THIRTY-FIEST REGIMENT.1. J. V. Jordan,' Colonel. 3. E. K. Bryan, 1st Lieut, and Adjutant^. Daniel G. Fowle, Lieut-Colonel. 4. Geo. F. Darden, 2d Lieut., Co. K.

5. Isaac H. Stegall, 1st Sergeant, Co. A.

THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT.

BY

ADJUTANT E, K. BRYAN andSERGEANT E. H. MEADOWS, Co. K.

The Thirty-first Eegiment was organized 19 September,

1861, with the following Meld, Staff and Company officers:

J. V. JoEDAN, Colonel, Craven County.

Daniel G. Fowle, Lieutenant-Colonel, Wake County.

Jesse Johnston Yates^ Major, Hertford County.

Petee Ctjstis^ Surgeon, Craven County.

W. J. BusBEE, Assistant Surgeon, Wake County.

And the following Company officers

:

Company A—Oondery Godwin, Captain; W. H. Hart-

man, First Lieutenant; Tiabon Stegal, Second Lieutenant;

Moore J. Seably, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company B—Edward E. Liles, Captain; J. G. Bradly,

First Lieutenant; C. B. Lindsey, Second Lieutenant;

Stephen Crump, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company C—Andrew W. Betts, Captain ; Leinster Utley,

First Lieutenant; Thomas H. Wray, Second Lieutenant;

Andrew IST. Betts, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company D—Langdon Cheves Manly, Captain; Henry

B. Jordan, First Lieutenant ; Kuffin L. Bryant, Second Lieu-

tenant ; Joseph W. Holden, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company E—Jesse Miller, Captain; John W. Hughes,

First Lieutenant; John H. Berry, Second Lieutenant; Jos.

W. Allison, Junior Second Lieutenant

Company F—Chas. W. Knight, Captain, S. J. Latham,

First Lieutenant ; S. W. Morrisett, Second Lieutenant ; S. A.

Hyman, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company G—Julian Picot, Captain; Isaac Pipkin, First

Lieutenant; John A. Slaughter, Second Lieutenant; S. B.

Pool, Junior Second Lieutenant.

508 North Carolina Troops, 1861-'65.

Company H—Willie D. Jones, Captain ; Fabius H. Perry,

First Lieutenant ; Walter Debnam, Second Lieutenant ; Wil-

liam Pulley, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company I—John A. D. McKay, Captain ; Cornelius H.

Coffield, First Lieutenant ; William A. Pierce, Second Lieu-

tenant; William Pearspn, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Company K—Joseph Whitty, Captain; E. J. Bowen,

First Lieutenant ; Thos. H. Gaskins, Second Lieutenant ; Jos.

D. Ballinger, Junior Second Lieutenant.

As thus organized, the command proceeded to RoanokeIsland, N. C, arriving there on 12 December, 1861. On21 December that part of North Carolina east of Chowanriver, together with the counties of Washington and Tyrrell,

was, at the request of the proper authorities of North Caro-

lina, constituted into a Military District under Brigadier-

General H. A. Wise, and attached to the command of Major-

General Huger, commanding the Department of Norfolk.

The military defence of Eoanoke Island, and its adjacent

waters, consisted of Fort Bartow, the most southern of the de-

fences on the west side of the island, a sand fort well covered

with turf, having nine 21-pound guns mounted and

Fort Blanchard, on the same side of the island, two and a

half miles distant from Fort Bartow, a semi-circular sand

fort, turfed and mounting four 32-pound guns ; on same side

and about 1,200 yards from Fort Blanchard was Fort Huger,

a turfed sand fort, running along the line of the beach and

closed in the rear by low breastworks, it mounted eight 32-

pound guns and two rifle 32-pound en barbette, and two

small 32-pound en barbette on the right. About three miles

from fort Bartow on the east side of the island was a battery

of two 32-poimd guns, at Midyett's Hammocks, in the centre

of the island. About three miles from Fort Bartow and one

mile from Midyett's Hammocks was a redoubt, or breastwork,

thrown across the road—70 or 80 feet long with embrasures

for three guns, on the right of which there was a swamp andon the left a marsh, the redoubt reaching nearly between

them and facing to the north. On the Tyrrell side, on the

main land, nearly opposite Fort Huger, was Fort Forrest,

mounting seven 32-pound guns.

