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THE JAMES VERNER SCAIFE
COLLECTION
CIVIL WAR LITERATURE
THE GIFT OF
JAMES VERNER SCAIFE
CLASS OF 1889
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HISTORIES
SEVERAL REGIMENTS AND BATTALIONS
NORTH CAROLINA
GREAT WAR 1861 -'65.
WRITTEN BT nEMBERS OF THE RESFECTIVE COnHANDS
EDITED BY
WALTER CLARK,
(Lieut. -Colonel Seventieth Regiment N. C. T. )
VOL. II.
PUBLISHED BY THE STATE.
NASH BEOTHERS,
BOOK AND JOB PRINTEBS,
GOLDSBOBO, N. C.
'^
C0NTE/1TS.
PAGE.
Seventeenth Regiment, by Lieutenant. WUeon G. Lamb 1
Eighteenth Regiment, by Jid^utant WiUianL H. McLaurin 16
Eighteenth Regiment, by Piirale Thomas H. SuUon 65
Nineteenth Regiment, (Second Cav.) by Captain W. A. Oraham. . . 79 Nineteenth Rbqiment, (Second Oav. ) by Brigadier- General Wil- liam P. Roberts 99
Twentieth Regiment, by Brigadier-Oeneral Thomas F. Toon Ill
Twenty-First Regiment, by Major James F. Beall 129
Twenty-First Regiment, by Lieutenant L. E. Powers 147
Twenty-Second Regiment, by Adjutant Oraham Daves 161
Twenty-Thiud Regiment, by Captain V. E. Turner and Sergeant H.
a Wall 181
Twenty-Fourth Regiment, by Coi-poral W. N. Rose 269
Twenty-Fifth Regiment, by Lieutenant Oarland S. Ferguson 291
Twenty-Sixth Regiment, by Assistant Surgeon Oeorge 0. Underwood 303
Twenty-Seventh Regiment, by Captain James A. Graham 425
Twenty-Eighth Regiment, by Brigadier- General J. H. Lane 465
TwENTY-NiNTtt Regiment, by Brigadier-Oeneral Robert B. Vance.... 485
Thirtieth Regiment, by Colonel P. M. Parker 495
Thirty-First Regiment, by Adjutant E. K. Bryan and Sergeant E.
H. Meadows 507
Thirty-Second Regiment, by Private Henry A. London 521
Thirty-Third Regiment, by Major J. A. Weston 537
Thirty-Fourth Regiment, by Lieutenant T. D. Liattimore 581
Thirty-Fifth Regiment, by Captain William H. 8. Burgioyn 591
Thirty-Sixth Regiment, (Second Art. ) by Colonel William Lamb 639
Thirty-Seventh Regiment, by Lieutenant Oclavius A. Wiggins.... 658
Thirty-Eighth Regiment, by Lieutenant- Colonel Oeorge W. Flowers 675
Thirty-Ninth Regiment, by Lieutenant Theo. F. Davidson 699
Thirty-Ninth Regiment, by Lieutenant John M. Davidson 727
Fortieth Regiment (Third Art.), by Sergeant T. C. Davis 745
Forty-First Regiment (Third Cav.), by Sergeant Joshua B. Hill.. 767
Forty-Second Regiment, by Major T. J. Brown 789
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT.
1. William F. Martin, Colonel.
2. John C. Lamb, Lieut.-Colonel,
3. Wilson G. Lamb, ad Lieut., Co. F.
4. Gilbert Elliott, 1st Lieut, and Adjt. (Builder of the "Albemarle.")
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT.
By WILSON G. LAMB, Second Lieut. Company F.
With the exception of two companies garrisoning Fort Bar- tow on Roanoke Island, the Seventeenth Regiment was cap- tured at Fort Hatteras on the 27th of August, 1861, by the United States naval and land forces, commanded respectively by Commodore Stringliam and General B. F. Butler. The Seventeenth Regiment was officered as follows:
W. F. Maetiw, Colonel.
Geokge W. Johnson, Lieutenant-Colonel.
Heney a. Gilliam, Major.
Gilbert Elliott, Adjutant.
John S. Dancy, Quartermaster.
L. D. Staeke, Commissary.
Wyatt M. Beown, Surgeon.
Fort Clark, commanded by Captain John C. Lamb, a mile up the beach, and Fort Hatteras, near the inlet, under the im- mediate command of Colonel Martin, constituted the defenses of Hatteras Inlet. The garrison, numbering less than 1,000 men, was attacked by the overwhelming land and naval forces of the Federals, and after an heroic defense surrendered as prisoners of war. Shortly thereafter the enemy, under Gen- eral Burnside, moved upon Roanoke Island. The two com- panies constituting the balance of the Seventh Regiment gar- risoned Fort Bartow, and, under the splendid leadership of Captain Fearing and Lieutenant C. G. Elliott, the latter af- terwards the gallant and efficient Adjutant General to Gen- erals Martin and Kirkland, succeeded by the accurate fire of their guns in keeping back the Federal fleet, and only surren- dered after the landing of the Federal troops upon another part of the island, pushing back the Confederates under
2 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.
Colonel Shaw, and completely flanking the fort. I am in- debted to Captain C. G. Elliott for an incident of this bat- tle which is worthy of being preserved. He writes :
"During the bombardment of Fort Bartow a cannon shot cut down the flag-staff. Instantly Lieutenant Thomas H. Gilliam sprang upon the parapet, amid the storm of shot and shell, and firmly planted the beautiful silk color of the John Harvey Giiards which waved until the order to retire was re- ceived." An historical parallel to the brave act of Sergeant Jasper at Fort Moultrie.
Thus the whole regiment in these two engagements be- came prisoners of Avar. After being exchanged, the Seventh Volunteers (as it was first called) was re-organized at Camp Mangum and became the Seventeenth Regiment N. C. T.
The organization was as follows :
Colonel, W. F. Martin; Lieutenant-Colonel, John C. Lamb; Major, Thos. H. Sharp; Adjutant, Gilbert Elliott; Sergeant Major, Wilson G. Lamb ; A. Q. M., John S. Dancy ; Commissary, L. D. Starke; Surgeon, E. K. Speed.
Company A — Captain William Biggs. Company B — Captain James J. Leith. Company C — Captain William B. Wise. Company D — Captain J. M . C. Luke. Company E — Captain John L. Swain. Company F- — Captain George B. Daniel. Company G — Captain Thos. J. ISTorman. Company H — Captain Stewart L. Johnson. Company I — Captain A. J. M. Whitehead. Company K — Captain Howard Wiswall. Company L — Captain Lucius J. Johnson.
The Adjutant of the regiment, Gilbert Elliott, was detailed and under his supervision the iron-clad ram "Albemarle," which contributed so largely to the capture of Plymouth, was constructed. Lieutenants M. A. Cotten and Wilson G. Lamb filled his place as Adjutant of the regiment. The Seven- teenth was assigned to service in Eastern North Carolina and
Seventeenth Regiment. 3
performed picket duty watching the enemy at New Bern, Washington and Plymouth. In December, 1862, a detach- ment from the regiment with a squadron of cavalry from Colonel Evans' regiment (Sixty-third North Carolina) and Moore's Battery, all under Lieutenant-Colonel Lamb, cap- tured Plymouth. Another detachment drove the enemy from Washington, N. C. Many minor raids and surprises of the enemy's outposts cleverly managed by Captain William Biggs, Lieutenants Hardison, Grimes, Cotten and others gave indication of what might be expected of the regiment when it should have the opportunity of displaying its fighting quali- ties.
In 1863 the regiment was brigaded with the Forty-second, Fiftieth, and Sixty-sixth Regiments, and placed under the command of Brigadier-General James G. Martin, and sta- tioned at Fort Branch, Kinston and Wilmington, and was thoroughly drilled and disciplined by that splendid organizer find disciplinarian.
On the 2d of February, 1864, the regiment under com- mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Lamb with the Forty-second, Colonel Brown, P arris' Battery of six guns and a squadron of cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel Jeffords, the whole under com- mand of General J. G. Martin, attacked the enemy's forts at Newport. After the capture of their block houses and driv- ing in of their outposts, the command moved upon their ,forts and entrenchments. The Seventeenth N. C. on the right assailed their columns in splendid style and pouring over the works captured their guns and barracks. The brave Captain Leith of Company B, was killed. The enemy fled in dismay over the river and did not stop until safely under the guns of Fort Macon. Ten pieces of artillery, 78 prisoners and a large qiiantity of stores were the fruits of this victory. The railroad bridge was burned and the railroad occupied to prevent re-inforcements from Beaufort and Fort Macon being sent to New Bern. Owing to the failure of General Pickett's command to capture New Bern, General Martin's troops were withdrawn the next day. In reference to this battle I quote from the official report of the Federal General,
4 ;N"oeth Caeolina Troops, 1861-'65.
J. M. Palmer, commanding at ISTew Bern under date of Feb- ruary 7, 1864.
"Martin performed his part well."
The great campaign of 1864 was now about to open and the desperate struggle to capture the capital of the Confed- acy to begin. Grant crossed the Eapidan on the 4th of May, with his army of 140,000 men and moved overland upon Richmond. Butler, with 30,000 men and a large naval armament, ascended the James and occupied the Bermuda Hundreds Peninsula, threatening both Richmond and Petersburg. To meet this movement the Confederate forces operating in IvTorth Carolina with troops from South Caro- lina and Georgia were rapidly concentrated at Richmond and Petersburg and placed under General Beauregard's com- mand.
On the 11th of May, the Seventeenth (1,100 strong) fol- lowed by the Forty-second and Sixty-sixth N. C, marched through the streets of Petersburg with their bright bayonets reflecting the morning sunlight to join in the mighty struggle then impending. The battle of Drewry's Bluff on the 17th resulted in forcing Butler back upon his fortified base at Ber- muda hundreds. On the 20th the Confederates were or- dered to assault this line of entrenchments. Mai*tin's bri- gade was upon the extreme Confederate right, and the Seven- teenth, IST. C, was Martin's right regiment sO' it devolved upon this regiment to lead the assault. Them its thorough drilling and discipline proved of great value. Emerging from the woods into the open field with unbroken front and without a halt, at double quick step, its onset was not stopped- until the enemy's works were won and the Confederate ban- ner waved in triumph over Butler's stronghold. The charge was taken up along the line with equal gallantry and success and Butler's forces were driven to shelter under the pro- tection of their gunboats in the James and Appomattox. Thus the "bottling up of Butler," so graphically detailed by General Grant, was complete. The regiment suffered very heavily in this assault, losing about 175 ofiicers and men killed and wounded. The brave and youthful Lieiitenant-
Seventeentpi Regiment. 5
Colonel Lamb fell mortally wounded upon the enemy's works and died a few days thereafter. •
Our fighting commissary, Captain L. D. Starke, . now of Norfolk, Va., is entitled to special notice, having sent his wagons to the rear and joined the boys in the front, and par- ticipated in the battle with distinguished bravery. A more gallant soldier never lived.
By the death of Colonel Lamb, Major Sharp became Lieu- tenant-Colonel, and Captain Lucius J. Johnson, Company L, became Major.
A division was created for General R. F. Hoke composed of the brigades of Martin, Colquitt, Hagood and Clingman and was ordered to report to General R. E. Lee.
The battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania had been fought, and Grant in his turning movement had ordered Sheridan's cavalry, supported by Warren's Corps, to seize the heights at New Cold Llarbor.
"Anderson came up on the first of June, with Kershaw's and Hoke's Divisions, and attacking Sheridan drove him back toward Old Cold Harbor, and secured the heights around JSTew Cold Harbor and Gaines' Mill, which he at once pro- ceeded to fortify." The importance and value of this suc- cess can only be realized when it is understood that had Grant's order been carried out the Federals would have occu- pied the ridge, and the Confederates, instead of defending, would have been compelled to assail them, inasmuch as it was the key to the Confederate Capital. The great and decisive battle of Cold Harbor, on 3 June, followed these prelim- inai'y engagements, and resulted in the bloodiest repulse of the Federals known in the history of the war. The Seven- teenth was upon the right of the line, and supported Grandy's (Va.) battery. In its front the enemy's dead were so thickly strewn that one could have walked on tlieir bodies its whole extent. In this battle Lieutenant M. A. Gotten and Private; Benjamin Andrews greatly distinguished themselves, bring- ing into our works the flag of a New York regiment, of Ty- ler's Brigade. The enemy assaulted our lines several times, and during the interval between the assaults, this flag was brought in and temporarily planted upon our works. This
6 ISToETH Oaeolina Teoops^ 1861-'65.
incident unquestionably misled the brave Hancock, who in his official report of the battle claimed that his troops had carried our line, "having seen through his field glasses the Stars and Stripes floating from the enemy's works."
After the battle of Cold Harbor General Grant transferred his army to the south bank of the Appomattox and attempted a coup d'etat at Petersburg.
General Lee, on the 14th, moved Hoke's Division near Drewry's Bluff, in order that it might be in position to act as reserve for his army or go to the support of General Beaure- gard at Petersburg. The Federals under General Smith had advanced to within a few miles of Petersburg and had swept away all our forces in their front and the city was in im- minent danger of capture. The brigades of Hagood and Colquitt had been sent forward by rail and Martin with Clingman was pressing forward by forced marches and ar- rived after midnight of the 15th and commenced to entrench.
The Confederates now numbered about 10,000 men behind their hastily entrenched line. The Federal General Smith had been reinforced by Bumside's Corps which came up at noon and raised the Federal forces to 66,000.
The morning of the 16th was spent in skirmishing and artillery fire. In the afternoon General Hancock, now in command of the Federals, assailed with all his forces and just at sunset broke through General Wise's lines, whose troops went streaming to the rear. These brave men had fought unceasingly for two days and were much exhausted and only yielded when completely overwhelmed. As many of the men of our division as could be spal-ed were hastily gathered from various points on the line and with the rem- nant of Wise's brigade being organized in a compact body were hurled upon the victorious Federals — the right wing of the Seventeenth joining in the attack. The Federals were driven out and our line re-established. Warren's Corps had now come up, which increased the Federal army to four corps — numbering 90,000 — and no reinforcements had reached General Beauregard from General Lee.
The battle re-opened on the 17th, at noon. Three times were the Federals repulsed but as often resumed the offen-
SEVENTEENTH BEQIMENT.
1. L. J. Johnson, Major 2. Geo. B Daniel, Captain, Co F
3 William Biggs, Captain, Co. A.
Seventeenth Regiment. 7
sive. At dusk on the extreme right our lines "were again broken and partially restored by the timely arrival of Gracie's Brigade, the conflict raging until 11 o'clock.
During these engagements Beauregard's engineers had been at work selecting a line nearer the city — shorter and stronger, being the line afterwards held during the siege. Af- ter midnight our troops were withdrawn to this new line. Our skirmishers being left in the old works with instructions to de- lay the advance of the enemy in order to gain as much time as possible for our troops to fortify the new line. The writer of this had the honor of commanding the skirmishers of his regiment and can testify to their brave and determined resist- ance, in connection with other commands, which resulted in keeping back the enemy until 3 o'clock p. m. of that day (18th).
Fortunately about this time Field's and Kershaw's Divis- ions of General Lee's army arrived, which swelled the Con- federate forces to 20,000 against 90,000 of the enemy's.
About 3 p. m. a general and final assault was given. It was urged with as great pertinacity and was resisted with equal determination as those preceding. Before dark it ended in a complete repulse of the Federals along the whole of our front. In these series of engagements the regiment lost many of its most valued officers and brave men. Lieu- tenants Perry, Hobbs, Pope and others were among the killed.
The writer would desire to appear not ungrateful to his comrade and friend. Lieutenant W. J. Hardison (now sheriff of Martin county) and at the risk of being personal, wishes to place on record the act of his brave friend, who, at the risk of his own life, sprang over our breastworks during the ene- my's last assault and bore his wounded friend in his arms to safety behind them.
I am indebted to General Hagood's recent address for much information as to data, etc., of these battles and note with pleasure his closing words : "I have told the story of Petersburg without comment. The narrative itself is an im-
8 NoETH Caeolina Teoops, 1861-'65.
mortelle and a reverently lay it upon the tomb of Beaure- gard, the soldier."
Foiled in his attempt to carry Petersburg by storm Gen- eral Grant now laid siege to the city. I cannot better de^ scribe the hardships endured by the brave soldiers than to make extracts from the recent address of Captain Elliott.
"At the beginning of the siege, June 20th, the report of Martin's Brigade occupying Colquitt's salient showed 2,200 men for duty. In September, when they were relieved, the total force was 700, nothing but living skeletons. Occupy- ing the sharp salient, the work was enfiladed on both flanks by direct fire and the mortar shells came incessantly down from above. Every man was detailed every night, either on guard duty or to labor with pick and spade repairing works knocked down during the day. There was no shelter that summer from sun or rain. JSTo food could be 'cooked there but the scanty provisions were brought in bags on the shoul- ders of men from the cook yard some miles distant. The rations consisted of one pound of pork and three pounds of meal consisted 'iwcbe
meal for three days — no coffee, no sugar, no vegetables, no grog, no tobacco, nothing but the bread and meat. No won- der that the list of officers was reduced to three Captains and a few Lieutenants with but one staff officer, (spared through God's mercy) to this brigade of 700 skeletons. But every feeble body contained an unbroken spirit and after the Fall months came those who had not fallen into their graves or been disabled, returned to their colors and saw them wave in victory in their last fight at Bentonville."
In July their beloved Brigade Commander, General Mar- tin, was transferred to North Carolina and General Kirkland became his successor. General Martin was greatly beloved by his soldiers. They had the most tmbounded confidence in his military skill and admiration for his personal bravery illustrated on every battlefield where they had followed him. In October the brigade was sent to the Kichmond front and participated in the minor engagements of Henrico C. H., Charles City Road and others, maintaining its high reputa- tion for bravery.
Advices having reached General Lee of the preparation by
Seventeenth Regiment. 9
the Federals of a land and naval expedition for the capture of Fort Fisher, Hoke's division was sent to its relief. The Seventeenth and parts of the Forty-second and Sixty-sixth reginaents were the advance of the division and reached Wil- mington at 1 a. m. on 24 December, and, after being lunched at the depot by the patriotic ladies of that city, took up the line of march for Fort Fisher, the Seventeenth bivouacking there on the night of the same day. The enemy having edEEected a landing at Fort Gatling on the ocean side, the regiment was withdrawn from Fort Fisher on the morning of the 25th, and moving down the military road were ordered to attack Butler's troops. ISTorman's company in front, supported by the balance of the regiment, deployed as skirmishers, assailed the enemy. General Kirkland in his official report said :
"Lieutenant-Colonel Sharp, Seventeenth N". C, pressed close upon and drove their skirmish line back upon, their main body, which was covered by the guns of at least thirty men of war lying broadside to the beach. Captain Norman, Company G, deserves special notice."
A Lieutenant and ten men were captured. The regiment lost three men killed and twenty wounded in this engage- ment.
Before the arrival of the balance of our division, Butler had re-embarked his troops and thus ended the powder-ship fiasco and the military career of this modern Falstaff — he being relieved by General Grant.
The ease with which this land and naval attack was re- pulsed, undoubtedly created in the mind of General Bragg an undue feeling of security. Not anticipating a renewal of the attack on Fort Fisher, unfortvinately the division was withdrawn to Wilmington.
On the afternoon of 14 January, whilst the regiments of the division were on dress parade in Wilmington, the enemy had reappeared before Fort Fisher and were land- ing their forces, and before the division could be transported to Sugar Loaf, the bulk of the Federal forces had landed and, pushing that night across the peninsula, constructed a line of field works from the ocean to the Cape Fear, thus cutting
10 ISToETH Oaeoliwa Teoops, 1861-'65.
off all land eominuiiication between Hoke's Division and Fort Fisher. This line of works was held by a negro division, commanded by General Paine and a white brigade tinder General Joseph C. Abbott, who afterwards misrepresented North Carolina in the United States Senate.
At 4 o'clock on the afternoon of the 15th, the skirmishers of Kirkland's Brigade, which was on the left of our line, under command of Lieutenant Lamb, were ordered to drive back the enemy's pickets to enable Generals Bragg and Hoke, to make a reconnoissance of the enemy's position. The effort was only partially successful, owing to several of the enemy's ships which were lying close to the shore, having opened a terrible enfilading fire upon our skirmishers so soon as they appeared on the open sand beach; but further to the right where the small undergrowth was some protection, the ene- my's skirmish line was driven in and their rifle-pits occu- pied, giving opportunity for an examination of the enemy's position. The writer recalls the calm and heroic bearing of the modest and gallant Hoke who withdrew from the recon- noissance with two bullet holes through his coat. For rea- sons satisfactory, I presume, to General Bragg, no assault was made, notwithstanding at this moment the enemy had withdrawn Abbott's Brigade and a portion of Wright's negro Brigade to join in the assaunlt upon Fort Fisher, which was then in progress.
The troops at the time in our front were all negroes and did not number more than 2,500, defending a line of a mile in extent. That evening Fort Fisher after a most gallant de- fense, surrendered, and the last port of the Confederacy was closed forever.
Several small engagements approaching closely to the dig- nity of battles followed the fall of Fisher, in all of which the enemy were repulsed. The rapid advance of Sherman from the South made the evacuation of Wilmington a mere quesr tion of time and on 22 February, Kirkland's Bri- gade, forming the rear guard of our army, marched sadly and leisurely through the streets of our "City by the Sea," and Wilmington passed under Federal control. Continuing our retreat up the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, the
Seventeenth Eegiment. 11
army, after crossing the North Kiver, halted for the night. The enemy's cavalry pursued up to this point and attempted by sudden dash to prevent the burning of the bridge over the railroad. They were promptly encountered by our rear guard, under the brave Captain 0. G. Elliott, and were re- pulsed, sustaining heavy loss. The next day the march was resumed and without further fighting the army reached Groldsboro a few days thereafter.
And now the closing scenes of the bloody drama of the Civil War was to be enacted upon the soil of N"orth Carolina. Goldsboro became the objective point of three armies. Sher- man with T0,000 men was advancing northward. Schofield with his army corps of 21,000 raised the Federal forces to 30,000 at Wilmington ; and Cox's Division arriving at New Bern increased Palmer's command to 15,000. These differ- ent armies aggregating 115,000 men, if allowed to concen- trate, would make short work of the Confederate forces whose total, including the remnant of Hood's army, did not reach 40,000 men. The hope of successful resistance was indeed forlorn and the only chance of any success was to fight these armies separately.
