USA > Virginia > City of Portsmouth > City of Portsmouth > A record of events in Norfolk County, Virginia, from April 19th, 1861, to May 10th, 1862, with a history of the soldiers and sailors of Norfolk County, Norfolk City and Portsmouth, who served in the Confederate States army or navy > Part 21
USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > A record of events in Norfolk County, Virginia, from April 19th, 1861, to May 10th, 1862, with a history of the soldiers and sailors of Norfolk County, Norfolk City and Portsmouth, who served in the Confederate States army or navy > Part 21
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White, James C. Jr., private, Signal Corps.
Wilson, St. Julien, lieutenant, Company C, 61st Va. Regiment, killed at the Crater.
Young, John W., private, Signal Corps.
Killed and died-19.
FROM NORFOLK COUNTY.
The following Norfolk county men were in the Randolph Dra-
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NORFOLK COUNTY, 1861-5
goons, Company C, 13th Virginia Cavalry, which was raised principally in Nansemond county :
Second Lieutenant, Wm. F. Wise, wounded October 11th, 1863, at Brandy Station, and April 6th, 1865, at Saylor's Creek.
First Sergeant, Keely Harrison.
Sergeant, I. O. Ivy.
PRIVATES.
Bunting, Lloyd, wounded at Slaughter's Mountain.
Capps, Andrew J., captured at Stoney Creek, 1864, and died in prison at Point Lookout.
Dennis, Samuel.
Dennis, M. W., discharged 1862, for sickness.
Driver, Elliott J., wounded 1863, at Middleburg, Loudoun county.
Duke, Hardy,
Duke, Henry.
Dunford, Emanuel.
Ford, Wm.
Knott, Elvington, wounded, 1865, at Five Forks and captured.
Parker, Robert.
Skeeter, Joseph.
Spivey, Jethro, wounded. 1863, at Dutch Gap.
Spivey, Henry, died 1862.
Stokes, Lemuel, wounded at Snicker's Gap.
Wilson, Andrew J., wounded May, 1864, at Yellow Tavern. Killed and died-2.
Lieutenant Wise had a varied experience during the war. He was elected a lieutenant in the Craney Island Artillery, Company I, 9th Virginia Infantry, but declined, and joined a company of students from the University of Virginia, Company G, 59th Vir- ginia Regiment (3d Regiment Wise's Legion) and went through the West Virginia campaign with it. The company was dis- banded by order of the Secretary of War on the ground that " so much valuable material should be distributed for the good of the service." He was then temporarily with General Randolph at Suffolk as civil engineer, and upon the organization of Company C, 13th Virginia Cavalry, was elected 2d Lieutenant. He was wounded October 11th, 1863, at Brandy Station, and while dis- abled from active service, was acting assistant commissary to Major W. A. Shepherd at Weldon. He rejoined the regiment May 1st, 1864, while still unable to dismount or walk without as- sistance, and was assigned to temporary duty as aid to General Chambliss, but his wound breaking out afresh, he was examined by a medical board and retired as unfit for service. He, however, again rejoined the company on the Petersburg lines, and was ac- tively engaged on the retreat from that city. He was wounded at Saylor's Creek April 6th, 1865, taken prisoner in the hospital by the enemy a day or two subsequently, and taken to a hospital in Washington, from which he was released May 21st, 1865, and returned to his home in the Western Branch section of Norfolk county.
.
205
IN OUTSIDE COMMANDS.
In addition to the foregoing the author can recall the following Norfolk county men who were in the Confederate service, but whose names do not appear elsewhere :
Armistead, B. A., sergeant, Company I, 13th Va. Cavalry.
Baxter, O. F., private, Company I, 15th Va. Cavalry.
Drummond, H. P. P., private, Company I, 15th Va. Cavalry.
Drummond, Thos. F., private, Company F, 46th Va. Regiment. Griffin, John T., captain and civil engineer, Petersburg fortifications.
