State-Wide, NC - 31st North Carolina Regiment – An Account ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [The following account was written by E.H. Meadows & E.K. Bryan, both of whom served in the 31st NC Regiment] The 31st NC Regiment was organized September 19th, 1861, with the following Field, Staff and Company officers J.V. Jordan, Colonel, Craven County Dan’l G. Fowle, Lt. Col., Wake County Jesse Johnson Yeates, Major, Hertford County Peter Custis, Surgeon, Craven County W.J. Busbee, Asst. Surgeon, Wake County and the following Company officers Company A Condery Godwin, Captain W.H. Hartman, 1st Lt. Rabon Stegal, 2nd Lt. Moore J. Seably, 2nd Lt. Company B Edward R. Liles, Captain J.G. Bradly, 1st Lt. C.B. Linsey, 2nd Lt. Stephen Crump, 2nd Lt. Company C Andrew W. Betts, Captain Leinster Utley, 1st Lt. Thos. H. Wray, 2nd Lt. Andrew N. Betts, 2nd Lt. Company D Langdon Cheves Manly, Captain Henry B. Jordan, 1st Lt. Ruffin L. Bryant, 2nd Lt. Joseph W. Holden, 2nd Lt. Company E Jesse Miller, Captain John W. Hughes, 1st Lt. John H. Berry, 2nd Lt. Joseph W. Allison, 2nd Lt. Company F Chas. W. Knight, Captain S.J. Latham, 1st Lt. S.W. Morrisett, 2nd Lt. S.A. Hyman, 2nd Lt. Company G Julian Picot, Captain Isaac Pipkin, 1st Lt. John A. Slaughter, 2nd Lt. S.B. Pool, 2nd Lt. Company H Willie D. Jones, Captain Fabius H. Perry, 1st Lt. Walter Debman, 2nd Lt. William Pulley, 2nd Lt. Company I John A.D. McKay, Captain Cornelius H. Coffield, 1st Lt. William A. Pierce, 2nd Lt. William Pearson, 2nd Lt. Company K Joseph Whitty, Captain E.J. Bowen, 1st Lt. Thos. H. Gaskins, 2nd Lt. Jos. D. Ballinger, 2nd Lt. As thus organized the command proceeded to Roanoke Island, NC, arriving there on the 12th of December, 1861. On the 21st of December that part of North Carolina east of Chowan River, together with the counties of Washington and Tyrrell, was at the request of the proper authorities of NC, constituted into a Military District under Brig. Gen’l H.A. Wise, and attached to the command of Major Gen’l Huger commanding the Department of Norfolk. The military defense of Roanoke Island, and its adjacent waters, consisted of Fort Barton, the most southern of the defense on the west side of the island; a sand fort well covered with turf, having nine 32 lb guns mounted. Fort Blanchard, on the same side of the island, 2 ½ miles distant from Fort Barton was a semi-circular sand fort, turfed and mounting four 32 lb buns. On the same side and about 1200 yards from Fort Blanchard was Fort Huger, a turfed sand fort, running along the line of the beach and closed in the rear by low breastworks; it mounted eight 32 lb guns and two rifle 32 lbs en barbette, and two small 32 lb en barbette on the right. About three miles from Fort Barton on the east side of the island was a battery of two 32 lb guns at Midyetts Hammocks. In the center of the island, about three miles from Fort Barton and one mile from Midyetts Hammocks, was a redoubt or breastwork thrown across the road, 70-80 feet long with embrasures for three guns, on the right of which there was a swamp, on the left a marsh, the redoubt reaching nearly between them, and facing to the south. On the Tyrrell side, on the main land nearly opposite Fort Huger, was Fort Forrest mounting seven 32 lb guns. In addition to these defenses on the shore and on the island there was a barrier of piles, extending from the east side of Fulker Shoals towards the island, the object of which was to compel vessels passing on the west side of the island to approach within reach of the batteries, but up to the 8th of February there was a span of 1700 yards open opposite Fort Barton. Some vessels had been sunk and piles driven on the west side of Fulker Shoals to obstruct the channel between that shoal and the main land which composed all the defenses, either upon the land or water adjacent. The entire military force stationed on the island prior to and at the time of the engagement consisted of the 8th Regiment, NC State Troops, under the command of Col H.M. Shaw, a most gifted and gallant officer; the 31st Regiment of NC Volunteers, commanded by Col. J.V. Jordan, known as a faithful officer and fine disciplinarian; also three companies