Thirty-First Regiment. 509

In addition to these defences on the shore, and on the

island, there was a barrier of piles, extending from the east

side of Fulker Shoals, towards the island, the object of whichwas to compel vessels passing on the west side of the island to

approach within reach of the batteries, but up to 8 February,

there was a span of 1,700 yards open opposite Fort Bartow.

Some vessels had been sunk, and piles driven on the west

side of Fulker Shoals, to obstruct the channel between that

shoal and the main land. The above composed all the de-

fences, either upon the land or water adjacent. See Map,Vol. I, page 390, of this work.

The entire military force stationed on the island prior to,

and at the time of the engagement, consisted of the Eighth

Regiment, North Carolina State Troops, under command of

Colonel H. M. Shaw, a most gifted and gallant officer. TheThirty-first Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers, com-

manded by Colonel J. V. Jordan, known as a faithful officer

and fine disciplinarian. Also three companies of the Sev-

enteenth Regiment North Carolina Troops, under the com-

mand of Major G. H. Hill. After manning the forts we had

only about 800 effective men for duty. The entire commandunder Brigadier-General Wise, who upon 7 and 8 February,

was at Nag's Head, four miles distant from the island, con-

fined to a sick bed and entirely disabled from participating in

the battle which was imminent. The immediate command,

therefore, devolved on Colonel Shaw. On the night of 6

February, a detachment of artillery was sent to Ashby Land-

ing and the remainder of the forces were stationed in the

vicinity of Ashby. On the morning of the 7th, the enemy's

fleet passed by both of the landings, and proceeded toward

Fort Baxtow, and a detachment of infantry stationed at

Pughs, immediately fell back to the vicinity of Ashby land-

ing and joined the detachment then all under the command of

Colonel J. V. Jordan.

In the Sound between Roanoke Island and the main land,

upon the Tyrrell side. Commodore Lynch, with a squadron

of seven vessels, had taken position, and at 11 o'clock the

enemy's fleet, consisting of about thirty gun-boats and schoon-

ers, advanced in ten divisions. The advance and attacking

510 North Caeolina Teoops, 1861-65.

divisions, again sub-divided, one assailing Lynch's squadron

and the other firing upon the fort, with 9, 10 and 11-inch

shell, spherical case, a few round shot and every variety of

rifled projectiles. The fort replied with but four guns,

which were all that coxild be brought to bear. After the fore-

most vessel was struck several times, the fleet fell back so as

to mask one of the guns of the fort, leaving only three to reply

to the fire of the whole fleet. The bombardment was con-

tinued throughout the day and the enemy retired at dark.

Lynch's squadron sustained the position most gallantly, and

only retired after exhausting all their ammunition and

having lost the steamer Curlew, and the Forrest disabled.

Fort Bartow sustained serious damage from the fleet, but the

injuries were partially repaired by the next morning. About3 :30 o'clock on the evening of the 7th, the enemy sent fromtransports about twenty-five men in a launch, apparently to

take soundings, who being fired upon retreated, whereupon

two large steamers having in tow each thirty boats filled with

troops, approached the island under protection of their gun-

boats, at a point north of Ashby's Landing, known as Hay-mond's, and effected a landing ; the point selected was out of

reach of our field pieces at Ashby, and also defended by a

swamp from the advance of our infantry and under cover of

shot and shell from the vessels. Our whole force then with-

drew to the redoubt or breastworks, and placed in battery

three field pieces, under command of Captain Schimmer-

horn, and Lieutenants Kinney and Seldon. Two companies

each from the Eighth and Thirty-first North Carolina Reg-

iments supported this battery.

