[Walter Clark, editor of the source cited below, gave this regiment the nomenclature of 69th NC Regiment, but it was never known as this contemporaneously. There was already a "true 69th NC Regiment (7th Cavalry)" of which Walter Clark incorrectly named the 79th NC Regiment (8th Cavalry). This regiment never had a number, and was simply known as the Infantry Regiment of Thomas's Legion or Love's Regiment - Thomas's Legion.]

When the war had progressed for a year and conscription had become a necessity and a certainty, this command was organized at Knoxville, TN, into a regiment and a battalion.

Several of the companies had been in service for several months, but Maj. Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith (TN), commander of the Department of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina (an old West Point army officer), was very much opposed to a temporizing or conservative policy, and would not allow Col. William H. Thomas the latitude he wanted; but the latter being a personal friend of President Jefferson Davis, generally carried his points, and often went to Richmond to consult with him.

The organization of the regiment was completed at Knoxville, TN, on September 27, 1862, by the election of the following Field and Staff officers:

William Holland Thomas, Colonel, Jackson County, NC.
James Robert Love, Jr., Lieutenant Colonel, Jackson County, NC.
William Williams Stringfield, Major, Strawberry Plains, TN.
Luther C. May, Adjutant, Virginia.
James W. Terrell, A.Q.M., Jackson County, NC.
Lucius M. Welch, A.C.S., Haywood County, NC.
John W. Lawing, Surgeon, Lincoln County, NC.
John C, Love, Assistant Surgeon, Jackson County, NC.
Hezekiah West, Chaplain, Haywood County, NC.
Alexander R. Carmack, Sergeant Major, Knox County, TN.

COMPANY ORGANIZATION.

2nd Company A—Indian Company—Matthew Hale Love, Captain, Waynesville, Haywood County, NC; William S. Terrell, 1st Lieutenant, Sonoma, Haywood County, NC; John Astoogatogeh, 2nd Lieutenant; Peter Graybeard and David L. Whitaker, 3rd Lieutenants, all of Swain County, NC. Total officers and men, 113.

Company B—Indian Company—Gideon M. Hanks, Captain, Monroe County, TN; James M. Taylor, 1st Lieutenant; Horry R. Morris, 2nd Lieutenant; Campbell H. Taylor, 3rd Lieutenant, all of Cherokee County, NC. Total officers and men, 118.

Company C—Haywood County—Dr. Elisha G. Johnson, Captain and later Major; William R. Trull, 1st Lieutenant and Captain; John H. Smathers, 2nd Lieutenant and 1st Lieutenant; William W. Hall, Elisha W. Morgan and William H. Moore, 3rd Lieutenants, all of Haywood County. Total officers and men, 123.

Company D—Jackson County, NC, and Jefferson County, TN—William B. Love, Captain, Jackson County, NC; Gainum C. McBee, 1st Lieutenant, Grainger County, TN; Thomas R. Smart, 2nd Lieutenant, Jefferson County, TN; William W. Jones, 3rd Lieutenant, Jefferson County, TN. Total officers and men, 125.

Company E—Haywood County—Julius M. Welch, Captain; Thomas J. Ferguson, 1st Lieutenant then Captain; John H. Moody, 2nd Lieutenant then 1st Lieutenant; and William C. Brown, 3rd Lieutenant, all of Haywood County. Total officers and men, 137.

Company F—Jackson County—James M. McConnell, Captain; William T. Welch and Robert T. Conley, 1st Lieutenants; James Conley and Dempsey M. Raby, 2nd Lieutenants; James West, Daniel G. Fisher, David K. Collins, 3rd Lieutenants, all of Jackson County. Total officers and men, 127.

Company G—Jackson County—Daniel G. Fisher, Captain; Dempsey M. Raby, 1st Lieutenant; Daniel J. Allen, 2nd Lieutenant; John B. Raby, 3rd Lieutenant, all of Jackson County. Officers and men, 71.

Company H—Cherokee County—Thomas J. Cooper, Captain, and James W. Cooper, 1st Lieutenant then Captain; LaFayette George, 2nd Lieutenant then 1st Lieutenant; Eli G. Ingram, 3rd Lieutenant then 2nd Lieutenant; Jason S. Hyde, 3rd Lieutenant, all from Cherokee County. Number of officers and men, 114.

Company I—Cherokee Connty—Willis F. Parker, Captain, and Joseph A. Kimsey, 1st Lieutenant then Captain; Solomon E. Igon, 2nd Lieutenant; Nathaniel G. Phillips, 3rd Lieutenant, 2nd Lieutenant, then 1st Lieutenant, all of Cherokee County; P. B. Gailer, 3rd Lieutenant, of Graham County. Number of officers and men, 109.

Company K—4 Tennessee Counties—Thomas A. Butler, Captain; Lewis Rector, 1st Lieutenant; William H.H. Peak, 2nd Lieutenant; David H. Gallahar, 3rd Lieutenant, all Tennessee. Number of officers and men, 91.

1st Company A—Jackson County—Andrew W. Bryson, Captain; Julius W. Fisher, 1st Lieutenant; Benjamin H. Cathey, 2nd Lieutenant; Robert H. Brown, 3rd Lieutenant.

This unit was re-transferred out to the 39th NC Regiment in January of 1863.]

As above organized this regiment presented quite a formidable army—with a muster roll of nearly 1,200 men—most of them vigorous, patriotic, and gallant. The officers were representative men in their several counties, and while unassuming to diffidence in private life and in camp, were a "lion-hearted host" in battle and upon the toilsome march. The officers were chosen from the ranks, but were not of necessity greatly, if at all, superior to their men. The response to this call left few men at home, but stern duty called and its summons was obeyed.

The practical leader of this regiment, Lt. Col. [later full Colonel] James R. Love, Jr., was a native of Jackson County, NC, and had seen hard service in Virginia under Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson (VA), Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill (VA), and General Robert E. Lee. He was Captain of old Company A, of the 16th NC Regiment, and at request of Col. William H. Thomas, he and his entire company was transferred to this Legion.

James R. Love, Jr. was a graduate of Emory and Henry College, studied law, and was a member of the North Carolina House of Commons, also after the war a member of the North CarolinaConstitutional Convention (1863), and later of the StateSenate; also a member of the Tennessee Senate, after hismarriage and removal to that State, where he subsequentlyraised a family; died twelve or fifteen years since, honoredand respected by all.

William W. Stringfield, the writer of this sketch, was a native of Nashville, TN, and raised near Knoxville, TN. He was of old North Carolina stock, being a grandson of Joseph Williams, of Yadkin County. He was a private of the 1st TN Cavalry, 1861. Captain of Company E, 31st TN Infantry, 1862, and Assistant Provost Marshal at Knoxville, 1862; elected Major of the Infantry Regiment of Thomas's Legion on September 27, 1862; then elected Lieutenant Colonel of Walker's Battalion of Thomas's Legion, on March 6, 1865.

After the war, William W. Stringfield married and located near Waynesville, NC—he was elcted a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives in 1882/1883, and of the State Senate in 1901. In 1895, he was elected commander of the Confederate Veterans of Western North Carolina, and as a member of Military and Veteran Committee, feels and takes great pride and interest in all that pertains to the fame, fortune, welfare, and success of all his old comrades, their widows and children.

Capt. Elisha G. Johnson, of Company C, was promoted to Major of the regiment after its return from the Valley Campaign in November of 1864. Maj. Johnson was an intelligent gentleman and a singularly brave soldier. He moved to Florida soon after the war, was elected to the State Senate, and finally was murdered at his own home in 1875 or 1876.

Capt. James W. Terrell was Captain of 2nd Company A, succeeding William H. Thomas and preceding Matthew H. Love. He was Chief Quartermaster of the regiment and faithful. He had the confidence of his neighbors, and has represented them (Jackson County) in the State Legislature. He now resides in Webster, NC.

Dr. John W. Lawing was a good doctor and a kind man. Nothing known of him since the war. Dr. John C. Love was a kind man and good doctor. Died soon after the war from its exposures.

Alexander R. Carmack, Sergeant Major, a Pennsylvanian by birth, was the son-in-law of a strong Union man in East Tennessee. He was a man among men, cool, clear-headed, and brave; was wounded and captured at Cedar Creek; lived in Kansas since driven from East Tennessee in 1866-'67, and died recently, on December 18, 1900, in Texas, beloved by all.

