpose of collecting and bringing back provisions for the use of the troops, but upon reaching his destination the command was recalled. ORDERED TO VIRGINIA. On Sunday, May 4th, 1862, Branch's Brigade went by rail to Goldsboro, thence by way of Weldon, Petersburg and Richmond to Gordonsville, Va., reaching the latter place on the night of the 366 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. 5th, and remained until about the 16th, when the command was ordered towards the Valley of Virginia, but before reaching the foot-hills of the Blue Ridge it was ordered back to Gordons- ville, and from there by rail to Hanover Court Hoiise, and did picket duty for some days in that locality. BATTLE OF HANOVER COURT HOUSE. The battle of Hanover Court House was fought on the even- ing of Tuesday, May 27th, between the Federal advance, under Generals Fitz John Porter and Sedgewick, and Branch's Brigade, Latham's Battery, and two infantry regiments, temporarily at- tached. Twelfth North Carolina and a Georgia regiment. In this action the Seventh Regiment was held in reserve, and though at no time actively engaged, it was nevertheless exposed to the enemy's fire (a severe test of the metal of any troops) without the opportunity of returning it. In obedience to orders, General Branch fell back to Ashland during the night, and the Seventh Regiment constituted his rearguard. In this affair the regiment sustaiued a loss of two killed, four wounded and two missing. General Branch said in his report: "A cautious at- tempt was made by the enemy to follow, but a single volley from the rearguard of the Seventh arrested it." During the early days of June Branch's Brigade encamped on the Brook turn- pike, three and one-half miles northwest of Richmond, and remained until sunset Wednesday, June 25, 1862, when, in obedience to orders from army headquarters, it marched up Brook turnpike to the vicinity of "Half Sink" bridge, and bivouacked until morning. Thursday, June 26th, at 10 o'clock A. M., the brigade was ordered to cross, and the Seventh, march- ing at the head of the column, crossed the Chickahominy and directed its march down stream. Three companies. A, C and F, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Haywood, were ad- vanced to discover and dislodge the enemy's picket. When nearing the Virginia Central Railroad, Colonel Haywood's com- mand encountered and dispersed the enemy's advanced troops. Seventh Regiment. 367 some two hundred strong, capturing from them a flag — the first trophy of the day — before any other brigade of General Lee's army had crossed the Chickahominy, and started MeClellan on "that retreat in which he found no shelter until under cover of the guns of his shipping." Continuing the advance, Colonel Haywood's command again encountered the enemy's sharp- shooters beyond Atlee's Station and drove them back. The movements of Branch's Brigade uncovered Meadow Bridge, and General A. P. Hill crossed and drove the enemy from his in- trenched camp at Mechanicsville. Late in the afternoon Branch's Brigade, marching by a different road, reached the scene of con- flict. After the repulse at Mechanicsville the enemy retired to a strong position at Ellyson's Mill, where the Confederates re- newed the attack, but failed to dislodge him. Branch's Brigade was ordered to the front, and went some distance, when it was halted, and Colonel Campbell was directed to hold his regiment in readiness for an immediate advance. Later the regiment was placed in position on the left of the road and remained over night. Next morning, Friday, June 27th, while awaiting orders to advance, it was learned that the enemy had abandoned his posi- tion and was in full flight. Pursuit was immediately given, and in the afternoon the battle was renewed beyond Gaines' Mill. The Seventh formed to the left of the road, and under the lead of the fearless Campbell pushed forward through a lake of water and up a long wooded slope. Companies A and F were advanced as skirmishers and met with such stout resistance as to check their progress. Seeing that Turner and Knox were hard pressed, Captain Young, of Company B, called on his men to go to their assist- ance, and this they did by moving cheerfully forward under a heavy fire and rendered timely aid in forcing the enemy out of the road and from the fence on top of the hill. As the main line advanced the skirmishers were directed to form on the right of the regiment, and for some time it maintained this advanced position against superior odds. Not being supported, as he ex- 368 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. pected, and suffering frightful loss, Colonel Campbell ordered the regiment to fall back to a less exposed position, and the three skirmishing companies on the right not falling back at the same instant, became separated from the regiment, and, under the command of Lieutenant- Colonel Haywood, they were as- signed by General A. P. Hill's order to another part of the line, and were under fire to the close of the action. The other seven companies, under Colonel Campbell, were sent to charge a bat- tery on the right of the road, and, after moving the required distance. Colonel Campbell advanced his regiment through a swamp and over fallen timber up the deadly slope, intent upon fulfilling his mission. The color-bearer, Henry T. Fight, of Company F, had advanced but a little way when he was se- riously wounded and let the colors fall. Then Corporal James A. Harris, of Company I, caught them up and bore them a short distance, when he, too, received a disabling wound. Colo- nel Campbell then seized the flag, and advancing some twenty paces in front of his men, ordered them not to fire but to follow him. When within less than a stone's throw of the deadly guns, the heroic Campbell was pierced by an enemy's bullet and instantly killed. Lieutenant Duncan C. Haywood, of Company E, promptly seized the flag, and in the effort to bear it forward, he in turn lost his life, and seeing the utter impossibility of cap- turing the battery, the regiment beat a hasty retreat. Unwilling that the flag should fall into the enemy's hands, private Nichol- son, of Company H, caught the end of the broken staff and trailed it after him down the hill, and, from Colonel Haywood's report, it was borne from the field by Corporal Geary, of Com- pany C. The flag had on it the marks of thirty-two bullets, indicating in some measure the fearful dangers to which the gallant Seventh was exposed in attempting to accomplish an impossible result. Following is a list of officers killed and wounded in this action : Killed — Colonel Reuben P. Campbell*; Lieutenant Duncan * Colonel Campbell was born in Iredell county, N. C, April 16, 1818, and graduated at West Pomt, June 23,1840; entered the service as Second Lieutenant of Cavalry : was promoted Captain of Company B, Second Dragoons. He was distinguished for gallant and meritorious conduct in the Mexican war, and resigned his commission to take part with his native State m behalf of the South. Seventh Regiment. 369 C. Haywood, Company E ; Lieutenant William A. Closs, Com- pany E ; Captain Martin H. Peoples, Company K ; Lieutenant Joseph C. Miller, Company K. "Wounded — Captain Eobert B. McRae, Company C ; Lieu- tenant William J. Kerr, Company D ; Captain James R. Mc- Aulay, Company I. The number of enlisted men killed and wounded in this or any subsequent action during the seven days' fight cannot be determined with any accuracy, as the official reports embraced the entire campaign in the aggregate. On Sunday morning, the 29th of June, Branch's Brigade re- crossed the Chickahominy in pursuit and again encountered the enemy in a hard-fought battle at Frazier's Farm, lasting from 5 o'clock p. M. until night-fall on the 30th of June. In this action the Seventh, under Colonel Haywood, made a gallant charge across an open field that was swept by musketry and artillery, and drove the enemy from its front for a considerable distance — every foot of the ground being hotly contested. Lieutenant John Milton Alexander, Company H, was killed. Wounded : Lieutenants E. G. Blackmer, Company F, and W. N. Dickey, Company I. Missing: Lieutenant John P. Young, Company B. MALVERN HILL. The battle of Malvern Hill was fought on the afternoon- of Tuesday, July 1st. The Seventh, as were the other regiments of the brigade, was ordered to the battlefield in support of troops already engaged, and remained in reserve to the close of the action, exposed to .the enemy^s fire, with no opportunity of re- turning it. During this " week of battles," the Seventh Regiment sus- tained a loss of thirty-seven killed and two hundred and two wounded and fourteen missing — total, two hundred and fifty- three. 24 370 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. CEDAR RUN. Branch's Brigade was sent by rail to Gordonsville, July 29th, and on Saturday, August 9th, the battle of Cedar Run was fought. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon there was a spirited artillery duel between Confederate and Federal batteries. About 5 o'clock the infantry became hotly engaged. At first the enemy was successful and drove the Confederates back. At the oppor- tune moment Branch's Brigade, marching at the head of the " Light Division," advanced and checked the enemy, and in turn drove him back with loss. Just as it was in the act of advancing, the Seventh was, by General Jackson's personal order, directed to'cross to the right of the main road and pursue a de- tached body of the enemy then in retreat. This movement resulted in the capture of some thirty odd prisoners, including two commissioned officers. The regiment was little exposed in this action. Its loss was one killecl and one wounded. The Confederates recrossed the Rapidan on the 12th, and encamped around Orange Court House. On the 20th of August there was a general advance of the army, and Branch's Brigade con- fronted the enemy opposite Warrenton Springs on the 22d, and was exposed^to the fire of several batteries during Saturday and Sunday. Early on Monday, August 25th, General Jackson disappeared from Pope's front, crossed the Rappahannock un- molested, aud arrived at Bristoe Station on the night of the 26th, and early the following morning Branch's Brigade reached Ma- nassas Junction, and a few hours later it chased Taylor's New Jersey Brigade some miles beyond Bull Run. second battle of MANASSAS. The next time the Seventh confronted the enemy was on the historic field of Manassas, where, on the afternoon of August 28th, it was exposed to the fire of a Federal battery, but suf- fered slight loss. On Friday morning, August 29th, the Sev- enth was on the right of the brigade, and in rear of a grove on Seventh Eegiment. 371 the Confederate left, and not far from Crenshaw's Battery. Shortly after assuming this position, Captain J. McLeod Turner was ordered to advance his company, and soon the sound of his rifles told that he was driving the enemy's skirmishers. During the morning hours there were heavy and irregular volleys of musketry on the right, sometimes nearer, then further away, as one or the other of the combatants were forced to yield ground. About 3 o'clock p. m. the Federal commander shifted his point of attack and fell with great fury on the Confederate left. Guided by the sound of battle. General Branch advanced his brigade and engaged the enemy's troops, then flushed by tempo- rary success, and drove them across the railroad and into the woods beyond. In obedience to orders, the brigade recrossed the railroad and reformed its line of battle. Details were sent to collect cart- ridges from the boxes of those who had fallen and issue them to the men in ranks awaiting the renewal of the conflict. Colonel Hay- wood was wounded and Captain R. B. McRae took command, and right gallantly did he discharge the duties thus imposed on him. Hardly were the necessary preparations complete before the enemy advanced fresh troops and renewed the battle with great energy and with like results. The brigade successfully held its position against repeated attacks until the going down of the sun. With evident feelings of pride, General Branch publicly com- plimented his brigade for gallant conduct. Said he : "Burnside whipped us at New Bern, but we have whipped him this even- ing." The Seventh fought bravely and eSiciently. Not a single Yankee was able to cross the railroad in its front, though efibrts were made to do so that were well-nigh irresistible. Its loss was seven killed and sixty wounded. The following day, though not actively engaged, it was nevertheless exposed to a heavy artillery fire and joined in the pursuit of the enemy late that afternoon. On the afternoon of Monday, September 1st, the battle of Ox Hill was fought in a blinding rain-storm. The Seventh ex- hibited its customary valor from the opening to the close of the 372 North Caeolina Troops, 1861-65. action. Its loss was eight killed and seventeen wounded. Cap- tain E. B. McRae, commanding the regiment, was severely- wounded, and Captain J. G. Knox, Company A, succeeded him in command. The Seventh was in the First Maryland campaign, and crossed the Potomac at Point of Rocks on the afternoon of September 4th, arrived at Frederick, Maryland, on the 6th, and remained for some days. While here the regiment was re-inforced by one hundred and thirty conscripts. It recrossed the Potomac at Williamsport on the 12th, and was part of the force that invested Harper's Ferry on the Virginia sid« the following day. On Sunday night, the 14th, the Seventh preceded the brigade in its advance, successfully dislodged the enemy from the moun- tain cliifs overhanging the Shenandoah, and secured possession of Bolivar Heights, overlooking Harper's Ferry. This was accomplished with a loss of one killed and three wounded. Early Monday morning, September 15th, the garrison of Harper's Ferry surrendered after a spirited shelling from Con- federate batteries bearing on it from all points. The Seventh Regiment, up to this time, armed with the smooth-bore Spring- field musket, now exchanged it for the Springfield rifle, a more effective weapon at longer range. This regiment left Harper's Ferry on the morning of September 17th and arrived at Sharps- burg in the afternoon just in time to help repulse Burnside's troops, then across Antietam Creek, and gradually pushing the Confederate right toward Sharpsburg. Its loss in this action was nine killed and forty-three wounded. The brave General Branch was killed near the close of the action, and Colonel James H. Lane assumed command of the brigade. The battle was not renewed the following day, and that night, the 18th, the army recrossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown. Branch's Brigade formed part of the rearguard and was the last command to cross the river on the 19th. The rear of its column was shelled as it disappeared over the hills on the Vir- ginia side. At Shepherdstown, on the 20th of September, the Seventh Seventh Eegiment. 