Three companies of Wise's Legion were deployed as skir-

mishers, the remainder of the infantry about three hundredyards in rear of the redoubts as a reserve. The enemy landed

some 15,000 men with artillery, and at T o'clock a. m. on the

8th, opened fire upon the redoubt, which we replied to im-

mediately with great spirit, and the action soon became gen-

eral, continuing without interruption for five hours, whenthe enemy succeeded in flanking each wing of our forces.

The order was given by Colonel Shaw to spike the guns

of the battery and retire to the northern end of the island;

Thirty-First Regiment. 511

this movement necessitating the abandonment of Forts Bar-

tow, Blanchard and Huger, after destroying ammunition, and

disabling the guns. The enemy now taking possession of the

redoubts and forts and pursuing our troops to the northern

end of the island, deployed so as to surround our small force.

Colonel Shaw finding himself surrounded by this greatly

superior force, had either to make an idle display of courage

in fighting at such an immense disadvantage, or to capitulate

and surrender as prisoners of war. He wisely determined

upon the latter course. Our loss, killed, wounded and miss-

ing, was 285. We were paroled by the enemy. The term of

enlistment expired about September, 1862, and about this

time we were exchanged.

The regiment was reorganized at Camp Mangum, near

Ealeigh, N. C, 18 September, 1862, with the following Field

and Staff officers:

J. V. JoEDAN, Colonel.

E. E. LiLES, Lieutenant-Colonel.

J. A. D. McKay, Major.

W. H. Battle, Surgeon.

W. J. Btjsbee, Assistant Surgeon.

W. E. Pool, Assistant Surgeon.

W. E. Hughes, Assistant Surgeon.

E. K. Bbyan, Adjutant.

John Giriojsr, Sergeant-Major.

C. B. Beale, Sergeant-Major.

John J. Cox, Quartermaster.

J. B. LiNDSEY, Quartermaster Sergeant.

C. H. EoBiNsoN, Quartermaster Sergeant.

C. C. Claek, a. C. S.

H. B. Lane, A. C. S.

E. H. Meadows was Commissary Sergeant after the resign

nation of C. C. Clark, and afterwards was an assistant to

Major Gage, Brigade Commissary of Subsistence.

It will be understood that these officers served at different

periods of the regiment's history, which is also the case with

the company officers, whose names will follow, frequent pro-

512 North CARquNA Troops, 1861-65.

motions and resignations rendering it very difficult to note

the particular dates of each commission

:

CoMPAKTY A—^W. H. Hartman, Captain ; Samuel P. Col-

lins, Captain ; Samuel P. Collins, First Lieutenant ; John A.

Forte, First Lieutenant; W. H. Freeman, Second Lieuten-

ant; John L. Forte, Second Lieutenant; George W. Thomp-son, Second Lieutenant ; John C. Barnes, Second Lieaitenant.

Company B—Chas. B. Lindsey, Captain ; Jas. Y. Bradley,

Captain; E. H. Streeter, First Lieutenant; M. T. Ballard,

Second Lieutenant ; Junius A. Liles, Second Lieutenant ; J.

B. Sidney, Second Lieutenant.

Company C—W. J. Long, Captain ; Thos. H. Wray, First

Lieutenant; J. C. Williams, Second Lieutenant; Thos. H.Goodwin, Second Lieutenant.

Company D—Puffin L. Bryant, Captain; Benj. Walton,

First Lieutenant; S. H. Bryan, Second Lieutenant; W. G.

Williams, Second Lieutenant.

Company E—J. F. Allison, Captain; John BL. Hughes,

First Lieutenant; John H. Berry, Second Lieutenant;

Joseph W. Allison, Second Lieutenant.

Company F—Stephen W. Morrisett, Captain ; Samuel A.

Hyman, First Lieutenant ; Jos. T. Waldo, First Lieutenant

;

Arthur B. Knight, Second Lieutenant; Julius Perkins, Sec-

ond Lieutenant.

