The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-11
Thirteenth Regiment
North Car. Infantry
Continued from 9th page.)

sick and wounded. After resting for
period Of weeks along the banks Of the
Opequan, we find the regiment being
moved by rapid marches to meet the
enemy at Fredericksburg. The part it
took at Fredericksburg was not very
prominent After the death Of Garland
the brigade was commanded by Gen.
Alfred Iverson, a Georgian. After the
battle Of Sharpsburg, and while around
Fredericksburg, Gen. Rhodes command
ed the division. At Characteristic the
regiment was on the extreme LETT ana
was conspicuous in turning the enemy 8
right and accomplishing Hooker's de-
feat. It's loss was heavy at ChanceLors-
vile. Its Major, c.. G. Blacknall, was
wounded here, and fell into the hands
Of the enemy, was confined In the Olu
Capitol prison at Washington at the time
the Confederate spy, Miss Belle Boyd,
was there; but was exchanged in time
to return to the army before Gettysburg.
The loss in the 23rd at Charlottesville
was officially reported by General Rodes
as 173 killed, wounded and missing.
Among the killed was Capt. Jas. 5.
knight. of Rockingham, Richmond
county.
In the Gettysburg campaign no part
of the army acted a more important part
than did the 23rd n. G. 1t was engaged
in the fight Of the first day at Gettys-
burg. in which the brigade lost hfty-hve
per cent in killed and wounded. The loss
in this regiment was so great the first
day that it could not be taken into ac-
ton. as a regiment, the succeeding days.
The regiment was left without a COM
missioned officer. all being among the
killed and wounded, and there remained
but one nom commissioned officer and 10
privates. The Colonel, D. ii. Christie,
was mortally wounded. Lieut. Col. Il.
D. Jordan was badly wounded through
the lower jaw and neck. Capt Basker-
vile, of Company G., killed on the field.
Mai. Blacknall, first day at Gettysburg,
was disabled by a ball that entered his
mouth, knocking out several teeth and
passing back through the neck. On the
retreat to Virginia, he was captured, his
terrible wound having forced him to stop
for rest at farm house. Colonies
Christie and Johnston were also captur'
Confederate cavalry and taken to Will
Transport The former died on the way
to Winchester. Blacknall managed to
escape from his captors, but was taken
again next morning, then taxed to Fort
McHenry where, with other officers. he
was forced to draw lots for the fate OF
being shot in retaliation for Federal
Major shot in Richmond. Major Black
nall drew the unlucky number, and was
condemned to execution, but for some
reason his life was spared, then trans
ferred to the horros of Johnson Island,
where he spent the winter, returning to
his home in March, 1864. Against re-
monstrances OF family and friends-al-
though a wreck now Of his former self,
by reason of wounds and hardships-he
seorned TO accept a 'bomb-proof' posi-
ton. but rejoined his regiment in time to
go with Early on his truly great march
on Washington. (By the way. it is said
that Melville Holman. of Col. BlacknelPs
old company in the 23rd. was killed at
point nearer to Washington than any
other Confederate who fell in the war;
Now, some words as to the careers, re-
spectively, of Christie and Blacknall, the
latter having succeeded the former as
Colonel of the regiment.
Daniel Harvey Christie was born in
Frederick county. Virginia, March 18th,
1888. In early life he displayed a fond
ness for military studies, and was edu-
Gated at military school. He became
a citizen Of Henderson. Granville county,
North Carolina, some time in 1857, taking
charge Of both the male and female
schools Of the town. OF the former he
established the Henderson Military In
stitute. The breaking out OF the war
found him in this position. He was
quick to bound into the ring Of military
life. upon which he was destined to re-
feet SO much honor and glory. His first
wound was received at Seven Pines.
Again, at Cold Harbor, just after Seven
Pines. he was severely wounded and
carried from the field. Within sixty days
he returned to the command, and de-
voted himself diligently to the work Of
recruiting and disciplining his regiment.
At South Mountain his management of
the regiment, under exceptionally trying
circumstances, was such as to elicit
from General Garland words OF highest
praise for his regiment and himself,
few minutes before the General received
his mortal wound. After Sharpsburg,
and when the army had recrossed the
Potomac, Col. Christie was ordered by
General d. III. Hill to take command of
Brig. Gen. Anderson's brigade, the latter
having been terribly wounded. He COM
manded this brigade until Colonel, after
wards Major, Bryan Grimes, reported for
duty, when Christie returned to his own
regiment. At Gettysburg the fight was
opened by VERSIONS brigade, of which the
23rd was a part, and Christie held his
men for hours under the most terrific
and CALLING fires. until the whole regi-
ment was either killed, wounded or cap
tured, with the exception Of one non-com-
missioned officer (some say Lieutenant
and sixteen men. He was in the act Of
leading charge when he fell mortally
wounded and many other brave men and
officers of his command fell Immediately
near him. Some years ago a writer in
the magazine called "Our Living and
Daado in noting Col Christia's death