[The core of this regiment, Company A thru Company F, began as Rogers' Battalion - Website Author.]

As the companies were coming together, New Bern was taken by the Federal Brig. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, and those that had arrived at Raleigh were sent, without guns, below Kinston under Major Sion H. Rogers, to assist in staying the Federal advance. These remained there a week or two, when they returned to Raleigh, and with the other companies, now arrived, completed their organization with Sion H. Rogers, Colonel; George H. Faribault, Lieutenant Colonel, and John A. Graves, Major.

Effective on January 5, 1863, Col. Sion H. Rogers resigned to become Attorney General of the State, when George H. Faribault became Colonel, John A. Graves became Lieutenant Colonel, and Archibald D. Crudup, Captain of Company B, became Major. Lt. Col. Graves was wounded and captured at Gettysburg on July 3, 1863, from which he died; Archibald D. Crudup became Lieutenant Colonel on March 3, 1864, and William C. Lankford, Captain of Company F, Major at the same time. Col. George H. Faribault and Lt. Col. Archibald D. Crudup were wounded and the first resigned effective January 5, 1865, and the latter effective on August 30, 1864, whereupon William C. Lankford became Lieutenant Colonel and continued as the only field officer remaining. Hence, mainly by casualties in battle, the regiment was scant of field officers during very much of its severest trials, and frequently was without one. On such occasions it was led through hard-fought battles by a Captain, and sometimes by a Lieutenant. James L. Fisher and William S. Lacy wer Chaplains; Robert A. Patterson, first, and after him Franklin J. White, were Surgeons; J. B. Winstead and Josiah C. Fowler, Assistant Surgeons, of the regiment. Benjamin W. Justice, Thomas C. Powell, and B.F. Fitch were Adjutants.

Company A—Nash County—It was first commanded by Captain John W. Bryan, who died on June 25, 1862, when 1st Lt. John H. Thorpe became Captain and commanded to the end of the war. The Lieutenants of Company A were: Evan N. Bryant, George W. Westray, who was killed at Cold Harbor; Wilson Baily, who died of disease; Sidney H. Bridgers, killed at Bristoe Station; Benjamin H.. Bunn (since member of United States Congress) and Thomas Westray.

Company B—Franklin County—After Archibald D. Crudup, its first Captain, was promoted, Joseph J. Harris was made Captain; was wounded, captured near the end of the war, and remained a prisoner. Its Lieutenants were Harvey D. Griffin, who died; Sherrod J. Evans, who was captured at the battle of Gettysburg and remained a prisoner, Hugh H. Perry, and William B. Chamblee.

Company C—Wake County—The first Captain of Company C was Everard Hall, who resigned effective September 1, 1862, when Campbell T. Iredell became Captain, was killed on July 3, 1863 at Gettysburg, and George M. Whiting became Captain [on paper only], taken prisoner at Gettysburg and died after the war of disease contracted in prison. The Lieutenants of this company were Nathaniel L. Brown, David W. Whitaker, Marmaduke W. Norfleet, Alexander H. Harris, and Caledon Hutchings.

Company D—Nash County—John A. Harrison was first Captain of Company D, resigned effective October 31, 1862, and 1st Lieutenant George N. Lewis became Captain, was elected to the State Legislature in August, 1864, then Richard F. Drake became Captain. Its Lieutenants were Benjamin F. Drake, resigned; William H. Blount, and John Q. Winborne.

Company E—Wake County—John H. Norwood was the first and only Captain of Company E and captured at Burgess' Mill, then died in captivity. Its Lieutenants were Erastus H. Ray, Benjamin W. Justice, promoted to Adjutant. of the regiment; Leonidas W. Robertson and William A. Dunn.

Company F—Franklin County—William C. Lankford was the first Captain of this company, and when he was promoted to Major, 1st Lt. Julius S. Joyner became Captain. Its Lieutenants were James J. Thomas, promoted A.Q.M. of the regiment; Sidney F. Ellis, Sylvanus P. Gill, Wilkerson D. Harris (resigned), and Hugh R. Crichton.

Company G—Franklin and Granville Counties—Joseph J. Davis was the first Captain of Company G, and was wounded, captured and a prisoner at Gettysburg on July 3, 1863, and remaining a prisoner, no other could succeed to the Captaincy. Its Lieutenants were Pleasant P. Peace, Richard F. Yarborough, promoted to Colonelcy of another regiment; Wiliam H. Pleasants, George D. Tunstall, and George Williamson. Captain Joseph J. Davis was afterwards member of United States Congress and Justice of our Supreme Court.

Company H—Wake County—Charles T. Haughton, first Captain of Company H, died on June 12, 1863 of disease, when 1st Lieutenant Sydney W. Mitchell became Captain and was, almost to the close of the war [captured on April 2, 1865]. Its Lieutenants were Thomas L. Lassiter, Sydney A. Hinton, Charles C. Lovejoy, James D. Newsom, and John T. Womble.

Company I— Wake County—John W. Brown was the first Captain of Company I, and killed at 2nd Reams Station; 2nd Lieutenant William H. Harrison then became Captain. Its Lieutenants were Charles C. Lovejoy, transferred to Company H, John Wiley Jones, and Julius Rowan Rogers, a brother of the first Colonel of the regiment.

Company K—Alamance County—Robert H. Faucette was the first and only Captain of Company K, and as Senior Captain commanding the regiment, signed the paroles of the commanders of companies on April 9, 1865. Its Lieutenants were James H. Watson, Thomas Taylor, Jacob Boon, and Felix L. Poteat.

After a short stay at Camp Mangaim, in Raleigh, during which time it was drilled incessantly, the regiment was camped between New Bern and Kinston, where several weeks were spent in guarding our outposts, marching to nearby points where attacks were threatened, but never escaping to be drilled daily, and taught the duties of a soldier by the never-tiring Brig. Gen. James G. Martin (NC). It was here the men went through the sick period consequent upon the change from civil to military life; through measles and mumps and malarial fevers, from which quite a number died. Very few escaped sickness in passing through to the toughened condition.

At this time the predominant desire was to go to the scenes being enacted around Richmond, where General Robert E. Lee and his illustrious co-generals were entering on that career which as leaders of the Army of Northern Virginia, made them so famous. But the boon is not jet granted us. In July we go to Drewry's Bluff, at this time a position that must be held, and Brig. Gen. Martin goes with us, and carrying us into a hot field, in view of delightful shade, continues his incessant drilling from morning till night. After a stay of three (3) weeks the regiment is appropriately made provost guard of Petersburg. So thoroughly trained itself, it efficiently executed the delicate duties of guard in this important city, then a military center. During its stay the strongest of friendship was formed between civilian and soldier. Not a single unpleasant incident is recalled.