of the 17th Regiment NC Troops, under the command of Major G.H. Hill. After manning the forts we had only about 800 effective men on duty. The entire command was under Brig. Gen’l Wise who, upon the 7th and 8th February, was at Nags Head four miles distant from the island, confined to a sick bed and entirely disabled from participating in the battle which was imminent. The immediate command therefore devolved on Colonel Shaw. On the night of February 6th a detachment of artillery was sent to Ashby’s Landing and the remainder of the forces were stationed in the vicinity of Ashby. On the morning of the 7th the enemy’s fleet passed by both of the landings, and proceeded toward Fort Barton and a detachment of infantry stationed at Pughs immediately fell back to the vicinity of Ashby Landing and joined the detachment then all under the command of Colonel J.V. Jordan. In the sound between Roanoke Island and the main land upon the Tyrrell side, Commodore Lynch with a squadron of seven vessels, had taken position and at 11 o’clock the enemy’s fleet, consisting of about 30 gun boats and schooners, advanced in ten divisions. The advance and attacking divisions again sub-divided, one assailing Lynch’s Squadron, and the other firing upon the fort with nine, ten and eleven inch shell, spherical case, a few round shot and every variety of rifled projectiles. The Fort replied with but four guns which were all that could be brought to bear and after striking the foremost vessel several times, the fleet fell back so as to mask one of the guns of the fort, leaving only three to reply to the fire of the whole fleet. The bombardment was continued throughout the day and the enemy retired at dark. Lynch’s squadron sustained the position most gallantly and only retired after exhausting all their ammunition and having lost the Steamer Curlew, and the Forest disabled. Fort Barton sustained serious damage from the fleet, but the injuries were partially repaired by the next morning. About 3:30 o’clock on the evening of the 7th the enemy sent from transports about 25 men in a launch, apparently to take soundings, who being fired upon retreated, where upon two large steamers, having in tow each 30 boats filled with troops, approached the island under protection of their gunboats at a point north of Ashby’s Landing, known as Haymans, and effected a landing. The point selected was out of reach of our field pieces at Ashby and also defended by a swamp from the advance of our infantry and under cover of shot and shell from the vessels. Our whole force then withdrew to the redoubt or breastworks and placed in battery three field pieces under command of Captain Shimmerhorn, and Lieut’s Kinney and Selden. Two companies each from the 8th and 31st NC Regiments supported this battery. Three companies of Wise’s Legion were deployed as skirmishers; the remainder of the infantry about 300 yards in rear of the redoubts as a reserve. The enemy landed some 15,000 men with artillery and at 7 o’clock a.m. on the 8th, opened fire upon the redoubt which we replied to immediately with great spirit, and the action soon became general, and continued without interruption for five hours, when the enemy succeeded in flanking each wing of our forces. The order was given by Col. Shaw to spike the guns of the battery and retire to the northern end of the island; this movement necessitating the abandonment of Forts Barton, Blanchard and Huger, after destroying ammunition and disabling the guns, the enemy was now taking possession of the redoubts and forts and pursuing our troops to the northern end of the island deploying so as to surround our small force. Colonel Shaw, finding himself surrounded by this greatly superior force, had either to make an idle display of courage in fighting as such an immense disadvantage, or to capitulate and surrender as prisoners of war. He wisely determined upon the latter course. Loss on our side, killed, wounded and missing 285; enemy’s loss estimated at 900. Having been paroled by the enemy after this, their baptism of fire (being 12 months volunteers) their term of enlistment expiring about September, 1862; and about this time they were exchanged, and