NC STATE WIDE - MILITARY - History of the Thirty-second Regiment of North Carolina Troops ----¤¤¤¤---- Personal papers of John Alexander Little of Catawba County, NC. Transcribed from original newspaper article by Jill Little Huter. Original document courtesy of Elsie L. Kale. The newspaper is torn in several places and illegible portions are denoted by square brackets []. WEEKLY CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, DECEMBER 16, 1895 THIRTY-SECOND REGIMENT. Mr. Henry A. London's History. ----------------------------- The Regiment a Fine body of Troops and Its Officers the Bravest of the Brave-- The Men's Fighting Qualities Once Won a Personal Compliment from Lee--Junius Daniel and Bran Grimes Were the Brigade Commanders -- I Was in the Division Which Penetrated Furthest North of All the Southern Troops--Fighting in the North Carolina and Virginia Campaigns---Heroism on Many Battlefields--Mr. London Heightens the Interest of His Story with Many Anecdotes and Incidents. Chatham Record. The companies composing the Thirty-second Regiment of North Carolina Troops, were organized in the following counties: Company A in Tyrell. Company B in Camden. Company C in Northampton. Company D in Northampton. Company E in Catawba. Company F in Catawba. Company G in Bertie. Company H in Nash. Company I in Chatham. Company K in Franklin. Although this regiment was not organized until the year 1862, yet every company in it had volunteered in 1861 and had been in active service for nearly a year. For instance, Companies I and K had been organized in the spring of 1861, as soon as the first call for volunteers had been made by Gov. Ellis, and were attached to the Fifteenth Regiment from which they were transferred in July, 1862, to the Thirty-second Regiment. While attached to the Fifteenth Regiment these two companies participated in Magruder's Peninsula campaign [ ] in the battles around Richmond, in which they suffered heavy losses. The other companies had at first been attached to other commands, but in the fall of 1861, six of these companies were organized into the "First Battalion of North Carolina Volunteers," with Capt. William T. Williams, of Nash, as lieutenant colonel; and Capt. E.C. Brabble, of Tyrrell, as major. This battalion was stationed near Portsmouth for several months, and in February, 1862, was ordered to Murfreesboro and other places in the eastern part of North Carolina, where it remained until May, when it returned to Virginia. After its return to Virginia the battalion was stationed at Suffolk, Petersburg and Drewry's bluff, at the latter place remaining several weeks in the summer of 1862. While there the companies composing this battalion, with the others above named, were organized into the Thirty-second Regiment with E.C. Brabble as colonel, William T. Williams lieutenant-colonel, and D.G. Cowand, of Company A, as major. Lieut.-Col. Williams, a few months thereafter, resigned and Major Cowand succeeding him, Henry G. Lewis, also of Company A became major. And at one time the singular coincidence occurred (probably not in another regiment in either the Confederate of Union army) of every field officer and every staff officer of this regiment--from Col. Brabble to Sergt. Major Hardison --all being selected from the same company. And again it was another singular coincidence that all these officers were members of the same (Episcopal) Church, and to their credit be it recorded that, with one exception, not one of them ever tasted spirituous liquors. Probably no regiment in the Confederate service was more fortunate in its field and staff officers, and the influence and example of such sober, moral and religious officers had a most salutary and beneficial effect upon the whole regiment both in camp and in battle. Col. Brabble was a strict disciplinarian, yet humane and very considerate of the comfort of his men, so that they all implicitly obeyed his orders and had entire confidence in him, and in the midst of a battle were under perfect control. After his untimely death (he was killed at Spottsylvania in May, 1864) he was succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel who was as modest and gentle as a maiden and yet as brave as the bravest --the model of a Christian soldier. For the last six months of the war Col. Cowand commanded the brigade, to which the Thirty-second regiment belonged, and the regiment was without a field officer, for Major Lewis had been wounded and captured at Gettysburg and was not released until after the close of the war. The first adjutant of the regiment was Dr. R.H. Parker, who was made assistant surgeon in 1863, and Sergeant Francis A. Boyle, of Company A, was promoted to fill the vacancy. The brigade to which the Thirty-second Regiment was attached was commanded by Gen. Junius Daniel, who undoubtedly was one of the very best of Lee's brigadiers. The