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The preparation of this sketch, giving the organization and outlining the movements of the 43d Regiment, is due to the assistance rendered by
W. G. Lewis, B. F. Hall, W. R. Kenan, John B. Powell, W. E. Stitt, W. R. Burwell, Thomas P. Devereux, John J. Dabbs and S. H. Threadgill, members of the regiment. The material employed was gathered from memoranda and such official documents as were accessible.
THOS. S. KENAN.
RALEIGH, 1895.
SKETCH
OF THE
FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT NORTH CAROLINA TROOPS.
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PREPARED IN 1895 BY OFFICERS AND MEN WHO WERE
PARTICIPANTS IN ITS MOVEMENTS.
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This regiment was organized at Camp Mangum, about three miles west of Raleigh, in March, 1862, by electing Junius Daniel, Colonel; Thomas S. Kenan (Captain Company A, formerly Captain Company C, 2d North Carolina Volunteers), Lieutenant-Colonel; and Walter J. Boggan (Captain Company H), Major, commissions bearing date March 25, 1862. Daniel was at the time Colonel of the 14th Regiment, and soon thereafter was also chosen Colonel of the 45th, and accepted. Upon his reporting for duty he was placed in command of a brigade, of which the 43d afterwards formed a part. Daniel was subsequently promoted to Brigadier-General. About April 20 Kenan was notified that he had been chosen Colonel of the 38th upon its reorganization at Goldsboro, the information being officially conveyed by the hands of Lieutenant D. M. Pearsall, of the 38th; but he remained with the 43d and was elected its Colonel a few days thereafter, and William Gaston Lewis (Major of the 33d) was elected Lieutenant-Colonel, commissions bearing date April 24, 1862.
The staff and company officers, and their successors by promotion from time to time in the order named, as appears from the "Roster of North Carolina Troops," pp. 196–225, and gathered from memoranda of participants in the operations of the regiment, were—
Drury Lacy, Adjutant; Bedford Brown, Jr., William T. Brewer, Joel B. Lewis, Surgeons; John W. Hinson, Joseph B. Stafford, Quartermasters; W. B. Williams, Commissary; Joseph W. Murphy, Eugene W. Thompson, Chaplains; W. T. Smith, Hezekiah Brown, Thos. H. Williams, Robert T. Burwell, W. R. Kenan, Sergeant-Majors.
CAPTAINS.
Company A, from Duplin: James G. Kenan (succeeded T. S. Kenan); number of enlisted men, 117. The company entered the service in April, 1861, and was Company C, 2d North Carolina Volunteers (Col. Sol. Williams), stationed near Norfolk. Upon the expiration of its six-months term of service it was reorganized and assigned to the 43d. The captain of this company was wounded and captured at Gettysburg, and was a prisoner when the war ended, and many of the others, hereinafter named, met a similar fate, or were killed or disabled there or in subsequent engagements, but a correct list of casualties cannot now be had—and they were so numerous that during the latter part of the war the regiment was commanded by captains, and companies by lieutenants, sergeants and corporals.
Company B, from Mecklenburg: Robert P. Waring, William E. Stitt; enlisted men, 73.
Company C, from Wilson: James S. Woodard, Ruffin Barnes; enlisted men, 102.
Company D, from Halifax: Cary Whitaker; enlisted men, 93.
Company E, from Edgecombe: John A. Vines, Jas. R. Thigpen, Wiley J. Cobb; enlisted men,
96.
Company F, from Halifax: William R. Williams, Wm. C. Ousby, Henry A. Macon; enlisted men,
101.
Company G, from Warren: Wm. A. Dowtin, Levi P. Coleman, Alfred W. Bridgers; enlisted men,
110.
Company H, from Anson: John H. Coppedge (succeeded W. J. Boggan), Hampton Beverly;
enlisted men, 112.
Company I, from Anson: Robert T. Hall, John Ballard; enlisted men, 139.
Company K, from Anson: James Boggan, Caswell H. Sturdivant; enlisted men, 120.
