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ZEBULON B. VANCE. GOVERSOR, 186a-1866L
HISTORIES
SEVERAL REGIMENTS AND BATTALIONS
NORTH CAROLINA
GREAT WAR 1861 -'65. .
VRITTEN BT nEMEERS Of THE RESFECTIVE COnrLftNDS
EDITED BY
WALTER £LARK,
(Lieut. -CoLOJfKL SEVE^TIETH Regiment X. C. T. )
VOL. III. ^
PUBLISHED BY THE STATE.
XASH BROTHERS. BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS, GOLDSBORO, N. C. 1901 I
5H
whecked
THE NEW YORK'
PUBLIC LIBRARY
264072
ASTOR. LE' TILOEN <--- R .--.
— s
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Forty-Third Regiment, by Colonel Thomas S. Kenan,..^ 1
Fortv-Third Regiment, (Company A.) by Colonel Thomas S. Kenan • 19
Forty-Fourth Regiment, by Major Charles M. Stedman '21
Forty-Fifth Regiment, by Sergeant Cyrus B. Watson 35
Forty-Sixth Regiment, by Lieutenant J. M. Waddill 63
Forty-Seventh Regiment, bii Captain John H. Thorp 83
Forty-Seventh Regiment, by Lieutenant J. Rowan Rogers 103
Forty-Eighth Regiment, by Captain, W. H. H. Lawhon 113
Forty-Ninth Regiment, by Lieutenant Thomas R. Roulhac 125
Forty-Ninth Regiment, by Captain B. F. Dixon 151
Fiftieth Regiment, by Lieutenant J. C. Ellington 161
Fifty -First Regiment, by Lieutenant A. A. McKethan 205
Fifty-Second Regiment, by Adjutant John H. Robinson 223
Fifty Third Regiment, by Colonel James T Morehead 255
Fifty-Fourth Regiment, by Lieutenant J. Mai-shall Williams 267
Fifty-Fifth Regiment, by Adjutant Charles M. Cooke 287
Fifty-Sixth Regiment, by Captain Robert D. Oraham 313
Fifty-Seventh Regiment, by Colonel Hamilton C Jones 405
Fifty-Eighth Regiment, by Major G. W. F. Harper. 431
Fifty-Eighth Regiment, by Captain Isaac H. Bailey 447
Fifty-Ninth Regiment, (Fourth Cav.,) by Lieutenant W. P. Shaw.. 455
Sixtieth Regiment, by Lieutenant- Colonel James M. Ray 473
Sixtieth Regiment, by Captain Thomas W. Patton . . 499
Sixty First Regiment, by Captain N. A. Ramsey 503
Sixty-Second Regiment, by Lieutenant- Colonel B. G. McDowell 515
Sixty-Third Regiment, (Fifth Cav.), by Major John M. Galloway. . 529
Sixty-Third Regiment, (Fifth Cav. ), by Private Paul B. Means. . . . 545
Sixty-Fourth Regiment, by Captain B T. Morris 659
Sixty -Fifth Regiment. (Sixth Cav.), by Captain M. V. Moore... 673
Sixty-Sixth Regiment, by Adjutant George M. Rose 685
Sixty-Seventh Regiment, by Lieutenant- Colonel Rufus W. Wharton 703
Sixty-Eighth Regiment, by Corporal J. W. Evans 713
Sixty-Eighth Regiment, by Sergeant W. T. Caho 725
Sixty-Ninth Regiment, 6?/ im(ie?ia/i/-CoZo?ie^ W. W. String field 729
ASTOfi,
■-^NOX AND
^i2s^:c.
FORTY-THIHD REGIMENT.
J. Thos. S. Kenan, Colonel.
2. W. Gaston Lewis, Lieut. -Colonel.
3. James (i. Kenan, Captain, Co. A.
4. Rufflu Barnes, Captain, Co. C.
5. Drury Lacy, Adjutant.
6. Wtti. R. Kenan, -M Lieut, and
A<Ijutaiit.
7. R 11. Uttttle. 1st Lieut., Co. I.
FORTY-THIRD REQIHE^T.
By colonel THOMAS S. KENAN.
This regiment was organized at Camp Mangum, about three miles west of Kaleigh, in March, 1862, bj electing Junius Daniel, Colonel; Thomas S. Kenan (Captain Compa- ny A, formerly Captain Company C, Second Korth Carolina Volunteers), Lieutenant-Colonel; and Walter J. Boggan (Captain Company H), Major, commissions bearing date 25 March, 1862. Daniel was at the time Colonel of the Four- teenth Regiment, and soon thereafter was also chosen Colonel of the Forty-fifth, and accepted. Upon his reporting for duty he was placed in command of a brigade, of which the Forty-third afterwards formed a part. Daniel was subse- quently promoted to Brigadier-General. About 20 April, Kenan was notified that he had been chosen Colonel of the Thirty-eighth upon its reorganization at Goldsboro, the in- formation being officially conveyed by the hands of Lieuten- ant D. M. Pearsall, of the Thirty-eighth; but he remained with the Forty-third and was elected its Colonel a few days thereafter, and William Gaston Lewds (Major of the Thirty- third) was elected Lieutenant-Colonel, commissions bearing date 24 April, 1862.
