Cumberland-Robeson-Sampson County NcArchives Military Records.....McKethan, Hector  McAllester June 29, 1864
Civilwar 51st North Carolina Troops
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Tim Bradshaw http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00029.html#0007112 January 2, 2011, 11:36 am

Col. H. McKethan Wounded  -  Article From "The Weekly Standard" Newspaper
     We had the pleasure yesterday forenoon of seeing Col.[Hector McAllister] 
McKethan of the 51st Reg't N.C.T. (Clingman's Brigade) on his way to 
Fayetteville, he having been severely, but we trust not dangerously wounded in 
th eface in the action near Petersburg on the evening of Friday the 17th 
instant.  In that action Clingman's brigade behaved with the most conspicuous 
gallantry, as did also other portions of our troops.  We have Gen. Clingmans 
testimony to the marked services of Col. McKethan and his regiment.  Lt. Col. 
W.S. Devane of the 61st. fell about the same time with Colonel McKethan, while 
rendering most gallant and valuable service.  His wound is through the 
shoulder, a sever wound, but not, it is believed , dangerous.  We could ill 
afford to lose such a man as Colonel Devane.  Captain Frank Roberts of 
Fayetteville, a noble soldier , fell instantly killed.

     Lieut. McKethan of th esame reg't, shot through the thigh, also 
accompanied his brother the Colonel, to their home in Fayetteville.  We trust 
that both will soon be restored to healt and usefulness.
 
     The great loss sustained for a time by our N.C. Troops was due to the 
giving way of some brigades or parts of brigades on their right, not Nort 
Carolinians.  Where they haild from we preser not to state.  Our readers may 
draw their inference by never finding their names in the Virginia papers.

Wilmington Journal

Additional Comments:
     Col. MeKethan (1834-1881) and his men of the 51st North Carolina Troops, 
serving under Clingman's Brigade, Hoke's Division, were part of the Confederate 
defenders of Petersburg, VA in the trenches.  By sunrise on the 16th of June, 
there were about 15,000 Confederate soldiers facing at least 75,000 Union 
soldiers to try to defend Petersburg.

     Along the ten-mile-long Petersburg fortifications, much of which was 
unmaned due to lack of troops to do so, Clingman's brigade was involved in 
heavy fighting on the 16 and 17th of June, 1864.  Clingman's brigade and 
Brigadier General Matt Ransom's brigade were credited to sealing off a 
potentially disastrous Federal penetration of the line after a bayonette charge 
and hand to hand fighting with clube muskets.  During the two days of fighting, 
the 51st Regiment lost 16 men killed, 25 wounded, and 26 captured.

     Colonel McKethan survied his wound and was returned to duty prior to 
September 1, 1864 but was later admitted to a hospital in Wilmington on January 
15, 1865, with Melancholia.  His brother Lt. Agustus A. McKethan of Company B, 
51st NCT also survived.
  

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/cumberland/military/civilwar/other/mckethan670gmt.txt

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