Lucius M. Welch, Assistant Commissary, is a native son of Haywood County. He was quite young in those days, but made a faithful Commissary. He now lives near Waynesville.

The Adjutant of the regiment. Capt. Luther C. May, was a graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD, a Virginian by birth, and an elegant gentleman.

Aside from this the entire command was composed of citizen soldiery—educated for peace, but not afraid of war. After the organization and equipment of the regiment the companies were scattered throughout upper Eastern Tennessee, between Knoxville and Bristol. The Battalion of our Legion whose story will hereafter be told, was sent below Knoxville, toward Chattanooga, and Cleveland, TN, and Dalton, GA, was raised to a regiment [WRONG] and after becoming a part of General Braxton Bragg's (LA) army, it was never reunited to the old Legion.

ENFORCING CONSCRIPTION.

About this time the enforcement of the Conscript Law was begun in earnest, and consequently it was a serious time in the short life of the Southern Confederacy—and thinking men were fully alive to the herculean task before us. Eastern Tennessee was placed under martial law and many of the most prominent citizens were in rebellion against the South. The celebrated Parson Brownlow, editor of the Knoxville Whig, a widely circulated paper, who was afterwards elected Governor of Tennessee, and after the war was a United States Senator, took bold grounds against the South. His paper had some circulation in Western North Carolina, and quite an influence with the old Whig element.

William G. Brownlow was a kind man at heart, to those that did not cross him personally. If he had been reasoned with instead of being bitterly denounced he and numerous others would have espoused the Southern cause. But then, as now, party passion often dethrones reason. Brownlow, with such men as Governor Andrew Johnson, then United States Senator, and afterwards President of the United States; Horace Maynard, member of Congress; Thomas A. R. Nelson, John Netherland, R. R. Butler, members of Congress; Rev. N. G. Taylor, also an old Congressman, father of Governor Robert L. Taylor, with scores of smaller, but equally determined men, boldly threw themselves into the breach, openly defied the South, and in large numbers daily left Tennessee, crossing the Cumberland mountains and joined the Federal army in Kentucky and Ohio.

The wisest statesmen of the South were divided as to the best policy to pursue, but Southern blood was aroused and Southern men were expected to stand by the South, right or wrong. There was much homogeneousness between these mountain people of Tennessee and North Carolina, and there is an independence of thought, speech, and action in the average mountaineer, not usually found elsewhere, superinduced perhaps by their grandly beautiful surroundings, combining as some think, to the development of a high type of physical, intellectual, and spiritual manhood.

A great majority of the people were poor and had no interest in slavery, present or prospective. But most of them had little mountain homes, and ''be it ever so humble, there is no place like home." So when husband, father, and brother went into the army the wife, sister, and daughter had largely increased home cares, and often went into the cornfield.

No grander type of womanhood is developed anywhere than in these mountains. Neither the men or women were cowards, but when the Federal army occupied Eastern Tennessee and threatened North Carolina, the women in their lonesome homes naturally became restless and timid, made more so when spies and forays of the enemy penetrated this country. Soldiers in the army would have been unnatural protectors of home, had they not become uneasy also, and oft times desperate, especially when informed, as hundreds were, that their homes had been robbed and the country pillaged, as was the case for two (2) years in all the border counties along the Tennessee line from Ducktown to Watauga, a distance of near 200 miles. No people were more zealous for the South than Western Carolinians, after the rejection by the President Abraham Lincoln regime of the peace overtures made by the border States.

Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina had a common heritage of ancestral heroes through the Seviers, Tiptons, Averys, Campbells, Lenoirs, Loves, McDowells, Brittons, and others, who fought at Kings Mountain, Cowpens, and Guilford Court House; in later years at Lookout, Emuckfau, Horseshoe, and New Orleans, and later still in the numerous battles of Mexico. Such an element may be easily led, but never forced. In Tennessee this anti-war element was fully aroused and as soon as conscription was fully determined upon, Col. William Holland Thomas at once went to Richmond to get a modification of the law. His efforts were unavailing, the law must be enforced; it was enforced and 33,000 were added to the Federals and a few thousand fire-tried veterans to the Southern army. Col. Thomas largely recruited his own command, forming soon afterwards another Battalion, with two (2) companies of Sappers and Miners, and one company of light artillery (Levy's Battery).

He had some unique ideas concerning these matters, and while known to be intensely loyal to the South, he had gained the confidence of this Eastern Tennessee disloyal element and several thousand at various times had agreed to form companies for local defense, and for road and bridge building. Not being allowed to do this, these men went to the Federal army and ever afterwards were troublesome enemies.

From September of 1862, to June of 1863, there was little to break the monotony of camp life and provost duty. There was much of an unpleasant nature to be done by men of similar characters. Enforcing conscription—disarming the people—the impressment of property, forcing magistrates and civil authorities to take an oath of allegiance to the Confederacy, was disagreeable work. Such hard work was done in building block houses and stockades on the entire railroad line, 250 miles. This was a fine agricultural region and an indispensable line of communication between the armies of General Robert E. Lee (VA) and General Braxton Bragg (LA).

President Jefferson Davis consented to evacuation only as a trap for Federal Maj. Gen. Abrose E. Burnside's army, but the cowardly surrender of Cumberland Gap by Brig. Gen. John W. Frazer (AL), on September 9, 1863, however, proved it a double triggered trap for us. The Federal authorities were fully alive to the importance of grasping from us and holding this section, so fertile for all, and so loyal to them, being urged thereto by the highest consideration of honor, duty and interest.

The Infantry Regiment of Thomas's Legion was never idle, especially after current rumors of Federal invasion' early in 1862, following the defeat and death of the noble Brig. Gen. Felix K. Zollicoffer (TN) at Fishing Creek on January 19, 1862. This defeat practically made the Cumberland Mountains our line of defense. The Union element became restless and defiant and many were arrested and sent South to prison.

INDIANS IN BATTLE.

Several companies of the Infantry Regiment of Thomas's Legion were ordered to Powell's Valley in 1862, between Jacksborough and Cumberland Gap—one Indian company at Baptist Gap had quite a battle with some Federals, killing, wounding and driving back their force. The Indians were led by 2nd Lt. John Astoogatogeh, a splendid specimen of Indian manhood and warrior, who was killed in the charge. This noble Indian is worthy of a lengthy sketch, but the writer has not the data, if he had time and space. Like most of the leading Indians of his tribe, he was a professed Christian, and largely by his efforts the New Testament was translated into the Cherokee language by the great American Bible Society. The Indians were furious at his death and before they could be restrained, they scalped several of the Federal wounded and dead, for which ample apology was made at the time. In the Spring of 1863 our regiment in Brig. Gen. Alfred E. Jackson's (TN) Brigade was in the Department of East Tennessee commanded by Brig. Gen. Daniel S. Donelson (TN). In March of 1863, it was at Strawberry Plains, in April at Jonesborough, and in July at Zollicoffer, TN. 35 Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, 711, 792.

Some time afterwards General Btaxton Bragg's (LA) army entered Kentucky from middle Tennessee, and after quite a campaign there, returned to Tennessee by way of Cumberland Gap to Knoxville. This campaign caused a temporary lull in Eastern Tennessee affairs, but the retreat of General Robert E. Lee (VA) from Maryland and Pennsylvania and the surrender of Vicksburg was followed by outspoken defiance all over Eastern Tennessee.

Spies and recruiting officers from the Union Army were almost everywhere. Several cavalry raids burned and attempted to burn railroad bridges and depots until finally, on September 4th, Federal Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside captured Knoxville, the stronghold of Eastern Tennessee, without firing a gun or meeting an enemy. Some time prior to this all the white companies of the regiment and several companies of Walker's Battalion (of our Legion) were concentrated for drill and discipline at Greeneville, TN, and were brigaded with the 60th NC Regiment, the 62nd NC Regiment, the 12th Battalion GA Troops, and several Virginia, Georgia, and Florida Regiments.

After Maj. Gen. Burnside's occupancy of Knoxville there was a general ''On to Richmond," "On to Chattanooga," and "On to Atlanta" cry in the Federal army. The hopes of this cry were realized afterwards, but at very great cost of life to the enemy. Those were gloomy days to those of us who left our homes and loved ones at the mercy of the enemy. This territory was never reclaimed, afterwards almost every foot of it was fought over, time and again, and its occupancy was costly to the enemy, but of great political significance to them.