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
Company A, James G. Kenan, Robert B. Carr.
Company B, Henry Ringstaff, William E. Stitt.
Company C, Henry King, Ruffin Barnes, L. D. Killett.
Company D, Thomas W. Baker, John S. Whitaker.
Company E, James R. Thigpen, Wiley J. Cobb, Charles Vines.
Company F, William C. Ousby, Henry A. Macon, J. H. Morris.
Company G, Levi P. Coleman, Alfred W. Bridgers.
Company H, John H. Coppedge, Hampton Beverly, Benjamin F. Moore.
Company I, Richard H. Battle, Jr., John H. Threadgill.
Company K, Caswell H. Sturdivant, Henry E. Shepherd.
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
Company A, Robert B. Carr, John W. Hinson, Thomas J. Bostic, Stephen D. Farrior.
Company B, William E. Stitt, Julius Alexander, Robert T. Burwell.
Company C, William T. Brewer Ruffin Barnes, L. D. Killett, Bennett Barnes.
Company D, John S. Whitaker, William Beavans, George W. Wills.
Company E, Wiley J. Cobb, Van B. Sharpe, John H. Leigh, Charles Vines, Willis R. Dupree,
Thomas H. Williams.
Company F, Henry A. Macon, Williams R. Bond, J. H. Morris, W. L. M. Perkins, Jesse A.
Macon.
Company G, William B. Williams, Alexander L. Steed, John B. Powell, Luther R. Crocker.
Company H, Hampton Beverly, Benjamin F. Moore, W. W. Boggan, Henry C. Beaman, Peter B.
Lilly.
Company I, John H. Threadgill, John Ballard, Stephen W. Ellerbee, Leonidas L. Polk.
Company K, John A. Boggan, Stephen Huntley, Francis E. Flake.
The regiment was ordered to Wilmington and Fort Johnson at Smithville, on the Cape Fear river, where it remained about a month in General French’s command, and thence to Virginia. Daniel’s brigade, composed of the 32d, 43d, 45th, 50th and 53d, was placed in the command of Major-General Holmes, and on the last of the seven-days operations around Richmond was ordered to occupy the road near the James river, where it was subjected to a fierce shelling from the gunboats on the right and the batteries on Malvern Hill in front, but was not in the regular engagement; was afterwards ordered to Drewry’s Bluff, and constituted part of the forces under Major-General G. W. Smith for the protection of Richmond and vicinity during the advance of the army under General Lee into Maryland in September, 1862; and about the same time a demonstration was made against Suffolk, Va., by troops under General French (this regiment being a portion of them), probably for the purpose of preventing the enemy from sending reinforcements from that territory to oppose the movement of the Confederates in Maryland. They returned in about ten days, and the regiment resumed its position at Drewry’s Bluff, where it was engaged in drilling and putting up breastworks under the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis, who, being a civil engineer by profession, was ordered by the brigade commander to supervise their construction. Shortly after quarters were prepared for the winter, the brigade was ordered to Goldsboro, in December, 1862, to reinforce the Confederates in opposing the advance of the Union troops from Newbern under General Foster; but on the day before its arrival the enemy succeeded in burning the railroad bridge over the Neuse river, and, after a sharp engagement with the Confederates on the south side of the river, retreated to their base of operations at Newbern. The bridge was immediately rebuilt on trestles by a detail, Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis superintending the work.
During the spring of 1863 it was stationed at Kinston and detachments sent out to prevent the approach of the enemy into the interior. Major-General D. H. Hill having assumed command of the department, directed demonstrations to be made in aid of military operations at other points and to compel the enemy to abandon their outposts. In the affair at Deep Gulley, a small creek, upon the eastern bank of which the enemy were entrenched, the 43d was ordered to attack, and after a few rounds the enemy abandoned the works and retreated. The brigade was then ordered to Washington, N. C., and was there subjected to the artillery fire of the Union forces occupying that place, but, with the exception of some skirmishing, no engagement was brought on. It then returned to its former quarters at Kinston, and, later on went to Fredericksburg, Va., and was assigned to Rodes’s Division of the 2d Corps (Ewell’s), the 32d, 43d, 45th and 53d and 2d North Carolina Battalion then constituting the brigade. The Army of Northern Virginia was there reviewed by General Lee and ordered to commence the memorable Pennsylvania campaign in June, 1863.
