Colonel Hamilton A. Brown Letter, 1st NCST

Letter written by Colonel Hamilton Allen Brown of the 1st Regiment North Carolina State Troops, to his mother, where he was wounded at 3rd Winchester. Transcribed by myself.

Camp Near Waynesboro VA

Sept 30 1864

My Dear Mother:

                I write to let you know that I am still in the land of the living, since I wrote to you I have passed through several narrow places and have witnessed scenes that I hope will never be called upon to witness again. Our Army has been defeated twice latily once at Winchester where we lost our [one?] Maj Gen and once at Strasburg or Fishers Hill. I was wounded at Winchester the ball struck my watch, which happened to be in the watch-pocket of my pantaloons [?] the watch was very badly broken, but saved my life I did not leave the field. Shortly after I was wounded the Yankee cavalry overtook and compelled me to surrender to them. They were forced to retire in consequence of our own artillery fire and I found a way to get back within our lines. Gen Rodes was killed at Winchester in the early part of the engagement the ball passed through his head he never spoke but died without a struggle. The death of Gen Rodes has cast a gloom over the whole of this Army he had few equals as a military man, in him I lose a friend whose confidence I had won by hard fighting and unremitting [?] wit [?]. Gen Ramseur is in command of the Division I am still in command of the Sharpshooters of this Division. I think of taking command of my Regt before long. I have heard nothing yet from [illegible] Col Barber would probably have an opportunity of this wrong. I asked for [illegible] I could get in [illegible].

We are resting today near Waynesboro twelve miles east of Staunton the Yankees have destroyed the rail road from Staunton to this place. It is reported [?] that Gen Longstreet took command of the Army of the Valley District this morning.

Tell Ellen I will answer her letter before long wish very much I had been at home to have enjoyed the nice thing and the [illegible]…

Hoping to hear from you now I am

Very affectionately

Your Son

H A Brown

Source: James B. Gordon Papers; North Carolina State Archives

Shenandoah Valley Campaign 1864

North Carolina Order of Battle, Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864, June 17-October 19, 1864.
Army of the Valley (Early)

Rodes' Corps

Rodes' Division

Grimes' Brigade
32d North Carolina
43rd North Carolina
53rd North Carolina
2d North Carolina Battalion

Cox's Brigade
1st North Carolina
2d North Carolina
3rd North Carolina
4th North Carolina
14th North Carolina
30th North Carolina

Ramseur's Division

Johnston's Brigade
5th North Carolina
12th North Carolina
20th North Carolina
23rd North Carolina

Lewis' Brigade
6th North Carolina
21st North Carolina
54th North Carolina
57th North Carolina
1st North Carolina Battalion

Battle of Monocacy

North Carolina Order of Battle, Battle of Monocacy, MD, June 9th, 1864.

Army of the Valley (Early)

Rodes' Corps

Rodes' Division

Grimes' Brigade
32d North Carolina
43rd North Carolina
53rd North Carolina
2d North Carolina Battalion

Cox's Brigade
1st North Carolina
2d North Carolina
3rd North Carolina
4th North Carolina
14th North Carolina
30th North Carolina

Ramseur's Division

Johnston's Brigade
5th North Carolina
12th North Carolina
20th North Carolina
23rd North Carolina

Lewis' Brigade
6th North Carolina
21st North Carolina
54th North Carolina
57th North Carolina
1st North Carolina Battalion

A Private's View of Cedar Creek

This is from acting adjutant Samuel P. Collier of the 2nd North Carolina State Troops, of Cox' Brigade. Collier was away on regimental business and missed the battle of Cedar Creek, but his views of the condition of the valley army, and his disgust at the "stampede" of Cedar Creek, were universally held. (This is from the Collier Papers, North Carolina State Archives).

Camp near New Market
Oct 22nd 1864

My Dear Parents

I arrived here safely yesterday and found every thing in perfect confusion. Our Regt numbered about 60 men but they are coming in hourly from the mountains whither they took refuge when the stampede occurred at Middletown. I will give you the particulars of it or as far as I have heard. It seems that the morning after I left or rather the same evening they started forward and by marching all night succeeded in getting completely on the enemys flank at Cedar Creek. The flanking party consisted of Ramseurs, Gordons, and Pegrams while Whartons and Kershaws were to attack in front. At daylight the attack was made simultaneous upon the enemys camp, who were sound asleep, they immediately ran, leaving every thing just as they were standing, wagons, artillery, sutlers and medical stores and Quarter Masters goods. We immediately charged them, they ran but were soon rallied but only to run again. We drove them as far down as Middletown when we halted. The enemy were reinforced by the 6th Corps which had been stationed at Winchester. They now had Three Corps and greatly outnumbered us but we would have easily repulsed them had the men been at their post but they were off plundering the enemys camps. They charged our line and succeeded in breaking through Gordons line (who occupied the left) who immediately broke and ran in every direction. We captured 18 pieces of artillery but lost it all and 12 more in the stampede. Lost also a good many ambulances and wagons. Maj Genl Ramseur was wounded (mortally I am afraid) and captured Gen Battle was also wounded. Cousin Bryan Cobb was struck on the head but did not enter the skull. He will be home I expect before this reaches you. I do not know who was to blame in the affair. This army will certainly have to undergo at least two months of the most rigid discipline before they will fight and this army will certainly have to change commanders before it can be done for Genl Early is no disciplinarian. He is one of the best military men of the present time. Take Genl Lee out and I don’t think he has his equal.
That movement was the most excellent planned affair that was ever known and I am sure we would have been successful but for the men plundering. I must soon close. Best love to all. Write soon.
Affectionate Son
Sam. P. Collier
P.S.
I am acting adjutant of the Regt. Adjutant Dillingham being either killed or captured or he may be in the mountains and will come in.
Sam P.C.