Early in November, to meet a threatened attack, we were taken to Weldon, where we took our first snow storm in camp without covering except such as the men hastily made with bark and boughs and dirt.

The regiment had returned to Petersburg when, on December 14th, it was rushed by rail to Kinston to resist the Federal Maj. Gen. John G. Foster in his attack on that town. We arrived late in the evening just as the Confederate Brig. Gen. Nathan G. Evans' (SC) Brigade was retreating across the bridge over the Neuse River. In a jiffy we were unloaded from the cars, which were run off immediately, ordered to pile our knapsacks, overcoats, and blankets, which we never heard of afterwards, and double-quicked to the rescue. As Col. Sion H. Rogers formed us in line of battle, Brig. Gen. Evans learning of our arrival, ordered us to the north of the town to cover the retreat of his brigade which had been overpowered, and showing our full regimental front received Maj. Gen. Foster's messenger, who bore his demand to surrender, and replied: ''Tell General Foster I will fight him here."

Maj. Gen. Foster did not come, but night soon did, and we had again escaped a battle. At nightfall Brig. Gen. Evans collected his scattered brigade and retreated to Falling Creek. The next day Company A, of the 47th NC Regiment, reconnoitered two (2) miles toward Kinston without finding the enemy, and after night Company A and Company K went to Kinston to learn that Maj. Gen. Foster had advanced up the south bank of the Neuse River. He attempted to cross at White Hall, but was driven back and continued his march toward Goldsborough, to which the 47th NC Regiment was marched on the following day. On our arrival at Goldsborough, we were marched across the county bridge and formed line of battle, in which we remained all this cold December night, to find at light that Maj. Gen. Foster had retreated and was now far away.

A few days afterwards the regiment is on Blackwater under Brig. Gen. Roger A. Pryor (VA), protecting Eastern Virginia. Now for rigid marching. Every day marching thirty (30) miles. All foot logs and small bridges are cut away ahead of us that the men may lose no time in breaking from column of four, and we must take the mud and water in the roads through this boggy section. And so, as we had been perfected in the drill and tactics by our Brig. Gen. James G. Martin, we were now Romanised by Brig. Gen. Pryor. Frequently during this time a battle was imminent, but one did not occur. It was skirmishing, retreating, advancing on another distant point, over a large extent of territory to keep the enemy pushed within his limited lines.

ATTACK ON NEW BERN.

Thus inured to the vicissitudes of war, except actual battle, the 47th NC Regiment was, early in 1863, brigaded with the 11th, 26th, 44th, and 52nd NC Regiments, under that splendid Brigadier General, James Johnston Pettigrew (NC), and returned to Eastern North Carolina. The points of Rocky Mount, Magnolia, and Goldsborough, as they were threatened, were quickly covered, and thence we were marched in Maj. Gen. Daniel H. Hill's (NC) army to the vicinity of New Bern, which town Maj. Gen. Hill threatened. Here about the middle of March of 1863, after a forced march of several days in bleak winter, Brig. Gen. Pettigrew, in the early dawn, drove in the enemy's pickets and passed one of his block houses, which protected New Bern, but by failure of other troops to co-operate time was lost and the enemy got one of his gunboats in action, with which our brigade was terribly shelled. Brig. Gen. Pettigrew being unable to reply with cannon, or to cross the water with his infantry, withdrew his brigade in regiments by echelon in such masterly manner, the men exhibiting the utmost coolness, that not a man was lost, though the retreat was a long way over an open, level field. Soon after this we went to Greenville and thence to Washington, crossing the Tar River in canoes in high water, when the regiment threatened the town and waked up the enemy's gunboats again; we lost one man killed and several wounded.

But the main object, on the part of the Confederate authorities, of these operations in Eastern North Carolina, to-wit: to gather in the supplies of this rich section, having been accomplished and General Robert E. Lee making preparations for his second invasion, Brig. Gen. James J. Pettigrew's (NC) Brigade, early in May of 1863, became a part of Maj. Gen. Henry Heth's (VA) Division in Lt. Gen. A. P. Hill's (VA) Corps.

Thus after more than a year, perhaps well occupied, both in doing arduous, but less conspicuous service as in becoming thoroughly efficient for the sterner activities of actual battle, the 47th NC Regiment is at length, and henceforth to the end, will be with the Army of Northern Virginia. It was well it had a thorough training, for soon it was to go through fiery trials, its ranks to be torn by shot and shell, to be depleted of its officers, leaving it to be led in great emergencies by a Captain, and the companies sometimes by a Private. Whenever and wherever tried it was equal to the emergency. It responded with promptness to the command "Charge!" to the very end.

It was early in May of 1863, when we arrived at Hanover Junction, thence we marched to Fredericksburg, thence to Culpeper Court House, across the Blue Ridge Mountains, through Winchester, and crossed the Potomac River at Shepherdstown. On the north bank of the Potomac River the disciplinarian, Brig. Gen. James J. Pettigrew (NC), delivered his strict commands against interfering with private rights and property, and right well were these commands obeyed. As we passed through Hagerstown, the eyes of our men were dazed by the fullness of an opulent city, but no one dared to loot it. On June 20th, we camped near Cashtown, and on June 30th were marching rapidly into Gettysburg with the avowed object of shoeing our barefooted men. Already the non-combatants had gotten (as they always do when danger is far off) to the front, and we were almost at our destination when a person in citizen's dress, on a farm horse, rode leisurely from the adjacent woods up to the fence, on the other side of which we were moving, inquired for our commander, and paced up to the head of our column. On his arrival there the command ''Halt!" rang down our line. Was this a spy? ''About face—quick time, march!" and back we went; but not without several shots at long range being fired at us from both sides of the road. So we escaped the ambuscade that had been set for us.

GETTYSBURG.

Early on July 1st, the 47th NC Regiment was in the line which opened the battle of Gettysburg. It is remembered that Company A had eighty-two (82) trigger pullers, each with forty (40) rounds of ammunition, and the other companies were perhaps as large. The morale of the men was splendid, and when it advanced to its first grand charge it was with the feelings of conquerors. We were met by a furious storm of shells and canister and further on by the more destructive rifles of the two (2) army corps confronting us. One shell struck the right company, killing three (3) men, and exploding in the line of file closers, by the concussion, felled to the earth every one of them. The other companies were faring no better. Still our line, without a murmur, advanced, delivering its steady fire amid the rebel yells, and closed with the first line of the enemy. After a desperate struggle this yielded and the second line was met and quickly broken to pieces. The day was a hot one, and the men had difficulty in ramming down their cartridges, so slick was the iron ramrod in hands thoroughly wet with perspiration. All expedients were resorted to, but mainly jabbing the ramrods against the ground and rocks.