Company G—Julian Picot, Captain; Isaac Pipkin, Cap-

tain ; Simeon B. Pool, First Lieutenant ; John D. Gatlin, Sec-

ond Lieutenant ; John L. Everett, Second Lieutenant.

Company H—James E. Todd, Captain; John W. Smith,

Captain; John W. Smith, First Lieutenant; Robert W. Deb-nam. Second Lieutenant ; A. V. Horton, Second Lieutenant.

Company I—Allen B. Parker, Captain ; William A. Du-van. Captain ; W. A. Prince, First Lieutenant ;Wm. Pearson,

First Lieutenant; E. H. Williams, First Lieutenant; Wil-liam 0. Tutor, Second Lieutenant; Allen B. Parker, Sec-

ond Lieutenant ; Daniel McL. Jones ; Second Lieutenant ; W.J. Bother, Second Lieutenant.

Company K—Jos. Whitty, Captain; E. J. Bowen, First

Lieutenant; George F. Darden, Second Lieutenant; Wm. E.Gardner, Second Lieutenant.

Thirty-First Regiment. 513

After remaining several weeks in camp of instruction at

Camp Mangiim, the regiment was ordered to Kinston, JST. C,about 14 December, 1862, and with the Eighth NortJi Caro-

lina and Colonel Pool's Regiment and Colonel Nethercut's

Regiment, Starr's and Badham's ArtiUery, proceeded towards

New Bern to make a feint in order to attract the enemy, whowere in the vicinity of the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad,

near Tarboro, N. C. We proceeded as far as Deep Gully and

drove in the enemy's pickets, they making a feeble resistance.

Colonel H. M. Shaw commanded the expedition. The en-

emy covered their retreat by destroying the bridge at DeepGully (seven miles from New Bern) which prevented our

further pursuit; we had accomplished the purpose intended.

The regiment then marched to Greenville, where it remained

about twenty-four hours, finding no enemy in our front,

marched back to Kinston, N. C, where we went into camp.

The regiment was then ordered to Wilmington, N. C, after

remaining there some days, we were ordered to White Hall,

on ISTeuse river, IST. C, and participated in the battle which

took place there on 16 December, 1862. In that engagement

a portion of the regiment was withdrawn under fire by Lieu-

tenant-Colonel Liles without orders. But at that tim.e wewere not yet well under discipline, and ofiicers sometimes

acted independently. After the engagement we were or-

dered to Wilmington; about this time (date not exactly re-

membered) this regiment, together with the Eighth, Fifty-

first and Sixty-first, was formed into a brigade, commandedby General Thomas L. Clingman, Statesman and Soldier,

than whom a more fearless and gallant soldier never drew

sword. We were then sent to Charleston, S. C, partic-

ipating in the various attacks on James Island and doing

heavy picket duty and skirmishing with the enemy. Wewere then ordered to Savannah, remaining there a few days,

during which time the attack on Fort McAllister was made

;

this regiment acting as a reserve, in rear of the fort ; after an

unsuccessful attempt by the enemy they withdrew, having

accomplished nothing.

The regiment was now moved to James Island again, the

33

614 North Carolina Troops, 1861-65.

health of the conmiand was such, many being stricken down

with a virulent type of fever, that it was considered necessary

to change the encampment and we moved to Mount Pleasant,

opposite Charleston, from which place we patrolled and

picketed the Sullivan Island Beach, and were frequently de-

tailed as a part of the garrison at Battery Wagner, on Mor-

ris Island, against which the most determined efforts of the

enemy were now directed. This regiment was about this

time ordered to report to General Hood at ISTashville, Ten-

nessee, but the order was countermanded, and we were then

ordered to Virginia, but proceeding as far as Wilmington

that order was countermanded.

