USA > North Carolina > Catawba County > The Catawba soldier of the Civil war a sketch of every soldier from Catawba county, North Carolina, with the photograph, biographical sketch, and reminiscence of many of them, together with a sketch of Catawba county from 1860 to 1911 > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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OF THE CIVIL WAR
Sigmon, Alfred, enlisted April 14, '64; prisoner. (See sketch.)
ALFRED P. SIGMON
Alfred P. Sigmon en- listed in company C. 28th N. C. Regiment on April 1861. After hav- ing preformed duty well he was missed in action May 12th 1864. He came home and engaged in a- griculture with reason- able success. He has the confidence of his fellow man, a living monument of industry.
JESSE SIGMON
Jesse Sigmon enlisted in Company C, 28th N. C. Regiment late in the war. being quite a youth. He served for the time a good soldier. For years he was engaged as section boss on the Southern railway. He is now living on the farm and engaged in agriculture. He was not only a good soldier but a good citizen.
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Starr, Jones, enlisted died since the war.
Turner, David H., enlisted October 31, '64; missing and died.
Turner, Jno., enlisted August 6, '64; died October 27, '64.
Thornburg, Augustus M., Promoted 1st Lieutenant; died in 1910, a nurseryman. (See sketch).
Turner, Geo. L., enlisted August 13, '61; killed.
Turner, Laban C., enlisted March 15, '62; died since the war.
Thornburg, Mathias M., enlisted August 13, '61; promoted 2nd Lieutenant; wounded at Cold Harbor. Now living in Caldwell.
Townsend, Solomon, enlisted March 15, '62; died in the war.
Townsend, Aron E., enlisted March 15, '62. Living.
Turbyfield, John A., enlisted March 15, '62. Living.
Turbyfield, Elkanah, enlisted March 15, '62; promoted Cor- poral; wounded at Chancellorsville.
Turbyfield, Jno. L., enlisted September 10, '62; wounded at Mechanicsville. Now living.
Turbyfield, Elom, enlisted March 15, '62; died June 12, '62 at Richmond.
Williams, Jno W., enlisted August 13, '61; promoted 2nd Lieutenant September 14, '63. Living.
Wilson, Benj. F., enlisted September 10, '61; died May 31, '62 at Lynchburg.
Wagner, Thos. J., enlisted July 13, '61; wounded July 28, '64. Died recently.
Wagner, Noah P., enlisted March 15, '62; died in the war.
Wagner, Benjamin, enlisted March 14, '63; killed May 3, '63 at Chancellorsville.
Wright, Samuel, enlisted March 15, '63; died since the war. Watts, Rufus, enlisted September 2, '61; discharged March 5, '62 for disability.
Yount, Lawson M., enlisted August 13, '61; wounded at Cold Harbor; discharged December 5, '62 for disability. Still living. Yount, Abel U., enlisted August 13, '61. Living.
Yount, Laban A., enlisted September 9, '61; killed May 3, '63 at Chancellorsville.
Yount, David, enlisted August 15, '61; discharged May 1, '62; died since the war.
Yount, Daniel P., enlisted March 15, '62; discharged June 5, '62 for disability; died since the war.
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D. P. YOUNT
D. P. Yount enlisted on August 15, 1861, in Company C, 28th Regi- ment. He died about three years ago at his home in the West. During his stay here he served his county as deputy sheriff, and then as policeman of the town of Hickory. He was a good officer and quite a detective in bringing criminals to justice. He had the confidence of a host of good people.
Yount, Noah, enlisted March 14, '62; died since the war. Frady, A. J., no account of him except his return. Rinck, John, killed April 2, '61.
Poovey, Lawson A., now living at Hudson. Poovey, H. Taylor, died since the war. Bolch, N. A., enlisted December '64; a farmer, living. Cline, Adolphus, lost a leg, still living.
Herman, Noah, enlisted in '64; still living.
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COMPANIES E AND F, NORTH CAROLINA TROOPS
BY M. A. A.
