The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-29
BITS OF WAR HISTORY
SKETCH OF THE::FIFTY-FOURTH
NORTH CAROLINA
REGIMENT.
BY CAPT. ]. MARSHAL WILLIAMS


Upon Newbern and Operations
Around KtnstOn-- Campaign in Yir-
giuia and March Upon Washington.
The oath Regiment of North Carolina
Troops was organized at Camp Mangum,
near Raleigh, n. c., on May 10th, 1862,
and was composed of ten companies of
infantry, viz
COMPANY CA OF Rowan COUNTY. -
Captain, A. Ellis; First Lieutenant, 6.
F. Smith; Second Lieutenant, W. I.
Lowell; Thid Lieutenant, j. A. Fitz
gerald.
COMPANY "B," OF BURKE COUNTY
Captain. J. G. S. Mcdowell; First Lieu
tenant, G. B. KILLER; Second Lieutenant,
A. T Conley; Third Lieutenant, Nj. S.
Marler
COMPANY &C." OF CUMBERLAND CoUN-
TY.-Captain, K. NJ. Murehison; First
Lieutenant, D. A Culbreth; Second Lieu
tenant, J. W. Williams; Third Lieuten-
ant, W. @. Mcdaniel.
COMPANY "D,". OF NORTHAMPTON
COUNTY. Captain, Jas. A. Rogers; First
Lieutenant, Junius B. DeBerry; Second
Lieutenant, Albert Rogers; Third Lieu
tenant, A. E. Peele.
COMPANY "E" OF IREDELL COUNTY
Captain, Parker; First Lieutenant, L, A
PASCAL; Second Lieutenant, FL. S. Bell;
Third Lieutenant FL. G. Russell.
COMPANY IF" OF GUILFoRD COUNTY
Captain, Warrington; First Lieutenant
R. L. Hooper; Second, Lieutenant, J. S.
Hagedale; Third Lieutenant, @. W.
Oyburn.
COMPANY sc" OF WILKES COUNTY
Captain, A. H. Martin; First Lieutenant,
B. F. Johnson; Second Lieutenant, E. G.
Gray; Third Lieutenant, J. A. Martin.
COMPANY 81" OF YADKIN COUNTY -
Captain, D. s. Cockerham, First Lieu
tenant, NJ. G. Shore; Second Lieutenant,
S. A. Jarvis; Second Lieutenant, E. W.
Osborn.
COMPANY ''P' OF COLUMBUS COUNTY
Captain, W B. Hampton; First Lieuten-
ant, J. A. Thorn; Second Lieutenant, D.
V. Rhodes; Third Lieutenant, G. NJ
Cornell.
COMPANY "K" OF GRANVILLE COUNTY
Captain, s J. Parham; First Lieuten-
ant, B. F Pearce; Second Lieutenant,
G.. H. Lindsay; Third Lieutenant, J. Ell.
Xittrell.
These companies, having been eonsoli-
dated, were thereafter known as the
54th n .. Regiment, and on the 10Th
day of May, 1862, proceeded to choose
field officers, which resulted in the cleo
ton of Capt j. @. S. Mcdowell, of Com
pany B, for Colonel; Capt. K. W. Muir
Gibson, of Company @, for Lieutenant
Colonel, and Capt. A. Ellis, of Company
A, as Major.
subsequently, the following staff was
appointed: Lieut.. W. @. Mcdaniel, of
Company G, Adjutant; D. B. Murchison,
Assistant Qqartermaster; E. G. Greenlee,
Surgeon; W W. Tate, Assistant Surgeon;
Rev. John Paris, Chaplain; r. G. Russell,
Sergeant Major; E. G. Brodie, Ordnance
Sergeant, and j. j. Forney, Qlartermas
ter Sergeant.
Capt Mcdowell being elected Colonel.
all the officers in his company were
moved up one grade, and Sergt. B. s.
Young was elected to fill the vacancy
In Company @ there were two vacancies
made by the promotion of Capt. Murchi-
son and Lieut.. Mcdaniel, which were
filed by Sergts. W. W. Cole and Edward
Smith, of the same company. In Com
pany A one vacancy was made by the
promotion of Capt Ellis, which was filed
by Sergt II. A. Clements.
Thus it will be seen that this Regiment
was composed of companies from differ
ent sections of the Sta e; though high up
in numbers, it was composed of good ma
terial, and many of its officers bad for
merly belonged to list, Bethel 18th and
sth N. G. Regiments.
Upon the completion Of its organiza-
ton this Regiment was sent to the coast
and after three months service in picket
duty it IVES ordered to Virginia, where
it was Placed in Laws Brigade with 9Th,
21st, and 57th n. G. Regiments which
constituted a part of Hoods Division.
Soon after it was assigned TO this com
mand, the tattle of Fredericksburg came
of, here we flashed our maiden sword
and at once covered ourselves with glory.
On December 10, 1862, this Regiment
with the 57th North Carolina, being new
Regiments, was detached from the Bri-
gade and ordered to drive the enemy
from the railroad cut, which they had
taken from orr troops in the early part of
the day. At 5 o'clock, p. n, the charge
was made with most gallant manner in
the presence Of several of our prominent
gentlemen, and 70 use the language OF
Gen. Wood, our commander, "They pur-
sued the broken enemy across the rail
road and for a mile into the plain, al
though sc0urged by faux FIRE, it was
not until repeated messengers had been
sent to repress heir ardor that they were
recalled | verify believe that the fellows
would have gone on to the Raappahan-
mock in spite of me, and the enemy to.
gether. And as they returned some Of
them were seen weeping because they
had been dragged from the bleeding
trenches OF the zoe, and exclaimng: at
is because he has no confidence in Caro-
linIans. Il we had been some of his
Texans he would have let us gone or
and won some glory" By special or
ders from corps head quarters hand
some compliment was paid and read out
on dress parade to these two Regiments
Our loss in this charge was compare
lively light, considering the deadly worE
We were engaged in; but we left some
noble and true men on the field, which
served TO remind us that in our next, i
might be our lot to fiji soldiers grave
After this b title we went into winter
quarters on the Rsppahannock. and wert
assigned TO Early's Division, to take thC
place of -- Brigade.
In a short time the campaign OF 1856;
was opened, and at first we took part il
anvca of IookaopsS flank