After being in the vicinity of Wilmington a few days, wewere returned to Charleston, and on 18 July, were a portion

of the gallant garrison which defended Battery Wagner from

the assault of the entire Yankee force on the Island, said to

be 9,000 men, our force; amounted to about 1,600 men. This

was one of the most sanguinary battles of the war, taking

into consideration the disparity of numbers, and the advant

age of the enemy with their fleet, consisting of iron-clad

vessels, monitors- and mortar fleet, as well as land batteries of

heavy rifled guns, which opened bombardment on the fort at

early morning and kept it up continuously until after dark,

at which time, by a signal of a rocket thrown up from the

shipping, the cannonading ceased, and the infantry front

line consisting of 3,000 men, made the assault. The reserve

of 6,000 did not sustain it, seeing their comrades thickly

strewn over the plains dead and dying, they faltered andcould not be gotten to the front. The number killed andwounded on our side was small, as we were protected bybreastworks, the enemy's loss was very heavy, figures not re-

membered, more than 300 prisoners were taken. The next

morning the enemy sent in flags of truce from their armyand navy, and asked to bury their dead and care for their

wounded, which was accorded by General Beauregard, the

truce to last until 4 o'clock p. m.

The picket line, as originally held by us, was occupied at

cessation of the truce. We were relieved from garrison dutyat Battery Wagner on the night of the 19th and returned to

Thirty-First Regiment. 515

Sullivan's Island, remaining on picket duty there until the

winter of 1863, when we were ordered to Virginia, forming

a portion of General R. F. Hoke's division, encamped at Jor-

dan Farm, near Petersburg. From Petersburg we were

ordered to Ivor Station near the Blackwater river, where weremained until tlie campaign of 1864. During our stay there

the enemy ascended with the steamer Smith Briggs up to

Smithfield, Isle-of-Wight County, Virginia, and landed a

marauding expedition, composed of 150 infantry, 25 cavalry

and two mountain howitzers. Four companies of the Thirty-

first Regiment, commanded by Captain Pipkin, one section

of Sturtevant's Battery, and one squadron of cavalry went in

pursuit of the enemy, arriving just in time to head them off

from the steamer, which was waiting for them. We had a

sharp fight through the woods and through the streets of the

town. The enemy were in a full run for their boat, but too

late. Captain Sturtevant, by a well directed shot (the second

shot from one of his pieces) sent a round shot through the

steamer's steam chest, which disabled her, and at once the

white flag was run up by the steamer and the entire expedi-

tion captured and the steamer (General Butler's flagship)

was burned. It was told us by the prisoners we took that

only one man escaped, and that was Captain Lee, the com-

mander of the expedition. He swam to the marsh and

jsecreted himself, thus making his escape (it was said with a

bullet wound in his arm). This was the most complete vic-

tory of its size and importance that ever crowned the efforts

of any troops. After which we rejoined the brigade at Peters-

burg, doing picket duty at City Point, when we were ordered

to Drewry's Bluff and participated in that battle, occupying

the right centre of the line, with balance of Hoke's Divis-

ion. This battle was not unlike the battle of Inkemaan with

respect to the severity of the action, the great slaughter, and

the murkiness and cloudiness of the day, these conditions

rendering it difficult at times to distinguish friend from foe.

It is a matter of history that President Davis, alluding to

the charge of the Thirty-first and Fifty-first Regiments on

that occasion, remarked that it was the most gallant charge

he ever vyitnessed. A distinguished writer to the editor of a

516 North Carolina Troops, 186l-'65.

Eichmond paper of that date, says "the charge made by the

Thirty-first and Fifty-first Regiments on the enemy's lines,

was most gallantly made, eliciting high compliments from

both Generals Hoke and Clingman." From Drewry's Bluff

the pursuit of the enemy, who were still commanded by Gen-

eral Butler, was continued t6 Bermuda Hundred, where wethrew up an entrenched line of works, occupying them until

30 May, 1864; picket fighting and the frequent repulse of

assaults on our lines were the order of the days and nights.