other regiments of this brigade were the Forty-third, the Forty fifth, the Fifty-third and the Second North Carolina Battalion, and this brigade remained unchanged throughout the war, and was as fine a body of troops as ever marched to battle. It was fortunate in its commanders, for after the lamented death of Gen. Daniel (who was killed at Spottsylvania) it was commanded by Gen. Bryan Grimes until he was promoted to the command of Rhodes' Division, and then (as before stated) by Col. Cowand until the sad surrender at Appomattox. The Thirty-second Regiment, with the other regiments of Daniel's Brigade, was stationed near Petersburg and Drewry's Bluff during the fall of 1862 and did not take part in the Maryland campaign. During this period the brigade was thoroughly drilled and attained as high a state of efficiency and discipline as any brigade in the Confederate army, as was so conspicuously displayed in next year's bloody campaign culminating at Gettysburg. In December the brigade went into winter quarters near Drewry's bluff, but in a short time (on the 3rd of January, 1863,) was removed to the eastern part of this State, where it remained until the 17th of May Although the regiment while in this State was not engaged in any battle, yet it rendered very arduous and effective service and participated in a few skirmishes. It was stationed near Kinston for several weeks, but took an active part in the unsuccessful expeditions against Newbern and Washington. The failure of the expedition against Newbern (early in March) was through no fault of Daniel's brigade, as was testified to by Gen. D.H. Hill (who commanded the expedition) in his official report, in which he says that the part taken by Daniel's brigade "was highly satisfactory." This brigade did its full duty in the expedition against Washington, N.C., in April, and the Thirty-second Regiment is said to have been stationed on duty nearer to that town than any other Confederate troops. The failure of both of these expeditions was due chiefly to the inferior artillery and defective ammunition used by the Confederates, as clearly shown in Gen. Hill's official report, published in Vol XVIII of the "Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies." The troops endured many hardships on these expeditions, frequently marching for miles in swamps knee-deep in water and sleeping (?) in their wet clothes when halted at night. On the march to Washington, and when only few miles distant, the Thirty-second Regiment passed a country (Episcopal) church I which the congregation was then assembled, holding their joyous Easter services (for that day was Easter Sunday) and the devout and faithful chaplin of the regiment (Rev. Joseph W. Murphy) obtained permission to stop long enough to join in singing one hymn, then sturdily marched on. How strange a contrast--here was a congregation quietly worshipping in their parish church, and passing by was a body of armed soldiers marching to battle! On [ ] of May, 1863, the Thirty-second Regiment, with the other regiments of Daniel's Brigade, left Kinston and went to Virginia, and remained until the close of the war a part of the Army of Northern Virginia, sharing in all its glory and victories as well as its hardships and disasters. Daniel's Brigade was attached to Rhodes' Division, which had no superior in either the Confederate or Union army, and was then composed of Ramseur's (North Carolina) Brigade, Iverson's (North Carolina) Brigade and Doles' (Georgia) Brigade. Its commander, Maj Gen Robert E Rhodes, of Alabama, was one of Lee's most trusted officers and was one of the most competent, considerate and courageous officers in the Confederate army. His untimely death (killed at Winchester, September 19th, 1864,) was a grievous loss. Shortly after Daniel's brigade reached Virginia General Lee began his preparations for the campaign that culminated in the battle of Gettysburg, and in this ever memorable campaign the Thirty-second Regiment was most conspicuously complimented and covered itself with imperishable glory. It was among the first troops to cross the Potomac in the invasion of Pennsylvania and was among the last to recross on the retreat. On the 27th of June Rhodes' Division reached Carlisle, the town farthest North ever occupied by any Confederate troops, and occupied the United States barracks at that place. Large supplies of cattle, horses, grain and flour were obtained at Carlisle and on the march to that place, but no private property of the citizens was forcibly taken. In his official report General Rhodes stated with proper pride that the good behavior of this troops "astonished the people along the line of march. These later very generally expected to be treated by us with the wanton cruelty generally exhibited by their troops when they are [ document torn] see their houses burned [document torn] their property [ ] This official [ ] of Confederate [ ] enemy's soil should [ ] to every Southerner. It was while the [ ] enjoying their much [ ] -lisle, that the Thir[ ] was honored and [ ] most notable and con[ ] Yes, it was there at [ ] regiment was complimen[ ] the regiments in the Com[ ] with the distinguished he [ ] presented and entrusted [ ] flag or standard made a[ ]design adopted by the Conf[ ] -gress a few weeks previous. [ ] had adopted conditionally a ne[ ] for the Confederate flag, and an [ ] new flag, made according to that [ ] by the ladies of Richmond, had been sent to Gen. Lee for his approval and for him to present to the regiment most worthy of receiving and carrying it. Accordingly Gen. Lee sent it to Lieutenant General-Ewell (who then commanded Stonewall Jackson's old corps), and General Ewell sent it to Major General Rhodes (his favorite [ ]-sion commander) and General Rhodes passed it on to his most favored Brigadier, Gen. Daniel, and he ordered it to be presented to the Thirty-second Regiment. The presentation ceremonies were of a most enthusiastic character and were appropriate to the high honor so worthily conferred. The troops, who were encamped at Carlisle, were assembled in the lovely grounds belonging to the US barracks to witness the presentation, which was attended with much speech-making and enthusiastic rejoicings. Oh! It was a grand Occasion-in such striking contrast to the sad scenes witnessed by the same soldiers, two days thereafter, on the blood-stained heights of Gettysburg. Yes, the bright eyes of our brave boys, which then sparkled with joy and hope, were soon glazed with the stony stare of death; and their joyous shouts and cheers, so eagerly and so proudly greeting the new flag of the young Confederacy, were so soon changed to dying groans and expiring gasps. This flag was then hoisted above the roof of the barracks and unfurled to the breeze. And thus it was that North Carolinians can boast that it was the flag of one of their regiments that waved defiantly on the enemy's soil at a point farther North than any other Confederate flag during the whole war. That the Thirty-second regiment was well worthy of so distinguished an honor was quickly and fully proved by the superb manner with which it bore that flag in the three days battles around Gettysburg. Before entering into the details of the regiment conduct a Gettysburg it may be proper to mention here the very great compliment paid it by one who was so competent to compliment. About two weeks after the battle of Gettysburg, and while encamped at Darkesville, in Virginia, several Confederate generals by chance met in Gen. Daniel's tent, and after a general discussion of the campaign, Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur remarked that the finest thing he saw during the whole battle "was the conduct of that regiment that carried into the fight that flag with the long white tail to it." And, continued Gen Ramseur, "they marched as steadily as if on dress parade, and when commanded to retreat, marched back as steadily as ever under most galling fire." Thereupon Gen. Daniel said, "yes, that was one of my regiments," referring to the 32nd, for the new flag carried by it, as a distance, appeared to have a "long white tail," as described by Gen. Ramseur. As stated above, Rhodes' Division reached Carlisle on the 27th of June, and, after resting two days, intended on the 30th to advance on Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania-"a step as Gen Rhodes stated in his report) which every man in the division contemplated with eagerness." But all their eager hopes were doomed to disappointment, for on the 30th they were ordered to re-join the balance of Lee's army, then supposed to be at Cashtown, and they marched that day 22 miles, bivouacking at Heidlersburg. Next day, the 1st of July, they were ordered to hasten to Gettysburg, in the vicinity of which they arrived shortly after midday and were surprised to find that a bloody battle had begun. The part taken by the Thirty-second Regiment in this battle-or rather three days' battles-was officially reported by its colonel, and his report is published in Vol. XXVII of the "Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies" as follows: DARKESVILLE, W. Va, July 19, 1863 CAPTAIN: I would respectfully report the part taken by the Thirty-second Regiment North Carolina Troops in the action of July 1st, 2nd and 3rd, at Gettysburg, Pa. On the first day, about 2:30 p.m., the regiment was drawn up on the right of the brigade and, advancing, met the enemy about 4 o'clock. At the time the regiment became actively engaged, it was near a railroad cut, the right supported by a regiment of Davis' Brigade. Beyond the cut was a large stone barn, where the enemy was strongly posted. He had also planted on a wooded hill between us and town a battery, which thoroughly commanded the