reorganized, September 18th, 1862. The regiment was reorganized at Camp Mangum near Raleigh, NC, September 18th, 1862 with the following Field and Staff officers: J.V. Jordan, Colonel E.R. Liles, Lt. Col. J.A.D. McKay, Major W.H. Battle, Surgeon W.S. Busbee, Asst. Surgeon W.E. Pool, Asst. Surgeon W.R. Hughes, Asst. Surgeon E.K. Bryan, Adjutant John Guion, Sgt. Major C.B. Beale, Sgt. Major John J. Cox, Q. Master J.B. Linsey, Q.M. Sgt. C.H. Robinson, Q.M. Sgt. C.C. Clark, A.C.S. H.B. Lane, A.C.S. E.H. Meadows, was appointed A.C.S. after the resignation of C.C. Clark and afterwards, as an assistant to Major Gage, Brigade Commissary of Subsistence. It will be understood that these officers served at different periods of the Regiment’s history; which is also the case with the company officers, whose names will follow; frequent promotions and resignations rendering it very difficult to note the particular dates of each commission. Company A W.H. Hartman, Captain Sam’l P. Collins, Captain Sam’l P. Collins, 1st Lt. John A. Forte, 1st Lt. W.H. Freeman, 2nd Lt. John L. Forte, 2nd Lt. Geo. W. Thompson, 2nd Lt. John C. Barnes, 2nd Lt. Company B Chas. B. Linsey, Captain Jas. Y. Bradley, Captain E.H. Steeter, 1st Lt. M.T. Ballard, 2nd Lt. Junius A. Liles, 2nd Lt. J.B. Sidney, 2nd Lt. Company C W.J. Long, Captain Thos. H. Wray, 1st Lt. J.C. Williams, 2nd Lt. Thos. H. Goodwin, 2nd Lt. Company D Ruffin L. Bryant, Captain Benj. Walton, 1st Lt. S.H. Bryan, 2nd Lt. W.G. Williams, 2nd Lt. Company E J.F. Allison, Captain John H. Hughes, 1st Lt. John H. Berry, 2nd Lt. Joseph W. Allison, 2nd Lt. Company F Stephen W. Morrisett, Captain Sam’l A. Hyman, 1st Lt. Jos. T. Waldo, 1st Lt. Arthur B. Knight, 2nd Lt. Julius Perkins, 2nd Lt. Company G Julian Picot, Captain Isaac Pipkin, Captain Simeon B. Pool, 1st Lt. John D. Gatlin, 2nd Lt. John L. Everett, 2nd Lt. Company H James E. Todd, Captain John W. Smith, Captain John W. Smith, 1st Lt. Robt. W. Debnam, 2nd Lt. A.V. Horton, 2nd Lt. Company I Allen B. Parker, Captain William A. Duvan, Captain W.A. Prince, 1st Lt. Wm. Pearson, 1st Lt. E.H. Williams, 1st Lt. William O. Tutor, 2nd Lt. Allen B. Parker, 2nd Lt. Dan’l McL. Jones, 2nd Lt. W.J. Bether, 2nd Lt. Company K Joseph Whitty, Captain E.J. Bower, 1st Lt. George F. Darden, 2nd Lt. Wm. R. Gardner, 2nd Lt. After remaining several weeks in Camp of instruction at Camp Mangum, the Regiment was ordered to Kinston, NC, about Dec. 14th, 1862, and with the 8th NC and Col. Pool’s Regiment and Col. Nethercutt’s Regiment, Star’s and Badham’s Artillery, proceeded towards Newberne to make a feint in order to attract the enemy, who were in the vicinity of the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad near Tarboro, NC; proceeded as far as Deep Gully and drove in the enemy’s pickets, they making a feeble resistance. Col. H.M. Shaw commanded the expedition. The enemy covered their retreat by destroying the bridge at Deep Gully (seven miles from Newberne) which prevented our further pursuit; we had accomplished the purpose intended. The Regiment then marched to Greenville, where it remained about 24 hours, finding no enemy in our front, marched back to Kinston, NC, where we went into camp. The Regiment was then ordered to Wilmington, NC. After remaining there some days, we were ordered to White Hall, on Neuse River, NC and participated in the battle which took place there on December 16th, 1862. After the engagement we were ordered to Wilmington. About this time (date not exactly remembered) this Regiment, together with the 8th, 51st and 61st was formed into a Brigade commanded by Gen’l Thomas L. Clingman, statesman and soldier, than whom a more fearless and gallant soldier never drew a sword, and then to Charleston, SC, participating in the various attacks on James Island and doing heavy picket duty and skirmishing with the enemy. We were then ordered to Savannah remaining there a few days during which time the attack on Fort McAllister was made, this Regiment acting as a reserve in rear of the Fort. After an unsuccessful attempt by the enemy, they withdrew having accomplished nothing. The Regiment was now moved to James Island again. The health of the command was such, many being