Part of our Infantry Regiment and most of Walker's Battalion, both of Thomas's Legion, with detachments of the 29th, 39th, 60th, and 62nd NC Regiments, fell back to the gap of the Smoky Mountains, or the North Carolina line, there to guard against the invasion of that region.

The greater part of our Infantry Regiment, with part of Capt. James M. Singleton's, Capt. C.C. Berry's, Capt. Stephen Whitaker's, and Capt. Robert A. Akin's companies of Walker's Battalion, fell back towards Bristol, VA. Immediately upon his occupancy of Knoxville, Federal Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside sent forces up the railroad which had heen surrendered without a struggle, or the destruction of a bridge, to Jonesborough, TN, also sent cavalry to Blount, Sevier, Cocke, and Washington counties, Tennessee, guarding against surprises from that direction, and threatening North and South Carolina by way of Murphy, Webster, Waynesville, and Asheville, and attempting to capture Col. William H. Thomas' forces, good turnpike roads penetrating these mountains. But the "fighting end" of Thomas's Legion was not idle in upper Eastern Tennessee, and marched and counter-marched in every county in that end of the State, and up to Saltville, VA, leaving the bones of their comrades (since kindly gathered at Knoxville by the noble women of Tennessee) all over that section.

TENNESSEE ABANDONED.

When Tennessee was fully surrendered great gloom overspread the soldiers from the border States, and many Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and North Carolina troops returned to their homes. General Braxton Bragg's (LA) army with a muster roll of 83,707, had few over 40,000 guns, and guns are all that count in battle.

General Bragg wrote to General Robert E. Lee (VA) that after seven (7) months of conscription, not a soldier was added to his army; that Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina troops could not be depended upon, a very unjust aspersion cast upon all, especially North Carolinians, most of whom, even after leaving their regiments in the East and West, did good service at home. No section of the Union furnished as many soldiers to the Union Army according to the population as Eastern Tennessee. With such surroundings as these it is no wonder that so many were induced to desert, or more properly stated, returned to their homes.

The same day that Federal Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside occupied Knoxville, Col. William H. Thomas, with several hundred men, fell back from Strawberry Plains, passing through Sevierville to the North Carolina line, taking all the Indians and many whites. He was closely followed by the Federals and had quite a skirmish near Sevierville, on September 7 or 8, 1863, but he crossed the Smoky Mountains and at once securely blockaded all the roads leading in that direction from near Paint Rock to near Ducktown.

Lt. Col. James R. Love and Maj. William W. Stringfield, with 600 or 700 men, were ordered to fortify and hold Carter's Depot at the railroad bridge across the Watauga River, about twenty (20) miles west of Bristol, TN.

Brig. Gen. John S. Williams, of Kentucky, since United States Senator, then commanded the Department of East Tennessee which was abandoned to the foe, after the shameful surrender of Cumberland Gap on September 9, 1863.

CAMPAIGNING IN EASTERN TENNESSEE.

Federal Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside's forces, composed largely of native Tennesseeans, rather recklessly took charge of the country. One regiment of troops (100th Ohio) went to Jonesborough on the cars on September 5, 1863, and several hundred ventured up to Carter's Depot and demanded the surrender of the fort. The next day Maj. William W. Stringfield was ordered to take 200 of his men and a battalion of cavalry (McLin) under Capt. D. D. Anderson, and reconnoitre the position of the enemy. He took this force to Jonesborough and below. On September 7th, Brig. Gen. Alfred E. Jackson (TN) came up with the balance of the Infantry Regiment of Thomas's Legion, the 4th KY Cavalry, the 16th GA Cavalry, and Borrough's Battery, and learning that the enemy were fortifying in and around the old limestone blockhouse and a stone mansion nearby, our regiment was ordered up by Brig. Gen. Jackson and at 3:00 a.m. on September 8th, we drove them from Telford's Depot to Limestone Station, where they made a determined stand, evidently being handled by some veteran officers. Closing in upon them on all sides, we forced them to surrender with a loss of 20 killed, 30 wounded, and 314 prisoners, with 400 splendid small arms. Our loss was six (6) killed and fifteen (15) wounded.

Our regiment was immediately armed with the guns here captured (Enfield Rifles). The enemy were the 100th OH Regiment (Infantry) and were a fine looking body of men. Knowing that this capture would arouse the enemy, we fell back towards Carter's Depot. Ten (10) days afterwards the enemy approaching in force with several regiments of cavalry, battle was given them at Carter's. Our cavalry was much weaker than theirs. Owing to the general advance movements by the enemy, the capture of Cumberland Gap, or rather its shameful surrender by Brig. Gen. John W. Frazer (AL) on September 9, 1863, and advance movements all up to the Salt Works and into West Virginia—a long line of defense—we were compelled to draw in our line and concentrate our forces.

Our position at Carter's Depot on the east bank of the Watauga River, was impregnable, and the enemy, after two (2) assaults, flanked us at Devault's Ford on the north, and Taylor's on the south side, causing us to fall back to Zollicoffer, or ''Union Depot," now Bluff City. The enemy about this time hearing about our great victory over them at Chickamauga, hastily retired towards Knoxville. We followed them to Bull's Gap, ours being the only infantry regiment. On October 5, 1863, the cavalry had a fight at Greeneville, killing seven (7), wounding twelve (12), and capturing ten (10) of the enemy, with a loss of three (3) killed and seven (7) wounded. Brig. Gen. John S. Williams (KY), of "Cerro Gordo" fame, commanding our troops. On October 15th, after several days skirmishing with the enemy, Brig. Gen. Williams gave battle at Blue Springs with his 1,800 dismounted men, holding in check Maj. Gen. Burnside's 7,000 veterans. Our regiment was ordered to his aid, but hearing of a flank movement of the enemy, we were ordered to retreat towards Jonesborough, and finally to Abingdon, VA. In our retreat three (3) miles above Greeneville, our cattle, wagons, artillery and infantry, in order named, were surrounded before we knew it. Maj. Gen. Burnside had thrown Col. John W. Foster (IN) with 3,000 cavalry in our front, attempting our capture. The first intimation we had of their presence was in the capture of our Adjutant, Luther C. May, and Capt. Tip (H. H.) Taylor, Acting Adjutant General of our brigade. Adjutant May escaped and gave us warning.

GREENEVILLE, TN.

In a few moments after the presence of the enemy was known. Lt. Col. Love turned back the wagons, ordered forward the Infantry Regiment at double quick, threw it in line of battle across the road, and bringing forward the artillery, began at the earliest dawn of day on October 11, 1863, a furious artillery fire upon the enemy in cornfields and meadows confronting us, fortunately for us, bursting shells in their very midst. Before they could realize the sudden change of the situation, our regiment, with the "bear hunter's rebel yell," was upon them at Henderson's Mill. Our men realized at once that quick and deadly work must be done, or we would all be captured. The entire 600 men at sunrise dashed forward at the enemy in a heavy skirmish line, Lt. Col. Love upon the right and Maj. William W.Stringfield upon the left, with company officers all in place, all cheering and directing their men. 1st Lt. William T. Welch, of Company F, afterwards killed at 3rd Winchester, VA, was shot through the thigh by the side of the writer; very few others hurt. This was a running fight for ten (10) miles.

Two (2) Federals were killed in the yard of Senator Patterson, son-in-law of President Andrew Johnson. Twelve or fifteen (12-15) others were killed. Brig. Gen. John S. Williams (KY), while slowly retreating before Federal Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, heard our artillery open upon the enemy. Dashing forward at a gallop, he materially aided us in the achievement of one of the most brilliant retreats of the war. Brig. Gen. Williams was profuse in his compliments, personally and in special orders, to our regiment. We retreated sixty-two (62) miles in thirty (30) hours, fighting and driving the enemy much of the way towards Jonesborough, but not losing cattle or wagons, and but few men. The retreat did not stop until we reached Virginia and fortified Abingdon, and covered Saltville, where we were reinforced by the brigades of Brig. Gen. Montgomery D. Corse (VA) and Brig. Gen. Wharton, Virginia troops, under Maj. Gen. Robert Ransom (NC). We remained quietly here until November 1st, when we began another forward movement towards Knoxville, TN. While here a beautiful Carolina maiden, having heard of the heroism of our men and of complimentary orders about them, sent the following acrostic to our gallant Lt. Col. James R. Love, who several years since has "crossed over the river and is resting under the shade of the trees."