The column under General Cox advancing from New Bern, was encountered near Wise's Fork on the 8th of March, by Hoke's Division, reinforced by the Sixty-seventh and Sixty- eighth North Carolina, and the Junior and Senior reserves. Leaving, at midnight, tlieir entrenchments along the line of a creek, Kirkland's, Hagood's and Colquitt's Brigades under the guide of Colonel Nethercut of the Sixty-sixth North Car- olina, (who was familiar with the country) found themselves at day dawn on the flank and rear of the enemy, and forming line of battle in echelon of brigades, Kirkland's leading, burst upon the surprised enemy and drove them in rapid flight to the rear, capturing 1,000 prisoners and 4 pieces of artillery. The enemy had been driven nearly a mile when Palmer's Division appeared upon our right flank. The Seventeenth was on our extreme right and its advance having thus become arrested immediately changed front to meet the enemy, and not knowing their force, boldly charged the division and drove back that part of it in our front, wounding their com-
12 ISToETH Caeolina Troops, 1861-'65.
mander, General Palmer. Finding itself overlapped right and left, it deployed as skirmishers with both wings reversed, and held its position until reinforcements were brought up under the personal command of General Hoke, and thus had the honor of preventing the flanking of our army. Later a congratulatory order from General Kirkland was read to the regiment on dress parade at Goldsboro complimenting it upon its splendid achievement.
The enemy proceeded to fortify their position, and on the 10th General Bragg sought to employ the same strategy in again attacking the enemy. It was contemplated by recon- noissance in force to develop the enemy's extreme left and renew our turning movement of two days before. Kirk- land's Brigade was assigned this duty, supported by the other brigades of the division. Our skirmishers were thrown out, supported by the brigade, and engaging the enemy's pickets, drove them rapidly before us. The enemy's works were de- veloped and, not knowing that it was intended that we should not assault, we rushed upon the works under the heaviest fire which we had ever received. Notwithstanding the brigade had lost one-half of its number, it reached the abatis and slashing and held its position until ordered to withdraw. In this assault the heroic Captain Elliott added another gem to the crown of his military fame. The gallant Lieutenant Grimes, distinguished in many battles, had been desperately wounded and became a prisoner. This is the only battle in which the regiment was ever repulsed, and even here it felt that if it had received support its colors would have been planted upon the enemy's works. Sherman having reached Averasboro it became necessary to concentrate all available troops in his front and Hoke's Division was withdrawn and sent by rail to Smithfield Depot and marched thence via Smithfield to Bentonville. The army of General Sherman was moving from Averasboro to Goldsboro, upon two roads running parallel and about ten miles apart. Otir division swelled our army to about 15,000 men, against Sherman's 70,- 000. On tlie morning of the 19th Jefferson C. Davis' and Slo- cum's Corps, numbering about 35,000 men were attacked by
Seventeenth Regiment. 13
our troops and driven back a considerable distance, three guns and nine hundred prisoners falling into our hands.
The other corps of Sherman's army came up and v^^ere thrown on our left flank, which had become much advanced in the battle of the previous day. In consequence of this movement it became necessary to change the position of our army. The brigade of Kirkland, deployed as skirmishers, held the enemy in check while the entire army changed front, and thereafter occupied a position in the centre and joined in the repulse of the many and furious charges of the Feder- als. In this battle Captain William Biggs, Company A, was greatly distinguished for his intrepid bravery. The brigade received the special commendation of General Jos. E. John- son for its valued services in this engagement.
Thus closes the volume of the bloody record of the Seven- teenth North Carolina troops and their brave companions of associated commands.
The army was withdrawn, retiring through Raleigh and Chapel Hill and was surrendered to General Sherman at Centre Church, Randolph county, at the final capitulation.
Supplementing this record it would not be amiss to state that the flag of the Seventeenth North Carolina Troops saved at the surrender by Private Abel Thomas, of Com- pany A, was unfurled at the unveiling of the Confederate monument at Raleigh on 20 May, 1895, and beneath its tattered and bulletrriddled folds the veteran survivors marched to do honor to their dead heroic comrades.
Wilson G. Lamb^ Second Lieutenant Company Y.
WiLLIAMSTON, N. C,
26 April, 1901.
EIGHTEENTH EEGIMENT.
1. John D. Barry, Colonel. 4. Win. H. McLaurin, let Lient. and Adjt
8. E. H. Cowan, Colonel. 5. Evander N. Robeson, 1st Lieut Co K
3. Marcus W. Buie, Captain, Co. B. 6. Alex. E. Smith, Sergeant Co P
EIGHTEENTH REGIME/^T.
By WILLIAM H. McLAURIN, Adjutant.
In the stirring times of 1860-61 North Carolina was de- votedly attached to the American Union.
Her election in August, 1868, for State officers showed the bias of her people, and when Governor Ellis in February, 1861, issued a call for a convention and election of delegates thereto, they not only voted down the convention, but elected a majority of delegates who were pronounced unionists, many of them the most trusted leaders of the State. Had they assembled in Convention their deliberations would have been on broad lines and fearless.
Our action encouraged Virginia and Tennessee, whose con- ventions deliberated long and well.
"Let us reason together" was the method of North Carolina, and she sent peace commissioners to Washington not to cringe and fawn but to use every honorable means to avoid bloody war. All that could be done was unavailing, and all the ave- nues of adjustment were closed by President Lincoln on the 15 April, 1861, by calling for 75,000 troops to coerce the seceding States.
This effectually settled all differences of opinion with us as to what should be done. The most ardent union men of the State joined the most fiery secessionist, in saying to our sis- ter States, "Thy people shall be my people, thy God my God," and right nobly did they redeem the pledge.
On receipt of the call for troops, Virginia promptly passed her ordinance of secession, and Tennessee followed in a few days.
The call for a convention, and election of delegates, was sustained with practical unanimity, . and on 20 May,
16 North Carolina Troops. 1861-65.
1861, North Carolina seceded. Volunteer companies had been formed all over the State, and, generally, waited for State authority for mobilization. Some companies and reg- iments, however, went to the front as soon as formed.
The Legislature which met 1 May provided for ten regi- ments of State troops for the war, the officers appointed by the governor and ten regiments of Volunteers for one year, the officers elected by companies, and field officers elected by com- pany officers.
Of the companies that assembled around Wilmington, on the Cape Fear defences, four from the coimty of New Hano- ver (three of them from Wilmington), two from Bladen, one" from Robeson, and one from Richmond were formed into the Eighth Regiment of volunteers, viz :
Company A — Captain C. Cornehlson, Wilmington. Company B — Captain Robert Tait, Bladen. Company C — Captain Forney George, Colimibus. CoiEPANY D — Captain William S. Norment, Robeson. Company E — Captain John R. Hawes, jSTew Hanover, (now Pender).
Company F — Captain Charles Malloy, Richmond. Company G — Captain Henry Savage, Wilmington. Company H — Captain I). H. Gore, Columbus. CoiiPANY I — Captain O. P. Meares, Wilmington. Company K — Captain George Tait, Bladen.
Of these companies A, G, and I were organized companies many years before the war.
Company A, "The German Volimteers," Avas the only com- pany in the State of distinctively foreign citizenship. Com- pany G, "The Wilmington Light Infantry," and Company T, "The Wilmington Rifle Guards," being up on tactics, fur- nished many officers for companies and regiments throughout the State, and the personnel of their officers and men were frequently changed. At one time Company I was composed of one hundred men ranging from 16 to 22 years of age, and only one married man among them.
Company F, "The Scotch Boys," when mustered into ser-
Eighteenth Regiment. 17
(^ice had 94 ofRcers and men. Sixty of them were 6 feet to 6 feet 4 inches high, 24 over 5 feet 10 inches, 7 over 5 feet 8 inches, and 3 under 5 feet 8 inches, making an average height for the whole company of 6 feet 1% inches, believed to be un- precedented for so large a company, in the Confederate or Federal armies, if it does not challenge the armies of the world, for a company not especially selected.
Nine of the above companies were moved from their sev- eral rendezvous to Camp Wyatt, named in honor of H. L. Wy- att, the first soldier killed in regular battle in the Southern army, on the lands of James Burriss, near the head of the sound (about one mile from the present site of Carolina Beach, a popular resort), and about 1 July elected field of- ficers.
Major James D. Radcliff, who had been a principal of a military school in Wilmington for several years, and was then connected with the engineer department of the Cape Fear defences, was elected colonel. Captain 0. F. Meares, Company I, was elected lieutenant-colonel, and Captain George Tait, of Company K, who was stationed at a bat- tery near Federal Point lighthouse, was elected Major.
Charles D. Myers, of Company G, was appointed Adju- tant; Anthony D. Cazaux, Company I, was appointed Cap- tain, and A. Q. M. ; Duncan McNeill, Company F, Captain and A. C. S. ; Dr. James A. Miller, Company G, Surgeon ; Dr. Charles Lesesne, Company K, Assistant Surgeon ; Dr. Simpson Russ, Company K, Assistant Surgeon; Rev. Colin Shaw, Company K, Chaplain.
Colonel Radcliffe was an excellent drill master and disci- plinarian, and soon had the regiment in good shape.
About the middle of September, Companies F and I' were sent to Fort Fisher, and Company K from its vicinity, was sent across New Inlet channel to a battery on Zeke's Island. A few weeks later the other seven companies joined F and I and engaged in laying the foundation of Fort Fisher, that later proved to be one of the strongholds of the Confederacy.
Confusion arising from numbering both classes of troops from 1 to 10, it was decided by the State authorities to change the numbers of tlie volunteer regiments, enumerating them 2
18 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.
from 11 to 20. Thus the Eighth volunteers became the Eighteenth ISTorth Carolina troops, and was afterwards th\is known.
On 7 November, orders were received to go to the aid of Port Royal, S. C, and in a few hours all of our equipage was on the banks of the Cape Eear, at Sugar Loaf Landing, awaiting transportation, where, by a miscarriage of orders, steamer after steamer passed us by, and we re- mained thirty-six hours. During this time Company K, that was to remain on Zeke's Island, kept its water-craft busy crossing the inlet, and offered all sorts of inducements to any company to exchange places, but no proposition would be en- tertained by either company or any individual to remain. We had acquired the soldier habit of complaining that we were not supplied with camp necessities, but in the light of after experiences our baggage and kitchen equipment was simply immense.
It is safe to say that our nine companies had more cooking utensils than A. P. Hill's corps, to which we afterward be- longed, had at any time in 1863-64-65.
At Wilmington we were again delayed a day, also at Charleston, S. C. Here we heard of the downfall of Beau- fort. Our disappointment was great. Enthusiastic expecta- tion changed to abject despair. Would the war really close before we got a chance at battle ? Alas ! no. '
We disembarked at Pocataligo, midway between Charles- ton and Savannah, and spent the winter at Camp Stephens, on Huguenin's farm, drilling and guarding the lagoons of the coast below the Coosahatchie, assisted by Trenholm's bat- tery and Colonel John C. Calhoun's regiment of cavalry, a part of the time under the command of Brigadier-General Robert E. Lee, whose headquarters were two or three miles distant.
The amateur talent of the regiment relieved the monotony of camp life with entertainments — drama, charade, bur- lesque. Especially enjoyable was a "Review of the Army," in which oiir Irish wit, Ned Stanton, "riding on an ass' colt," easily took rank as the burlesque reviewer of the war.
Altogether, we spent a pleasant winter, playing soldier in
Eighteenth Regiment. 19
that genial clime, though greatly disappointed several timos by the cavalry making false alarms of the Yankees landing, and pillaging the coast plantations.
Coloned Radcliffe put a stop to these alarms by sending Lieutenant-Colonel Meares down the coast with three com- panies and a week's rations.
The first night Corporal W. H. McLaurin Avas in charge of the outpost at a landing near Donkey Island, which outpost was reached by a dam across the marsh, and a hundred yards or more from high land. About 10 o'clock the "yanks" be- gan assembling at the island. The cavalryman, who was on duty to act as courier, explained their tactics, and the posi- tion of the different landings. Splash ! Splash ! ! Splash ! ! ! Their oars are distinctly heard coming our way.
Let me go for the reserve, plead the cavalryman. Wait till we see something was replied. There was a lull in the oaring, which was accounted for by him as landing a part be- low us, when a part would go to a landing above, and cap- ture all of us. This appeared to be true — the oaring began again, nearly all the boats taking a different channel from the one we wore on.
The cavalryman started for his horse, on the mainland, ro go for the companies, and was so persistent that we had to threaten to shoot him to get him back. The men were ar- ranged so as to receive them, warmly, at the landing. We all lay flat on our corntops, taken from a nearby corn field, and arranged behind an embankment to keep us out of the mud, only one head above the bank as an outlook. The oar- ing again ceased. "Thes lan-lan-landing ! le-le-let me go mis- ter !" The reply was in equally jerky tones. "Sta-sta-stay-right there." A death-like silence reigned around, except that the loose ends of the cornstalks, from some cause, rustled like a cane-brake in a storm. Scared, but determined, we lay awaiting the landing of the raiders. A minute seemed an hour — the tension is at last relieved. Splash ! Splash : ! Splash ! ! ! A school of porpoises rose in front of our land- ing, and went ^merrily on their way.
We welcomed our midnight relief, laughed heartily at the cavalryman and had no more alarms.
20 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'U5.
In March, 1862, Major George Tait resigned and Captain Forney George, Company C, was promoted Major; Lieutenant C. C. Gore became Captain of Compa- ny C.
On 14 March orders came for the regiment to go to ISTew Bern, IST. C, and in a few hours everything was on the cars, and speeding for that ill-fated Athens of JSTorth Carolina. At Wilmington we heard of its fall. Here wo were joined by Captain T. J. Purdie, with Company K, froin Zeke's Island. The regiment proceeded to Kinston, where the New Bern garrison was encamped, under command of General L. O'B. Branch. These troops with the reinforc<i' ments sent them were formed into two brigades the last days of March, the First brigade commanded by General Robert Ransom and the Second by General Branch. The latter was composed of the Seventh, Eighteenth, Twenty-eighth, Thirty- third and Thirty-seventh North Carolina regiments, from that time to the close of the war.
On 24 April, 1862, the regiment was reorganized, with almost an entire change of officers. Lieutenant-Colonel Robert H. Cowan, of the Third North Carolina, was elected Colonel. Captain Thomas J. Purdie, Company K, was elected Lieiitenant-Colonel and Major Forney George was re- elected.
Lieutenant Samuel B. Waters, of the Third North Caro- lina, was appointed Adjutant, Captain A. D. Cazaux remained as Quartermaster, ex-Captain Robert Tait was appointed A. C. S., Dr. James A. Miller remained Surgeon, with former assistants. Chaplain Colin Shaw became Chaplain to the Sixty-first North Carolina regiment.
Private Thomas W. Brown, Company I, was elected Cap- tain of Company A, Lieutenant Wilie J. Sikes, Company B, elected Captain ; Lieutenant W. K. Gore was elected Captain of Company C ; First Sergeant M. C. Lee was elected Cap- tain of Company D ; Second Lieutenant Fred Thompson was elected Captain of Company E; Second Lieutenant Daniel M. McLaurin was elected Captain of Company F; Captain Henry Savage was re-elected Captain of Company G; Lieu- tenant M. A. Byrne was elected Captain of Company H ; Pri-
Eighteenth Regiment. 21
vate John D. Barry was elected Captain, of Company I ; Lieu- tenant R. M. DeVane was elected Captain of Company K.
A few of the Lieutenants were retained in the same or ad- vanced to a higher grade, but generally new men were selected for officers.
On 2 May the brigade broke camp and embarked for Virginia in sections. The Eighteenth Regiment left on the 7th and arrived at Richmond next day, bivouaced a couple of days at Howard's G-rove, then on the outskirts of the incorporation, now a populous section of the city, and ar- rived at G-ordonsville on the 10th. In a few days we marched towards the valley to join Stonewall Jackson. Every foot moved with a light and steady step and the expression of sat- isfaction was on the countenance of all.
When about to cross the Blue Ridge at Massanutten Gap orders were received to return to Gordonsville. The next week the same route was gone over. A few days after our second return our baggage was loaded on the train and wo started towards Richmond. At Hanover Court House we again went into camp. Here Branch was reinforced with Colonel Hardeman, Forty-fifth Georgia, part of Latham's artillery and some of Robertson's regiment of cavalry.
The sick, and the extra aaggage, were sent to Richmond, and on the 26th Branch marched towards the Chickahominy, Johnston's left camping that night between Peake's turnout and Slash Church.
On the 27th Branch fought the battle of Hanover Court House with about 4,000 men, engaging General Porter's reg- ulars and Sedgwick's command of about 12,000. Colonel James H. Lane, with the Twenty-eighth Regiment, was sent back to hold the crossing at Taliaferro's Mill, where two companies of the Thirty-seventh were on duty.
Porter came in between the brigade and the Twenty- eighth Regiment on a road leading towards Mechanicsville. The Eighteentli and Thirty-seventh Regiments were sent to Lane's relief and found Porter's pickets at Peake's, which they drove back upon the line of regulars at the aforemen- tioned road.
Colonel Cowan was placed with the Eighteenth on the
22 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.
right of the Hanover road and Colonel Lee with the Thirty- seventh was sent through a wood to his right to attack Por- ter's flank. About this time a train arrived with the Twelfth North Carolina, Colonel Wade, which, with the Thirty-third, was placed on the left of the road, and drove back to the road the flankers put out by Porter. As Porter had no line be- yond the road these regiments had no further engagement.
The Eighteenth Regiment made a splendid attack on Por- ter's front line and drove it back to the Mechanicsville road, where the ditch bank and wicker fence afforded fine defen(\^. From this cover Porter's volleys did great damage, and th'^ Eighteenth was compelled to move by the right flank to a wood some 200 yards to the right, to get some protection. From this wood the unequal fight was carried on. The Thirty-seventh was further to our right and engaged with lis till ordered to withdraw.
We lost very heavily in this action, some companies losing 50 per cent, in killed and wounded. Our first experience in war was a bloody baptism. "The Bloody Eighteenth" was a well earned title.
General Branch, in his report, says of it : "Colonel Cowan with the Eighteenth made the charge most gallantly, but the enemy's force was much larger than had been supposed, and strongly posted, and the gallant Eighteenth was compelled to seek shelter. It continued to pour heavy volleys from the edge of the woods and must have done great execution. The steadiness with which this desperate charge was made re- flects the highest credit on officers and men. The Thirt;y- seventh found the xindergrowth so dense as to retard its pro- gress, but when it reached its position it po^lred a heavy and destructive fire upon the enemy. This combined volley from the Eighteenth and Thirty-seventh compelled the enemy to leave his battery for a time, and take shelter behind a ditcli bank."
After stating the positions of his forces and the purposes of his engagement, continuing, he says: "Finding I could no longer remain without being surrounded, and hearing of no remforceanents, and feeling assured from the firing that Lane had made good his retreat to Hanover Coxirt House, I deter-
Eighteenth Regiment. 23
mined to draw off. This, always difficult in the presence of a superior enemy, was rendered comparatively easy by the precaution I had taken not to engage my whole force. Camp- bell was ordered to place the Seventh across the road so as to receive the enemy if they should attempt to follow. Orders were then sent to Lee and Cowan to withdraw in order. They were hotly engaged when the order was received, but promptly withdrew. Colonel Cowan, in an especial manner, attracted my attention by the perfect order in which he brought out his regiment, notwithstanding the severe and long continued fire he had received from both infantry and artillery. The regi- ment marched to the rear without haste or confusion and went up the Ashland road."
The command reached Ashland during the night, and the next day marched to the left of Johnson's line, inside the Chickahominy, near Chamberlain's. The Eighteenth guard- ed the crossing several days. Here an occurrence took place that had its influence on this and other North Carolina bri- gades during the war, perhaps accounting for their scant newspaper notoriety, in contrast with certain other com- mands.
When Richmond papers came into camp two of them had communications relative to the engagement of the Twenty- seventh, gingerly criticising General Branch for withdrawing without fighting all his force for all they were worth, vigor- ously protesting that that was what the troops were there for, etc. This was breezy.
Greneral Branch sent his aide. Major Blount, to the edi- tors, and got each article, then sent for Captain , of
the Thirty-seventh, and Lieutenant , of the Thirty- third, to come to headquarters.
He received them in that open, easy manner of which he was master, and entertained them with such courtesy as put them entirely at ease. Handing each his communication he asked "Is that your signature for the purpose therein ex- pressed," with the deliberation of a clerk in chancery probat- ing, a paper.
They recognized that a condition, not a theory, confronted
24 North Carolina Troops, 18t)l-'65.
them, sweated the great sweat of confusion and acknowl- edged their deeds.
He then handed Captain the following and asked
him to read it aloud :
HeADQUAKTEKSj AeMY of N'oETHEEISr VlEGINIA^
June 3rd, 1862. Brigadier General L. O'B. Branch, Commanding, Etc. :
The report of your recent engagement with the enemy ft Slash Church has been forwarded by Major General Hill. I take great pleasure in expressing my approval of the manner in which you have discharged the duties of the position in which you were placed, and of the gallant manner in which your troops opposed a very superior force of the enemy. I beg you will signify to the troops of your command, which were engaged on that occasion, my hearty approval of their conduct, and hope that on future occasions they will evince a like heroism and patriotic devotion.
I am very respectfully your obedient servant.
RoBEET E. Lee.
Through Major General A. P. Hill.
They frankly deferred to the opinion of General Lee, as to the merits of Branch's actions in the engagements of the 27th, and the pardon they asked he freely gave them.
They returned to their commands with a changed opinion as to what they knew about war, fully resolved, thereafter, to attend to the duties that lay next to their door. ,
General Lee's letter of approval was read that evening to each regiment of Branch's brigade on dress parade, and there were two men who looked very intently at something on the ground in front of them during its reading.
The story spread through camp and we had no more war correspondents.
Wait till you hear from General Lee was the rule with the North Carolina troops, leaving to others to make reputa- tion by printers ink.