373 was one of the regiments that so gallantly charged the enemy across the big corn field, notwithstanding it was honey- combed by the concentrated fire of Federal batteries from the opposite side of the Potomac. In this affair the regiment had fifteen men wounded. The next offensive movement in which it took part was the destruction of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad from North Mountain Depot to Hedgeville. The regiment then encamped near Bunker Hill, until the,lst of November, at which time it removed to the vicinity of Berryville. On the 1st of November, ,1862, Colonel James H. Lane was promoted to be Brigadier General, and permanently assigned by request to the command of Branch's Brigade. Early in November the Federal army crossed the Potomac at Harper's Ferry and slowly advanced along the railroad to War- renton. Longstreet's Corps disappeared from the Valley and confronted the enemy in the neighborhood of Culpeper. Court House. On the 22d of November Jackson's Corps broke camp above Winchester and moved rapidly to New Market, thence south to the vicinity of Guinea Station on the railroad leading from Fredericksburg to Richmond. Nothing occurred to foreshadow the expected battle until the night of the 11th, when firing was heard in the direction of Fredericksburg, which increased in volume the following morn- ing— a sure warning of the approaching contest, in which the Army of Northern Virginia would again measure arms with its old antagonist, the Army of the Potomac, under its new com- mander. Genera] Burnside. the battle op peedericksbueg. The battle of Fredericksburg was fought Saturday, December 13, 1862, Lane's Brigade was on Jackson's left, some two miles southeast of the town, and the Seventh Regiment was on Lane's left, about two hundred yards distant from the railroad and about the same distance in front of the right of Pender's North Carolina brigade. A short distance beyond the railroad 374 NoETH Carolina Troops, 1861-'66. there was a ridge that extended some distance to the right, and was lost in the common level of the surrounding plain. This ridge was occupied by a battalion of artillery, thirteen guns, under Major Braxton, with instructions to play on the enemy's infantry without replying to his artillery. Before the fight began the Seventh Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Hill commanding, was advanced to the railroad to insure the safety of the guns. A fog hung over the field and concealed the enemy's movements until well under way. About 9 o'clock A. M. a line of battle advanced from under cover of the river bank and was driven back by the fire of the artillery in front. By way of retaliation, several Federal bat- teries opened on Braxton's guns, and also did the Seventh serious injury, driving in its skirmishers, ten of them having been in- jured by one shell. The enemy's skirmishers then advanced and endangered the gunners, and on this fact being reported to Colonel Hill by one of their officers, he promptly advanced his regiment and drove them off. Meantime the artillery left the field, and to save his men, Colonel Hill ordered the regiment into the railroad cut near by, where it remained about two hours, during which time there was a lull in the storm. In forming his line of battle, General A. P. Hill had left an open space of several hundred yards, extending from Lane's right to Archer's left. By noon the fog of the early morning had cleared away, and the keen-sighted Yankees were not long in detecting this opening, against which they sent a cloud of skirmishers and directed a powerful artillery fire. The Seventh Regiment now left the railroad cut and resumed its former position on the left of the brigade. In a short while the enemy advanced in great force to the crest of the hill beyond the railroad, several stands of colors being visible in front of the Seventh, but their troops were not sufficiently exposed to invite its fire. Remaining stationary for a short time, they retired, then advanced a second time and remained stationary as before, apparently hesitating to risk the result; Seventh Eegiment. 375 ai\d presently the entire column moved by the left flank behind the ridge and massed on the fatal opening. Turning Lane's right and Archer's left, they entered the woods to the rear and momentarily endangered the Confederate center. The Seventh Regiment remained in line until the regiments on its right gave way, when it also fell back in good order to General Pender's line, under a heavy artillery fire. From there it was immediately ordered to the right of the brigade, where it rendered good service in helping to drive the enemy back and aiding to re-establish the line. The writer, from personal ob- servation, bears testimony to the gallant and heroic resistance made by the Thirty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Regiments North Carolina Troops to overwhelming numbers, as they entered the opening and turned the positions held by these regiments. The repulse of the enemy was complete, his loss frightful, and he made no further assault on this part of the line. In the Seventh Regiment eleven men were killed and eighty-one wounded. Among the latter Captain J. McLeod Turner was shot through the body and sustained a serious lung injury, and Captain John G. Knox, of Company A, was quite seriously wounded. Lieutenant Sol. Furr, of Company B, was also wounded. After the Federal army recrossed the river the Confederates went into winter-quarters along the Rappahannock. Lane's Brigade encamped near Moss Neck. Army supplies had to be hauled in wagons from Guinea Station, a distance of nine miles. Heavy details were sent daily to help corduroy the miry roads, and this, in connection with the ordinary camp duties and con- stantly maintaining a long picket line, kept the Seventh busy during the bleak winter months. CHANCELLORSVILLE. No event transpired to interrupt the usual round of daily duty until Thursday, April 30, 1868, when the booming of cannon called the army to Fredericksburg the second time, and the Con- federates re-occupied the lines so successfully defended the pre- 376 NoKTH Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. vious December. A large body of Federal troops under General Sedgewick occupied the town, but made no effort to advance. Early the following morning, May 1, Lane's Brigade moved up the Orange plank-road and formed in line of battle near Chancellorsville late in the evening. The heavy skirmishing near night indicated an enemy in force, and we quietly awaited the developments of another day. Early next morning, Saturday, May 2d, Jackson's troops were in motion — the column turned off from the plank-road at the Catharine Iron Furnace, and marched rapidly past the front of the Federal army, and late in the afternoon it reached the old turnpike road, to the right and rear of Hooker's army. It was near sunset when the advance began. Rodes' Division sur- prised the Eleventh Corps on the Federal right, which, after a feeble resistance, fled in the wildest confusion. Other lines, doubtless affected by their panic-stricken comrades, became de- moralized, and no serious opposition was encountered until within three-fourths of a mile of Chancellorsville. At this point the " Light Division " was ordered to the front to take charge of and continue the pursuit. As the leading brigade (Lane's) was nearing the point at which it was to deploy in line of battle, it was exposed to a very heavy artillery fire in column on the plank-road, and to escape its destructive effect the men were ordered to lie down. As soon as the firing was over the Seventh Regiment, followed by the Thirty-seventh, filed to the right of the plank-road and formed parallel to but not in the breastworks, the left of the Thirty-seventh extending to the plank-road. The Twenty-eighth and Eighteenth filed to the left, the right of the latter regiment resting on the road. The Thirty-third, under Colonel C. M. Avery, was thrown forward as skirmishers and covered the front of the brigade. Before preparations were complete for resuming the advance the enemy succeeded in passing a column of infantry behind the skirmishers and in front of the Seventh Regiment. Presently an oSicer with a white flag came forward and inquired for the command- ing officer, and also demanded to know whether the troops in Seventh Regiment. 377 his front were Union or Confederates. General Lane very properly sent him to the rear under guard, as he did not wish to surrender. While awaiting the return of their flag, a shot was fired from the enenay's line, and in response the Seventh poured a volley into the dark line in its front, and as a result some two hundred and fifty Federal soldiers immediately sur- rendered. Lieutenant-Colonel Hill directed Captain John P. Young, with his company, to conduct them to General Jackson's headquarter guard. The enemy's batteries now opened afresh and his infantry advanced, but did not come within musket- range of the Seventh. Early next morning, Sunday, May 3d, the entire line wheeled somewhat to the left. Then, in obedience to orders, the forward movement began. The Seventh was preceded by one of its com- panies as skirmishers under Lieutenant John Y. Templeton, and notwithstanding the intervening woods was swept by a wither- ing fire of musketry and artillery, this regiment unhesitatingly pushed forward and drove the enemy out of the first line of works in its front. Unfortunately the expected support failed to "show up," and after a gallant fight against fresh troops it was in turn driven back by the concentrated fire of the enemy's for- tified batteries surrounding the Chancellor house and the flank fire of an approaching column on the right. After refilling cartridge-boxes the regiment immediately went into position on the left of the plank-road in support of General Colquitt's Georgia Brigade. It lost heavily in the fight — fifty-three killed, one hundred and twenty-seven wounded and five missing — total, one hundred and eighty-five. Colonel Haywood and Major Davidson were wounded early in the morning. Ad- jutant Ives Smedes was killed in the advance and Lieuten- ant-Colonel Junius L. Hill lost his life while at the enemy's works. The following company officers were killed, viz. : Company A, Lieutenant E. Mansfield Campbell and Robert A. Bolick; Company B, Captain John P. Young; Company D, Captain William J. Kerr; Company F, Lieutenant James W. Emack. 378 NoETH Carolina Troops, 1861-65. The following were wounded, viz. : Company A, Lieutenant P. C. Carlton; Company B, Lieutenant J. S. Harris; Company F, Lieutenant T. G. Williamson ; Company G, Lieutenant John Y. Templeton; Company H, Lieutenant J. M. W. Alexander and Lieutenant Dixon B. Penick ; Company I, Captain James R. McAulay, and Lieutenant Robert G. McAulay, mortally. The color-bearer, Sergeant E. M. Correll, also received a dis- abling wound. After the return to winter-quarters an election was held in the various companies of the regiment, in accordance with an act of Congress authorizing the President to bestow medals, " with proper devices, upon such officers as shall be conspicuous for courage and good conduct on the field of battle, and also to con- fer a badge on one private or non-commissioned officer of each company after every signal victory it shall have assisted to achieve," and the names of the following soldiers were selected by their comrades to be placed on the " Confederate roll of honor" for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle of Chancellorsville, viz.: Second Lieutenant A. M. Walker, Com- pany K; Corporal William H. Millstead, Company A; Ser- geant William G. Sawyer, Company B; Corporal Philip Strickland, Company C; Sergeant Thomas Brinkle, Com- pany D; private Elisha H. Eure, Company E; private Ed- ward H. Williams, Company F ; Corporal Ira W. Smith, Company G; Sergeant Robert M. Caldwell, Company H; private Thomas L. Purdie, Company I ; Sergeant Isaac S. McCurdy, Company K. From some cause the above medal and badges were never delivered, and no further elections were held in the Seventh Regiment under the act authorizing them. After the death of General Jackson the Army of Northern Virginia was composed of three corps — Longstreet's, Ewell's and A.. P. Hill's. Lane's Brigade was in Pender's Division, A. P. Hill's Corps. For several weeks succeeding the battle of Chancellorsville no active movement was undertaken by either army. About the 1st of June, 1863, the Army of Northern Vir- Seventh Regiment. 379 ginia largely disappeared from the Rappahannock, Hill's Coi'ps alone renaaining at Fredericksburg to watch Hooker's move- ments and protect Richmond. Alarmed by the report of so many Confederates in the Shenandoah Valley, the Federal com- mander withdrew from Fredericksburg about the middle of June. General Hill also left Fredericksburg on the 15th, and by rapid marches crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown on the 25th and arrived at Fayetteville, Pennsylvania, on the afternoon of the 27th. Longstreet was at Chambersburg and Ewell some miles in advance. GETTYSBURG. The march of the Confederate columns was directed to Gettys- burg on Wednesday morning, July 1st, and the leading division of Hill's Corps (Heth's) engaged the Federal advance before noon. Lane's Brigade marched from South Mountain without oppo- sition until across a small stream northwest of Gettysburg. Here it formed line of battle in supporting distance of Heth's Divis- ion on the left of the Chambersburg road. In this order the two lines advanced and drove the enemy back several hundred yards, then halted, and Lane's Brigade was withdrawn from the center and placed on the right of Pender's Division. Here the Seventh Regiment, Major Turner commanding, was sent to watch the movement of the enemy's cavalry, with instructions to move by the left flank, as skirmishers, so as to cover the right of the brigade in its advance. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon there was a general advance, and after desperate fight- ing the enemy was driven through and beyond the town. On account of the threatening attitude of the cavalry the Seventh was detained, but subsequently rejoined the brigade on Seminary Ridge, near McMillan's house. This regiment was inactive the following day, July 2d. It was subjected to a very heavy artil- lery fire in the afternoon, and that night two of its companies were sent to re-inforce the brigade skirmishers under Major Brown, then occupying the Emmittsburg road. 380 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Friday morning, July 3d, found the mighty combatants "in place " where the battle of the previous day ended. The skir- mishers began the bloody day's work at an early hour (those of the enemy being unusually spiteful), and the wounded, at times, came out in squads. Thomas' and McGowan's Brigades were advanced the night before to support Eodes' Division in the con- templated night attack. General Pender was badly wounded the evening before and General Lane was in command of his division. At noon Lane's and Scales' Brigades were ordered to the right and formed in the rear of Heth's Division (commanded by General Pettigrew), then in line of battle and awaiting orders to advance on Cemetery Ridge. About this time Major General Trimble was put in command of Pender's Division (Lane and Scales), General Lane resumed command of the brigade, and Col- onel Avery, commanding the brigade, returned to his regiment. Seminary Ridge was crowned with a formidable array of artil- lery, which at a given signal was to open a furious fire on Cem- etery Ridge for the purpose of silencing the enemy's artillery and demoralizing the infantry, and as soon as this result was appa- rent the assaulting columns were to advance and carry the Federal position by storm. The artillery duel I'aged with great fury for near two hours, then the enemy's fire decreased in vol- ume and number of guns, and the order to advance was imme- diately given. The Seventh Regiment was on the right of the brigade and connected with Scales' left, and the marked steadiness of its advance over that storm-swept field was but a repetition of its gallantry on other fields. It went as far as any other command, and was among the last to leave the field. Its loss was seven- teen killed, eighty-four wounded and forty-one missing. (Its flag was also left on the field after every member of the color- guard had either been killed or wounded). The following offi- cers were wounded : Major J. McLeod Turner, who so gallantly commanded the regiment, was badly wounded and left near the enemy's works; Captain T. J. Cahill, Company D; Captain J. W. Vick, CoDipany E; Lieutenant D. F. Kinney, Company F, and. Captain A. A. Hill, Company G. Seventh Regiment. 