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These pages are dedicated to the memory of all the men from North Carolina that fought in the Civil War. North Carolina Standard Raleigh October 14, 1863 Chicamauga A band of heroes constitute McNair’s Brigade. It is composed of the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Arkansas dismounted cavalry and the 21st and 31st Arkansas infantry, the 4th Arkansas battalion and the 39th North Carolina under Col. Coleman. On Saturday, the first day of the battle of Chicamauga, this brigade was ordered to support General Gregg’s command on the left of Hood’s Division. Gregg was holding his position with great difficulty against tremendous odds. When they were ordered to advance, McNair’s brigade rushed over Gregg’s columns, the 39th N.C. and the 25th Arkansas being led by Col. Coleman. The Yankees gave way, but in good order and were driven in less than ¾ of a mile. General Gregg pronounced this charge one of the most brilliant achievements of the day. A Yankee regiment was encountered, and the 39th N.C. and the 25th Arkansas almost annihilated. These two skeleton regiments halted once to await support but not receiving it advanced through the woods and into the open cornfield where their own weakness and the strength of the Federal line became apparent. Coleman’s command, having exhausted their ammunition, withdrew to Gregg’s line of battle and camped for the night. In the great battle of Sunday, McNair’s Brigade were on the left next to Hood’s Division lying behind an imperfect breastwork of fallen trees. A strong line of the enemy advanced upon them. They were received with a destructive fire and falling back were charged by McNair’s Brigade and driven in confusion over two lines of breast works into the open fields. On a hill, two Yankee batteries commanded the whole of the open space. Just before his men entered this broad field, General McNair was wounded. The gallant Col. Harper of the 1st Arkansas was killed and the command of the brigade devolved upon Col. Coleman. The brigade now diverged to the right and under Col. Coleman’s leadership captured both batteries. Eight of the pieces were at once taken to the rear and the other two were afterwards removed. General Bragg gave Col. Coleman an order for three of those guns to be attached to his command. These batteries were supported by a very strong Federal force but McNair’s brigade charged so rapidly, loading and firing as they went that the Yankees were surprised and routed. The assault is said to have been ferocious and the victory complete. The Federal artillerists fought better than their infantry support, actually throwing shot and shell with their hands into the faces of our men when they could no longer load their pieces. The two batteries captured were about 100 yards apart and when the guns were captured our men were compelled to move off with the utmost rapidity. Col. Coleman was the first to place his hands upon a Federal field piece and the honor of the 39th N.C. was unfurled above them. Lt. Col. Reynolds and Adjutant J.D. Hardin were just behind Col. Coleman when he reached the Federal guns. Hardin was shot through the neck during the afternoon when the brigade had fallen back to our lines and obtained supplies and ammunition. It was again ordered forward to a height on the left to support Robinson’s battery on the Lookout Valley Road. With Johnson’s brigade and Hindman’s Division on the right and Manigault’s on the left, Col. Coleman advanced to the closing fight of the day. By successive charges, the enemy were driven slowly but steadily form the chain of hills which formed his position and the battle closed. Two hours of day light and this portion of Rosecrans’ army would have been annihilated. The loss in the brigade of killed and wounded was about 40%. The 39th N.C. opened the fight with 238 men and lost over 100. Of the whole brigade there are left about 800 men. Col. Coleman’s coat was pierced by a ball but he was unharmed. Camp of the 58th N.C. upon the Battlefield of Chicamauga September 21, 1863 Mr. Editor: The terrific struggle is over and the enemy flying. The 58th N.C. have participated and nobly, in carrying their last and strongest position. From 3:00 this regiment, a 5th Kentucky and a 63rd Virginia have been striving in deadly conflict with the foe. We have finally succeeded in carrying the heights and capturing Colonels Carlton Leferne and Glen with over 500 other officers and men but at a fearful loss in killed and wounded to this regiment of more than half the number who entered into the