The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-21
Four Regiments of Tar
Heel Troops AnnihiIated.
COL BURGWYNS DEATH
DR.. UtIey Regards the Battle of Ream'G
Ststion as the Most Brilliant
Achievement of the Confederate
Arms. Mr.. W. C. StrOnach
Wounded There.

Wounded There.
To the Editor: Pursuant to your
request l have below recorded some
recollections of the Battle of Ream's
Station, Virginia, on August 25th, 1864.
Naturally they perhaps are less acute
by reason of the lapse of forty years
and probably not complete. In this
action was engaged General McRae's
Brigade composed of the 11th, 26th,
44th and 47th Regiments of the
North Carolina troops. The Federal
contingent opposed to the Brigade
was General Hancock's Corps-es-
teemed amongst the best in the Army
of Northern Virginia. 1t was almost
completely .nnihilated in this battle
and but little was thereafter noted OF
it during the great conflict.
General McRae was an exceedingly
modest mar, generally beloved and
invariably lead his men into action.
He at po time ordered them to go.
During the afternoon of August 24th.
his brigade was ordered to take posi-
tioT on road parallel with the Pc
tl9rsburg and Weldon Railroad, (now
Atlantic Coast Line), at point west
ward from and near to Ream's Sta
ton, where it encamped during the
night On the following morning we
moved eastward nearer to Ream' S
Station and there remained until
noon when we were ordered into line
Of battle in front of a masked Federal
battery of fourteen pieces situate
about 900 yards distant-expecting TO
be ordered to take it by storm. For
reasons with which the writer is not
acquainted--the assault was not or
dered, but the troops We're moved
nortliWard about 800 yards--in front
of the old Ream's Station--on line
parallel with the railroad behind
which the enemy was entrenched.
My regiment the 26th. occupied the
right wing, next to it was the 47th.
cannot now recall the position of the
others. The space IN front Of the
26th and the 47th Regiments was for
the greater part clear, but that in
front of the others was covered with
"feiled timber" making advance
very difficult. The 26th had been
trained by it's lamented and UNIVERSAL
iy beloved Colonel. Harry X. Bur-
gwyn, to make q charge at the double
quick, reserving fire until directly
upon the enemy. When the order
came to charge" our regiment
reached the enemy's works with every
gun loaded, (the Yankees having re-
served fire until We were fifty yards
distanD from their position. The re-
suit was complete surrender OF the
entire line in front of the 26th and
47th Regiment. A flanking movement
was then executed on the Federal line
to our right and fourteen pieces of
artillery and 1000 troops were cap
tured When near the enemy's line
l sustained a wound necessitating the
loss of one leg-infiicted by grape
shot from the masked battery. L was
on this occasion First Sergeant of my
Company ID, and aged 20 years. I
have always regarded this battle as
the most brilliant achievement Of the
Confederate arms. There We're few
casualties and strangely enough the
majority of wounds received we're in
the legs. Major Brown, commander
of the 47th Regiment, was killed just
as we emerged from the woods. He
was a very brave man. / cannot re-
frain from here paying my tribute
10 the mem ?ry OF Colonel BUrgWYn.
He fell morally wounded during the
first days fight at ~ tt fsburg having
been the seventeenth to go down car
rying aloft the colors of our regiment.
No officer was ever more beloved or
trusted. He was a splendid soldier
and without reproacn
w. f. UTLEY.
Apex, August 10Th, 1904.
w. c. Stronach, orderly sergeant of
Company A, 47th North Carolina, was
shot through the left lung at the bat
tie of Ream's Station. Sergeant
Stronach and Sergeant Utley were
brought off the battle field in the
same ambulance.
Sergeant Stronach in relating how
he received his wound said:
fAs / mounted the enemy's breast
works / saw a Yankee standing on the
works waving a flag. [ said, Here
is promotion for me if l capture that
flag. ran towards him and when
in about fifty yards of him threw up
my gun to my shoulder to shoot him
Just then I was shot through the
shoulder and tumbled off the works
down amongst the Yankees, who were
huddIed up behind the works. Luckily
or unluckily for me, the bullet struck
the breech of my gun and instead of
going entirely through my body lodged
back of my left lung.
The bullet that penetrated Mr.
Stronach's lung carried in his lung
a round piece of cloth from his gray
jacket this piece of cloth was ex-
perforated some years aICer the war
during a hemorrhage to which he was
subject until his death on account Of
this wound.
There were five compare es from
Wake county in the battle OF Ream S
Station. commanded as follows at this
fight: Company C, Lieut.. NJ. w. Nor
fleet: Company e, Capt J. Fl. Nor
wood Co. H, Capt. S. w. Mitchell;
Company /, Capt. John w. Brown;