On the morning of the 31st we took the cars for the battlefield

of Cold Harbor, where we arrived in the afternoon of that

day, and were thrown out as a reserve for some cavalry skir-

mishers (Stuart's dismounted), who were engaged with the

enemy's infantry, our cavalry line being greatly outnum-bered, retired, forced by the enemy, who pursued them until

coming within rifle range of our men who, by well directed

shots, retarded their advance in our front; but we having so

short a line (only 600 or YOO men), were soon flanked onour right, the enemy's skirmishers lapping entirely across our

front and rear. Under this enfilade fire we retired to a point

about one mile to our rear, and threw up such hasty breast-

works during the night as could be done with the poor facili-

ties at hand. They were made mostly with the aid of bayo-

nets, tin plates, etc. This was to be the attacking point of

the memorable and bloody battle of the second Cold Harbor,

known in history as one of the most sanguinary conflicts of

the war.

The attack was made on Clingman's Brigade, of Hoke'sDivision, about 3 o'clock p. m., 1 June, 1864. The enemyadvanced not only in line of battle, but on our left wing in

heavy column, masked by the line of battle in front.. This

attack was signally and repeatedly repulsed with great loss

to the enemy, in the entire front of our (Clingman's) Brig-

ade. On the left flank of the brigade was the Eighth, then

Fifty-first Eegiment, then Thirty-first Regiment and Sixty-

first from left to right, as designated; the heaviest attack

was on our left, where the enemy attacked in cohimn. Therewas an interval between our brigade and a brigade on ourleft, in consequence of a swamp intervening between the two,

Thirty-First Regiment. 517

which was considered impassable, therefore not protected

by breastworks or troops; in this interval the enemy's heavycolumns pressed forward and effected a lodgment, which then

enfilading our line, compelled the Eighth and. Fifty-first Reg-

iments to fall back.

They were, however, quickly formed in line of battle par-

allel to the original one, with the Thirty-first and Sixty-

first Raiments, which had repelled all the enemy in their

front. The brigade was under a constant fire from the enemywhile being thus formed in a new line of battle across the

open field, parallel to the original line. While it was so doing

the Twenty-seventh Georgia Regiment, of General Colquitt's

Brigade, came up from our right and handsomely advanced

with us ; the enemy were then, after a hard struggle, driven

back and the whole of our original line was re-occupied, but

the position on our left (the interval) remained in possession

of the enemy without any attempt to retake it. General

Clingman, in a report dated 5 June, 1864, says that his

brigade lost in battle, within a period of three weeks next

preceding that date, 1,172 men.

The following is taken from (Cold Harbor, 1 June, 1864)

Jefferson Davis' History of Confederate States, p. 400

:

"The carnage on the Federal side," writes General Taylor,

"was fearful. I well recall having received a report from

General Hoke after the assault. His Division (our Division)

reached the army just previous to the battle. The ground in

his entire front, over which the enemy had charged, was lit-

erally covered with their dead and wounded, and up to that

time Hoke had not had a single man killed. ITo wonder that

when the command was given to renew the assault, the Fed-

eral soldiers sullenly and silently declined. The order was

issued through the officers to their subordinate commanders,

and from them through the wonted channels ; but no manstirred, the immobile lines thiis pronouncing a verdict, silent,

yet emphatic, against further slaughter.

"The loss on the Union side in this sanguinary action was

over 13,000, while on the part of the Confederates it is doubt-

ful whether it reached that many hundred. General Grant

asked for a truce to bury his dead, after which he abandoned

518 North Carolina Troops, 1861 -'65.

his chosen line of operation, and moved his army so as to

secure a crossing to the south side of James river."

General Clingman's entire staff were either killed or

wounded during the afternoon of that day, and the writers

were both wounded; Adjutant Bryan, while acting on the

staff of General Clingman, conveying orders on the field,

which rendered him unfit for duty several months, and Ser-

geant E. H. Meadows, commanding his company, very seri-

ously, incapacitating him for further active military duty,

(Lieutenant G. F. Darden, who had been in command of his

company, having been wounded the day previous.

