History of the 21st Regiment North Carolina 11th Regiment North ...

History of the 21st Regiment North Carolina
11th Regiment North Carolina Volunteers
The regiment was organized at Danville, Virginia on 18 June 1861, for twelve months of
service. It was designated the 11th Regiment NC Volunteers and was composed of twelve
companies. Field officers were elected on 8 July. Col. W.W. Kirkland was elected to serve
over the regiment. Five days later the regiment departed for Richmond, arriving on the
fourteenth.
17 July, the regiment was at Manassas Junction. The next day they received orders to go to
Mitchell’s Ford, where they were assigned to Gen. M. L. Bonham’s Brigade. Gen. Bonham’s
Brigade consisted of this regiment along with the 2nd Regiment South Carolina Infantry, 3rd
Regiment South Carolina Infantry, 7th Regiment South Carolina Regiment Infantry, and the
8th Regiment South Carolina Infantry.
After the battle of Manassas, the Confederate forces were reorganized. The regiment was
attached to the Sixth Brigade, commanded by Col. Jubal A. Early. Early’s Brigade was
composed of the 5th Regiment North Carolina State Troops, 23rd Regiment North Carolina
Troops, (13th Regiment NC Volunteers), the 24th Regiment Virginia Infantry and this
regiment.
Late in the month of August, the regiment was transferred again to another brigade. Under
the command of Gen. George B. Crittenden, the regiment was combined with the 15th
Regiment Alabama Infantry, 21st Regiment Georgia Infantry, and the 16th Mississippi
Infantry. The men of the regiment were housed at Camp Rhett. While there, the health of all
of the soldiers began to decline, and they were moved to Camp Hardee on 23 August.
17 October, all able-bodied men from the regiment were ordered to move to
Centerville, where they encamped. In November, the regimental designation was changed to
the 21st Regiment North Carolina Troops by special order #222, Adjutant and Inspector
General’s Office, Richmond, dated 14 November 1861.
16 November, Gen. Isaac R. Trimble was assigned to command Crittenden’s Brigade
after the latter was assigned to a departmental command. The brigade was then attached to
Gen. E. K. Smith’s Division. During the winter months the 21st Regiment encamped at
Centerville.
21 February 1862, Gen. Smith was transferred to Richmond and Gen. Richard S.
Ewell was placed in command over the division. From their organization in June 1861 to
that current date, the men of the 21st Regiment had little confrontation with the enemy, but
what they did have experience with was the organization of an army.
In March, the Confederates began withdrawing from the Manassas line in order to
meet the Federal forces that were threatening the Shenandoah Valley and the peninsula
between the York and James Rivers. On 25 March, Gen. Jackson launched an attack on the
Federal defenses at Winchester. Gen. Trimble’s Brigade, with the 21st Regiment in the lead,
was at the head of Ewell’s Division as it moved on Winchester.
“25 March 1862, the regiment was engaged at the great battle of
Winchester, where Gen. Banks was badly defeated with a great loss of men,
arms, and commissary stores. The troop had marched all night long on that
day, lying down just before dawn in the cold dew, not to sleep, just to rest.
The sun rose fair and bright on the field, which soon was to become crimson
from the blood of the bravest hearts. Shortly after sun up we were ordered to
storm the enemy’s position. With a wild cheer the regiment swiftly toward

the enemy behind stone walls, and were met with terrific fire of infantry and
grape shot. The day was won with the most exalted courage and desperate
charge.
I was severely wounded and left on the field, and the sight which
there presented itself can never be forgotten. Around stood several pieces of
artillery deserted by the enemy. Many Federals and Confederates lay dead,
wounded and dying around me.
Col. Kirkland, while waving his sword and cheering on his men, was
shot through the thigh but did not leave the field. Lt. Col. Pepper lay mortally
wounded, but still cheering his men to victory. My heart still bleeds when I
think of our revered Captain J.C. Hedgcock, who was mortally wounded,
pierced by half a dozen balls or more. A braver or truer man than that young
lawyer was never sent to the field of battle. He and gallant Pepper sleep in the
cemetery at Winchester, with many of their brave comrades.”