ground in our front and about the barn. The brigade made an advance to dislodge him from the barn, but the cut in front of the other regiments was too difficult for them to cross, and the Thirty-second fell back for want of support. After a short time, this regiment charged up to the barn and dislodged the enemy; but being unsupported on the right and left, and the battery on the hill opening a terrific fire upon it, it again fell back near the cut. The rest of the brigade having now changed direction, so as to advance without hindrance, the Thirty-second moved up beyond the barn, and, waiting a few minutes for the troops on the right, advanced near the edge of the town, where it joined the other regiments and rested for the night. In its advance it took a considerable number of prisoners; how many I did not stop to ascertain. Its loss during the day was 78-none of them prisoners. The second day, the Thirty-second was posted behind the theological seminary, as a part of the support to our batteries. It sustained a very heavy fire from the enemy's artillery, and lost many men. The third day the regiment, with the rest of the brigade, moved tot he left and front, to the northeast of Gettysburg, and being drawn up in line, advanced to the foot of ----hill, upon which the enemy was posted. It had sustained a very galling fire from artillery and sharp-shooters, losing many men and doing little injury to the enemy. Then, in pursuance of orders, it moved farther to the left, and formed on the right of the Forty-third Regiment North Carolina Troops, to hold an intenchment that had been captured. It here lost several men, but, having the enemy at advantage, it did good execution upon him. From this position it fell back, by orders, about 5 p.m., and a little before midnight it withdrew with the rest of the troops to the range of hills west of Gettysburg. During the engagement the conduct of the regiment was all I could desire, there being very little time during the three days when it was not perfectly under my control. Both officers and men, with scarcely an exception, did their duty faithfully and unflinchingly. Where all behave so well it is difficult to discriminate, yet justice requires that I should mention Capt. William L. London. To his skill and gallantry is greatly due whatever of service the regiment may have rendered in the battle. During the three days' fighting the regiment lost in killed and wounded 147 officers and men. Of the 14 reported [ ] since joined the regi-[ ] have been heard [ ] the enemy's hands. [ ] respectfully, your [ ] [ ] of Col Brab-[ ] narrative-- [ ]odest like him- [ ]the courage and [ ]- urpassed in the [ ]Daniel's Brigade [ ]ented by Gen. [ ] port, and [ ] and [ ]port was [ ] ne Thirty-[ ] praising [ ] adiness." [ ] Rhodes' [ ] ans it will [ ]ride of Caro-[ ]ollowing ex-[ ]fficial report. [ ] however, clos this portio[ ] report without expressing my praise and admiration of the counduct of the men and officers of this division from the time it left Grace church until our return to Virginia. Better marching, less straggling, hardships more cheerfully borne, conduct in an enemy's country more commendable, and more generally marked by gentlemanly and soldierly characteristics, and, finally, better behavior in battle, than was exhibited by this division during that period has not been, and I believe will never be, exhibited by any other troops in the service. By their conduct at Gettysburg I claim to have won the expression from the general commanding the army, who saw their attack on July 1, "I am proud of your division.'" Daniel's brigade entered the battle of Gettysburg with 2,100 men, and lost in killed and wounded 778-as heavy a loss as any two of Pickett's famous brigades-and it did not fail to carry every position of the enemy which it assaulted. After the retreat of Lee's army to Virginia the Thirty-second Regiment was not engaged in any battle until the Spottsylvania battles in May, 1864, but participated in a few skirmishes and was stationed much of the time near the Rapidan river, where nothing of especial interest occurred. But this period of comparative rest was followed by a campaign that was probably the most arduous, the most bloody and the most exciting recorded in the annals of war. yes, on the 4th of May 1864, the Thirty-second Regiment with all the troops of Rhodes' Division moved from their camps on the Rapidan, and were either marching or fighting (and frequently both) nearly every day from then until the surrender on the 9th of April, 1865. They began their long series of battles on the 5th of May, being quite heavily engaged on the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th, and on the 10th the Thirty-second Regiment suffered heavily, among its killed being its colonel, the brave and noble Brabble, and a large number of its officers and men. This loss was occasioned