)

The regiment was now ordered into the trenches at Peters-

burg, and participated in all the hard fought battles in that

vicinity. In the battle of Fort Harrison, one of the severest

actions occurring on that front, Clingman's Brigade, and par-

ticularly the Thirty-first Regiment, suffered terribly, so that

when one of the writers, Adjutaxit Bryan, returned to the

Regiment only a few days after this battle (date not remem-bered) he found the entire Regiment consisted' of only about

sixty men, commanded by First Lieutenant Williams, the

ranking officer present. The command was ordered to Wil-

mington to participate in the defense of Fort Fisher 13 Jan-

uary, 1865. They took no part in the action, however, as

General Bragg and General Hoke concluded that the situa-

tion was extremely hazardous, as the enemy had already

landed and thrown up works entirely across the peninsula,

which were manned by heavy lines of infantry, which, to-

gether with their navy, which covild sweep the beach with can-

ister and grape at short range, would in all probability havevirtually annihilated the division. We fell back to Sugar Loafand engaged the enemy as they advanced, checking them, andafterwards falling back to Wilmington and through the city

to the Northeast branch of the Cape Fear, which we crossed

on pontoons, the advance of the enemy arriving at the southbank just as our last troops had gotten across the river, andour pontoons cut loose.

We now marched to Goldsboro and Smithfield, where wewaited the advance of Sherman from Fayetteville. Theclash of arms came now again at Bentonville, N. C, 19

Thiety-Fibst Regiment. 519

March, 1865. For two days General Johnston held in checkSherman's 70,000 men, with not more than 20,000 of all

arms. After two days' successful resistance Johnston, find-

ing the Federals in overwhelming force concentrated on three

sides of him, withdrew that night towards Ealeigh. The re-

treat was continued to High Point, N. C, and at the quiet lit-

tle village of Bush Hill, ahout two miles from High Point,

the command was surrendered to General Sherman, our

paroles being dated 1 May, 1865.

E. K. Beyan,E. H. Meadows.

New Been, N C,9 April, 1901.

Since completing the sketch of the Thirty-first Regiment,

my attention- has been called to the following item taken fromVol. 125, "Rebellion Records." At page 815 to 818, is a

list of medals given for capturing flags belonging to Confeder-

ate regiments. Among other North Carolina regiments is the

following: "Sergeant Joseph B. Kemp, Company D, Fifth

Michigan, captured the flag of the Thirty-first North Carolina

Regiment—tearing it from its staff, which was retained by

the color-bearer, at the Wilderness 6 May, 1864."

Now this statement is utterly untrue from beginning to

end—it being a physical impossibility to capture the flag of

a regiment which was not in the battle, and which was at the

time of said battle, for some weeks, both before and after said

battle, several hundred miles distant. At the time of this

battle the Thirty-first regiment was in front of Petersburg,

Va., where it remained until Butler advanced from BermudaHundred in his "on to Richmond." The Thirty-flrst Regi-

ment, together with our entire brigade, met Butler's forces

in the general fight at Drewry's Bluff, and utterly routed him

and drove him back to Bermuda Hundred, all of which is well

known as a matter of history. Butler telegraphed on 7 Maythat he had destroyed many miles of railroad (President

Davis' History, page 389). So this is conclusive, as our'regi-

ment was left by Gen. Clingman to guard Petersburg while

the balance of the brigade were with General Hoke near New

520 JSToETH Caeoliita Teoops, 1861-'65.

Bern, and our regiment (the Thirty-first) only left that

neighbourhood when General Hoke was recalled to meet But-

ler's forces in their effort to reach Richmond. It would be

well for Sergeant Joseph B. Kemp, Company D, Fifth Mich-igan, to be more careful as to his claims.

Our flag was surrendered with the Regiment at Bush Hill,

N. C, 1 May, 1865.

E. K. Betaw.