Fisher, Laben J., private, Company C, 15th Va. Cavalry.
Halstead, W. F., private, Company 1, 15th Va. Cavalry,
Hodges, John M., private, N. L. A. Blues.
Happer, George D. W., private, Wise's Legion, cavalry.
Ives, Luther C., private, Company I, 15th Va. Cavalry.
Johnston, James, mustering and inspecting officer, Huger's Division. James, Cornelius, private, Company F, 3d Va. Infantry.
Jones, John, seaman in the nav.v.
James, Edward, private, Company F, 3d Virginia Infantry.
King, James, private, Company F, 3d Virginia Infantry.
Kilby, John, private, Company F, 3d Virginia Infantry.
King, Goodman, seaman in the navy.
King, Moscoe, private, Company F. 3d Va. Infantry.
Lawrence, Albert, Company F, 3d Virginia Infantry.
Lynch, Samuel, private, 7th N. C. Regiment.
Mortin, Eugene S., private, Signal Corps, killed on Appomattox river.
Outten, E. A., private, Company I, 15th Va. Cavalry.
Maund, David W., private, Signal Corps.
Richardson, John W., drummer, Company F, 3d Va. Regiment. Smith, Samuel, private, Company I, 15th Va. Cavalry.
Scott, Jas. E., private, Company I, 15th Va. Cavalry.
Spaight, Henry, private, 68th North Carolina Regiment. Taylor, Jas. E., private, Company F, 3d Va. Infantry. Wilson, Thos., private, Louisiana Guard Artillery. Wallace. Geo. W., private, Signal Corps. White, Wm. H., private, V. M. I. Cadets.
Woodhouse, W. W., private, Mosby's Rangers.
Waterfield, John, private, 7th N. C. Regiment.
Willey, John M., private, 68th N. C. Regiment.
White, Fred. A., private, Signal Corps.
Williamson, Wm. A., private, Signal Corps. Killed and died-1.
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE ST. BRIDE'S CAVALRY, COMPANY F, FIFTEENTH VIRGINIA.
This was one of the largest and best equipped cavalry compa- nies in the Confederate service. Its members belonged princi- pally in St. Bride's Parish of Norfolk county, and from that it obtained its name. It was organized at the beginning of the war and was mustered into service under the following officers:
Captain-John C. Doyle.
First Lieutenant, Moses Myers; 2d Lieutenant, Wm. Johnson; 3d Lieutenant, Charles Johnson.
The company was attached to Burroughs' Cavalry Battalion and did picket duty on the beach from Seawell's Point to Ocean View from its organization until the evacuation of Norfolk by the Confederates, when it moved to Petersburg and from there to Richmond. Upon arriving at the latter city it was ordered to join Johnston's army, then in the vicinity of Seven Pines, and did picket duty there. Shortly after the battle of Seven Pines it was consolidated with Critcher's cavalry battalion into a regiment and Critcher was made Colonel. The regiment was numbered the 15th, and the St. Bride's company became Company F. It was well mounted, well equipped and composed of excellent material. Colonel Critcher did not remain long with the regiment but re- signed in the summer of 1862 He was succeeded in command by Colonel William F. Ball, who was stationed with the regiment in the summer and fall of 1862 on the upper Rappahannock river guarding the fords and watching the movements of the enemy. In November the regiment was assigned to the brigade of General W. H. F. Lee, and when General Lee was promoted to Major General the brigade was placed under the command of Brigadier General Lomax.
It will be impossible in this short sketch to follow the company through the numerous battles and skirmishes in which it was en- gaged. It was in active service in front until the close of the war, doing picket and scouting duty while the army was station- ary, marching in front when it was on the advance and guarding the rear when it was falling back. It participated in all of the battles in which the regiment was engaged. The officers who were elected at the reorganization remained with it until the close of the war and were fortunate in not being killed or disabled.
