Bertie COUNTY NC Bios - William Acree File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by "Douglas E. Acree" http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/bertie/bios/acree.txt PRIVATE WILLIAM ACREE of Roxobel, Bertie County, Company F of the Fifty-ninth Regiment of the North Carolina Troops and the Civil War events in which he participated. by Donald V. Acree April 25, 1969 Introduction In beginning this paper, the writer would like to acknowledge that William Acree is his great-grandfather. Also, it should be noted that the paper was written by first finding records telling of William Acree’s presence or absence at roll calls of Company F, Fifty-ninth regiment of North Carolina Troops. From this information, the writer found records and books telling of Civil War battles in which this regiment participated. It was from the latter source that the majority of the information in this paper was taken. Enlistment On August 9, 18621 , in Garysburg, North Carolina2, William Acree entered the Army of the Confederate States of America. The Army purchased his horse for $175.00. He was assigned to the Fifty-ninth Regiment of North Carolina Troops, Company F3, receiving the rank of private4. Enlisting at the age of twenty-two, he was required to serve for three years or for the duration of the war5. Company F was commanded by Colonel Joseph B. Cherry6. A great percentage of the men in Company F were residents of Bertie County, North Carolina7; William Acree, who was born and raised in Bertie County, being one of them. The Fifty-ninth Regiment was a calvary outfit that was also known as the Fourth Calvary8. Franklin, Virginia Shortly after the organization of the regiment, the Fifty-ninth was ordered to Franklin, Virginia. Here the regiment made frequent reconnaissance in the direction of Suffolk. At that time a small town, Suffolk was well garrisoned by Federal troops. There was daily skirmishing with detachments of enemy calvary, resulting in occasional losses of those killed or wounded on either side9 Federal gunboats in the area had become bolder and made occasional missions up the Confederates’ smaller streams10. On one occasion, the Fifty-ninth met a Federal Gunboat which was traveling up the Blackwater river with a heavy rifle volley, “hitting the pilot house and other exposed parts of the steamer”11. The pilot was quickly driven from the wheel and the men were driven from the deck. The steamer had become powerless to move by this volley. Also, her men were now unable to work the guns, all of which operated on the ship’s exterior. But soon, another Federal steamer came to the scene firing upon the Fifty-ninth Regiment. The Regiment then withdrew from the river bank suffering a few wounded men. A Federal account of losses on the steamer reported the loss of killed and wounded on the steamer as “heavy” The incident also brought some success to the Confederates. From this time on, the gunboats ceased to make runs along the narrower rivers13 Foster’s Raid Early in December, 1862, the Fifty-ninth Regiment was ordered to Goldsboro, North Carolina, to meet an expected attack there by Union forces. General Foster was in command of the Union forces14. The purpose of Foster’s attack was to cut off the line of communication between Richmond and the Confederate cities south of Goldsboro15. Foster’s command included five brigades of infantry with reinforcements of artillery and calvary. He crossed the Neuse River, burning the only bridge which crossed it, and retreated in the direction of Kinston, while being pursued by the Fourth Calvary, until he reached New Bern16. Washington, North Carolina Near the first of March, the regiment was ordered to Washington, North Carolina17. The men were placed under the command of D. H. Hill, whose forces had been operating for some time against Federal troops occupying positions under the shelling of the enemy’s gunboats, constantly skirmish fighting with enemy detachments from the town. After several days of fighting, the regiment was finally withdrawn. There were little profitable results on either side18. Virginia Duty On June 1, 1863, the Fifty-ninth Regiment, along with another North Carolina outfit, received orders “to take up a line of march for the Army of Northern Virginia”19. The troops were to combine forces with other southern regiments under the command of General J.E.B. Stuart20. The underlying reason of this order being to prepare for a great invasion of the North by Robert E. Lee and the Confederate forces. Calvary Review Concerning a calvary review shortly after the Fifty-ninth’s arrival in Northern Virginia, W. P. Shaw of the Fourth Calvary writes: “On June 5, 1863, General Stuart, surrounded by a coterie of officers, both civil and military, with a large number of ladies and other spectators, from a stand on a gentle elevation, had the calvary brigade, consisting of about 8,000 men, to pass in review before him and his attendants. Truly, this was a grand pageant, such as modern times has but seldom witnessed in this or any other country. The mounted troops at first moving in column of squadrons at a slow pace, passed before their gallant commander, then at a charge, while the guns of the horse artillery poured forth volley after volley of thunder and smoke, which together with the yelling of men and using clouds of dust gave every appearance of real battle, rather than a harmless military display, to be so very soon followed by a terrible encounter of blood and carnage on the same field”21. While his long column of infantry was pressing toward Maryland, Robert E. Lee, three days later, also review the calvary22. After the review, the Fifty- ninth took up quarters near a farm owned by John Minor