The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-12
SCENES IN oAkwooD CEMETERY YESTERDAY.

to England, and having disposed of his
commission in the army, babe good
bye to the ancient land that had been
for many generations the home Of his
honored ancestry, and sailed for the
United States, to throw IN his future
with the rising fortunes of the great
western republic. Landing stranger
on these shores, where the fortuitous
circumstances of birth and family are
popularity supposed to pass for little,
he soon found among the best society
Of the Old North State that frank
courtesy, high breeding, and gentle
consideration, to which all his life he
had been accustomed in the old land.
Gentleman by birth and by nature,
with a generous heart, high intellect
improved by study and travel, his
many accomplishments and courtly
manners, made him a prime fayorite:
and drew around him Il circle Of cul-
tured and refined people among which
he easily stood chief.
"In 1849 he married Miss Louise
Bryan, second daughter Of General
Edmund Bryan, of Rutherfordton,
North Carolina. =
Early in 1861, the tempest burst
upon the land he had made his
home and the people he loved. Bidding
farewell 10 his adored wife, he hasten
ed where duty called, and his sword,
his services and his experience were
laid at the feet of his State. This ac-
| ton. of Collett Leventhorpe banished
hesitation, if hesitation there had been
before, and so greatly was he beloved
and respected that the young men left
| their homes on the hills and in the val
| legs of old Rutherford and rushed
with him to thefeld. Three full com
| panies went from this county almost
simultaneously and were incorporated
into the Saith North Carolina Regiment,
/ of which Captain Leventhorpe was
unanimously chosen the first colonel,
/ in November. 1861.
after short period Ina camp at
i High Point, the regiment was ordered
| to Raleigh, where 1T remained for a
| while in the camp of instruction. Dur
i ing this time Col. Leyenthorpe's ex-
| perieDce as a soldier gave him pre-
i cedence over his less experienced
brother officers, and while only a
| colonel in rank, for the most of the
| time he commanded brigade His
| fitness for much higher rank was so
clearly demonstrated that Governor
Clark, in December, 1861. earnestly
urged his promotion to the rank OF
Brigadier General. In this applica-
ton every officer with whom
he came 10 contact heartily
| joined. For reasons best known
to themselves the authorities
at Richmond passed over the modest,
| unassuming, experienced officer; but
SO thoroughly were his fine iudg-
ment and vigilance relied upon,
| that almost from the very
struggle important commands
were laid upon him." For six months
he was IN command of the district of
| Wilmington. ''The 34th having vol
unteered for only twelve months, and
the old Bethel regiment having been
recognized as the 18th North Caro-
/ lima, the officers Of the latter looked
| about for a colonel worthy TO COM
| mand q body already famous Nor
| was the choice easy 10 make until by
happy chance the name Of Collett
/ LeyeRthorpe was suggested, and he
| was at once chosen. n u Re-
signing the command Of the oath, to
| which he had become much endeared
| he took his place at the head of that
| splendid Eleventh Regiment, with
| whose fame his name will go down TO
/ history = ut was the best
| drilled regiment in Lees army, and
| was so admitted to be. In all the
| drilling contests, the 18th was barred
a universal tribute to their SUI
| pemacy. y = The battle of
White Hall, in Eastern North Carolina.
was their first baptism Of fire. = =
1t is not too much to say that TO the
| 18th was due the honor of having
| saved the day. From this time on,
| until just before the great Gettysburg
| campaign, Col. Leventhorpe, with the
others of his brigade, were along the
/ line of the Blackwater, with head
| quarters at Franklin, Va, and later,
| on the Roanoke, with headquarters at
| Hamilton. 1T was while at this latter
1 place that the brilliant affair at
Blount's Mill took place, in which a
small Confederate force, under the
immediate command of Leventhorpe,
met the enemy with 10 regiments and
seven pieces of artillery, and defeated
them. A movement was on foot to
elect him to the command of the
North Carolina brigade of cavalry in