The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-19
THE LATE COL. r. NJ. PARKER.

he passed away at his nome at Enneid
on Tuesday night, January 18th.
Col. Parker was one of the most
distinguished of the North Carolina
soldiers during the war He was
TENDER, 1927 in a community where
his ancestors had settled many gem
erations before. He is a descendant
of John Haywood, the first of that
name to come to North Carolina; and
ne is a grandson of Captain Henry
DINA Continental Regiment. and OF
near kin TO Col. Henry Irwin who was
killed at the battle of Germantown.
He was educated at Lovejoy's Acad
envy at Raleigh, at DR.. Wilson'S 'Cald-
well Institute" and at Vale Crucis.
He married Miss Sallie r. Philips, a
sister of the lamented Judge Fred
Philips Who died at his home at
Rocky Mount only two days ago. He
settled down as a farmer on his plan
tation in Halifax county and save for
the interruption of the war he stead
lily pursued that vocation, until two
years ago a slight stroke of ,paraly-
sis incapacitated him for active work.
His fine character and sterling worth
gave him speedily high rank among
the leading men of his community.
He was closely associated with his
kinsman. Governor Clark, of Tarboro.
and when war became inevitable in
1851 he joined in raising a company
called the Enfield Blues" of which
he was elected the second lieutenant,
and which became Company l Of the
First Regiment organized by the State
and known as the famous Bethel
Regiment" and Lieutenant Parker
received his baptism of blood at
Bethel, being in command of his COM
pany during the progress of that bat
tie. A little later. on the resignation
of the captain Of the company, Lieu
tenant Parker was elected to succeed
him, and in October on the organize
ton of the Goth North Carolina Regi-
ment, Capt. Parker was elected Coll
oneI of that regiment, and his Subse-
pacity. Under his training the regi-
ment became famous for it's con-
stancy and endurance. 1t entered on
its career of glory at the battle of
Seven Pines on the 31St of May. 1852,
and was soon afterwards assigned TO
a brigade commanded by Gen. George
3. Anderson and participated in the
seven days battles around Richmond
and again it distinguished itself at
the battle of South Mountain. In par
ticular it won fame at the Bloody Lane
on the 18th of September at Sharps
burg. 1t was there that General An
derson fell and Colonel Tew was killed
and Colonel Parker himself desper-
ately wounded. On that occasion as
the enemy approached, Colonel Par
ker cautioned his men to hold their
fire until he should give the command.
and then to take deliberate and cool
aim and to fire at the cartridge boxes,
thus shooting neither too high nor too
low. They obeyed his directions and
gave a volley which brought down
the enemy, as grain falls before the
reaper.
The regiment performed good SER
vice at Fredericksburg and also at
Charlottesville, being one of the
twenty North Carolina regiments that
accompanied Jackson in his famous
movement across Hooker's front and
striking Towards corps in reverse.
Colonel Parker used to be fond of
telling how he enjoyed the sight of
the Dutchmen tumbling over their
works and running for dear life and
repeating that ominous word, shack
son, Shackson," On that occasion
Colonel Parker gained particular dis
tinction. He was directed by Gener-
al Ramseur TO support Pegram's bat
terry which was being threatened, and
then to act on his own responsibility.
After the danger to Pegram had
passed he led the 30th North Carolina
in the direction of the heavy firing,
and, after proceeding half mile, re-
ceived the fire of the enemy from be-
hind breastworks which he charged
and captured. Then continuing in the
same direction he struck another force
of the enemy which was attacking.
Ramseur's flank. These he drove
from the field taking many prisoners,
and he relieved Ramseur's brigade
which was in great peril from it's at
tack. In his advance Colonel Parker
reached a point very near General
Rockers headquarters, and he was so
far in advance of any other Confed-
crate troops that General Stuart, who
had succeeded Jackson in command
of Jackson's corps. opened two pieces
of artillery on the 30th until it was
ascertained that it was a Confederate
regiment they were assailing.
Accompanying Lee in the invasion
of PENNSYLVANIA, Colonel Parker and
his regiment reached the HIGHEST point
attained by any other Con-
federate regiment and occupied Car
lyle Barracks. Hurrying to the field
of Gettysburg his command found the
enemy behind stone walls from which
they were driven into and beyond the
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