The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-06

They thought to see again
The loved ones, kissed through tears:
Not in the trenches of the slain
To lie for years.
But lips they kissed grew old,
And eyes that wept grew blind,
And hearts that could not break lay cd
BY grief enshrined
And spirits yelled in woe,
Looking toward lfes west.
Were called in tenderness unto
Eternal rest. sxl
They came not; but they come
vanquished, faithful few
In silence; and are welcomed home
In silence, too.
Their place of burial is
Hallowed by woman's prayers.
nobler epitaph than this
Could not be theirs.
Major James NJ. Stevenson was born
Newbern, n. c., April 26, 1924. In cal
life he married Miss Christiana E. san
ers. and removed to New Hanover counI
where he enlisted in the Confederate Sd
vice.
BY Governor Ellis order, he seized
forts in this State. He was then lid
tenant of artillery. February 10, 1862,
was elected captain of Company A, Thii
Sixth regiment of North Carolina Infd
try. January 90. 1864, he was elect
major of the Thirty-Six regiment, a
kept at Fort Fisher nearly year. N
vember %, 1864 Major Stevenson, wi
five companies of his regiment, was Sc
to Georgia, and after short but gala
campaign under Hardee was ordef
back to his regiment, arriving in time
the siege of December %, 1864, which VI
renewed by fatal attack on January
1865, which lasted three days, when
gallant few surrendered. During the sic
Major Stevenson was knocked from
parapet by the explosion of large she
and fell bleeding and nearly paralyz
among the garrison below. He was ca
ried prisoner Of war to Fort Columb'
n. Y, where he died March 10, 1865. I
ashes now rest in the family burial l
by his lUTee CIlluTeH, III Odhudlc CCn
terry, near Wilmington.
The State Journal of Savannah, G
published at the time, gives this accoul
after the late battle of Harrison's
Field, which was an advanced positl
fourteen miles from Savannah, Ma.
Stevenson was in command of part
his own battalion and parts of the Ter
and Fortieth battalions, when f1anked
two brigades of the enemy. informant
mand was captured. Major Stevens
made his escape with all his men
cept thirteen, who were killed.
brought off all his wounded. his artillt
and wagons, and that same night march
into Savannah. reporting in person
General Hardee, by whom he was warn
| complimented.
In the State election of 1860 the to
vote polled was 1856, the largest Il
had ever been polled. North Carol
furnished over 100000 men, or quite
many soldiers as she had votars, dur
| the four years of the war. The to
number of troops furnished by all
States of the Confederacy was about 6(
| 900, and it will be seen that North Ca
| lima furnished one fourth of the ent
| force raised by the Confederate Cove
ment during the war. At App0mat
North Carolina surrendered twice
many muskets as did any other State, {
at Greensboro more of her soldiers W
among the paroled than from any of
sister States. North Cardinals losses
the casualties of the war we're over 30,
men.-Our Living and Our Dead.
LEONIDAS j. MERRITT, OF NOR
| CAROLINA BY r. H. BATTLE.
| The men North Carolina furnished
! the Confederate army were largely
her best, young men of intellect, edu
| ton and refinement the sons of her u
versty and other seats of learning.
death roll on the walls of Memorial III
in Chapel Hill University, show what
large proportion of such young men
on the battle fields. Among these v
Leonidas John. Merritt. He was born
the Sth of June, 1880, in Chatham coun
His father was worthy intellig'
farmer, and his mother, woman of [
empiary piety and good sense, was
sister of Hon. Abram Rencher, successi'
ly member of Congress from the Cha
am district, Minister to Portugal, q
Governor of New Mexico. Reared on
farm, Leonidas first attended neighb
hood schools and then the famous sch