381 On the retreat at Hagerstown, Saturday, July 11th, the regi- ment formed a line of battle and skirmished with the enemy, and on Monday night, the 13th, fell back with the army, march- ing all night in pitchy-darkness and torrents of rain. Next morning, July 14th, immediately after the unfortunate wounding of General Pettigrew near Falling Waters, General Heth, then commanding his own and Pender's Division, ordered General Lane with his brigade to act as rear-guard and pro- tect the crossing of his troops. This arduous and dangerous duty it successfully accomplished, repulsing and holding in check an active and aggressive foe until every other command was safely across the Potomac, when it also retired to the Vir- ginia shore, and thus ended the trans-Potomac campaign. ON VIRGINIA SOIL AGAIN. For some days the army remained in the neighborhood of Berryville, then moved south by way of Front Royal, and made a short stay at Culpeper Court House, then continuing the march, it re-occupied the line of the Rapidan in the early days of August. Lane's Brigade was stationed near Orange Court House and the Seventh did picket duty at Morton's Ford. No active movements were undertaken by either army for some weeks, and strong efforts were made to fill up the depleted ranks by encouraging absentees to return. The duties were also lightened (as much as the good of the service would admit) on the brave men who had borne the heat and burden of an ex- haustive and unsuccessful campaign. Major-General Pender died of the wound he received at Gettysburg, and Brigadier- General C. M. Wilcox was promoted to the rank of Major- General and succeeded to the command of the "Light Division." The next active movement in which the Seventh toolt a part was on Tuesday, September 22d, when it was ordered to Jack's Shop to oppose a cavalry demonstration toward Gordonsville, but was not engaged, as General Stuart had in the meantime succeeded in defeating the enemy. The regiment recrossed the Rapidan the next day and encamped on Mr. Newman's farm, 382 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. from which point it did picket duty at Liberty Mills and main- tained a picket post on the Stanardsville road. The quiet of camp-life was next broken by the general ad- vance of the army on the 9th of October. The Federal com- mander, General Meade, unwilling to risk an engagement on the Eappahannock, retired along the Orange & Alexandria Rail- road in the direction of Washington. On the 14th of October, the leading division of Hill's Corps (Heth's) was repulsed with loss by the rear of the Federal army, under General Warren, at Bristoe Station. The Seventh and other regiments of the brigade formed line of battle under fire, but on account of approaching darkness did not advance. The Federal commander continued his retrograde movement during the night, and the following day the Confederates returned, completing the destruction of the railroad to the Eappahannock. The Seventh cheerfully performed the task assigned it, and on the 25th of October recrossed the river and camped near Brandy Station. On the 7th of November the greater part of two of General Early's brigades (Hoke's and Hays'), doing picket duty beyond the Rappahannock, near Kelly's Ford, were captured by the enemy. The next morning the array fell back, and when near Culpeper Court House the Seventh aided in repulsing the enemy's cavalry charge, sustaining a loss of one killed, private Mack Winecoff, Company H, and four others wounded. Lieu- tenant P. C. Carlton, Company A, was also wounded. That night the march was resumed and the following day the regi- ment re-occupied its quarters at Liberty Mills. On the 15th of November it received orders to strike tents and proceed to Orange Court House to repel a brigade of Fed- eral cavalry that had crossed the Rapidan at Morton's Ford, but the order was subsequently countermanded. On the 26th of November the Seventh marched to Mine Run to aid in opposing General Meade's advance on Gordonsville. Next day, in a rain-storm, it worked hard all day building breast- works. The rain was followed by high winds, clear and in- Seventh Eegiment. 383 tensely cold weather, and the sufferings of the thinly-clad troops were simply indescribable. The sentinels on the skirmish line were relieved every thirty minutes, but the time seemed much longer — many of them insisting that they had been on duty an hour. On the 1st of March of 1864, the Seventh, in obedience to orders, marched through mud and rain to Madison Court House to oppose a cavalry raid, only to iind. the enemy gone. That night it snowed, and the men, being without tents or shelter of any kind, suffered much discomfort. On the 20th of April all surplus baggage was sent to Richmond, and no pains were' spared in getting the troops in the best fighting trim possible. The sun and winds were fast hardening the roads and hourly hastening the impending struggle which was to decide the fate of the Confederacy. The Seventh Regiment, with twenty-seven commissioned officers and four hundred and twenty-five enlisted men, left Liberty Mills on the 4th of May, 1864, and reached the Wil- derness battlefield the following afternoon, and from five o'clock to nine at night it was closely engaged and successfully drove the enemy through swamps and tangled woods for several hun- dred yards. At one time the regiment narrowly escaped being captured, its left having advanced in the darkness within the enemy's line. Its loss was in killed : Lieutenants S. Layne Hay- men, Company E; W. H. Haywood, Company K, and three enlisted men. Wounded: Lieutenants J. W. Ballentine, Com- pany E; E. B. Roberts, Company I, and sixty enlisted men. Missing: Colonel Wm. Lee Davidson, Captains J. G. Knox, Company A, and Walter G. McRae, Company C, and thirty- four enlisted men. SPOTTSYLVANIA. At Spottsylvania Court House, on the 12th of May, when Ewell's line was broken at early dawn and the greater part of Johnson's Division captured, this regiment rendered invaluable service in checking the tide of Federal victory by constantly 384 North Carolina Troops, 18 61-65. pouring into the enemy's ranks a fire so deadly that no troops, however brave, could withstand. Later in the day it was one of the regiments selected to lead the advance of Lane's Brigade in that brilliant flank movement which surprised Burnside's ad- vancing column and captured more than four hundred prisoners and three stands of colors. Its loss was eleven enlisted men killed, twenty-five wounded and four missing. Adjutant John W. Pearson, Lieutenants Thomas P. Malloy, Company D, and J. L. Stafford, Company H, were wounded ; total forty-three. In the assault on the 21st of May to the right of the Fredericks- " burg road, which resulted in the capture of the enemy's breast- works, the regiment sustained a loss of one killed and seven wounded. At Jericho Mills, on the 23d of May, it was detached to guard a ford on the river and was not engaged. Two days later, on the 25th, the regiment was exposed to an annoying artillery fire at Anderson's Turnout on the Virginia Central Railroad. It was again exposed to the enemy's fire of both infantry and artillery near Pole Green Church on the 31st of May, but not actively engaged. At Cold Harbor, June 2d, it was part of the support to Whar- ton's Brigade of Breckinridge's Division in that successful charge which secured Turkey Ridge to the Confederates. At Riddle's Shop, on the 13th of June, the regiment was in line of battle for several hours, but not engaged. AT PETERSBURG. On the 18th of June the regiment reached the outer defenses of Petersburg and took part in the action at Wells' Farm, three miles southeast of Petersburg, on the afternoon of the 22d, when the enemy was completely foiled in his attempt to reach the Petersburg & Weldon Railroad. The next morning, while re- lieving Mahone's Brigade from the trenches in front of Peters- burg, it exhibited coolness and nerve under a withering fire of musketry and artillery at close range. Early in July the regiment returned to the north side of the James, and remained in the vicinity of Dutch Gap until the 28th Seventh Regiment. 385 of July, when it was actively engaged at Gravel Hill. Lieu- tenant R. M. Quince, of Company C, Acting Adjutant, was killed, and the regiment sustained a loss of twenty-five killed, wounded and missing. At Fuzzell's Mill, August 16th, the Seventh was on the left of the line in that gallant charge in which Lane's Brigade, led by Colonel Barber, recaptured the Confederate intrenchments (lost by other troops) on the Darbytown road in the presence of General R. E. Lee. The enemy's force consisted in part of negro troops. Returning to Petersburg, the Seventh was engaged at Reams' Station on the 25th of August, and sustained its reputation for good fighting qualities in that irresistible charge made by Cook's, McRae's and Lane's Brigades, which dislodged Hancock's Corps and regained to the Confederates the possession of the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad. Its loss was four killed and twenty- eight wounded. Captain J. R. McAulay, of Company I, fell in the advance. His death was a real loss to the service. The Seventh was engaged from "start to finish " in that spir- ited fight at Jones' Farm, on the right of the Petersburg lines, on the afternoon of September 30, 1864, and gallantly drove the enemy in its front from the field. While the loss of enlisted men was comparatively small, one killed and twelve wounded, it was a sore battle to its thirteen company officers, as the follow- ing will show : Killed : Lieutenant John R. Pearson, Company F. Wounded : Lieutenants P. C. Carlton, Company A ; A. F. Bizzelle, Company B; John W. Ballentine, Company E; John Y. Templeton, Company G ; Captain J. G. Harris and Lieu- tenant Dixon B. Penick, Company H. This regiment was in the advance the next morning and helped drive the enemy from his unfinished line near Pegram's house, and held it for the remainder of the day. After dark the regi- ment retired to the intrenchments near the Jones house, where, about the middle of November, it erected winter-quarters. On the 8th of December the Seventh, with the other com- mands of Hill's Corps, marched through rain and snow to , 25 386 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. oppose the enemy's forces then operating against the Petersburg & Weldon Railroad. On reaching Jarratt's Station, and find- ing the enemy gone, the command was ordered back to winter- quarters. During this march the weather was extremely cold and the sufferings of the poorly clad men were pitiable indeed. While in winter-quarters at Petersburg, Colonel Haywood resigned, and Lieutenant-Colonel William Lee Davidson became Colonel; Major J. McLeod Turner, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Cap- tain James G. Harris, of Company H, became Major of the Seventh Regiment. On the night of the 26th of February, 1865, the Seventh Major Harris commanding, left the defenses of Petersburg, and went by rail to High Point, N. C, for the purpose of arresting and returning absentees from the army, its field of operations being Randolph, Moore and Chatham counties. Ou the advance of Stoneman's raiders into Western North Carolina the regiment returned to High Point, and on the 1st of April it was sent by rail to the Yadkin bridge, six miles northeast of Salisbury, as an attempt to destry the bridge was apprehended. On the 5th it was taken to Danville, Virginia, and on the 11th it was ordered to return to Greensboro. On the 16th of April it was assigned to General D. H. Hill's Division, Lee's Corps, Army of Tennessee. It was detailed on the 19th to rebuild the railroad bridge across Deep River at Jamestown, recently burned by Stoneman, and by the evening of the 24th the bridge was complete for the passage of trains. General Joseph E. Johnston officially announced the surrender of the Army of Tennessee on the 27th of April, and ou Mon- day, May 1, 1865, the Seventh Regiment, numbering thirteen commissioned officers and one hundred and thirty-nine enlisted men, was paroled near Greensboro, North Carolina, and imme- diately disbanded, its war-worn veterans hastening to their homes to engage in the battle of life. J. S. Harris. MOEKISVILLB, N. C, 1 May, 1900. EIGHTH REGIMENT. 1. H. M. Shaw, Colonel. 4. Jonas Cook, Captain, Co. H. 2. John E. Mnrchison, Colonel. 5. Leonard A. Henderson, Captain, Co. P. 3. Enfus A. Barrier, Lient.-Colonel. 0. Harvey C. McAllister, 1st Lieut., Co, H. 7. W. 11. Bagley, Captain, Co. A. EIGHTH REGIMENT. By H. T. J. LUDWIG, Drummer, Company H. The Eighth Eegiment North Carolina State Troops was organ- ized at Camp Macon, near Warrenton, N. C, in the months of August and September, 1861, with the following field ofiQcers and companies. The counties named show from what section of the State the officers and men volunteered: FIELD OFPICEKS. Colonel, H. M. Shaw, Currituck county ; Lieutenant-Colonel, William J. Price, New Hanover county; Major, George Wil- liamson, Caswell county; Adjutant, J. B. Cherry, Bertie county ; Sergeant-major, L. G. Thornton, New Hanover county; Assis- tant Quartermaster, C. W. Grandy, Virginia; Assistant Comis- sary-sergeant, H. G. Trader, Hertford county; Surgeon, H. P. Ritter, Pasquotank county. COMPANIES. Company A — Pasquotank, Perquimans and Camden Coun- ties— Captain, James W. Hinton. Company B — Currituck County — Captain, James M. Whitson. Company C — Edgecombe, Franklin and New Hanover Coun- ties— Captain, Henry McRae. Company D — Granville, Franklin and Warren Counties — Captain, A. J. Rogers. Company E — Cumberland, Chatham and Harnett Counties — Captain, James W. Williams. Company F — New Hanover, Warren, Rowan and Franklin Counties — Captain, Charles J. Jones. 388 North Caeolina Troops, 1861-65. Company G — Pitt and Greene Counties — Captain, Edward C. Yellowly. Company H — Cabarrus County — Captain, Rufus A. Barrier. Company I — Alamanoe County — Captain, Gaston D. Cobb. Company K — Bowan County — Captain, P. A. Kennerly. Otiier counties were represented by one or a few men in the companies generally. The regiment was mustered into the Confederate service on the 13th of September by Colonel Robert Ransom, the term of service being for the war. During the stay at Camp Macon our work consisted of drilling, standing guard and such other duties as necessarily pertain to camp-life. We were not detained long in the camp of instruction near Warrenton. On the 18th of September tents were struck, the regiment having been ordered to Roanoke Island. The trip on the canal and sound on the way from Camp Macon to the island was delightful, it being about the time of full moon, and the weather being fine. We arrived at Roanoke Island on the 21st of September. The first duty after landing was to arrange camp, dig wells, etc. This work took several days. Then drilling and work on the fortifications became the regular duties of the men. On the 3d of October the regiment, consisting of about six hundred and fifty men, in company with the Third Georgia Regiment and a few other troops, embarked on barges in tow by steamers, on the sound, for the purpose of attacking a force of the enemy then encamped on the narrow strip of land stretching along- the sea-shore, known as Chicamacomico. The attack was made on the 4th of October, and resulted in the capture of the camp and fifty-five prisoners. The Third Georgia made the attack on the camp, whilst the Eighth North Carolina was to intercept the retreat of the enemy. Accordingly, when the enemy began their retreat the Eighth Regiment was ordered to proceed towards Hatteras, efi^ect a landing and await the approach of the retreating enemy. We proceeded to a point in Pamlico Sound Eighth Regiment. 