While General Lee's army was in Maryland in September, 1862, the line of the Rapidan river was held by the 15th Virginia Cav- alry, the 61st Virginia, and the Norfolk Light Artillery Blues, and its duties there were very ardnons and its skirmishes with the
206
ST. BRIDE'S CAVALRY, CO. F, FIFTEENTH VIRGINIA. 207
enemy were frequent. It had an engagement of considerable magnitude at Falmouth with the advance of General Burnside's army on its march to Fredericksburg in November, 1862, and General Lee in his official report gives it the credit of having prevented it from crossing the river. In March, 1862, at the re- organization of the company all of the old officers were thrown out and left the company. The officers enumerated in the follow- ing list of names were elected.
Below will be found the roll of the company :
Captain John F. Cooper, captured at Louisa, Va.
First Lieutenant James L. Northern.
Second Lieutenant William H. Wilkins, captured Culpepper C. H.
Third Lieutenant Lemuel J. Pritchard, wounded at Louisa, Va.
First Sergeant Columbus W. Foreman, wounded near Culpepper C. H. June, 1864.
Second Sergeant William T. Smith.
Third Sergeant Roscoe H. Brown.
Fourth Sergeant John F. Old, wounded near Fredericksburg December 13th, 1862.
First Corporal Edgar N. Outten, captured at Yellow Tavern May, 1864.
Second Corporal John J. Wilson.
Third Corporal William F. Ashly, killed near Petersburg, 1865.
Fourth Corporal William Pritchard, died in hospital 1863, Richmond.
PRIVATES.
Ansel, John H., died in hospital.
Barnes, William H.
Bunting, George S.
Brown, William B.
Berry, John, died in prison Point Lookout.
Berry, Samuel, wounded Orange Court Honse.
Brice, George D.
Bullock, Joseph A. Cooper, Arthur.
Cooper, Edward P., discharged 1862, over age.
Culpepper, Daniel M., killed near Fredericksburg 1863.
Cox, Thomas, transferred to a North Carolina regiment. Coleburn, Wm. Creamer, James. Creekmore, John J., killed near Fredericksburg 1863.
Creekmore, Alex. O., killed near Fredericksburg 1863.
Davis, Charles T., discharged 1862, disability.
Davis, Gideon V., discharged 1862, over age.
Denby, Andrew J., discharged 1862, over age.
Denby, Edward. Dixon, Ralph.
Etheredge, Dennis, captured at Louisa, Va. Eason, Israel.
Fentress, Joshua.
Fentress, David, discharged 1863, disability.
Fentress, Wm. H., died in 1862 in hospital.
Fentress, James, wounded at Yellow Tavern May, 1864.
Foreman, Claudius T. Foreman, Wm. H.
Foreman, Alex. Frizzell, Joseph. Frizzell, John.
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NORFOLK COUNTY, 1861-5.
Fulford, Arthur, captured at Culpepper C. H.
Forbes, Peter S.
Flora, John T., transferred to a North Carolina regiment.
Fiske, James W.
Fiske, Richard B., captured at Yellow Tavern May, 1864.
Gammon, John W.
Gilbert, Timothy. captured at Yellow Tavern May, 1864.
Grandy, Thomas G., transferred to a North Carolina regiment.
Gornto, David T., discharged 1862, disability.
Guy, Benjamin F.
Hancock, Wm. S., wounded at Yellow Tavern May, 1864.
Hawkins, Wallace W.
Hancock, Francis A., discharged 1863, disability.
Harrison, Joseph M.
Hardy, J. Henry Clay.
Hanbury, Miles A.
Hanbury, Wm. T.
Hearring, Edward L.
ยท Hewlet, Ambrose.
Holmes, Wm. H., discharged 1862, over age.
Holmes, Henry, killed August 30th, 1862, Second Manassas.
Holland, Wn., killed.
Humphries, Samuel.
Ironmonger, Thomas W., discharged 1862, over age.
Jennings, Noah M., killed in Pasquotank county, North Carolina, by Buf- faloes.