"Joined to a gallant band,
'Round their colors sworn to stand;
Legions 'gainst yon, rushing came,
O you drove them back again.
Votes of thanks, so well deserved,
Ever greet such men of nerve."

BLOUNTSVILLE, TN.

While we were waiting a few days near Blountsville, TN, our cavalry under Brig. Gen. William E. Jones (VA), made a nice capture of twelve or fifteen hundred (1,200-1,500) of the enemy's cavalry at Rogersville, and near 100 wagons of the 2nd Tennessee (United States) and 7th Ohio. The citizens here-abouts were mostly our friends, something unusual in Eastern Tennessee, and had noble kindred in our army, mostly with General Braxton Bragg (LA).

While around Blountsville, company and regimental drill was daily enforced. 1st Lt. Thomas J. Ferguson, a good soldier, afterwards made Captain and captured at Piedmont, VA, joined us here with 75 recruits. A painful example for discipline was made here, one poor fellow of Company K, a Tennesseean, with two (2) others of Tennessee troops, captured at Rogersville, TN, by Brig. Gen. William E. Jones (VA), in the uniform of the enemy, were court martialed and shot at the stake. The army then moved down the Rogersville and Kingsport Valley towards Knoxville, on the north side of the Holston River, wading the river and creeks in the ice.

Maj. Gen. Robert Ransom (NC) was a fine disciplinarian and fighter. Sometimes unpopular in camp, or upon the march, but universally popular in battle, where it was an inspiration to see him. He did not "snuff battle from afar," but rushed into the thickest fray, to cheer and guide his men. In all this dread winter campaign our regiment was cheerful and obedient. Winter quarters were built near Rogersville in December, but were occupied only one week. After this neither the men or officers had tents or houses, but faced the storms of rain and snow, mud and ice, in tramps several miles above and below Rogersville, down towards Knoxville.

Brig. Gen. Alfred E. Jackson (TN) was our brigade commander this winter in all our campaigns. He was a cultivated gentleman and personally a brave man. He was a good man and always managed the men to the best advantage in so hostile a region. He was personally and scrupulously honest, and demanded the same of his men; but he was a little too strict for the "old soldier" ideas of those who wanted to prowl. The marches below Rogersville and down to Blaine's Cross Roads were mostly made in bad, and very cold weather. When we met Lt. Gen. James Longstreet's (VA) returning forces after his repulse at Knoxville, and our great defeat at Missionary Ridge, the entire army fell back near Rogersville, and our regiment, with others crossed the Holston River and went into camp on the railroad near Russellville on January 1, 1864. Soon afterwards we returned to our old quarters at Carter's Depot, where with that as a base of operations we could "swing around" the mountains on several trips after "renegades," blockade stills, and deserters.

CARTER'S, TN.

About April 1, 1864, Lt. Gen. James Longstreet's (VA) army returned to Richmond and several of Federal Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside's regiments returned to their old game of annoying us. On April 26th, we were assaulted by the 3rd Indiana and 9th Michigan Cavalry at Carter's, but we nicely repulsed them. Our loss, one killed and five (5) captured. Theirs, twenty (20) killed and wounded—our regiment alone engaged. At this time and place the writer, with 250 men, was ordered to cross the railroad bridge and reconnoitre the enemy. The troops were left in the railroad cut at the end of the bridge, under Capt. James W. Cooper, a brave and gallant Southron, while I looked ahead and around a little, taking 3rd Lt. David H. Gallaher, of Company K. We walked a quarter of a mile ahead through the fields. While here I discovered a flank movement of the enemy on the ridge, south and west, and ordered the men by a wave of the hand into the fort. In the meanwhile, the enemy seeing their movements discovered, charged up through the fields and woods, 1,800 strong, with yells and the huzzahs peculiar to themselves. Capt. Julius M. Welch, Capt. James W. Cooper, Capt. James M. McConnell, 1st Lt. Robert T. Conley and 3rd Lt. David H. Gallaher and the men, every one of them, acted with conspicuous bravery.

Seeing ourselves outflanked on both sides of the fort, I ordered the men back to the friendly protection of an old time saw and grist mill on the river bank, and here in a hand-to-hand fight up to the water's edge, we fought, and finally drove the enemy back, killing a Major of the 9th Michigan and a Lieutenant and a number of the men at the very side of the water. We were ordered to retire to the east side of the Watauga River, recrossing the bridge, but the enemy were too close upon us, and the river at our backs. It was "hilt-to-hilt" indeed. We had the right wing of the enemy to fight—four or five to one. Their left wing was upon the north side of the railroad and up to the railroad bridge, thus completely cutting off our route across the bridge; but our friends on the east side of the bridge, while cut off from us, were by no means idle. With six or eight (6-8) cannon and long range guns, they materially aided us in driving back the enemy. I wish also, in addition to officers named, to add the names of Capt. Thomas A. Butler, Capt. Nathaniel G. Phillips, 1st Lt. Adam C. Peck, 1st Lt. Dempsey M. Raby, and Sergeant Major Alexander R. Carmack and others who were conspicuous for their gallantry.

After this repulse the enemy remained quiet till night, during most of which they "shelled the woods" and our army, flanking our position next day and again forcing us to fall back to Zollicoffer (now Bluff City) and on to Bristol.

SALTVILLE, VA.

The first week in May we were ordered to the Salt Works, Virginia, where we remained till June 1st, when we were sent to the Valley of Virginia. While at Saltville, VA, our men were constantly drilled and disciplined. While here the enemy in the meanwhile were making tremendous efforts to take and hold all of Eastern Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. The Salt Works were an especial object of interest and around here were raids and fights all the balance of the war. While here the railroad having been cut and held by the enemy, we had double rations of rice, salt, and water for near three (3) weeks, and nothing else.

The Valley Campaign being one of the most exciting as well as one of the most interesting of the war, is deserving of a more extensive notice than can be given in this sketch. At the time of our hasty departure from Southwest Virginia for the Valley, orders had been issued by the War Department for our transfer to Western North Carolina. Col. William Holland Thomas had manfully worked to that end. He claimed with truth and much force that troops were needed in North Carolina to protect that section, as well as upper South Carolina and Georgia. Many of the men had joined the regiment upon the express understanding that it was for home defense; but Federal Maj. Gen. David Hunter's raid up the Valley demanded our immediate attention and we must go. Several Eastern Tennessee cavalry regiments went with us. We left horses and "bag and baggage" behind, regimental officers and all.

The 1st, 3rd and 14th TN Cavalry, under Brig. Gen. John C. Vaughn (TN), Colonel James E. Carter and Lieutenant Colonel Key—the latter since well known as United States Senator, Postmaster General under President Rutherford B. Hayes, and Federal Judge at Knoxville, since dead. Col. Carter, of the 1st TN Cavalry, was a brave and knightly Southron, cool, clear-headed and fearless— "Sans peur et sans reproche." The same may be said of Brig. Gen. Vaughn. Several Virginia infantry regiments also went with us from New River Bridge—the 36th, 45th, 51st ,and 60th VA Regiments. These were good men and had recently passed through a fiery ordeal in Southwest Virginia, where most of their regimental and company officers were killed, wounded or captured. Col. Thomas A. Smith, Colonel of the 36th VA Regiment, was also along, and after the killing of Col. William E. Browne, brigade commander, at Piedmont, VA on June 5th, Colonel Smith continued to command us while in the Valley. He was always kind, considerate and knightly in camp or upon the march—in battle he was little less than bridled lightning. He was a great favorite with our men.

STAUNTON, VA.

We reached Staunton via Lynchburg, Gordonsville, and Charlottesville in June, on the 2nd day of the month in the afternoon. At once drew and cooked three (3) days' rations and marched towards the enemy, brigaded with the Virginians as above. For several days we were marched around, seemingly in circles, to get at the enemy's infantry, held back behind their cavalry, who were desolating the country, burning houses, barns, mills, grain, and frightening the poor unarmed women. About this time it was seemingly agreed between Federals Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, Maj. Gen. David Hunter, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, and Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman that they could not whip the men until they had desolated their homes, insulted and driven off their families, and destroyed property, as was done in Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia.

