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 Address on the life & character of 
 MaJ. Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur 
 Cox 
 
The University of 
 North Carolina Library 
 
 From the 
 ERNEST HAYWOOD LIBRARY 
 
 Established in Memory of 
 
 John Haywood, Trustee 1789-1827 
 
 Edmund Burke Haywood, 1843-46 
 
 Ernest Haywood, '80 
 
 by 
 
 Burke Haywood Bridgers, '03 
 
 CpB 
 
 UV83o 
 c.5* 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 00036729175 
 
 This book must not 
 be taken from the 
 Library building. 
 
^/Arn^y n *S C~yC_ U / (fXJJJ xX 
 
 ADDRESS 
 
 LIFE AND CHARACTER 
 
 MAJ. GEN. STEPHEN D. RAMSEUR, 
 
 BEFORE TJIF. 
 
 LADIES' MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION OF RALEIGH, N. C. 
 
 
 
 
 MAY 10th ; 1891. 
 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 BY 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 HON 
 
 . WILLIAM R. 
 
 COX. 
 
 
 
 
 -* 
 
 RALEIGH : 
 
 
 
 E. 
 
 M. 
 
 TZZEEI. 
 
 STEAM PRINTER 
 
 AND 
 
 BINDER. 
 
 
 
 
 1 89I. 
 
 
 
 ~ .Jjlcus /o- /r?/ - 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 
 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/addressonlifechaOOcoxw 
 

 MAJOR GENERAL STEPHEN D. RAMSEUR. 
 
 OY PERMISSION OF THE CENTURY CO. 
 
ADDRESS 
 
 LIFE AND CHARACTER 
 
 MAJ. GEN. STEPHEN D. RAMSEUR, 
 
 liEFoKE THE 
 
 LADIES' MEMORIAL- ASSOCIATION OF RALEIGH, N. C. 
 
 MAY 10th, 1891. 
 
 BY 
 
 HON. WILLIAM R. COX. 
 
 RALEIGH : 
 
 E. M. UZZEIX, STEAM PRINTER AND BINDER. 
 1891. 
 
ADDRESS. 
 
 Mr. President, Ladles and Gentlemen : 
 
 When Xerxes looked upon the countless hosts of Persia he 
 is said to have wept when he reflected that within one hun- 
 dred years from that time not one of those then in his presence 
 would be living. It is with similar emotions every survivor of 
 the war between the States must be moved when called upon to 
 pass in review and comment upon the heroic deeds and still 
 more heroic sufferings of those who participated in that fierce 
 and unrelenting conflict. 
 
 It is now over a quarter of a century since the last hostile 
 gun of the war was fired ; the laws are everywhere respected 
 and obeyed ; and every citizen, irrespective of section or service, 
 recognizes it as his first duty to march to the defense of his gov- 
 ernment whenever menaced by foes either from within or with- 
 out. 
 
 To such as may question the policy or propriety of these 
 memorial reunions, and inquire why these gatherings of the peo- 
 ple, which may keep alive the estrangements of the past, we 
 commeud the remarks of that eloquent New Yorker, Chauncey 
 M. Depew, who, upon a similar occasion forcibly and truthfully 
 declared that "vapid sentimentalists and timid souls deprecate 
 these annual reunions, fearing they may arouse old strife and 
 sectional animosities; but a war in which five hundred thousand 
 men were killed and two millions more wounded, in which 
 States were devastated, and money spent equal to twice England's 
 gigantic debt, has a meaning, a lesson, and results which are to 
 the people of this Republic a liberal education, and the highest 
 chairs of this university belong to you." 
 
 The ladies of this association have a just appreciation of the 
 necessity for preserving the truths of history for the future his- 
 torian, who, with a juster prospective which distance may give, 
 