Companies E and F., both from Catawba, camped mar- ched and fought side by side. They may practically be said to be one Company. Hence, what is true of one is true of the other. Company E. was organized by M. M. Wilson and others. We left Newton, August 1st, 1861, and was sent to Norfolk, and there were organized into the first N. C. Bat- talion.
In February, '62, we were ordered to Murfresboro, N. C., and there remained until May; then returned to Suffolk, Petersburg, and Drewry's Bluff, remaining there until some- time in 1862. There we were formed into the 32nd N. C., Regiment. In the officering of this regiment, there were there coincidents worthy of note :- All the Regimental officers were elected from one single company; they were all mem- bers of the Episcopal Church, with one exception; none of them ever tasted whiskey. The influence of these men had a most happy effect upon the conduct of the whole regiment. We were under Col. Brabble, Gen. Junius Daniels, Div. Maj. Gen. Rhodes, Div. and Ewell's Corps.
In Jan. 63, this Brigade was moved to North Carolina, and there remained until May '63. Here, while they did not accomplish much, yet it was no fault of the soldiers; but to the guns and inferior ammunition. The 32nd suffered many hardships, wading swamps and bivouacing in cold wet cloth- ing.
We returned to Virginia and from that on, never shirk- ed a duty. The 32nd Regiment has the. honor at Carlisle, Pa., of hoisting her flag farther North than any other Sou- thern Regiment. Here occurred another incident of which Company E. shall ever be proud: Congress had just adopted a new design for the Confederate flag, and the ladies, of Richmond making a flag of that design, sent it to Gen. Lee at Carlisle, with the request that he present it to his most
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favorite Corps, who should present it to his most favorite division, who should presented this to his ideal brigade, who in turn should present it to the 32nd, and Co. E. of that Re- giment had the honor of carrying it through the battle of Gettysburg, and they had many compliments made of their coolness in battle. From this time on, until the surrender at Appomattox, it was one continual skirmish and battle.
At Gettysburg, Daniel's Brigade, entered with 2100 men; came out the fourth with the loss of 778, making a per cen- tum. of loss of 35 per cent., a greater loss, perhaps, than any other brigade in those remarkable days.
While Companies E. and F. did not undergo the hard- ships of the Maryland campaign in 1862, they did their full share on the Gettysburg campaign of '63. After the battle of Gettysburg, and the winding up of the campaigns of that fall, the brigade to which we belonged stayed in winter quar- ters, that winter, near Orange Court House Va. In the spring of ,64, about the first of May, we left our winter quarters, the last time, for good. About May 5th, we got into it, at the "Wilderness" fight, which lasted till the 7th, where history says, we killed 2246, and wounded 12037, missing 3383, Unionsoldiers .. A loss, third to the greatest of any, during the war, Gettysburg being the greatest, the number killed, 3070; wounded, 14497; and missing, 5434, in all, or aggregating 23,004. Right on from the "Wilderness" on the 8th, we got into the Spottsylvania battle, which lasted till the 10th of May. On the morning of the 10th, I think it was, Company F., at roll-call, had 52 men. At night, after that wholesale slaughter, in what was known as the "'Horse shoe" (a very crooked place in our temporary breast- works, ) we had 8 men left. As to the number of company E. on that morning, I cannot say, but she came out with but few more than company F. And from that day on, the two companies were all one. Of course, while a great per cent were killed, the most of our men were taken prisoners. From this time and place, we were maneuvered along, a- head of the Union army toward Richmond, and at Cold Har- bor. On June the first, we got into it again. At this place, the battle was on, at first one point, and another, from the 1st, to the 4th, of June 1864. But on the 4th of June '64,