But this is a digression, warranted however, we think, by the terrible destruction seen all around. On the morning of June 5th, the enemy's infantry having been located. Brig. Gen. William E. Jones (VA), after a march and double quick of sixteen (16) miles, threw his army across the valley, crossing the turnpike between the villages of Piedmont and New Hope, eight or ten (8-10) miles north of Staunton. Our cavalry in the meanwhile was holding the enemy in check till the infantry was in position. The middle or right center of our line ran up at right angles and eastward, and then south with the Valley Turnpike, one-fourth mile or more; thence eastward again, to the Blue Ridge, on the extreme right. The position of our regiment as developed in the battle, was the most perilous of any of our forces, being on an elevation facing cleared fields north, west, and east, and being at the angle on the turnpike, six (6) companies on the line west of and two running south with the turnpike.

Brig. Gen. John D. Imboden (VA) and Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Rosser (VA) and other cavalry on our flanks, did noble service, but as all of our general officers were killed and no one left was fully conversant with the country and troops, no one has written any report that I have seen, nor has any special report been made by Federal Maj. Gen. David Hunter. It is impossible, therefore, to give an intelligent idea of the battle, but from the best information gathered, Brig. Gen. William E. Jones (VA) kept the most of his troops on his left flank up to, and probably across the Shenandoah River, and with the 60th, 41st, 45th, and 36th VA Regiments, and such others as he had still further west held the line. Our cavalry had engaged the enemy hotly from early dawn on both sides of the turnpike, and when our regiment got into position, and in haste, threw up breastworks of rails, the enemy rushed upon us, but meeting so warm a reception, they retired in disorder. Coming again and again, we drove them back nicely every time. The right wing of our line rested upon and went south with the turnpike.

The enemy's wagons, plainly visible one mile distant, turned back and began a retreat. Our men were jubilant and wanted to pursue, but a flank movement was discovered and the enemy being reinforced by Federal Brig. Gen. William W. Averell with 6,000 or 8,000 troops, our right flank was turned and we were driven back in some disorder, but with the loss of no wagons or cannon except the small battery of four (4) guns, at the angle of our line and immediately supported by our regiment. This battery was furiously fired upon and silenced in the early morning fight by thirty (30) of the enemy's guns. Being defeated all along our lines the enemy attempted this flank movement which was finally successful. Brig. Gen. Jones hearing of this movement, bravely ran his horse out between the lines and instantly comprehended the gravity of the situation.

Dashing back for aid he called out as he passed us, "Brave Carolinians, I'll bring you help." He did return very soon with the 36th and 60th VA Regiments; but it was too late. He vainly attempted to repel this assault, now furiously made all along the lines. He was killed in this action, madly dashing at the very guns of the enemy. Upon the fall of Brig. Gen. Jones, our forces retired, a while in disorder, but soon rallied. Col. Jones, of our brigade, was also killed, with several other valuable officers. Our regiment lost a number of brave officers and men. Capt. Julius M. Welch, of Company E, a heroic, Christian soldier; 2nd Lt. James Conley, Company F; 1st Lt. Adam C. Peck, Company D; Sergeant Adolphus H. Welch (wounded), Company F, and several others whose names are forgotten by the writer. Southern men seldom fought better than upon this occasion. Every officer and man seemed to imbibe the dauntless spirit of our leaders.

Our forces retreated slowly and sullenly towards Staunton. The loss of the enemy was very great in killed and wounded, with only two (2) prisoners. Our loss was 100 killed, 250 wounded, and near 955 prisoners. Loss of Love's Regiment-Thomas's Legion was 20 killed, 30 wounded, and 21 missing. Our loss in prisoners was great because of the loss of our leaders and guides who knew the country and our men were picked up by the enemy's cavalry. Finally Brig. Gen. John C. Vaughn, of the Tennessee troops, succeeded in taking our men off of the field with little confusion and no loss of guns or wagons. A short while after the 10th NY (Cavalry) charged upon our rear, with sabers glittering in the sunlight, and the cheers of victors. Brig. Gen. Vaughn gave them a warm reception with grape and canister in an open field. The rear guard of our regiment, commanded by Maj. William W. Stringfield, also repulsed them in a hand-to-hand fight, and in a personal combat he killed one and captured another of the enemy. This stopped their pursuit.

LYNCHBURG, VA.

After this our army fell back to Rockfish Gap, awaiting another battle with the enemy; but they much preferred burning houses and desolating the country, which they did at Staunton, Lexington, and Lynchburg. In a day or so, Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge (KY) assumed command of our army. We then rapidly passed down Rockfish River through Amherst Court House and to Lynchburg. There in the breastworks we were largely re-inforced by Maj. Gen. Jubal A. Early (VA). He at once assumed command and took the offensive, rapidly following Federal Maj. Gen. David Hunter, who being greatly pressed and, as he says, out of ammunition, dodged off into and went down the Kanawha Valley, leaving our forces in the undisputed possession of the Shenandoah Valley.

LEXINGTON, VA.

Here began Maj. Gen. Jubal A. Early's (VA) celebrated campaign. The march down the valley was a triumphal one of twenty to twenty-five (20-25) miles per day. In passing through Lexington, the West Point of the South, the home of "Stonewall" Jackson, and where his honored remains were buried, our entire army marched through the cemetery and around his grave with reversed arms and bowed heads, and memories thrilled with thoughts of this world renowned hero.

The Federals also seem to have visited his grave in great numbers, and carried off as individual trophies the flagstaff and head-board—these being literally cut into splinters. What a grand sight to see the soldiery of two (2) great opposing armies honoring this noble dead! Onward marched our army of 12,000 men.

"Proudly they tread, that gallant Southern host.
Forth marched they from mountain grove and coast;
Their hearts beat high, they thunder on the foe,
And like a whirlwind to the conflict go."

ON TO WASHINGTON.

We passed through Staunton, New Market, Harrisonburg, Strasburg, and Winchester. At this last place we met an ovation indeed. The entire populace crowded the streets and nearly wild with joy mothers, wives, and sisters embraced sons, husbands, and brothers, as they marched on—none being allowed to stop. On we went. "On to Washington" was our cry, and on to Washington we went, capturing a splendid July 4th dinner at Martinsburg. We crossed the Potomac River on July 5th, wading through it and camping on the old battleground of Antietam. On July 6-7, our army went near to, but did not capture Harper's Ferry. On July 8th, we passed Middletown; on July 9th, Frederick City. At this place our gallant Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes (AL) whipped Federal Maj. Gen. Lewis Wallace and sent him whirling a la "Ben Hur chariot race," towards Baltimore.

Our Corps (Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge's) camped upon the battlefield at night, although we had no part in the battle as a regiment. On Sunday, July 10th, we marched twenty-two (22) miles toward Washington City, forty (40) miles distant. On July 11th, we reached the outer works at Fort Stevens. Maj. Gen. Jubal A. Early (VA) demanded the surrender of the city, and captured their outer lines. We burned the palatial mansion of Postmaster General Blair, in retaliation for the burning, by Maj. Gen. David Hunter, of Governor John Letcher's residence at Lexington, VA, one month before. It was the universal opinion of the army that we could have taken the city, although those in Maj. Gen. Early's confidence say that he was well posted as to the movements of the enemy. As we neared the city and the country and village people saw our army, they were amazed, and many persons told us we would have no trouble to capture the city.

Tlie truth is, as developed since, the Federal authorities had no idea of our numbers until after Maj. Gen. Lewis Wallace's defeat at Monocacy Junction two (2) days before. Up to two (2) hours before his repulse he had sent vainglorious dispatches to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton as to how he was going to thrash out ''Mosby and his crowd." After that repulse, however, when Baltimore and Washington were both at our mercy, they became really alarmed—Governor Andrew G. Curtin, of Pennsylvania; Governor John A. Dix, of New York; President Abraham Lincoln, Secretary of war Edwin Stanton, President John W. Garrett, of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and others, became frantic.