Jordan, Edward, discharged 1862, disability. Joliff, Josiah.
Johnson, James V., transferred to Navy.
Lee, James W.
Larke, Robert W., discharged 1862, disability.
Lockheart, John.
Martin, James G., discharged 1862, disability.
Martin, James E.
McPherson, Thomas G.
Mears, Elvington R., discharged 1862, over age.
Miller, Augustus.
Miller, James.
Munden, David T.
Nicholas, Willoughby L., captured at Yellow Tavern May, 1864.
Old, James Y.
Parsons, Napoleon B.
Petty, Wm. Pitts, Andrew J.
Peyton, Joseph A.
Robinson, Lemuel D.
Reid, Wm. C., transferred to Navy 1862.
Russell, Thomas R.
Simpson, Wm.
Stroud, Edward, discharged 1862, over age,
Sykes, Cornelius, furnished substitute 1862.
Sanderlin, John, transferred to a North Carolina regiment.
Sylvester, Keeling, killed in Camden county, North Carolina, by Buffaloes. Steward, Solomon.
Sadler, Robert. Slack, Edward.
Tabb, Robert B., wounded accidentally at Fredericksburg, disabled and discharged. Tyson, Wm. G., died in hospital 1863, Richmond.
Warden, Kosciusco, captured at Yellow Tavern May, 1864.
D
ST. BRIDE'S CAVALRY, CO. F, FIFTEENTH VIRGINIA. 209
Williams, David, wounded accidentally and disabled.
Wilson, Amsey W., killed Yellow Tavern May, 1864. White, Thomas J. Whitemore, Marchant, died from wounds. Wilkins, Thomas B.
Williamson, Joshua J., died.
Wallace, Solomon, killed near Fredericksburg 1862. Wilson, George A., furnished substitute 1862. Killed and died-17.
CHAPTER XXVII.
FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS.
The following field and staff officers from Portsmouth and Norfolk county served in the Confederate army :
FROM PORTSMOUTH.
Brigadier General Archibald C. Godwin, killed August 18th, 1864, at the battle of Winchester, Early's Valley campaign.
Colonel James Gregory Hodges, 14th Virginia Regiment, killed July 3d, 1863, at Gettysburg.
Colonel John C. Owens, 9th Virginia Regiment, killed July 3d, 1863, at Get- tysburg.
Colonel David J. Godwin, 9th Virginia Regiment, lived through the war.
Colonel Bristor B. Gayle, 12th Alabama Regiment, killed September 14th, 1862, at Boonsboro, or South Mountain.
Colonel James Giles, 29th Virginia Regiment, lived through the war.
Lieutenant Colonel James C. Council, 26th Virginia Regiment.
Lieutenant Colonel G. G. Luke, 56th North Carolina Regiment, lived through the war.
Lieutenant Colonel Wm. F. Niemeyer, 61st Virginia Regiment, killed May 12th, 1864, at Spotsylvania Court House.
Major Giles B. Cooke, Assistant Inspector General on the staff of General R. E. Lee, lived through the war.
Major John Q. Richardson, 52d North Carolina Regiment, killed July 3d, 1863, at Gettysburg.
Major Charles R. McAlpine, 61st Virginia Regiment, lived through the war. Major William James Richardson, 9th Virginia Regiment, lived through the war.
Captain Stephen A. Cowley, Adjutant General Quarles Division, killed at Franklin, Tenn., 1864.
Captain James W. Riddick, Assistant Adjutant General Scales' North Caro- lina Brigade, severely wounded but lived through the war.
Adjutant John W. H. Wrenn, 3d Virginia Regiment, lived through the war. Adjutant James F. Crocker, 9th Virginia Regiment, lived through the war. Adjutant Levin Gayle, 12th Alabama Regiment, lived through the war.
Adjutant Edward B. Ward, 16th Virginia Regiment, lived through the war. Adjutant John S. Jenkins, 14th Virginia Regiment, killed July 3d, 1863, at Gettysburg.