shall write a history of our common country. They have wisely 
 decided that at each annual reunion an active participant of the 
 war shall be called upon to portray the life and character of 
 some distinguished comrade who in the late war yielded up his 
 life in obedience to the laws of his State and for a cause his 
 conscience told him was right. The necessity for preserving the 
 data thus collected becomes more important from the fact that 
 in every war, whatever may be its original merits, writers will 
 always be found to misrepresent and belittle the vanquished, 
 while with fulsome adulation they sing pseans to and crown 
 with laurels the brow of the victor. Even distinguished par- 
 ticipants in such strifes are not slow to yield to importunity 
 the autobiographic memoirs of colossal achievements scarcely 
 recognizable by their friends, the effects of which are mislead- 
 ing. In the late war, and by the chroniclers of that war, we 
 were denounced as rebels and traitors, as if the promoters 
 of such epithets were ignorant of the fact that in our Revo- 
 lutionary war Hancock, Adams and their compeers were 
 denounced as rebels and traitors, while Washington and Frank- 
 liu broke their oaths of allegiance to join this despised class. 
 Indeed, the very chimney-sweeps in the streets of London are 
 said to have spoken of our rebellious ancestors as their subjects 
 in America. Therefore, with a conscience void of offeuse, while 
 we would not and should not forget our hallowed memories of 
 comradeship and of common suffering, we cherish them alone as 
 memories, and seek no willows upon which to hang our harps, 
 no rivers by which to sit down and weep while we sing the songs 
 of the long ago. 
 
 Wars have existed from the beginning of time; and, despite 
 the spread of Christianity and the growth of enlightenment, will 
 probably continue until time shall be no more. In the war 
 between the States there was but little of malice, of vengeful- 
 ness and vindictiveness. As to its origin there is little proba- 
 bility of our agreeing so long as it is insisted that the North 
 fought chiefly for the eradication of slavery and the South for 
 its perpetuation. At the formation of this government 
 
SLAVERY 
 
 existed in every State. New Eugland, which ultimately became 
 the principal theatre of free-soilism and abolition agitation, was at 
 one time more interested in the slave trade than any other section 
 of our country. It is not mere speculation to declare that had her 
 soil and climate been adapted to the cultivation and production 
 of the chief staples of the South she would have recognized it 
 as a great outrage to have been compelled to relinquish so profit- 
 able an institution without her free consent. By prospective 
 enactments our Northern friends gradually abolished slavery, 
 and their slaves were sent South and sold. The money arising 
 from such sales was carried North, invested in manufactories, 
 ships and brick walls. Their section prospered and we rejoice 
 in their prosperity as a part of our common country. In an 
 address delivered by Mr. Evarts before the New England Soci- 
 ety he said that the Puritan believed in every man attending to 
 his own business, but he believed every man's business was his 
 own. There is a great deal of truth portrayed in this sport- 
 ive suggestion. Having profitably escaped from this "great 
 iniquity," their restless intellectuality early prompted them to 
 express their abhorrence of slavery. The great body of Ameri- 
 can people really cared very little about this institution, or, at 
 least, if they deprecated it they recognized it as a matter of 
 local legislation, for which they were not directly responsible ; 
 therefore, the question of its abolition for over half a century 
 made but little headway, and only became a potential element 
 of discord when it was discovered that its agitation would have 
 the effect of securing the ascendency of one of the great politi- 
 cal parties of the country. As slavery only obtained in the 
 minor section its agitation, on sectional grounds, ultimately had 
 the effect of promoting a crisis which enabled the ambitious and 
 aspiring politicians to inflame the passions of their followers 
 until they were prepared to see their country plunged into a war, 
 which the border States, led by Virginia, did all that lay in their 
 power to avert. Recognizing the weakness of this institution, 
 
6 
 
 as well as the fact that they were numerically greatly in the 
 minority, the slave-holding States simply asked to be "let alone." 
 But as it was threatened that they should be surrounded by a 
 cordon of free States until slavery had "stung itself to death," and 
 that this government could not exist "half free and half slave," 
 the purposes of the dominant section became so manifest the 
 Southern States felt that, in justice to themselves, they could no 
 longer remain quiet. The causes for this agitation had their 
 existence in the colonial era, when slavery was universal ; and 
 the settlement was postponed on account of the difficulty of 
 arriving at a satisfactory solution. Two irreconcilable theories of 
 