On the March.—Upon arriving at Brandy Station the brigade was placed in line of battle to meet any attempted advance of Union infantry to support its cavalry, but was not engaged—the main fighting in that terrific battle being between the cavalry of the opposing armies. At Berryville the enemy were driven by the cavalry, supported by this brigade, and camp equipages, etc., captured. It then marched by way of Martinsburg, Williamsport, Hagerstown and Chambersburg to Carlisle, Pa., and occupied the barracks at that place, from which it was ordered to Gettysburg.
In the Three-Days Fight.—Upon arriving at Gettysburg, on Wednesday, the 1st day of July, 1863, about 1 o’clock P. M., a line of battle was formed near Forney's house, northwest of the town and to the left of Pender’s Division of Hill’s Corps, which had repulsed the enemy in the forenoon, and the troops advanced to the attack. The fight was continued till late in the afternoon and the enemy driven back, the brigade being handled with consummate skill by the brave General Daniel. Seminary Ridge was gained and occupied—the right of the 43d resting on the railroad cut. The fight was terrific and the loss heavy on both sides. On Thursday morning, July 2d, the regiments were assigned to various positions upon the line. The 43d supported a battery during the artillery duel, which continued nearly the whole day, at a point on the Ridge just north of the Seminary building, and the shot and shell from the guns of the enemy on Cemetery Heights caused serious loss. It was during this cannonade that General Lee and staff passed to the front along the road near by, and the troops saluted him by raising their hats in silence, and were encouraged by his presence. From this point a movement was commenced at night in line of battle, in the direction of the enemy’s works, the skirmishers firing upon the Confederates and retreating, but inflicting no loss. The moon was shining brightly, and it seemed that a night attack upon Cemetery Heights was contemplated; but when the brigade crossed the valley in front, orders were given to march by the left flank near the southern and eastern limits of the town, and about daybreak on Friday, July 3, it reported to Major-General Johnson, who commanded the division of Ewell’s Corps on the extreme left of the Confederate line. Daniel’s Brigade, with other troops, had been ordered to reinforce Johnson’s position on Culp’s Hill. It marched nearly all night, and formed a line of battle near Benner’s House, crossed Rock creek, and, through the undergrowth, among large boulders and up the heavily timbered hill, the attack upon the enemy was made, the line of works (formed by felled trees) taken, but the charge upon the main line was repulsed. The Colonel of the 43d was wounded in leading this charge, and taken from the field (captured on the retreat and imprisoned until the close of the war), and the command develved on Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis.
The forces under Johnson held their positions until night, when they were withdrawn—the 43d occupying its first position on Seminary Ridge until the army moved to Hagerstown. On the retreat it was assigned the rear position, and in consequence was repeatedly engaged with the enemy’s advance. After remaining at Hagerstown a few days the Confederates crossed the swollen Potomac (carrying their guns and their ammunition on their heads, the water being up to their armpits), and fell back to the village of Darkville. Later they were in front of the Federal army, on the south bank of the Rapidan river, guarding the fords, and engaged the enemy at Mine Run when an advance towards Richmond was made. After the retreat of the enemy to the north of the Rapidan, and active operations having comparatively ceased, winter quarters were built, but they were not long occupied by this regiment, for it was detached for duty with General Hoke’s Brigade in the winter campaign in 1863–’4 in eastern North Carolina, Major-General Pickett being in command of all the forces.