This, with the usual causes, undressed our advancing line; still all were yelling and pressing forward through the growing wheat breast high, toward a body of the enemy in sight, but beyond the range of our guns, when suddenly a third line of the enemy arose forty (40) yards in front, as if by magic, and leveled their shining line of gun-barrels on the wheat heads. Though taken by surprise the roar of our guns sounded along our whole line. We had caught the drop on them. Redoubled our yells and a rush, and the work is done. The earth just seemed to open and take in that line which five (5) minutes ago was so perfect.

Just then a Federal officer came in view and rode rapidly forward bearing a large Federal flag. The scattered Federals swarmed around him as bees cover their queen. In the midst of a heterogeneous mass of men, acres big, he approached our left, when all guns in front and from right and left turned on the mass and seemingly shot the whole to pieces. This Federal hero was a Colonel Biddle, who (if he were otherwise competent) deserved to command a corps. It was with genuine and openly expressed pleasure our men heard he was not killed. The day is not ended, but the fighting in our front is over, and the 47th NC Regiment dressed its line and what remained of it marching to the place whence it started on the charge, bivouacked for the night, intoxicated with victory. Many were the incidents narrated on that beautiful, moonlight night.

On July 2nd we were not engaged save in witnessing the marshaling of hosts, with much fighting during the day, and at night a grand pyrotechnic display, this being the struggle on the slope of Little Round Top for the possession of the hill.

On July 3rd, the 47th NC Regiment was put in the front line preparing to make that celebrated, but imprudent charge, familiarly called Pickett's Charge, though just why called Pickett's instead of Pettigrew's Charge, is not warranted by the facts. And why it has been said that Brig. Gen. James J. Pettigrew (NC) supported Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett (VA) instead of Pickett supported Pettigrew, is also incomprehensible. It is certain that the two divisions (Brig. Gen. Pettigrew led Maj. Gen. Henry Heth's Division today) started at the same time, in the same line. Maj. Gen. Pickett's distance to traverse was shorter than that of Brig. Gen. Pettigrew's. Both went to and over the enemy's breastworks, but were too weak from loss of numbers to hold them. Maj. Gen. Pickett's Division was perfectly fresh. Brig. Gen. Pettigrew's had just passed through July 1st in which even its commander (Maj. Gen. Henry Heth) had been knocked out.

If further witness be sought, the respective numbers of dead men in the correctly recorded spots where they fell, supply it. But let it be distinctly understood Brig. Gen. Pettigrew's men appreciate that it was not the brave Maj. Gen. Pickett and his men, who claimed for themselves pre-eminence in this bloody affair. They remember, vividly remember, how Maj. Gen. Pickett chafed while waiting to make his spring, like an untamed lion for his prey. Perhaps the assault was a Confederate mistake. So good an authority as General Robert E. Lee is quoted as saying this much, but that the stakes for which he was playing was so great (it being Harrisburg, Baltimore, and Washington) he just could not help it.

Later a similar excuse was plead by Federal Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant for the slaughter at 2nd Cold Harbor. The late Capt. Joseph J. Davis, ''Honest Joe," who led Company G in this charge, and who charged over the enemy's breastworks and became a prisoner, said the enemy was literally torn to pieces. But, then our "hind sights are better than our foresights." And maybe, after all the best conclusion is that a kind Providence had heard the prayers for the Union that has ascended from both sides, though uttered not so loud from the South, and in answer, just wrote down in the book of Fate: "Gettysburg, 3 July, 1863, the beginning of the end." The writer, who was in the line of sharpshooters which preceded the main line of battle, witnessed an incident which (although not belonging to the 47th NC Regiment) ought to be recorded. He saw Brig. Gen. James H. Lane (NC), on horseback, quite near the stone wall, riding just behind and up to his men, in the attitude of urging them forward with his hand; a moment later a large spurt of blood leaped from the horse as he rode up, and rider and horse went down in the smoke and uproar. This was about the time of the climax of the battle when darkness and chaos obscured what followed.

Surely the rank and tile of the army of Northern Virginia did not realize the bigness of the event that had just happened; nor can we believe the Army of the Potomac did, inasmuch as it behaved so nicely while we spent several days in the same neighborhood.

The 47th NC Regiment now had had its ups and its downs. On July 1st as it double-quicked on Reynold, it had an equal chance with the enemy and had hurled 80,000 bullets in their faces. On July 3rd they had attempted to march 1,000 yards in quick-time through a raking fire of cannon and minies, with virtually no chance to use their minies—a soldier's main weapon. The skeleton of its former self it returned to the place whence it began its charge and began business without a field officer, and during the balance of the day and the succeeding night welcomed the return of several of our members who, unscathed or wounded in various degrees, crawled from the field of carnage, for the space between the armies continued neutral ground, being covered by the wounded of both. On July 4th Brig. Gen. Pettigrew told us that had we succeeded the evening before, no doubt our army would have been on the road to Washington and perhaps negotiations for peace would then be on foot. Surely the esprit de corps of our regiment was undaunted.

On the night of July 4th we moved off leisurely toward Funktown, where we stood up on July 11th to meet a threatened attack which did not materialize, and on July 14th were in the rear guard of the army at Falling Waters to cover the crossing of the Potomic River. Here a drunken squad of Federal cavalry rashly rode on us while resting. Of course they were dispatched at once, but in the melee our Brig. Gen. James J. Pettigrew (NC) received a pistol ball in the stomach from which he died in a day or two. Lt. Col. John T. Jones, of the 26th NC Regiment, was now the only field officer left to the brigade, and as we began to retire to cross the river the enemy furiously charged up and took quite a number of prisoners mainly by cutting our men off from the pontoon bridge.

BRISTOE STATION.

A few days' rest was taken at Bunker Hill, thence we marched to Orange Court House, where we recuperated rapidly by the return of those who had been wounded and a goodly number of recruits from home. So that on October 14th, the 47th NC Regiment carried quite a strong force into the battle of Bristoe Station. In this battle Brig. Gen. William K. Kirkland's (NC) and Brig. Gen. John R. Cooke's (NC) Brigades, being in the van of General Robert E. Lee's army, overtook Federal Maj. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren's Corps of Maj. Gen. George G. Meade's retreating army, and without awating reinforcements made a furious attack against it thoroughly entrenched. This was a gross blunder on the part ofour Corps' general (Lt. Gen. A. P. Hill) who sent us in. Let it be recalled that the ground over which we charged sloped down to the railroad embankment behind which were the enemy's infantry, and sloped np from their infantry to their artillery. Under these circumstances their artillery would have driven back any infantry in indefinite numbers. Of course we were repulsed with heavy loss.