The staff and company officers, and their successors by pro- motion from time to time in the order named, as appears from the "Roster of North Carolina Troops," pp. 196-225, and gathered from memoranda of participants in the opera- tions of the regiment, were :
Adjutants — Drury Lacy, W. R. Kenan. Surgeons — Bedford Brown, Jr., William T. Brewer, Joel B. Lewis.
QuARTERMASTEES — Johu W. Hiusou, Joscph B. Stafford.
Commissary — W. B. Williams.
Chaplains — Joseph W. Murphy, Eugene W. Thompson.
2 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'()5.
Sekgeant-JMajohs — W. T. Smith, Ilezekiah Brown, Thos. H. Williams, liobert T. Burwell, W. K. Kenan.
CAPTAINS.
CoMi'A.xY A — From Dnplin — James G. Kenan (succeeded T. S. Kenan) ; numl)er of enlisted men, 117. The company entered the service in April, 1861, and was Company C, Sec- ond North Carolina Volunteers (Colonel Sol. Williams), sta- tioned near Xorfolk. Upon the expiration of its six-months term of service it was reorganized and assigned to the Forty- third. Captain Kenan, of this company, was wounded and captured at Gettysburg, and was a prisoner when the war ended, and many of the officers, liereinafter named, met a similar fate, or were killed or disabled there or in subsequent engagements, but a correct list of casualties cannot now be had — and they were so numerous that during the latter part of the war the regiment was commanded by Captains, and companies by Lieutenants, Sergeants and Corporals.
CoiMPAKY B — From Mecldoiburg — Robert P. Waring, William E. Stitt. Enlisted men, 73.
Company C — From ^yihon — James S. Woodard, Kuffin Barnes. Enlisted men, 102.
Company D — From Halifax — Cary Whitaker. Enlisted men, 93.
Company E — From Edgecombe — John A. Vines, Jas. R. Thigpen, Wiley J. Cobb. Enlisted men, 96.
Company F — From Halifax — William R. Williams, Wm. C. Ousby, Henry A. Macon. Enlisted men, 101.
Company G — From Warren — Wm. A. Dowtin, Levi P. Coleman, Alfred W. Bridgers. Enlisted men, 110.
Company H — From Anson — John H. Coppedge (suc- ceeded W. J. Boggan), Hampton Beverly. Enlisted men, 112.
Company I — From Anson — Robert T. Hall, John Bal- lard. Enlisted men, 139.
Company K — From An-son — James Boggan, Caswell H. Sturdivant. Enlisted men, 120.
Forty-Third Regiment.
FIEST LIEUTENANTS.
Company A, James G. Kenan, Robert B. Carr.
Company B, Henry Ringstaff, William E. Stitt.
Company C, Henry King, Rnffin Barnes, L. D. Killett.
Company D, Thomas W. Baker, John S. Whitaker.
Company- E, James R. Thigpen, Wiley J. Cobb, Charles Vines.
Company F, William C. Onsby, Henry A. Macon, J. H. Morris.
Company' G, Levi P. Coleman, Alfred W. Bridgers.
Company- H, John H. Coppedge, Hampton Beverly, Ben- jamin F. Moore.
Company' I, Richard H. Battle, Jr., John H. Threadgill.
Company' K, Caswell H. Sturdivant, Henry E. Shepherd.
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
Company' A, Robert B. Carr, John W. Hinson, Thomas J. Bostic, Stephen D. Farrior.
Company' B, William E. Stitt, Julius Alexander, Robert T. Burwell.
Company' C, William T. Brewer, Ruffin Barnes, L. D. Kil- lett, Bennett Barnes, Hezekiah Brown.
Company D, John S. Whitaker, William Beavans, George W. Wills.
Company E, Wiley J. Cobb, Van B. Sharpe, John H. Leigh, Charles Vines, Willis R. Dupree, Thomas H. Wil- liams.
Company' F, Henry A. Macon, William R. Bond, J. H. Morris, W. L. M. Perkins, Jesse A. Macon.
Company G, William B. Williams, Alexander L. Steed, John B. Powell, Luther R. Crocker.
Company H, Hampton Beverly, Benjamin F. Moore, W. W. Boggan, Henry C. Beaman, Peter B. Lilly.
Company I, John H. Threadgill, John Ballard, Stephen W. Ellerbee, Leonidas L. Polk.
Company K, John A. Boggan, Stephen Huntley, Francis j:. Flake.
4 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.