stricken down with a virulent type of fever, that it was considered necessary to change the encampment and we moved to Mount Pleasant, opposite Charleston, from which place we patrolled and picketed the Sullivan Island Beach and were frequently detailed as a part of the garrison at Battery Wagner, on Morris Island, against which the most determined efforts of the enemy were now directed. This Regiment was about this time ordered to report to Gen’l Hood at Nashville, Tenn., but the order was countermanded. We were then ordered to Virginia and, proceeding as far as Wilmington, that order was countermanded. After being in the vicinity of Wilmington a few days, we were returned to Charleston and on the 18th of July were a portion of the gallant garrison which defended Battery Wagner from the assault of the entire Yankee force on the island, said to be 9,000 in men; our force amounted to about 1,600 men. This was one of the most sanguinary battles of the war taking into consideration the disparity of numbers and the advantage of the enemy with their fleet consisting of ironclad vessels, monitors, and mortar fleet, as well as land batteries of heavy rifled guns which open bombardment of the fort at early morning and kept it up continuously until after dark at which time, by the signal of a rocket thrown up from the shipping, the cannonading ceased and the infantry front line consisting of 3,000 men made the assault. The reserve of 6,000 did not sustain it, seeing their comrades thickly strewn over the plains dead and dying; they faltered and could not be gotten to the front. The number killed and wounded on our side was small as we were protected by breastworks. The enemy loss was very heavy, figures not remembered; more than 300 prisoners were taken. The next morning the enemy sent a flag of truce from their Army and Navy and asked to bury their dead and cars for their wounded, which was accorded by Gen’l Beauregard, the truce to last until 4 o’clock p.m. The picket line, as originally held by us, was occupied at cessation of the truce. We were relieved from garrison duty at Battery Wagner on the night of the 19th and returned to Sullivan’s Island, remaining on picket duty there until the winter of 1863, when we were ordered to Virginia, forming a portion of Gen’l R.F. Hoke’s division, encamped at Jordan Farm near Petersburg. From Petersburg we were ordered to Ivor Station near the Blackwater River, where we remained until the Campaign of 1864. During our stay there the enemy ascended with the steamer Smith Briggs up to Smithfield, Isle of Wight County, Virginia, and landed a marauding expedition composed of 150 infantry, 25 cavalry and 2 mountain howitzers. Four companies of the 31st Regiment, commanded by Capt. Pipkin, one section of Sturtevant’s Battery, and one squadron of cavalry went in pursuit of the enemy arriving just in time to head them off from the steamer which was waiting for them. We had a sharp fight through the woods and through the streets of the town. The enemy was in a full run for their boat, but too late. Captain Sturtevant, by a well directed shot (the second shot from one of his pieces), sent a round shot through the steamer’s steam chest which disabled her, and at once the white flag was run up by the steamer and the entire expedition captured and the steamer (Gen’l Butler’s Flag Ship) was burned. It was told us by the prisoners we took that only one man escaped, and that was Captain Lee, the commander of the expedition. He swam to the marsh and secreted himself, thus making his escape (it was said with a bullet wound in his arm). This was the most complete victory of its size and importance that ever crowned the efforts of any troops. After which we rejoined the Brigade at Petersburg doing picket duty at City Point, when we were ordered to Drewry’s Bluff and participated in that battle, occupying the right centre of the line, with balance of Hoke’s Division. This battle was not unlike the battle of Inkerman with respect to the severity of the action. The great slaughter and the murkiness and cloudiness of the day; these conditions rendered it difficult at times to distinguish friend from foe. It is a matter of history