An incident in this fight was that the skirmishers of the 47th NC Regiment, forty (40) strong, in going in this charge, saw a space of the enemy's front, not reached by the left of our advancing line, passed the front of the 11th NC Regiment or left regiment, and filled the space. The ground was more favorable for us on this end of the line, and the 11th NC Regiment and the skirmishers of the 47th NC Regiments captured the breastworks with the enemy behind them. The Confederates here were herding the enemy in squads to send them to the rear as prisoners, when the rest of the line being repulsed, these too, were compelled to retire. Our loss was heavy, including Brig. Gen. William W. Kirkland (NC) among the wounded. As on July 3rd, at Gettysburg, we fell back to the point from which we started the charge, and for the same reason as on that day could not bring off our wounded who lay on the field of battle all night. The next morning, Federal Maj. Gen. George G. Meade having made good his retirement on the fortifications at Manassas, we returned to the Rapidan River. Here and at Orange Court House we wintered without military incident, save infrequent maneuvering; Maj. Gen. George G. Meade and General Robert E. Lee, like two big bulls, each trying to put his head into the other's flank, and once at Vidiersville an imminent battle was avoided by the two generals doing like the king of France who, ''with 40,000 men, marched up the hill and then marched down again." The 47th NC REgiment lost a man or two at Vidiersville by the enemy's artillery.

The health of the men of the 47th NC Regiment is excellent, perhaps in part, because of short rations, and by the Spring the regiment is pretty full again by returning convalescents and recruits from home.

Federal Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant is now in command of the Army of the Potomac, and by his hammering process proposes "to fight it out on that line if it takes all summer," which summer ran sharply into the following spring. Brig. Gen. William W. Kirkland (NC) has returned to the command of the brigade, and Col. George H. Faribault to the command of the 47th NC Regiment.

THE WILDERNESS.

On May 5, 1864, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S.Grant moved out on Mine Run and the 47th NC Regiment deployed as skirmishers in the van of General Robert E. Lee's army, opens the battle, beginning with that of the Wilderness and continuing (with little intermission in the winter) till April 9, 1865.

We first struck the enemy's cavalry, dismounted, and gradually pushed them back over five (5) miles, during which we now and then lost a man, till the middle of the evening, when we came up to Brig. Gen. John R. Cooke's Brigade just engaging the enemy's infantry in the tangled brush, the battle of the Wilderness. The 47th NC Regiment went in and mingled with Brig. Gen. Cooke's men in the fight, and so severe was the rifle fire and the opposing armies so near each other that neither advanced on the other. The night was spent in this position, and lines were not put in order; our men having been ordered to rest, as Lt. Gen. James Longstreet's (VA) Corps was to relieve Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill's (VA) during the night. Lt. Gen. Longstreet did not arrive, and at dawn the enemy having ascertained our disordered condition, promptly advanced. Our men began to retreat sullenly, and fighting back at first, but as the day grew on our confusion increased until about 10 o'clock, when we met the welcome Lt. Gen. Longstreet. This splendid Corps came into line of battle by the order of "By the right of companies into line," and without any halt continued their advance in the face of the, 'till now, victorious Federals. It was a terrific battle in which the Confederates pushed the Federals over the same ground they had taken in the morning, mingling vast numbers of dead Federals among the Confederates slain a few hours before. The 47th NC Regiment lost no prisoners in this battle, but heavily in killed and wounded.

On May 10th, the 47th NC Regiment was prominent in the battle of Wait's Shop, when Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early (VA) pressed Federal Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock back across the river after an engagement of several hours, wherein the Confederates advanced steadily, the Federals retreating without much resistance. This was a battle in which the powder used far exceeded a commensurate loss of men on either side. The loss of the 47th NC Regiment was, perhaps, twenty (20) . But the object of the Confederates was effected. Maj. Gen. Hancock left the important place at which he tried to break through our lines.

On May 12th, at Spotsylvania, the 47th NC Regiment was but slightly engaged. It supported our artillery which did great havoc near the bloody angle. The succeeding fifteen (15) days the regiments was more or less engaged, some of it at least being under daily fire, under which we seemed to grow stronger.

BETHESDA CHURCH.

On May 28th, Brig. Gen. William W. Kirkland's (NC) and Brig. Gen. John R. Cooke's (NC) Brigades were desperately charged behind breastworks. The 47th NC Regiment was in splendid fighting trim on this occasion, and as the enemy started across an open field the order was given us not to fire until a certain cannon fired, and company commanders were to order the fire by file. The Federal officers threw themselves in front of their men and most gallantly led them, but when the cannon sounded the signal, our deadly fire opened on them within fifty (50) yards and it was so steady and accurate, for our men were perfectly cool, that before the companies had fired a round, the enemy was completely broken and routed, a large number of them killed and wounded. Our loss was almost nothing as the enemy, depending on giving us the bayonet, withheld their fire, until they were repulsed. The sharpshooters of the two (2) brigades, having previously been ordered, rushed after and harrassed their rear for two (2) miles. This was the battle of Bethesda Church, and amid the tremendous events occurring, was the occasion of a dispatch from General Robert E. Lee to the Secretary of War, James Seddon, complimenting the two (2) brigades.

While the sharpshooters were pursuing, the main body of the two (2) brigades was ordered off towards Cold Harbor and participated in another battle at that place the same evening. In this last fight in which the Confederates charged the enemy out of their good breastworks, Brig. Gen. William W. Kirkland (NC) was again wounded and did not return to this command. Brig. Gen. William MacRae (NC) succeeded to the command of our brigade about this time [November 4, 1864], and through every vicissitude proved the equal of any brigadier in the army, quite a number of the men of the 47th NC Regiment were killed and wounded in the engagement.

Maj. Gen. Henry Heth (VA), with his division, remained on the ground taken that night, fortified and awaited tomorrow. Early on tomorrow the enemy massed a host in our front and attempted to break through us all day. They were in the woods, we on the edge of it with a small field behind us. This enabled them to get very near us, perhaps forty to sixty (40-60) yards, and we learned by sound rather than by sight, when they arose to charge, and kept them in check by shooting in the direction of their noise, as they would attempt to encourage their men. It was literally an all-day affair. Among our other embarrassments we were nearly surrounded, and once when the enemy's cannon sent a shell from our rear and our men had craned their necks, Maj. Gen. Heth coolly commanded an aide "to go stop that battery—tell them they are firing into my men." Fortune was propitious, and they did stop, doubtless, because they could suppose their own men to be fired into by their shelling, so close were we together. Our loss was considerable during the day, but at length night came. At dark a detail collected every canteen and bayonet and took them out, and as soon as it was dark good, we silently stole away by the only outlet left us.

From Cold Harbor we went to Gaines' Mill, just after Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hoke (NC) had repulsed the enemy at that place, infiicting heavy loss. From Gaines' Mill we crossed the Chickahominy River. Thence about the middle of June we crossed the James River and a few days after the Appomattox River, and our division took position on the extreme right of General Robert E. Lee's long line of defense extending from the Chickahominy River to Hatcher's Run, a distance of about thirty-five (35) miles.