Our men were much displeased at the tardiness of Maj. Gen. Jubal A. Early (VA), who has been severely criticised, both North and South, but notwithstanding all the criticisms of those times, Maj. Gen. Early had a warm friend in General Robert E. Lee (VA), who refused to remove him. In the afternoon of July 12th, our army slowly began a retreat towards the Virginia line, taking immense supplies of horses, cattle, mules, and commissary stores. On July 13th, we marched to Poolsville, MD. On July 14th, we crossed the Potomac River, back into Virginia, still unmolested by the boastful foe who was going to ''gobble up" the whole of us.

Thus ended one of the most remarkable "raids" of the war. Maj. Gen. Jubal A. Early (VA) deserved much credit for its success, even without the capture of Washington City. On July 15th, we rested near the historic battlefield of Leesburg and Ball's Bluff. While here the enemy tried a little "bluff game" upon us, but our regimental sharpshooters and others, under the gallant 1st Lt. Robert T. Conley, drove them into the river at Snicker's Ferry. I am sorry that I cannot recall the names of our twenty (20) sharpshooters. Privates Thomas J. Love and David Kimzey Collins are all whom I can now name. They were all splendid fellows. Collins is a well-to-do merchant of Bryson City, NC, and was last year commander of the Western North Carolina Veterans.

From July 16-24, we leisurely moved back to and up the Valley, passing Berryville, Newton, Millwood, Middletown, to Strasburg, several days in line of battle.

IN THE VALLEY OF VIRGINIA.

On July 24th the enemy, 16,000 strong, under Brig. Gen. George Crook, Brig. Gen. William W. Averell, and Col. James A. Mulligan, pressing us pretty strong, we turned upon them, our division (Brig. Gen. Gabriel C. Wharton's, VA) making the flank movement and routing them, "horse, foot and dragoons," drove them "pell-mell" through Kernstown and Winchester. Col. Mulligan was mortally wounded in front of our regiment, and he died a few hours afterwards in the tent of Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes (AL). He probably would not have been killed but for the persistency of his color guard in waving a flag over his prostrate form. As we made our movements by the right flank, it threw us—in advancing upon the enemy—touching elbows with the ''Old Stonewall Brigade" on our left, and when known to our men, a shout rent the air. The fruit of this victory was the capturing of 1,200 or 1,500 prisoners, and several stands of arms, wagons, cannon, etc. Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge (KY), Brig. Gen. Wharton (VA), and Col. Thomas A. Smith (VA), our Corps, Division, and Brigade leaders, Lt. Col. James R. Love of our regiment, plus Lt. Col. James A. McKamy of Walker's Battalion-Thomas's Legion, and all company officers and men did well and were conspicuous for gallantry.

On July 25-27, we again went down the valley to and along the Opequon Creek.

On August 1st, our cavalry went over into Maryland, where we again took a ten (10) days' tramp from Shepherdstown around to Williamsport, etc. On August 8-10, we fell back from Darksville, Berryville, and Bunker Hill, to Strasburg, as the enemy was largely reinforced and led by Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, who gave us battle every day. Their cavalry was daring, but their infantry were not of much force, made up of city scum and foreign mercenaries.

KERNSTOWN.

On August 18th, we gave the enemy battle again at Kernstown and again drove them two (2) miles north of Winchester. Our regiment led in this assault upon and capture of the fort, northwest of the town. Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge (KY), our Corps commander on foot, and wearing a linen duster, was along leading the charge, which continued till after dark, and we became separated from the line on the east of Valley Turnpike and the town. In this charge a cannon ball passed under the writer, tearing a great hole in the ground.

We halted on the north side of the fort, after capturing a Dutch or Hessian picket of thirty (30) men, and after re-adjusting our line fell back a half mile to our main army.

On August 21st, we had another "spat" with the enemy, our sharpshooters only engaged. This was near the historic town of Charlestown, WV, where:

"Old John Brown was hung,
The last word he sung,
Oh don't keep me long here remaining,
So they took him up a slope
And hung him with a rope.
And cast him in the happy land of Canaan."

LEETOWN, VA.

On August 23rd, we fought the battle of Leetown, losing 25 men in an ambuscade. Federal Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan's entire cavalry force confronted us. Maj. Gen. Jubal A. Early (VA) expecting only a small skirmish, was leisurely riding along with his staff. Our sharpshooters being severely pressed, were reinforced by the entire 51st VA Regiment of our division and brigade. Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge (KY) and Brig. Gen. Gabriel C. Wharton (VA), our Corps and Division commanders, with their staff, were also along. This writer being that day on Maj. Gen. Breckinridge's staff as officer of the day, was close up to the front, when suddenly a battery of several guns was unmasked close upon us, on the turnpike. Several men and horses were killed and wounded in the rapid flight down the half mile lane. Generals, Colonels and other staff officers not standing much "on the order of their going," and it would have seemed superlatively ludicrous but for the perils of the moment. In our flight I rode along near Maj. Gen. Breckenridge, who was one of the handsomest men I ever saw. He was mounted on a splendid Kentucky thoroughbred and never lost his equipoise of manner or bearing, although his long linen duster, flowing in the wind, resembled a flying kite.

Maj. Gen. Breckinridge said to me: "Major, look out for yourself and tell General Wharton to bring up his division and post it behind that hill," pointing to a gently rolling hill in our front, "and hurl those fellows back over there," pointing to a brigade of Federal Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan's cavalry, led by Brig. Gen. George A. Custer, that neck and neck were advancing through the fields north of us, only a few hundred yards off. Col. Thomas A. Smith (VA), Lt. Col. James R. Love and others, however, were on the alert and at the proper moment rose to their feet and delivered a well directed and destructive fire and sent them whirling back through the field, leaving numbers of horses and men behind them.

On September 3rd, Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan's cavalry ran over ours on the turnpike in the forenoon, to be themselves hurled back soon thereafter. On September 4th, at Berryville we felt the enemy and finding them well posted, after driving them awhile, we retired.

On September 5th, we fell back to Bunker Hill and the enemy following rather closely, our gallant Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes (AL) whirled upon and scattered them. Private Ephraim S. Conner, of Company F, Jackson County, a bright and brave lad of 17 years, was killed. He was carried back a half mile and buried in an open grave, all within a half an hour and during our retreat.

WINCHESTER, 19 SEPTEMBER, 1864.

On September 10th, the Infantry Regiment of Thomas's Legion, on Opequon Creek, skirmished with the enemy and drove them across the river. During this period there was much rain and disagreeable weather. None of our brigade having tents, officers or men, many were made sick. We were compelled to camp often upon the battleground of the previous days, and where corpses of horses and men were often exposed and unburied, making horrid the atmosphere and water. About this time fully one-third of our army was detached from us to go to General Robert E. Lee's (VA) Army and Brig. Gen. John C. Vaughn's Tennessee Cavalry also leaving, we were entirely too weak to cope with our foxy adversary. So on September 19th, Federal Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan came at us with fully 30,000 men, all along the line from Berryville to Winchester. We repulsed every assault, but from the force of numbers we gradually fell back upon the hills around Winchester. The enemy had three full Corps of infantry, Sixth or Eighth, Thirteenth, and Nineteenth.

In the afternoon on our left wing, where our regiment had been holding a large force in check, while most of our Division had been sent to repel the final assault upon our center, we were again assaulted in great force and finally surrounded by Brig. Gen. George A. Custer's and Brig. Gen. William W. Averell's Cavalry and driven back, losing, however, no wagons and only two (2) cannon. Our men fought like heroes, deploying and fighting as in squad drill and holding the enemy in check till Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early (VA) could bring back his infantry line; but ror this dare-devil spirit shown by our men, and their utter refusal to surrender, great damage would have resulted. We lost numbers of our best men, killed, wounded, and captured, 75 in all, in our regiment. Lt. Col. James A. McKamy, Capt. James M. Singleton, and 3rd Lt. Lewis R. Young [all three in Walker's Battalion-Thomas's Legion], plus 2nd Lt. William W. Jones and 1st Lt. LaFayette George [both of the Infantry Regiment-Thomas's Legion] and others captured.