Adjutant Alexander E. Butt, 41st Virginia Regiment, killed May 3d, 1863, at Chancellorsville.
FROM NORFOLK COUNTY.
Colonel William White, Fourteenth Virginia Regiment, lived through the war.
Lieutenant Colonel Willinm H. Stewart, Sixy-first Virginia Regiment, lived through the war.
Lieutenant Colonel George A. Martin, Thirty-eighth Virginia Regiment, lived through the war.
Major William H. Etheredge, Forty-first Virginia Regiment, lived through the war.
Adjutant John F. Stewart, Third Virginia Regiment, lived through the war. Adjutant Griffin F. Edwards, Sixty-first Virginia Regiment, lived through the war.
Adjutant William S. Wright, Sixty-first Virginia Regiment, died in 1863 of congestive chill.
210
211
FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS.
MEDICAL CORPS.
Below will be found the names of the Portsmouth men who were in the Medical Corps of the army :
Dr. H. F. Butt, Brigade Surgeon, Daniels' North Carolina Brigade.
Dr. V. B. Bilisoly, Surgeon of an Alabama regiment and at hospital, Selma. Dr. W. M. Cocke, Assistant Surgeon Fourteenth Virginia Regiment, mor- tally wounded in April, 1865, near Petersburg and died in Old Capitol prison.
Dr. J. M. Covert, Surgeon Louisiana Regiment, Hayes' Brigade.
Dr. James Parrish, Brigade Surgeon Mahone's Brigade, and subsequently Brigade Surgeon of Chambliss' Cavalry Brigade.
Dr. R. H. Parker, Assistant Surgeon Thirty-second North Carolina Regi- ment and Surgeon Rhodes' Division hospital.
Dr. Jesse C. Shannon, Assistant Surgeon North Carolina regiment.
Dr. Franklin J. White, Surgeon in hospital, Richmond, and subsequently in Kirkland's North Carolina Brigade.
Dr. Edwin M. Watts, Surgeon Simms' Brigade, Georgia.
Dr. Thomas H. Wingfield, Assistant Surgeon on staff of General R. E. Lee.
FROM NORFOLK COUNTY.
Dr. William E. Kemble, Surgeon North Carolina Brigade.
Dr. I. J. Cherry, Assistant Surgeon Chimborazo Hospital.
QUARTERMASTERS AND COMMISSARIES.
The following Portsmonth men held commissions in the Qnar- termaster and Commissary Departments :
Robert M. Boykin, Captain and A. C. S. Young's Cavalry Brigade.
John K. Cooke. Major and Purchasing Agent.
A. E. Etheredge, Captain and A. Q. M. 61st Virginia Regiment.
John Emmerson, Captain and A. C. S. Southwest Virginia.
George W. Grice, Major and Purchasing Commissary at Augusta, Ga.
J. Madison Hudgins, Captain and A. C. S. Army of Northern Virginia.
Thomas W. Pierce, Major and C. S. Army of Northern Virginia. Wm. H. Peters, Navy Agent Charlotte, N. C.
William Sherwood, Captain and A. Q. M. Mahone's Brigade.
Arthur E. Wilson, Captain and Commissary 14th Virginia Regiment. Wm. C. Wingfield, Major and C. S. Mahone's Division.
FROM NORFOLK COUNTY.
John R. White, Captain and A. C. S. 3d Virginia Regiment and Purchasing Commissary on Blackwater river.
George D. Old, Captain and A. C. S. 61st Virginia Regiment.