During the battle that morning, the regiment suffered the loss of twenty-one men
dead and fifty-nine men wounded. After this battle, the 1st Battalion North Carolina
Sharpshooters became an independent unit in Trimble’s Brigade.
When Federal troops, under the command of Gen. James Shield, moved from
Fredericksburg toward the Shenandoah Valley, and a second force under Gen. John C.
Fremont moved to the south branch of the Shenandoah River, Jackson concentrated his army
to Winchester. Jackson’s men rebuffed Fremont at Cross Keys on 8 June. Losses were two
men killed and eleven wounded.
Leaving Trimble to oversee Fremont, Jackson turned on Shield’s force at Port
Republic and defeated him on the ninth. From the valley, Jackson moved his men eastward
to join Gen. Lee in driving Gen. George McClellan’s forces from their position located in
front of Richmond.
During the Seven Days battles around the Richmond area, the regiment was heavily
engaged at Gain’s Mill, 27 June and was exposed to intense artillery fire at Malvern Hill, 1
July. The 21st Regiment, along with the 16th Regiment Mississippi Infantry, became
detached from the brigade during their trial at Malvern Hill. Gen. Trimble was able to
quickly locate them and led them in a charge toward enemy fire.
From Gain’s Mill, the Confederate left wing, now under the command of Gen.
Jackson, moved to cross the Chickahominy River at Grapevine Bridge. In reaching the
bridge, the men saw that the enemy had destroyed it. They had also entrenched on the
opposite side of the river in order to discourage any attempted crossing.
Jackson’s Troops went into bivouac and began constructing a new bridge. By 30
June, the men had completed the bridge and had crossed the river, only to find that the
White Oak Bridge had also been destroyed. Federal forces prevented the troops from
constructing a new bridge and were able to keep Jackson’s men at bay. During this standoff,
other Confederate soldiers were engaged in battle at Frayser’s Farm.
After the battle at Frayser’s Farm, Jackson and his men joined forces with the right
wing of Gen. Lee’s Army. On 1 July, Lee’s Army attacked the enemy at Malvern Hill.
Trimble’s Brigade was ordered to advance toward the enemy, but with the coming of night,
the men had to settle down and wait for daylight. At daybreak, a battle ensued, sending the
Federals to retire at Harrison’s Landing.
On 8 July, Gen. Lee withdrew and moved his army to Richmond. During the battles,
the regiment’s losses were one killed, twenty-four wounded, and fifteen missing.

At Richmond, Gen. Lee reorganized his army. Gen. A.P. Hill’s Division was
assigned to Gen. Jackson’s command. On 13 July, Gen. Jackson was ordered to move his
and Ewell’s Division to Gordonsville to confront the advancement of Federal Gen. John
Pope’s Army.
On 27 July, Gen. Hill was ordered to unite with Jackson, as the Confederate army
around Richmond had observed Federal Gen. McClellan and his troops at Harrison’s
Landing. Gen. Jackson moved from his location at Gordonsville and confronted the enemy
at Cedar Mountain on 9 August; two days later, Jackson and his men returned to
Gordonsville. Gen. Lee sent troops from the Richmond area to aid Jackson against
McClellan’s army and Pope’s reinforcements.
On 22 August, Gen. Jackson moved his command and was able to cut Pope’s
communications at Manassas Junction. Trimble’s Brigade had been engaged in the battle at
Hazel River. There were four men killed and nine wounded. On 26 August this regiment,
along with the 21st Georgia Infantry, successfully obtained Manassas Junction and
apprehended over three hundred prisoners before the main company of Jackson’s force
arrived. The next day the brigades traveled northward to Groveton.
After Pope’s losses at Manassas Junction, he began centering on Jackson and his
men. Gen. Lee sent Gen. James Longstreet’s command to strengthen Jackson’s power.
On the afternoon of the 28th, Jackson ordered an assault on a passing enemy column.
Trimble’s Brigade was actively engaged in the attack; Gen. Ewell was severely wounded.
