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 9
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JAMES FERINAND ROBINSON
Son of Marion and Margaret Robinson was born in Catawba county N.C. in 1842. He enlisted in Co. K. 2nd N. C. volunteers in 1861. At the reorganization inthe Co. was made Co. 12th N. C. Regiment, Robinson was with the company never failing to be at the post of duty. He was killed at Spottsylvania Court House Va., May the 12th, 1864. Robinson wrote with a pencil (while in line of battle) to his father, say- ing: "Uncle Miles O Sherrill was killed on yesterday"; poor boy; his uncle got back to read his letter; though 46 years have gone by, the " uncle is living, while his nephew has been in the ground over 46 years; such is war. Robinson was a brave soldier; he was admired for his wit and humor; he could not be excelled along that line.
JOHN HOSEA YOUNT
John Hosea Yount was born May 27th, 1828. He was married to Cynthia Killian, Feb. 19th, 1868. He died May 26th, 1888.
Mr. Yount was a good soldier. He was never on extra duty for disobedience. He indeed served his country well. After the close of the war, he returned home and made a success at farming, and on his death, left his widow and two children, -one son and a daughter, -in easy financial circumstances.
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PATRICK R. CLINE
Patrick R. Cline en- listed April 27, 1861 in Co. A 12th N. C. Regi- ment. He served in the company up to the bat- tle of Malvern Hill, where he was wounded, He survived the war, came home and engag ed in the mercantile bisiness. He died since. H, was a loyal citizen of Catawla.
MILES YOUNT
Miles Yount served as 1st Lieutenant in Com- pany A, 12th Regiment. (See sketch under list of officers. )
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CO. F. 23rd N. C. TROOPS
By P. A. HOYLE
In presenting this sketch of Co. F. 23rd regiment N. C. T., the author will not attempt a recital of all the brave acts, " heroic deeds and faithful services already known and acc- redited to them. A record of the names alone will fill the space allotted and a recital of their marches and battles; their wounds and sufferings; their willing sacrifice and patient endurace would demand a more accurate knowledge, more time and more ability, than the author can command.
He can only hope that this imperfect sketch will inspire and stimulate in the hearts of each survivor a desire for con- tinued and increasing patience in the sacrifices, sufferings and battles that are yet to come, and that it will help to per- petuate in the memories of their relatives and friends and their descendants, this fact; that Co. F. did its duty to itself, to the state and to the Confederacy, and did it nobly.
From beginning to ending, there were enrolled 146 men. They were representative men of their day and time-the true yeomanry of their country. Of this 146-30 are living; 35 died of disease while in service; 36 have died since the war; 36 different ones were wounded. 29 were killed in bat- tle, and 17 were prisoners of war. Two of the boys were killed in the last battle fought, and two others died on their way from prison to their homes. The company was gotten up by Capt. M. L. McCorkle and the organization was per- fected on the 6th day of June 1861, when commissions were issued as follows; M. L. McCorkle, Capt; Jacob H. Miller, 1st Leutenant; M. L. Helton, 2nd Leutenant; R. A. Cobb, 3rd Leutenant; L. D. Wilkie, 1st Searg't., H. H. Thornton, 2nd Seargent; J. M. Leonard 3rd Seargent; Jno. M. Prunes, 4th Seargent; Peter A. Link 1st Corporal; D. M. McCorkle, 2nd Corporal; Eli F. Rink 3rd Corporal and Sidney H. Rowe 4th Corporal.
With the organization, the company was pushed to the front with the Army of Northern Virginia, near Mannasas
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Junction. It was first known as Co. F. 13th Reg't of Volun- teers, but in the final adjustment, became Co. F. 23rd Regt. of State Troops, and was commanded by Col. Jno. F. Hoke.
The company camped near Manassas during the fall and winter of 1861, and while there, several of the most robust men succumbed to attacks of typhoid fever. In the opening of the campaign, 1862, the command was transfered to the penninsula, and shared the hardships and victories that usu- ally attended the Army of Lee.