Hatcher's Run and its vicinity are henceforth to be the scene of our operations, and it was around this flank and in this vicinity that Federal Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant did most of his hammering, and near here he finally broke through General Robert E. Lee's lines to begin the Appomattox Campaign.

Once, in July, our division recrossed the Appomattox River to meet Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's feigned attack on the north of the river, when the episode of The Crater, on July 30th, took place.

On August 21st, our division was a part of the attacking column to dislodge Federal Maj. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren's Fifth Corps from the Weldon Railroad. For about two (2) days before and two (2) after this date, the 47th NC Regiment was under almost daily fire, in which series of fights it lost several killed and wounded.

REAMS STATION.

On August 25th, Brig. Gen. William MacRae's, with Brig. Gen. James H. Lane's and Brig. Gen. John R. Cooke's North Carolina Brigades distinguished themselves in the battle of 2nd Reams Station. Federal Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock had fortified this place and other Southern troops had failed to dislodge him, when these North Carolinians were assigned the honor of doing so. Brig. Gen. MacRae pointed out to his men how they could approach under the protection of an old field of pines, and we imagine the heretofore triumphant Federals must have smiled as they beheld the small force advancing against them, and intended to withhold their fire until we should reach a point from which we might be unable to escape. Suddenly Brig. Gen. MacRae ordered: ''Don't fire a gun, but dash for the enemy." The dash was made, and behold the assault is successful. The result was several flags and cannon, a large number killed and wounded, and 2,100 prisoners. A Federal officer, as he sat, a surprised prisoner, remarked to one of our officers: "Lieutenant, your men fight well; that was a magnificent charge." The loss in the 47th NC Regiment was heavy, and it included an over-proportion of our very best men. This was notably so in Company A. Men who seemed to have possessed charmed lives; who struck so quick, and were so cool and daring to pass the danger line, were struck down almost in a body. Many of them returned after recovery, but the regiment was notably weakened after this.

On September 30th, Maj. Gen. Henry Heth (VA) attacked two (2) corps of Federals trying to extend to our right, near Pegram's Farm, and captured quite a number of prisoners. On October 1-2, the effort to extend continued and we continued to resist it; but after several days doggedly fighting and putting in fresh troops, they succeeded and fortified themselves. It was Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's way, a continual extending his left with fresh troops and making his line impregnable with the spade and cannon.

BURGESS' MILL.

On October 27th, the enemy again felt for our right flank, and at Burgess' Mill Brig. Gen. William MacRae's (NC) Brigade assaulted them, repulsing the full length of his line of battle, taking a battery of artillery and passing far to the front, discovered that the enemy were closing from both his flanks the gap he had just made. Brig. Gen. MacRae was on foot leading his command, and pointing to the perilous situation, asked them to follow him out, which they gallantly did by cutting their way out. Our loss here was very heavy in killed and wounded, but none were taken prisoners. Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill's (VA) Corps took a great number of prisoners. Brig. Gen. MacRae complained bitterly about his superiors in command allowing him to be cut to pieces when it could have been prevented.

Winter had now set in, and the men settled down with some degree of comfort in their rudely constructed quarters. Some attended religious worship by our Chaplain. The regiment in early 1864 had a good Young Men's Christian Association, but no sign of it was visible at the close of the campaign—the members of it having been knocked out. Some who could raise a Confederate dollar went to the theatre; yes, we had a theatre in Davis' Brigade, built of logs with a dirt floor and log seats, and such capers the soldier comedians and tragedians cut by torch light, and music by banjo and the fiddle! It was said the theatrical company made money. Camp life, however, in the winter of 1864-'65 was a hard one, and upon the whole a very sad one. These old soldiers of many battlefields, though they murmured not, knew a great deal, and a few who supposed they could bear no more deserted to the enemy, who stood with outstretched arms to welcome them. The 47th NC Regiment furnished very few of this class.

As Federal Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant received a steady flow of reinforcements he invariably sent them to extend his left and in the severest weather the 47th NC Regiment was several times called out to resist the extension.

One of these was on February 5, 1865. It was sleeting and very cold when a large force of Federals again moved around our right to sever our communications. The 47th NC Regiment formed a part of the attacking force which was successful in driving them back at Dabney's Mill. The regiment's loss was a due proportion of our total loss, which was perhaps 1,000, while that of the enemy was double that number.

Toward the end of March, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had collected an irresistible force on his left, which was daily feeling for our right, and on April 2nd, broke through our attenuated line nearer to Petersburg and moved in our rear. At this time the 47th NC Regiment, lately reinforced by the last recruits from home, were further to the right to try to stem the torrent that appeared in that quarter. 3rd Lt. Thomas Westray, of Company A, with thirty (30) men, were engaged on our old picket line and they held their position so well that even the enemy passed on both sides of them and left them in their rear, from which situation this little body made their way out, and the next day turned up for duty across the Appomattox River.

The skirmishers of the 47th NC Regiment had done picket duty on the extreme of our right the night of April 1st and were returning on the morning of April 2nd along the breastworks held by some Floridians. These were dividing out their day's rations, and if they had pickets out, they would evidently have been quietly captured. The head of a Federal cavalry column was approaching the breastworks and was within seventy-five (75) yards, when our skirmishers halted, had a parley with the Federals and ascertaining they were enemies, poured a volley into them, which drove them off, and we moved off again, without having halted five (5) minutes and without exchanging a word with our friends. Thus we saved them from a complete surprise.

Things everywhere on our side were now getting in a desperate fix, the battle raging, seemingly, everywhere. Our skirmishers, about 100 in number, of whom thirty (30) were from the 47th NC Regiment, got up with our brigade near Sutherland's Station, where Brig. Gen. William MacRae (NC) was so pressed on April 2nd that he must need turn and fight. Two (2) charges of the enemy were repulsed and the third was being made when a column of the enemy arrived on our left and rear. A fierce struggle ensued in which we were totally defeated, slain, wounded, captured, or scattered. Only a few came out, the river being in front, the victorious enemy in rear. By order all means of crossing the river had been removed. But the next morning when General Robert E. Lee passed up the northern bank toward Amelia Court House, Brig. Gen. MacRae at the head of our organized brigade, that is a few from each of his regiments, was in the retreating column as chipper as ever. Even the corps of such of his sharpshooters as had escaped retained their organization.

Passing through Farmville on April 7th our men snatched some rations from a government commissary store which they were in sore need of, as none had been issued, except on one occasion two (2) ears of corn to a man. On the evening of April 7th we arrived on the field by a run, when Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee (VA) and Brig. Gen. David M. Gregg's Cavalry Brigades charged each other, in which Brig. Gen. Gregg was defeated and himself captured.