action. Lt. Col. Edmund Kirby fell dead, pierced by four balls while nobly filling his position. He was a son of the late Col. Reynold Kirby of the old army, a young officer of great promise and one to whom the regiment was warmly attached. A brave, generous, noble hearted man and an able officer has fallen. Eben Childs, a youth not yet 18 years old, son of Col. L.D. Childs formerly of Lincolnton now at Columbia, S.C., was also killed while exhibiting the greatest gallantry. He was a noble youth. George W. Preston, commanding a division, to who his appreciation of our efforts has presented to the brigade for the regimental color guards eight splendid Colt’s revolving rifles. The 39th, 29th, and 60th North Carolina were also engaged in this great battle and nobly aided in upholding the military fame of the North Carolina Troops. A list of the killed and wounded follows. Field and Staff Col. J.B. Palmer, wounded slightly Lt. Col. Edmund Kirby, killed Major T.J. Dula, severely wounded Acting Adjutant J.H. Horton, wounded slightly Company A Killed: Lt. John W. Wiseman, Sgt. Samuel A. Poteete, Corp. William McBee, Ptes. Theron J. Sherwood, Jeremiah Martin, Joshua Keller, Ambrose Sigman, D.M.C. Falls, William L. Pheifer Wounded: Lt. William H. Wiseman, Sgt. Josiah J. Wise, Ptes. Levi Franklin, William Tully, and Daniel Washburn, slightly; Avery Autry and Franklin Beddix, mortally; Henry Gillespie, Ambrose Boughman, John Hufman, Jas. Holifield, William Burlison(?), slightly, John C. Hogan, mortally Company B Killed: Corp. Thomas G. Tipton, Ptes. William F. Bradshaw, Mordicai(?) Febnary(?) Wounded: Capt. Isaac H. Railey, slightly, Lt. James W. Putnam, mortally, Corp. Berry Steward, slightly, Drummer Christianbery Phillips, mortally, Corp. Jno Stephens, Ptes. Sanders Edwards, Alfred Brooks, Jno. Brooks, slightly Company C Killed: Ptes. Wyatt Woody and Jas. A. Gemerson Wounded: Lt. William M. Austin and Ptes. Edward Roberson, John C. Roberson, mortally; Ptes. John L. Holcombe, James T. Fox, Morgan Roberson, Leroy C. Ray, slightly, Jas. E. McCanles, mortally Company D Wounded: Corpls. Jno. W. Dugger, Wesley W. Presnell, slightly, Ptes. Braxton Cox, mortally, Anderson Grogan, Larkin Townson, John W. Beach, slightly, Joel Townson, severely, Michael Roland, Miles Townson, slightly Company E Killed: Ptes. David M. Lofton, William N. Penley, Gaston Wood Wounded: Corp. William Carrel, Ptes. Jesse Pearcy, Larkin German, William German, Daniel Phillips, Newton Sudderth, mortally, William H. Edminston, David M. Lanear, Jos. Hartly, Jas. Powell, Jas. Taylor, William Coffey, O.C. Collet, Rufus Pritchard, Sgt. M.E. Thomson, Sgt. D.D. Caffey, Corpl. J.T.A. Spencer, slightly Missing: Pte. Daniel Gregg(?) Grogg(?) Company F Killed: Lt. Jas. D. Morrison, Ptes. Samuel M. Reed (or Read), Fermenter(?) Morgan, George B. Harvey (Carvey?), Henry F. Gibson, Johnson Jones, David Epley, Henry Wilson Wounded: Capt. C. (or O.?) Conley, Sgts. Jno. L. Dobson, R.H. Siske (or Shake?), Corp. A.D. Murphy, Ptes. Marion Siske (or Shake?), Samuel C. Jarrett, Daniel Jarrett, Jas. McGahay, Wilson F. Gibbs, E.J. Hall, slightly, Samuel B. Fulwood, Charles M. Elliott, Robert V. Patton, mortally Company G Wounded: Cornelius R. Byrd, mortally, Sgt. William Norris, slightly, Sgt. John W. Phipps, Corp. Jesse Gentry, Ptes. William McKinney, Isaac L. Crowder, George W. Huneycutt, mortally, William Angus, Payton Phillips, Holloway Gentry, William F. Hampton, Smith Holeman, slightly Company H Killed: Corp. Robert M. Smith, Pte. D.M. Palmer, Henry Fincannon, Levi Hullihan, Eben Childs Wounded: Sgt. E.H. Crump, mortally, Sgt. J.P. Smith, slightly, Ptes. William Bradshaw, A. (or B. or D.?) Craig, mortally, Jas. A. Fincannon, slightly, Hiram H. Crisp, George W. Bumgarner, mortally, Robert Gilleland, D.A. Griffie(?) Griffin(?), Johnson L. Craig, George Palmer, Erwin Coffy, John W. Fincannon, William H. Crisp, slightly Company I Killed: Sgt. Eggers, Ptes. Jno. H. Wilson, George L. Smith Wounded: Lt. J.C. McGhee, Ptes. Calvin Miller, William Proffit, William Cook and Lemuel Wilson Company K Killed: Pte. Benjamin Willis(?) Wounded: Sgt. Edmond Silver, Sgt. James Green, slightly, Ptes. Phillip Duncan, Daston C. Clark, mortally, Henry Bartlett, Jno. B. Buchanan, William M. Buchanan, Jas. M. Buchanan, slightly Company L Killed: Ptes. Thornton Pennington, Memoch Jones, James Cole Wounded: Sgt. Edward Blevins, slightly, Corp. Jacob A. Calloway, Ptes. Eli C. Parker, David F. Cole, mortally, Jno. Blevins, Montgomery Barker, Thomas C. Barker, Rufus Wood, Moses Harvell, Mumford Farrington, Sanders M. Fowler, slightly |