The regiment Avas ordered to Wilmington and Fort Johnson at Smithville, on the Cape Fear river, where it re- mained about a month in General French's command, and thence to Virginia. Daniel's Brigade, composed of the Thirtj-second, Forty-third, Forty-fifth, Fiftieth and Fifty- third Regiments, was placed in the command of Major-Gen- eral Holmes, and on the last of the seven days' operations around Richmond was ordered to occupy the road near the James river, where it was subjected to a fierce shelling from the gunboats on the right and the batteries on Malvern Ilill in front, but was not in the regular engagement; was after- wards ordered to Drewry's Bluff, and constituted part of the forces under Major-General G. W. Smith for the protec- tion of Richmond and vicinity during the advance of the army under General Lee into Maryland in September, 1862 ; and about the same time a demonstration was made against Suffolk, Va., by troops under General French (this regi- ment being a portion of them), probably for the purpose of preventing the Federals from sending reinforcements from that territory to oppose the movement of the Confederates in Maryland. They returned in about ten days, and the regi- ment resumed its position at Drewry's Bluff, where it was engaged in drilling and putting up breastworks under the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis, who, being a civil engineer by profession, was ordered by the brigade com-- mander to supervise their construction. Shortly after quar- ters were prepared for the winter, the brigade was ordered to Goldsboro, in December, 1862, to reinforce the Confeder- ates in opposing the advance of the Union troops from Xew Bern under General Foster ; but on the day before its arrival they succeeded in burning the railroad bridge over the Neuse river, and, after a sharp engagement with the Confederates on the south side of the river, retreated to their base of oper- ations at New Bern. The bridge was immediately rebuilt on trestles by a detail of men from the brigade, Lieutenant- Colonel Lewis superintending the work.
During the spring of 1863 it was stationed at Kinston and detachments sent out to prevent the approach of the enemy into the interior. Major-General D. 11. Hill having assumed
Forty-Third Regiment. 5
conunand of the department, directed demonstrations to be made in aid of military operations at other points and to com- pel the enemy to abandon their outposts. In the affair at Deep Gully, a small creek, upon the eastern bank of which the enemy were entrenched, the Forty-third was ordered to attack, and after a few rounds the enemy abandoned the works and retreated. The brigade was then ordered to Washing- ton, IST. C, and was there subjected to the artillery fire of the Union forces occupying that place, but, with the excep- tion of some skirmishing, no engagement was brought on. It then returned to its former quarters at Kinston, and, later on, went to Fredericksburg, Va., and was assigned to Rodes' Division of the Second Corps (Ewell's), the Thirty-second, Forty-third, Forty-fifth and Fifty-third Regiments and the Second ISTorth Carolina Battalion then constituting the brig- ade— the Fiftieth Regiment having been assigned to another brigade. The Army of Northern Virginia was there reviewed by General Lee and ordered to commence the memorable Pennsylvania campaign in June, 1863.
ON THE MARCH.
Upon arriving at Brandy Station the brigade was placed in line of battle to meet any attempted advance of Union in- fantry to support its cavalry, but was not engaged — the main fighting in that terrific battle (9 June) being between the cavalry of the opposing armies. At Berryville the enemy were driven by the cavalry, supported by this brigade, and camp equipage, etc., captured. It then marched by way of Martinsburg, Williamsport, Hagerstown and Chambersburg to Carlisle, Pa., and occupied the barracks at that place, from which it was ordered to Gettysburg.
IN THE THREE DAYS^ EIGHT.
Upon arriving at Gettysburg, on Wednesday, 1 July, 1863, about 1 o'clock p. m., a line of battle was formed near For- ney's house, northwest of the town and to the left of Pender's Division of Hill's Corps, which had repulsed the enemy in the forenoon, and the troops advanced to the attack. The
6 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.
fight was continued till late in the afternoon and the enemy driven back, the brigade being handled with consummate skill by the brave General Daniel. Seminary Ridge was gained and occupied — the right of the Forty-third resting on the railroad cut. The fight was terrific and the loss heavy on both sides. On Thursday morning, 2 July, the regiments were assigned to various positions iipon the line. The Forty-' third supported a battery, during the artillery duel which continued nearly the whole day, at a point on the Ridge just north of the Seminary building, and the shot and shell from the guns of the enemy on Cemetery Heights caused serious loss. It was during this cannonade that General Lee and staff passed to the front along the road near by, and the troops saluted him by raising their hats in silence, and were encour" aged by his presence. From this point a movement was commenced at night in line of battle, in the direction of the enemy's works, the skirmishers firing upon the Confederates and retreating, but inflicting no loss. The moon was shin^ ing brightly, and it seemed that a night attack upon Cemetery Heights was contemplated ; but when the brigade crossed the valley in front, orders were given to march by the left flank near the southern and eastern limits of the town, and about daybreak on Friday, 3 July, it reported to Major-General Johnson, who commanded the Division of Ewell's Cor])s on the extreme left of the Confederate line. Daniel's Brigade, with other troops, had been ordered to reinforce Johnson's position on Culp's Hill. • It marched nearly all night, and formed a line of battle near Benner's House, crossed Rock Creek, and, through the undergrowth, among large boulders and up the heavily timbered hill, the attack n]ion the enemy was made, the line of works (formed by felled trees) taken, but the charge upon tlie main line was repulsed. Colonel Kenan, of the Forty-third, was wounded in leading this charge, and taken from the field (captured on the retreat and imprisoned until the close of the war), and the connnand de- volved on Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis.