Colonel Lane with the Twenty-eighth, had hard fighting to
Eighteenth Regiment. 25
keep from capture, and being cut off, made quite a detour to get into the line of the Chickahominy, taking two or three days. After the battle of Seven Pines, on the 31st, in which General Joseph E. Johnston .was severely wounded. General R. E. Lee was placed in command of the Army of Northern Virginia. Brigadier-General Ambrose Powell Hill, for gal- lantry in that battle, and others of the Peninsular campaign, was made Major-General, and six brigades assigned to his division, that of Branch among them.
From Chamberlain's we were moved to Brook Church on the pike near Richmond, and did duty at Crenshaw, Meadow Bridge and telegraph road crossings.
On 25 June the brigade moved to Crenshaws, and next morning crossed the Chickahominy above the Meadow Bridge road. Near Atlee's station, a part of the Seventh and Thirty-third Regiments, in driving in the enemy, had a few men wounded. They captured a flag and a lot of prisoners. This was the first blood spilled, and trophy of the gory seven day's fight. Branch turning their right caused the Yankees alarm, and A. P. Hill crossed the division at the lower roads with comparative ease.
McClellan made a stand at Mechanicsville, and a brisk en- gagement was carried on, till night put a stop to it. The Eighteenth was on the left of the line, under cannonading, from which we lost three men.
During the night the enemy withdrew their main forces, and their rear guard only was encountered next morning. Pursuit was made, and the enemy found at Gaines' Mill, or Cold Harbor, where General McClellan had concentrated his troops in a naturally very strong position.
Branch's brigade was among the first in the battle and did good service. The Eighteenth fought on the right of a road, crossing a swamp, and found the enemy strongly en- trenched on the high bluff on the opposite side, with abatis iti front We charged with vigor, but did not succeed in carry- ing the position. Falling back into the marsh we would re- form and return to the charge, with like result.
Colonel Cowan in his report of the battle, says : "Friday afternoon at 4 o'clock we were put in the fight at Cold Harbor.
26 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.
By your order my line of battle was formed on tlie right o£ the road and in this order I advanced through the dense woods, in which the enemy were posted. A small ravine, deep and boggy, compelled ug to flank still further to the right. By this means I became separated from the remain- der of the brigade, Avhich had been formed on the left, and for a long time was wholly without assistance in my attempts upon the enemy's position. Again and again was that posi- tion assailed, and again and again were we repulsed by vastly superior numbers. Regiment after regiment sent into the same attack, shared the same fate, and it was not until late in the afternoon when the continuous arrival of fresh troops had given xis something like an equality of forces, that any decided impression was made upon the enemy. His posi- tion was carried in that last charge which swept his whol'} army from the field in a perfect rout. In this fight though I was perfectly satisfied with the conduct of my regiment, the position of the enemy was such that we were exposed to heavy fire from the flank as well as from the front, and though the regiment was frequently broken, and compelled to fall back, yet I did not once lose command of it. The men re-formed with alacrity, and my commands were obeyed with the promptness, if not the precision of drill."
In the last charge that we made the writer, with others, passed through the abatis, and got protection from the ene- my's fire, under the bank their breastworks were on. Though the regiment did not capture their strong position, as it re- tired we had the satisfaction of seeing the Yanks abandon their works — a drawn fight, as it were.
We ascended the hill to the field in rear of their breast- works, and were there when Whiting's division of Jackson's forces, came on the field in column, the Texas brigade in front.
We looked up our kinsman, Lieutenant James T. McLau- rin. Company B, Fourth Texas, and marched along with him some quarter of a mile or more, before retiirning to our command. The enemy appeared to have abandoned their works, for at least a half a mile along this swamp, as the re- sult of the determined attacks that had been made upon
Eighteenth Regiment. 27
them, and had fallen back behind a deep ravine running into it, where Whiting found them. Tliere was little firing any- where at that time.
Soon after I left the Texas brigade, the battle was opened by AVhiting, and the -rattle of musketry was incessant till well in the night, such as was rarely heard on any battle field. The Confederates displayed their fighting qualities on all this field but to Whiting's division belongs the credit of the rout of ''the little giants" — mighty men of valor, not that his troops did it alone, but he gave them the grand bounce — the Texas brigade being the first to break their lines and with the assistance of gallant comrades McOlellan's army was kept moving. Night put distance between him and that horrible rebel yell, and he abandoned much valuable army supplies. The field, next day, gave abundant evidence of desperate fighting on both sides. Saturday was spent in burying the many dead upon the field, and gathering the trophies of battle.
Monday evening, the 30th, the enemy was overtaken at Frazier's farxn and about 4 p. m., our brigade was engaged on the right of the road, charging the enemy's line that was strongly posted and well defended. Sweeping across an open field, the Eighteenth Kegiment charged a battery in the yard of a farm house, strongly supported by infantry. They gave us a warm reception with grape, canister, and minie, and were greatly aided by those on their left, who gave us a galling flank fire — so trying at all times — ^before becoming engaged with those on our right, who did not advance as quickly as we did. With a yell and a rush, everything was carried before us, and at a fearful cost in killed and wounded. At the woods beyond the house the regiment was re-formed and advanced again, with the brigade, through a strip of woods, and another field, routing the enemy. On Tuesday, 1 July, we were not actively engaged at Malvern Hill — simply held the position assigned us, when we came on the field in the afternoon. We were under fire of the land batteries and the gunboats, a shell from the latter wounding a few men. The rest of the week we spent on Mc- Olellan's flank clearing it of straggling parties and on Sunday
28 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.
bivouaced near Charles City C. H., in a thicket of old field pines. Here a strange accident occurred. A musket fell from a stack of guns and was discharged, wounding Lieuten- ant George W. Huggins, Company I, in the foot. He was asleep. It was a rude awakening, and from it he goes limp- ing through life. There was no one near the guns, and on being examined it was at half-cock, and very hot. Had the hammer been on the cap it would have been readily accounted for, by its hitting the ground. It was evidently a rare case of sunheat-shooting. Had any one been reasonable near it would have been too strong a case of circumstantial evidence for him to have escaped punishment.
From Charles City C. H., we returned to near Richmond and remained in camp till the first week of August, when A. P. Hill's division reinforced Stonewall Jackson, who, in com- mand of two divisions, had gone to the vicinity of Orange C. H., to watch Pope's advance, threatening our railroad con- nections at G-ordonsville. Hill reached Orange on the 7th, and on the 8th only a few miles march was made, the weather being oppressively hot, and there being some misunderstand- ing of the order of march.
On the evening of the 9th, was fought the battle of Cedar Mountain. Branch's Brigade came on the field after the bat- tle began, and was hastily formed on the left of the Culpep- per road, to support Jackson's first line, and ordered to ad- vance. It had gone but a little distance when it met the "Stonewall Brigade," that splendid body of troops that at First Manassas gave renown and "a name" to the idol of the army, fleeing in iitter rout and confusion before an exultant foe. Nothing daunted by the imfavorable condition of af- fairs Branch's "Tar Heels" met the enemy unflinchingly, and drove them back in great disorder.
Of this charge General Branch in his report, says: "My brigade opened upon them, and quickly drove the enemy back from the woods into a large field.
"Following up to the edge of the field, I came in view of large bodies of the enemy, and having a very fine position, I opened upon them, with great effect. The enemy's cavalry attempted to charge us in two columns, but the fire soon broke
Eighteenth Regiment. 29
them, and sent them fleeing across the field in every direction. The infantry then retreated also. Advancing into the field, I halted near the middle of it, in doubt which direction to take. Just at that moment. General Jackson came riding up from my rear, alone. I reported my brigade as being solid, and asked for orders. My men recognized him, and raised a terrific shout, as he rode along the line with his hat off. He evidently knew how to appreciate a brigade that had gone through a hot battle, and was then following a retreating enemy, without having broken its line of battle, and remained with me directing my movements until the pursuit ceased. * * * * We gained a splendid victory, and the credit is due to my brigade. I was among my men all during the fight and they were brave and cool."
Branch's success enabled General Taliaferro, on the right of the road, to reform his left, that was giving away, and hold his ground.
Generals Pender and Archer were forming on Branch's left and advanced before they were properly aligned ; success at- tended an advance on the whole line and the field was ours. Jackson started for Culpepper that night, but, after going two or three miles, went into camp, his scouts reporting that Pope hiid rec'.'ived heavy reinforceiments.
The dead were buried and in a few days Jackson took position south of the Rapidan, the Eighteenth camping near Orange C. IT.
On the 20th the Rapidan was again crossed, and we had a skirmish near Brandy Station.
The fords of the Rappahannock were strongly guarded by Pope's command, Jackson forced a crossing at one of them and attracted their attention in that direction whilst by such defiles as afforded cover, he ascended the right bank to War- renton Springs and on the 22nd crossed over a small com- mand. In that engagement the Eighteenth supported a bat- tery on the south side and sustained but slight injury. The troops were v. ithdra'wn from the north side and on the morn- ing of the 2Cth, before day, Jackson "lit-out" with his foot- cavalry to go aroimd Pope. When we reached Hazel river we waded up that stream to keep the dust of the road from
30 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.
betraying oar route, and crossing the Blue Eidge we got a few hours rest that night around Orleans. JSText day JSTew Salem was passed and the Blue Ridge recrossed at Thorough- fare Gap. That night about 1 o'clock Jackson camped in Pope's rear around Bristoe Station.
On the morning of 27 August, Branch's brigade had a briish with cavalry and artillery near Manassas Junc- tion, running it back across Bull Run, captuidng . sozne 200 prisoners.
The Eighteenth regiment was not in the pursuit, being detached after tlie fight to guard Manassas depot, and hun- dreds of cars loaded with supplies for Pope's army — a rich trophy indeed.
Supplies were taken out, not only for Jackson's troops, but also for Lee's army that was following, and had, two days af- terward to fight its way through Thoroughfare Gap. All the supplies were taken that could be disposed of and the torch applied, about midnight, to that which could not be util- ized. At 1 o'clock a. m. the Eighteenth followed Jackson across Bull Run and in the early morn reached the fortifi- cations at Centreville erected in 1861. After resting a few hours the march was resumed, and we recrossed Bull Run at the Stone bridge taking position in line similar to that occu- pied by the Federals in 1861, at the First Manassas battle. We were under heavy artillery firing for some time, and had some casualties. The Eighteenth was again detached from the brigade and sent to the right to the support of a part of EWell's command.
Ewell's troops repulsed the attack on them before our arri- val and we returned without being actively engaged. On the morning of the 29th we made quite a march, returning during the day near where we started from, too fatigued for the hard service that fell to our lot. We were placed on the left near Sudley Ford, behind the unfinished Alexandria and Manassas Gap Railroad and being in the second line, as supports, had ample action in different places without any protection. Branch's brigade was fought that day in sec- tions, and like foot-cavalry, was at all parts of the line. The Eighteenth was sent across the railroad to cheek a flank move- ■
Eighteenth Regiment. 31
ment, then to the assistance of Gregg's brigade, that occupied the key to Jackson's position, where desperate fighting had to be done to hold it against the hosts that were hurled upon it, in a vain effort to rum Jackson's left. Again the Eighteenth was sent to A. P. Hill's right, to the support of Archer's and a Louisiana Brigade, which occupied a railroad cut. The Eighteenth fought iu-an open oak woods imniediately in their rear, and when an attack was repulsed, we could not charge and follow them. Jackson held his ground.
It was evidently Pope's intention to overwhelm Stonewall and crush him before Lee could come to his assistance. . Long- street met vigorous resistance at Thoroughfare Gap, but forced his way through, and by pressing in the direction of Jackson's guns, arrived on his right near Groveton in time to give needful help. Every part of the line was held, and Pope's efforts frustrated. On the 30th we were to the left of the heavy fighting, not actively engaged, simply holding the place assigned us. The attacks of the enemy were re- pulsed, and in the afternoon an advance along the line drove them back on Bull Run. The Confederates were victors on almost the identical ground from which the Federals were driven pell-mell in 1861.
During the night Pope's army crossed Bull Run, more de- liberately than it was crossed in 1861, but equally defeated.
A heavy rain falling that night, pursuit was not made. The 31st was used in burying the dead and gathering the spoils of war, principally by Longstreet, as Jackson crossed the historic Bull Run at Sudley Ford and camped that night near Little River Turnpike. On 1 September marched along the pike towards Fairfax Court House. At Ox Hill the enemy was met that afternoon, advancing from the direction of Centreville. Branch was formed parallel to the pike, and advancing through a field, drove the enemy from a wood into a large field beyond. In the edge of this opening. Branch halted and held his position (which was apart from the brigade that advanced with him, but on a diverging line) though heavily assailed in front and flank. Our ammunition being exhausted and the ordnance wagons not accessible, we were ordered to hold our position at the
32 North Gakolina Tkoops, 1861-65.
point of the bayonet. The battle was on, during a blinding wind and rain-storm, and the enemy was satisfied with the assaults made upon us. Towards night we were withdrawn, and rested on the pike. On the 5th the army crossed the Potomac above Leesburg, Va., and camped a week on the Monacacy, near Frederick City, Md. Here the Eighteenth received a large number of raw recriiits from North Caro- lina, without arms or accoutrements.
On 13 September, Jackson was off on another flank movement, and crossing the Potomac at Williamsport, came down upon Martinsburg, which, after some resistance was evacuated, leaving a good quantity of supplies in our hands.
General White retreated to' Harpers Ferry, which Jackson attacked the evening of the 14th. Night put an end to it, and was taken advantage of to get into position. It was after midnight when Branch got in the rear on Boiivar Heights, and some brigades had equally as great difiiculty in getting into position. When the fog lifted on the 15th and Jackson's artillery opened from the heights, theretofore con- sidered inaccessible, it was not long before the white flag was raised and 12,000 surrendered, with a splendid equipment of guns, ammunition and supplies. Our raw recruits were sup- plied with guns. Up-to-date Springfield rifles, replaced our smooth-bores, and A. P. Hill's division was left to guard the post, parole prisoners, etc. Stonewall Jackson rejoined the army with the rest of his conraiand, and the heavy firing that could be distinctly heard proclaimed his need. On the 17th, Hill's light division was marched rapidly to Sharpsburg, crossing the Potomac at Shepherdstown, and arrived on the field just in time to save Lee's lines, that were giving away at all points on the right and centre. An half hour later would have been fatal.
Branch's brigade fought about midway between Sharps- burg and the Antietam, in a com field running northerly from the creek to the town.
The Eighteenth was left in reserve, at first, behind a ridge near some straw stacks, in a stubble field. The corn was visi- ble from these straw stacks, to the Antietam, as we approach- ed. About the time that Branch ordered the Eighteenth into
Eighteenth Regiment. 33
action he was killed near these stacks. The Eighteenth crossed the ridge to the left of the stacks and as we descended into the valley beyond, we saw the thin gray line retreucing from a wooded ridge, some 300 yards over the corn, into a valley that extended towards the town, with Burnside's victo- rious blue coats in vigorous pursuit. The lines met in this corn-covered valley, and the conflict was terrific, decisive. Burnside was hurled back and a rout prevented. There was no more fighting that evening. The Eighteenth fought apart from the rest of the brigade, and re-formed on the edge of the corn field behind a part stone, and part rail fence with skirmishers in the valley. About night the brigade was gotten together by Colonel James H. Lane, of the Twenty- eighth North Carolina, and formed on an extension of this fence, with the Eighteenth on its left, nearer the town, where we lay all next day roasting in a scorching September sun, or drenched by downpours of rain, with now and then a minie ball salute from the wooded ridge beyond the corn. Our hard march from Harper's Ferry, wading the Potomac in fours, our clothing saturated with water from the hips down, the effort to close up to the head of the column, making it an up-hill foot-race from the river to the battle-field, caused none but those of unquestioned endurance to be there to go into action.
Burnside's corps was on the field all day resting. That was its first action, and flushed with victory, it should have swept us off the earth, the mere handful that we were to thciu in numbers. How Hill's divisioii stood before them -"xas won- derful, but it liad gone there to fight and was too tirotl to run. There was no pursuit. Nature has its limits, and we had reached ours, with fearful sacrifice.
Lee with his army, matchless by equal numbers, lay on the field during the 18th, and was not attacked by the vastly out- numbering foe. During the night Lee withdrew his forces and crossed the Potomac into Virginia. Branch's brigade, commanded by Colonel Lane, covered the retreat. Repulsing the enemy, then falling back till pressed again, the rear was effectively covered. We crossed the ford below Boteler's 3
34 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.
mill in good order, under fire of a pursuing enemy, and went into camp two or three miles away.
During the night the enemy crossed a corps, and on the morning of the 20th, A. P. Hill's division was sent back to attend to it. The heights on the Maryland side command the Virginia side, and were bristling with artillery. A few rounds showed that our artillery was not in it, and it got out of range, so that it was purely an infantry fight on our part. Hill charged with three brigades, supported by the other three, and drove the enemy to the river, capturing many prisoners. From the start the artillery had our range, accu- rately, and their shells plowed through the Eighteenth several times during the advance.. Reaching the river the Eigh- teenth occupied a bluff overlooking Boteler's mill dam, and from it, shot blue coats crossing the dam, till a detail sent down captured all under the bluff.
The artillery practice became so accurate that they'd hit a litter carrying oft' our wounded or our canteen men, going across a ridge in our rear for water. We had to lie close all day, and withdraw after night. The enemy that got across the river had also to lie close in the canal all day. It was full.
We camped aroiind Bunker Hill, and in October worked a few days on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, beyond Mar- tinsburg, and left a couple of sections about Hedgersville and North Mountain depot in splendid disorder. Colonel Lane was promoted brigadier, and assigned to the com- mand of Branch's brigade, and remained with it during the war. Colonel Robert H. Cowan, of the Eighteenth Regi- ment, resigned, and Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas J. Purdie became Colonel, Major Forney George, Lieutenant-Colonel and Cajrtain John D. Barry, Company I, Major of the regi- ment.
About the middle of November the Eighteenth had an en- gagement with the enemy at Snicker's Gap, and the last days of the month, Jackson followed Tjongstreet towards Fred- ericksburg to meet Burnside's movements. There was an abundance of rain, sleet and snow during the march, and
Eighteenth Regiment. 35
many of the men were barefooted, as well as thinly clad, but they had the stuff of heroes in them.
On 10 December we camped below Fredericksburg, near the Massaponax, and on the 12th went into line above that stream, A. P. Hill's right being at Hamilton's crossing and his left near Deep Run; Fields, Archer, Lane and Pender in the front and Gregg and Thomas in the second line as supports. From Hamilton's the railroad is the cord of the curving ridge that extends , from that place to Fred- ericlcsburg and runs between the foothills and the Port Royal road.
Archer occupied a part of the railroad track, and to his left was a stretch of wooded marshland, 500 or 600 yards between his left and Lane's right. This gap Lane and Archer tried to get filled, and subsequent results showed the unwise neglect of their superiors in not heeding their entreaties.
The railroad track to the left of the marshland, wliich Lane occupied, ran through a low place with a ridge to the right, some seventy-five or a hundred yards, high enough to shut out a view of the plain in front, from all of the brigade, save part of the Thirty-seventh on the right, and the Seventh on the left. Several pieces of artillery were on this ridge in front of the Seventh and of Pender on its left.
When the fog lifted on the 13th, the artillery duel from the enemy, with these guns and those on the ridge in our rear, put lis under a heavy fire. When the enemy advanced, tliey were repulsed at the crest of the ridge in our front. The gap between Lane and Archer was discovered and in their next advance, a heavy force against that part of the line, forced back Archer's left and Lane's right, and penetrated to Gregg's line. Lane's right regiments held their ground tenaciously, each retiring only as compelled to do so. Colonel Purdie threw back the right wing of the Eighteenth to the woods some seventy-five or one hundred yards in our rear, and made a determined stand. Here the enemy was checked, Thomas coming to our assistance.
Gregg was said to have been killed before he knew that the troops advancing on him were enemies. His gallant brigade rcovered from a temporary confusion and joined with Law-
36 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.
ton and Hoke were sent to Archer's relief, and Thomas and Lane on its left. The whole line advanced, and drove back the enemy with great loss. Reaching the railroad the left of the Eighteenth and the Seventh, that had held their position, joined in the advance. The division was reformed on the railroad line and gotten in readiness for a night attack. At nightfall we took position at the crest of the rising ground in front and were ready at the appointed time, but Jack- son's desire for a night attack was overruled, and the order was countermanded in the nick of time. We occupied thi front line till about midday of the 14th, when we were sent back to the top of the ridge for a night's rest.
On the 15th we were again in line, ready for any emer- gency. On that night, Burnside withdrew his forces to the north side of the Eappahannock. Jackson's corps moved down the Port Eoyal road to Corbin's Neck, and went into winter quarters.
On 30 April camp was broken, and we marched to Fred- ericksburg, and next day we engaged with the enemy across the Orange plank road, near Chancellorsville.
On the morning of 2 May, 1863, I was sent to recall our skirmishers, and follow to the left. Jackson marched by the left flank, going by the Iron Furnace, around Hook- er's army, and crossed the Orange plank road some three miles west of Chancellorsville. Facing east the line was ready to advance and no time was lost. Striking the Elev- enth corps in flank and rear, it was routed and driven back, and by sundown Jackson's troops were near Chancellorsville. Part of A. P. Hill's division marched in column do-wn the plank road and at sundown Lane was ordered to form his bri- gade across the road, and charge Chancellor's Hill, on which Hooker was massing his artillery, and forming his line, with troops that had not been engaged.
Our artillery opened on them, and was replied to by the guns in position. A severe cannonading prevented Lane from forming line till our artillery was stopped and the firing ceased.
The Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth was formed on the left of the road and the Seventh and Thirty-seventh on the right,
Eighteenth Regiment. 37
the Thirty-third was thrown forward as skirmishers, covering the brigade. The Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth were moved forward near the skirmishers (which we did not know at that time were in our front) , and before the Seventh and Thirty- seventh were brought opposite us, a Yankee officer came into the right regiment and asked wjiat troops it was. Waving a handkerchief, he claimed flag of truce rights, but was not allowed to go back. Lane was informed at once of the troops moving on his right flank and went to investigate before ad- vancing, though Jackson and Hill had again ordered the advance. ■ We had orders at first to be careful as our cavalry would cross at Ely's or U. S. Fords, and might come in from its circuit in our front. Later we had orders to shoot any- thing from the front.