Botts. While, in the meantime, pickets guarded the lower fords of the Rappahannock River23. Brandy Station The job of the Fifty-ninth was to guard the upper fords of the river (June 5). On the evening of June 8, General Pleasanton, commanding the Federal calvary, approached the other side of the river. Advancing across the river, the federal troops drove the Confederates to the broad plain near Brandy Station, Virginia24. At Brandy Station there occurred “the most extensive calvary engagement of the Civil War”. There were 10,981 Federal troops against 8,500 Confederates25. The fight continued through most of June 9, though not all of the Confederate calvary was engaged in battle. General Robertson’s Brigade, to which the Fourth Calvary belonged, was held in reserve, but was under constant artillery fire26. It was here at Brandy Station that William Acree received a wound on the plantar surface of his foot, (June 9, 1863)27. Acree was taken into the care of General Hospital, Number 22, and was granted a thirty-day furlough28. North Carolina Calvary Brigade While Acree was recovering from his wound, the Fifty-ninth, along with the rest of the forces commanded by General Lee, traveled to Gettysburg29. Due to the heavy loss of its officers and men in the Gettysburg campaign, the Fifty-ninth combined with the Ninth, Nineteenth, and Sixty-third North Carolina Regiments (First, Second and fifth Calvary) to form the North Carolina Calvary Brigade. The Brigade was under the command of General L. S. Baker30. Return From Hospital Lieutenant George Outlaw Cherry’s muster shows that William Acree was absent without leave on the call for August 9, 186331. The next recorded call was taken on August 31, 186332. On this date33, Acree was counted as present. The writer was unable to find any information concerning the reason for Acree’s absences. Jack’s Shop On September 22, 1863, the Brigade’s period of rest following Gettysburg was broken by an enemy calvary advance into Culpeper County, Virginia34. The opposing sides clashed near Jack’s Shop where the North Carolina Calvary Brigade repelled the Union forces. General Baker was wounded severely during the battle. Command of the Brigade was then given to General James B. Gordon35. Bristoe Campaign On October 9, General Lee began to move his entire army to the right of General George Meade. This movement is known as the Bristoe Campaign36. On October, 11, the regiment was being rapidly advanced on the Sperryville Turnpike toward Culpeper Court House, when it encountered a detachment from the Federal calvary. The detachment was driven back, suffering considerable losses. There were also several men from the Fifty-ninth who were killed or wounded37. During the beginning of the spring campaign, the Fifty-ninth regiment was assigned to General James Dearing’s brigade. The regiment now took part in several calvary engagements between Richmond and Petersburg38. On May 9, Union General Kantz, commanding a force consisting of calvary and some artillery, launched an attack on Petersburg from the south side39. At that time the city was defended only by the militia. The Fifty-ninth, which was at that time on the other side of the river, hurriedly reached the point of attack. The regiment arrived in time to reinforce the citizens and prevent any further advance upon the town, saving it from capture40. Petersburg Now the North Carolina Calvary Brigade was almost daily involved in picket firing. General U. S. Grant, extending his forces towards Petersburg, threw a heavy force of infantry on the city near Burgess’ Mill, where a terrific fight began. Although Grant’s force was temporarily repulsed, the Fifty-ninth had received heavy losses41. In February, 1865, General W. P. Roberts was placed in command of the North Carolina Calvary Brigade. Roberts found that there was a great need for field officers in the Fifty-ninth. But there were no officers available to fill these positions42. Last Days of March, 186543 On March 29, General Grant made his long awaited major advance on Petersburg. General Robert’s Brigade advanced to meet the enemy, with the Fifty-ninth in front supporting the Confederate pickets44. concerning the force that the Fifty-ninth was to oppose, Lieutenant W. P. Shaw writes: “It was very soon made apparent that the force in our front was such to render it impossible for so small a number to stop or even impede the progress of the heavy columns opposing us.45” Soon after meeting the enemy, most of the regiment had dismounted and formed a line on either side of the White Oak road. The regiment made a stand on the old military road near an abandoned saw mill46. In the moments following, a volley by the enemy reached the regiment, “emptying a number of saddles47”. In this volley, Captain Joseph B. Cherry, of the Fifty-ninth was mortally wounded48. Soon afterwards, a heavy line of enemy skirmisher appeared on the open field in front of the Fifty-ninth, advancing steadily. General Roberts then ordered that a mounted squadron of the Fifty-ninth be placed behind a small hill which, covered by small pines, concealed them from the view of the enemy. Then he directed the officer in command of the squadron to charge the enemy as soon as they crossed a certain ditch49. After the skirmishers crossed the ditch, the mounted squadron, with Roberts in the lead, drew their sabers, yelling fiercely as they charged. The enemy, surprised, began to throw down their weapons and surrender. But, after recognizing the smallness of the squadron, picked up their guns and fired. The fire was at very close range, forcing the squadron to return to the shelter of the hill. A second, and larger, charge was formed later which threw the skirmishers back to the main