In killed we lost numerous good men. 1st Lt. William T. Welch, Company F; 2nd Lt. William W. Jones, Company D, and 1st Lt. LaFayette George, Company H. Maj. Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur (NC) was also killed [Incorrect, he was mortally wounded a month later on October 19, 1864 at Belle Grove]. Our army was much disspirited by this defeat, especially the Infantry Regiment of Thomas's Legion, as our loss was greater than that of any other regiment. This was owing to our position on the extreme left where our little brigade of a few hundred had to repel the assault of 7,000 cavalry. We made a hasty retreat up the Shenandoah Valley for two (2) days, followed by the enemy, who took most of our wagons. They attempted to run over us again on September 21st and the 22nd, but with the loss of only our sick and wounded, we beat them back.

Federal Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan sent wonderfully boastful dispatches back to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, claiming the capture of Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early's (VA) entire army. A few days later Mr. Stanton asked: "Where are your 5,000 prisoners?" Answer: ''One thousand two hundred only, and mostly wounded: my army too exhausted to follow." See Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Vol. —, page —.

A letter written by Lt. Col. James R. Love from Strasburg, October 15, 1864, says of this battle: ''We have 600 wounded at Winchester, the enemy has 6,000." Our army fell back to or near Staunton, and after resting there for several days, again turned down the Shenandoah Valley. At this time Maj. William W. Stringfield was ordered to go to Western North Carolina and take command of that portion of Thomas's Legion [Walker's Battalion] there and in Eastern Tennessee. This he did through a circuitous route through the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina, arriving at Asheville about November 1, 1864.

CEDAR CREEK [AKA BELLE GROVE] 19 OCTOBER, 1864.

After turning down the Valley towards Winchester, the Infantry Regiment of Thomas's Legion now reduced to only 150 men, was in all the movements of Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early's (VA) army, including the ill-fated battle of Cedar Creek [Confederates named this Belle Grove], on October 19th, where its gallant men again bore testimony of their faith in, and devotion to, the South. In that battle our position was on our left—the enemy's right— and at early dawn we were ordered to carry the enemy's works, and before they knew of our flank movement that was then up and in motion to drive them from behind all their works. This assault was at first unsuccessful and we left a number of our men, killed and wounded, between the lines. Soon, however, the attack was renewed. The flank movement was a success. Our troops bearing down upon the enemy like a Western tornado, carried everything before them. This was followed up for several miles down the valley towards Middleton in the early forenoon, thus gaining one of the completest victories of the war, Our army took sixteen or eighteen hundred (1,600-1,800) prisoners, five or six hundred (500-600) wagons and thirty-six (36) cannon, with lots of small arms and supplies.

The prisoners were safely taken out, but all the other spoils were recaptured with an equal amount from us. All together we only had ten or twelve thousand (10,000-12,000) men, the enemy thirty thousand (30,000). It was the same old story—somebody blundered badly and the battle was worse than vain for us. The few thousand that first drove the enemy followed them for miles, but their rear was not properly protected. Some troops stacked their guns and had a regular picnic for hours. Federal Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan coming up with his "long range glasses," soon saw the situation. He did what 500 officers of his army could have done, simply ordered a charge upon those "Confederate picnickers" and gained a victory out of the defeat of the forenoon.

The Infantry Regiment of Thomas's Legion got none of the spoils; received only hard licks, and lost some of its best men. After driving the enemy all morning, we repelled their assaults all evening, and away up into the night, protecting our wagons and guns, as best we could.

A little sober second thought would have spoiled a lot of war monuments, mounted them differently and faced them the other way. But such is life and war. Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early (VA) generally managed his retreats well and did this after the first afternoon.

RETURN TO NORTH CAROLINA.

This was the last trip of the Infantry Regiment of Thomas's Legion up the Shenandoah Valley. Upon reaching Staunton the long delayed order to go to Western North Carolina was received. From seven hundred (700) reduced to about 100, was a terrible tale to tell, a heroic record. Here the war practically ended with these noble fellows, and while the very last to actually surrender in North Carolina (at Waynesville, on May 10, 1865) they came on to their own loved mountain homes and turned up again later on. As mentioned heretofore the writer of this arrived at Asheville about November 1, 1864, and took command of Walker's Battalion of Thomas's Legion, now largely increased in numbers and extending from the French Broad River in the east to Notlay, beyond Murphy, in the west.

The department was under the command of Brig. Gen. James G. Martin (NC), with Col. John B. Palmer in the field. I can only detail operations that connected my men with the commanding general. There had been some friction between the head officials of the various regiments on duty in these mountains. I took no part in any of it. I simply tried to discharge my duty, both to those above me and to those under me. That part of the regiment with Col. John B. Palmer that operated in Eastern Tennessee between Hot Springs, NC, and Morristown, New Market, Newport, and Bull's Gap, etc., and along the foot of Smoky Mountains by Sevierville, Maryville, etc., is reported to have done faithful service under Lt. Col. Bryan G. McDowell, of the 62nd NC Regiment, who had refused to surrender at Cumberland Gap and was a gallant officer.

The enemy in the meanwhile were not idle, but were not having the picnic that they expected anywhere. Raids were made up all the rivers towards and into the North Carolina mountains. Several parties of this kind nearly reached Asheville. Two reached Waynesville, one came to Bryson City, and still others were made up the Tennessee River, Hiawassee River, and Valley River to Murphy, but no permanent lodgment was made or held by them.

KIRK.

Lt. Col. James R. Love after recruiting up a week or so arrived at Asheville and made a trip into Yancey County, heading off the notorious Unionist Col. George W. Kirk. About the same time the writer went with 300 men up into Greene and Washington Counties, Tennessee, heading off Col. Kirk also, below the "Red Banks of Chuckey," nearly opposite, and about ten (10) miles south of Jonesborough, TN, about where the town of Unicoi is now located. This was about January 1, 1865, and a snowfall of eighteen (18) inches on the mountains and near the same in the Valley, made locomotion quite difficult. It also made the pursuit of war difficult and hazardous. This it will be remembered, was the enemy's country indeed. We were greeted with no cheers from the brave or smiles from the fair.

Meeting with neither disaster or success, I felt it my duty to retrace my snow-trodden pathway to Paint Rock and thence soon on to Waynesville, Webster, Quallatown, near Cherokee, in Swain County, on down the Tuckaseegee River, passing the present site of Bryson City at Bear's Ford, thence to the Tennessee River at the mouth of the Tuckaseegee River and mouth of the Nantahala River, up the same crossing the Cowee Mountains and finally the Nantahala Mountains at Red Marble Gap and down the Valley River to Murphy. I left behind me all the troops under Lt. Col. Love, who went into winter quarters at Locust Old Field (Canton, NC) This was my task the balance of the war, a lonely, perilous, and desolate one, often travelling twenty, thirty, to fifty miles absolutely alone. This was then almost a pathless wilderness. Now the pathway of the Western North Carolina Railroad, it was then a wild section, sparsely settled, especially along the route named.

INDIANS FAITHFUL.

Fortunately for our country, the Cherokee Indians inhabited the wildest section and were loyal to us to the last. These big mountains extended from the great Smoky range and the Tennessee line back to the South Carolina and Georgia line on the Blue Ridge. The Nantahala, Cowee, Balsam, and Newfound or Pisgah ranges connected these two (2) great ranges, and cut the water courses asunder. This route along the railroad, beautiful and grand now to behold from car windows and rear platforms where "distance indeed lends enchantment to the view" in the hours of peace, was then my rough "field of operations" by day and night.

In January of 1865, while I was in Cherokee County, several hundred Indiana cavalry came up the Tennessee River and captured a small party of my men at the mouth of Deep Creek, now Bryson City. This was a surprise but was of little value to them, costing them much more than gained. Capt. DeWitt C. Ghormley and Everett's [?] Cavalry, of Walker's Battalion-Thomas's Legion, followed and harrassed them greatly. Clay, Cherokee, and Graham counties were protected by that Battalion mostly. Those counties were much infested by the Union element, some very good men among them. There were some very indiscreet and very unwise men and soldiers on our side in this section. Much bad feeling existed. This was a sort of half-way ground between Tennessee and South Carolina and Georgia. Negroes, horses, and other property were stolen in Tennessee, carried to Georgia and South Carolina, and sold. My soldiers from the Valley of Virginia did not like this and I had plenty of help to put it down. I gave protection to such as deserved it and ordered the others to leave the State. Several bands of "scouts" caused much of this trouble. I ordered these to their commands, took horses, cattle, and other property from them, several times at muzzles of their pistols.

SOCO GAP.