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Gen. J. A. Early's corps, to which the 32nd belonged, was detached from Lee's army, and sent around by way of Lynch- burg, over the mountains into the Valley of Va., crossing the mountains at the Salem Gap, and going down the Valley, by Lexington, Va. There we were marched around through the Cemetery and was shown Gen. Stonewall Jackson's grave. We were in pursuit of Gen. Sheridan's army who had gone on ahead of us, and almost literally destroyed every thing- along their trial. The tomb-stones of Gen. Stonewall Jack- son's (at his grave,) were broken to pieces. On down the valley, by Staunton, Va., we followed the trial of Sheridan's army, with almost every mill house and farm-house demo- lished, many left in ashes. On this campaign, we crossed the Potomac river at Shepherds-town, just up a few miles above Harper's Ferry; And on by Sharpsburg, through Mary- land to the District of Columbia, and so near Washington City, that we, some of us, were in the "borders" of "George- town." But we only spent one night near the City, deciding the next day to return to Va. So I guess we struck for the nearest point toward the valley, crossing the Potomac afoot, below the mountains at a place, I think, called Lees- burg. Coming up a few miles on the south side, and again crossing back over the mountains, at Snicker's Gap, into the valley. Soon after, we forded the Shenandoah river at Sin- cker's ferry, where we had an encounter with the Union army again. Then Early's Campaign in the Valley of Va. lasted till in the winter .64 and '65, when we evacuated the Valley, to spend the balance of our war-days in the "ditch- es" around Petersburg, Va. We had many "ups and downs" in the fall and winter of '64, and underwent many hard- ships, sleeping in the open weather, sometimes in rain and sleet, and again wrapping up in our thin blankets at night, to wake up next morning, covered head and ears with snow.
From this once beautiful and rich valley, but now laid to waste and desolation, we left in mid-winter, to never re- turn.
On a very cold, rainy, sleety night, after marching up the valley to the nearest point to a R. R. which was at Staun- ton, foot-sore and tired, we were crowded into box-cars like cattle, and transported by Charlottsville and Richmond, to
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Petersburg, there to fight, more or less, every week, till the day, when we were ordered to evacuate, and start on the final campaign of the Civil war, which ended at Appomat- tox Court House.
The 32nd, Regiment, reduced to a mere skeleton of its former self, arrived at Appomattox Court House, on April 9th, 1865. Soon after arriving, she joined in that memor- able charge, driving the enemy back. But all in vain, for she was ordered to cease firing, and was filed off at some distance, in an old field, on a hill-side, and ordered there to stack arms. Very soon it was whispered around, that Gen. Lee had surrendered. No one, seemingly, in the least, pre- pared to believe it. On Wednesday, after marching us out in line of battle, before the Union army, lined up as on dress- parade, over on the main high-way leading to the village, we were ordered to there for the last time, stack arms, (again, ) and receive our "parol". How sad, Oh! how sad, indeed !- Now the 32nd, and Company E. and F. and all the remnant of Lee's army, as noble hearted, brave a little band as ever disbanded, started for home, making their way as best they could.
The 32nd then had ceased to exist, but who of her gal- lant members shall ever forget her heroic deeds?
BY M. A. A.
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THE CATAWBA SOLDIER
COMPANY E. 32nd REGIMENT.
Matthew W. Wilson, enlisted August 14th, '61; resigned May 1, '62. (See sketch and photo.)
CAPT. M. W. WILSON Capt. M. M. Wilson, or "Maj. Wilson," as he was called, made up a company and was mustered into service August 14, 1861, as Co. E, 32 Regiment.
He served as Captain until the re-orginazation in 1862, when he resign- ed. He commanded his company well, a kind and efficient officer; and the author, whose pet he was, shall ever re- member him and his pos- terity with the utmost kindness.
Cn his return he pur- sued his usual calling, farming. He raised a large family of sons and daughters, all of whom are doing well in the world.
Manuel E. Shell, Commissioned first Lieutenant May 1, '61; died July 9, '62. He was an efficient officer, but physically weak; hence his early death.
Gilbert M. Sherrill, Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant July 9, '61; promoted to Captain on the resignation of Wilson. He made an efficient officer; stood by and for all his men all the time. He was shot through his right breast on the retreat from the last raid the Southern army made into Maryland. He lived five days and died in Winchester in the summer of '64.