The first general engagement in which the company took part is known as the battle of Williamsburg. From that time on until after the battle of Seven Pines, and the Seven Days Fight, the fighting was almost continous and Co. F. was at its post. During the battles, seven of our best boys were killed and wounded. The company was with the command, and participated in all the marches and battles through which the brave commanders led it. Specific battles in which the company fought, and heroic deeds they performed, will be seen by reference to the individual historical sketches that follow this recital. The official rank of the company, as well as the private, had been thinned by battles, sickness or resignation, and on May 10, 1862, Jacob H. Miller became Captain of the company; Thomas W. Wilson, 2nd Leutenant, and G. P. Clay, 3rd Lieutenant. At a later date, not now remembered, other officers were elected and official changes made. W. D. Eckard, A. G. Propst, W. T. Warlick, W. L. Killian and A. A. Shuford became non-commissioned officers in the company. And in this connection, I will state a fact not recorded in our rosters or histories-that A. A. Shuford and W. L. Killian were elected Lieutenants in the company, but never served in that capacity, both having been captured before they received their commission. It is known to all the survivors of the company that W. C. Wall of Granville county commanded Co. F. for a time by virtue of his appoint- ment by Col. Christie. This was done under the protest of our ranking officer, Lieutenant Wilson. I mention this, not that any of the company disliked Mr. Wall, for he was a brave, good man, but to show Lieutenant Wilson's regard for the rights and wishes of his men. Lieutenant Wilson would not recognize Mr. Wall as an officer in the company,
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and absolutely refused to sign Mr. Wall's name to any official report or document he was required to make. The Col, put Lieutenant Wilson under arrest, and during the campaign of 1864 he followed his company and suffered with them, but carried no sword, and commanded no men until just previous to the battle of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court House. The company was greatly bereft and grieved when on May 10 1864, Wilson was stricken down, just two years after he was commissioned. On that same evening, Serge- ant Warlick was also killed. Besides these, Abel Yoder and his son, Bob, were killed and buried in the same grave. In the campaign into Maryland, and Pennsylvania, the com- pany was ever found at its post ready for duty. Many of the boys were killed wounded or captured. Capt. Helton and his brother, Frank were captured. The Capt. was taken to Johnson's Island and Frank to Point Lookout. Both died in prison.
The company returned to Virginia, crippled and reduced in number, but buoyant in spirit. The company entered camp near Kelly's Ford, and hoped for rest and peace during the winter; but the enemy soon appeared on the opposite side of the river and it was manifest that a battle must soon be fought. This occured the latter part of October 1863. The company had just drawn a ration of fresh beef, and it was in process of cooking when a shell from the enemy's guns came whistling over our quarters.
The raw beef and the water in which it was cooking were divided and distributed among the men just before or- ders came to pack up and fall into line. Some of the boys ate the meat and drank the broth alloted to them, and some dropped their meat into their haversacks. I left my allot- ment of broth in a tin can under a pine pole bunk which we had built that day. We were soon in full view of the enemy and under the range of his guns, but were on the reserve line. Late in the evening, we returned to our quarters with orders to be ready to march at a moments notice. We found our quarters in tact, except that the chimney of one house had been demolished by a shell, but my can of beef tea was missing. We slept on our arms until about midnight when we were ordered to move hostily but quietly. We continued
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the march all night and through the next day till late in the night when we crossed the river and camped the balance of the night. All were wet and cold, having waded the river. On making a light, we found ourselves in an old field almost surrounded by pines and cedars that had been cut and piled so as to make a wind break for troops and horses that had recently left that place. The wind break was fired and very quickly, we had the biggest, the hottest and the most hearti- ly welcomed fire I ever saw. From the wet clothes of the bog, a great smoke ascended like unto-well it was a sight. All were soon comfortable and in sound, sweet sleep. The company moved the next day a short distance up the river and struck camp. Again, we built quarters but occupied them for only a short time. During our stay here, we did guard duty along the river with our enemy in full view on the other side. We frequently would converse and exchange products with our blue-coated fellow guards. A field of nice corn lay between the lines and agreements were entered into that pretty nearly divided the corn between the two governments. Here I ate my only mess of lye homing dur- ing my soldier life. Rations were exceedingly scarce during this time, but before all of our houses were completed, we drew a ration of fine bacon-regular fat back. One of our boys, a very hearty fellow, determined to fry his three days ration of fat back and enjoy one square meal. Accordingly. he secured a canteen frying pan (which was simply one half of a canteen with a split stick slipped over the edge for a handle), and in this he carefully placed the tempting slices of fat back. Holding it gently over the fire, the savory oder soon filled the air, and the recital of it to-day, 47 years later, makes my mouth water. The fat back was almost wholely converted into "'sop"-just the article he desired. His square meal was almost ready. We frequently forgot to say grace or even to take off our hats before eating in those days. This comrade did, I know, on this occassion. Placing the precious meal before him, he sat down, and as he thought, to get up satisfied, and prepare to go in the strength of the meat at least three days. Now, the top of his hat was shaped very much like the bottom of his frying pan. A gentle in- nocent little breeze just lifted his hat and sat it down square-
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ly in the midst of that square meal. On removing the hat, it was found that the "sop" was gone andthe pan "sapped." The air was blue and sulphurous around that comrades head for some minutes, after this mishap, but his hat always re- minded us of the fat back and the square meal.