Jackson was able to establish a line of defense behind an unfinished railroad and Ewell’s
Brigade, under command of Gen. Alexander Lawton, was placed in its center. While
Jackson’s men were repelling serial assaults at their defensive line, Longstreet’s Units began
arriving on the 29th. The following day the enemy advanced against the Confederate
assembly. The Confederate party arose and drove the Federals until darkness. Regimental
losses during the three days of battle were twenty-four killed and sixty men wounded.
In the late afternoon on the first day of September, Jackson’s Column encountered the
enemy at Ox Hill. A Gen. attack ensued between the column and the Federal rear guard. The
enemies were able to hold their position through the afternoon’s attack. Cpt. Brown was
killed during the battle.
“The 21st Regiment was engaged in the series of fights called the Second
Manassas and Jackson’s Corps withstood for two days Pope’s entire army,
repulsing every attack with heavy slaughter. During this fight they repulsed a
half a dozen or more of the most tremendous charges that ever volleyed and
thundered at the head of mortal men. We fought face to face with men filled
with whiskey determined to crush Gen. Jackson. Among those who fell was
our beloved Col. Saunders F. Fulton, a man who was absolutely without fear.
Here Major Gen. Kearney of the Federal Army was killed and fell into our
hands.”
Gen. Lee turned his army north to cross into Maryland. The men forded the Potomac
and encamped at Fredrick on 9 September. Gen. Lee issued orders for the army to apprehend
Harpers Ferry. Gen. Jackson was to come upon Harpers Ferry from the west; Gen. McLaw’s
Division, accompanied with Gen. Anderson’s Division, was to occupy Maryland Heights
across the Potomac from Harpers Ferry; Gen. Walker’s Division was to occupy Loudon
Heights located southeast of Harpers Ferry. The strike force was to rejoin Gen. Lee as soon
as the township had been secured. Longstreet’s Troops were to march toward Hagerstown.

On 11 September, Jackson moved across the Potomac. Martinsburg was captured by
A.P. Hill’s Division on the twelfth; the next day Hill’s men came in sight of a strong Federal
defensive position atop Boliver Heights, just west of Harpers Ferry. By the fourteenth of
September, all of the Confederate Columns were in their positions and the investment of
Harpers Ferry was complete. The next day after the Confederates bombardment, the Federal
garrison surrendered.
The morning of 17 September, the Federal opponents advanced toward the
Confederates at Sharpsburg. During the exhausting battle, the Confederates managed to hold
their centerline and the battle shifted to the right. Gen. Lee’s Army was efficient and able to
hold its position. They received several crippling blows, but they were far from submission.
Gen. Lawton was wounded during the battle, along with sixteen other soldiers; two men
were killed. Gen. Early was assigned to command Ewell’s Division. Col. Robert Hoke
assumed command of Trimble’s Brigade, due to a wound that Trimble received.
The Army of Northern Virginia crossed the Potomac on the night of the 18-19th, and
on the morning of the 20th, the brigade moved with the division to assist Gen. A.P. Hill’s
Division in driving the enemy force back across the river. After taking part in the desolation
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the brigade joined the rest of the army at Bunker Hill,
where they had set up camp.
The army remained in the Shenandoah Valley until the Army of the Potomac began
crossing the Potomac River east of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the 26 October. On the
28th, Gen. Lee ordered Longstreet’s Corps to move east of the mountains to Culpeper House
and Jackson’s Corps to move closer to Winchester.
The Federals started centralizing opposite the town of Fredericksburg. Gen. Lee
ordered Longstreet’s Corps to move to Fredericksburg and ordered Jackson to prepare to
also move in that direction. Jackson arrived at Fredericksburg on 1 December. Early’s
Division was commanded to scout out the area of Buckner’s Neck.
12 December, Gen. Lee directed Jackson to move his troops up to the
Fredericksburg line. Early’s men returned from Bunker’s Neck the following day and placed
at the right of the battle line, which was angular with the railroad at Hamilton’s Crossing.
The Federals approached the Confederate line around noon. Trimble’s Brigade was
moved in to support Gen. J.J. Archer’s Brigade. The Federals were retained from any
advancement by the efficient Confederate line. The adversary retired across the river.