The forces under Johnson held their positions until night, when they were withdrawn^the Forty-third occupying its first position on Seminary Ridge until tlio army moved to
Forty-Third Regiment. 7
Hagerstown. On the retreat it was assigned the rear posi- tion, and in consequence was repeatedly engaged with the Union advance. After remaining at Hagerstown a few days the Confederates crossed the swollen Potomac (carrying their guns and their ammunition on their heads, the water being up to their armpits), and fell back to the village of Darks- ville. Later, they were in front of the Federal army, on the south bank of the Rapidan river, guarding the fords, and en- gaged the enemy at Mine Run when an advance towards Richmond was made. After the retreat of the Federals to the north of the Rapidan, and active operations having com- paratively ceased, winter quarters were built, but they were not long occupied by this regiment, for it was detached for duty with General Hoke's Brigade in the winter campaign in 1863-'64 in Eastern Korth Carolina, Major-General Pickett being in command of all the forces.
In this campaign Hoke's Brigade consisted of the Sixth, Twenty-first, Fifty-fourth and Fifty-seventh J^orth Carolina Regiments and the First North Carolina Battalion, and at- tached to it were the Forty-third iSTorth Carolina and Twen- ty-first Georgia. In approaching New Bern this regiment arrived at Bachelor's creek, about seven miles from the city, and made a night attack upon the enemy's works, but, discov- ering that the flooring of a bridge across the creek, about seventy-five feet long, had been removed Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis informed General Hoke that if he would send him plank from the pontoon train he would renew the attack as soon as practicable. Hoke complied, and the attack was made at daylight the next day — one of the companies laying the plank, under fire, and the others crossing over, also under fire, driving the enemy and causing a retreat to New Bern.
There were also some Union troops at Clark's brickyard, on the Atlantic & North Carolina Railroad, nine miles above the city, and information was received that a train of cars had been sent from New Bern to bring them in. The regiment was ordered to capture this train, without wrecking it, if possible, and accordingly a three-mile march at quick and double-quick time was made to intercept it. When the regi- ment got within about twenty or thirty yards of the track
8 North Carolina Troops, 186l-'65.
the train was passing at its highest speed, and shots were exchanged between the opposing parties. If success had at- tended this movement, the purpose of General Hoke was to place his troops on the train, run into the town and surprise the garrison. Pickett's expedition, however, was not suc- cessful, and the troops fell back to Kinston, remaining there a few weeks, and then marched on Plymouth.
THE BATTLE OF PLYMOUTH.
April 18, 19 and 20, 1864: General Hoke, who suc- ceeded to the command of all the forces in this department, directed the campaign, and was also authorized by the ISTavj Department to secure the co-operation of the Confederate ram, Albernarle,, then near Hamilton on the Roanoke river, in an unfinished state and in charge of Commander Cooke. Colonel Mercer, of the Twenty-first Georgia, commanded Hoke's Brigade. He was killed in a charge at night upon a fort about half a mile in advance of the enemy's line of works at Plymouth, and Lewis, of the Forty-third, assumed com- mand and was subsequently promoted to Brigadier-General. The fort was taken and the Alhe marie simultaneously steamed down the river and engaged the enemy, sinking one of their gunboats and driving their flotilla a considerable dis- tance below Plymouth, thus relieving the land forces in future movements of the apprehended attack from them. During the night the different commands were placed in position for the general assault upon the works around the town, and this necessitated the moving of the troops by cir- cuitous routes to avoid being discovered by the enemy, and consumed all of the 19th. Accordingly, on the morning of the 20th General Matt. Ransom attacked on the east side of the town, Lewis on the west and Hoke, with the other brig- ades, moved upon the enemy's center. The town was taken in a short while, the garrison and an immense amount of sup- plies being captured. The brilliancy and dash of this move- ment, which was planned and faithfully executed according to the directions of the commanding officer, received recogni- tion in the following :
Besolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of
[the new YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
ASTOR, LENOX M TILDE.N FOUNDATW
FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT.
1. R. B. Carr, 1st Lieut, Co. A. 3. L. L. Polk-, M Lieut.. Co. I.
S. Robt. Turnbull Burwell, 1st Lieut., 4. B. F. Hall. SerKeant, Co. A.
Co. B. 5. Robert J. Southerlaud, Sergeant, Co. A.