Whilst General Lane was investigating the situation on his right, which took some time, and resulted in retaining the ofiicer who was parleying, and the capture of his regi- ment— One Hundred and Twentieth Pennsylvania — Colonel Purdie, hearing something in our front, called me with him, and we went forward carefully on the edge of the road some 50 or 60 yards, and found Captain George W. Sanderlin, of the Thirty-third, who gave us our first information that that regiment was deployed as skirmishers. We told him of our orders, and the complication that had arisen on the right. He crossed the road with us where Lieutenant-Colonel Cowan was and whilst talking with him Captain Joe Sanders came up looking for Colonel Avery to tell him of the troops moving on the right of his skirmish line. In a few minutes a few shots were fired, apparently two or three hundred yards in our front, to the right of the road, then extending towards the right of the brigade. At this juncture Colonel Purdie and myself started for our line, making our steps fast and long. Firing began along the brigade. Before we reached the Eighteenth it fired a terrific volley. How we escaped was wonderful. Horses with riders, and horses without, came into the line with us.
We are friends, cease firing ! rang out, but too late. Stone-
38 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.
wall Jackson and some of the staff wounded, and some two or three couriers killed, was the result of that volley.
Lane's ambulance corps was in our immediate rear, and was called into use. A blanket was placed over General Jackson to keep his wounding from being known, as he was carried to the rear.
I pulled the cape of his overcoat over the head of one of Hill's couriers, that fell about where I had last seen Colonel Purdie. They were about the same size and resembled each other very much. In the darkness I was mistaken. Purdie was safe and sound at the left of the regiment. About a half hour after the wounding of Jackson, another firing took place along the line, and A. P. Hill, who had gone to the front on foot to look for something that was left, where Jackson was wounded, was shot in the calf of his leg. Hill was much displeased, and was reproving us for firing at a noise, etc. A company B back-woodsman laconically remarked : "Every- body knows the Yankee army can't run the 'Light Division,' and one little general needn't try it." This sally restored him to normal condition and he limped down the road, stay- ing on the field till General J. E. B. Stewart, the chivalrous cavalryman, came from near Ely's ford when he turned the command over to him. Hill may have had a contiision from a bursting shell as mentioned by various writers of the inci- dent, but he certainly got a minie ball in his leg after Jack- son was wovinded.
How Jackson and Hill, their staff and couriers got in front was never satisfactorily explained. Neither of them was in the habit, day or night, of riding or otherwise going in front of the skirmishers, or line, when they ordered an advance, and the enemy known to be at a short distance on that night they certainly woiild not knowingly have put themselves be- tween the lines at such a time. Such a body of horsemen could not have ridden through any part of Lane's brigade that night without its being known. We were never more on the alert, and wide awake than that night, and I don't re- member to have ever heard of a member of the brigade say- ing that he knew they had gone in our front.
My recollection is that when Hill and Jackson came for-
Eighteenth Regiment. 39
ward to know why Lane did not advance and again directed him to do so, they went to the rear, to a large field, on the left of the road, where Rodes, Colston, Trimble and others were reforming their commands. It was more than probable that the delay occurring by the complication on Lane's right, caused them to ride forward on the mountain road, leading towards Chancellorsville, passing beyond Lane's left, and they were thus in our front, when the firing began. What- ever may be the true statement of how they got in that posi- tion, there was nothing more certain than that they came from our front when the firing began.
It was generally conceded that the Eighteenth Regiment fired the fatal shots. None regretted the occurrence more than we did, and the army did not blame us for the manner or measure of our discharge of our duty, though others did.
The Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth were transferred to the right of the brigade about 11 o'clock and repulsed an at- tack made upon that flank, capturing many prisoners in addi- tion to the regiment captured there earlier in the night. The skirmish lines were not far apart, and the least noise brought on a volley.
With empty stomachs we slept on our arms, as best we could, between the firings.
Our ears caught the rumbling of artillery wheels and the clatter of many axes, making us painfully aware that Clian- eellorsville Hill was fortified for the morrow's work. Stu- art gave orders that the attack be made at 4 o'clock next morn- ing. At early dawn Hill's division, commanded by Heth, was put in motion. The right of Lane being deflected was wheeled to the left to get in line. The first and second breast- works were carried before sunrise. Hill's right brigades found the enemy entrenched where Lane had fought them the night before, and had to fight into position to advance. Be- ing thtis detained Lane was exposed on his right, and lost heavily at the second breastworks.
Colonel Purdie was killed,*and Lieutenant-Colonel George wounded. Major Barry had a captain left to command the right and a lieutenant to command the left wing of the regi- ment, a fearful loss, and he was the only one of thirteen regi-
40 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.
mental officers present with the brigade, not killed or wounded. Color Bearer Richardson, of the Eighteenth, was wounded in the night fighting, and Prophet and Ed- wards were killed, successively, at the second breastworks next morning.
The writer was wounded, through the upper third of left thigh, just as these works were carried, and got nearly ofE the field by using two muskets as crutches, before the enemy rallied and retook the works. Out of ammunition and no reinforcements arriving, the brigade was unable to hold its position, and retreated to the first line of works, where it remained till supplied with ammunition. The enemy rein- forced, and stubbornly held this strong position, repulsing several attacks made upon it. It was near 10 o'clock before Chancellor's Hill was carried, when Lee's and Stuart's line were joined and Hooker's army forced beyond the Planl?; road into the tangle of that wilderness country, from which he re- crossed the Eapidan. Lane's loss in this fight was 909, about one-third of the loss of Hill's division.
In his book clearing up the odium that attached to the Eleventh corps for its disaster in this battle, Lieutenant-Colo- nel A. C. Hamlin, brother of Vice-President Hannibal Llam- lin, historian of that much abused command, says of Lane's brigade: "This brigade faced the Federal front in line of battle, and although twice exposed to the fire of forty-three cannon, it never faltered, nor called for help, until its flank and rear were threatened by Sickles about midnight. The history of this command under its dauntless leader, through- out the war, and ending at Appomattox, will always be ad- mired, and respected by those who believe in American man- hood. And the student who seeks to discover a higher degree of courage and hardihood among the military organizations of either army will look over the true records of the war for a long time, if not in vain. Investigation shows that the bri- gade was composed of young men, of the best stock the Old North State contained, and sent to represent it, in that bul- wark of secession, the Army of Northern Virginia. The rec- ords show that it was in all of the principal battles of the Army of Northern Virginia, and that its blows were severe
Eighteenth Regiment. 41
and its losses were frightful. In the battles around Rich- mond in 1862, the brigade lost 800 men, killed and wounded, at Chancellorsville it lost nearly 800 men killed and wounded, and of its thirteen field officers, all but one were struck down. At Gettysburg it formed the left of Longstreet's charge and although it had lost nearly 40 per cent, in its three days fighting, it marched off the field in excel- lent order when Pickett was routed and took position in support of the rebel (Confederate) batteries, which some of the brigades of that charge did not do. This organ- ization was among the last soldiers of Lee's army to re- cross the Potomac after both Antietam and Gettysburg. North Carolina furnished more men than any other State of the Confederacy, and lost more in action than any of its sister States, and the records show, or seem to show, that her mountaineers struck many of the hardest blows the army of the Potomac received from the Army of JSTorthern Virginia."
These generous words from a foe, are true, and show that those who met us on the field of battle, could recognize "foe- men worthy of their steel."
His figures of killed and wounded are supposed to be taken from the Surgeon General's Hospital report, and the differ- ence between that and the brigade and the regimental reports is accounted for by the fact that a great many slightly wounded men never passed through the hospitals, where a record was kept.
Jackson's corps returned to its camp and after his death, it and Longstreet's were reorganized and three corps formed, under Longstreet, Ewell and A. P. Hill. When A. P. Hill was made Lieutenant-General, Brigadier-Generals W. D. Pender and Harry Heth were made Major-Generals. Colonel Alfred M. Scales succeeded Pender as Brigadier-General. To Major-General Pender's "Light Division" was assigned the Worth Carolina brigades of Lane and Scales, McGowan's (S. C.) and Thomas' (Georgia) brigades.
Being a member of the ISTorth Carolina Legislature, Lieu- tenant-Colonel Forney George resigned, and Major John D. Barry became Colonel. Captain John W. McGill, Company
42 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.
B, was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain Thos. J. Wooten, Company K, major.
Lee put his army in motion and on 25 June crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown. On 1 July the brigade marched from Cashtown to Gettysburg and formed on the left of the pike. After advancing a mile or more, it was transferred to the right to support Heth, and again advanced. The lines diverging, Lane became uncov- ered, and met the enemy in his own front, forcing his lines back towards Cemetery Heights. On the 2nd the Eighteenth was sent to support a battery, near the Theological college, and was again with the brigade in its advance in the even- ing-
On the 3rd Heth's division, under Brigadier-General Pet-
tigrew and Lane's and Scales' brigades, temporarily under Major-General Trimble, were sent to Longstreet, who placed Pettigrew in front, supported by Trimble, whilst Pickett with two brigades in front on line with Pettigrew, was supported by his third brigade, and Wilcox's brigade attached to him to protect his flank.
It was a high compliment to Lleth's division and Pender's two brigades, who had done hard service on the 1st and 2nd, to be selected to make the attack on the 3rd, and be pitted with Pickett's division that was fresh upon the field, and had not had a good whiff of powder since the battle of Cold Harbor in June, 1862. It did duty arovind Petersburg, and in JvTorth Carolina, and had missed the hardships of the Maryland campaign, and the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Thoroughly recruited and full, it was in fine condition for this fight. Pettigrew's brigade was simi- larly fortunate, as to the last year's campaign, but at the reorganization of the corps, was taken f roan its picnic grounds and put into the division of Heth, with which it had fought on the 1st and 2nd. (One regiment of Pettigrew's brigade, and one brigade of Pickett's division was left in Virginia. )
The first arrangement and order of battle was for Hill's troops to support Longstreet's Corps, in its attack, but by the final arrangement two of Longstreet's divisions were not put in and Pickett had but two brigades on the front line.
Eighteenth Regiment. 43
The whole of Heth's division under Pettigrew was on the front line, and only two brigades of Pender's under Trimble, to support it. When the advance was made Pickett and Pet- tigrew's lines diverged, Pettigrew's supports uncovered, and Pickett's supports also. Pickett's front brigades and supports became so far apart when the fighting line was reached that General Stannard seeing the opportunity, threw his command forward from the Federal lines, and cutting a part off, made large captures. Having about half the distance to go Pickett reached musketry range before Pettigrew and was repulsed, whilst Pettigrew was advancing. When Pettigrew reached the works he, like Pickett, was without support, on account of difference of direction of his line and support some diverging, some crowding, and, when his support (Trimble, with Lane's and Scale's brigades) passed beyond and reached the works it was like Pickett and Pettigrew, un- able to live in that maelstrom of death.
Each command broke the enemy at some point in its front, and Trimble's and Pettigrew's dead and wounded were found in the orchard beyond the stone fence, and at the stone fence, the height of a man's chin, eighty yards further in their front than the stone fence about 21/2 feet high, in front of Pickett's line.
When leaving. Lane's brigade rallied its remnant in the hollow by the Emmettsburg road, and marched off in order, the last troops to leave the field.
This charge of the Confederates stands out in history in its uniqueness for boldness and gallantry and the chaplet of honor should encircle the brow of all the troops engaged in it. Those who were there and surrendered deserve credit ; those who were there and fought with their commands, can not be sufiiciently rewarded, and those who so gallantly poured out their life blood, a libation on their country's altar, should be immortalized in song and story as the highest type of American manhood.
There is no disposition on the part of those engaged to de- tract from the merit of Pickett's men,or dim the lustre of the charge. As a whole the charge was brilliant — in isolated in- stances it was not what it ought to have been. Brocken-
44 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.
brough's, Va., brigade did not come up to its usual standard, and the shafts of detraction were hurled at all its comrades under Pettigrew, on that account.
General Gr. E. Pickett made the mistake of not going with his division. His presence would have been helpful, and might have saved his large number of prisoners. His briga- diers did as well as they could, but a division needs its com- mander to get its best result.
The casualties of each command is the test of services, and Pettigrew's command welcomes the token, as the statistics of Gettysburg show, viz. :
Pickett and his support lost: Killed, 266 ; wounded, 1,546 ; total killed and wounded, 1,812; prisoners, 1,756; grand total, 3,568.
Pettigrew and his supports lost: Killed, 554; wounded, 2,470; total killed and wounded, 3,024; prisoners, 627; grand total, 3,651. More than twice as many killed, nearly twice as many wounded and a little more than one-third as many prisoners.
Pickett's heaviest loss was in Armistead's brigade of Vir- ginia: Killed, 84; wounded, 491; total killed and wounded, 575 ; prisoners, 643 ; grand total, 1,218. Five regiments more than half prisoners.
Pettigrew's heaviest loss was in his own brigade of ISTorth Carolina: Killed, 190; wounded, 915; total killed and wounded, 1,105 ; prisoners, 00 ; four regiments and no pris- oners. Killed and wounded, nearly 2 to 1.
One regiment of this brigade, the Twenty-sixth North Car- olina, lost: Killed, 86 ; wounded, 502 ; killed and wounded, 588 ; prisoners, 00 ; grand total, 588 ; or 13 more killed and wounded than Armistead's brigade.
Nearly half of Pickett's loss was prisoners, whilst Petti- grew lost but one-sixth in prisoners, viz : Archer, 517 ; Scales, 110; total, 627.
These figures, obtained from volume 26, part 2, pages 339, 343, 4, 5, Official Eecords Union and Confederate Armies, show that Pickett's charge did not fail because he was not supported by Pettigrew, and that Pettigrew really did the fighting of the day.
Eighteenth Regiment. 45
North Carolinians were satisfied with doing their duty and "We envy not others their merited glory."
Lee withdrew from the field on the night of the 4th and re- mained at Hagerstown a week. On the 13th crossed the Po- tomac at Falling Waters where Lane acted as rear guard. The Eighteenth and part of the Twenty-eighth were deployed as skirmishers and those of the Twenty-eighth were the last to cross. A week was spent in camp near Culpepper Court House, when the army returned to the line of the E,apidan, the Eighteenth camping near Orange Court House.
After the death of Major-General Pender from wounds at Gettysburg, Brigadier-General Cadmus M. Wilcox was pro- moted, and assigned to his command. On 22 September the Eighteenth marched with the command and was at a skirmish at Jack's Shop, near Madison Court House, and, after that, camped at Liberty Mills, the left of the army. On the 9 th the army advanced, Hill marching by Madison Court House and Warrenton to Bristoe Station where Heth had a fight with the enemy. Cooke's and Kirkland's North Carolina brigades were sent against a strong position on the railroad, and gallantly went into a slaughter pen. Before reinforcements could go to their assistance they were deci- mated. Wilcox was under shelling from the enemy's artil- lery with slight casualties. We again had a job on the rail- road, and destroyed it to the Rappahannock, and camped a week on its south side.
After leaving Brandy Station on the 8th the Yankee cav- alry pursued in force. We laid an ambush for them near Culpepper, using one of the North Carolina companies of the Eleventh Virginia cavalry as decoys. It played its part well, fighting better than cavalry was expected to, and nearly succeeded in drawing a regiment of blue-coat cavalry into a field, where, covered by some woods, the Eighteenth was placed to get in their rear. The trap was discovered in time to escape with a lot of empty saddles, and a loss to the Eigh- teenth of one killed and a half dozen wounded.
The Eighteenth returned to Liberty Mills, and built com- fortable winter quarters. On 28 November marched to Mine Run, where Meade had crossed. We lay in line of bat-
46 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.
tie, and built breastworks, but were not engaged, more than on the skirmish line. The weather was fearfully cold, and the pickets were relieved every two hours, as they could not stay longer without fire. The skirmish lines were not far apart, and exposure was dangerous. In a thicket of old field pines, between the lines, a flock of wild turkeys lit down. A fine, large gobbler lost his life there by this rashness, and lay in full view of both picket lines. Disregarding the danger, each side determined to capture that turkey, and several men were gobblerized during the day. After sun down George W. Corbett in charge of the Eighteenth skirmishers, played tac- tics to bring him in. Picking a man to help him, they ap- proached in different directions, and succeeded in bagging the game, as well as in getting a new overcoat and blanket off of an equally venturesome, but less successful blue-coater that lay near by. The pot boiled that night. A. P. Hill's division was massed Tuesday night, 1 December, to attack next morn- ing, but during the night Meade recrossed the river. We gladly returned to our winter quarters at Liberty Mills and spent the winter there.
Who that saw it, will ever forget the snow-ball battle that started in fun, and spread from regiment to brigade, then division and corps, till the line from Liberty Mill to Orange Court House was engaged in the exhiliarating sport ?
Some disgruntled spirit, at last, threw a rock in his snow- ball and brought blood. This dastardly act was promptly re- sented, and went to such an extent that the men rushed for their arms, and it took the best efforts of the officers and level-headed men for a while to prevent the rebel yell, and snow-ball from being followed by real powder and ball.
During the winter Grovernor Vance made a tour of the army in his candidacy for re-election as governor of North Caro- lina. He received an ovation wherever he went and captured the army in toto.
General Grant's successes in the western army made him commander of the armies of the United States in the field. During the winter he came east, and personally assumed com- mand of the army of the Potomac. Most favorably situated, and with carte-blanche he supplied his command with every-
Eighteenth Regiment. 47
tiling he wanted. It was a spectacle worth beholding, and calculated to swell the bosom of any man with pride, to look upon the one hundred and forty thousand men, with which he crossed the Rapidan, 4 May, 1864, as splendidly equipped a body of men as ever trod the face of the earth. Well might he have said :
"Behold them, in their glory, You will soon read our story, On to Richmond ! ! !"
General Lee had sixty thousand men scantily supplied with everything, save grit, with which to meet this mighty host.
The disparity of numbers, and condition was appalling, but the ragged Confederates did not faint or falter.
On the evening of the 5th Heth and Pender's divisions of Hill's corps, some 5,000 men, engaged Birney's, Mott's, Gib- bon's and Barlow's divisions, Hancock's corps, with Getty's division of the Sixth corps, say 40,000 men, and did good service.
The Eighteenth was sent to the front and on the right of the Orange plank road, near a mile from it, found the Thirty-eighth North Carolina hotly engaged with Hancock's troops. Colonel Barry and Lieutenant-Colonel Ashford fought their regiments, as emergency required, in various positions, till nightfall, when I was sent back to report their condition and get instructions. Shifting position so often during the evening I had lost my bearings, and in the dark- ness got into Hancock's corps and had to tack variously to get out. About 11 o'clock I got into Wilcox's troops, on a straight run down the planl?; road. Before I stopped my run, I recognized General Wilcox's white horse, and going to him fotmd Wilcox. Out of wind, and gasping between words, I told him that I was just out of Hancock's corps, and that there was not a man between him and Hancock's skir- mishers. He evidently did not believe a word of it, and was not over polite in letting me know it. I found where my command was and went to it. General Lane, Colonels Barry, Avery and others believed my statement, and went to Wilcox
48 North Carolina Troops, l861-'65.
to get a picket line established in front. He assured them that there was a division in his front, and told them not to disturb the men, let them rest till morning. The regiments bivouacked without regard to alignment, as they assembled from the different parts of the field, on which they had fought.
In the morning Colonel Avery had gotten part of the Thirty-third in line, when Hancock's corps and Sedwick's division struck us, and fought them like tigers. The tempor- ary check made where they were, gave little time for the bri- gade that was forming to get together, and Wilcox was caught all out of joint all along his line. Though we had little or no alignment, the regiments and squads fell back fighting as best they could. About a quarter of a mile from where Han- cock flushed us, we were fired into by the division that Wil- cox thought was in his front the night before and it retreated without waiting to let us pass by it.
There were fifty or seventy-five in the squad that I fell back with, a part from the plank road (the most of the bri- gade were near it). About a half mile back we were cov- ered by the right of the Texas brigade, as it advanced, the first of Longstreet's troops that got into action. Our squad composed of men from all of Lanes regiments, joined the Fourth Texas under Captain Jas. T. McLaurin, Company B, and went with it in the charge that drove Hancock back to the position of the morning near the Brock road.
It was near midday when we rejoined our command in the left of the Plank road, where it had assembled after the morn- ing's experience. Though caught at a disadvantage the men fought well, as the casualties show, and delayed their assail- ant's advance.
Ewell did splendid fighting that afternoon on the left of the army and drove the Federal right some distance. About 9 o'clock that night the rebel yell was set up on the right and extended to the left of the army.
The volume and duration of sound exceeded anything that we had then heard or have heard since. Prisoners taken afterwards reported great demoralization from it in Warren's and Sed-wick's corps. General Horace Porter in his "Cam-
ElGHTKENTH ReGIMENT. 49
paign With Grant," gives a graphic account of the attack on these commands after dark, and of the battle says : "All cir- cumstances seemed to combine to make the scene one of un- utterable horror. At times the wind howled through the tree tops, mingling its moan with the groans of the dying, and heavy branches were cut off by the fire of the artillery and fell crashing upon the heads of the men, adding a new terror to battle.
"Forest fires raged, ammunition trains exploded, the dead were roasted in the conflagration, the wounded, roused by its hot breath, dragged themselves along with their torn and mangled limbs, in the mad energy of despair, to escape the ravages of the flame, and every bush seemed hung with shreds of blood-stained clothing. It was as though Christian men had turned to fiends, and hell itself had usurped the place of earth."
We Avere direct opposites at that time in action and prin- ciples. I'm not inclined to combat his sentiment. Sheol was not far off that day.
On the 8th left the Wilderness and had a little skirmish- ing near the Po. On the 10th arrived at Spottsylvania Court House and on that and the following day built breast- works on different parts of the line, being moved several times. Our lines being nearly at right angles to Ewell's corps, we built traverses to protect ourselves from shots in that direction.
Late in the evening of the 11th, Lane's brigade, which was the left of A. P. Hill's corps, was thrown forward to the front and left to connect with Ewell's line. Our left regi- ments, Twenty-eighth and Eighteenth, were beyond a branch and thrown forward, at an obt\ise angle to the rest of the brigade, to connect with Stewart's brigade of General Edward Johnson's division, that was thrown back in a curve from that division to connect with the Twenty-eighth, forming a salient, knoAvn as the Horseshoe angle.