Trimble’s Brigade held its position till the morning of the 15th, when it was relieved.
Twenty-four soldiers were wounded during the two-day conflict.
The army went into winter quarters near Port Royal. 19 January 1863, Col. Hoke was
promoted to the rank of Brigade General and assigned to command Trimble’s Brigade,
which was reorganized as a North Carolina Unit. Hoke’s Brigade consisted of the 6th
Regiment NC State Troop, 21st Regiment NC Troop, (11th Regiment NC Volunteer) 54th
Regiment NC Troop, 57th Regiment NC Troop, and the 1st Battalion NC Sharpshooters.
Hoke’s Brigade of Early’s Division of Jackson’s Corps.
28 April, word came that Federal Gen. Joseph Hooker was moving up the
Rappahannock to get behind the Confederates’ position at Fredericksburg. Early’s Division
was ordered to hold a defensive position, along with two other brigades and a portion of the
reserve artillery. Gen. Lee started moving the remainder of the army westward to block
Hooker at Chancellorsville. Hoke’s Brigade established a position at Deep Run.
3 May, Gen. Lee engaged Hooker at Chancellorsville. The enemy was able to
penetrate Early’s line of defense at Maryl’s Heights. The Federals advanced toward the
direction of Salem’s Church. Early was able to regroup his men and successfully forced

them to retire after massive fighting on the fourth. Hoke was injured during the fighting and
Col. Isaac Avery, of the 6th Regiment NC State Troop, took temporary command of the
brigade. Losses for the regiment during the battle at Chancellorsville were fifteen killed and
sixty-three wounded.
10 May 1863 was a day of devastation to the Confederate Army ,due to the passing
of Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. Gen. Jackson died from an infection in his lungs,
not from complications due to the amputation of his left arm, as some may state.
Being overthrown at Chancellorsville and with the deprivation of Jackson, the Army
of Northern Virginia returned to Fredericksburg. Gen. Lee reorganized the army into three
corps; Hoke’s Brigade, under the command of Avery, remained in Early’s Division, which
was assigned to Lieutenant Gen. Richard S. Ewell’s Corps.
On the morning of 4 June Hoke’s Brigade, without the remainder of the corps, left
camp and moved toward the Shenandoah Valley. On the thirtieth, the division was placed on
reserve for the battle at Winchester. They were not active during this battle.
The Confederates occupied Winchester on the fifteenth. The 54th Regiment NC Troop
was detached from Hoke’s Brigade with orders to escort prisoners to Staunton. Hoke’s
Brigade forded the Potomac River at Shepherdstown on 22 June and entered Pennsylvania
the next day.
Early’s Division moved through Quincy and Altodal to encamp at Greenwood on the
twenty-fifth. They marched onward and reached Yorktown on the 28th and then
Heildlersburg two days later. Early received orders to advance to Cashtown by way of
Huntersville and Mummasburg.
1 July, orders came for Early to march to Gettysburg and join Rhodes. While Early’s
men were in a defensive line, Col. Avery was mortally wounded. Col. A.G. Godwin was
placed in command over the brigade.
“Our loss in officers and men were great. All the field officers of the
Twenty-First were killed or wounded except Col. W.W. Kirkland, who after
this fight was promoted to Brigade-General. Here the lamented Col. Isaac
Avery, commanding the brigade, laid down his noble life on the altar of his
country’s freedom. Lieutenant-Colonel Rankin was badly wounded and left
in the hands of the enemy, where he remained a prisoner throughout the
remainder of the war. It is recorded in Volume 125 Official Records Union
and Confederate Armies, that a Private Oliver P. Rood was awarded a medal
for conspicuous bravery in capturing a flag of the 21st Regiment North
Carolina in a charge on our lines at Gettysburg on 3 July.
A most frightful and determined conflict raged on the night of the second.
The ground was strewn with dead and wounded. Man after man went down,
among them Major Alexander Miller, who had picked up the flag after the
first color-bearer fell.