On Sunday morning, April 9th, the 47th NC Regiment arrived at Appomattox, the last ditch, and was surrendered with the Army of Northern Virginia. When it was filed to the right of the road the men supposed they were going in line of battle to charge the enemy who were visible in front, but when Brig. Gen. William MacRae (NC) commanded "Halt," and without any further order as to rest, etc., so contrary to his rule as a disciplinarian, all stared and wondered what it could mean. He dismounted and lay down, and we, too, began to lay down. The sad news was quickly learned, and then followed that mighty expression of blasted hope, which a witness will never forget. The 47th NC Regiment had no field officer. There were two Captains of companies, Capt. Robert H. Faucette, of Company K, who was in command, and Capt. John H. Thorpe, of Company A. Company A had, in addition, 3rd Lt. Thomas Westray and twelve (12) men; Company D had three (3) men. The number of men of the other companies not remembered, but were about seventy-five (75).

The United States troops (now seemingly no longer enemies) flocked among us by the hundreds and showed their highest respect for their late antagonists. To see General Robert E. Lee was the burden on every tongue. There was no exultation; on the contrary they showed marked consideration for our feelings. If the whole country could have witnessed this sympathetic scene between the old Greys and the old Blues, seas of bitter tears and mountains of hate would have been spared.

A herd of fat, young steers, and many wagon loads of crackers were brought to us, with which we appeased our hunger. Through Monday and Tuesday we received our guests. On Wednesday we were paroled, and late in the evening we formed in our organizations for the last time, marched between the open ranks of the Federals and stacked guns. No Federal officer of rank was in sight. There was no music. 'Twas silent—very sad. We broke ranks for home.

And now old comrades (who may read it) this skeleton of a sketch is an attempt to write only the truth, though a very small part of it, of the 47th NC Regiment. Praise, criticism, or even mention of the heroes who composed it are purposely omitted. The merits alone of these would fill a large volume, and partial mention would be actual wrong. Is it not, therefore, better that whatever of merit, of honor, and of fame the dear old regiment attained we shall share in common?

John H. Thorp
Rocky Mount, NC
9 April, 1901

GETTYSBURG.

I have accepted the task of writing this additional sketch of the 47th NC Regiment with alacrity, because I love so well its memory, and its many heroes of whom so many have passed over the river, though a few yet linger on this side.

At Gettysburg the 47th NC Regiment had the honor of being in the advance of all the troops and nearest to Gettysburg on June 30, 1863. We had our pickets out on that night and next morning when the line of march was taken, Brig. Gen. James J. Pettigrew's (NC) Brigade, composed of the 47th, 52nd, 26th, and 11th NC Regiment, was in front (44th NC Regiment was on detached duty near Richmond). The 47th NC Regiment was in front of the brigade. After marching some distance from our camp on the morning of July 1st, the 47th NC Regiment was fired into from both sides of the road and a halt was immediately called, when the enemy was discovered to be advancing from both our right and left flank (being dismounted cavalry), from a body of woods which was away from the road on each side about 500 yards, notwithstanding this was a great surprise to all of our regiment, you could plainly see pleasure depicted upon tlie face of every officer and man in the regiment, for we all were anxious for the fray.

Every one waited anxiously for orders, which were given by our Colonel, George H. Faribault, who ordered Capt. Campbell Iredell, of Company C, to take five (5) men from each company, making fifty (50), and charge the enemy on our right and ordered 1st Lt. George W. Westray, of Company A, to take five (5) from each company and charge them on our left. All this was done quicker than I can write it. Col. Faribault then gave the order for our regiinent to march in column to the right by fours, thus heading our column directly towards the attacking party, who were on the right of the road. Col. James K. Marshall, who was just in rear of the 47th NC Regiment with the 52nd NC Regiment, made the same movement with his gallant regiment, to the left of the road, thus the brigade faced three ways. The main line composed of the 47th and 52nd NC Regiments, faced in the direction of Gettysburg, while the two (2) skirmish lines faced the enemy on our right and left respectively.

As soon as the rear and left of the 47th NC Regiment reached the cleared ground on the right of the road and the rear and right of the 52nd NC Regiment had reached the cleared ground on the left, both regiments were ordered to halt. The 47th NC Regiment was ordered to face about and march on its side of the road, and passed the 52nd NC Regiment some distance. Then it was halted and the 52nd NC Regiment faced about and marched the same distance beyond the 47th NC Regiment, thus constantly keeping one regiment facing the enemy who was in our front trying to advance from that direction, while the skirmishers of the 47th NC Regiment were hotly engaged with them on the right and left of the road, respectively. This movement and fight was kept up then until the 47th NC Regiment was enabled to strike the enemy's line on the right of the road and the 52nd NC Regiment to strike the enemy's line, which was on the left of the road.This being done, a forward movement by the 47th and 52nd NC Regiments was again ordered, one on the right and one on the left, which was gallantly done without any loss cxcept four or five (4-5) slightly wounded. The enemy broke and fled towards Gettysburg at the second volley from the two (2) regiments. The 11th and 26th NC Regiments were not engaged in this skirmish. Marching in the rear, they did not have room to form in line in time, for the 47th and 52nd NC Regiments had about 1,300 men in line in both regiments.

After repulsing the attack at this point we again marched back to the road, called in our skirmishers and took up our march, which was continual about one mile, when we were subjected to a severe cannonading from batteries in our front and here we commenced to get into position and form line of battle for the great struggle which was about to take place on July 1, 1863. Then the 52nd NC Regiment, under Col. James K. Marshall, formed on the right of the 47th NC Regiment, being thus on the right of Brig. Gen. James J. Pettigrew's (NC) Brigade, the 47th NC Regiment next, it being on the right center, the 11th and 26th NC Regiments were on the left centre and extreme left, but I have never known which one of these regiments was next to the 47th NC Regiment. The line being thus formed, was advanced for a short distance to the front, where it was again halted with its line stretching far to the right and left, for whatever history may say. Brig. Gen. Pettigrew had in line of battle that morning nearer 3,000 soldiers than he had 2,500, and they were all good and gallant men. Before night the 26th and 11th NC Regiments had lost two-thirds of their numbers, for when the word of command was given they rushed forward against a largely superior force which was stationed in the skirt of woods just in their front.

The 47th NC Regiment suffered less severely on that day than those two (2) regiments because of their disadvantages. The 47th NC Regiment was the next in loss, the 52nd NC Regiment being on the right of the line, suffered less than any other of the brigade on that day. But to go back, after our line was formed we were ordered to halt, and as the enemy was keeping up a rather hot fire upon our main line, skirmishers from our regiment were ordered to advance and drive them back out of reach of our line, which was done, but not until several of our regiment were wounded and our gallant Lt. Colonel, John A. Graves, was slightly wounded on the leg, the ball first having hit the iron scabbard of his sword, which was hanging by his side. But see on our left our boys have charged the Yankees who are stationed upon a hill, and we drive them down the hill on the other side, pell mell. But now our gallant boys are met halfway down the hill by a fresh line of the enemy and a severe contest ensues; our lines are thinned and the Yankees are continually bringing up fresh troops, but our boys stand it manfully.

