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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-