389 opposite to where the landing was to be made. The position taken by the barges which conveyed the regiment was about three miles from land. Orders were given to leave the barges and wade to the shore. After wading about one mile, a deep channel, too deep to cross, was met. The order to return to the barges was given. In the meantime the tide began to rise, and by the time the last of the men arrived at the barges the water was up to their armpits and chins. There was some suffering for water on this expedition, the supply carried by the men having been exhausted and no other drinkable being at hand to refill the canteens. On Sunday, October 6th, we returned to camp on Roanoke Island, having spent Saturday on the sound, some of the men having been detailed to assist in moving the captured camp effects of the enemy. After returning to the island the usual drilling and other duties pertaining to camp occupied the time of the men. Also, regular details were made to work on the fortifications then in progress on the island. On the 29th of October one company (H) of the regiment was ordered on duty in Battery Huger, near the northern extremity of the western side of the island. The remaining nine companies continued in the camp established near Fort Bartow, and' did duty as stated above. The first Christmas during the war was passed on the island, nothing unusual occur- ring except occasional alarms, some true, others false, till the early part of February, 1862. It was known in the latter part of December that the enemy was contemplating an attack on some important point somewhere on the coast. A large fleet at that time was collecting at Fortress Monroe. Every effort was made to put the island in the proper state of defense. The Eighth, with the other regiments and troops on the island, was kept constantly at work to be prepared to meet, what then seemed and afterwards proved true, the coming attack. The enemy's fleet entered Pamlico Sound at Hatteras Inlet on January 13tb, and appeared before the island on February the 6th. The morning was foggy and it was near 10 o'clock before the fleet could be seen. No attack was made on that day. On 390 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. the 7th the fleet drew nearer and bombarded Fort Bartow, and during that afternoon and night succeeded in landing about fif- teen thousand men. On Saturday, the 8th, at about 7 A. m.j the battle began, and continued something over five hours. The enemy had about ten thousand men in the engagement, the Con- federates about fourteen hundred, of which latter the Eighth North Carolina Regiment furnished five hundred and sixty-eight. The enemy crossed what had been supposed to be an impassable marsh, and flanked our little army. Even after having been flanked the Eighth Regiment stood to its post without wavering till orders came to retire to the north end of the island. The enemy having flanked our army, and considering the great disparity in numbers, the fall of the island was a foregone con- clusion. The battle, however, was continued as long as there was any hope of success. In the language of the commander, the surrender did not take place until it appeared "that any further slaughter would have been useless and inhuman." In this engagement the Eighth Regiment lost five killed and seven wounded, Lieutenant Monroe, of Company E, being among the killed. , During the time that the regiment was on Roanoke Island fourteen men died of sickness. After the surrender of the island on the 8th of February, we were held in camp as prisoners of war about two weeks, when we were conveyed by steamers to Elizabeth City, paroled and sent home by way of the Dismal Swamp Canal and Portsmouth. Whilst prisoners in the hands of the enemy we were well treated. Of course we were closely guarded, but no insults were oifered. During the first and second weeks of September, 1862, the men having been exchanged, the regiment re-assembled. This time, however, the reorganization was effected at Camp Mangum, on the North Carolina Railroad, a few miles west of Raleigh. The Eighth Regiment now became a part of General T. L. Clingman's Brigade. While at Camp Mangum the regiment attended the funeral of General Branch, who had been killed at the battle of Sharpsburg, participating in burying him with military honors. Eighth Eegiment. 391 After occupying Camp Mangum a few weeks, the regiment was ordered to Camp Campbell, near Kioston, early in October. While at Camp Campbell, in addition to the usual camp duties, the regiment did picket duty on Core Creek between New Bern and Kinston. After a few weeks' camp at Camp Campbell, we were ordered to Kinston, where camp was established a short time, when orders came to move to Wilmington, N. C. While camping at Kinston one hasty march to Greenville, about forty miles, and a demonstration against New Bern were about the only active duties out of regular camp in which the regiment was ordered to take part. We arrived at Wilmington in the latter part of November, and pitched tents in Camp Whiting. Nothing of importance occurred while we were at Camp Whiting till about the middle of December, when orders came to proceed to Goldsboro to meet an expedition of the enemy which was advancing from New Bern, along the south side of Neuse River. On the 17th of December the regiment, with the other troops that had been ordered to that point, formed a line of battle on the south side of Neuse River, along the railroad leading to Wilmington, and awaited the approach of the enemy. It was in the afternoon when the enemy made his appearance. After several hours lighting, both artillery and infantry being engaged, the enemy retired, but suceeded in burning the bridge over the Neuse. In this engagement the Eighth Regiment lost three killed and six wounded. The regiment then returned, marching from Goldsboro to Camp Whiting, and went into winter-quarters. The beginning of the year 1863 found the regiment in winter- quarters at Camp Whiting, where we continued till the early part of February, when orders came to proceed to Charleston, S. C, where camp was pitched on James Island. After camp- ing a few weeks at this place, we were ordered to Savannah, Ga., where camp was established on the outskirts of the city. We remained here about ten days, then returned to Charleston. Our tents were pitched in our former camp on James Island, where we remained, with nothing especially important happening, till 392 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. about the 1st of May, when orders came to return to Wil- mington. On arriving at Wilmington we established camp, known ,as Camp Ashe, in a large oak grove near Old Topsaiil Sound, about twelve miles from the city. During the time the regiment camped on James Island quite a number of its strongest men, physically appearing, died from sickness. Swamps and malaria were the most destructive enemies the regiment met on these expeditions. Having established camp near Old Topsail Sound, the men indulged themselves in fishing when not on duty. We remem- ber this camp, which above all others had more the resemblance of being devoted to holiday pleasures than to the more onerous and dangerous duties of soldiers engaged in war. However, in war pleasures do not last long. War is not a fishing frolic. After remaining at Camp Ashe about two months, we were ordered on the 10th of July to strike tents and march to Wilmington, where we boarded the train for Charleston, arriving at that point on the 13th. The enemy had already gained a footing on Morris Island, and was preparing to attack Battery Wagner. We were now destined to see hard service. With the enemy's land forces advancing slowly on Morris Island, and the iron-clad fleet lying outside the bay, it was evident that the transition from the pleasures at Camp Ashe to the trials, hardships and dangers of soldier-life in a regular, long-continued, stubbornly-conducted siege was to be experienced. The Eighth Regiment was ordered at once to James Island, and began work on the fortifications west of Morris Island, in sight of Battery Wagner, the objective point of attack of the enemy at the time of our arrival at Charleston. On the 18th of July, when the enemy assaulted Battery Wagner, we were in full view of the deadly conflict. The attack being made after dark, the flashes of the guns could be distinctly seen. The next day, the 19th, we were ordered to Sullivan's Island, where we remained till the 22d, when the regiment received orders to go to Morris Island. Eighth Eegiment. 393 The nature of the service on Morris Island was such as to render it necessary for the regiments composing the army on that side of Charleston to perform duty alternately. While on the island the men were exposed at all times to the enemy's fire, both from land and sea. An attack had to be prepared for at any instant, either day or night. The men had to be ready for action at any moment. It was no place for rest. The battery, frequently shelled by the enemy's iron-clads, had to be repaired. The enemy's ever-active sharp-shooters had to be watched. To expose one's self to view meant being shot at with the attending consequences. The men had to keep under cover of the battery or in pits near by, dug in the sand-hills along the beach. Under such circumstances it was necessary to relieve the men once about every seven or eight days. It was on the 24th that the battery received one of the most terrific bombardments, continuing for several hours, it experi- enced during the siege. The Eighth Regiment was i^ the battery at the time, some of the men being placed in the bomb-proof, some in the sally-port, and some guarding the parapet. On one or two occasions during the heavy shelling the smoke of explod- ing shells came down through the cover of the sally-port, and at the cessation of the bombardment light could be seen through the cover of the bomb-proof. The shells were of the largest calibre, some of them measuring fifteen inches in diameter. So terrific was the concussion when one exploded near a soldier, the blood would be found in some cases to come out of the ears and nose. The siege of Battery Wagner lasted fifty-eight days, Morris Island having been evacuated on the 6th of September. During that time the Eighth Regiment did duty on the island about twenty-one days, viz. : from July 22d to August the 1st, from August the 8th to the 15th, and from August 22d to the 29th, the dates being given as approximately correct. The enemy approached Battery Wagner by constructing parallels, each parallel bringing him nearer to the battery. Five parallels were constructed, which brought the last to within about 394 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. one hundred yards of the battery. The nearer the approach of the enemy, the more severely trying the service became. The service was hard the first relief the regiment served on the island, but became harder the second and third reliefs. The men had to work night and day. A corps of sharp-shooters, consisting of about twenty picked men, who volunteered for the service, was organized in the Eighth Regiment. They were put in com- mand of Lieutenant Dugger, of Company F. How well these men did their duty is best expressed by Colonel Harrison in his report on August 12th, he being in command of the battery that week. He says : " My sharp-shooters, under Lieutenant Dugger, Eighth North Carolina Regiment, do good work, though the Yankees are very shy and seldom show their heads." The sharp-shooters were armed with Whitworth (globe-sighted) rifles, and in addition to their courage were most excellent marksmen. Sometimes^ when the men were not on special duty in the bat- tery they would seek relief among the sand-hills between Bat- teries Wagner and Gregg, the two being about three hundred yards apart. The enemy was not long in discovering this, and on more than one occasion gave the sand-hills a severe shelling. Occasionally a bomb would strike near a pit dug among the hills and bury the occupants. There were, however, no fatalities in the Eighth Regiment from that cause. The living on Morris Island compared favorably with the character of the service. There was no place for cooking. All the rations had to be prepared elsewhere and carried there. The water, too, was bad. It was such as may be found near the ocean beach anywhere along the coast. The number of killed and wounded in the regiment while serving on Morris Island was not great. The nature of the service required nerve and pluck, but not carelessness and reck- lessness. It was a veritable target practice between sharp-shooters every day, and any careless or reckless exposure to the enemy's fire meant work for the ambulance corps. The men were veterans, and therefore understood the value of strictly obeying orders. Eighth Eegiment. 395 When the regiment was assigned to a duty the men Ifnew how to perform it. Among the officers, Captain Rogers, Company D, was wounded. The gallantry of the men who composed the regiment was never displayed more conspicuously than when defending Battery Wagner. The enemy had determined to take Charleston, "the cradle of the rebellion." The men who defended the city in 1863, were just as determined that it should not be taken. Morris Island had to be abandoned, but every foot gained by the enemy had to be fought for. It was a slow movement, and possessed none of the quickness accompanying the carrying of forts by lassault. The duties performed on Morris Island constitute one chapter in the history of the regiment of which every member may be justly proud. Morris Island having been abandoned, the Eighth Regiment was assigned to duty on Sullivan's Island. There was no enemy on the island, and as a consequence the duties were comparatively light. Details of men for the purpose of strengthening the fortifications formed the chief occupation of the regiment. One evening when the regiment was on dress-parade in rear of Fort Moultrie the enemy's iron-clads came up and gave the fort a heavy bombardment. The parade was cut somewhat short, but no casualties occurred. On the following day the regiment moved to the sand-hills towards the eastern extremity of the island. Quarters were erected among the hills with such plank and material as the men could carry from the town, about one mile distant. The regiment remained at this place till the 30th of November, when camp was broken, and we marched to Mount Pleasant, proceeding thence by boat to Charleston, where the train bound for Wilmington, N. C, was boarded. On arriving at Wilmington our journey was continued to Kinston, where we remained about one week, when orders came to move to Peters- burg, Va., arriving at that place on the 14th of December. It being evening when we arrived, the regiment was ordered to bivouack in the streets. Accordingly small fires were built in the street near the edge of the sidewalk, whilst the rock pave- ment served as our sleeping-place. 