Major Miller soon shared the fate of the former. It was soon taken up
by J.W. Bennett of Company F, who was also in quick succession shot down.
The colors were taken by the writer and very soon after this we fell back to
works, which we had just passed over a few paces and continued such a
terrific fire upon the enemy, that their rifle fire was completely silenced, the
enemy crouching behind their works. About this time Corporal Wiley, of
Company M, asked permission to take the flag, saying that he did not see it
when it fell.

It was given to him and after the writer had gone a few paces along the
line, orders were given to retire at once, which was accomplished under
severe fusillade. Corporal Wiley was killed, and left together with the flag, in
the lines of the enemy.
In the darkness and confusion the flag was not missed until we had
rallied under cover about the distance of two-hundred yards. The enemy did
not follow, or show any disposition to do so. Soon all firing ceased and the
battle ended.
This was 2 July, and as Private Rood claims to have captured the flag
in a charge on our lines on 3 July, it is evident that he did not capture the flag
in battle at all, as our regiment was not engaged after the 2nd. Therefore it is
conclusive that he picked up the flag on the battle ground on the following
day of 3 July, and it is altogether probable that he took the flag from the body
of the dead hero who had been cold and stark in death of many hours.”
Losses at Gettysburg for this regiment were nine dead, sixty-five wounded and thirtyseven
missing.
The Army marched its way back home with Early’s Division as rear guard. On 5
July, the division marched toward Fairfield and the next day it relocated to the front of
Ewell’s Corps as Rhodes’s Division took up the rear guard. The night of 6-7th was spent at
Waynesboro. In the early morning hours of the 7th, the troops moved in the direction of
Hagerstown with Early’s Division encamping not far from the Cumberland Road. Here the
troops remained until the tenth when they moved to a position southwest of Cumberland
Road.
Upon reaching Hagerstown the 54th Regiment NC Troop rejoined the brigade.
Under the darkness of evening on the 12th, the division moved to the Williamsport Road to
support Gen. A.P. Hill’s line. The division crossed the Potomac on the fourteenth.
In mid-July, the Federal army began crossing the Potomac River east of the Blue
Ridge. Gen. Lee moved his army east of the mountains. By the first week of August, Lee’s
Army occupied the Rapidan River line, with the enemy’s army occupying the
Rappahannock River line. Lee tried to position his men around the Federal flank in the
Bristol Campaign of 9 October through 9 November 1863; however, the enemy escaped to
Centerville and Lee retired to the upper Rappahannock River.
On 7 November, the Federals initiated an attack against the Confederate position
located at the bridge on the north bank of the Rappahannock and on the south bank of the
river at Kelly’s Ford. Gen. Ewell moved his two divisions to assist the defenders at Kelly’s
Ford and Early went to aid Hay’s Brigade.
Hoke’s Brigade was ordered to support Hay’s men, who were located across the
river. The Federals were able to overburden the line of defense formed by Hoke’s and Hay’s
men, closing off their escape route. Both brigades were captured. A few of the men were
able to avoid being taken prisoner by jumping into the frigid river. Reports state that twohundred-seventy-five
men were captured in the assault.
Lee transferred his army into a defensive line between Brandy Station and Culpeper
that evening. On the night of the eighth, Lee’s Army withdrew to the south bank of the
Rapidan River. Early’s Division crossed Summerfield Ford on the early part of the 9th and
went into camp between Summerville and Morton’s Ford. The survivors of Hoke’s and
Hay’s Brigade maintained independent camps near Raccoon Ford.
The Federal army crossed the Rapidan and positioned itself to confront Lee’s Army

on 26 November. Lee moved his army to Mine Run in order to entrench and await the
anticipated attack. Federal Gen. Meade moved his army and entrenched opposite the
Confederate line. Gen. Lee found a weakness in his opponent’s line and started making
plans for an attack. Gen. Meade withdrew his men from their location. On 2 December,
Lee’s men found that the entire Federal Army had recrossed the Rapidan, ending the Mile
Run Campaign. Both armies settled down in winter quarters.