The winter quiet of our camp was rudely disturbed by Gen. Wade when he began his Mine Run campaign in the latter part of November 1863. Being on guard duty when the first gun of that campaign was fired, some of the com- pany was not permitted to return to the camp, but at once followed the command in its marches through that intensely cold December. Our company perhaps fared better than most of the commands, as we were placed between the lines of battle as a support to our sharp-shooters. Our location was in an old pine field just below and behind the brow of a hill. The trees and the hill greatly shielded us from the cold winds and freezing rain as well as from the wild bullets from the picket lines.
A flock of sheep was ranging between the lines of the sharp-shooters and after some private negotiations, small parts of both armies engaged mutton chops. We were in no general engagement during those days, and in a few days, we were moved back on the main line and found apparently impregnable breast works that had been built while we were at the front. The trenches had been dug during the cold rain and the dirt had frozen as it was thrown up so that the work appeared as hard as stone, and on top of these large, heavy logs extended the full length of the line, with space between the dirt and the logs for our rifles to be used, and along the line at about 80 yards of each other, cannons had been placed. Many of the boys were heard to say, "we are ready now and wish Meade would advance." Very soon he did, but he was retreating, and we were content to follow him in haste. In passing through the deserted Federal camp, we saw many discarded horses, and one poor fellow hanging to the limb of a tree. We made no halt and no investigation as to cause of changing. That hard days march, capturing some stragglers, plunder, etc closed our activities for the winter, and we were marched to a point about seven miles east of Orange Court House, and again built winter quarters.
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Sometime during the winter or early spring, our regiment was detached and sent over to Hanover Junction for guard duty. We went into good quarters already built and remain- ed there until the active campaign of 1864 began in the Wilderness. At Hanover we had a good time for Confeder- ate soldiers. The guard duty was not heavy and we did little else. We were at a junction of two railroads only 26 miles from Richmond, and could occassionally visit the capital city. Taylorsville church was right near our camp, and we fre- quently attended service there and came in contact with many good citizens of the Old Dominion. Soon after we came here, we were delighted by the roving and rooting through the camp of a litter of beautiful fat pigs weighing about 60 or a hundred pounds each, gross weight. The owner knew something of a soldier's fondness for pork and he soon appeared in the camp hunting his pigs. He was so kind and his pigs so pretty that the officers and privates seemed anxious to assure him that his pigs should not be hurt. I think this man's name was Baker and he said; "troops from N. C. camped here some time ago and they appropriated a similiar lot of my pigs, and I fear to trust you." But he did trust us and so far as I know, his pigs never entered any part of the Confederate Army. Mr. Baker had some girls, too, and they were as pretty about home and at church as the pigs were about the camp. Our boys who wore the stars or bars said, this was true, and they deter- mined to save the pigs.
When the campaign of 1864 opened, we left Hanover Court House on the 2nd. or 3rd day of May and went into battle on the evening of the 5th. On the 6th, 7th and 8th, we marched and skirmished in the Wilderness and near Spottsylvania, On the 9th, our brigade, under R. D. John- son, charged what was said to be a squad of cavalry, but in truth was a whole Federal Army corps. We were flanked and driven back, but not with a heavy loss. On the 10th we were again in battle, being taken in from a reserve after the Confederate main line had been broken. As we approached the firing line, we saw Gen. Lee and heard that little dia- logue recorded in history that closes with these words: "Lee to the rear." That evening, the armies fought at short
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range, and, in many places, bayonets and clubbed guns were used. The Federals were driven back and our line retakeh, but not without serious loss. Four of our company were killed on the field, as has been previously mentioned.