396 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. On the following day the regiment marched out of town and established camp about two miles from the city, just beyond what afterwards became celebrated as Hare's Hill. The duties here, consisting of ordinary camp duties and drilling, were light in comparison with the service performed at Charleston. One cir- cumstance is worthy of note, inasmuch as it shows the considera- tion Colonel Shaw had for his men. It was the usual custom when the troops were not on the march to have guards around the camp. This camp was an exception. Colonel Shaw decided to trust to the honor of his men and not to have guards. The men seemed to appreciate the motive of the Colonel and very rarely abused the confidence placed in them, notwithstanding the nearness of the city offered many temptations for them to do so. One hurried march down the James River, and return, in the latter part of December, some twenty-five or thirty miles, was made, and then the regiment settled in quarters for the winter. The greater part of the year 1863 had been spent in the ever memorable defense of Charleston. The year 1864 was destined to bring to the regiment other, but equally severe, duties, hard- ships and dangers. From January the 1st to the 29th the regi- ment remained in camp at Petersburg. On the 28th orders were given to prepare three days' rations. On the 29th we marched to the city and took the train which had been prepared to carry us South. We proceeded to Goldsboro, thence to Kinston, where we arrived on the morning of the 30th. It was now evident that the regiment was to form a part of the force which General Pickett was to command for the purpose of making a demonstra- tion against New Bern. Arriving at Kinston on the 30th, the regiment marched some five miles in the direction of New Bern and bivouacked for the night. On the morning of the 31st the march was continued, approaching the enemy's pickets in the evening. Early on the morning of the 1st of February, sometime before daybreak, we were ordered to march. We were now near Bachelor's Creek, over which was a bridge where the enemy had a block-house strongly guarded by his pickets. Our advance guard soon had Eighth Regiment. 397 work on its hands. The enemy made a stubborn resistance at the creek. Whilst our advance guard was attempting to effect a crossing and get possession of the bridge, the main body of the regiment, under the command of Colonel Shaw, was resting by the road-side, about two hundred yards from the block-house which guarded the bridge. As the firing was brisk at the creek, quite naturally the bullets came frequently over the regiment in the rear. Colonel Shaw was sitting on his horse in the middle of the road. General Clingman being close to him. While thus awaiting the capture of the block-house and bridge, and apparently not realizing that danger was about him. Colonel Shaw was struck in the head by a bullet and instantly killed. The death of Colonel Shaw was a great loss to the regiment. His coolness under fire, and his calmness at all times in the presence of danger had an inspiring effect on the regiment, and doubtless much of the deliberation with which the men performed their duties on the field or in camp was due to the example set by their Colonel. Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. Whitson succeeded as Colonel of the regiment. By daylight our advanced guard had forced a passage across the creek and secured possession of the bridge, over which we marched in hurried pursuit of the retreating enemy. The pursuit was kept up till we came in range of the enemy's batteries around the town. The line of battle was formed, but it was soon discovered that the enemy's batteries could fire on us from front and flank. One shell struck in the line of the Eighth Regiment, mortally wounding David Bar- ringer, of Company K. It soon became evident that an attack on the enemy's works could not be undertaken with the least prospect of success. We were ordered to fall back out of range of the enemy's guns, and then began our Return to Kinston. The Eighth Regiment arrived at Kinston on the 3d, remained there a few days, and then returned to Petersburg. Speaking of the conduct of his men on the expedition to New Bern, General Clingman in his report says : " It gives me pleasure 398 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. to be able to slate that, though exposed on flank and front to artillery fire, threatened constantly with attack by the enemy's cavalry and infantry, the troops under my command performed the movements ordered with as much coolness and precision as I ever saw them on drill." He speaks also in high terms of Colonel Shaw, and gives much praise to the men, stating that there was not a single instance of desertion or straggling from his command during the expedition. The next duty the Eighth Regiment was called on to perform was to go on an expedition against Suffolk, Va. The expedition was commanded by General M. W. Ransom. The attack on the enemy was made on the morning of March the 29th. The force of the enemy, which consisted of cavalry and light artillery, soon broke, and a running fight ensued, the enemy retreating through the town to Bernard's Mill, on Black Water. The Eighth Regiment suffered no loss in this skirmish. The enemy having been driven across the Black Water, no further pursuit was attempted. The regiment then returned to Petersburg. While we were in this camp a heavy snow fell in March. The Fifty-first North Carolina Regiment, then in camp near us, a branch intervening between the two camps, concluded to surprise and attack the Eighth Regiment with snow-balls. As the men of the Fifty-first were forming their line, preparatory to advanc- ing on us, they were observed. The Eighth took in the situation, and as the Fifty-first came yelling towards our camp, met the advancing line of battle at the branch. The snow-balling was heavy, and for awhile the Eighth held its ground, but owing to the superior strength of the Fifty-first, finally had to fall back to its camp. A part of the Fifty-first crossed the branch and followed near our camp, where they met with a repulse. The Eighth held its camp and the Fifty-first returned to its quarters. It was an excitable and enjoyable affair. * After returning from Suffolk, and remaining in camp a few weeks, the regiment was temporarily attached to General M. W. Ransom's Brigade and ordered to go on the expedition com- manded by General Hoke against Plymouth, N. C. We left Eighth Regiment. 399 Petersburg, went to WeldoD, thence by Rocky Mount to Tar- boro by railroad. From Tarboro we marched to Plymouth, arriving before that town on the evening "of the 17th of April, driving in the enemy's pickets. On the 18th our forces drew nearer the town, and on the even- ing of that day the Eighth Regiment, with some other regiments of Ransom's Brigade, made a reconnaissance of the enemy's works. The Eighth Regiment formed in a strip of woods several hundred yards from the main line of fortifications. A battery of artillery was to take position on the left of the Eighth Regiment. At the order to advance the regiment moved out of the woods into the open field and began pressing and driving the enemy's strong skirmish line. The battery of artillery came in at a rapid run, and taking position at the left of the Eighth Regiment, about three hundred yards from the enemy's works, opened a rapid fire on the -main fort in our front. The gun- boats in the river also took part in shelling our battery and line. One shell from a gun-boat came over the town, struck the ground about one hundred and fifty yards in front of the Eighth Regi- ment, ncocAe^fed and the next time struck the ground in the line of the regiment, exploded, killing and wounding fifteen men of Company H. Three of the men were killed outright, two were mortally wounded, and of the others, some were severely and some slightly wounded. The firing was kept up about. two hours, when it ceased, the enemy's forts having been apparently silenced. The wounded were carried to the rear during the action and the dead buried that night. On the 19th nothing except some skirmishing took place in the forenoon. In the afternoon the regiment, with Ransom's Brigade, was ordered to move around towards the eastern side of the town and take position down the river from the enemy's works. In attempting to pass Conaby Creek, on that side of the town, a sharp fight occurred at the bridge over the stream. It was about two o'clock at night before the crossing could be effected. The passage of the creek having been forced, the brigade formed with its right resting on the river. The posi- 400 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. tion the Eighth Eegiment held in the brigade placed it directly in front of one of the enemy's forts. At early dawn on the morning of the 20th the signal rockets went up and the order came to advance. In the meantime a battery of artillery took position in front of the Eighth Regi- ment and opened a rapid fire on the fort in our front. The regiment, in fact the • whole brigade, as ordered, moved off in common time. Not a rifle was fired, not a word spoken. The artillery was doing its full duty in keeping the enemy's infantry quiet. When the regiment had advanced to within about one hundred and fifty yards of the fort the order to charge was given. The "yell" was raised and the regiment rushed forward to mount the fort. Just at the moment the "yell" was raised the enemy's infantry poured a destructive fire into the ranks of the regiment. Our artillery ceased firing as the regiment approached near the fort. The men rushed on, leaped into the ditch and attempted to scale the fort. While the men were attempting to climb over the outside of the fort the enemy threw hand-grenades into the ditch. Those who were in the ditch had to get out of it. The regiment then swung around to the right and attempted to break through the palisades on that side of the fort. The palisades had loop-holes, through which the enemy fired on our line. At this point many of the men were shot through the head. The regiment rushed up to the pali- sades, and as the enemy pulled their guns out of the loop-holes our men put theirs in and fired at those on the inside. Such deadly work could not last long. The Eighth Regiment swung a little further around to the gate leading to the rear of the fort. The gate was burst open. The regiment rushed in and the fort surrendered. "Three cheers for North Carolina" were given by the regiment, thus announcing that the assault had been suc- cessful. One fort having been captured, the line within was easily taken. But one strong fort (Fort Williams) remained in possession of the enemy. The Eighth Regiment formed and attempted to storm that. The men charged up to the edge of the surround- EIGHTH REGIMENT. 1. Jacob E. Earnhardt, Color-bearer, Co. H. 2. MidiiU'l Cook, Corporal, Co. H. 3. H. T. J. Ludwig, Drummer. 4. John D. Beaver, Private, Co. H. 5. Michael C. Ehineheart, Private, Co. H. 6. eager D. Barringer, Private, Co. H. 7. Cicero Barker, Drum-Major, Co. K. Eighth Eegiment. 401 ing ditch, only to find that it could not be crossed. There "was but oue of two courses to take, to-wit : either to fall back or surrender. The regiment chose the former. When the retreat began the enemy poured a fearful volley, into the ranks, killing and wounding many of the men. This charge was reckless and unnecessary. It was made under the flush of victory, not by the order of the commanding general. The fort, being sur- rounded, would have had to surrender anyhow, as it did a few hours afterwards. With the fail of Fort Williams the capture of Plymouth was made complete. It was a brilliant victory, but the Eighth Regiment paid dearly for its share in it. The regiment lost one hundred and fifty-four men killed and wounded, about one-third of its number. Lieutenant Langly, Company G, was killed, and Captain Cook, Company H, and Lieutenant Thompson, Company F, were among the wounded. Francis J. Perkins, Company A, color-bearer of the regiment, fell mortally wounded on the morning of the 20th. A few days afterwards Jacob R. Earnhardt, Company H, was appointed color-bearer. To illustrate another phase of war, it may not be without interest to narrate an incident or two that occurred on the battle- field of Plymouth. The following two are, therefore, given : As the ambulance corps was following the regiment, and hav- ing come to the point where the first charge began on the morn- ing of the 20th, one of the first men they found lying on the field was James Misenheimer, of Company H, who was mor- tally wounded. A member of the corps went to him and asked if he was wounded. He answered yes, that a whole shell had gone through him, and that it was from our own artillery. Poor fellow, he thought that after passing our battery the artillery had shot him. This was a mistake. The artillery fired over the heads of the men. He was shot by the enemy's infantry, the ball passing through the stomach. He said to the one speak- ing to him : "Tom, is that you?" On being told that it was, he added: "Write to mother and tell her I am killed." He died that day. 26 402 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Again, color-bearer Perkins was carried to the rear mortally wounded, and as he lay in a barn which had been taken for use for the wounded and dying, in conversation with a friend and member of the regiment, who was with him, he asked what the men thought of his conduct that day. On being told that all were praising him for his gallantry, he then said : "If that is so, if it were not for my sister, I would not mind dying." Thus, among many others, fell two brave men, their last thoughts wandering far away to their homes, the one thinking of a dear mother living among the hills of Cabarrus, the other of a dear sister whom he had left at his home in Virginia. How many thousands of similar incidents might be recorded ! How many thousands of dying soldiers, whose last thoughts were of loved ones at home, but for whom there were no friends present to receive the parting messages ! But, then, such is war. After a few days' rest at Plymouth the regiment, with the other troops of the expedition, began the march to Washington, N. C, which place the enemy abandoned on onr approach. Here occurred a sharp skirmish with the rearguard of the enemy. Lieutenant Caifey, Company I, being among the wounded. From Washington we moved in the direction of New Bern, the Eighth Regiment crossing the Neuse and Trent Rivers and moving around to the southern side of the town. While maneuvering around New Bern, preparatory to attacking the fortifications, orders came, on the 6th of May, to hasten back to Petersburg. The regiment marched to Kinston, took the train for Weldon, thence to Petersburg. The enemy had made a raid into the country between Weldon and Petersburg, and had destroyed the bridge over the Nottoway River, thus rendering it necessary for us to march part of the way. Hence our return to Petersburg was delayed, but not long enough to be of serious consequence. We arrived there in time to prevent the capture of the city. On our arrival at Petersburg the regiment, having resumed its place in Clingman's Brigade, was ordered to Drewry's Bluff. The enemy was attempting to cut the communications of Rich- Eighth Regiment. 