by the enemy breaking through Doles' (Georgia) brigade, which was stationed on the right of the Thirty-second, thereby exposing that regiment to a deadly fire, but reinforcements soon came to the rescue and the exultant enemy was driven back. This was a most critical and trying occasion to the Thirty-second, but it was fully equal to it and its steadiness and courage prevented a serious disaster. The next day (the 11th) it rained hard all day and there was no fighting, but on the 12th was probably the most desperate fighting during the war, when the enemy at early dawn captured the salient in our works occupied by Gen. Edward Johnson's division, and in checking their advance (which came so near being a crushing disaster) Daniel's and Ramseur's Brigades (all North Carolinians) fought with such unsurpassed courage and perinacity as to deserve and receive the personal thanks of Gen. Lee himself. An accurate and full description of that day's fighting by those two brigades should be written and published in pamphlet form, and a copy be placed in the hands of every North Carolinian, because that fighting has never been surpassed in any battle of ancient or modern times. There it was that the lamented Daniel was killed and Ramseur severely wounded early in the day, and yet, notwithstanding the loss of their commanders, those brigades bravely and unflinchingly fought on, hour after hour against greatly superior numbers [ ] At [ ] ghting on the 12th of May the Thirty-second Regiment was comparatively quiet until the 19th, when it joined in a flank movement around the enemy's right and was quite heavily engaged on that afternoon. In these battles at Spottsylvania, during those bright May days, the Thirty-second Regiment lost over one-half of it men in killed, wounded and captured, as indeed did all of Ewell's Corps to which it belonged, and this but the beginning, the first month, of almost an entire year's continuous fighting. And now begins the famous "Valley" campaign, beginning so brilliantly and ending so disastrously. On the 13th of June, 1864, the Thirty-second Regiment with the other regiments of the brigade moved from their camp near Cold Harbor and proceeded to Lynchburg. The brigade was now known as Grimes' Brigade, as Col. Bryan Grimes, of the Fourth Regiment had been promoted and assigned to the command of Daniel's old brigade, a most worthy successor, and also one of the best and bravest officers in the Confederate army. On arriving at Lynchburg (then threatened by the enemy under Gen. Hunter) the brigade prepared for an immediate attack, but the enemy retreated precipitately, and then commenced the "New Market Races," the Confederates chasing the fleeing Federals to the very gates of Washington. At Lexington our troops passed by the grave of their old commander, Stonewall Jackson, with reversed arms and uncovered heads-a sad and touching tribute of their love and admiration. Our troops reached Harper's Ferry on the 4th of July, and the Thirty-second Regiment there assisted in doing garrison duty and in loading wagons with the quartermaster's and commissary supplies captured at that place. After leaving Harper's Ferry Grimes' Brigade moved in the direction of Frederick City, and at the battle of Monocacy was not actively engaged, being held in reserve. ON the 11th of July, after a very rapid and most fatiguing march (30 miles in one day over a dusty road that was almost suffocating and under a blistering July sun, the brigade arrived in front of the fortifications around Washington and in sight of the dome of the Federal capitol. This brigade was the front infantry brigade of Early's army, and its sharp-shooters approached nearer Washington than any other Confederate troops, an incident of the war that North Carolinians have cause to boast of. After some skirmishing, the fortifications were found to be too formidable and strongly defended to be captured, and no assault was made. The men were utterly exhausted by their continuous and fatiguing march, and were physically unfit for fighting. Fortunately for the Federals, and probably the salvation of Washington, they had just been re-inforced by the Sixth and Nineteenth corps, which arrived at Washington just in the "nick of time." The Confederate infantry did not exceed 10,000, and it would have been worse than folly for that force to attack four time their number strongly entrenched, and therefore, Gen. Early (who commanded the Confederate troops on this expedition), after a consultation with his division commanders, decided to return to Virginia. Gen. Lee had not intended or expected Early to capture Washington, but merely to threaten that [ ] and was done most effectively, and, if he could have arrived there only one day earlier, he might have entered that city and planted the Confederate flag on the dome of the capitol! Early's army retired in perfect