On 21 January 1864, Hoke and his brigade broke camp and marched to Gordonsville
to board a train that would start their progress to New Bern, where they had been ordered to
support Gen. George Pickett’s pending attack on the area. Hoke and his men arrived at
Kinston around the end of the month. On 1 February, Hoke’s Brigade engaged the enemy at
Batchelder’s Creek. While traveling onward to New Bern, word reached Hoke that the
attack had been called off, Hoke returned to Batchelder’s Creek on the third and then back to
Kinston, where he was ordered to remain.
In April 1864, Gen. Hoke attacked Plymouth, North Carolina. Hoke’s Brigade, along
with the support of the iron clad ram Albemarle, seized the town with short works. Hoke
employed Washington, North Carolina and was progressing against New Bern when he
received orders to return to Virginia. In the early part of May, Hoke was promoted to Major
General. Col. William Lewis, of the 43rd Regiment North Carolina Troop, was placed in
command of Hoke’s Brigade, which was then assigned to Gen. Robert Ranson’s Division.
Ranson’s Division traveled by rail to Petersburg, Virginia, and from there marched
with Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard to attack the enemy at Bermuda Hundred on 16 May. Two
days later, the division rejoined the Army of Northern Virginia, which was confronting the
Army of the Potomac, under the command of Gen. U.S. Grant, at the north of Anna River.
The brigade was reassigned to Early’s Division of the 2nd Corps. This regiment was
therefore in Ewell’s Corps, Early’s/Ramseur’s Division, Lewis’s Brigade.
Lewis’s Brigade joined its division at Hanover Junction, Virginia. From this location
they traveled to North Anna, where they obstructed a Federal advance on the 24-25th of
May. The night of the 26-27th, Grant withdrew and crossed the Pamunkey River.
The 2nd Corps marched twenty-four miles on the day of the 27th and securely
established an area between Beaver Dam Creek and Pole Green Church to entrench.
Longstreet’s Corps were located on both sides of Early. On the 30th, Lee ordered Early to
attack the Federals at Bethesda Church. The Confederates were unable to expel the enemy
from their point during the contest.
The two armies began to center at Cold Harbor. On 1 June a conflict occurred. Early
was arranged to move out on the 2nd and strike the Federals’ right line. The attack was in
favor of the Confederates until reinforcement arrived to sustain the enemy’s line.
During the battle of Cold Harbor both armies remained in their positions, observing
one another and engaging in small skirmishes until the day of the 12th, when the Federals
began moving across the James River. The 2nd Corps had withdrawn from the area the day
before and ordered to Lynchburg to protect it from the anticipated assault from Federal Gen.
Hunter. Early stayed in the Shenandoah Valley after striking Hunter.
On 6 July, Early crossed into Maryland and marched toward Washington, D.C. At the
battle of Monocary River shortly afterward, Early’s Troops moved into Washington on the
eleventh. After finding the area strongly guarded, Early began to rescind back to Virginia.
After returning to the valley, Early’s men were employed in battles at Snicker’s Gap on the
18th, Stephenson’s Depot on the 20th, and at Kernstown on 24 July.
The Federals began centralizing a large force at Harpers Ferry in early August. On
19 September, Early’s men came upon the enemy east of Winchester, and fighting ensued.

While under heavy assault, the division’s line began to unravel. The men began to recede to
a location closer to town and formed a defensive line. Gen. Robert Rhodes was killed while
in the action of deploying his men.
While still under assault from the enemy, Early was informed about an enemy
column that was en route to the right section of his flank. Early issued the order to withdraw.
The troops moved toward the rear of Winchester and headed to Fisher’s Hill, near Starburg.
During the battle that day, Gen. Godwill was killed.
On 22 September the Federals made their move at Fisher’s Hill. Early was forced to
retreat but regrouped at Waynesboro on the 28th. At this location Early received
reinforcement. On 7 October, Early advanced into New Market, where he succeeded in
obtaining the town. Early returned to Fisher’s Hill on the 12-13th.