that President Davis, alluding to the charge of the 31st and 51st Regiments on that occasion, remarked that it was the most gallant charge he ever witnessed. A distinguished writer to the editor of a Richmond paper of that date says "the charge made by the 31st and 51st Regiments on the enemy’s lines was most gallantly made, eliciting high compliments from both Generals Hoke and Clingman." From Drewry’s Bluff the pursuit of the enemy, who were still commanded by Gen’l Butler, was continued to Bermuda Hundred, where we threw up an extended line of works, occupying them until May 30th, 1864; picket fighting, and the frequent repulse of assaults on our lines were the order of the days and nights. On the morning of the 31st we took the cars for the battle field of Cold Harbor, where we arrived in the afternoon of that day, and were thrown out as a reserve for some Calvary skirmishers (dismounted) who were engaged with the enemy’s infantry. Our cavalry line being greatly outnumbered retired, forced by the enemy who pursued them until coming within rifle range of our men who by well directed shots, retarded their advance in our front but we having so short a line (only 600 or 700 men) were soon flanked on our right, the enemy’s skirmishers lapping entirely across our front and rear. Under this enfilade fire we retired to a point about one mile to our rear, and threw up such hasty breastworks during the night as could be done with the poor facilities at hand. They were made mostly with the aid of bayonets, tin plates &c. This was to be the attacking point of the memorable and bloody battle of the second Cold Harbor, known in history as one of the most sanguinary conflicts of the war. The attack was made on Clingman’s Brigade, of Hoke’s Division, about 3 o’clock p.m., June 1st, 1864. The enemy advanced not only in line of battle, but on one left wing in heavy column, masked by the line of battle in front. This attack was signally and repeatedly repulsed with great loss to the enemy in the entire front of our (Clingman’s) Brigade. On the left flank of the Brigade was the 8th, then 51st, then 31st Regiment and 61st from left to right, as designated; the heaviest attack was on our left where enemy attacked in column. There being an interval between our brigade and a brigade on our left (in consequence of a swamp intervening between the two which was considered impassable; therefore not protected by breastworks or troops); in this interval the enemy’s heavy columns pressed forward and effected a lodgment, which then enfilading our line, compelled the 8th and 51st Regiments to fall back. They were however quickly formed in line of battle perpendicular to the original one, with the 31st and 61st Regiments, which had repelled all the enemy in their front. The brigade being under a constant fire from the enemy, thus formed a new line of battle across the open field perpendicular to the original line. While it was so doing the 27th Georgia Regiment of General Colquitt’s Brigade came up from our right and handsomely advanced with us. The enemy were then, after a hard struggle, driven back and the whole of our original line was reoccupied but the position on our left (the interval) remained in possession of the enemy, without any attempt to retake it. Gen’l Clingman, in a report dated June 5th, 1864, says that his brigade lost in battle, within a period of three weeks next preceding that date, 1,172 men. The following is taken from (Cold Harbor June 1st, 1864) Jefferson Davis’ History of Confederate States PP 400: "The carnage on the Federal side, writes Gen’l Taylor, was fearful. I well recall having received a report from General Hoke after the assault. His division (our division) reached the army just previous to the battle. The ground in his entire front, over which the enemy had charged, was literally covered with their dead and wounded and up to that time, Hoke had not had a single man killed. No wonder that when the command was given to renew the assault, the Federal soldiers sullenly and silently declined. The order was issued through the officers to their subordinate’s commanders, and from them through the wonted channels; but no man stirred, and