403 mond with the South, the chief source for supplying Lee's army with provisions. An army can exist longer without something to shoot than it can without something to eat. A vital point to the life of the Confederacy had been threatened. The communi- cations of Richmond with the South had to be protected. It was evident that there was work ahead for the regiment. On the 18th skirmishing began, and the line of battle was established. Ransom's* Division forming the left, Hoke's Division the right, Clingman's and Corse's Brigades, under the command of Brigadier-General Colquitt, being held in reserve. Early on the morning of the 16th the battle began, Ransom's Division begin- ning the attack. Soon the roar of artillery and the rattle of musketry extended to the right. Hoke's Division became hotly engaged, and Johnson's Brigade, of that division, was hard pressed. The reserves were ordered in and the enemy driven back. When the reserves were ordered in tlie Eighth Regiment moved forward to the charge with the steadiness characteristic of Carolina's soldiers. The enemy's resistance was stubborn and the regiment suffered severely. Among the wounded was ex- Governor, at that time Captain T. J. Jarvis, of Company B. During the greater part of the day the roar of battle was incessant. Tl;ie enemy was driven back and at night- fall the two armies ceased firing. On the 17th, 18th and 19th skirmishing continued with more or less briskness, the enemy being driven back until he was compelled to establish his line across Bermuda Hundred Neck. On the 20th the commanding general, Beauregard, ordered an advance. The Eighth Regiment was engaged in the charge, and moved forward under a destructive fire against the enemy's line. The enemy was forced back, but the regiment suffered again severely in both killed and wounded. For five days the regi- ment had been engaged either in battle or heavy skirmishing against superior numbers. The men in both armies seemed to have been worn out. After the 20th affairs along the line were comparatively still. 'Commanded by Major-Gen eral Robert Ransom. His older brother, Brigadier-General BI. W. Ransom, commanded a brigade in the same division. 404 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. Some light skirmishiog was all that occurred to disturb the gen- eral quietude that prevailed. General Beauregard in his report of these operations, says: "Too much praise cannot be given to the oiEcers and men who fought the battle of Drewry's Bluff." During the five days' fighting at Drewry's Bluff and Bermuda Hundred Neck the Eighth Eegiment lost between eighty and one hundred officers and men killed and wounded. Among the officers wounded were Captain Cook, Company H, and Captain Hines, Company G. Hoke's Division was now ordered to re-inforce Lee's Army, which had just fought the great battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court House. Oo the 30th of May we boarded the train, arriving at Richmond that day, and thence marching towards Cold Harbor. On the 31st Clingman's Brigade crossed the Chickahominy at Gaines' Mill and moved in the direction of the enemy. It was in the afternoon of the 31st that the opera- tions culminating in the battle of Cold Harbor began. The Eighth Regiment was attacked by' the enemy's cavalry in flank and rear, losing a considerable number of men killed, wounded and captured. The regiment had to fall back and take a new position, which was strengthened during the night, preparatory to meeting the expected attack on the following day. On June the 1st the enemy's infantry advanced in heavy force against our line. The Eighth Regiment formed the extreme left of Hoke's Division, Anderson's Division coming next. There was an interval between the left of the regiment and the right of Anderson's Division, caused by what was thought to be an impassable swamp. Through that swamp and interval the enemy forced his way. The Eighth Regiment was attacked in front, flank and rear. The enemy charged up to the line of works which had been prepared hurriedly during the previous night. A furious fight ensued. The regiment held its line for some time, but was forced back, though not in defeat. The men rallied and in turn charged the enemy. For a while the enemy stood, but finally the pressure became too great. He gave way, but rallied and charged our line a second time. Again the regiment was forced back. Again it rallied and drove the enemy before Eighth Regiment. 405 it. This alternate giving way and rallying continued till it was repeated the sixth or seventh time, when the regiment succeeded in establishing and holding its line, a short distance in rear of the original position held in the morning. On the 2d nothing occurred except some light skirmishing. On the morning of the 3d, at about 5 o'clock, the enemy assaulted our line, but was easily repulsed. The battle of Cold Harbor ended on the 3d. The Eighth Regiment lost in this battle, May 31st, June 1st, 2d and 3d, something near two hundred and seventy-five officers and men killed, wounded and captured. Our gallant Lieutenant-Colonel, John R. Murchison, commanding the regiment, was killed on Juoe 1st while leading the second charge. Major R. A. Barrier being at the hospital, Captain P. A. Ken- nerly, of Company K, the senior captain, then succeeded in command and gallantly led the regiment in another charge, when the regiment, rushing on, drove the enemy back and re-established the line. The regiment having to fight the enemy in two direc- tions, on flank and in front, was cut to pieces. Among the company officers. Lieutenant Ritchie, Company H, was wounded, and Captain Leonard A. Henderson, Company F, was killed in the third charge, while gallantly leading his company. (It should be stated in justice to Colonel Whitson that, hav- ing leave of absence to return to his home in Currituck county, and having been captured while there, he was not in the battles of Plymouth and those following, not getting back to the regi- ment during the war). After the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Murchison, Major R. A. Barrier was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel and commanded the regiment till the close of the war. On the 14th Hoke's Division was ordered to Petersburg. The regiment arrived at that point on the 16th, in -the afternoon. There was no time to be lost. The enemy was advancing. The line of battle was formed in the works around that city and the approach of the enemy awaited. We were not long in waiting. Our pickets were driven in and our lines assaulted. Two attacks were made, both of which were repulsed. This battle was fought 406 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. over the same ground where the snow-ball fight took place in March between the Eighth and Fifty-first North Carolina Eegi- ments, the enemy occupying the place where the Eighth Regi- ment camped, the Eighth where the Fifty-first camped. On the morning of the 17th the firing began early. All fore- noon there was heavy skirmishing. About 5 P. M. it was evident that a heavy assault on our line was contemplated. The enemy was massing his troops in our front. Just before dark the assault was made. The enemy succeeded in breaking the line occupied by the brigade on our immediate right and rushed his forces' into the breach thus made. The Eighth Regiment was ordered to assist ib driving the enemy out and regaining the line. The work was done quickly and the line re-established. After several hours' fighting the enemy retired, leaving our line unbroken. On the following morning, the 18th, sometime before day we were ordered to fall back to a new and shorter line. The part of the new line occupied by the Eighth Regiment was in an open field. The enemy appeared in heavy force, advancing with three lines of battle in our front. It was in the forenoon, in the light of a brilliant June sun, that the lines advanced in a clear open field. If there had not been other and more serious things to consider, the military display might have been looked upon as a grand one. But we were not there to look at military displays. The business our men had in view was to spoil such displays. This they proceeded to do. A heavy fire was opened on the advancing lines. They made a rush for a hollow or ravine in our front, some three or four hundred yards distant, and there established their line. No assault was made on our part of the line on the 18th, but during the greater part of the day the regi- ment was exposed to a heavy artillery fire, but few casualties, however, happening from that cause. On the 16th and 17th,, particularly the 17th, the regiment suffered quite severely in both killed and wounded. The regiment by this time did not num- ber many more than a good sized company. On the 19th the regiment was ordered to take position in the line of works next to the Appomattox River, thus forming the Eighth Regiment. 407 extreme left of the army oa the south side of that river. Here we lived practically in the ground. We walked in ditches, ate in ditches, and slept in pits. The enemy's main line in our front was about three hundred yards distant. The picket lines were much nearer, probably not more than sixty or seventy yards apart. No pickets could be kept out in day-time. Hardly a day passed that the enemy did not fire on us from the battery immediately in our front, or from mortar batteries to our right. On the 30th of July the mine was sprung. One regiment of Clingman's Brigade was ordered to the scene of the explosion. The others that remained had to fill the gap thus made in the line. The men of the Eighth Regiment stood one yard apart. This thin line was kept up until the regiment that had been drawn out returned. On the 19th of August the regiment was drawn out of the trenches to take part in attacking a strong force of the enemy that had moved towards the Petersburg &Weldon Railroad. The line of battle was formed and the charge made. The Eighth Regi- ment had to advance through a dense thicket, as did the whole brigade, or rather the whole of Mahone's Division, to which we were attached that day. The division became scattered in the charge and some of the men were captured ; some captured and recaptured twice. It was a thorough mixture in the woods. Front and rear seemed to be on all sides. The bullets came from every direction. The victory, however, was on our side. About three thousand of the enemy were captured. Mahone's Division was ordered to camp in order that the men might be got together. In a few days we were ordered to our old position on the south bank of the Appomattox. In this battle General Clingman was wounded. The Eighth Regiment lost several killed, wounded and captured. Among the wounded was Lieutenant McAllister, of Company H. We remained in the trenches on the south bank of the Appo- mattox till the 29th of September, when Hoke's Division was ordered to Richmond. Arriving at that point, the division marched in the direction of Fort Harrison, on the road leading 408 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. down the James River. On the 30th the brigade was drawn up in line of battle for the purpose of assaulting Fort Harrison, which had been captured by the enemy on the 28th. Ciingman's and Colquitt's Brigades were to make the assault directly on the fort, Ciingman's leading and Colquitt's following. The enemy was well prepared to receive the assaulting lines. The line hav- ing been formed, the charge was ordered. It was a charge in open day, over open ground, about two hundred yards to the fort. The Eighth Regiment formed behind a low hill. When the order to advance was given the men moved forward with a rapid, run. The order was not to fire until the fort was reached. As soon as the forward movement began, and the regiment had got to the top of the little hill, the enemy opened a terrific fire on the advancing line. Before it got to the fort the regiment was almost annihilated. The regiment went into the assault on Fort Harrison with about one hundred and seventy-five men and officers. That night there were only twenty-five, commanded by Lieutenant Dugger, of Company F. The others were killed, wounded and captured. The color-bearer, J. R. Baruhardt, finding that he could not escape capture, tore the old flag that had seen so much service to pieces to keep it from falling into the hands of the enemy. Of the color-guard, Robert W. Sawyer, Company K, was killed, and Joseph N. Spence, Company A, was wounded. John V. Fisher, Company H, was then appointed color- bearer, and carried the flag till the end of the war, Earnhardt having been captured and not getting back to the regiment. The regiment went into camp for a few days. On the 6th of October orders were giveu to prepare rations and to get ready to march. Detailed men and others came in after the assault on Fort Harrison, and increased the number of the regiment, but it was still small. At night, soon after dark, we moved out of camp. The next morning, the 7th, we were on the Darbytown road. Our forces made an attack on the enemy's line. The Eighth Regiment was held in reserve. For several hours we were exposed to a heavy artillery fire. No casualties occurred that day. We returned in the evening and went into camp. Eighth Regiment. 409 When the line was re-established after the fall of Fort Harri- son the Eighth Regiment was assigned to duty on that part near the Darbytown road. We were put to work throwing up breast- works. On the 13th the enemy made a strong demonstration against our line, but did not assault it. On the 27th the enemy made another strong demonstration in our front, but did not assault the line. The skirmishing was heavy, but the regiment did not suffer severely. After the 27th of October the regiment continued in the line near the Darbytown road until the latter part of December, nothing important occurring, only an occa- sional light skirmish. On the 22d of December we took the train at Richmond, Hoke's Division having been ordered to Wilmington, N. C. The ride from Richmond to Danville was bitter cold. We were put in box-cars, where it was not possible to have fires. Some of the men suffered very much from the cold. Owing to the lack of transportation, we had to march from Danville to Greensboro. Thence the regiment proceeded by rail to Wilmington, arriving at that place on the 28th. On our arrival at Wilmington we were ordered to old Camp Whiting till the 12th of January, 1865, at which time the enemy's fleet made its appearance, approaching Fort Fisher the second time. We were ordered to proceed, without delay, to Sugar Loaf, about four miles from Fort Fisher. We arrived at Sugar Loaf on the 13th, and at once commenced throwing up a line of works. About the time of our arrival at Sugar Loaf the enemy succeeded, under protection of his fleet, in landing his forces at Fort Fisher. A strong defensive line was established between our line and the fort, thus cutting off the fort from com- munication by land. Every foot of ground between our line and the fort was in easy range of the guns of the enemy's fleet. No line of battle could have existed under the enfilading fire of the fleet and exposed to a heavy infantry fire in front, if the attempt should have been made to assault the enemy's line. Hence an assault being impracticable, the force at Sugar Loaf could do nothing more than prepare to meet the enemy, should 410 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. he attempt to move towards Wilmington. Accordingly, we were worked night and day, until our line presented a strong appearance. In addition to the working on the breastworks, light skirmishing was frequent, and oftentimes we were exposed to heavy firing from the fleet. On Sunday, January 15th, the assault on Fort Fisher was made. The attack began about 3:30 p. m. and continued about seven hours. While the battle was going on we made a demon- stration in the direction of the fort, but nothing could be done. It would have been a sacrifice of men without accomplishing any definite result, except it would have been the destruction of our force. After the fall of Fort Fisher the regiment continued at Sugar Loaf, strengthening the line, skirmishing occasionally, and fre- quently receiving the attention of the enemy's fleet, which from its position, just off Carolina Beach, was in easy firing distance of our works. On the 11th of February the enemy attacked our picket line with a strong force, driving in the pickets, but did not assault our works. The skirmishing continued with more or less briskness each day till the" 18th, when the regiment received orders to fall back towards Wilmington. This we did to a point within about five miles of the city, where we made a stand and awaited the approach of the enemy. On the night of the 21st our main army withdrew, the Eighth Regiment follow- ing early on the morning of the 22d, and covering the retreat. The regiment marched through Wilmington about 10 A. M. As we marched out on one side of the city the enemy came in on the other. The line of march was towards the ferry across Northeast River. The enemy pushed close up to our rearguard. At the creek, about one mile from the city, he followed so closely that the bridge could not be destroyed. It was then practically a fight from the creek to the river. The enemy had to be held in check to enable our army and wagon-train to cross the river. The last mile to the river was hotly contested. The regiment held its ground and retarded the advance of the enemy's force. As the regiment approached the river the enemy pressed the Eighth Eegiment. 