A part of Maj. Gen. Richard H. Anderson's (SC) Division was on the immediate left of Brig. Gen. James J. Pettigrew's (NC) Brigade at the first stage of heavy fighting on the morning of July 1st. Now when the rattling of musketry is growing to a perfect line of fire, the 47th NC Regiment is ordered forward. It is a grand spectacle. In the line of the 47th NC Regiment there are over 650 muskets, the men marching steadily to meet the foe, who are on their own soil and strongly posted, with a heavy infantry force and with artillery which at every step rakes through our lines, cutting great gaps, which are quickly filled up by our boys closing into the places of those who have just fallen. We cross a stream and then up a hill through a wheat field, and then in our front, not over seventy-five (75) yards off, we see the heavy lines of Yankee soldiers with their guns shining and flags waving; the struggle grows hotter and hotter, men are falling in every direction, but the 47th and 52nd NC Regiments are pushing the enemy steadily back, and are going forward; the 26th and 11th NC Regiments are contending with heavy odds both as to numbers and position.

While the 47th and 52nd NC Regiments have the foe in an open field, the 26th and 11th NC Regiments have nothing to shelter themselves any more than we have, and thus it is that the 52nd and 47th NC Regiments, having driven back the enemy in their immediate front, their lines swing around to the left. In this position they are charged by Yankee cavalry in our rear and on our right. Col. James K. Marshall was equal to this emergency, for he faced three (3) of his companies about and met this charge, quickly driving the cavalry off with heavy loss to them. While this was going on the infantry in our front tried hard to rally their somewhat broken lines and regain the ground they had lost. This was a hot time for the 26th and 11th NC Regiments. Men had fallen wounded and killed like hail from a heavy hail storm. The attention of the 47th NC Regiment was diverted from the enemy in our immediate front and almost before we knew it the enemy had rallied and was attempting to charge our lines. Besides, they had a number of pieces of artillery helping them, wherever the opposing lines were far enough apart for them to use artillery without striking their own men. At this critical moment Capt. Campbell T. Iredell, who commanded Company C, which was the color company of the 47th NC Regiment, seeing one of his men fall mortally wounded, rushes to his side and says, ''My dear boy, I will try to avenge your hurt." He took his musket and continued to use it until he was struck by a shot from the enemy which caused his death, not, however, until he had seen the enemy again turn and flee. The 47th NC Regiment lost heavily in this fight of July 1st.

On July 2nd we rested, cleaned our guns and attended to the wounded. Early on July 3rd, the 47th NC Regiment with the balance of Brig. Gen. James J. Pettigrew's (NC) Brigade, was ordered considerably to the right of where it had fought on July 1st. It reached its position about 9 o'clock on July 3rd, and remained quietly in line just in the rear of a Confederate battery until about 1 o'clock p.m., when a very heavy cannonading commenced between the opposing batteries, which continued until about 3 p.m,, at which time the grand advance upon Federal Maj. Gen. George G. Meade's lines was made. On that part of the line where the 47th NC Regiment advanced, it was about three-fourths of a mile or perhaps a mile from our batteries to the enemy's lines. Our battery was situated about twenty-five (25) yards in front of where the 47th NC Regiment had taken up our line. About 3 o'clock a slight cessation in the firing of artillery occurred and then the voice of our Colonel, George H. Faribault, was heard loud and clear, ''Attention, Battalion," and this was repeated by the brave and beloved Lt. Colonel, John A. Graves. Every man sprung into line and was ready to go forward, the men knew not where, for the ridge just in front of the 47th NC Regiment obstructed the view of the Regiment beyond twenty-five (25) yards.

The order was soon given to move forward, which was done in good order and without any confusion. Passing our batteries the field was before us, it was entirely open except here and there an old homestead, and one or two (1-2) roads with a number of strong rail and post fences, some of them high and difficult to pass over, no one hesitated, no one faltered, but a good, steady quick-step was kept up. After leaving our batteries about fifty or one hundred (50-100) yards the enemy commenced a terrific cannonade and kept it up until we were so close that they could not use their cannon. As our regiment advanced great gaps would be knocked in our lines by the Yankee artillerymen, at almost every five or ten (5-10) steps, but they were immediately filled in by our brave boys closing in and filling up the gaps. This continued until our line of battle came to where our skirmishers were situated, when we received a few shots from the enemy's skirmishers in addition to the cannon shot and shell which continued to pour in on us from the time we started until we were so close under their guns that they could not use them upon us without shooting their own men. As our regiment advanced its ranks were thinned at every step by shot and shell from the hands of the enemy.

Many a brave man from our regiment fell dead upon the field and many more were slightly and others badly wounded. Here it was that Capt. John W. Brown, of Company I, was shocked by the bursting of a shell and carried back to the rear and almost immediately after this 2nd Lt. John Wiley Jones was shot through the thigh leaving 3rd Lt. Julius Rowan Rogers as the only officer with Company I. As Lt. Jones was wounded and fell he raised his sword and cheered his men on. James D. Newsom, 2nd Lieutenant of Company H, was slightly wounded in the shoulder almost at the first shot from the musketry, which was fired after the charge was started and he rushed to his Captain (Mitchell) and says to him, "Captain, they have wounded me, but I want to lead Company H," and gallantly did he lead it. He fell terribly wounded with his foot upon one rail of the fence that ran along the road, next to the rock fence behind which the Yankee line was posted. Our color bearer, a member of Company K, Capt. Robert H. Faucett's Company from Alamance County, succeeded in passing over this fence, but fell mortally wounded. He died that night with his face to the enemy. Our colors fell with our brave color bearer not ten (10) steps from the rock wall. About 150 yards from the rock wall, while crossing one of the many fences, which ran across the ground we were charging over, I was shot in my left leg and thrown from the fence. When I arose the remnant of our once fine regiment was reduced to a mere handful of brave men, still going forward from thirty (30) to as close up as ten (10) steps to the rock wall.

Seeing this and having recovered from my fall and nmy leg not seeming to be badly hurt, I made a rush to join the set of brave men nearest the enemy, when I was startled to hear the command given the Yankee skirmishers "To the front," and immediately I heard our brave Lt. Colonel Graves give the order for the handful of brave men to lie down, hoping thus to hold his position until reinforcements should come; but none came. The 47th NC Regiment acted bravely, coolly, and none faltered.