On retiring from the field to our reserve camp, we again passed Gen. Lee and he was complimenting the passing troops. "Go rest, my brave boys, you have saved my army . to-day," were the words we heard him speak, and they will ever be treasured as a rich legacy from this good and great man. On the 11th, our company was not in battle, but it was a day of bitter experience. Still on the reserve line and in a position, as we thought, well protected, we were on the exact spot about which many spent and half spent balls from a distant howitzer found lodging. We dug and scratched holes in which to protect ourselves, and, in one instance, only to see the removed dirt replaced by a ball around the boys who had dug the hole and were enjoying its protection. The day was one of awful dread, but, to our company, not of death.
On the morning of the 12th, the company followed its commander into the Bloody Angle where many were killed or wounded. Several of our company were captured and taken to Point Lookout and other prisons.
Perhaps the recital of a brave, but rash, act of one of our surviving boys will help to strengthen his arm for the remaining battles of life. Pardon this personal mention, it was Newton Whitener- Newt, as we called him. He mount- ed the breast works and stood or kneeled while cursing the advancing foe and shooting into his ranks, hurried the boys to load and hand him their guns.
Shattered, thinned and bleeding, without a commission- ed officer, the company followed its commander through its eventful marchs around Spottsylvania, in the Valley and on to Petersburg, where it suffered and endured hardships, the half of which has never yet been told.
In the ditch, in the Crater, in the battles, in the march- es, in the surrender at Appomattox, Co. F. bravely bore its part. While the company does not claim to be the first at Bethel, farthest at Gettysburg and last at Appomattox, it was stimulated by the same cause, inspired by the same pa-
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triotism, and had the same blood coursing in its veins. It was only circumstance, with duties just as brave, just as noble, that with held that recorded honor.
Long live the name and fame of Co. F., and may her survivors well and worthily wear the honors and maintain the heroic integrity she so dearly bought.
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COMPANY F. 23 REGIMENT. OFFICERS.
McCorkle, M. L., Captain, commissioned June 6, '61; retired May '62. (See sketch.) COL. MATTHEW LOCKE MCCORKLE
4 Col. Matthew Locke McCorkle, of Newton N. C., was born in Cat- awba, County, Novem- ber 7, 1817. He is the grand son of Francis McCorkle, a native of Mecklenburg County, who was a gallant sol- dier of the Revelution, participating in the bat- tles of Ramseurs Mill. Kings Mountain, Eutaw Springs, Cowans Ford and Torrence's Tavern. The grandfather of Col. McCorkle was Matthew McCorkle of Scotch Irish parentage, who came to America in 1745. The year after Davidson Col- lege was founded, Col. McCorkle became a stu- dent there, and though compelled to teach school during a part of his academic course, he was able to graduate with his class, which he did with honor, in the year 1843. Subsequently he read law with Chief Justice Pearson. and began practice in 1845 at the county seat of Catawba, now the city of Newton. In 1846 he was appointed Clerk of the Superior Court, to fill a vacancy, and subsequently being elected, held the office until 1850.
Upon the passage of the ordinance of secession by North Carolina, he devoted himself heartily to the support of the State, and though advanced in years, sought active duty in the field. He organized a Com- pany of which he was made Captain, and this was assigned as Company "F" to the Thirteenth Regiment, North Carolina Volunteers, known at a later date as the Twenty Third Regiment.
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Accompanying this command to Virginia, he was on duty near Man- assas Junction until the Spring of 1862, and then marched to reinforce McGruder on the peninsula. After the evacuation of Yorktown, he par- ticipated in his first battle at Williamsburg. At this time his health was completely wrecked and he was compelled to resign and return to his home. During the latter part of the War he held the rank of Colonel commanding a Regiment of Senior reserves. From 1864 until 1867 he represented the counties of Lincoln, Catawba and Gaston in the State Senate, and in 1875 was a member of the Constitutional convention which framed the constitution under which we now live. His high reputa- tion as a jurist warranted his appointment as judge of the Superior Court of the eleventh judicial district by Governor Daniel G. Fowl. During his service upon the bench it was observed that upon all appeals to the supreme court his judgments were affirmed by the higher tribunal. And upon his retirement there from, Judge McCorkle was the recipient of many complimentary notices of his ability and wisdom generally in the discharge of the duties of that high office. In 1850, Judge McCorkle was married to Jane Martha Wilfong, a daughter of John Wilfong and grand- daughter of John Wilfong Sr., who was a gallant soldier of the Revolu- tion, and a presidential elector in 1836. The living children of this union are Henry W. McCorkle, Texas, Civil engineer, George McCorkle, Lawy- er, Newton, Charles M. McCorkle, Clerk of the Superior Court of Ca- tawba County. Lieut. in Co. A. 1st N. C. Vols War with Spain. Mrs. Mary Locke Simons, Statesville, and Mrs. Alberta Beylin, Wadesboro. Col. McCorkle's great ability and high character was a vital force in everything that tended to the 'uplift of his fellow man, and no man has lived in Catawba County who has to a greater extent left the imprint of his life on the community generally to a larger extent than he. He was foremost in education and was said by the late Rev. Dr. J. C. Clapp to have been the founder of Catawba College, and was president of its board of trustees for many years.