During the night our artillery was withdrawn from John- son's line, and Hancock's and Burnside's corps were massed at the salient, with orders to attack it at 4 o'clock. The artil- 4
50 North Caromna Troops, 1861-65.
lery was returning to Johnson's line, but had not gotten in position when Hancock attacked at daylight. Edward John- son's left and Eobert D. Johnson's brigade that were sup- porting it, were swept away. That let Hancock into Stewart's rear, and the rear of the Twenty-eighth and Eigh- teenth who were engaged with those to the right of the angle.
The artillery and Stewart's brigade were captured. When the Twenty-eighth and Eighteenth found that Hancock was in their immediate rear, it was too late to escape and about one-third of the Twenty-eighth and near half of the Eigh- teenth were made prisoners. Of those who escaped, the writer, adjutant of the Eighteenth North Carolina, ral- lied a handful at the left of the breastworks of the previous day and recklessly dashing into Hancock's host that poured into the woods, through Johnson's opening, produced a panic, that adding to its own demoralization, drove his serried num- bers back beyond the branch, stampeding even the guards in charge of the prisoners. Some of the Eighteenth's prisoners taking advantage of the stampede, escaped and rejoined the regiment. J. C. Kinlaw, of Company K, in a subsequent charge, recovered his knapsack and accoutrements, of which he had been stripped preparatory to being carried to the rear. This stampede gave time for the Thirty-seventh, Seventh and Thirty-third to be formed on the crest south of the branch, and the remnant of the Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth re- formed on their left where Lane repulsed Hancock's next ad- vance, and saved the right of the army. Scales' North Caro- lina brigade coming to his assistance, another attack was repulsed.
After this Gordon, in command of Early's division, joined our left, and by hard fighting the line was advanced and held near the apex of the angle. On the left of the angle Daniel's North Carolina brigade stopped the break of Ewell's line and Eamseur's North Carolina brigade taken from Daniel's left, retook the line to Daniel's right. Colonel R. T. Bennett's Fourteenth North Carolina Regiment was taken from Ram- seur's left and gallantly extended Ramseur's right. Harris' Mississippi brigade unfalteringly extended Bennett's right,
Eighteenth Regiment. 51
McGowan's South Carolina brigade was sent from Hill's front near the court house to extend Harris' line, and partly lapped upon it. McGowan was wounded before getting to the breastworks.
Harris' and McGowan's brigades fought Hancock and his reinforcements over the breastwork all day, snatching the muskets from each other across the works. There was an oak woods to their rear, and an oak tree twenty inches in diameter was so riddled with minie - balls, several feet from the ground, that its top-weight wrung it down. I saw the tree next day and the many dead, on each side of the breastworks were silent witnesses of the fighting qualities of both armies. (The two sections, above and below of this or a similar tree, were cut off and after the war were on exhi- bition at the War Department in Washington where I saw them in 1866. Ed.)
During the day a white flag appeared on the breastworlis, firing ceased, and each side began jumping over claiming the others as prisoners. The matter was settled by the blue-coats and Johnnies getting back on their own side and the fight be- gan again. A new line was built across the angle from Daniel's to Lane's, and word passed down the line to Harris' and McGowan's men to fall back to it. After night the firing slackened and about midnight ceased; both sides had quietly gone away and the fought-over works were abandoned by both sides.
Lane's brigade was taken off the line to the right of the angle, carried into some woods to the left of the court house and got a few hours rest in the middle of the day. In the afternoon it was taken by Major-General Mahone with his old brigade. Colonel Weisiger, to feel a force which was assembling to the right of the salient, behind the branch above mentioned. Though Weisiger had not been engaged that day and Lane had been fighting all the morning. Lane's small brigade was put in front to attack and Weisiger to support. When Lane advanced, Mahone rode back to the court house. Lane's attack was successful, though Weisiger did not support him and when sent for did not come. Lane turned the captured battery upon the enemy,
52 North Cabolina Troops, 1861-65.
but had to abandon it or be captured. He, however, carried back four or five hundred prisoners and several flags.
The Eighteenth captured the flag of the artillery.
When we got back to the lines, near the court house, Ma- hone rode out and claimed the flags, which were refused him. He afterwards had a correspondence through army headquar- ters concerning them, which was "held up" on account of "unparliamentary language" that got into it. General Lee and the Secretary of War acknowledged receipt of the flags from Lane's brigade, a feAV days after the battle.
The Kichmond papers teemed with accounts of Mahone's magnificent achievements in the afternoon and accredited to other Virginia commands the honor of stopping the break in the lines of the morning.
Pertinent to this, though personal, the following extract from the narrative of a Michigan colonel is inserted here. After stating how his company was captured and recaptured at Chancellorsville, 3 May, 1863, and for supposed gal- lantry, he was promoted major, which he protested, continu- ing, says:
"As nothing else would do, I was, in a manner, forced to accept this promotion and in a few days was commissioned lieutenant-colonel 'for gallantry and meritorious cond^ict in the presence of the enemy.' In the following winter I was appointed to the colonelcy of a 'crack' regiment. I would not be speaking the truth if I should say that these promo- tions did not touch my vanity and make me zealous, not only to maintain but to acquire more of the 'bubble reputation at the cannon's mouth.'
"It was with an assumed feeling of arrogance and con- tempt of danger that I led my regiment to the attack on Lee's salient 12 May, 1864, at Spottsylvania Court House. By the crack of dawn on that morning, before the Johnnies were fully awake, we were right in among them in a hand to hand encounter, capturing a great number of pris- oners and quickly had possession of all, or nearly all of both wings of this famous salient, the breastworks of which faced to the front and rear. We had Lee's army now practically cut in two, an advantage which, if it had been followed up
Eighteenth Regiment. 53
promptly, would, as I have thought, have had the effect of terminating the war at a much earlier date. While we were engaged in arranging to hold our newly acquired position in the captured Confederate works, and in reforming the troops for a further advance, an attack was made on our flank and rear, which by its suddenness and vigor struck panic to the troops between the position held by my regiment and the at- tacking party, which sent them pouring pell mell back upon my men in a wild, confused mass. Every soldier knows something of the demoralizing effect of an enfilade fire, such as the Confederates had on our line, and the further fact, that a stampede of panic-stricken troops is as uncontrollable as that of the herds on the western plains. I was drawing out my line at an angle from their former position in order to check the Confederate advance, when I was shot down, re- ceiving this wound in the hip, from the effects of which in the opinion of nerve specialists, I will never ixdlj recover. My own men, brave and tried soldiers, though they were, caught up the contagion and joined in the headlong flight, for be- fore a proper alignment could be made, the Confederates were among them, sweeping by and beyond me as I lay wounded upon the ground, and shooting to kill, as was evidenced by the large number of fallen Federals on the spot. I felt mor- tified and chagrined when I saw this small body of Confed- erates, for they did not number more than about fifty or sixty men, by brave and skillful management, put to rout many times their number of our men. Biit I was particularly im- pressed by their youthful leader as he passed by where I lay, his countenance glowing with the enthusiasm of a school boy going out upon the play ground for a game of ball, shouting 'forward men !' rushing on with his little band like an avalanche to what seemed certain destruction. He reminded me of the pictures I had seen in my old school his- tory in my boyhood days. I admire bravery even in a foe, and this I would call true gallantry such as was seldom wit- nessed in either army in the many battles of the Civil War. I am aware that -some Virginia troops claim by an attack in front of our position to have regained their lost ground, but I know the fact that their attack was not made until after I
54 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.
had fallen, and to this young officer and his brave followers belongs the honor of turning the tide of battle, and of possibly saving Lee's army from direful defeat that morning. He was my ideal of a soldier, and as I thought of him I could but re- flect upon the honors so unworthily worn by myself, and wish they could have been the reward of such heroism as this. One of his men had fallen wovinded within a few feet of where I lay, and after the heavy fighting ceased, the Confederates having re-established their position, I was, though in pain, so much interested that I asked him who his leader was. Well do I remember his reply, as it came in a loud, emphatic tone, as if proud to speak it: 'Captain Billy McLaurin, of the Eighteenth North Carolina Regiment, one of the bravest men iu Lee's army !' I was fully prepared to believe what he said.
"It is a strange thing to me that those who write history are so full and profuse in their records of achievements of gen- erals, to the exclusion of such praiseworthy deeds on the part of subalterns and privates who bore the brunt of battle."
The testimony of a foe on the ground is worth considering, in giving proper credit to the troops entitled to it. There were not more than three or four dozen of us, in this sortie, but it gave time for Lane to get in shape and hold the position till others could come to his assistance. When Gordon came with Early's division, there were Virginians in it, but they were entitled to no more credit than the Georgians, and oth- ers, that were necessary to help, and did help, auanfuUy, to hold the lines.
After the attack in the afternoon Lane was put on a line that McGowan was taken from near a brick kiln. We were shifted to different parts of the liije till the 21st when we had a skirmish near a church two or three miles to the right of the court house. That night we marched to the right, and on the morning of the 23rd bivouacked in an oak wood on a little stream that flowed into the South Anna river. Our canteenmen were not long in finding water and — something besides ; one of them came running back, and asked for my 'army colt.' I pointed to my belt, hanging on a nearby oak. Others were noticed hurriedly leaving camp. Pop ! pop 1
Eighteenth Regiment. 55
pop ! bang ! bang ! bang ! was soon heard down the slope. ISTot long after an elderly gentleman rode hurriedly into camp and was directed to headquarters. General Lane sent at once to have each regiment searched and if any mutton was found to send mutton and man to him under guard. Strict search was made, but it could no where be found and the adjutants were so reporting. When the adjutant of the Thirty-seventh was about to make a similar report for his regiment, Jim L stepped up the slope right near head- quarters with a leg of mutton in his hand, in open handed guilt, and he was scooped in.
Jim was the first to return with a trophy of the fusillade down the branch, and was the only man caught. The rest who went that way were innocent lambs and saw nothing. Jim was put to walking a circle with a billet of wood, and the leg of mutton on his shoulder. This soon became a bur- den and the citizen asked that he be released and allowed to have the mutton. General Lane didn't relent at once, and the kind-hearted citizen at last insisted that Jim be not only pardoned, but that the men be allowed to go down into his clover field and get the flock.
The incident of the morning, gave opportunity for one of the ludicrous humors of war that afternoon.
The enemy drove back the guards from Jericho ford and Lane was sent two or three miles back to assist in stopping them, and found a corps had crossed and had a hard fight, losing 100 men killed and wounded.
In the midst of a sharp attack the Thirty-seventh broke, and started for the rear, leaving the Eighteenth liable to be cut off and the Thirty-third to be flanked. x\s soon as they began leaving the other regiments of the brigade began bleat- ing like sheep. At a short distance the Thirty-seventh rallied and returned and fought very well afterwards. It was ludi- crous in the extreme — fighting for all we were worth and bleating like sheep. We were relieved about 10 o'clock and returned to the station. Next morning we threw up earthworks that were not needed. The enemy had with- drawn.
When my negro boy, Jack, came to me from the rear my
56 North Carolina Troops, 186 1-65.
haversack had an unusual fullness about it. Whilst I was ascertaining the cause, General Lane came along viewing the progress of the works. I asked him to share some venison ( ?) with me. He was too polite to refuse so rare a dish, and said it was good.
Grant, like his predecessors, deferred to the objections that General Lee rather forcibly expressed to his going direct to Eichmond, and with the left flank movement, sought to ac- complished that end. On the 31st we had an all-day artil- lery and skirmish engagement at Storr's farm, on the Toto- potamy, and on 1 June supported the artillery on the Tur- key Ridge road in the preliminary arrangements for the onslaught of the 2nd. The Eighteenth fortified on the ridge near the McGhee house, and was to the right of the main point of attack in the second Cold Harbor fight, say one- third of a mile.
Grant massed his troops and hurled column after column upon Lee, and was repulsed with such terrible slaughter that his ofiicers and men as is well known refused to charge that position again.
Though not hotly engaged, the Eighteenth lost some valua- ble men by skirmishes and sharpshooters. General Lane was wounded, and Colonel Barry, of the Eighteenth com- manded the brigade. On the 13th the Eighteenth had a skirmish near Riddle's shop. Night put a stop to it. On the 20th we crossed James river, and on the 22nd about three miles beyond Petersburg had a sharp fight with the enemy who was trying to reach the Weldon railroad. On the 2'3rd Barry was sent to relieve Mahone's brigade, and it was not out of range when the enemy advanced. Though the artillery and musketry firing was very heavy for a while, it did not return to give us the help we so sorely needed.
On 2 July the brigade was ordered to the north side of the James river and made a hard, hot march to Deep Bottom, where we had skii-mishing almost daily till the 28th. At Gravely Hill there was a hot engagement. A few days afterward Colonel Barry was wounded by a sharp- shooter whilst on a reeonnoitering tour, and Colonel W. W. Barber, of the Twenty-seventh, commanded the brigade until
Eighteenth Regiment. 57
the battle of Euzzell's Mill, 16 August. General Wright's Georgia brigade was deployed to hold a line, whilst Ander- son was taking another position. The enemy advancing in heavy force captured Wright's thin line, and reinforced their attacking party with negro troops to hold it.
General Lee was on the field and ordered Lane's_ brigade, under Barber, to the retaking of the work, which was done handsomely.
It was our first encounter with negro troops, and there were blue-black birds lying on that battle field. Colonel Bar- ber was wounded, and Colonel Spear, of the Twenty-eighth, succeeded to the command. We recrossed the James and were placed on the right of the line near Battery 45, and were used to reinforce the cavalry, and retake positions that the "critter" companies would retire from. Brigadier-Gen- eral Connor succeeded Colonel Spear in the command of the brigade by order of General Lee, a few days before the battle of Reams station, on 25 August, 1864. General Han- cock, who we had, on previous occasions, found to be a good soldier, and determined fighter, held a strong position on the railroad against the attacks made upon him, and was much encouraged by the previous success that day, that he would hold the railroad.
Cooke's, MacRae's and Lane's North Carolina Brigades were selected to make the final attack. It was expecting much of them to make the assault where greater numbers had been repulsed, but that expectation was realized to the fullest extent.
Elated by their victories, neither Hancock nor his men thought of leaving those breastworks till the "Tar Heels" were crossing them, and Hancock left his coat tail in the hands of James W. Atkinson, the gallant color bearer of the Thirty-third North Carolina Regiment, and some 2,000 of his command as prisoners.
We thus more than evened up his captures from the Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth, and Johnson's division at Spottsylvania Court House 12 May, 1864.
The Eighteenth was in the thick woods on the left, and
68 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.
had a hard time in getting through the abatis on that part of the line.
On the 29th, four days after, General Lee wrote Governor "Vance : "T have been frequently called upon to mention the services of JSTorth Carolina soldiers in this army, but their, gallantry and conduct were never more deserving the admira- tion than in the engagement at Reams Station on the 25th instant. The brigades of Generals Cooke, MacEae and Lane, the last under the temporary command of General Connor, advanced through a thick abatis of felled trees, ixnder a heavy fire of musketry and artillery, and carried the enemy's works with a steady courage that elicited the warm commen- dation of their corps and division commanders, and the ad- miration of the army."
A few days afterward, in an address at Charlotte, IST. C, President Davis said, among other complimentary things, of North Carolina : "Her sons were foremost in the first battle of the war, Great Bethel, and they were foremost in the last fight, near Petersburg, Reams Station."
We returned to Battery 45 at Petersburg and were again foot cavalry reinforcements, to the critter cavalry, in resist- ing the extension lines of the enemy to our right.
On Y September a brisk fight was had with the infantry and artillery at the Davis House.
On the 30th we again passed through Petersburg to go over the James, bixt before reaching it were recalled and found the enemy at the Jones house, not far from our camp.
They were quickly put to flight, leaving many prisoners in our hands. We camped upon the field that night. On 1 October we found the enemy at the Pegram House, as if they had come to stay in that neighborhood. A repetition of the experience of the 30th caused them to retire for a time.
The repeated efforts of Grant to extend his left, brought troops to our right. We returned to Battery 45, and were comparatively free from similar expeditions during the next few months. On 8 December we went to Jarratt's Sta- tion where the Yankees were in force in possession of the Wel- don road. They evacuated with little fighting. Again, we went to Stony Creek further down the road. On each of these
Eighteenth Regiment. 59
days the weather was very cold, and ours was not a pleasure trip. We were glad to return to our winter quarters near Forty-five and Fort Gregg.
After the battle of Spottsylvania, Major Thos. J. Wooten, of the Eighteenth, was in command of the sharpshooters of Lane's brigade and made an enviable reputation during the campaign. Around Petersburg he was a teiTor to the ene- my's picket lines, and had a reputation in both armies.
Wooten's "seine-haulings" were proverbial, and he was liberally used by division, corps and army headquarters for ascertaining the enemy's lines or movements. His method was to reconnoiter, during the day, the lines to be gone through that night and at such hour as would suit his pur- pose would approach "in twos" with his select men, sufficient- ly near to make a dash at them. At a signal the column would go through the line with as little noise as possible, halt, face out, and each rank swing around right and left, taking the skirmish line in the rear, capturing the men with the min- imum of danger to his command. His success was phenom- enal, and he received the commendation of Generals Lee and Hill in congratulatory orders.
At an armistice to bury the dead, the Federals were curi- ous to see "Major Hooten," as they called him. Viewed in his Confederate garb, which was not very elaborate, his ap- pearance was not "as striking as an army with banners" and when pointed out to a lot of officers and men, a significant smile passed 'round the group, which found expression in the exclamation of an impressible Teuton, "Mine, Got ! ! ! Is dot ze man what makes us skeert, like Stonewall Shackson? Heh!!!"
There was a generous rivalry among the regiments of the brigade, in keeping their quota of this corps to the highest efficiency and it was deemed an honor to secure a detail to fill a vacancy in it. Several of its members refused to accept promotion to lieutenant, and return to their companies to command them.
The story of Petersburg will never be written ; volumes would be required to contain it, and even those who went through the trying ordeal, can not recall a satisfactory outline
60 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.
of the weird and graphic occurrences of that stormy period.
The Eighteenth was not often in the sapping and mining portion of the lines and was not so particularly at- tracted by its experience as to wish to take up its abode in the Blandford portion of the army. During the month of September when it was necessary to draw the troops from about the Crater to resist an attack near the Ap- pomattox, we were hurriedly brought from Battery 45 to support "Long Tom" about 200 yards to the right. There was no time to go in the covered way, and the brigade was marched in, on an open high ridge. It now appears won- derful that we were not swept off the earth.
We were not in the trenches long, when "Long Tom" opened on the Supply train that arrived on Grant's military railroad, and it was but a short time before the sand-bag em- brazures and the embankments around "Long Tom" needed reconstruction.
It was not difficult for us to learn the devices constructed for protection, from the accurate fire of the enemy at close range, and when the mortars rained do^^m their shot from the sky we found the holes and could do the gopher act with the facility of trained residents.
The scene at night was beautiful in the extreme, but there was an element of unattractiveness about it, that caused us to yield readily to the desire of any others to see the sights from that view point, and we invariably retired at first op- portunity, to position where the lines were further apart.
When Gordon attacked Fort Steadman 25 March, we were massed near by, but did not become actively engaged. Gordon carried the fort, but could not hold it, without very great sacrifice of men. His loss was greater than his cap- tures, and Lee had no men to spare.
On the night of 27 May, Major Wooten, with the sharp- shooter corps of Wilcox's division, broke the Yankee lines, and captured and held the strong position of Mcllwaine's hill all the next day. Wooten and Dunlap (McGowan) pulled the seine, and Scales' and Thomas' corps helped to hold the ground. The audacity of the proceeding was their security, as the Yankees had lots of men close by, who appeared to fear
Eighteenth Regiment. 61
that a trap was laid for them. The concentration of troops on Hatcher's Run and Five Forks necessitated the stretch- ing of the Confederate lines and the men of Lane's Brigade were some twenty feet apart in the trenches, beyond the Jones house, when the final attack was made before day on the morning of 2 April. Our thin line could make but feeble resistance to the Sixth corps hurled against us. We detained them, however, till the lines were broken beyond us, and fell back towards Fort Gregg, making a stand on the Dinwiddle plank road.
It was after sunrise that General A. P. Hill was seen coming from the direction of his headquarters on the Cox road, near the Appomattox. The crowd that I was witti made every effort to stop him. Seeing no indication of halt- ing, I ran out towards the direction he was going, and though some 50 yards distant, shouted to him that our line was broken and that the enemy's skirmishers were on the plank road be- yond the creek. Answering back, that he was aware there was danger, but must get to his right, he disappeared around a hill, down a valley leading to a crossing on the creek. A volley as of a dozen guns was heard in that direction, his horse ran back in a few minutes without him and we knew that our gallant commander was off duty forever. His sta^i and attendants, who were following him, caught his horse. His body was recovered and carried to the rear.
The statement that one of his staff, or couriers, caught him as he fell, is without foundation, a loving fabrication of the devotional kind. They would have been with him, if they could, but having the fleetest horse, he was far in advance, and I was doubtless the last Confederate spoken to by him. In the discharge of his duty, as he saw it, he rode into the jaws of death, and the army lost one of its most valuable officers.
Lane and Thomas' brigades formed near the Plank road and repulsed the enemy in several advances. Wilcox ordered the troops on the Petersburg side of the break back to a line of small forts outside of the main works at Battery 45.
When we got to Fort Gregg we f oimd some artillerists in it and Lane's North Carolina brigade furnished the greater
62 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.
part of the garrison. Thomas' Georgia and Harris' Missis- sippi brigades the balance. Generals Wilcox and Lane were in it, when I left by permission of the latter to go to our win- ter quarters near by to get our records.
The Sixth corps had been reinforced by the Twenty-fourth, Gibbon's corps, and the advance was made on Gregg before I could ret^irn.
I was glad to be on the outside. The fighting was des- perate. Eepulsed, the enemy reinforced and returned with several lines, enveloping the fort, they filled the moat and climbed the parapet, fighting their way inside. Getting in- side, the fighting was hand to hand, till those not killed were overpowered.
Lieutenant William 0. Eobinson, Company B, Eighteenth Kegiment, and Color Sergeant James W. Atkinson, Thirty- third North Carolina, escaped after the fighting with clubbed muskets ceased, and always speak of it as a scene of inde- scribable horror.
