The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-03-29
VETERAN WILSON
SOLDIER TALKS
Anxious to Getin the Fight;
But the Home Coming
Was Sad

Wilson. y. G., March r26.-Mr. Jack
Barefoot, through the columns OF Inc
New, and Observer. talks for the
John W. Dunbar Chapter, Dangh-
ters of the C~onfederacy, who are de-
sirous OF gathering experiences OF
those who defended the Cause during
the trying days of the sixties. He
says:
When the war broke out my pa
t~riotism ran as high as though | had
been OF age. l ran away from home
at the breaking out OF the war ana
went to Acquia Creek near Quantlco,
Va. on the Potomac river, where
remained with Co. =. Second Ftegl-
ment, \. G.. State troops, Offering to
volunteer my services to Captain John
Howard. OF Tarboro, who was in COM
mand Of Co. 3. He utterly refused to
allow me to enlist without the consent
OF my father, as [ was at that time
a minor. However, I remained and
messed with the company for about a
month when my father took me back
home.
In January. 1863, | became Of age
and enlisted in the Seventh Confed-
crate Cavalry, Co. II, which was COM
nanded by Capt. l.. j. Barrett. which
was at that time in camp at Wise's
Fork below Kinston. We remained
these on picket duty until October,
1863.
We were then ordered to Black
Water. near Suffolk, Va, where all of
that winter we did practically nothing
but picket duty. From this point we
were ordered to Garysburg and from
there to Plymouth.
After the fall of Plymouth we went
to Washington. when shortly after that
town was evacuated. From here we
Were sent to the block houses below
New Bern. on Deep Rum. We charged
the enemy. and drove them from the
block house. We then moved on Fort
CrOatan. fifteen miles below New
Bern, where after sharp Skirmishlng,
We surround the fort and took sixty
four prisoners. In the fort we cap
yured five days rations Of cooked
pork and beans, besides quantities of
fort all night and the next morning
moved on New Bern, but before reach
ing that city got the news that the
enemy was e~yacuating.
A forced march was our next order,
and to Petersburg We started and at
ter several days of weary training
all but the cavalry-reached our
destination fo~ot-sore and hungry.
Around the :Cockade City we re-
connoitered and secuted for eight or
ten days after which we went in quar-
ters on City Point Road.
This was in April 1864. and we had
a fight shortly after at Model Farm
a few days after. with white and negro
troops. Here we lost several men.
On Jnne 9Th. 1864. the Yankees
made a feint attack on Petersburg, but
were repulsed and driven back. How
ever, on June 18th, the enemy came
in force (an negroes) and took our
works and a few prisoners. Only one
man in my company being killed.
After the night Of the sixteenth my
company was carried to the extreme
right of the Confederate army, near
Burgess Mill. There we went on
picket duty and ~skirmishes were Of
daily and nightly occurrence.
July 1854, was devoted mostly to
picket duty, but during the last Of
the month Genera Wilson. of the
Federal army, made Il raid as far up
as the High Bridge. hear Farmville--
having had a fight with him at Blacks
and Whites Station. on the Norfolk
and Western railroad-the enemy
leaving their position, going in the
direction Of the High Bridge. The
casualties on both sides being slight.
Here L.. Col. Claibourne. of our regi-
ment, had his thigh broken, which in
capacitated him for further service.
After the enemy got to the High
Bridge they met a sufficient number
of militia who kept them in check,
causing them to retreat in the direc-
ton from which they came. General
Lee had placed in position a division
OF infantry in ambush, and when the
enemy was near oue we, the cav
airy, showed them OF to the boys in
ambush, causing them to lose their
heads and scattering them like sheep.
For several day after this we We're
kept busy gathering up guns, sabers
and other war accOutralnentS which
they discarded while making their
wild flight through the woods. Many
prisoners were taken here and several
were killed and wounded.
september following nineteen of my
company We're captured at Fort
Bragg-none being left but those de-
tailed TO wait on the sick and wound
ed and those who were holding horses