Miller, Jacob H., 1st Lieutenant, commissioned June 6, '61; promoted Captain; killed May 31, '62 at Seven Pines.
Wilson, T. W., 2nd Lieutenant, commissioned May 10, '62; killed May 10,'64 at Spottsylvania. (See sketch.)
LIEUTENANT T. W. WILSON
Lieut. T. W. Wilson was born in what was then Lincoln County (now Cleveland) on the 18th day of May, A. D. 1833.
He was educated at Rutherford College-followed teaching until he went into the mercantile business-formed a partnership with a gentle- man in Lincoln County-soon sold his interest to his partner and went into business in Newton. While there, he entered the Confederate ser- vice, volunteering in Capt. McCorkle's Company.
Lieut. Wilson was a fine mathematition and one of the most correct surveyors of his day. While in College, he delivered a speech on the "Preservation of the Union."
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In that speech he opposed Secession and drew a picture of the blood shed, carnage and desolation that would follow such a course.
When, however, the call came for volunteers-when he saw the principal of "States-Rights or Local Self-Government" was threatened, he without hesitation, volunteered to defend this principal, which is dear to every one who loves liberty. Doubtless if alive to-day, he would admit that the principal of "Secession" is forever lost, but that the principal of "Local Self-Government or States-Rights" is more firmly established than ever before.
Helton, M. L., 2nd Lieutenant, commissioned June 6, '61; promoted to Captain; captured at Gettysburg and died a prison- er at Governor's Island.
Cobb, R. A., 3rd Lieutenant, commissioned June 6, '61; re- tired; died since the war. (See sketch.)
ROBERT ALEXANDER COBB
Robert Alexander Cobb was born in Lincoln County, N. C. October the 1st, 1839. He was a son of James Cobb and Fanny (Helton) Cobb. At the beginn- ing of the war, he enlisted in Co. F. 23rd Regiment, from Lincoln and Ca- tawba Counties, and was made Second Lieutenant of the Company. This Com- pany was a part of Hoke's Brigade; and during the latter part of the war, Mr. Cobb was detailed to the commissary department. He was married July 27th, 1862, to Matilda Smith Falls, daughter of John Z. Falls, of Cleveland County. To them were born seven children, -three sons, and four daughters; two sons and two daughters are now living. In 1868, Mr. Cobb moved from Newton (where he was a merchant for two or three years), to Morganton, N. C.,-then the head of W. N. C. Railroad, where he engaged in the Mercantile business for many years. During his residence in Morganton, he was also Post- master, Revenue Collector, and afterwards, editor of a newspaper. He was State Librarian from 1897-8. He was a member of the Methodist Church from his youth until his death. He died in Morganton, March 26th, 1901.
Clay, G. P., 3rd Lieutenant, commissioned May 10, '62; re- signed at Seven Pines; died in 1910. (See sketch.)
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Mr. G. PINKNEY CLAY
G. Pinkney Clay join- ed Co. F. 23rd N. C. Volunteers in the fall of 1861, under command of Capt. McCorkle; and was appointed Second Lieutenant. Resigned as second Lieutentiant Oct. 8th, 1862.
Resignation signed as Second Lieut. by Jno. Withers. Assistant Adj. General, through Gen- eral Lee; was hit by a shot which would have proved fatal had it not been for a Bible, having brass lids, which he had found on the battle field, and carried in his coat pocket.
He was rescued from the water into which he fell by a comrade. From this injury, he was given an order "To return to some hospital or private house, until able to join his regiment", signed by Jordan, Asst. Surg. in charge, Sept. 6th, 1862.
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