After the surrender of Gregg the other forts were evacu- ated, and the main line at Battery 45, and the dam on the creek occupied. This was held till night, and Petersburg was behind us in the morning.
The march to Appomattox Court House was a succession of privations and hardships scarcely credible by those who have not had actual army experiences.
The supply trains that were to have been stopped at Burke- ville and Amelia Court House, passed on, and were captured. That country could not subsist the army, and men and ani- mals suffered for food. We were formed in line of battle several times and had some casualties at High Bridge and near Jetersville.
On the morning of 9 April, whilst the Eighteenth was forming line of battle, on a ridge to the left of the road before getting to the branch near Appoimattox Court House, Grant's officer, bearing dispatches to Lee, passed through its lines and found Lee a few hundred yards in our rear on the road we had just left.
Firing was then going on beyond the court house by Gen- eral Grimes' North Carolinians.
Eighteenth Regiment. 63
We were marched to a near by woods and sadly, sorrow- fully stacked arms. All was over.
The limits of this paper prevent the mention of the many meritorious officers and men composing this regiment, of whom I could not speak in too high terms. The valor of its men, and its services is attested by its casualties on the field of battle, from New Bern to Gettysburg, and then to Appo- mattox Court House, where its last act was getting ready for battle.
Colonel John D. Barry was its only member that reached the grade of general. He was appointed temporary brigadier 3 August, 1864, but he was later assigned to department duty with his regular grade of Colonel (as General Lane had re- turned to the brigade) on account of his wounds and impaired health, leaving us the latter part of February or March.
Lieutenant-Colonel John W. McGill resigned about the same time. Major Thos. J. Wooten was thus entitled to be- come Colonel and was so recommended, also Captain John J. Poisson to be Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain B. P. Rinaldi Major. Petersburg was evacuated before they received their rank to which they were justly entitled. Major Wooten was kept in command of the brigade sharpshooters, and Captain Poisson paroled the regiment, as its commanding officer.
I append a roster of those who were present, and surren- dered at Appomattox :
Field and Staff — Major Thomas J. Wooten, Adjutant Wm. H. McLaurin, Surgeon Thomas B. Lane, Assistant Sur- geon Simpson Russ. ISTon-Commissioned Staff, Ordnance Sergeant, Chas. Flanner.
Company A — Captain B. F. Rinaldi, Sergeants M. N. Tatum, Wm. Howard, and Privates Henry Howard, F. How- ard, John Johnson, B. D. Lindsey, G. W. McDonald.
Company B — Lieutenant R. M. Lesesne, Sergeant D. Storm, Corporal S. Singleterry, Privates W. C. Bray, E. Austin, John Meares.
Company C — Lieutenant Owen Smith, Musician G. W. Sherrill, and Privates D. R. Best, Dan Green, D. Klutts.
Company D — Orderly Sergeant A. E. Floyd, Corporal J.
64 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.
P. Inman, and Privates A. N. Prophet, K. Lovett, A. J. Thompson, Zack Clewis.
Company E — Second Lieutenant W. N. Fetter, Musician H. M. Woodcock, and Privates S. B. Costin, H. Moore, C. "BarnhiU, J. B. Wall, L. B. Wall, T. E. Colvin.
Company P — Sergeant A. E. Smith, Corporal J. A. Pat- terson, and Privates W. W. BuUard, W. C. Daves, J. A. Cal- der, A. A. Huckabee, M. G. McKoy, James Nolan, N. McN. Patterson, A. D. Webb.
Company G — Captain John J. Poisson, Second Lieuten- ant J. M. Whitted, Sergeant Jas. R. Dancey, Corporal J. W. Gordon, Musician J. J. Leslie, and Privates J. F. Adams, P. Dickson, E. H. Hall, C. J. Sasser, P. T. Smith.
Company H — Second Lieutenant Alex. Lewis, Sergeant
C. M. Baldwin, Corporal H. C. Long, and Privates John E. Baldwin, J. J. Chancy, John Creech, J. E. Jackson, A. Minton, W. Nance, E. H. Price, John Safrit, J. W. Yelton, Hospital Steward Wiley A. Cornish.
Company I — Sergeants S. W. Wells, J. H. Brown, Cor- poral J. J. F. Heath, and Privates John Case, Daniel Brin- dle, L. H. Horn, D. S. Latta, S. Bell, H. Hayne, H. A. Hall,
D. Y. Eussell and E. B. Banks.
Company K — First Lieutenant E. N. Eobeson, Sergeants S. N. Eichardson, W. H. King, A. McNeill, Corporals J. A. Cromartie, D. M. Sutton, and Privates W. N. Anderson, Jesse F. Bloodworth, S. T. Buie, J. C. Kinlaw, W. Melvin, D. Murphy, N. Sikes and John Dunham. We prize our parole as a badge of honor.
Wm. H. McLauein, Adjutant Eighteenth N. C. T. Laueinburg, N. C. ,
9 April, 1901.
EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT.
Lawrence Stewart, 1st Lieut., Co. F. 2. J. D. Cnrrie, 2d Lieut., Co, K, 3. John Walter Stewart, 3d Lieut., Co. F,
ADDITIONAL SKETCH EIQHTEENTH REGIMENT.
By THOMAS H. SUTTON, Phivatb, Company I.
This regiment was a part of the brigade of General Branch, of Raleigh, a brave and gallant officer, who, after many times leading his brigade to victory in bloody and hard fought bat- tles, fell at Sharpsburg with his face to the foe, sword in hand. After this, and to the final end, the brigade to which the Eighteenth ]^. C. belonged, was known as "Lane's" — Colonel James H. Lane, of the Twenty-eighth N. C, suc- ceeding to the command upon the death of General Branch.
This brigade was composed of the Seventh, Eighteenth, Twenty-eighth, Thirty-third and Thirty-seventh — all N"orth Carolina regiments — whose history, was a part of that of the Army of Northern Virginia, to which it belonged.
The Eighteenth 'N. C. was one of the best regiments in the Confederate service.
It was composed of ten companies, each one with a full quota of men — some companies, at the beginning, having over one hundred, viz :
CoMPANT A, The German Volunteers, of Wilmington, K C.
Company B, The Bladen Light Infantry, of Bladen County.
Company C, The Columbus Guards, from Columbus County.
Company D, The Robeson Light Infantry, from Robeson County.
Company E, The Moore's Creek Riflemen, from ISTew Hanover County.
Company F, The Scotch Boys, from Richmond County.
5
66 North Cakolina Troops, 1861-65.
Company G, The Wilmingtoii Light Infantry, from Wil- mington, N. C.
Company H, The Columbus Vigilants, from Columbus County.
Company I, The Wilmington Eifle Guards, from Wil- mington, N. C.
Company K, The Bladen Guards, from Bladen County, N. C.
■ Thus, it will be seen, that Bladen County furnished two, Columbus two, Eichmond one, Eobeson one, and New Han- over County four, three of which were from Wilmington.
The brigade was organized at Kinston, IST. C, after wnicJi, in the Spring of 1862, they were ordered to join the com- mand of General (Stonewall) Jackson who was then "oper- ating" upon Banks, Shields, Milroy, et at., in his historic and ever memorable campaign in the "Valley of Virginia. We were sent by rail to Gordonsville, Va., and froim thence took up our line of march towards General Jackson's command, and while thus marching and some distance beyond a place' called Tripperville (if my memory serves me right) a moun- tain village in Western Virginia, we turned back upon the line of our march, and for ten days covered an average distance of thirty miles each day, until at Hanover Couj't House (called by the Federals "Slash Church") we encoun- tered the heavy division of Fitz-John Porter, said to num- ber twenty thousand men.
Here we "fleshed our maiden sword," for it was our first battle, and a fierce and bloody one it was. Colonel Lane's Twenty-eighth Eegiment was by some means detached from us, and from 1 o'clock until nearly dark, with only four regi- ments, we held this tremendous force at bay, and then re- treated to Ashland in the direction of Eichmond, where General Joe Johnston was facing McClellan's splendid army. The Eighteenth Eegiment lost in this engagement, in killed, wounded, missing and prisoners, fully two hundred men.
From Ashland we marched to a place called "Chamber- lain's Hill," almost in full view of the battle of Seven Pines, which was the great preliminary skirmish to the seven days'
Eighteenth Regiment. 67
fight, which was destined, under the leadership of Lee and Jackson, (General Joe Johnston having been wounded at the Seven Pines fight) to rid our Capital City of the presence of the enemy, then within sound of the chimes of its church bells.
No one of us knew why we had been detached from the command of General Jackson in the valley, so thoroughly did he keep his own counsel, who, while we were marching to- wards Hanover Court House was, with his main command, silently and swiftly moving towards a common place of meet- ing, mapped out by his busy and active brain.
Shortly after the Seven Pines fight, we joined the main body of General Jackson's command (who, up to that time we supposed, were in the Valley where we had left them) at the bridge crossing the Chickahominy river, near Mechanics- ville, when, soon after, the memorable "seven days" battle around Richmond was begun and fought to a successful finish. It was here that the splendid genius of Stonewall Jaclcson was displayed in all its grandeur. Crossing the Chickahominy river at or near Mechanicsville with his corps, he opened the fight by attacking Siegel's corps of the Federal arniy in the rear, and drove them back in the early day- light, throwing them into the greatest consternation and panic. Upon the opening of Jackson's men in the rear, the main army under General Lee advanced in front, and from thence on, for seven days, day after day, the Eigh- teenth N. C. Regiment as a part of Jackson's corps, A. IST. V., drove the enemy, defeating General McClellan with his splen- didly equipped army until they were compelled to take shel- ter under the guns of their James river fleet.
It was reported that at the close of this series of splendid victories. General Jackson said: "This is our opportunity, let us on to Washington, and there dictate terms of peace and close the war."
But if he did say these words, the fates decreed otherwise. We did not go to Washington but we did rid Richmond, our capital, from the presence of the enemy, threatening its de- struction. There were many incidents, many escapes, many adventures that happened here, in and around the seven days'
68 North Caeolina Troops, 1861-65.
fight, that might be related, if time and space did not forbid.
Our brigade camped at a place near Eichmond, after the seven days' fight, called "Howard's Grove," and after rest- ing a few days commenced our march towards Gordonsville, and on 9 August, 1862, fell in with the enemy at Cedar Eun, where we were immediately put under fire, and had a hot time in more ways than one. It was here that we filled the "gap" made vacant by the falling back of the cele- brated "Stonewall Brigade" and held it to the end, driving the enemy and making ourselves masters of the field.
After this fight and victory General Jackson rode out in front of our brigade and "dropped" his hat in silent acknowl- edgment of our deed, in holding an important point, which the old "Stonewall Brigade" had failed to do — and by special order from corps headquarters a handsome compliment was paid to the "gallant soldiers of Branch's brigade." The night following while resting upon our arms, a staff officer rode up to General Branch and asked hita "how he felt," to which General Branch replied that "he was delighted vdth the re- sults of the day and was proud of the manner in which his brigade had acted." Our loss was comparatively light con- sidering the deadly work in which we were engaged, but we left some noble and true men on that field, which served to remind us that in the next battle we fought it might be our lot to fill a soldier's grave. From Cedar Run we marched to Warrenton Springs, where it was rumored General Lee would cross the river. The enemy were in full force on the other side, for they "shelled the woods" where we were all day, and we felt that "something was up" or would be soon.
Late in the afternoon of the next day, we were on the march, with Jackson's corps, to which we were now perma- nently attached, for what point we knew not, for it was "Jack- son's way" to keep his movements a profound secret, but after a long forced march and before we were aware of it, we were in possession of immense stores of great value, captured from the enemy at Manassas Junction, our rear fighting the ad- vance guard of the enemy, so close to the army supply train of the foe as to make it uncomfortable as well as "unhealthy" to those of us who, by religious training, if. any there were.
Eighteenth Regiment. 69
might be indisposed to shed human blood. The Eighteenth North Carolina under Colonel Thos. J. Purdie, of Bladen County, a gallant soul, was detailed to guard the train. We were told that the train was to be fired, and a tacit consent was given us to replenish our empty haversacks. The con- tents of several cars were distributed and the residue burned. Some of our men secured a very fine saddle for Colonel Pur- die, of the Eighteenth, which was intended for the Dutch General Siegel, sent him by his friends and admirers, but a nobler man than he for whom it was intended, bestrode it, and the saddle is now, or was a few years since, in the posses- sion of the Purdie family of Bladen, treasured as a precious relic and memento of Colonel Thomas J. Purdie, as noble a man and gallant a soldier as ever faced a foe, and who in a short while, following the events here narrated, fell while gallantly leading his regiment to victory.
We left Manassas Junction about dark and rested a few hours the next day at Centreville, where some works had been thrown up at the conunencement of the war, and that evening, which I think was 2Y August, we commenced the "big" Manassas battle, which lasted until the night following the 29th. Here were more of the enemy killed than at any other fight or on any one field — certainly in our front, during the entire war. The enemy began to fall back the last day of the fight ; it was a most disastrous and complete rout. Here we had to contend with McClellan's army, that we had fought around Eichmond and the Valley forces, all combined. The pursuit was kept up all day Sun- day and the day following, when they were overtaken at Ox Hill, when we had a -fight of four or five hours, in an almost continuous rain ; but we again repulsed the enemy and drove them before us, thus again acknowledging the prowess of Branch's brigade, which for a great part was composed of the "fiower of the Cape Fear section." That night the enemy vacated our front, and in a few days we resumed our march, crossing the Potomac at the "Point of Eocks," and we were told that we were in "Maryland, my Maryland." The Con- federate soldier will always remember the beauty of the fair, noble women and the brave chivalric men of Maryland. The
70 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.
great heart of her people was with us, and we knew it, but they were in fetters, bound hand and foot. We camped near Frederick City, for a few days. This is the place made fa- mous by the touching poem of John Greenleaf Whittier, called Barbara Freitchie, who, as the poet has it, was an old grey-haired woman, who in her attic window waved the Union flag at the Confederates, and was shot at by them, until stopped by General Jackson. There is not a word of truth in this tale — no Confederate soldier can be found, or named, living or dead, who ever knowingly fired at a woman ; and I have it from a gentleman who lived in Frederick City at the time Jackson's men passed through, who says our march did not carry us within three or four blocks of the house where Barbara lived — that no such thing was heard of as related by Mr. Whittier and no such thing happened. This gentleman, my informant, is a native of Maryland, and lived in Fred- erick City during the war and since, and has held high office under the State Government of Maryland. I met him in Washington a few years since and he confirmed my belief respecting the "facts" as given by the poet, that it was a myth, a pure invention of the imaginative mind of the poet. The only real fact in the poem, is that there was a woman named Barbara Freitchie, living in Frederick City at the time Jackson passed through. But I must proceed.
We again marched through Frederick City, re-crossed the Potomac at Williamsport, and were back in Virginia, and "hovering with stealthy steps" (as was Jackson's way) around Harpers Ferry. Here we operated several days, climbing precipitous mountains trying to get into position. We had literally to pull ourselves up by bushes, roots, or any- thing projecting from the mountain sides, some of us actually having to brace ourselves against trees, so as to hold our guns in position and ready to fire at the word given. Early the next morning the artillery opened on the enemy, receiving a very weak reply, and in a short time the white emblem of sur- render went up and "the boys in blue" walked out and stacked their arms.
Here again we captured valuable stores of immense value, and thousands of stand of arms, and eleven thousand pris-
Eighteenth Regiment. 71
oners, according to the figures published. Here again "Old Stonewall" left his "book mark" with the enemy, as a gen- tle reminder that he and his corps were around, and requested a generous ( ?) remembrance by the Federal Government at Washington.
After being supplied with Enfield rifles — of which we stood in great need — we crossed the Potomac again, and for the second time were in Maryland, and we were soon in the Sharpsburg fight (called by the Federals, Antietam). This was what might be called a "draw fight," and it was here that our brigade commander, the noble and chivalrous Branch yielded up his life as a holocaust to his country's need ! "ISTo country ever had a truer son, no cause a nobler champion, no principle a bolder defender" than the noble and gallant soldier, General Lawrence O'Brien Branch !
After quitting the field at Sharpsburg, we crossed the Po- tomac again at Shepherdstown, took again to the Old Domin- ion. The winter was coming on. The chill blasts from the North were beginning to tell heavily upon the exhausted frames and shattered energies of our men, all of whom were unused to such rough lives, and we did hope for a rest in win- ter quarters, where, for a while at least, we might sleep and dream of home and comforts, without the thought of war with its dreadful realities.
But vain hope ! Taking up our march on the Shepherds- town road, we soon knew that we were approaching the enemy by the skirmishing in our front. We formed line of battle and drove the enemy into the river, despite the heavy guns that had been planted on the Maryland side to protect them. We lay that day on the river bank iinder a heavy fire from the enemy's guns of grape, canister and shell.
Our regilment camped near Berryville and were called out several times to meet the enemy at Snicker's Gap, but never engaged them there. We then marched up the Valley pike, crossing the Blue Ridge at New Market Gap, and camped near Fredericksburg. The enemy crossed the Rappahan- nock and. we were ordered to meet them. 0^^r brigade (now Lane's) were not in front of the city, but almost the ex- treme right of Lee's army. We formed line of battle at the
72 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.
railroad on 13 December, ■ 1862, soon after which our skirmish line came in and the enemy developed in great numbers and swept us from our position at the railroad. We soon rallied and swept on to the railroad again, the Eigh- teenth and Seventh Eegisments of our brigade not stopping at the railroad, but going on to the hill beyond, on the top of which we were in full view of the enemy, killing a great many and losing some of our best men, as an offset for our daring charge. From that time on, the fight was not heavy in our front, but was in front of the city. The night the enemy re-crossed the river, a general charge had been ordered all along the line, but was countermanded by General Lee. Then the campaign of 1862 ended with the victory at Fred- ericksburg. We went into winter quarters on the Rappahan- nock near Moss ISTeck church, at Camp Gregg, named for that general who was killed at Fredericksburg. Here Gen- eral Lane was presented with a fine saddle and bridle by the field officers in token of their appreciation of his merits. Under an act of the Confederate Congress a medal was to be given to the man who was voted by his comrades as the bravest and best soldier. The company to which Jesse F. Bloodworth (Company K, Eighteenth IST. 0.) belonged, without a dissenting voice, decided for him, and although the medal never came, yet not one of Napoleon's old guard, could have more richly deserved, nor more worthily won it.
The campaign of 1863 soon opened and we had to aban- don our comfortable quarters at Camp Gregg. A slight brush at the "Wilderness" was the opening prelude to that ever memorable campaign. With Jackson we took part in the flank movement around to Chancellorsville. The enemy were completely surprised (for this was Jackson's way) in an old field where a part of their forces were camped. They left their coffee on the fire and "stood not upon the order of their going." We marched some distance and filed left into a woodland and formed line of battle about dark Avith our right resting on the plank road. The Eigh- teenth was the left regiment, and the Fiftieth , Virginia was upon our left. It was now Avell dark; our skirmishers had gone forward. In a few moments Generals Jackson and
Eighteenth Regiment. 73
A. P. Hill came riding down the plank road from the front, with a good many staff officers and couriers whose appearance in the gloom (we did not then know who they were) was well calculated to create the impression that the enemy's cavalry were advancing. This party wheeled into the woods exactly in front of the Eighteenth North Carolina Regiment. Our men having seen the skirmishers go forward, besides knowing that we had no friends in that direction, reasonably concluded that it was the enemy coming down upon us. At this mo- ment some over-excited man in the line shouted "Cavalry," whereupon the Eighteenth Regiment opened fire. The Fif- tieth Virginia Regiment also opened fire, and General Jack- son— the immortal "Stonewall" — received his mortal wound at the hands of those who loved him more than life, any one of whom would have risked and if need be, sacrificed his own life to save that of his beloved general.
He was to the Army of JSTorthern Virginia what ISTey was to Napoleon, its very strong right arm, and yet by the in- exorable decree of fate it was reserved for the Eigh- teenth Regiment of North Carolina, in the discharge of a supposed duty, to deprive the Southern Army of its chief pillar of support, its most brilliant, matchless and greatest soldier. In addition to the firing from our ranks the enemy's artillery also opened upon us, from which it is sup- posed' General Jackson received other wounds while being borne from the field.
We moved to the right of the plank road, when during the night we repulsed a heavy charge of the enemy. The next day (Sunday) the fight was renewed by our brigade charging the enemy's works, defended by about forty pieces of artillery heavily supported. Three times we charged, and finally cap- tured the works. Our regiment lost heavily. General A. P. Hill having been wounded the night previous, our corps was commanded by General J. E. B. Stuart. Here the gallant Colonel Thos." J. Purdie, of Bladen County, Colonel of the Eighteenth North Carolina Regiment, fell while gallantly leading his men. After this battle we returned to Camp Gregg, where a change of field officers was had. Major Jno. D. Barry, of Wilmington, was made Colonel, vice Purdie,
74 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.
killed ; Captain Jno. W. McGrill, vice Lieutenant-Colonel F. George, elected to the Legislature from Columbus County, and Captain Thos. J. Wooten to be Major, vice Barry, pro- moted. We bade farewell to Camp Gregg, and crossing the Potomac again at Shepherdstown, camped that night.
Taking up our line of march again, we were in Petmsylva- nia, going towards Gettysburg, when the "dogs of war" were again unloosed with redoubled fury.
The first day's fight at Gettysburg, we drove the enemy some distance and halted on a ridge, and lay on our arms that night, and held this ridge until the third day's fight. That day we were in position supporting our artillery, and under the heaviest fire of the enemy's field artillery that our brigade ever experienced during the entire war.
Suddenly the enemy's artillery ceased and we were ordered forward to charge the heights occupied by the enemy's artil- lery and infantry. We faced the storm of death-dealing grape, shell and canister shot, and an incessant shower of musketry, a long distance in an open field, all the way, and reaching the heights only to find that we were flanked by the enemy and unsupported by our own troops, we were com.- pelled to fall back, leaving many of our best and bravest men dead and dying on this bloody and sanguinary field. After remaining in line f(?r a day we commenced our retreat to Hagerstown, where General Lee offered the enemy battle on equal terms, which they declined. We left Hagerstown in a hard rain, marching over a miserable road for Falling Waters, and about sunrise the next morning, after an all night's march, reached the old Potomac river again. Cross- ing the Potomac we were on Virginia soil again, and with a slight brush at Mine Run ended the campaign of 1863.