On 19 October, Early launched a surprise attack on a Federal camp located on the
north bank of Cedar Creek. The Confederates succeeded in driving the enemy from their
position. Early thought the Federals would vacate the field and seek a defensive stand;
instead, they returned with a vengeance and launched a counterattack. The Federals were
able to take their position back, along with capturing some Confederates. Gen. Ramseur was
one of the men captured; he also was mortally wounded during the engagement. After the
Cedar Creek disaster, the 2nd Corps regrouped at New Market. In early December the corps
was ordered to Richmond, where they went into winter quarters on Boydton Park Road.
5 February 1865, the regiment was engaged in an unsuccessful attempt toward the
Federals stationed at Hatcher’s Run. During the engagement Gen. Pegram was killed.
Lewis’s Brigade was moved to the north side of Petersburg 15 March, where he
remained until the night of the 24th, when orders came for the 2nd Corps to deploy for an
attack on Fort Stedman. The attack was initially favorable for the Confederates until
reinforcements brought more manpower and firepower to the Federals.
“During this battle, occurred one of the most trying ordeals of the writer’s
life. We were moving on the enemy, when the writer met his brother, Cpt.
T.B. Beall, of the 14th North Carolina Regiment, coming out desperately
wounded through the lung, the blood spurting from his breast. There wasn’t
much time to give him a word of sympathy, much less attention, leaving him
as I then thought for the last time in this world. He had the good fortune soon
after to meet with an ambulance, which took him and the gallant Lt. W.G.
Foy of the 21st North Carolina Regiment, who was also desperately
wounded, to the field hospital.
They both received immediate attention, and both finally recovered but
were left more or less disabled for life. In this battle fell the lamented
Ramseur.
Here I wish to relate the heroic deed of Pvt. Johnson (ambulance driver).
Gen. Ramseur was seen to fall, and Johnson ordered by Major Pfohl to go
after him, which he did under a horrific fire. He succeeded in getting him,
but was overtaken and captured on the retreat. Gen. Pegram, seeing that the
day was lost to the Confederates, ordered the division to fall back, saying,
“Men you must do this in order - firing as you retreat, for your own and the
army’s safety demands it.”
During the assault, on the morning of the second of April the Federals broke through
the Confederates defensive line. That night and through the dark morning of the third the

Confederates retreated. The army moved to Amelia Court House, then onward to a location
about five miles west of the town, where they encamped. The following day the men
resumed their retreat. During the night and morning of the 5th and 6th, Gordon’s men were
placed as rear guards. In this station they encountered attacks from the progressing enemy
cavalry and infantry. While crossing the Sayler’s Creek on the 6th, Gordon and his men
turned table and made a stand, repulsing an assault from the enemy; however, to their south,
the regiments under the directions of Generals Ewell and Anderson were defeated and
captured. With this defeat, the enemy was able to converge on Gordon’s right, breaking the
Confederate line. During the contention the regimental colors, along with seventy-five men,
were captured.
On 17 April, Gordon and his men went to the relief of Gen. William Mahone’s
Division at Farmville. That night Gordon’s Corps was advanced to the front of the army.
Gordon guided the men to Appomattox Court House, where they arrived in the late
afternoon of the eighteenth.
Shortly after arriving at the court house, it was observed that a Federal cavalry was
located nearby. A decision was made that the Confederates would attack the cavalry the
following morning. Gordon’s men moved into position west of town and began their
advance at daybreak. The Confederates were able to force the cavalry from the crossroads;
afterwards, the Confederates took a defensive position. The Federals counterattacked with
cavalry and infantry. Gordon and his men held their line until word reached them of the
truce between Generals Lee and Grant.
“A few days after this the Army of Northern Virginia retreated from
Petersburg, falling about a hundred miles or more, repeatedly giving battle
but finally, from sheer exhaustion, surrendered at Appomattox. We did not
lose a great many killed on this march, but it saddens me to think that any had
to die, after going through the whole war, and when so near the end of it. In
this last sad scene of the war, the 21st North Carolina Regiment furled
forever the flag to which she had added such luster; to be embalmed in the
affectionate remembrance of those who remained true to the end.”
Quoted passages indicate the words of Major James F. Beall, which can be found in
The Twenty-First Regiment North Carolina Troops .