411 harder, always to be received with sharp firing. When the pon- toon across the river was reached the men filed across. As the last man entered the pontoon on the sonth side of the river it was cut loose from that bank, and that end swung around down the river. As the pontoon floated around our rear pickets came across. As our last man left the bridge at the north bank of the river the enemy appeared on the south bank. The pontoon was lost. It could not be got out of the river under fire of the enemy's sharp-shooters. As the regiment crossed the river the men deployed on the north bank. The river having put a stop to the advance of the enemy, a line of pickets was left along the bank, while the re- maining part of the regiment moved back about two hundred yards to a small elevation and began throwing up breastworks in line with the part of the army that had preceded us. The regiment never performed finer service than it did in covering the retreat from Wilmington to Northeast River. The fact that the enemy was pressing us and that our army was re- treating had no perceptible effect upon the coolness and delibera- tion of the men. When the enemy came too close the line was formed and his progress checked. Then the march was resumed till the enemy came too close again. The men seemed to appre- ciate the importance of the duty they were performing.' The safety of the army, and especially of the wagon-train, depended upon the steadiness with which they maintained their ground. How well the duty was performed is told above. After resting a few days at Northeast River, the regiment received orders to go to Kinston, against which place the enemy was marching with a strong force. We arrived at Kinston on the 8th of March, and were ordered to a point called Wise's Forks, a few miles from town, in the direction of New Bern. We were not long in meeting the enemy, and the battle began. The regiment was engaged more or less during the 8th, 9th and 10th, the three days the battle continued. At times the fighting was severe and the regiment lost quite a number of its men. On the night of the 10th orders came about midnight to march. We then set out for Goldsboro, thence to Smithfield. 412 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. where we rested a day or two, when orders came to move to Bentonville. On the 19th of March we effected a union with the Western Army. The battle of Bentonville began in the forenoon, the Eighth Regiment being held in reserve during that day. On the night of the 19th the regiment established the line on the ex- treme left of Johnston's army. Light skirmishing was all that occurred oq the 20th, but on the 21st the enemy made a heavy demonstration against our part of the line, driving in our pick- ets, though not assaulting the main line. On the night of the 21st our army withdrew towards Smithfield. The Eighth Regiment being on the extreme left, was the last to come out, leaving before daylight on the morning of the 22d. Here again, as at Wilmington, the regiment had to protect the rear. The enemy pressed our rear picket guard closely till we crossed the creek near by on our line of march. After crossing the creek the regiment deployed and began constructing a line of rifle-pits along the bank. In the meantime the skirmishing continued, the enemy coming nearer as our rearguard fell back. Sometime after sunrise, while the regiment was at work, a stray shot struck a man from Company I, inflicting a severe flesh wound in the thick part of the thigh. He was the last man the regiment had wounded. The rifle-pits along the creek were the last the regi- ment constructed. We remained there a few hours, then marched to Smithfield. The loss of the regiment at Bentonville was not heavy. We remained in camp at Smithfield about three weeks, when orders came to prepare for marching. When the order to march was given we proceeded towards Raleigh, passing through that place, thence through Chapel Hill, forming the rear of Hardee's Corps. From Chapel Hill we proceeded to Haw River, which we crossed at RufBn's mill. The river having swollen on ac- count of the recent rains, it had to be crossed on the rocks above the ford. The water was generally waist-deep, sometimes when on a rock not so deep, then deeper as the rock was stepped off. It was rough wading. Eighth Regiment. 413 When the regiment was crossing the railroad, before arriving at Chapel Hill, Governor Vance was at that point on a train, bound for some point west. The men seeing the Governor, one of them called out in a loud voice: "Hello, Governor, where are you going?" The Governor, who was taking the situation as cheerfully as he could, replied: " To the western part of the State to prepare a spout for you all to go up." The train moved off. We made no halt. From Ruffin's mill we proceeded to Alamance River, which had become impassable till the Eighth Regiment got there. The water was up to the armpits of the last men that preceded us, and the river still rising. While at this ford we heard the last hostile cannon that was fired in our part of the army. It was at Haw River, between our own and the enemy's cavalry forces. It being impossible to cross at this ford, we were ordered to Holt's factory, a short distance up the river, where the ford was not so deep. The I'egiment crossed here, the water coming up to the cartridge-boxes of the men. Having crossed Alamance River, we proceeded to Bush Hill, now Archdale, Randolph county, where news of Lee's surrender was received. In a few days news also came that Johnston was capitulating for a surrender to Sherman at Durham. On 26 April the army surrendered, on 2 May the regiment was paroled, and the men returned to their homes. The war was over. Thus closed the term of service of the Eighth Regiment North Carolina State Troops. During the three years and eight months of service about thirteen hundred men and officers had enlisted in the regiment. Of that number there were about one hundred and fifty present when the end came. Some were in prison, some were absent on account of sickness and wounds, many were dead, having been killed in battle or died of wounds or disease. During the war, counting skirmishes, battles and sieges, the regiment had been under fire on or about two hundred separate occasions. In honor to the officers and men who composed the regiment, it is but jusfto say that they never refused to move forward when ordered, or to rally when pressed back by the 414 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. enemy. They went where duty called them. The best of soldiers can do no more. The history they made belongs to North Carolina. Before closing I wish to say a word or two to the survivors with reference to what has been written above. The sketch has been prepared by request. I feel that it may not be as full as it should be. I have tried to take the survivors over the ground upon which they marched and fought during the days of 1861 to 1865. Having been an eye-witness to all, or nearly all that is related, I do not believe that anything of importance has been omitted. There were many deeds of heroism, both among offi- cers and men. Bravery was not to hunt. If some one per- formed a daring deed it did not signify that he was the only one to perform it. The deeds done by any particular one would have been performed with equal gallantry by others if duty had required it. I regret that I could not see more members of the regi- ment than I did. I feel that it is due the parties to say that I am indebted to C. R. Barker, Company K, Drum-major of the regiment, and to the officers and members of Company H, for valuable help when there were any doubts as to the facts I wished to relate. The "Roster of North Carolina Troops" and the "War Records," published by the Government at Washington, have been consulted and used when they would give the information wanted. It was not practical to mention the names of all the killed and wounded. That has been done, probably as well as it will ever be done, in the roster published by the State. It was suggested that it would be sufficient to mention the officers who were either killed or wounded. In attempting to carry out that suggestion, doubtless there are some omissions, but they could not be avoided, as the casualties given in the roster are by no means complete, and it is hardly possible that after the lapse of thirty-five years one would remember so many names, the most of which were strange. I have done the best I could. If tRe narrative here given shall contribute in any way to perpetuating the memory of those Eighth Regiment. 415 who stood devoted to their country, and of those who died for what they conceived to be the right, the labor required has not been performed in vain. H. T. J. LuDWiG. Mt. Pleasant, N. C., 26 April, 1900. NINTH REGIMENT (FIRST CAVALRY). 1. Robert Ransom, Colonel. 2. L. S. Baker, Colone:. 3. James B. Cordon, Colonel. 4. Rllfiis Biirrinjer, Captain, Co. F. 5. W. II. Cheek, Colonel. 0. W. II. II. Cowles, Lieiit.-Colonel. 7. A. B. Andrews, Captain, Co. B. 8. W. E. Wood, Captain, Co. B. 0. W. II. Anthony, Captain, Co. B. NINTH REGIMENT. (FIRST CAVALRY). By brigadier-general rufus barringer. The formation of the ten regiments of State Troops was a wise step in the organization of the North Carolina forces. These ten thousand men were made up of the very pick and flower of the State — all enlisted for the war, and so forming a model for others. No one of these ten regiments attracted so much attention as the Ninth, afterwards known as the First Cavalry. In the selection of company officers and the field and staff, Governor Ellis took special interest. The colonel and lieutenant-colonel, Robert Ransom and Lawrence S. Baker, were fresh from the cavalry of the United States Army, while the two majors, James B. Gordon and Victor C. Barringer, represented the best capacity and courage of civil life. The companies were selected with great care, from numerous tenders, all over the State. The enlist- ments were nearly all in May and June, 1861, and the first ren- dezvous was early in July at Asheville; but about August 1st the companies at Asheville were removed to Camp Beauregard, at Ridgeway, Warren county, which was made a regular school of drill, discipline and cavalry exercise and life. No troops ever went through a severer ordeal. At times and on occasions there were loud complaints against Colonel Ransom for the rigid rules and harsh measures adopted. Exception was specially taken to the line of promotion as used in the United States Army, instead of the volunteer system; but the great majority of both men and officers bore the severity of the service with patriotic forti- tude, and enjoyed the ups and downs of the drill and the jests and jeers of camp-life with infinite humor. So, by the middle 27 418 NoETH Carolina Tboops, 1861-'65. of October all was ready for the march to Manassas, to aid in guarding and holding the rapidly extending lines of General Joseph E. Johnston. The final roster largely reduced the ranks of oflScers, men and animals alike, as also all surplus baggage and other impediments. Among other changes, the second Major resigned, and the place was left unfilled so as to conform to the other nine regiments. The several companies were designated and commanded as follows : Company A — Ashe County — Captain, T. N. Crumpler. Company B — Northampton County — Captain, John H. Whit- aker. Company C — Mecklenburg County — Captain, J. M. Miller. Company D — Watauga County — Captain, George N. Folk. Company E — Warren County — Captain, W. H. Cheek. Company F — Cabarrus County — Captain, Rufus Barringer. Company G — Buncombe County — Captain, W. E.. Wood. Company H — Wayne County — Captain, Thomas Ruffin. Company I — Duplin County — Captain, W. J. Houston. Company JL— Macon County — Captain, Thaddeus. P. Siler. The officers represented the best character and military skill of the State — one being an ex-member of Congress. Four of them, Crumpler, Houston, Ruffin and Whitaker, fell in battle. Five of the others were wounded or otherwise disabled in the service. To recount the endless marches and actions in which they were engaged, would exceed the limits of this sketch. It is only proposed to notice briefly the leading battles and actions in which the regiment, as a whole, took part. Here also it is proper to call attention to the use of cavalry — especially in America, where forests and other impediments so often interfered with mounted operations. It was soon found that in this new oountry, even more than in the old world, that the best use of cavalry was to make it act as the eyes and ears of the array. But with even these limitations, it is estimated that the First Cavalry was engaged in nearly one hundred and fifty actions. Ninth Regiment. 