General Grant had taken command of the Federal forces in the Spring of 1864, and crossed the river to meet us at the Wilderness. Here this battle commenced early in the after- noon, severe fighting going on contimiously until dark. We drove the enemy back — every charge they made. During the night following, however, by some fatal oversight, or unpar- donable negligence of some of our generals, our forces were hiiddled together in the utmost confusion, "cross and pile,"
Eighteenth Regiment. 75
with no line formed, so that at daylight, the enemy making a desperate charge, we came very near being utterly routed, and would have been but for the timely appearance of some fresh troops. Our brigade rallied and drove the enemy back, the battle ended with victory for the Southern cause.
Then commenced our roundabout march to Petersburg. On 12 May, 1864, we met the enemy at Spottsylvania, and on that morning we were in the memorable "Horse- shoe" enveloped by a dense fog, taking advantage of which the enemy broke our line, and captured many prisoners. But General Lane, by his admirable management of our brigade, again drove the enemy back and regained our lines. At this juncture our brigade was reinforced by Thomas' Georgia bri- gade, and we drove the enemy back across the works and into the woods beyond. Our brigade was then moved to the right, and behind hastily improvised works, which afforded little or no protection, we were exposed to a galling and heavy enfilading fire from six of the enemy's guns on his left. Thus we remained several hours, while General Ewell was being hard pressed. Later we were ordered to take the enemy's guns, supported by Mahone's Virginia brigade.
We did capture the guns, besides took four hundred and fifty prisoners and three stand of colors. This the Eigh- teenth North Carolina Regiment, with the brigade to which it belonged, did, and the credit of the same was awarded to Lane's North Carolina Brigade, although Mahone tried to claim it. With the charge of our brigade the battle of Spott- sylvania Court House ended in another victory for General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.
On theimarch towards Petersburg we had several "brushes" with the enemy at Totopotomy Creek, Cold Harbor, Turkey Ridge and other places, not now remembered.
At Turkey Ridge, General Lane being wounded, the com- mand of the brigade devolved upon Colonel Jno. D. Barry, of the Eighteenth North Carolina Regiment.
Crossing the James river at Drewry's Bluff, we were among the first troops to reach Petersburg.
It would be impossible to give anything like an accurate ac- count of our every day's work — fighting, marching and build-
76 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.
ing works around Petersburg. Suffice it to say that the Eighteenth North Carolina Kegiment was always at the front, and always did its whole duty. We were ordered to cross the James river at Drewry's Bluff again, and on the march thither for the first time, at "Deep Bottom," we en- countered the colored troops, who first drove a brigade on our right out of the works, which we in turn retook, and held them until ordered elsewhere.
Marching to Petersburg via Drewry's Bluff, we were sta- tioned below and to the right of Battery No. 45, and remained until our brigade was sent to assist in an attack on Reams Station. There we supported the brigades of Generals Cooke, MacEae and others, and being well supported, we charged the enemy's lines, took nine of his guns, two thousand prison- ers, besides wagons, ambulances, etc. It was a desperate fight, but the result added to the fame of the North Carolina soldier, of which their descendants may, for all time to come, be proud.
Events in rapid succession crowded upon each other. The end was rapidly approaching. We went back to Battery No. 45.
At Jones' Earm on 30 September, 1864, we had a severe fight, and lost from our regiment some of its bravest and best. Our regiment was now reduced to a mere "skele- ton" or handful of its former strength. Starting out with eleven hundred men, we were now reduced to one hundred or less. The death of every comrade was now indeed a serious loss. Our entire brigade was hardly now in numbers, as much as half our original regimental muster roll.
We remained in the trenches at Petersburg until we took our last march in the Spring following towards Appomattox. As we passed through Petersburg the sidewalks of the city were filled with weeping women and children, lamenting the fate which they knew daylight would bring upon them. In our army they had centred their hopes, and with our de- parture they well knew their last earthly refuge and hope were gone, and for many days and nights thereafter the wail- ings and lamentations of these helpless women and children rang in the Southern soldier's ear as he "plodded his weary
Eighteenth Regiment. 77
■way" to the place where the Southern flag was to be furled forever. The march from Petersburg began 2 April, and ended at Appomattox 9 April, 1865.
Twenty-eight thousand bleeding, half -starved and foot-sore soldiers stood there on that eventful 9 April, 1865, with folded arms, as General Lee rode down our lines and "bade us adieu forever."
The Eighteenth North Carolina Regiment, after one year's coast service in North Carolina, went to Virginia. Early in 1862 was part of Branch's Brigade, afterwards to the close of the war, Lane's.
After seeing some service in the Valley, from the battle of Hanover Court House, (called by some "Slash Church"), to the surrender at Appomattox, it was a portion of General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.
This regiment fought not less than thirty-five (35) bat- tles, besides double that number of skirmishes; was in both the Maryland and Pennsylvania campaigns, forded the Poto- mac five times, and crossed it once on a pontoon, and was "in at the death," when the Southern Star of victory went down in a sea of bloodj in the gloom of defeat at Appomattox.
Such is the history, in brief, of the Eighteenth North Carolina Regiment. A great many of the scenes described I have drawn from data obtained from comrades years ago. A great many have faded from my ^memory. Yet while I was not a participant in all or indeed in many of the battles and stirring scenes of those troublous times, yet I am sure this hastily written sketch, imperfect as it is, faithfully re- cords the history of the Eighteenth North Carolina Regi- ment in the substance of its work and in all its essential par- ticulars.
It is only intended, as I understand it, to furnish data for the future North Carolina historian, when he comes to do his State justice, by a faithful and impartial record of its soldiers' sufferings, privations, toil and victories, in that bloody drama.
If these lines will thus aid the future writer of the deeds and heroism of the North Carolina soldier, I feel that the task assigned me is accomplished, and that I have contributed
78 North Carolina Teoops, 1861-65.
my part towards its future History, even though hastily and imperfectly done.
Certain it is, that North Carolina has no cause to feel ashamed of the part her soldiers took, and while we detract from none but want all to have the credit to which they are justly entitled, yet let justice be done to the State that had more soldiers in active service at the front, than there were voters in the entire State.
Thomas H. Sutton. Private Company I.
Faybtteville, N. C,
April 9, 1901.
NINETEENTH REGIMENT.
1. Sol. WilliamB, Colonel. 3. Randolph H. Reese, Captain, Co. H.
2. Geo. Pettigrew Bi'yan, Captain, Co. G. 4. James N. Turner, Captain, Co. D.
5. W. A. Graham, Jr., Captain, Co. K.
NINETEENTH REGIMEfiT.
(second cavaley. )
By W. a. graham, Captain Company K.
This regiment, with the first eight regiments of infantry, the Ninth ISTorth Carolina Regiment (First Cavalry), the Tenth Eegiment (First Artillery), and the Thirty-third Eeg- iment of infantry, comprised what was originally kno'wn as "State Troops." They enlisted "for the war," and the officers, both regimental and company, were appointed by the Gov- ernor. The volunteers enlisted for twelve months (except the Bethel Eegiment — six months) ; their company officers were elected by the "rank and file" of the company ; the field officers by the commissioned officers of the companies of the respective battalions and regiments. In 1862 the right to elect company officers was given by law to the State Troops. The horses for the privates were furnished by the State to the First and Second Cavalry Eegiments. The regiment, except Company A, assembled at Kittrell's Springs in August and September, 1861.
PIELD AND STAFF.
S. B. Speuill, Colonel.
William G. Eobinson, Lieutenant Colonel.
John W. Woodfin, Major.
GuiLFOED Nicholson, Adjutant.
Capt. John S. Hines^ Quartermaster.
Capt. John W. Mooee, Commissary.
Smith, Surgeon.
E. H. Shields, Assistant Surgeon. E. P.TucKE, Sergeant Major.
80 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.
Rogers; Second Lieutenants, George V. Snider and W. P. Moore.
Company B — Iredell County — Captain, C. M. Andrews ; First Lieutenant, S. Jay Andrews; Second Lieutenants, Eichard W. Allison and James N. Turner.
Company C — Gates and Hertford Counties — Captain John G. Boothe ; First Lieutenant, James M. Wynn ; Second Lieutenants, Mills L. Eure and William P. Eoberts.
Company D — Cumberland County — Captain, James W. Strange ; First Lieutenant, T. S. Lutterloh ; Second Lieuten- ants, Joseph S. Baker and James F. Williams.
Company E — Nash, Wilson and Pranhlin Counties — Captain, Columbus A. Thomas ; First Lieutenant, J. J. B. Vick; Second Lieutenants, Nick M. Harris and Robert W. Atkinson.
Company F — Guilford County- — Captain Barzillai F. Cole; First Lieutenant, R. W. King; Second Lieutenants, P. A. Tatum and Nelson.
Company G — Beaufort County — Captain, Louis E. Sat- terthwaite; First Lieutenant, William Satterthwaite ; Sec- ond Lieutenants, Samuel S. Whitehurst and George P. Bryan.
Company H — Bertie and Northamipton Counties — Cap- tain, John Randolph; First Lieutenant, H. B. Hardy; Sec- ond Lieutenants, W. H. Newsom and George Bishop.
Company I — Moore County — Captain, Jesse L. Bryan; First Lieutenant, J. L. Arnold; Second Lieutenants, D. 0. Bryan and J. S. Eitter.
Company K — Orange County- — Captain, Josiah Turner, Jr. ; First Lieutenant, William A. Graham, Jr, ; Second Lieutenants, John P. Lockhart and James V. Moore.
In October the regiment broke camp. Companies D, E, F, I and K, with Colonel, Major and Staff, to Hertford, thence to Edenton; the second squadron (Companies B and G), Lieutenant-Colonel commanding, to Washington, N". C. ; the third squadron (Companies C and H), under Captain Boothe, to Neuse River, below ISTew Bern. Company A was at Asheville.
While at Edenton there was mention of arming the five
Nineteenth Regiment. 81
companies there with muskets and sending them to Roanoke Island as infantry, to remain until relieved by infantry. The Colonel favored this, biit the company officers objected, as it was putting the men into a different service from that into which they had entered, and for an indefinite time. After several weeks' "jawing" the idea was abandoned. Major Woodfin commanded the Battalion most of the time while at Edenton, Colonel Spruill being in attendance upon the State (Secession) Convention ; of which he was a member. In De- cember the regiment, except the second squadron, was assem- bled at ISTew Bern. Company A had come from Asheville, the fifth squadron (Companies E and K) received horses here, and the whole regiment was now mounted but was not armed. Governor Clark complained to the Confederate Government on 12th March, 1862, that the regiment had not been armed, although it had been in service six months. Win- ter quarters were built across the Trent river. These, on the evacuation, were occupied by "runaway negroes" and were the beginning of the present James City.
The regiment took part in the battle of New Bern, 14 March, 1862, Companies A. E and K dismounted, and under command of Colonel Z. B. Vance, Twenty-sixth N. C. T. Af- ter the battle of New Bern the camp was at "Wise's Fork, five miles below Kinston, and for the first time the regiment met as a whole. It picketed the roads to New Bern, the first via Tuscarora, the second via Dover Swamp and the Third via Trenton and near PoUocksville.
This was the severest service the regiment saw in its his- tory. A company of from thirty to sixty men would go from twenty to twenty-five miles to the front, establish its picket in from a half to a fourth of a mile of those of the enemy, who had a "reserve" of several thousand a mile or two in their rear, and General Burnside's whole command at New Bern, not ten miles from our outpost. For us there was no reinforcement, except a few "couriers," in twenty miles. Each company in turn had a picket tour of about ten days on one of the roads, and frequently the horses were not unsad- dled for half that time. It frequently rained nearly every 6
82 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.
day of the ten. Consequently, three-fourths of the horses returned from picket with sore backs. The regiment was armed with almost every kind of arms (except the newest pat- terns) known to the warrior or sportsman, and was never fully equipped with arms of modern warfare until it equipped itself with those furnished by the United States and taken from its troops in Virginia.
The writer has taken Company K on picket with thirty-five men, armed about as follows: Two Sharp's carbines, six Hall's, five Colts' (six-shooters), four Mississippi rifles and twelve double-barrelled shotguns, and perhaps a half dozen pairs of old one-barrel "horse pistols." There was not ex- ceeding twenty cartridge boxes in the company; the others carried their ammunition (twenty rounds) in the pockets of their clothes and in their "haversacks." Was not this a "for- midable array" to place itself within ten miles of the head- quarters of thirty thousand men equipped with arms of mod- ern pattern ? While the regiment remained here there were nearly every week, engagements with the enemy, (1) Captain Strange, Company D, near "Ten Mile" house; (2) Captain Andrews, Company B, at- Tuscarora ; (3) Captain Boothe, Company C, at Mills, in Carteret county ; (4) Lieuten- ant W. P. Roberts, Company C, with twenty-five men near Pollocksville ; (5) 14 April, Lieutenant-Colonel Robinson, with portions of Companies D, E, F, I and K, at Gillet's, in Onslow County. The attack was made on horseback against infantry in house and in a lot surrounded by a "stake and rider" rail fence with a deep ditch on the outside. Lieuten- ant-Colonel Robinson was wounded and captured. He never returned to the regiment. Captain Turner, Company K, was severely wounded and disabled for further ser- vice in the field; (6) 13 May, at the White Church, near Fescue's, in Jones County, on the Dover Swamp road, fourteen miles from ISTew Bern, Lieutenant Rogers, with twenty-five men of Company A, and Lieuten- ant Graham, with fifteen men of Company K, a total of forty men, were attacked by the Third New York Cavalry, a six- gun battery and two regiments of infantry. They repelled the attack and killed, wounded and captured nearly as many
Nineteenth Regiment. 83
as they had engaged in the fight. The road having swampy ground on both sides, there was no opportunity for them to deploy against us. Our loss 1 killed, 6 wounded, 2 prisoners. The troops engaged were complimented in general orders by Lieutenant-General Holmes from district headquarters ; also by General Robert Ransom, commanding post. Colonel Spruill resigned in April. Matthew L. Davis, who was com- missioned to succeed him, died in Goldsboro en route to the regiment. Colonel Sol. Williams was transferred from the Twelfth Infantry to the Second Cavalry 5 June, 1862. His Adjutant, Lieutenant John C. Pegram came with him. Adjutant Nicholson became Lieutenant of Company A.
A FLAG OF TEUCE.
On 4 July, 1862, as First Lieutenant Company K, I was in command of the picket on the Dover Swamp road from Kinston to New Bern with headquarters at the Merritt House and our outpost at the Ten-Mile House. About 11 o'clock a. m.. Colonel W. F. Martin, Seventeenth North Carolina Troops, and Captain Theodore J. Hughes, formerly Commis- sary of the regiment and afterwards Purser of the "Ad- Vance" during most of her life as a blockade-runner, arrived, carrying communications imder "flag of truce" to General Burnside, commanding the United States forces at New Bern. I requested Colonel Martin to procure for me per- mission to accompany them, and with this expectation took command of the escort. I prepared my toilet by taking off my coat and pants and whipping them around a sapling to get the dust out and with a corn cob and spittle, endeavored to "shine" my boots. After dinner (about 12:30 p. m.) we started ; a Corporal and two men with a white handkerchief on a pole as the "flag of truce" going about three hundred yards in front, the escort — about fifteen men- — and the mes- sengers following. The advance was halted at Deep Gully, nine and a half miles from New Bern, by the Federal out- post. This was the week of the "Seven Days' Fights" around Richmond. We received our mail for the week by Colonel Martin, containing papers giving accounts of the battles;
84 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.
which, it will be remembered, were all in our favor. Colonel Martin had brought several copies with him and we gathered what we could before starting, to carry the good news with us. "We distributed them among the officers and spoke of any par- ticularly favorable item in the papers. After a halt of half an hour we mounted an ambulance and Colonel Mix, who was to accompany us, informed us that his orders were for us to travel blind-folded and requested us to tie our handker- chiefs over our eyes. Colonel Martin remarked that he pre- ferred for Colonel Mix to tie his as it might come off at some time when not desired and have the appearance of his acting in bad faith. Captain Hughes and I also adopted the same view, and Colonel Mix tied all our handkerchiefs.
A drive of an hour landed us at General Burnside's head- quarters. It was now about half past 4 o'clock. General Burnside, after reading papers brought by Colonel Martin, asked if we had any newspapers. We told him we had given them out at Colonel Mix's headquarters. Colonel Mix afterwards came in and General Burnside said to him he understood he had some late papers. Colonel Mix said "Yes," and hfe would send them in. General Bum- side made some remark about not caring particularly about it ; which was but a poor attempt to conceal his desire to have them speedily.
General Burnside apologized to lis for our blindfold ride. He said: "General Foster was temporarily in command and it was by his orders ; that he never required it. If any one thought he was ready to attack him after being in his lines he was welcome to come on and try it."
The true condition of matters was that General Burnside had been ordered, with Generals Parke and Reno, to rein- force ilcClellan in "Virginia. Several regiments, arriving from Morehead City during the afternoon, were marched by in order to make the impression on us that the troops at ISTew Bern were being reinforced. I was surprised to see a good many white straw hats worn by the men. General Burnside remarked to General Foster, as a regiment passed, that he would "make those fellows throw away those straw hats," which Foster said he would do. The generals were not as
Nineteenth Regiment. 85
courteous to us as the officers of lesser grade had been. They seemed to be in bad humor. They had heard from Richmond and other news may have accounted for it.
Sahites on the Fourth of July were being fired frequently. General Burnside remarked to me : "I suppose you people do not bum any powder on the Fourth of July?" I replied: "No, we save it to burn on those who are attempting to de- prive us of the privileges of the Fourth of July."
He remarked to Colonel Martin, that he "had just returned from a trip North, and that you could hardly miss the men absent in the army. This is not the case with you." Colonel Martin replied : "No, and that it seemed to prove what he had often heard said, that 'Northern people were staying at home and sending the foreigners to do the fighting." General Burn- side replied : "Not at all, but it shows the difference in the populations of the two sections and the impossibility of the South's success. Success would be the worst thing that could happen for the South. When I am in a bad humor I wish the South would succeed." Colonel Martin replied that he "wished he was in a bad humor all the time." About this time Generals Foster, Parke and Reno came in. They were all in bad temper, and we spent an hour or so "spatting." Some one of us, whenever opportimity offered, would relate something about the late battles in Virginia. General Burn- side expressed himself as in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war, even to the arming of the negroes if necessary to success. We were surprised to hear this as General Burnside was represented as opposed to negro soldiers. During our confab. General Burnside turned to me and said rather sharply: "To what command do you belong?" I replied: "The Second North Carolina Cavalry." "Yes," says he, "you are the fellows who are shooting my pickets. I detest such warfare ; if a man wishes to fight let him come out like a man and show himself and not creep up like he was hunting a tur- key." I replied: "Your men began this mode and now you are complaining of it." He replied: "It is not so, and to prove it I lose five or six men where you lose one." I answer- ed : "That only prQves that our men are the best shots, and when they pull the trigger generally bring down the game,
86 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.
while yours miss." He replied: "You do, hey!" witli a touch of the "dry grins." I said : "If you do not like this style of warfare order your men to stop and ours will."
We discussed secession, States' rights, Federalism, war, ability of the South to maintain the contest, campaigns al- ready fought, leaders, etc., etc., but in not a very gentle man- ner. Governor Edward Stanly came in for a short while and was very courteous. About dusk we were driven in an ambulance to the house of the Spotswood family, but now used by the United States Army, and placed in a room on the second floor to spend the night.
Supper was furnished us in our room. An hour or so af- terwards Governor Stanly called and spent several hours. He had recently arrived from California, having been ap- pointed "Military Governor" of the State by President Lin- coln.
Colonel Martin remarked that he was surprised to hear General Bumside express himself in favor of arming the ne- groes. Governor Stanly replied that he "must be mistaken ; that he had frequently talked with General Burnside on the subject, and he was as much opposed to it as you or I, and, as for myself, whenever it is done I will resign and go whence I came."
About the time the "colored troops" were "mustered in" Governor Stanly resigned and left the State. I do not know, however, that there was any connection between the two events.
After Governor Stanly left we discovered some one was in the little room connecting the one we were in with another, and the door was pushed a little ajar, as if to hear anything we might say. We considered this as a "breach of hospital- ity" and expressed ourselves in vigorous language on the sub- ject and on Yankees in general, and the experiences of the day. If what was gathered from our conversation was re- ported it is not published in the Records of the Rebellion.
On the morning of the 5th, about sunrise, we went across the street to breakfast.
Breakfast over, we got into the ambulance; were again
Nineteenth Regiment. 87
blindfolded, and when we saw the light we were at our pickets at the Ten-Mile House.
In August the second squadron (Companies C and K), Captain Booth commanding, moved to Hamilton, Martin County, to picket the Roanoke river.
In October the other ten companies, under command of Major C. M. Andrews, who had been promoted upon resigna- tion of Major Woodfin, moved via Franklin, Va., to join the Army of ISTorthern Virginia and camped at Warrenton, Octo- ber 12th. Shortly after reaching there a scout of 225 mounted men and two pieces of artillery was ordered by Lieu- tenant-Colonel Payne, Fourth Virginia Cavalry, command- ing post. This party, commanded by Major Andrews, moved on the 16th via Bristoe Station, Manassas, and to the south of Centerville to Gainesville. Here the Major learned that a train had passed a short time previous. Pushing on, he overtook and captured the train at Hay Market, consisting of seven wagons and teams, also thirty-nine prisoners, killed three and wounded five Yankees. The regiment remained at Warrenton until 1 December, when it moved with the army to the vicinity of Fredericksburg. In the battle of Fredericksburg, 13 December, the regiment acted with other mounted forces in protecting General Lee's right, but was not engaged, except as skirmishers. The regi- ment was represented in the detail to make the raid under General Stuart into Maryland, on 24 December. It was assigned 2 December, 1862, to the brigade of General W. H. F. Lee, with the Ninth, Tenth, Thirteenth and Fifteenth Virginia Regiments of cavalry. It spent the winter in Es- sex County, picketing the Rappahannock river from Hazel River to Centre Cross. In March it moved to Culpepper County, camping between Culpepper Court House and Brandy Station. 1 May engaged Stoneman in his raid at Stone's Mills. The regiment was commanded by Major An- drews from 14 December to 8 May, Colonel Williams being detached as president of a court-martial. Major Andrews then getting a "sick furlough," Lieutenant-Colonel Payne was temporarily assigned to command it.