Joseph E. Smyre, commissioned May 1, '62; promoted from 2nd Sergeant; survived the war; died since.
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Pinkney C. Shuford, enlisted August 14, '61; commissioned 2nd Lieutenant July 14, '62; promoted from orderly Ser- geant.(See sketch and Photo.)
CAPT. P. C. SHUFORD
Capt. P. C. Shuford, of Company E, 32 N. C. Troops, left home in August, 1861. He serv- ed all the time and was never in hospital or at home on a sick furlough. He did his duty at all times.
Was at home a num- ber of times during the war; once as recruit- ing officer to enlist men to go back with him. He held many places of trust, and was popular with the higher officers. Confidence was placed in him. He surrender- ed at Appomattox Court House; received his pa- rol to go home.
A kind man, a faith- ful soldier, and a most noble citizen. He died quite recently in the hope of the Glory of God. "A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth; and a word spoken in due season, how good it is?"
Abram Anthony, commissioned 2nd Lieutenant December 15, '63; wounded at Petersburg April 18, '65 which necessitated the amputation of the leg. He was captured, paroled, came home, engaged in shoe making and farming. Successful in both. He was an esteemed friend of the author. "He that hath friends must show himself friendly."
J. W. A. Payne, enlisted August 2nd, '61; promoted to orderly sergeant. He survived the war and became to be one of the leading farmers of his community. He was at one time elected to the State Senate from Lincoln and Catawba counties. Died some 15 or 16 years ago.
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THE CATAWBA SOLDIER
Elisha B. Stiles, enlisted August 14, '61; was chosen 4th Ser- geant; killed at Spottsylvania Court House May 10, '64. He was a good and faithful soldier.
William G. Fisher, 5th Sergeant, enlisted August 14, '61. He was a good man; a model father at home and reared a model family. Died at his home since the war an honored citizen of Catawba county.
Evan Gant, 1st Corporal, enlisted August 14, '61; survived the war, lived a quiet life, reared a respectable family of sons and daughters; died since the war, leaving his family in good cir- cumstances.
Robert D. Abernethy, second Corporal, enlisted August 14, '61; promoted 5th Sergeant. After the war he went to Mississippi where he became a drummer and died recently. Bob was a live wire in war and in peace.
Abel J. Cansler, 3rd Corporal, enlisted August 14, '61. After returning from the war, he went to Alabama and married. After the loss of his wife and two children, he returned to North Caro- lina with his only living son with whom he now lives.
Jacob F. Rudisill, 4th Corporal, enlisted August 14, '61; wounded, survived the war; engaged in farming; reared a family ; was accidently killed by an explosion at Maiden, N. C. about 15 years ago.
PRIVATES
Francis G. Allen (known as Bum,) enlisted December 12, '61 and was discharged August 17, '62. Lost sight of.
B. A. Allen, enlisted January 2, '62; died June 20, '63.
Henry Bangle, enlisted March 31, '63; discharged for disabil- ity; died since the war.
Robert Bolick, enlisted October 18, '61; died June 4, '64. He was an innocent, inoffensive good soldier.
Hosia W. Bridges, enlisted August 14, '61. He survived the war, went West where sickness and misfortunes overtook him; and afterwards returning to North Carolina,he has had a strug- gle to redeem himself. He was a good soldier; an esteemed friend of the author.
Tom C .. Brown, enlisted August 14, '61; wounded at Gettys- burg; captured and died in prison in '64.
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Reeves Burke, enlisted September 25, '62; was a pretty good soldier; survived the war; is still living.
J. J. Caldwell, commonly known as "scrapper John,'' enlisted September 25, '62; once captured; returned after the war; en- gaged in farming at which he made good. He is still living.
L. J. Caldwell, enlisted September 25, '62; survived the war;" engaged in farming; died recently.
Gilbert Caldwell, enlisted September 25, '62; survived the war; moved to Alexander county; thought to be still living.
Henderson Caldwell, enlisted March 31, '63; missing. He re- turned home and died since the war.
