Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 4.djvu/62

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44
CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

those facing Beaufort." The Confederate loss was 7 killed and 18 wounded.

These successive defeats aroused the people instead of dispiriting them. They saw plainly that the Richmond authorities had been far too slow in realizing the State’s condition and the importance of the territory being lost. They saw, not without some bitterness, enough North Carolina troops sent into the State, after the fall of New Bern, to have prevented its loss. Still the almost defenseless condition of the other part of the State called for new exertions, and without taking time for much repining, the State government sent out an order that was fruitful in results. This was, that the captains of all militia companies were to detail one-third of their men for immediate service, and these men were accorded permission to volunteer for the war. Major Gordon says: 4< This order struck a wave of patriotism that was floating over the State from east to west, which had been almost dormant for some months on account of the government’s refusing to furnish arms to twelve months volunteers. Prominent men in every county of the State vied with one another in raising troops, and many of those not actually going to the field were as busy helping as those going. Instead of getting one-third, the writer believes that fully two-thirds of those liable to service volunteered under this call. In all, twenty-eight regiments and several battalions promptly volunteered. The adjutant-general’s office was daily crowded by men offering companies for service. The Eleventh regiment (Bethel) was reorganized at High Point ; the Forty-second (Col. G. C. Gibbs), at Salisbury, April 22d; and at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh, were organized the Forty-third (Col. T. S. Kenan), the Forty-fourth (Col. G. B. Singeltary), the Forty-fifth (Col. Junius Daniel), the Forty-sixth (Col. E. D. Hall), the Forty-seventh (Col. S. H. Rogers), the Forty-eighth (Col. R. C. Hill), the Forty-ninth (Col. S. D. Ramseur), the Fiftieth (Col. M. D.