Forty-Third Regiment. 9
America, That the thanks of Congress and the country are due and are tendered to Major-General Robert F. Hoke and Commander James W. Cooke, and the officers and men under their command, for the brilliant victory over the enemy at Plymouth, N. C.
Joint resolution, approved 17 May, 1864. Official Records Union and Confederate Armies, Vol. 60, page, 305.
Washington, J^. C, was next threatened, and after an ar- tillery duel during the day the enemy evacuated it. The forces then moved upon 'New Bern again. The Forty-third engaged the enemy about nine miles from the city during the afternoon of 2 May, and again on the morning of the next day. The enemy were forced back in a running fight Avithin sight of the town. At this juncture, when the capture of the town seemed probable, orders were received to march imme- diately back to Kinston and thence to Petersburg, which point General Butler, of the Union army, Avas threatening with a large force. The distance covered by the regiment on this day's march, including the running fight towards New Bern and the return to Kinston, was thirty-seven miles in about twelve hours. Of the reinforcements ordered to Petersburg the Forty-third was the first regiment to arrive, and, there being but few other troops on the ground, orders were given to occupy the entrenchments in front of the city by deploying at twenty paces, and, in order to impress the enemy with the belief that they were confronted by a large force, instructions were given to make as much noise as pos- sible and fire off guns at frequent intervals. From this time till 15 May the regiment was moved to different portions of the line, from the south of Petersburg to the north of Rich- mond, a distance of about thirty miles, seldom remaining more than one day at any point. These frequent movements were deemed necessary on account of the small force availa- ble to meet real or supposed movements of the Union army. In the meantime reinforcements were brought in, and Gen- eral Beauregard commanded the Confederate forces in the engagement which took place the next day.
10 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.
the battle of drewky^s bluff^ 16 may,, 1864.
The attack was made by the Confederates about daylight under cover of a dense fog. When within about forty paces of the enemy's main line the Forty-third encountered (as did also the other troops of the division) a line of telegraph wires fastened to stumps about twelve inches above the ground, which caused most of the men to trip and fall. This checked the forward movement, but from this position a heavy fire was poured into the enemy until they were dis- lodged. Finding their ammunition nearly exhausted, as the enemy commenced retreating the regiment repaired to the rear to replenish it. This being done, it returned to the line near the right of General Robert Ransom's Division, to which it was then temporarily attached, and occupied the right of the brigade in a charge upon the works when a bat- tery of artillery was captured, the enemy driven across the turnpike and a position in rear of the Union forces secured. The position of the regiment was now near the turnpike^ which constituted the dividing line of the divisions of Ran- som and Hoke during most of the engagement. Hoke, being appointed Major-General after the battle of Plymouth, was assigned to the conunand of another division after his arrival at Drewry's Bluff. About this time a council of war was held on the turnpike, which was participated in by a dis- tinguished group, consisting of President Davis, Generals Beauregard, Ransom and Hoke, with their respective staff of- ficers. Very soon after this incident, the enemy having given way at all points of the line, were driven into Bermuda Hundreds, the angle between the James and Appomattox rivers, under cover of their gunboats, this regiment taking part in the pursuit.
After remaining in line of battle in front of General But- ler's troops for about two days, orders were issued for the regiment to rejoin its old brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia. In obedience thereto it marched to Drewry's Bluff and was transported by boat to Richmond, thence by rail to Milford Station on the Richmond and Fredericks- burg Railroad, reaching there about noon on 21 May, 1864.
Forty-Third Regiment. 11
The march was at once resumed, and the regiment bivouacked that night near Spottsylvania Court House. The army- having been withdrawn from its position in front on the night of the 21st to meet a movement of the enemy, who had retired towards the North Anna, the regiment was ordered to follow on the morning of the 2 2d. Late in the afternoon, informa- tion was received from General Ewell that the regiment was then in the rear and in danger of being captured. To avoid this risk an all-niglit march was made, the old brigade joined and the enemy again confronted near Hanover Junction on the morning of the 23d. It was then commanded by Gen- eral Bryan Grimes, Daniel having been killed at Spottsylva- nia on 12 ]\Iay, and General Lewis remained in charge of Hoke's old Brigade. In this march more than 60 miles were traversed, and the troops were hungry and nearly exhausted. But not long after arriving upon the groun<l a line of bat- tle was formed northwest of the Junction and earthworks thrown up. After dark this line was al)andoned and the reg- iment withdrawn about a mile to the rear, and occupi('<l the bank of a railroad cut, leaving the brigade sharpsliooters in possession of the first line. Xext day (24 May), about noon, the enemy in force attacked the sharpshooters and drove them from their position. Companies A and F, numbering about seventy men, under command of Lieutenants Bostic, Farrior and Morris, were detailed and sent to the front with instruc- tions to retake the works. On reaching the works they found that both sides of them were occupied by a regiment of Union troops, supported by a brigade at a short distance to the rear. On the sudden appearance of this small force from the thick woods which covered their approach, they were ordered by the enemy to surrender. To tliis they responded with a quick and destructive fire at close range, and, after a hand- to-hand tight of several minutes, forced them to the opposite side of the breastworks, and the assault was fiercely con- tinued about two hours. Encouraged by the forward move- ment of the brigade and the firing of a field battery consti- tuting their support, the LTnion forces attempted several times to retake the position, but were as often repulsed. A heavy rain having set in, the firing ceased and the enemy
12 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.