order and safely returned to Virginia, and then began a series of skirmishes and fights which continued almost daily for several weeks. On the 19th of July Grimes' Brigade fought quite a sever battle with a largely superior force of the enemy, near the Shenandoah river, and drove them back but at a considerable loss. Again on the 24th, near Kernstown, the Thirty-second Regiment met the enemy and the latter retreated in great confusion, throwing away everything that could impede their flight. For the next few weeks this regiment was kept moving back and forth- up and down the valley-one day pursuing the enemy and the next day falling back, almost a daily round of skirmishes. In the battle near Winchester, on the 19th of September, Grimes' Brigade acted most gallantly, capturing the enemy's position which it was ordered to attack and holding it until late in the afternoon, when it was ordered to fall back, because the troops on the left had given way. Its courage and steadiness were again conspicuously displayed on the 22nd of September at Fisher's Hill, when the cavalry on our left gave way in confusion and for some time the Forty-fifth and Thirty-second Regiments and the Second Battalion alone successfully fought the whole force of the enemy, and did not retire until nearly surrounded and fired at in front, flank and rear. Only old soldiers can appreciate what a trying position was this. Again in the disastrous battle of Cedar Creek on the 19th of October, the Thirty-second Regiment sustained its well merited reputation for that "great courage and steadiness," which Gen. Daniel ha so highly complimented in his report of the battle of Gettysburg. In this battle the Thirty-second Regiment was deployed as sharpshooter and moved forward most gallantly and followed the enemy through Middletown. A brilliant victory seemed won, and the enemy appeared to be utterly routed, but in the afternoon after our troops had remained inactive for several hours, the enemy returned with heavy re- inforcements and completely turned the tide of victory. When the enemy returned and attempted to charge the position held by Grimes' brigade, General Grimes promptly ordered a counter-charge which his men with a yell quickly made and drove the enemy back in great confusion. In a short time, however, our troops on the left had given way in much disorder and then Grimes' brigade was ordered to fall back. This was the last battle of much importance fought by the Thirty-second Regiment in this wonderful "Valley campaign." The week before Christmas Grimes' old brigade, and the other brigades of the division now called Grimes' Division, moved from the Valley and went into winter quarters at Swift Creek, about three miles from Petersburg. There the wearied, battle-scarred survivors of the terrible campaign of 1864 enjoyed a brief rest. On the 5th of February they marched in a cold sleet to Burgess' Mill, on Hatcher's run, but arrived too late to participate in the fight that took place near there on that day, in which Gen. Pegram (who had married only a few days before) was killed. After remaining there a day they returned to their winter quarters, but were not allowed to remain long, for on the 15th the broke up camp and were moved to Southerland's Station, about twelve miles from Petersburg, on the extreme right of Lee's extended lines. There they remained four weeks, and then were stationed in the trenches in front of Petersburg, Grimes' Division occupying the line of fortifications from near the famous "Crater" on the left to Battery No. 45 on the right. No one, who himself has not experienced a soldier's life in the trenches around Petersburg, can understand or appreciate the hardships then endured by Lee's half-starved soldiers. The trenches were usually knee-deep in mud, the men always on the alert and ready for an attack, one-third always on picket duty in the rifle pits, one-third kept awake at the breastworks every night, and only one-third off duty at a time and they sleeping on their arms and with accoutrements on, as best they could, amid the continuous firing along the picket line. All night long the pickets kept up an incessant firing, the sound resembling at a distance, the poping of firecrackers, and the flash of the rifles illumining the darkness like fire flies on a summer's night, while now and then a mortar shell would gracefully glide through the air and explode with a deafening roar. And yet those brave men endured all this, day after day and night after night, without a murmur, and on the 25th of March made one of the most desperate attacks of the war. On that day Gen. Lee made his last final effort to break through the coils of Grant's encircling army. It was a desperate undertaking, and came well-nigh being successful. At one point in front of Petersburg, near Hare's Hill, the breastworks of the two armies were only about one