This brigade consisted of the 5th, 12th, 20th and 23rd North Carolina. It was first commanded by Garland, who was killed in the Maryland campaign, then by Iverson, then by Bob Johnson, then by Toon. The 20th was a fine regiment. At a very critical time at Gain’s Mill, it captured a battery. It is on Colonel Fox’s list as having had on that occasion seventy killed and two hundred and two wounded. Equally good was the 12th. That brilliant and lamented young officer, General R. E. Rodes, once made a little speech to this regiment in which he said that after Gettysburg General Lee had told him that his division had accomplished more in that battle than any division in his army, and that he himself would say that the 12th North Carolina was the best regiment in his division. Only last week, while visiting a neighboring town, I saw a bald headed old fellow, who was Color Sergeant of this regiment at Chancellorsville. It was charging a battery when its commander, Major Rowe, was killed and for a moment it faltered. Just then it was that Sergeant Whitehead rushed to the front with the exclamation: “Come on 12th, I’m going to ram this flag down one of them guns.” The regiment answered with a yell, took the battery and held it.
In the seven days’ battle this regiment had 51 men killed on the field. It suffered most at Malvern Hill, where private Tom Emry of this county was complimented in orders and promoted for gallantry.
General Hancock having witnessed a very gallant, but unsuccessful charge of the 5th N. C. at Williamsburg, complimented it in the highest terms. Lieutenant Tom Snow of this county—a Chapel Hill boy—was killed on this occasion and his body was delivered to his friends by the Federals.
With such Colonels as Christie, Blacknall and Davis,—the first two dying of wounds—the 23rd could not fail in always being an “A No. 1.” regiment. This brigade at Gettysburg had one hundred and eleven killed, and three hundred and forty-four wounded.
In the fall of 1864 near Winchester, General Bradley Johnston of Maryland was a witness of the conduct of this brigade under very trying circumstances, and he has recently written a very entertaining account of what he saw, and in it he is very enthusiastic in his praise of their courage and discipline, comparing them to Sir Colin Campbell’s “Thin Red Line” at Balaklava.
DANIEL’S BRIGADE.
This brigade consisted of the 32nd, 43rd, 45th, 53rd and 2nd battalion, all from North Carolina. It was first commanded by Daniel, who was killed at Spotsylvania. Then by Grimes and after his promotion by Colonels, several of whom were killed. To say that this brigade accomplished more in the first day’s battle than any other, is no reflection upon the other gallant brigades of Rodes’ division. General Doubleday, who, after the fall of General Reynolds, succeeded to the command of the First Corps, says that Stone’s Pennsylvania brigade held the key-point of this day’s battle. These Pennsylvanians, occupying a commanding position, were supported by other regiments of infantry and two batteries of artillery. Daniel’s right, Brabble’s 32nd North Carolina leading, had the opportunity given it to carry this “key-point” by assault, and gloriously did it take advantage of that opportunity. No troops ever fought better than did this entire brigade, and its killed and wounded was greater by far than any brigade in its corps. The 45th and 2nd battalion met with the greatest loss, the former having 219 killed and wounded, the latter 153 out of 240, which was nearly 64 per cent. When, on the morning of the 12th of May at Spottsylvania, Hancock’s corps ran over Johnson’s division, capturing or scattering the whole command, this fine brigade and Ramseur’s North Carolina, and Bob Johnston’s North Carolina, by their promptness and intrepidity, checked the entire Second corps and alone held it ’till Lane’s North Carolina, Harris’ Mississippi and other troops could be brought up.
RAMSEUR’S BRIGADE.
This famous brigade consisted of the 2nd, 4th, 14th and 30th North Carolina. It was first commanded by General Geo. B. Anderson, who was killed at Sharpsburg. Then by Ramseur, who was promoted and killed at Cedar Creek. Then by Cox. The fondness of this brigade for prayer meeting and Psalm singing united with an ever readiness to fight, reminds one of Cromwell’s Ironsides. It fought well at Seven Pines when one of its regiments, having carried in six hundred and seventy-eight officers and men, lost fifty-four per cent. in killed and wounded. At Malvern Hill it met with great loss. It occupied the bloody lane at Sharpsburg. At Chancellorsville out of fifteen hundred and nine, it had one hundred and fifty-four killed and five hundred and twenty-six wounded, or forty-five per cent. On the 12th of May at Spottsylvania it acted probably the most distinguished part of any brigade in the army. It did the last fighting at Appomattox, and about twenty-five men of the 14th, under Captain W. T. Jenkins, of Halifax county, fired the last shots. To see these poor devils, many of them almost barefooted and all of them half starved, approach a field where a battle was raging was a pleasant sight. The crack of Napoleons, the roar of Howitzers and crash of musketry always excited and exhilerated them, and as they swung into action they seemed supremely happy.
LANE’S BRIGADE.