Cedar Creek In Their Own Words

This is the official report of Colonel John R. Winston commanding the 43rd and 45th regiments.

LIEUTENANT: In obedience to orders from brigade headquarters, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part the two regiments under my command took in the battle of Cedar Creek on the 19th instant: We had crossed the pike, when we came in closer range of the enemy. It is useless to mention what happened before, more than the fact that the men went through a camp just as it was deserted, with hats, boots, blankets, tents, and such things as tempt our soldiers, scattered over it, and after diligent inquiry I heard of but one man who even stooped to pick up a thing. He got a hat, and has charges preferred against him. Under orders, I deployed the Forty-fifth Regiment as skirmishers in front of the brigade after we had crossed the pike. It moved forward some 200 or 300 yards, when it was halted and ordered to lie down under a heavy artillery fire, several having been struck with shell. I was ordered back to take command of the Forty-third Regiment, having left Captain Wharton in command of the Forty-fifth. The whole line then moved forward. Instead of striking the enemy's line squarely face to face, our brigade, being on the right, would have struck their line in an angling direction but this would expose our right flank to too distressing a fire, as the left of the Sixth Corps was strongly posted on the pike on the woody eminence near which our right would have crossed. Colonel Cowand having been detached with the Thirty-second as skirmishers on the pike, the balance of his command (Fifty-third and Second Battalion) had no commander. When they (composing the right of our brigade) began to be much annoyed from the fire above mentioned, in obedience to orders, I assumed command of them, and they moved squarely to the right and gallantly ran the enemy from the woods, and for some time held their ground against great odds, firing both from flank and front and in close range. I take pleasure in mentioning this splendid conduct of these troops because their brave commander was in another part of the field and had not the opportunity of observing them as I did. My own regiments moved straight forward with the rest of the army. As above mentioned, I did not have the pleasure of going with them; but their conduct was such as usually characterizes sons of our dear old State. The colors at one time were in twenty or thirty steps of the enemy. Here we lost Lieutenant Vines, Company E, Forty-third. I unhesitatingly pronounce him one of the most efficient officers of his grade in our service; no one was braver. After the Sixth Corps had been repulsed nothing notable occurred till late in the evening, when the enemy made his final charge. Our brigade was ordered forward to meet him; so all moved off together, and after a few rounds the enemy retreated in confusion. Soon our own army began to fall back in confusion on the left and then to stampede. My command, with the brigade, fell back according to orders, to a first and then to a second line; but the stampede soon became so mixed no officer whose men had fallen back far, and particularly on the left of the pike, could find his men. My flag was for some time in rear of our army. I had to hurry up the color bearer for fear the colors would be captured, and the enemy reaching Strasburg first, my colors accompanied me, with many others, around the left of Fishers Hill. Until the stampede began the conduct of officers and men, with very few exceptions, was very commendable. Even then the color bearer, Sergeant Barnes, Company 0, Forty-third, deported himself (I use the strongest term) as well as it was possible for man to do. My command acted well till the stampede began. With the co-operation of officers and men, should our army be disgraced with another stampede, under the direction of God, my command will not.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
John R. Winston,
Colonel

Battle of Cedar Creek

This weekend is the 145th anniversary of the battle of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864. There were several regiments of North Carolina infantry that participated in the battle. They are as follows:
Ramseur's Division:
Grimes' Brigade:
32nd North Carolina
53rd North Carolina
43rd North Carolina
45th North Carolina
2nd North Carolina Battalion

Cox' Brigade:
1st North Carolina
2nd North Carolina
3rd North Carolina
4th North Carolina
14th North Carolina
30th North Carolina

Pegram's Division:
Johnston's Brigade:
5th North Carolina
12th North Carolina
20th North Carolina
23rd North Carolina
1st North Carolina Battalion Sharpshooters

Godwin's Brigade:
6th North Carolina
21st North Carolina
54th North Carolina
57th North Carolina

I will be at the Cedar Creek battlefield this weekend participating in the annual reenactment. Tomorrow I will share some thoughts on the battle written by North Carolina participants.