hundred yards apart, and General Lee determined to make a sudden sortie at this place and capture the enemy's line. Just before day- dawn the sharpshooters of Grimes' Division--about three hundred men--with unloaded muskets and in profound silence, leaped over our breastworks, dashed across the open space in front, surprising and capturing the enemy's pickets before they could give the alarm, and had mounted their breastworks and were upon the enemy before they could realize their situation. A brigadier general and 500 men were sent back as prisoners, and the remainder of the division followed the sharpshooters and occupied the enemy's works. Other troops, among whom were Ransom's and Lewis' North Carolina Brigades, had at the same time captured other portions of the enemy's works, and a brilliant victory seemed within our grasp, but it was only the meteor's flash that illuminates for a moment and leaves the night darker than before. The expected reinforcements, Pickett's Division, did not come to their support, and the enemy soon collected a force, greatly outnumbering ours, and poured so destructive a fire upon our men that they were withdrawn after a most stubborn fight of two hours. In this short buy sanguinary fight the Confederate loss was quite heavy. Grimes' Division alone losing 478 officers and men. The Thirty-second regiment suffered severely, among its killed being the temporary commander, Maj. J.W. Rierson, of the Fifty-third Regiment. The end was now rapidly drawing near. Just before day on Sunday morning, the 2nd of April, the enemy captured an exposed point in our line, called rune's Salient, occupied by Battle's Alabama Brigade, and attempted to extend their line up our breastworks, but were promptly met and checked by the Thirty-second and the other regiments of Daniel's old brigade. The fighting here was most stubborn and desperate, being at close range, almost hand to hand. An single incident will forcible illustrate this. T.S. Riggsbee, of Company I, (as brave a boy as Chatham county ever sent to the Confederate army) jumped up on top of the breastworks so as to get a better chance to shoot at the advancing enemy, and, after firing his own gun, fired the guns of several of his comrades as they were rapidly handed up to him, until he himself was shot down and killed by the enemy only a few feet distant. At tone time so desperate was the fighting here that, within a few minutes' time, the flag staff of this regiment was shot in two three different times while being held by the color-bearer, James E. Burke, of Company L, who each time would grasp the broken staff and defiantly flaunt the flag at the enemy. The Thirty-second Regiment not only held its ground all that day, but drove the enemy back some distance, and only withdrew after nightfall when all our troops were ordered to retire, and then commenced that terrible retreat to Appomattox Court House. The incidents of that memorable retreat need not be recorded here, but the Thirty-second Regiment, with all of Grimes' Division, did its full duty. Always at the post of danger, protecting the rear of Lee's retreating army, they well sustained to the last their "great courage and steadiness," which Gen. Daniel had noted at Gettysburg. Now-stubbornly resisting the advance of superior numbers flushed with victory, now turning like a wounded lion upon its pursuers and charging desperately and putting to flight a too confident foe, and now toiling along over muddy roads, famished with hunger, exhausted with constant marching day and night, almost stupefied with the want of sleep, those men proved themselves to be heroes indeed-the equals of any the world has ever seen. And now we come to the last sad scenes at Appomattox, and how vivid they seem even now, after the lapse of thirty years! The Thirty-second Regiment, now reduced to a mere handful, a skeleton of its former self, arrived at the village of Appomattox Court House shortly before daylight on that fateful Sunday, the 9th of April, and after a brief halt joined in that last memorable charge, driving the enemy nearly a mile. But all in vain, for they were soon ordered back and in a short time it was sadly whispered that Gen. Lee had surrendered. This could scarcely be believed at first, and when it was ascertained to be true strong men wept, and battle-scarred veterans trembled with emotion too deep for utterance. That afternoon Gen. John b. Gordon made a speech to the troops assembled in a hollow square. On Wednesday morning our little band started home, and the Thirty-second Regiment ceased to exist, but the memory of its gallantry, it's glorious record, and its heroic deeds should live forever! HENRY A. LONDON, Co. I, 32nd N.C. Regiment, Pittsboro, N.C. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Jill Huter jhuter@nc.rr.com ___________________________________________________________________