The second squadron (Companies C and K) remained at
88 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.
Hamilton until October. It participated in the attack on Washington, 1 September. Captain Boothe was severely woimded and not again in active service. While moving to join the regiment in Virginia the squadron was ordered into camp near the "Halfway House" on the pike between Peters- burg and Richmond. It, with Company C, Forty-first North Carolina (3d Cav.), formed a battalion, commanded by Cap- tain Graham, and built winter quarters on the pike near Proctor's creek. The battalion picketed the James Eiver as far as Bermuda Hundreds. To it was also assigned the duty of picketing the Appomattox for sixty miles above Pe- tersburg, to arrest deserters from the Army of Northern Vir- ginia. In March, 1863, the squadron, commanded by Cap- tain Graham, picketed General Longstreet's left flank in his expedition towards Suffolk to secure the hogs and cattle from the Albemarle section of North Car- olina. While at Drewry's Bluff the squadron was at- tached to the commands of Generals Daniel and Elzey, also to Colonel Jack Brown, of the Fifty-ninth Georgia. Under General Longstreet it picketed the James and Nansemond rivers. There were engagements with the enemy at Provi- dence Church and Chuckatuck. Captain Moore's Company, Sixty-third N. C. (5th Cav.), and Stribling's Virginia Bat- tery, mounted, formed a battalion, which Captain Graham commanded. It was under Generals Jenkins of South Caro- lina, Hood and Pickett during this service.
May 20 the squadron rejoined the regiment in Culpepper County, Virginia. There had been many changes of officers in the regiment. The following is a roster at that time :
EOSTEE 1 JUNE, 1863.
Sol Williams, Colonel.
Lieutenant-Colonel (Vacant.)
Clinton M. Andrews, Major.
John C. Pegeam, Adjutant.
A. Smith Joedan, Assistant Quartermaster.
W. H. Upsiiue, Surgeon.
Ianson, Assistant Surgeon.
Nineteenth Regiment. 89
Ebwaed Joedan^ Sergeant Major.
OoMANY A — Captain, J. V. B. Rogers ; First Lieutenant, W. B. Tidwell; Second Lieutenants, Abram 0. Evans and Jacob E. Williams.
Company B — Captain, S. J. Andrews ; Eirst Lieutenant, E. W. Allison; Second Lieutenants, J. IST. Turner and Wil- liam A. Luckey.
Company C — Captain, James M. Wynn; First Lieuten- ant, W. P. Roberts; Second Lieutenants, Abram F. Harrell and L. R. Cowper.
Company D — Captain, James W. Strange; First Lieu- tenant, Joseph S. Baker; Second Lieutenants, J. A. P. Con- oly and John B. Person.
Company E — Captain, R. W. Atkinson ; First Lieutenant, K. H. Winstead ; Second Lieutenants, E. P. Tucke and Eph. Bobbins.
Company F — Captain, P. A. Tatum; First Lieutenant, John G. Blassingame; Second Lieutenants, IST. C. Tucker and Holden.
Company G — Captain, ii. L. Eure; First Lieutenant, G. P. Bryan ; Second Lieutenants, W. M. Owens and J. W. Sim- mons.
Company H — Captain, R. H. Reese ; First Lieutenant, S.
]Sr. Buxton; Second Lieutenants, F. M. Spivey and ■
Copeland.
Company I — Captain, D. 0. Bryan; First Lieutenant, Thomas H. Harrington; Second Lieutenants, John C. Baker and James A. Cole.
Company K — Captain, W. A. Graham, Jr. ; First Lieu- tenant, John P. Lockhart; Second Lieutenants, A. F. Fau- cette and James R. Harris.
the battle of BEANDY station^ OE FLEETWOOD.
The regiment participated in the review of the Cavalry Corps by General R. E. Lee, Monday, 8 June, 1863, on the plain along the railroad between Brandy Station and Cul- pepper Court House. Our regiment returned to its camp
90 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.
of the night before, about one mile north of Hon. John Minor Botts', near Gilberson's, with orders to go on picket the next morning at Fox's Spring, about twenty miles distant on the Rappahannock River. On the mornings of the 9th at about 6 :30 o'clock "boots and saddles" sounded. "Saddle up" was the Confederate name for this signal, perhaps due to the fact that the boots were generally wanting. I went to headquar- ters and Colonel Williams directed me to leave the cooks and sore-back horses in camp. Thirty minutes afterwards, "To horse — ^lead out" was sounded, and just at its close Colonel Williams' orderly came to me with orders to mount every man I had. He had received notice of the Federals crossing the river in the meantime, but the orderly said nothing of it. The regiment was quickly formed, my command being the second squadron, Companies C and K, threw me in the rear, as we moved off in "column of fours." A quarter of a mile distant we entered a road leading towards Beverly Ford, and forming platoons imtmediately took the "gallop" which we maintained for most of the distance, which miist have been considerably over a mile, to the battlefield. Up to this time not one-third of the regiment knew that the Federals had crossed, or were attempting to cross, at Thompson's or Wel- ford's. As we cleared a piece of woods the column headed to the left and came in view of the enemy's artillery placed between the Dr. Green residence and the river on the Cun- ningham farm. Just as our rear squadron turned into the field a shell cut off the top of a tree Over our heads, and this was the first intimation we had of the presence of the enemy. We could see a portion of the Tenth Virginia engaged in the direction of the battery. The Nineteenth (Second Cavalry) North Carolina passed Dr. Green's house, crossed Euffin's Run and took position behind a knoll on which two guns of Breathed's battery, "horse artillery," under Lieutenant John- son were placed. This soon became engaged with the enemy. Colonel Williams formed all the men in the regiment who were armed with "long range guns" on foot and went to the front where he was soon hotly engaged with the enemy who had dismounted and taken position behind a stone wall three hundred yards in advance of his battery. After exchanging
NINETEENTH REGIMENT.
1. W. B. Tidwell, Captain, Co. A. 4. Levi Y. Lockhart, Sergeant, Co. K.
2. John P. Loukhart, Captain, Co. K. 5. W. A. Curtis, Sergeant. Co. A. 8. Stephen O. Terry, Sergeant, Co. K. 6. John L. Hall, Private, Co. K.
Nineteenth Regiment. 91
shots for a short time, he ordered a charge and captured the wall taking eighteen prisoners, besides the killed and wounded. In the charge Captain S. Jay Andrews, Company B, Iredell County, lost a foot, and Lieutenant J. G. Blassin- game, of Columbia, S. C, temporarily in command of Com- pany F, was mortally wounded. Our regiment held this po- sition with little change, although engaged part of the time with Aimes' Brigade of infantry, until 2 p. m. During the engagement General W. H. F. Lee, with several of his staff, were standing in a few feet of a large hickory tree a few steps to the right of one of Lieutenant Johnson's guns, when a shell struck the tree and threw pieces of it over them. A fair representation of "Company Q," (Quartermaster and his cubs) had assembled on the high ground about half a mile in owv rear to see the fighting. A well directed shot in their direction caused them to seek less conspicuous places for ob- servation. About 2 p. m. General Lee withdrew his brigade to the right to form connection with Jones and Hampton. The Nineteenth North Carolina (Second Cavalry) being on the right was placed on the plain which extends to the rail^ road and in full view of Fleetwood, General Stuart's head- quarters. The Tenth Virginia was next to us and at foot of the hills, the Ninth and Thirteenth Virginia were next to the enemy. The brigade held the enemy in check until moved to near the Orange and Alexandria Eailroad at Fleetwood, on account of the advance tlie enemy, which had crossed at the Eappahannock bridge and Kelley's Ford, had made. Generals Pleasanton and Buford had united their forces, which had crossed the Eappahannock at the dif- ferent fords, and now Avith combined forces, attacked the brigade on the left and were driving the troops in that por- tion of the field in some disorder, capturing some of the dis- mounted men and threatening the horse artillery.
About 3 or 3 :30 o'clock the shouts on the left told us that a brisk engagement was proceeding! Shortly afterwards Col- onel Williams came at full speed towards the regiment, pass- ing the Tenth Virginia. I suppose he gave the command, as they immediately formed by squadron and started at a gal- lop. As soon as he was near enough to our regiment he gave
92 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.
command, "Form column by squadron," and placing second squadron in front, gave the command "Gallop ; march." As we rose the hill we saw the enemy driving the Ninth and Thirteenth Virginia in considerable confusion before them, in our direction. The Tenth Virginia, when it reached a position that it could fire on the enemy without firing into the Ninth and Thirteenth, halted and opened fire. Colonel Wil- liams gave the command to his regiment "Right oblique," and as soon as we had cleared the Tenth Virginia, turning in his saddle shouted: "Forward; draw sabre; charge." The regiment raised the yell as it went by our stationary and re- tiring companions and the scene was immediately changed. The Federals were the fleers and the Confederates the pur- suers. Our regiment drove the enemy about half a mile back upon their reserves of cavalry and infantry, who were posted on a hill, while our advance had reached an angle where two stone walls came together on an opposite hill, about two hun- dred yards distant. This, with a volley from the reserve, checked the advance. The leading four were Colonel Wil- liams, Sergeant Jordan, Company C ; private Asbell, Com- pany K, and the writer.
DEATH of colonel SOL. WILLIAMS.
Asbell was felled from his horse with a wound through the head almost immediately. Colonel Williams gathered his horse to leap the wall, shouting : "Second North Carolina, follow me." The writer called to him: "Colonel, we had better get a line, they are too strong to take this way." He replied : "That will be best ; where is the flag ?" and as we turned, it was not flfty yards to our rear. He rode to meet it ; halted it and was shouting to the men to fall in, when he was shot throug'h the head, and died immediately, his body being carried from the fleld by his adjutant, John C, Pegram.
About this time the enemy enflladed us with a piece of ar- tillery, placed half a mile or more to our right, towards the river, and down the gorge, at whose head we had formed. This caused the regiment to give back a hundred yards or so, keep- ing its formation. The Federals charged us, we fired into
Nineteenth Regiment. 93
them, and they retired and made no further demonstration. In the charge, we relieved a great many of our dismounted knen, who had fallen into the hands of the enemy, and also a gun of the horse artillery, which went rapidly to the rear, as we relieved it of its danger of capture. Any information General Pleasanton got of General Lee's movements, must have been given him by General Gregg, for Buford never pierced W. H. F. Lee's line without being immediately re- pulsed, and the brunt of this work, both on foot and mounted, was done by the ISTineteenth North Carolina (Second Cav- alry), and so acknowledged at the time. Lieutenant P. A. Tatum, Company F. (Greensboro, N. G.) who had a disa- greement with Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Payne, Fourth Vir- ginia Cavalry, who was temporarily in command of the regi- ment a short time before, and had been placed under arrest, went into the charge without arms or spurs, and was wounded while most gallantly leading his men. The regiment lost 35.
Colonel Williams had been married but two weeks before to Miss Maggie, daughter of Captain Pegram, of the Confed- erate Navy, and had returned to camp on Saturday. He was beloved by his men ; as brave and true a man as was in that army, yet with a gentle, affectionate disposition, almost equal to a woman's. Indulgent to his men in camp almost to a fault, yet, when duty called and occasion required, he proved himself a leader worthy of their admiration. I have given this account of the battle of 9 June, 1863, somewhat in full that Colonel Williams and his regiment might receive some of the credit to which they are entitled.
Captain Strange, of Company D, Fayetteville, JST. C, who was in command after Colonel Williams' death, I know pre- pared a report of the part taken by the regiment and submit- ted it to the officers before forwarding it to headquarters. In "The Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies" the Nineteenth N^orth Carolina (Second Cavalry) is hardly mentioned in the official reports of this battle. General Stu- art says in his report of Colonel Williams : "He was as brave as he was efficient." The reports for the Nineteenth North Carolina Cavalry are nearly all wanting, and a loss of only five is reported, when the loss in my own command was three
94 North Carolina Troops, ]861-'65.
times that. The brigade ordnance officer, Captain B. B. Turner (Official Kecord, Vol. 11, part II, page 720) says of captured arms that "Eeports are all in except the Second JSTorth Carolina Cavalry, which is on picket ; none of the other regiments captured any." Consequently whatever prisoners, whether wounded or not, that fell into the hands of W. H. F. Lee's Brigade must have come to our regiment and been its work.
Major H. B. McClellan has published a book entitled "The Campaigns of Stuart's Cavalry." In this he is very unfair to the JSTineteenth North Carolina at Brandy Station. He dis- misses it with a statement that Colonel Williams requested permission to go into the charge — went in on the right of the Ninth Virginia, was shot through the head and instantly killed. In making up his narra- tive, he says - he got Colonel Beale, of the Ninth Vir- ginia, to give him an account of the fight, who informs him when he reformed his regiment, and rode forward to recon- noiter, to his surprise he found the enemy moving buck to the river. Not one word about the Nineteenth North Carolina, or how he got an opportunity to reform his regiment. Major McClellan does not seem to have considered it necessary to consult any member of the North Carolina regiment as to the action.
On that day W. H. F. Lee's Brigade received no assist- ance, although Robertson's Cavalry and a portion of Iverson's Infantry Brigade came upon the field; they fired no gun, and saw no enemy. After sunset we rode to a clover field near by, dismounted, and held our horses "to graze" until half past nine o'clock, when we marched to Fox's Spring, and as the sun rose next morning the writer dismounted, having placed pickets on the river. The regiment thought this very unjust, as it had borne the burden of the fight during the day, but Colonel Chambliss, of the Thirteenth Virginia Cavalry, was in com- mand of the brigade, and continued through the campaign, and I do not suppose there is a member of the Nineteenth ( Second Cavalry) North Carolina that has a single pleasant recollection of his treatment of it during his command. He
Nineteenth Regiment. 95
was promoted to Brigadier, and fell at the head of his brigade m 1864. His bravery was never questioned, and was dis- played on many occasions. It is to be regretted he did not add to this, impartiality of treatment to the regiments under his com'mand in the Gettysburg campaign. As the regiment formed "platoons" on reaching the Beverly Ford road, on the morning of the 9th, my negro servant, Edmund, formed the officers' servants and colored cooks in line immediately in the rear of the regiment and flourishing an old sabre over his head, took command of them. As we galloped down the road he was shouting to them : "I want no running. Every man must do his duty, and stand up to the rack," etc., etc. When the shell cut off the tree, as we came in view of the en- emy, he and his sable warriors disappeared in every direction except the front, and we did not see them for three days.
That night, 9 June, the regiment, although it had done most of -the fighting for the brigade during the day, was marched to Fox's Springs to do picket duty, and just as the sun rose on the morning of the 10th the pickets took position. The Company was not together again until we returned to camp on the 14th. At "roll call" I spoke to the men of my pride in their action in the battle, mentioning those who had especially come under my observation but that all had done well and that when rallied in the face of the enemy none had been missing but the dead and wounded. As the command "break ranks" was given the band at Head Quarters struck up the "Old North State." Such cheering, jumping, etc., I have seldom witnessed. The mind of each went back over the hills and valleys to the home in the old State he loved and for which he would willingly die.
Lieutenant-Colonel Paine was assigned to command the regiment. On 16 June we broke camp for the "Get- tysburg campaign," first engaged in the movement in Lou- don and Fauquier counties to cover General Ewell's advance against Winchester. As there was little horse feed in this county, the men held their horses by the bridle rein while the animals grazed on the clover and orchard grass. This was done until we crossed the Potomac, on 28 June. We moved via Warrenton and Salem to Middleburg, when
96 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.
we struck the enemy on the 18th. Then there was fighting every clay, and sometimes nearly all day, for a week or more, in the vicinity of Middleburg, Upperville, Goose Creek, Union and Paris. The most severe fighting was near Upper- ville, on 21 June. The enemy, besides cavalry, had Bar- ry's division of infantry. These were placed behind the stone walls with which this country was fenced. Except a portion of the Tenth Virginia Kegiment, under Major W. B. Clement, none of the brigade, nor of Jones' brigade, drawn up in sight in our rear a mile or so, gave the Nineteenth North Carolina any assistance. It was driven from the field with a loss of over half of the men it took into action, either killed or wounded. Captain W. P. Roberts, Company C, rallied a portion of the regiment and enabled Breathed's Battery, which had served most gallantly during the fight, to "limber up" and get out ; otherwise it would have been captured.
Lieutenant Cole, Company I, was killed; Lieutenant Bryan, Company G, was wounded and captured. Lieutenant Holden, Company F, had his arm broken, but, calling one of his men to make him a sling of his handkerchief and place his arm in it, continued in the fight. Corporal Stephen 0. Terry, Company K, was the last man to leave the field, and emptied the five barrels of his Colt's rifie almost alone into the face of the advancing enemy. I do not believe there was an engage- ment during the war in which a body of troops was more for- saken by comrades than the "Second Horse" was on that occasion. General Ewell, having captured Winchester, General Stuart "scouted" towards the Potomac to see that no enemy was left in the rear when he crossed the river. He found General Hancock, with Meade's wagon train, on the plains of Manassas, but was not able to deprive him of any of it, save one cannon and an ambulance. On 27 June the regiment moved via Fairfax Court House and Dranesville to near Leesburg. After placing pickets, about sunset, almost in sight of Hancock's rear guard, it retreated several miles, and then, going through a pine thicket by an- other road, found itself about 10 o'clock p. m. on the bank of the Potomac, near Seneca Falls. It forded the river, here three-fourths of a mile wide, with water half way up the sad-
Nineteenth Regiment. 97
die skirts. The fording was done in single file. On Sunday (28th) we moved out near the turnpike from Washington to Frederick City. About 2 p. m. we captured 172 of a train of 175 wagons, with six mules to each wagon, chasing them through Rockville to within seven miles of Washington City. The capture of this train, perhaps, caused the failure of vic- tory at Gettysburg, or perhaps the battle at that point. To preserve it hampered and delayed General Stuart's move- ments and left General Lee without the cavalry to locate Gen- eral Meade's forces. We moved by way of Westminster, Md., where we found abundance of rations for man and beast. Af- ter filling body and haversack, the depot was burned. On the morning of the 30th we passed through Papertown, Va., where a large quantity of paper was loaded into some of the wagons, and reached Hanover about 10 o'clock. Here General Stuart struck Meade's army. He attempted to cut his way through. Our brigade was in front. The leading regiment, after a short advance, retired in confusion. The Nineteenth JSTorth Carolina was then sent forward, and open- ed its way into the lines of the eaemj, cutting off a large force; but not being supported, they immediately closed in their rear. General Stuart sent no reinforcements to them, perhaps concluding the task too much for him, and left the regiment to its own defense. Hardly thirty men escaped being killed or captured. Most of these came out on foot through gardens or enclosures which offered protection. Here again the Nineteenth North Carolina were the actors, its comrades the audience.
iVfter passing Papertown details were made from each regi- ment to impress horses from the citizens. Captain Graham had charge of the detail from the Nineteenth North Carolina. Gathering what horses he could from the plows, wagons and stables in his route, and narrowly escaping capture, he re- joined the command after the fight at Hanover. Hanover is seventeen miles from Gettysburg. General Stuart was forced to make the circuit with his wagons via Carlisle — where he burned the United States barracks — to Getttysburg. We 7
'98 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.
reached General Lee's lines about sunset on Thursday, 2 July. The service on this raid .was very severe. There being only three brigades, it required fighting two out of three days — the first in advance, the next in rear, and to march with the wagons on the third. One hour for rest at 9 a. m. and one at 9 p. m. was all the intermission allowed.
On the morning of 3 July, gathering up the fragments left from Hanover and what was available from the wagon train. Captain Graham, as officer commanding, had a force of forty men. That afternoon, while supporting a section of Breathed's Battery, he was wounded. His command took part in the charge which occurred soon after and assisted in cutting off and capturing a squad of the enemy. The com- mand of the regiment devolved upon Lieutenant Jos. Baker, Company D.
I desire to acknowledge my indebtedness to Captain S. N. Buxton, Company H, Jackson, N. C, for the account of the fight at Hanover, Pa., and to Sergeant W. A. Curtis, Com- pany A, for the account of the ten companies while the sec- ond squadron was detached.
W. A. Geaham., Captain Company K. Machpelah, N. C, 9 April, 1901.
NINETEENTH EEGIMENT.
1. W. P. Eoberts, Colonel. 3. E. W. Allison, Captain, Co B.
2. S. N. Buxton, Captain, Co. H. 4. P. A. Tatum, Captain, Co. P.
5. JuniuB A. Bridges, 23 Lieut., Co. H.
ADDITIONAL SKETCH NINETEENTH REGIMENT.
(second cavalky. )
By general WILLIAM P. ROBERTS.
As stated by Major Graham .in his foregoing history of the regiment up to Gettysburg, it lost heavily at Hanover, Penn., and upon its return' to Virginia it vfas a mere shadov? of its former self and an effort was made to reorganize it, but there was not much left to reorganize.
However, Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Gordon, of the Ninth Eegiment (First Cavalry) was made Colonel, but in a short time thereafter he was transferred to hisformer regiment as Colonel. when-its gallant Colonel, L. S. Baker, was made Brig- adier-General.
In August, 1863, 1 was commissioned Captain of Company C, vice Captain J. M. Wynns, who had resigned and returned to North Cajrolina to raise a battalion of cavalry. After the transfer of Colonel Gordon, Major C. M. Andrews, late Cap- tain Company B, became Colonel and commanded the regi- ment till June, 1864.
During the remainder of the campaign of 1863, at Jack Shops and Brandy Station, in the Bristoe campaign, at War- renton. Mine Run and other places, and until its close, the gallant little regiment was always in readiness and took its place in front whenever called upon to do so.
During the winter of 1863-'64, it did its full share of picket duty on the Rapidan river, and with other detachments of the brigade levelled many breastworks thrown up by Gen- eral Meade when he crossed that river in November. Also, during the winter the regiment was greatly augmented in strength and discipline, so that when the campaign of 1864 opened, it was in fair condition, although numerically much smaller than any other regiment of the brigade, because of
100 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.
its great losses at Hanover, before mentioned, both in prison- ers and killed.
Let me state just here that the regiment never entirely re- covered from the blow it received at Hanover. Some of its officers