withdrew under cover of the rain and approaching darkness. After the rain ceased a survey of the field was made, showing a larger number of dead and wounded of the enemy than the aggregate number of the two companies engaged in the fight. On receiving a detailed report of the affair and its results, General Grimes was heard to express himself to the effect that all things considered, he believed this to be one of the great fights of the war. These two companies rejoined the regiment after dark, and in a few hours the entire army re- tired towards Richmond to confront the Union army, then moving in the same direction.
jSTothing of special note occurred, except frequent skir- mishing, till the battle of Bethesda Church, which was fought on the afternoon of 30 May. Further skirmishing took place on 31 May and 1 June, and the battle of Gaines' Mill was fought 2 June, and Cold Harbor 3 June, in all of which this regiment bore its part.
After the battle of Cold Harbor, the Second Corps, then commanded by General Early, was ordered into camp near Gaines' Mill and held in reserve till 13 June. The sharp- shooters of Rodes' Division had been previously organized into a separate corps under command of Captain W. E. Stirt (Company B), and numbered about one thousand men, made up of details from the different regiments, the Forty-third contributing about thirty-five from the right wing under command of Lieutenant Perkins (Company F), and thirty- five from the left wing under command of Sergeant-Ma j or Kenan, who had been appointed by the brigade commander, 10 June, a Junior-Second Lieutenant. On 13 June the Sec- ond Corps was ordered to Lynchburg, Va., arriving there on the 18th, and in the afternoon the sharpshooters engaged those of the Union forces. The withdrawal of the encMay during the night was promptly discovered, and the sharp- shooters marching at the head of the division in pursuit over- took their rear guard at Liberty, when another skirmish en- sued, and again at Buford's Gap on the afternoon of the 20th. The pursuit was continued on the 21st through Salem, Va., where another skirmish took place. On the 2 2d the troops rested at Salem, and resumed the march on the 23d in
Forty-Third Regiment. 13
the direction of the Potomac river, reaching Staunton early on the morning of the 27th; remained there till the next morning, and then marched to Harper's Ferry, which was reached on the morning of 4 July. Here the Corps of Divis- ion sharpshooters captured Bolivar Heights about 10 a. m., and about 8 p. m. drove the enemy from Harper's Ferry across the river to Maryland Heights. On the 5th the Forty-third occupied Harper's Ferry, relieving the sharp- shooters. Skirmishing continued most of the day. On the 6th the corps crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown and engaged the enemy in the rear of Maryland Heights, the bat- tle continuing ne"'arly all day. On the 7th they moved through C'rampton's Gap towards Frederick, and after fre- quent skirmishing reached Frederick on the morning of the 9th, where General Lew Wallace's Division of Union troops was strongly posted on the eastern bank of the Monocacy river. After a stubborn fight they were driven from the field, with the loss of a large number of killed, wounded and prisoners. On the 10th the Confederates moved in the direc- tion of Washington City, and, after a hard march in extreme- ly hot weather and over a dusty road, arrived in front of Fort Stevens abo\it noon of the 11th, within sight of the dome of the Federal Capitol. The sharpshooters advanced within 200 yards of the fort, but retired to a position about 300 yards to the rear, where they halted and dug rifle-pits. In the afternoon the enemy threw forward a heavy li-ne of skirmishers, who attacked vigorously, but were repulsed with some loss. Here, our sharpshooters remained, subjected to a severe shelling from the forts till the afternoon of the 12th, when the enemy, reinforced by two corps from the Army of the Potomac, advanced and drove them from their improvised works. Rodes' Division then moved forward and retook the lost ground. The casualties on both sides were considera- ble. On account of the arrival of the above-mentioned rein- forcements, a further advance of Early's troops was not made, and they were withdrawn on the night of the 12th, and recrossed the Potomac on the 14th near Leesburg, Va. The movement into Maryland was probably made to create a diversion in favor of operations around Richmond.
14 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.
Thus, within thirty days the army of which the Forty- third composed a part had marched about five hundred miles and taken part in not less than twelve battles and skirmishes, in most of which the enemy were deafeated with severe losses.