GENERAL ARCHIBALD C. GODWIN was engaged in business in North Carolina at the beginning of the war and received a staff appointment. He was afterwards appointed Colonel of the 57th North Carolina Regiment of Law's Brigade, Hood's Division, and proved himself to be a gallant soldier. His regiment distin- gnished itself at the battle of Fredericksburg December 13th, 1862. That was its first engagement and its ranks had not been depleted by sickness and battle. A brigade of the enemy, under cover of the banks of a creek which empties into the Rappahan- nock about two miles below Fredericksburg, approached the Con- federate lines and took up a position in the railroad ent. Colonel Godwin charged them with his regiment and drove them out. He was promoted to Brigadier General in 1864 and was killed on the
212
NORFOLK COUNTY, 1861-5.
18th of August in the battle near Winchester in Early's Valley campaign.
COLONEL JAMES GREGORY HODGES was born in Portsmouth on the 28th of December, 1829, and embraced the medical profes- sion. He located in Portsmouth, and at the breaking out of the war he had quite a lucrative practice. He was popular with the people of that city and they testified their appreciation of his worth by electing him to the position of Mayor. When Governor Letcher issued his call for volunteers in April, 1861, at the com- mencement of hostilities, Colonel Hodges was in command of the 3d Virginia Volunteers, composed of the military companies of Portsmouth and Norfolk county, but was transferred by Gov- ernor Letcher to the 14th Regiment, which was on duty with General Magruder on the Peninsula near Yorktown. He was actively engaged in the battles of Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Malvern Hill, Sharpsburg, Suffolk and Gettysburg, and was pres- ent with his regiment, though not actively engaged, at the battles of Second Manassas and Fredericksburg. At Malvern Hill he was stunned by the explosion of a shell near him and part of his hair was burned by it. He was complimented in the report of General Armistead, his brigade commander, for gallantry and good conduct on this occasion. At the battle of Sharpsburg, and for some time after, he had command of Armistead's Brigade in the absence of General Armistead, who was appointed to com- mand the provost guard of the army, and was killed July 3d, 1863, while leading his regiment at the stone wall in the charge of Pickett's Division at Gettysburg. His remains were buried on the battle field by the enemy and his grave was not marked. His family have, therefore, not been able to find them.
COLONEL JOHN C. OWENS was born in Mathews county, Vir- ginia, Marchi 19th, 1830, and removed to Portsmouth with his parents when quite a small boy. When the war broke out he was Captain of the Portsmouth Rifle Company, one of the best equipped and most popular companies in the city. He responded promptly to Governor Letcher's call and was mustered into ser- vice with his company, which numbered more than a hundred men, and was assigned to the 9th Regiment as Company G. He commanded the company at the battle of Pig Point, in which it drove off the U. S. steamer Harriet Lane, June 5th, 1861, and in May, 1862, at the reorganization of the 9th Virginia Regiment was promoted to Major of the regiment. He was with the regi- ment at Seven Pines and, during the Seven Days' battles when Huger's Division was moving down the Charles City road with orders to cut off MeClellan's retreat, Major Owens became impa- tient at the slowness with which the division was being moved, and, fearing that Mcclellan would slip by before the division reached the place at which it was expected to intercept him,
213
FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS.
urged upon General Huger the importance of moving faster and of making fewer and shorter halts. He offered to take the ad- vance with the 9th Regiment or any other force General Huger might place under his command and proceed rapidly until he met a force of the enemy sufficient to stop him, but General Huger would not accede to his request. Mcclellan did slip by, escaped with his army, and the useless waste of life at Malvern Hill fol- lowed. Major Owens was wounded August 28th, 1862, at War- renton Springs but remained with the regiment through the Maryland campaign, on its return to Fredericksburg, on its march to Suffolk in the spring of 1863, and in June, 1863 was promoted to the position of Colonel of the regiment. On the 3d of July, 1863, he led the regiment in the charge of Pickett's Division at Gettysburg and was shot through the body with a shrapnel when a little more than half way across the field. He was taken to the field hospital in rear of the lines and died about two o'clock that night and was buried there. He was a quiet, modest man, but determined in the discharge of his duty. He died as he fought, bravely and without a murmur. After the war his remains were brought back to Portsmouth and interred in Oakwood cemetery.
