Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed. Words printed in italics are noted with underscores: _italics_.

REMINISCENCES OF THE GUILFORD GRAYS,

CO. B, 27TH N.C. REGIMENT,

BY JOHN A. SLOAN.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: R. O. POLKINHORN, PRINTER. 1883.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Organization of the Grays--General Joab Hiatt--Original members-- Election of Officers--Drill--Arms received--First public parade --"Jake Causey"--Exercises at Edgeworth--May Queen; presentation of banner.

CHAPTER II.

The Greys celebrate Fourth of July--Visit the Orange Guards at Hillsboro--Dinner and Ball--Celebrate 22d February at Greenboro--The "boom" of War--Secession of the Gulf States--Correspondence between Gov. Ellis and Secretary Holt--Organization of the Confederacy at Montgomery--We celebrate our own Anniversary--Our Visitors--The Ladies--Feasting and Dancing--"Call" on Gov. Ellis for troops--Ellis' Response.

CHAPTER III.

Effect of Lincoln's call for troops--Gov. Ellis convenes the Legislature--The Greys ordered to report at Goldsboro with three days rations--Ordered to report at Fort Macon--Ladies' Aid Society --Political excitement--North Carolina Secedes--New recruits--The Greys sworn in--Arrival at Fort Macon--Latham's Woodpeckers--Assigned to the 9th Regiment--Assigned finally to the 27th Regiment--Deaths --New recruits--Routine duty at the Fort--Sports and Past-times.

CHAPTER IV.

Election of Regimental Officers--Ordered to New Berne--Burnside approaches--Fleet arrives on the 12th--The morning of the 14th--The Battle--The retreat--At Kinston--Changes and promotions--Expiration of enlistments--Regiment reorganized--Grays reorganized as Company B-- Election of commissioned and non-commissioned officers.

CHAPTER V.

More recruits--Sam'l Park Weir--Leave North Carolina for Virginia--The Seven Pines--The seven days fight--Malvern Hill.

CHAPTER VI.

Marching in the rain--From Drury's Bluff to Petersburg--Riddling the "Daniel Webster"--Shelling McClellan's camp--Ordered to Richmond--At Rapidan Station--Discharges and deaths--Regimental Band formed--First Maryland campaign--Across the Potomac--Two Grays captured--Lost in the woods--Turn up in Loudon County, Va.--At Harper's Ferry--Surrender of Harper's Ferry.

CHAPTER VII.

Battle of Sharpsburg--The 27th Regiment in the fight--Complimentary notice by President Davis, Gen. Lee and others--Cook's heroism-- Casualties--Captain Wm. Adams--Recross the Potomac--Rest at Occoquan --Election of Officers to fill vacancies--Deaths.

CHAPTER VIII.

McClellan moves Southward--Our march through the Valley--At Upperville --Return to Paris--Cedar Mountain--Col. Cooke promoted--Major J. A. Gilmer made Colonel--On to Fredericksburg--Incidents on the march-- Burnside advances--Battle of Fredericksburg--Casualties.

CHAPTER IX.

Muster Roll of Grays in December, 1862--Ordered to Richmond--To Petersburg--Take cars for North Carolina--At Burgaw--The sweet potato vine--On to Charleston, S.C.--The Alligators of Pocataligo--In camp at Coosawhatchie--More deaths--Return to North Carolina--On the old grounds near Kinston.

CHAPTER X.

The affair at Bristow Station.

CHAPTER XI.

The affair at Bristow--Gallant conduct of Color-Guard W. C. Story-- Losses of the Grays--Lieut. McKnight killed--Sergeant-Major R. D. Weatherly mortally wounded--The affair a criminal blunder--President Davis' comments--The surprise at Kelly's Ford--Meade crosses the Rapidan--Lee advances--Meade's retreat--In winter quarters near Orange Court-House.

CHAPTER XII.

Company promotions--Our "Fighting Parson" appointed Chaplain--New recruits--Transfers--Deaths--Virginia Xmas hospitality--Visited by Rev. J. H. Smith, of Greensboro.

CHAPTER XIII.

Relative strength of the two armies in May--Their respective positions --The Wilderness--Private Williams receives a wound--Casualties.

CHAPTER XIV.

The enemy re-enforced by Burnside's Corps--Heth and Wilcox overpowered --Critical situation--General Lee charges with the Texas Brigade--Enemy routed--Longstreet wounded--Night march--Moving towards Spottsylvania Court-House--Fortifying at Spottsylvania.

CHAPTER XV.

Barlow's attack upon our left--The little brick church--The enemy's advance on Ewell at the salient--Gen. Lee exposes himself--Terrific conflict--Heth's Division moved to the left--The enemy repulsed--Rest for a few days--Grant's desperate attack on the 18th.

CHAPTER XVI.

Grant abandons his plans--Moves towards Bowling Greene--On the road to Hanover Junction--Weary marches--A. "Georgy" soldier's costume--His idea of Music and Medicine--Anecdote of General Grant--Grant changes his tactics--Engagement at Attlee's Station--Brush at Tolopotomy Creek--Skirmish at Pole--Green Church--Lieut. Campbell mortally wounded.

CHAPTER XVII.

The army at Cold Harbor--Battle at Pharr's farm--Casualties--At Cold Harbor--Lieut. Frank Hanner's death.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Marching towards the James--Our Brigade in the Chickahominy Swamps-- Cavalry skirmish at Hawe's Shops--Sergeant W. M. Paisley mortally wounded--Ordered to support the cavalry on the 21st.--Fighting under difficulties--On the lines near Petersburg.

CHAPTER XIX.

The Crater--Warren's corps seize the Weldon Railroad--The 27th at Ream's Station--The Grays lose heavily--Warren holds the railroad.

CHAPTER XX.

In the trenches before Petersburg--Casualties--The Federals cross to the north side of the James--Skirmish near Battery No. 45--At Hatcher's Run--At Burgess' Mill--In line of battle--Building winter quarters--On a raid at Bellfield--The enemy in full flight--Grant creeping up on our lines.

CHAPTER XXI.

In winter quarters at Hatcher's Run--A midnight tramp--An affair at Hare's Hill--Our picket line in the hands of the enemy--Recaptured-- At Fort Euliss--Our lines broken--The retreat--Fight at Sutherland's Tavern--Sorely pressed--Reach Deep Creek--Camp near Goode's Bridge --We celebrate--Reorganization of the regiment--A halt at Amelia Court-House--Wagon trains attacked and burned--Every man for himself--Reach Appomattox--In line of battle--Awaiting orders.

CHAPTER XXII.

To the reader--The morning of the 9th--Preparations to attack--A flag of truce--Negotiations between Generals Grant and Lee--The surrender --The Guilford Grays present at Appomattox--Comrades--Closing scene --Retrospect.