The troops then moved towards the Valley of Virginia, and crossed the Blue Ridge at Snicker's Gap on 17 July, the Union troops slowly following and an additional force threat- ening the flank of the Confederate right. On the afternoon of that day Rodes' Division attacked the enemy at Snicker's Ford, driving them into the Shenandoah river, where the loss in killed and drowned was heavy. On the 19th the division moved towards Strasburg, and on the afternoon of the 20th went to the support of General Ramseur, who was resisting an attack near Winchester. But the engagement having ceased before the arrival of the division, it retired to Fisher's Hill and there remained till the morning of the 24th, when an attack was made upon the enemy at Kernstown and they were driven across the Potomac and followed into Maryland. And tlien Rodes' Division, sometimes in detachments and at others in a body, marched and countermarched between the Potomac river and Fisher's Hill until September 2 2d. Dur- ing this time the Forty-third Regiment was engaged in al- most daily skirmishing, and took part in the battles of Win- chester, 17 August; Charlestown, 21 August; Smithfield, 29 August; Bunker's Hill, 3 September; Winchester (No. 2), 19 September, and Fisher's Hill, 22 September.
Having been defeated in the last engagement at Fisher's Hill, the Confederates retreated up the valley, followed by the enemy to Waynesboro, where reinforcements were re- ceived, and then, on 1 October, returned down the valley, reaching Fisher's Hill on 13 October. The Forty-third com- posed part of the body of troops which marched around the left and rear of the enemy's camp at Cedar Creek on the night of 18 October, preparatory to the general attack made on the morning of the 19th, resulting in their defeat in the early part of the day. Reinforcements having been received by the enemy in the afternoon, the tide of battle was turned and the Confederates were driven up the valley to New Mar-
Forty-Third Regiment. 15
ket, where they remained in camp without further incident till about 22 November, when a considerable body of Union cavalry under the command of General Sheridan was at- tacked and routed by Rodes' Division between New Market and Mount Jackson. This ended the noted Valley campaign of 18G4.
About a week before Christmas, the Forty-third, with the other tr(jops composing the old Second Corps of the Army of Xortlieni Virginia, returned to Petersl)urg and went into Avinter (piarters on Swift creek, three miles north of the city. The next movement was to Southerland's Depot, on the right wing of the army, south of Petcrsljurg, on 1') February, 1865. Here tlie regiment remaiiu'*! with the otlier troops of the division till about the middle of March, when they were or- dered into the trenches in front of Petersburg to relieve Gen- eral iiushrod Johnson's Division, which was to occupy an- other position.
The increasing dispntj^orticm in the numbers of the oppos- ing armies made it necessary for Rodes' Division, now com- posed of only about 2,200 men, to cover a distance of about three and a half miles in the trenches, and to do this it re- quired one-third of the men on picket duty in front of the trenches and one-third on duty in the trenches, where the mud Mas frequently more than shoe-deep and sometimes knee-deep, Avhile the remaining third caught a broken rest on their arms. Xo general engagement took place till 25 March, but at night there was almost constant firing between the pickets. At most points the main lines of the two armies were within easy rifle-range, and at some points less than one hundred yards apart. The monotony of the constant cracking of small arms was frequently relieved by the firing of mortars and the dropping of shells in the trenches, calling for con- stant watchfulness on the part of those who were in the trenches, and disturbing the broken rest of the small remnant who were off duty. On the night of 24 March, General Gor- don's Corps was massed opposite Hare's Hill with a view to making an attack at that point, where the lines were within one hundred yards of each other. Entrance into the enemy's works was effected just before daylight on the morning of the
16 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.
25tli by the Division Corps of sharpshooters, who, with un- loaded muskets, surprised and captured the enemy's pickets and entered their main lines. The Forty-third Regiment, with the other troops of the division immediately following, occupied the enemy's works for some distance on either side of Hare's Hill, and stubbornly held them, against great odds, for about five hours. During most of this time the enemy poured a deadly fire into the Confederates from several bat- teries on elevated positions, and, having massed large bodies of infantry at this point, forced the withdrawal of the Con- federates with considerable loss in killed, wounded and pris- oners. After this fruitless effort to dislodge the enemy the Forty-third resumed its position in the trenches and remained until Saturday, 1 April, iibout 11 o'clock on the night of this date the enemy opened a furious cannonading all along the line. Under cover of this firing they attacked the Con- federates in heavy force at several points, effecting an en- trance beyond the limits of the division on the right. At daylight on Sunday morning, the 2d, they made a breach in the line held by a brigade to the left center of the division, and occupied the Confederate works for some distance on either side of Fort Mahone, wdiich stood on an elevation about fifty yards in front of the main line. The division, massing in this direction, attacked the enemy at close quar- ters, driving them from traverse to traverse, sometimes in a hand-to-hand fight, till the lost works were retaken up to a point opposite Fort Mahone, which was still occupied by the enemy. Its commanding position making its recapture of importance in the further movements of the Confederates, two details of about twelve men each, in charge of a Ser- geant— one from the Forty-third (now commanded by Cap- tain Cobb, Captain Whitaker having been mortally wounded just previously), and the other from the Forty-fifth Regi- ment of the brigade— were ordered, about noon, to enter the fort by the covered way (a large ditch) leading from the main line into the fort. This was promptly done, and the enemy occupying the fort — more than one hundred in num- ber— perhaps in ignorance of the small force of Confederates, and surprised at the boldness of the movement, surrendered