419 These actions were often far to the front, or on the distant flank, or in covering a retreat, usually without support of which no official reports were made, and of which the main army rarely hedrd. Yet in this way multitudes of the best youth and man- hood in the land constantly perished, and now occupy unknown graves. On the march to Manassas nothing special occurred, except that at Richmond President Davis reviewed us in person and the people turned out en masse to see the parade. All agreed that, up to this time, no such trained Confederate cavalry had been seen in Virginia. At Manassas we did duty on the advanced lines in front of Centreville, with a constant round of alarms, surprises and dis- tant picket shots, often attended with amusing incident and per- sonal adventure. On the 26th of November occurred our first regular fight near the village of Vienna, fifteen miles out from Alexandria. Colonel Ransom, with about two hundred chosen men, managed to surprise a Yankee scout of about the same number, and effectually routed them, killing several and taking twenty-six prisoners. This was a great feather in our cap, and a source of much rejoicing, both in catnp and among friends at home. Up to December the cavalry at Manassas was without brigade organization; but in that month General J. E. B. Stuart formed the First Brigade, composed of the First, Second, Fourth and Sixth Virginia, the Ninth North Carolina (First Cav.)and the Jeff Davis Legion. Stuart went at once to work, and on the 20th of December sent a large number of wagons to secure a valuable supply of forage near the enemy's lines at Dranesville; all under an escort of both infantry and cavalry. The Yankee general, Ord, however, was too fast for Stuart ; a severe action ensued, with a narrow escape of the trains and a loss to Stuart of one hundred and ninety-four men. An incident on this occasion, gave quite a repute to the regimental wagon-master, Jacob Dove, of Company F. When Colonel Ransom heard of the disaster, and asked if his teams were safe, the reply was: "Yes; Jacob 420 North Carolina Troops, 186 1-'65. Dove not only brought out his teams, but brought them loaded, and even made them jump fences." Early in March, 1862, General Johnston evacuated Manassas, and about the same time it was found that Burnside was sailing for an attack on the coast of North Carolina. So the Ninth Regiment was at once ordered to that State, and took position near Kinston, where we remained until about the middle of June, when we were ordered back to Richmond to co-operate in the battles threatening that city. On the 29th of June a portion of the Ninth with the Third Virginia Cavalry, both under Lieu- tenant-Colonel Baker, was ordered to make a reconnaissance around McCIellan's army. The North Carolinians were in front, and struck the Yankee line at Willis' Church. A mounted charge was immediately ordered, which led through a long lane up to the Yankee camp. In an instant the artillery and infantry of the enemy opened upon our devoted heads, all huddled up in the lane, where orders and maneuvers were alike impossible. At the first round sixty-three of the Ninth North Carolina were put hors de combat, and the whole command was forced to retire in utter confusion. Among the mortally wounded was the gallant (now) Major T. N. Crumpler, universally lamented. This dis- aster served as a wholesome lesson in making mounted charges. During the next two days we were in the dreadful battles of Frazier's Farm and Malvern Hill, and then took an active part in the pursuit of McClellan to Harrison's Landing. For a month following we covered the main front of Lee's army below Richmond, fighting almost daily— especially at Phillips' Farm, Riddle's Shop and Turkey Creek. During this time Colonel Ransom had been promoted and transferred to the infantry — making Baker Colonel, Gordon Lieutenant-Colonel, and Whitaker Major. And on the 26th of July the cavalry was reorganized under Stuart as Major-General, with Wade Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee as Brigadiers. We were in the Hampton Brigade, composed as follows : First, Ninth North Carolina (First Cav.), Colonel Baker. Second, Cobb Legion, Lieutenant-Colonel Young. Ninth Regiment. 421 Third, Jeff Davis Legion, Lieutenant-Colonel Martin. Fourth, Hampton Legion, Major Butler. Fifth, Tenth Virginia, Lieutenant-Colonel McGruder. We were soon called to the stirring scenes attending Pope's retreat at the Second Manassas and Jackson's great flank move- ment— fighting severely at Fox's Farm and at Fairfax Court House — where we fell, during a night march, into another ambuscade. Immediately followed the first invasion of Maryland. And now came, almost daily and hourly, contests with the Federal cavalry — notably atUrbana, Frederick, Middletown,Catoctin Creek, Buck- ittsville and Pleasant Valley — culminating in the capture of Harper's Ferry by Jackson and the drawn battle of Sharpsburg, the Ninth Regiment being in all of these. At Sharpsburg we were on the extreme left, and when Gen- eral Lee recrossed the Potomac we were cut off from the regular ford, and had to seek a blind crossing, which we made at night in water over girth-deep and filled with rock, brush and every possible obstruction. This was even worse than fighting. At last there came to both armies some weeks of much-needed rest. Once only General Pleasanton crossed the river and made an attack on our lines at Martinsburg, which being promptly met he soon retired. During this time the Phillips Legion, from Georgia, was added to the Hampton Brigade. On the 9th of October Stuart started on his famous horse raid into Pennsylvania. The force consisted of one thousand eight hundred picked men and animals, with four guns and five days' rations. It was at that time a most daring and entirely novel achievement. In three days and two nights this small force crossed the Potomac, made a circuit of the Federal army, and, by means of special details, gathered up • and safely brought out one thousand two hundred led horses. At Chambersburg we destroyed immense army stores and at other points inflicted serious damage to trains and telegraph lines. But so admirably was the expedition planned and carried out, that our only loss was one man wounded and two captured. 422 NoETH Carolina Troops, 1861-'65. though often assailed by the enemy. On the march the Ninth North Carolina was called on for much conspicuous duty. Lieu- tenant Barrier, of Company I, was in charge of the advance party in crossing the Potomac above Williamsport, while Captain Cowles, of Company A, covered the recrossing near Poolsville, in each instance under severe firing. When Stuart was approach- ing his old headquarters at Urbana on his midnight march a fancy struck him to make a call on some rebel lady friends at that place, two miles off the regular line of march, and he called for Captain Barringer, with his squadron detail of C and F, and safely made the venture, though almost surrounded by Yankee cavalry. Shortly after this, General McClellan crossed his army over the Potomac below Harper's Ferry and started for his new base at Fredericksburg. This was followed by almost daily and nightly conflicts with the Federal cavalry at Gaines' Cross Roads, at Little Washington, Bar bee's Cross Roads, Amisville, and a dozen other sharp actions. At Warren ton, on the 7th of Novem- ber, McClellan was superseded by Burnside, and the fighting again measurably ceased till the battle of Fredericksburg, Decem- ber 13, 1862. Meantime the Hampton Cavalry held the upper fords and we made several successful raids on the Yankee rear at Dumfries and Oicoquan, capturing wagon trains, sutlers' stores and all sorts of Christmas good things. After Burnside's terrible repulse at Fredericksburg there was no serious work between the two armies until May, at Chancel- lorsville, but, nevertheless, the cavalry was kept busy, and the Hampton Brigade from its camp, near Stevensburg, continued to raid the enemy at every available point — on one occasion pene- trating as far as Burke's Station and Fairfax Court House, and on another the North Carolinians fighting nearly single-handed, under Colonel Baker, the hot action at Kelly's Ford. So, also,, on the 17th of March, at Kellysville, occurred one of the heavy cavalry battles of the war. Here the gallant Pelham, of the Stuart Horse Artillery, was killed. As the summer opened it was observed that each army was Ninth Regiment. 423 concentrating large bodies on the upper Rappaiiannoek — indicat- ing oifensive movements. Stuart was in Culpeper county, around Brandy Station, one of the few large open plains admira- bly suited for cavalry movements. On the 8th of June General R. E. Lee had a grand review of all his cavalry at that point — numbering eight thousand to ten thousand men. That night Stuart also gave a splendid ball at Culpeper Court House. The next morning he was to cross the Rappahannock and take posi- tion so as to cover the initiatory movement of General Lee in his march to Pennsylvania, but Pleasanton was too quick for him. At early dawn the Federal cavalry, with infantry sup- ports, forced the passage of the Rappahannock at all available points and fell upon Stuart while the men were still at break- fast. The main action began at Beverly Ford, above the rail- road, and while Stuart was arranging to meet this attack it was suddenly discovered that the lower column, at Kelly's Ford, had succeeded in driving off all opposition, and was now actually in the Confederate rear. Stuart's headquarters were at the Fleetwood house, about midway between the two advancing Federal columns. Never was a crisis more critical for a great cavalry leader. But Stuart was always equal to the emergency. With a mere handful of cannoneers and a single small Virginia regiment at Fleetwood, he boldly met the rear attack under Gregg, while with equal boldness he withdrew Hampton and Jones from the front advance of Buford, leaving W. H. F. Lee to resist Buford as best he could. And now opened the grandest cavalry fight of the war — from eighteen to twenty thousand mounted men charg- ing and counter-charging all over the immense plains of Brandy, and through the long hours of a summer's sun and with ever- varying results. In the thickest of the fight apd the longest in the field were the Ninth North Carolina (First Cav.) and the Jeff Davis Legion, led respectively by Colonel Baker and Lieutenant- Colonel Waring. The Confederate dash and valor at last carried the day. Late in the evening Pleasanton was forced =to retire and recross the river, with a loss of nine hundred and thirty- 424 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65. six men killed and wounded and .five hundred prisoners. The Confederate loss was five hundred and twenty-three. The loss was unusually heavy in Confederate ofScers. Colonel Sol. Williams, of the Nineteenth North Carolina (Second Cav.), and Lieutenant-Col- onel Frank Hampton, of the Second South Carolina, were killed; Brigadier-General W. H. F. Lee, Colonel M. C. Butler, Colonel A. W. Harmon and (acting) Major Rufus Barringer, with many others, were severely wounded. Major McClellan, of Stuart's staff, in his life of Stuart, makes special mention of the "splendid work done by the First North Carolina Cavalry." He also gives the Federal force as ten thousand nine hundred and eighty; Stuart's, nine thousand five hundred and thirty-six. Next followed the advance into Pennsylvania, Stuart covering Lee's right flank, and for ten days resisting incessant attacks of Pleasanton at Aldie, Middleburg, Upperville and Fairfax. Again the loss was heavy in North Carolina ofScers; Colonel Peter G. Evans, of the Sixty-third North Carolina (Fifth Cav.), Major John H. Whitaker and Captain W. J. Houston, of the Ninth North Carolina (First Cav.), were killed. Immediately followed in rapid succession, the great move- ment culminating at Gettysburg, July 1st —3d. While the main army was crossing the upper Potomac near Shepherdstown, Stuart was still east of the Blue Ridge, watching the movements of Hooker. On the night of the 27th Stuart also crossed the Potomac at Rowser's Ford, only eighteen miles above Washing- ton, his immediate force being the three brigades of Hampton, of Fitzhugh Lee and W. H. F. Lee. But Stuart now found himself between Hooker and Washington, and it was difficult to tell what might be the result of future movements, and he at last resolved to attempt the entire circuit of the Federal army. At Rockville he succeeded in capturing a Federal supply train of one hundred and twenty-five wagons and teams; also four hun- dred prisoners, some in full view of Washington. He paroled the prisoners, but decided to take the wagons and teams with him. Tliis incumbrance proved a serious drawback in his future movements and probably prevented his rejoining General Lee Ninth Regiment. 425 until the second day of the Gettysburg fight, July 2d. On this account General Stuart had been severely criticised, but it is cer- tain that his action was within the discretion given him. The wagons and teams proved of great help to General Lee in his forced retreat after the battle. Beginning at Brookville, on the 28th of June, this small cavalry force of less than three thousand men penetrated the enemy's country as far as Carlisle, Penn., where it burned the Federal barracks, and in five days and nights fought more than a dozen actions, and finally came out successful on the afternoon of the 2d of July at Gettysburg. The principal fights were at Sykesville, Littletown, Hanover, Hunterstown and Carlisle. In front of Gettysburg, too, the Hampton Brigade bore the brunt of a severe fight, in which General Hampton himself was twice painfully wounded, and the command devolved on Colonel Baker, of the Ninth North Carolina (First Cav.), leaving Lieutenant-Col- onel Gordon in charge of the latter. Here also a gallant North Carolinian, Sergeant Fulghum, succeeded in rescuing the wounded Hampton, in the very nick of time, from capture and possible death. With the exception of the action referred to there was no severe fighting of mounted troops at Gettysburg. The wbrk of death in those three dreadful days was chiefly from in- trenched infantry and artillery on fortified heights, assailable only by bayonet charges and hand-to hand conflicts. So, like- wise, there was no serious engagement during the retreat of General Lee until the 13th of July, at Falling Waters, below Williamsport, when a large body of Yankee cavalry made a sudden attack on the guard of our wagon trains. This gaard consisted mainly of dismounted men called " Company Q,." The latter, aided by teamsters and others, under General Pettigrew, did good fighting and saved the trains, though at the lamentable loss of General Pettigrew himself. As after Sharpsburg in 1862, so now, after Gettysburg, both armies sought much-needed repose, and there were no active opera- tions of importance in which the Ninth North Carolina (First Cav.) 426 North Carolina Tegops, 1861-'65. participated until tiie Federal advance at Culpeper. After that came the hard fights at Jack's Shop and the second and third Brandy Station, resulting in a highly complimentary order from General Stuart to Colonel Baker for the part taken in these actions and leading to Colonel Baker's promotion; but in con- sequence of a wound he was assigned to special duty. This also caused the promotion of Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Gordon to Brigadier-General, who was put in charge of a North Caro- lina brigade composed of the Ninth (First Cav.), Nineteenth (Second Cav.) and Fifty-ninth (Fourth Cav.) Eegiments. Cap- tains Thomas Ruffiu and W. H. Cheek had succeeded to the re- spective positions of Colonel and Lieutenant- Colonel of the Ninth, and the former was now in command. On the 8th of October began the flank movement of General Lee on Meade, known as the Bristoe campaign, when occurred two of the most striking cavalry events of the war, and in both of which the First North Carolina Cavalry led the charge with drawn sabres in a most heroic manner: Fiist. On the 13th Stuart got caught in a very tight place, under the following circumstances: In the very rapid marches of Meade on several converging roads, with Stuart in hot pur- suit, the latter, at night-fall, found himself completely hemmed in between two parallel corps of the Federal army. Escape seemed absolutely impossible, and as his command had, as yet, been unobserved, he resolved on the policy of a painful silence to await what the morning would bring forth. At early dawn both of the Federal columns were put in motion and conceal- ment was no longer possible; so, as a last desperate resort, he ran his horse artillery up an elevated point and opened upon the camp at Auburn Mill, as furnishing the best point of escape, and hoping to throw, the Yankees into confusion and panic, but the latter were all ready for action, and in an instant three heavy lines of infantry skirmishers advanced upon his guns and threatened his whole command with capture. Stuart ordered Gordon' to charge, and Gordon called for the First North Carolina Cavalry. Colonel Ruffin led the charge, but at the Ninth Regiment. 427 first fire the gallant Colonel fell mortally wounded, and there was a recoil of the ranks, when Major Barringer dashed to the front and rallied the command; and again the charge was made, and now with complete success, scattering the Fed- erals in all di