J. A. Kanipe, enlisted August 14, '61; died since the war.
J. L. Carpenter, enlisted October 1, '62; lost sight of.
A. K. Cline, enlisted August 14, '61; a brave soldier; paroled at the surrender; returned home and died since the war.
W. P. Cline, enlisted March 31, '63; died from the effects of wound received at Gettysburg July 1, '63.
Henry P. Lippard, enlisted March 31, '63; died during the war. Marcas Lippard, enlisted March 31, '63; died in prison in '64.
Henry Coonce, enlisted March 31, '63. He was a quiet peace- able soldier; survived the war; lived by farming; good citizen; reared a family and left them in good circumstances; died in 1907.
HENRY COONCE
Henry Coonce had as pure native German qualities as Catawba sent out, and she sent out no truer man. He was industrious, economi- cal and made good this life. He died at a ripe old age, in 1907.
Lemuel L. Crouse, enlisted September 25, '62; survived the war; died at his home since the war an honored citizen.
H. F. Cornelius, nickname "Old Spike," was a jovial com- panion, brave soldier, most excellent citizen. He survived the war; died at his home after rearing a family, the sons of which are respectable citizens in the county.
George Pink Cansler, enlisted March 22, '64; He was a good soldier; once captured; survived the war; went West where he is still living.
William G. Dixon, enlisted September 12, '61; was captured, paroled, and afterwards killed in battle.
Samuel Dixon, enlisted August 14, '61; died at Drury's Bluff June 13, '62.
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THE CATAWBA SOLDIER
Dr. Caleb Fink, enlisted October 18, '61 and died of fever at Drury's Bluff June 13,'62. In his death, Co. E. lost an excellent man
Miles A. Fry, enlisted August 14, '61; a good soldier; survived the war but died soon after.
Thomas B. Hamilton, enlisted October 10, '61; mortally wounded at Gettysburg and died.
Leonidas Hamilton, enlisted March 31, '63; lost sight of.
G. W. Hahn, enlisted August 14, '61; wounded at Gettysburg; captured and imprisoned at Fort Deleware. While in prison, he contracted a fever from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. (See sketch.)
PROF. GEO. W. HAHN
Prof. Geo. W. Hahn, the author of this book and subject of the sketch, enlisted in the southern army Aug. 1st 1861. At Gettysburg he was twice wounded, and to save himself from mu- tilation, he improvised a breast work out of the biggest corpse at his side. -A dead fat Yankee, and here remained until the enemy were driven back. On his return from Appomattox ragg- ed and dirty-all his clothing having been sent him at different times during the war- his mother ånd sisters set to work to provide clothing for their three returned boys. On the way home through Greensboro, N. C. they snatched from a car run out from Richmond a G. W. HAHN (The boy soldier of 19) piece of gray cloth. Out of this and an old yellow Yankee tent, a suit was made for each and for respectable shirts their sister gave a blue fade-
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less calico dress. With these provisions they were enabled to go and see their neighbor.
Rev. R. A. Yoder, D. D. volunteered to give a sketch of the author's life work as a teacher, since way back in the sixties he was one of his pupils. The following are his remarks:
The subject of this sketch was born in Catawba County, North Car- -
oli: a, on the 18th day of December, 1842. He is the son of Christian Hahn and Annie Hahn. He is a descendant of that sturdy German race which came to this section about the middle of the Eighteenth Century. He inherited from his ancestors these sterling qualities which go to
(The citizen of 68)
make a true man-physical strength, industry, energy, soberness, honestly, truthfulness, patriotism.