In this campaign Hoke’s Brigade consisted of the 6th, 21st, 54th and 57th North Carolina Regiments and 1st North Carolina Battalion, and attached to it were the 43d North Carolina and 21st Georgia. In approaching Newbern this regiment arrived at Bachelor’s creek, about seven miles from the city, and made a night attack upon the enemy’s works, but, discovering that the flooring of a bridge across the creek, about seventy-five feet long, had been removed by the enemy, Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis informed General Hoke that if he would send him plank from the pontoon train he would renew the attack as soon as practicable. Hoke complied, and the attack was made at daylight the next day—one of the companies laying the plank, under fire, and the others crossing over, also under fire, driving the enemy and causing a retreat to Newbern.
There were also some Union troops at Clark’s brickyard, on the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad, nine miles above the city, and information was received that a train of cars had been sent from Newbern to bring them in. The regiment was ordered to capture this train, without wrecking it, if possible, and accordingly a three-mile march at quick and double-quick time was made to intercept it. When the regiment got within about twenty or thirty yards of the track the train was passing at its highest speed, and shots were exchanged between the opposing parties. If success had attended this movement the purpose of the brigade commander was to place his troops on the train, run into the town and surprise the garrison. Pickett’s expedition, however, was not successful, and the troops fell back to Kinston, remaining there a few weeks, and then marched on Plymouth.
The Battle of Plymouth.—April 18, 19 and 20, 1864: General Hoke, who succeeded to the command of all the forces in this department, directed the campaign, and was also authorized by the Navy Department to secure the co-operation of the Confederate ram, Albemarle, then near Hamilton on the Roanoke river, in an unfinished state and in charge of Commander Cooke. Colonel Mercer, of the 21st Georgia, commanded Hoke's Brigade. He was killed in a charge at night upon a fort about half a mile in advance of the enemy's line of works at Plymouth, and Lewis, of the 43d, assumed command and was promoted to Brigadier-General. The fort was taken and the Albemarle simultaneously steamed down the river and engaged the enemy, sinking one of their gunboats and driving their flotilla a considerable distance below Plymouth, thus relieving the land forces in future movements of the apprehended attack from them. During the night the different commands were placed in position for the general assault upon the works around the town, and this necessitated the moving of the troops by circuitous routes to avoid being discovered by the enemy, and consumed all of the 19th. Accordingly, on the morning of the 20th General Matt. Ransom attacked on the south side of the town, Lewis on the north, and Hoke, with the other brigades, moved upon the enemy's center. The town was taken in a short while, the garrison and an immense amount of supplies being captured. The brilliancy and dash of this movement, which was planned and faithfully executed according to the directions of the commanding officer, received recognition in the following:
Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the thanks of Congress and the country are due and are tendered to Major-General Robert F. Hoke and Commander James W. Cooke, and the officers and men under their command, for the brilliant victory over the enemy at Plymouth, N. C.
Joint resolution, approved May 17, 1864. War Records, Series I., Vol. XXXIII., page 305.
Washington, N. C., was next threatened, and after an artillery duel during the day the enemy evacuated it. The forces then moved upon Newbern again. The 43d engaged the enemy about nine miles from the city during the afternoon of May 2, and again on the morning of the next day. The enemy were forced back in a running fight within sight of the town. At this juncture, when the capture of the town seemed probable, orders were received to march immediately back to Kinston and thence to Petersburg, which point General Butler, of the Union army, was threatening with a large force. The distance covered by the regiment on this day's march, including the running fight towards Newbern and the return to Kinston, was thirty-seven miles in about twelve hours. Of the reinforcements ordered to Petersburg the 43d was the first regiment to arrive and, there being but few other troops on the ground, orders were given to occupy the entrenchments in front of the city by deploying at twenty paces, and, in order to impress the enemy with the belief that they were confronted by a large force, instructions were given to make as much noise as possible and fire off guns at frequent intervals. From this time till the 15th of May the regiment was moved to different portions of the line, from the south of Petersburg to the north of Richmond, a distance of about thirty miles, seldom remaining more than one day at any point. These frequent movements were deemed necessary on account of the small force available to meet real or supposed movements of the enemy. In the meantime reinforcements were brought in, and General Beauregard commanded the Confederate forces in the engagement which took place the next day.
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