COLONEL DAVID J. GODWIN was born in Suffolk in 1829 and removed to Portsmouth in 1853 and began the practice of law. Before the war he was several times elected Commonwealth's At- torney of Portsmouth and at the breaking out of hostilities was Lieutenant Colonel of the old 3d Virginia Volunteer Regiment of Portsmouth and Norfolk county, but was relieved by Governor Letcher. At the time of the evacuation of Portsmouth by the Confederates he was engaged in raising a regiment of heavy ar- tillery, and after Huger's . Division was moved to Petersburg in May, 1862, he was elected Lieutenant Colonel of the 9th Virginia Regiment and was promoted to Colonel. He commanded the regiment at the battle of Seven Pines, June 1st, 1863, and the horse which he was riding was wounded by a minie ball. This caused him to rear and plunge and he struck Colonel Godwin's leg against a tree, bruising it quite painfully. This disabled him temporarily and he was assigned to other duty and did not rejoin the regiment. He commanded a cavalry detachment in 1863 which was operating in the neighborhood of Gloucester Point.
COLONEL BRISTOR B. GAYLE was born in Portsmouth April 19th, 1839, and was educated at the Virginia Military and Colle- giate Institute in Portsmouth. At the breaking out of the war he was teaching school in Alabama and raised a company of in- fantry at Summerville, which was organized with the 12th Ala- bama Regiment. At the reorganization of the regiment in May, 1862 Captain Gayle was elected Lieutenant Colonel, and at the death of the Colonel, who was killed at Seven Pines, was pro- moted to Colonel. The regiment came to Virginia in 1861 and
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NORFOLK COUNTY, 1861-5.
was attached to Rodes' Brigade. It followed the fortunes of that gallant organization through the campaigns of 1862 and marched with it into Maryland. Rodes' Brigade, with other commands, was stationed at Boonsboro, or South Mountain, to hold in check MeClellan's army until Jackson could succeed in the capture of Harper's Ferry and the army could be concentrated at Sharpsburg. The enemy attacked Rodes' Brigade at Boons- boro on the 14th of September, and after a stubborn fight, in which the enemy was checked until it was too late for them to relieve Harper's Ferry, the brigade was withdrawn under the cover of night. Colonel Gayle was killed in the battle and his body was left on the field when the regiment fell back. He was just a little more than twenty-three years old. General D. H. Hill, to whose command he was attached, spoke of him as "a most gallant and accomplished officer." Captain R. E. Park, who commanded the skirmish line of the 12th Alabama, thus de- scribes his death: "The enemy pushed forward and soon came upon Colonel Gayle and the rear support. He was ordered to surrender, but drawing his pistol and firing into their faces, he exclaimed: 'We are flanked, boys, but let's die in our tracks,' and continued to fire until he was literally riddled with bullets, and surrendered up his pure, brave young spirit to the God who gave it." [Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. I, No. 6, page 437.]
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL G. G. LUKE was born in Portsmouth Oc- tober 19th, 1833, and was a grandson of Isaac Luke, who more than a hundred years ago was one of the best known and most prominent citizens of Portsmouth, and whose remains are in- terred in the burying ground attached to Trinity Episcopal Church. He was educated at the public schools in Portsmouth and in Partridge's Military Academy, and at the beginning of the war was teaching school in Camden county, North Carolina, and preparing for the practice of law. He raised a company of twelve months troops in Camden county, the North Carolina De- fenders, Company HI, 32d North Carolina Regiment, but his com- pany was ordered to Fort Hatteras and attached to the 17th North Carolina. It was captured with that fort. Upon being ex- changed he raised another company for the war and was assigned to the 56th North Carolina Regiment, Ransom's Brigade, and promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. He led the charge of the bri- gade at the capture of Plymouth, was in the fighting around New- berne, was severely wounded at the battle of Drury's Bluff May 16th, 1864, was with the brigade in its battles around Petersburg, and was captured at Five Forks.
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