the immobileness thus pronouncing a verdict, silent yet emphatic, against further slaughter." "The loss on the Union side in this sanguinary action was over 13,000, while on the part of the Confederates, it is doubtful whether it reached that many hundred. Gen’l Grant asked for a truce to bury his dead, after which he abandoned his chosen line of operation, and moved his army so as to secure a crossing to the south side of James River." Gen’l Clingman’s entire staff were either killed or wounded during the afternoon of that day, and your writers were both wounded; Adjutant Bryan, while acting on the staff of Gen’l Clingman, conveying orders on the field (which rendered him unfit for duty several months) and Sgt. E.H. Meadows commanding his company, very seriously, incapacitating him from further active military duty; Lieut. G.F. Darden, who had been in command of his company having been wounded the day previous. The Regiment was now ordered in the trenches at Petersburg, and participated in all the hard fought battle in that vicinity. In the battle of Fort Harrison, one of the severest actions occurring on that front, Clingman’s Brigade, and particularly the 31st Regiment, suffered terribly, so that when one of the writers, Adjutant Bryan, returned to the Regiment only a few days after this battle (date not remembered), he found the entire Regiment consisted of only about 60 men commanded by 1st Lieut. Williams, the ranking officer present. The command was ordered to Wilmington to participate in the defense of Fort Fisher January 13th, 1865. They took no part in the action however, as Gen’l Bragg and Gen’l Hoke concluded that the situation was extremely hazardous, as the enemy had already landed and thrown up works entirely across the peninsular, which were manned by heavy lines of infantry, together with their Navy which could sweep the beach with cannister and grape at short range. This would in all probability have virtually annihilated his division. We fell back to Sugar Loaf and engaged the enemy, as they advanced, checking them, and afterwards falling back to Wilmington and through the city to the north east branch of the Cape Fear, which we crossed on pontoons and the advance of the enemy arriving at the south bank just as our last troops had gotten across the river, and our pontoons cut loose. We now marched to Goldsboro, and Smithfield where we waited the advance of Sherman from Fayetteville. The clash of arms came now again at Bentonsville, NC, March 19, 1865. For two days, Gen’l Johnson held in check Sherman’s 70,000 men, with not more than 20,000 of all arms. After two days successful resistance Johnson, finding the Federals in overwhelming force concentrated on three sides of him, withdrew that night towards Raleigh. The retreat was continued to High Point, NC, and at the quiet little village of Bush Hill, about two miles from High Point, the command was surrendered to Gen’l Sherman, our paroles being dated May 1, 1865. E.H. Meadows E.K. Bryan New Bern, NC 9 April 1900 Source: Walter Clark Papers PC 8.18 NC Archives -------------- The following information from "North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865, A Roster – Vol. VIII Infantry" Bryan, Edward K., Adjutant – Previously served as 1st Lieutenant of Company I, 2nd Regiment NC State Troops; appointed Adjutant (1st Lieutenant) of this company on December 20, 1862, to rank from October 20, 1862; joined the company on or about January 22, 1863; wounded in the stomach at Cold Harbor, Virginia, June 1, 1864; reported absent wounded for "several months." Reported present for duty in November- December, 1864; paroled subsequent to February 26, 1865 Meadows, Edward Hughes, Sergeant – Born in Craven County where he resided prior to enlisting in Wake County at age 19, October 20, 1862 for the war; mustered in as Private; promoted to Sergeant prior to March 1, 1863; wounded in the right hand and wrist at Cold Harbor, Virginia on or about June 1, 1864; retired to the Invalid Corps on October 27, 1864 ______________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Guy Potts - gpotts1@nc.rr.com ______________________________________________________________________