His early years were spent on the farm, with only the school facili- ties which these days afforded-a few months in a year in the Old Field
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THE CATAWBA SOLDIER
School. His early education was therefore necessarily deficient. How- ever with an abundance of native energy, and a quick alert mind, he qualified himself to teach school in the times when the standard was not. so high as it is today, He began teaching his life's work at about the age of seventeen. The Civil War interrupted this work. After the end of that struggle he attended Catawba College at Newton, N. C., for several years to fit himself better for his chosen profession His life work has been that of a teacher, one among the highest callings of life. And measured by the number of those whom he has taught, and by arousing the latent energies and slumbering faculties in his pupils, and in stimu- lating them to their best efforts and striving after higher ideals, he has been eminently successful. For forty-five years he has followed without interruption this laudable calling. The territory over which he has taught embraces Mecklenburg, Gaston, Cleveland, Lincoln, Catawba, Burke, Wilkes, Jackson, and Haywood Counties in N. C .; and Chester and Columbia in S. C. He numbers his pupils by the thousand. Among them are prominent men in all the various professions of life. He has done a splendid work for his country. As a former pupil of his and a life- long friend the writer of this sketch desires to record this tribute to his work .-
George W Hahn, as he appears to the mind of the writer today, is:
Physically, small, wiry, quick, alert, sur-charged with energy, gces rather fast, takes hold of life as if he were in earnest, has no time to wait for the humdrum world about him.
Socially, agreeable, full of life, jovial, likes to see live people, en- joys a good joke at any time.
Mentally, strong, beats back opposition with a strong will, and does not yield unless compelled by argument or force of circumstances, inde- pendent, is not afraid to assume responsibility, leads off, is his own master, if others like his course all right, if not they can let it alone.
George W. Hahn has rendered valuable service to his country, both in war and in peace, and has impressed his strong personality upon this generation and upon those to come as an educator. And may he be eminently successful in his labor of love in laying this tribute of respect upon the memory of his comrades in arms, "The Catawba Soldier of the Civil War."
Lincolnton, N. C., Jan. 20, 1911. R. A. YODER
M. R. Hamilton, enlisted August 14, '61; wounded at Gettys- burg and soon after died from its effects. Company E. lost an- other brave soldier and splendid young man.
Peter Hedrick, enlisted March 31, '63; died September 3,'63. Levi Hedrick, enlisted March 31, '63, survived the war; made his living by farming; still living.
Logan Huitt, enlisted August 14, '61; killed October 4, '63 at Warrenton, Va. A good boy and a brave soldier had fallen.
A. M. Huitt, enlisted March 31, '63; a good brave young soldier; survived the war; was a model farmer; represented the county in the Legislature; also once county commissioner;
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died in middle of life of typhoid fever.
J. Pink Hunsucker, enlisted Aug 14, '61; made a good soldier; survived the war; is still living farming.
Jonas Hunsucker, enlisted March 31, '63; survived the war; engaged in farming in which he was successful; is now living on a model farm at Conover, N. C.
Jarrett, D. P., enlisted December 19, '61. (See sketch.)
D. PINK JARRETT
D. Pink Jarrett en- listed in Company E. 32nd Regiment, Decem- ber 18, 1861. Notwith- standing his corpulency, he underwent the hard- ships better than other men of lighter weight, and strange to say, large as he was, he was never wounded. He was a kind-hearted boy, but resisted insults or any- thing that savored of tyranny.
He survived the war, made a good living by farming, and is today an active fat man. He has served his country well both in peace and war.
Jonas, G. W., enlisted August 14, '61; he was discharged August 17, '61; lost sight of.
Little, Albert, enlisted August 14, '61; he was promoted to Orderly Sergeant, and survived the war, going to Texas, where he entered some of the Texas Conferences. He was conceded to be the bravest man in the Company.
Little, W. S., enlisted February 25, '63; he was wounded at Gettysburg; he died since the war.
Little, John A., enlisted January 2, '62; he made a good soldier ; he is still living, an independent farmer In Lincoln
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THE CATAWBA SOLDIER
County.
Little, M. A., enlisted November 10, '63; lost sight of.
Lynn, John F., enlisted April 12, '62; he is now living on his farm, after a life of hard labor, a paralytic.
Lynn, Henry B., enlisted August 14, '62; he was pro- moted to Corporal; he was killed at Gettysburg; he was a brave soldier.
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