Forty-Third Regiment. 17
and were sent to the rear as prisoners. From this position the little squad of about twenty-five men poured a deadly fire into the left flank and rear of the enemy occupying the Confederate line beyond Fort Mahone, while the main body of the division pressed them in front till they were dislodged and retreated to their own lines, thus giving up the entire works taken from the division early in the morning. In this affair Sergeant B. F. Hall commanded the squad from the Forty-third. A brigade of Zouaves, however, promptly moved forward, meeting the retreating force, and recaptured both the Confederate line and Fort Mahone, leaving Kodes' Division still in possession of that portion of the line retaken from the enemy in the early part of the day, and which was held until after dark, when the lines in front of Richmond and Petersburg were abandoned. The army then commenced its retreat. Marching day and night, with only short inter- vals of rest, Auielia Court House was reached about 4 April, where the well-nigh exhausted troops were permitted to rest several hours. The march was resumed that night, and, being closely pursued by the enemy. General Grimes (then Major-General commanding the division to which the Forty-third belonged) was assigned to the position of rear guard, ('olonel 1). G. Cowand, of the Thirty-second, being in command of Daniel's Brigade. The enemy's cavalry, em- boldened by success, frequently rode recklessly into the Con- federate lines, making it necessary to deploy alternately as a line of battle across the road one brigade after another, while the others continued the march. This running fight culmi- nate<l in a general engagement on the afternoon of the 6th at Sailor's creek, near Farmville, Va., where the Confeder- ates, overwhelmed by superior numbers, retreated beyond the long bridge at Farmville.
On the morning of the 7th, beyond Farmville, the division charged the enemy and recaptured a battery of artillery which had previously fallen into their hands. Continuing the march from this point, there was no further fighting on this or the following day, the Union anny having taken par-
18 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.
allel roads for the purpose of intercepting the Confederates in their march towards Lynchburg.
The vicinity of Appomattox Court House was reached on the evening of Saturday, the 8th, and the exhausted troops bivouacked until midnight, when the division was ordered from the position of rear guard to the front, with a view of opening the road towards Lynchburg, now occupied by Union troops in large force. About sunrise on Sunday morning, the 9th of April, 1865, the division engaged a large body of the enemy's cavalry, supported by infantry, and drove them more than a mile, capturing a battery of artillery and several prisoners. While engaged in this pursuit they were ordered back to a valley in which the larger part of the Confederates was now massed, and on arriving there received the sad intel- ligence that the Army of [NTorthern Virginia had surrendered.
Manifesting under defeat the same spirit of fidelity and endurance which had characterized them in success, the rem- nant of about 120 men and officers composing this regiment accepted the fate of war and awaited the final arrangements for capitulation ; and on the morning of 12 April, after lay- ing down their arms, dispersed on foot, many in tattered gar- ments and without shoes, and thus made their way to their distant and, in many instances, desolated homes.
And "the picture of the private soldier as he stood in the iron hail, loading and firing his rifle, the bright eye glistening with excitement, and with powder-stained face, rent jacket, torn slouch hat and trousers, blanket in shreds, and the prints of his shoeless feet in the dust of the battle, should be framed in the hearts of all who love true courage wherever found."
The preparation of this sketch, giving the organization and outlining the movements of the Forty-third Eegiment, is largely due to the assistance rendered to me by W. G. Lewis, B. F. Hall, W. R. Kenan, John B. Powell, W. E. Stitt, W. B. Burwell, Thomas P. Devereux, John J. Dabbs and S. H. Threadgill, members of the regiment, and participants in its movements. The material employed was gathered from memoranda and such official documents as were accessible.
Thos. S. Kenan.
Raleigh, N. C,
9 April, 1895.
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
a8t0r, lenox and TIlDen foundations.
J w
ADDITIONAL SKETCH FORTT-TtiIRD REGI/IENT. COMPANY A.
Bv COLONEL THOMAS S. KEXAN.
The ''Duplin Rifles" (organized at Kenansville in 1859) entered the army in April, 1861, as volunteers, under Thomas S. Kenan, Captain; Thomas S. Watson, First Lieutenant; William A. Allen and John W. Hinson, Second Lieutenants ; and was. immediately ordered into the Camp of Instruction at Raleigh. It was mustered in for six months with the First Regiment of Volunteers, and assigned to it under Colonel D. H. Hill, but as this regiment had more companies than the number allowed l)v army regulations, the "Duplin Rifles" and ''Lund)ert()n Guards" were taken out, and with eight other companies, formed the Second Volunteers and elected Sol. Williams, Colonel ; Edward Cantwell, Lieutenant-Colo- nel, and Augustus W. Burton, ]\[ajor ; the "Duplin Rifles" being