Early in March of 1865 [wrong, February 6, 1865], Unionist Col. George W. Kirk invaded Haywood County via Cataloochee. He had about 400 cavalry and 200 infantry. It had been reported in Tennessee that Federal troops would be welcomed in North Carolina. They were, but "with bloody hands to hospitable graves." Several good citizens, however, were killed and numerous horses stolen. Col. James R. Love met and fought them in Haywood County and 1st Lt. Robert T. Conley fought and drove them across the Balsam Mountains at Soco Gap.

On the morning of March 6, 1865 [wrong, February 6, 1865] the troops located in Jackson County and Swain County, met and fought them on Soco Creek, thence driving them across Smoky Mountains towards Sevierville, TN, the writer travelling all of two (2) nights and one day to get there. This fight, insignificant within itself, was an era with the Indians and was only noticeable from its locality. It was fought upon a historic spot. At or over an old town house there the celebrated Creek Chief, "Tecumseh," held a council of war with the old Cherokee Chief "Yonah-guskee," about the year 1812, when Tecumseh tried in vain to get the Cherokee to join in this great Indian war, but this ''Old Father of the Cherokees" flatly refused. And now on the same spot both white and Indian descendants of the noble sires that fought side by side under Gen. Andrew Jackson, bravely fought the invaders of their soil, and but for the want of ammunition would have badly worsted, if not destroyed Col. George W. Kirk's entire force. It is but fair to say that some of Col. Kirk's men and officers refused to obey many of his beastly orders. This raid had a good effect upon the people, drawing them more closely together and intensified Southern sentiment. The Indians themselves were always friendly to the whites and loyal to their neighbors, which fact had a potent influence ever after in keeping out army raids. Soon after this the enemy everywhere became more active and aggressive. The end was now rapidly approaching, as slow as our people were to believe it.

On March 10, 1865, Brig. Gen. James G. Martin (NC) reported 1,745 present for duty, of which the fragments of the 62nd NC Regiment, the 64th NC Regiment, and the Infantry Regiment of Thomas's Legion, reported 488.

MILL CREEK, 17 APRIL, 1865.

Colonel Bartlett, of New York, came up the French Broad River to near Asheville, surprising and almost capturing that place. But for the prompt and vigorous steps taken by Col. George Wesley Clayton, of the 62nd NC Regiment, the place would have been taken. This was shortly prior to its final capture. Col. James R. Love, of the Infantry Regiment of Thomas's Legion, was ordered to hold the Gap at Swannanoa Tunnel against the enemy approaching from Salisbury. He met them and drove them back to Mill Creek, McDowell County, on April 17, 1865.

About this time rumors of the surrender of General Robert E. Lee (VA) were current, although the people discredited them. Col. James R. Love returned with his forces to Asheville and there with Brig. Gen. James G. Martin went on to Waynesville and Balsam Gap, About April 25th, Brig. Gen. Martin sent written directions to the writer to go with a flag of truce to Knoxville, TN, to Federal Maj. Gen. George Stoneman regarding terms of the surrender of this Department. On this very day a soldier of the 9th NC Regiment (1st Cavalry) came to my headquarters at Franklin, Macon County, and said that General Robert E. Lee had surrendered. I put him in jail till that evening or the next morning, when another soldier came in with a proper parole, showing sure enough that General Lee had surrendered. The first soldier was, of course, released. The flag of truce went directly on to Knoxville, TN, one hundred (100) miles through the mountains, but did not return. The bearers were all thrust into jail on May 1, 1865 for refusing to take the oath after having been grossly insulted upon the streets, and our flag trampled under foot. Capt. W. B. Reese, Capt. Everett, Capt. Matthew H. Love, Capt. Thomas A. Butler, John Henderson and others, twenty-three (23) in all, were in the party.

THE LAST FIGHT IN NORTH CAROLINA, 9 MAY, 1865.

The day before out a few miles south of Maryville, we were all halted and inspected by a party of eighty-four (84) Federals After quite a parley I was ordered to surrender three (3) of my men, Captains Love, Everett, and Henderson, which, of course, I refused to do, whereupon we were severely threatened, but finally allowed to pass on. Brig. Gen. James G. Martin (NC) hearing nothing from us at Franklin, went towards Waynesville with Major Gordon, of his staff, and while spending the night at John B. Love's, near Webster, Col. James R. Love, his son, came in from the front and told of his fight with Federals that day, May 9th, above and around Waynesville, and that he and Col. William Holland Thomas had demanded the surrender of Federal Lt. Col. William C. Bartlett's forces, and that next day, May 10th, was fixed for a further consultation. This was the last gun fired during the war in this State.

SURRENDER AT WAYNESVILLE, 10 MAY, 1865.

During one of these parleys Col. William Holland Thomas, who was usually very cool and discreet, became quite boisterous, especially when told that Lt. Col. Bartlett's men were traversing the entire county and taking every horse and fat cow or ox. He demanded the surrender of Lt. Col. Bartlett's forces and went into town with twenty or twenty-five (20-25) of his biggest and best warriors all painted and feathered off in good old style. Col. James R. Love arrived about this time with his 250 men. Col. Thomas and 1st Lt. Robert T. Conley had three hundred (300) more whites and 200 more Indians, all the Indians making the welkin ring with their war whoop. Terms of surrender were suggested and soon agreed to. All the officers and men were paroled and all allowed to retain their arms, ammunition, etc. This concession was agreed to on account of the disturbed condition of the country. Unionist Col. George W. Kirk was told by Lt. Col. Bartlett that he must control his men and by Col. Love and Col. Thomas that if he did not that they would.

Most of the officers and men of the old Legion have gone to their long home. Those still living are numbered with the best citizens of the land, loyal to their State, section, and nation and not ashamed of their Confederate record, while there is no bitterness to our late foes.

The writer as the last field officer of the regiment, while feeling it his duty to write, feels his entire inability to do justice to all, especially to the Private soldiers, whose names even cannot be given here, but nobly generous North Carolina has preserved these in four volumes of Moore's Roster. For ours, see Volume 4, page 152, etc.

W.W. Stringfield.
Waynesville, N.C.
10 May, 1901.

What has not been clarified is that William Holland Thomas started out as Captain of his own Independent Company on April 9, 1862. He raised a second company on the same date. On July 19, 1862, he was promoted to Major and given command of a new battalion—known as Thomas's Cherokee Battalion—that began as four (4) companies and grew into seven (7) companies before being re-assigned to this regiment:

1st Company—April 9, 1862, Capt. William H. Thomas, Capt. James W. Terrell, then Capt. Matthew H. Love. Became Company A, then Company C, ended up as 2nd Company A.
2nd Company—April 9, 1862, Capt. Gideon Hanks. Became Company B, then Company D, then ended up as Company B.
3rd Company—June 13, 1862, Capt. Elisha G. Johnson. Became Company C, then Company E, then ended up as Company C.
4th Company—July 19, 1862, Capt. James M. McConnell. Became Company D, split, then ended up as Company F.
5th Company—September 1, 1862, Capt. Daniel G. Fisher. Became Company D, split, then ended up as Company G.
6th Company—July 23, 1862, Capt. Thomas J. Cooper, then Capt. James W. Cooper. Became Company F, then ended up as Company H.
7th Company—July 24, 1862, Capt. Willis F. Parker, then Capt. Joseph A. Kimsey, then Capt. Nathaniel G. Philips. Became Company G, then ended up as Company I.

These plus two (2) others were pulled into Love's Regiment-Thomas's Legion between September 27 and October 5, 1862. Company D was a later transferred from Walker's Battalion-Thomas's Legion on February 25, 1863.

As can be seen above, each company had many designations as Thomas's Legion quickly evolved. This Author decided to number them 1st Company, 2nd Company, etc. while in Thomas's Cherokee Battalion from July 19 to September 27, 1862. What is shown above as "ended up as Company X" is the numbering provided in Love's Regiment-Thomas's Legion herein. The interim designations are only found directly above and in the source cited.

A couple of Captains named herein come from Lt. Col. Stringfield's narrative above. The "offical records" documented in "North Carolina Troops: 1861-1865, A Roster, Volume XCI, Thomas's Legion" above assert that they found no official records that a particular Lieutenant was promoted. This Author does not agree, and have included them as Captains, right, wrong, or indifferent.