The largest number of those who got out of that charge were those who had been slightly wounded before they got too close to the breastworks to fall back, and those who were wounded early enough in the charge to be carried back by our own men. Among those who were so close to the enemy's works that they could not retreat were Lt. Colonel John A. Graves, Capt. Joseph J. Davis, afterwards member of Congress and Justice of our Supreme Court; 1st Lt. James H. Watson, of Company K, and a number of others I cannot recall, in all a mere handful, for they had all been shot down or exhausted and overcome by heat. I have seen somewhere that the 47th NC Regiment lost, wounded and killed and missing, 351. This is certainly a mistake. The proportion was larger than that in my company (I). We lost 57 and we had officers who were present and could report correctly the number of the killed and wounded. I think three (3) companies lost all their officers and no correct report was given from those. They reported the smallest number of men killed, wounded, and missing. As I have stated above, there was no faltering on the part of the 47th NC Regiment on July 3, 1863. All did their duty and acted the part of brave soldiers.

FALLING WATERS.

After General Robert E. Lee left Gettysburg our first halt for more than one night was at Hagerstown, Maryland. Here the 47th NC Regiment was engaged in skirmishing with the enemy's outpost and did some picket duty on or near a stream called Antietam Creek. We then moved in line of battle and built breastworks not far from Hagerstown, towards Falling Waters. When General Lee recrossed the Potomac River, Brig. Gen. James J. Pettigrew's (NC) Brigade was again given the post of honor which was to bring up the rear of our retreating army. At Falling Waters, or about one and a half (1-1/2) miles from there, while our regiment was halted to give our wagon train and the troops who were to cross at Falling Waters protection while passing the river, we were surprised and charged by a squadron of cavalry. Our beloved Brig. Gen. James J. Pettigrew was on the extreme right of our line and was shot while drawing his pistol. It happened thus: Brig. Gen. Pettigrew with a number of his staff (Captain Young, of Charleston, being one of them, who I understand is still living) were resting near their horses, when the word passed up the line.

"The Yankees are charging us." The general ordered his horse, but about the time he took hold of his horse to mount a Yankee officer riding on the left of their line and a little in front, ordered him to surrender. Brig. Gen. Pettigrew did not notice the Yankee farther than to mount his horse and commence drawing his pistol, his horse, however, reared and plunged and the Yankee seeing that Brig. Gen. Pettigrew did not intend to surrender, fired and hit him. Brig. Gen. Pettigrew fell from his horse and the fight was hot around and about him for fifteen or twenty (15-20) minutes. We succeeded in killing all the Yankees except eight (8). The men in the charge were evidently all drunk. A heavier force coming up, we fell back to the river disputing every step with the enemy, so as to give our men as much time to cross as possible. When a few days thereafter we camped at Bunker Hill, our regiment numbered 98 men for duty. My company (I) lost at Falling Waters eight (8) men killed, wounded, and captured. I remember the loss particularly, because I was Acting Adjutant of the regiment, our gallant Adjutant Thomas C. Powell having been captured at Gettysburg.

WILDERNESS.

At the Wilderness, the 47th NC Regiment had the honor of bringing on the fight. We were in front of our lines and struck the Yankee pickets about 9 o'clock, driving them with our skirmish line back until their numbers increased so that Company I was first ordered to reinforce the skirmish line, then another company, then another, until the entire regiment was engaged and then, I think the 44th NC Regiment was the first regiment after the 47th NC Regiment to become engaged. When the enemy was driven back upon their main line and the fight of the first day became general, the 47th NC Regiment was ordered at first to take position on the left of the road, but was soon moved over to the right of the road, where we held our position for three (3) hours, the enemy charging us almost continuously. During this time the heaviest fighting took place which, with our regiment, was about 2 o'clock p.m. The black-jack saplings were skinned by the bullets like a young apple tree is in the spring of the year by the rabbits.

Without giving more of the particulars of this battle, here it was that the best friend of my boyhood fell mortally wounded through the neck. William H. Haywood, son of the late United States Senator W. H. Haywood and brother of Duncan Haywood, who fell at Seven Pines. I would like if I could, to tell about the fights in which the 47th NC Regiment was engaged at Spotsylvania Court House, Hanover Junction, 2nd Cold Harbor, and the battle of Turkey Ridge on June 2-3, 1864. where I was wounded and so kindly treated by my Brigadier General (William W. Kirkland) who was wounded in the same battle.

I had just arrived at the field hospital. When he heard me speak he knew my voice and called me to his tent, had my wound dressed and carried me to Ward B. Jackson Hospital. Richmond. VA early next morning. Had it not been for his kindness I doubt much if I should now be living, for I was out of my head for several days after I was wounded. On account of this wounding I missed the battles which took place from then until the day after the 2nd Reams Station fight (August 25, 1864), where the 47th NC Regiment covered itself with glory as did all the troops engaged, all being North Carolinians, viz: Brig. Gen. John R. Cooke's, Brig. Gen. James H. Lane's, and Brig. Gen. William MacRae's Brigades, the last being the one to which the 47th NC Regiment then belonged. I was thenceforward with the regiment until April 2, 1865.

2 APRIL, 1865.

On that day I was captured on the Cox road about five (5) miles west of Petersburg, while with the skirmishers of the 47th NC Regiment holding the enemy back till the handful of General Robert E. Lee's army crossed to the north side of the Appomattox River, thus placing a barrier between them and the great host of Federal Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's army, which was then pressing him. After the 2nd Reams Station fight the 47th NC, like almost all the Southern troops which were on the south side of Petersburg, was engaged in a daily battle, and often nightly ones, until the close of the war; some of these was larger and heavier than others, and their names are recorded in history, for instance "Davis' Farm," "Jones' Farm," "Burgess' Mill," "Battery 45," southwest of Petersburg, and a number of other battles where many a brave man fell. I wish it was so that I could meet some of those of the 47th NC Regiment who were at the final scene when General Robert E. Lee surrendered, but I have met only two, 1st Lt. John Wylie Jones, of Company I, and Corporal Rufus H. Sanders of Company C, who are now living in Wake County.

After April 2nd, the 47th NC Regiment had very few men but its organization was kept up till General Robert E. Lee surrendered. On April 2nd, the 47th NC Regiment was bringing up the rear of General Lee's shattered heroes and here it was that with the larger portion of the remaining members of the 47th NC Regiment, I was captured. I had orders when placed in charge of the skirmishers of the 47th NC Regiment on that day to hold our position at all hazards. The enemy was never able to break through my skirmish line, but it was completely surrounded and we were captured by the enemy coming from our rear. Gaston H. Mooneyham, a private of Company E, 47th NC Regiment, who is now living in Barton's Creek Township, this county, was with me when I was captured and stood manfully by me in this fight, the last fight we made for the Confederacy.

J. Rowan Rogers
Raleigh, NC
9 April, 1901