Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/64

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58 Southern Historical Societi/

[From the Charlotte. N. C., Observer, October 20, 27, 1895.]

THE FORTY-NINTH N. C. INFANTRY, C. S. A.

Its History from its Organization, in Harch, 1862, until overpowered and made prisoners at Five Forks, Va., April 1, 1865.

By Judge THOMAS R. ROULHAC, late First Lieutenant Company D., Forty-Ninth North Carolina Infantry.

[It should be stated that whilst this graphic article is presented as it was written, that the Southern Historical Society Papsrs is not committed as to some of the estimates of its writer. EDITOR.]

The Forty-Ninth Regiment of North Carolina State troops was composed of ten companies of infantry, enlisted from the counties of McDowell, i; Cleveland, 2; Iredell, 2; Moore, i; Mecklenburg, i; Gaston, i; Catawba, i; and Lincoln, i, which assembled at Garysburg, in the month of March, 1862. It was constituted, at its formation, wholly of volunteers, many of whom had sought service in the earlier periods of the war, and all of whom had responded to the call for soldiers as soon as it was practicable to furnish them with arms and equipments. In the latter part of March, or early in April, 1862, organization of the regiment was effected by the election of Stephen D. Ramseur as colonel, William A. Eliason lieutenant colonel, and Lee M. McAfee major. Lieutenant Richmond was the first adjutant, with George L. Phifer as sergeant major; Captain E. P. George, commissary; Captain J. W. Wilson, quarter-master; Dr. John K. Ruffin, surgeon; Reginald H. Goode, assistant surgeon; and Peter Nicholson, chaplain.

The non-commissioned staff was completed with James Holland, quarter-master sergeant; Harrison Hall, hospital steward; and James H. Geiger, ordnance sergeant.

The history of Ramseur is known to all the people of North Caro- lina. No one of her sons ever contributed, by his devotion to her service, skill and heroic bravery on the field of battle, and fearless exposure and ultimate sacrifice of his life, more to the historic lustre of the name and honor of this, the greatest of the American States. He gave untiring energy and masterly judgment to the rapid organi-