line50. On the following days of March 30 and 31, the regiment was immediately in front of Union General Sheridans advance and had a number of sharp encounters with the enemy at point along the White Oak road51. Five Forks On April 1, Sheridan, who had been checked by the regiment, made an advance at the arrival of Governor Kemble Warren’s Corps52. The regiment had been reduced to only a handful of effective men. These men held a small position (dismounted) behind a barricade of rails and bush. Part of the Union Calvary had jumped the rails and bushes and gotten to the rear of the regiment53. Although the enemy ordered them to surrender, most of the Fifty-ninth soldiers left and made their way back to their horses with a comparatively small loss54. Appomattox On April 2, the regiment received orders to take up a line of retreat by the Southside Railroad. The regiment moved along silently until, (near dusk) at a point near Namozine Creek, they reached a group of Confederate calvary skirmishers. These skirmishers had preceded the Fifty-ninth in the retreat, and had become presently engaged with an opposing calvary. After a brush fire, the enemy retreated and darkness ended what might have been a fierce conflict55. The Fifty-ninth then, day by day, passed Amelia Court House, High Bridge, Farmville, and many other places that were marked by skirmishes56. The regiment was often under artillery fire, “and enduring the most severe fatigue and hardships.”57 On April 8, the retreat of the Fifty-ninth was relatively quiet. At nightfall the men went to camp about six miles from Appomattox Court House58. W. P. Shaw best describes the day of the surrender at Appomattox. Shaw writes: “The earliest dawn of the following morning, Sunday, 9, April, found us drawn up in battle line on the memorable and historic field of Appomattox, ready to take part in the last contest to be made by the Army of Northern Virginia. In this last gage of battle the few surviving war-scarred veterans moved forward with the same steady step and undaunted purpose to win which had characterized the army in the day of its strength on fields of brilliant victory. The Federals are driven back, but soon we reach a point where they no longer present the appearance of battle lines, but woods and fields were full as it were. The advance is stopped. Physical valor and human endurance can go no further. The last act in the tragic drams is closed. The rattle of musketry and roar of artillery cease. The curtain drops. The Army of Northern Virginia has surrendered”59. Return Home In a letter to the writer from his half-uncle, who conversed with William Acree before his death in 1912, the writer received this information: “He surrendered at Appomattox with General Lee who he often spoke of in high terms as a great General and Humanitarian. He said he walked from Appomattox Court House to Petersburg in barefeet where he was put on a train and sent to Gaston, N. C.. From there he walked home still with no shoes. He said that it was a rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight”60. Summary Looking back, the writer views with near joy, William Acree’s wound received at Brandy Station. The reason for this being that otherwise, he would have gone with the regiment to Gettysburg, where over half of the regiment was lost. Another close call occurred when the few men left in the regiment at Five Oaks (Acree being one of them) barely escaped death while in the brush. Putting more thought into the matter , had William Acree not been so fortunate on these occasions, there would not be a writer of, or tope for, this term paper. Descendants William Acree married Elizabeth Mann in 1866. She died shortly after the birth of their first child, George Acree. William Acree then married Mary Lewis Cox, daughter of William J. Cox, on April 21, 186961. Of this marriage, William John Acree was born on October 30, 187062. William John Acree was married to Mary Agnes Vaughan in 1924 after two previous marriages had ended due to the death of his wives. The writers father, John Q. Acree, was born of this marriage on January 9, 1926. John Q Acree married Jeanne F. Edmunds on October 16, 1948. The writer was born of this marriage on February 25, 1953 1John W. Moore, Roster of North Carolina Troops in the War Between the States. North Carolina Department of Archives and History (file 642) 2Walter Clark, North Carolina Regiments. N. C. Dept. of Archives and History, Vol. 13, p. 456 3Moore, file 642 4ibid 5ibid 6Clark, vol. 3, p. 457 7ibid 8ibid 9ibid, vol. 3, p. 458 10ibid 11ibid (this small account was given by W. P. Shaw, Second Lieutenant, Company D) ibid, Clark, p. 459 13ibid 14ibid 15ibid 16ibid 17ibid, p. 460 18John W. Lay Memoirs 1863-1864 (Mil. Col. Box 71 (folder 14)) Miscellaneous Records, North Carolina Department of Archives and History 19ibid, (W.P. Shaw) vol. 3, p. 460 20ibid, Clark, p. 460 21W. P. Shaw, p. 460 22Clarke, p. 461 23ibid 24ibid 25Fairfax Davis Downey, Clash of Calvary, New York, D. McKey Co., (1959) 26Clark, p. 461 27Moore, Confederate Archives, Chapter 6, File 465, p. 90 28ibid 29Clark, p. 464 30ibid 31Moore, folder 642 32ibid 33ibid 34Clark, p. 465 35ibid 36ibid 37ibid 38Clark, p. 465 39ibid 40ibid 41ibid 42Clark, vol. 3, p. 467 43Title used by Clark, p. 467 44Clark, p. 467 45W. P. Shaw 467 46ibid p. 468 47W. P. Shaw, vol. 3, p. 468 48ibid 49Clark, p. 469 50ibid 51ibid 52Charles P. Young, The Battle of Five Forks, VA., 1865, Richmond, W. E. Jones, (1904) 53Clark, p. 469 54ibid 55Clark, p. 470 56ibid 57W. P. Shaw, p. 470 58Clark, p. 471 59ibid 60This information was provided by Julian Acree in a letter dated Feb. 20, 1969 61Joe W. Warlick, Register of Deeds, Bertie County, N.C. 62ibid Private William Acree