 POPULAR GOVERNMENT 
 
 were at the outset proposed. The one advocated by Mr. 
 Hamilton contemplated a strong centralized authority, fash- 
 ioned after that of a limited monarchy; the other, which was 
 proposed by Mr. Jefferson, recognized the people as the source 
 of all power, and insisted that they should be left as free 
 and uutrammeled from governmental control as its exigen- 
 cies might demand. The one contemplated a magnificent cen- 
 tral government, with that ostentation and parade that keeps 
 the masses in awe; the other a simple, economic, democratic 
 government, regulated and governed by the people. The fol- 
 lowers of these statesmen were known by the party names of 
 Federalists and Republicans. The elder Adams was the first 
 President of the Federalists, and during his administration 
 and with his approval the Alien and Sedition laws were 
 passed, the effect of which was to abridge, if not imperil, the 
 freedom of the press in its criticism upon public; officials. This 
 measure, with others of an unpopular nature, so outraged public 
 sentiment as to elect Mr. Jefferson, the apostle of Democracy, to 
 succeed Mr. Adams by an overwhelming majority, and the views 
 he entertained and ably advocated laid the foundation for that 
 great popular approval which maintained his party in power, 
 with but brief intervals of interruption, from that time up to 
 the beginning of the war. The student of history will discover 
 
that the institution of slavery played a minor part in the politi- 
 cal agitations of this country so long as our politics related 
 alone to questions of national policy. The first serious difficulty 
 of more than local significance which threatened our institu- 
 tions arose from the imposition of an excise tax on distilled 
 spirits, known as the "Whisky Rebellion." The second, from 
 the hostility of the New England States to the war of 1812, 
 which seriously interfered with their commercial traffic. So 
 great was this discontent that a convention was called to meet 
 at Hartford, Conn., which had in view the secession of the 
 States represented from the Union. In 1820 was passed what 
 is known as the Missouri Compromise, which in effect was simply 
 a truce between two antagonistic revenue systems, while the nulli- 
 fication movement was directed against the tariff system. So that 
 up to this time the chief complaint against any legislation of 
 our country arose from dissatisfaction to its economic system. 
 
 Prior to the war the North had devoted herself chiefly to trade 
 and manufacturing, to mechanic arts and industrial pursuits, 
 while the South, owing to its easier lines of life, the fertility of 
 its soil, with its genial climate and "peculiar institution," had 
 turned her attention to the science of politics and a consideration 
 of governmental affairs, the consequence of which was that the 
 controlling voice and influence in the councils of the nation 
 rested with her. As the North, by its industry and enterprise, 
 grew in wealth and the development of a more liberal educa- 
 tion, she became impatient and restless under this control, and 
 resolved at all hazards to escape from it. Free-soilism and abo- 
 litionism, which up to this time had been the obedient hand-maid 
 to any party that would lend its co-operation, were believed to 
 be the potential elements by which to arouse the apprehensions 
 of the South as to the security of slavery and thus tend to the 
 arrangement of parties on sectional lines. From this time for- 
 ward the leading statesmen of the South were denounced and 
 vilified as aristocrats and slave-drivers; and on the 'recurrence 
 of every national contest this new party resorted to every device 
 to create animosities between the sections. At this time the 
 
Democratic party was so strong it became factional, and was 
 finally disrupted through the political jealousy of its leaders. 
 In consequence of their division in the ensuing election four 
 presidential candidates were offered for the suffrage of the peo- 
 ple, and Mr. Lincoln was elected. As it was the first Jime in 
 the history of our country that a President had been elected by 
 a purely sectional vote, and a large portion of his followers were 
 .believed to be intent on either the abolition of slavery or a dis- 
 ruption of the Union, the gravest apprehensions were felt. The 
 situation at that time is so lucidly and graphically described in 
 the memoir of Richard H. Dana, recently prepared by Mr. 
 Adams, Minister to England under Mr. Lincoln's administra- 
 tion, I cannot better present the matter than by using his lan- 
 guage': " Looking back on it now, after the lapse of nearly thirty 
 years, it is curious to see how earnestly all played their parts and 
 how essential to the great catastrophe all those parts were. The 
 extremists on both sides were urging the country to immediate 
 blows, regardless of consequences, and by so doing they were 
 educating it to the necessary point when the hour should come. 
 Had the Southern extremists prevailed, and the Southern blood 
 been fired by an assault on Fort Sumter in January, the slave 
 States would probably have been swept into a general insurrec- 
 tion while Buchanan was still President, with Floyd as his Sec- 
 retary of War. Had this occurred it is difficult now to see how 
 the government could have been preserved. The Southern 
 extremists, therefore, when they urged immediate action were, 
 from the Southern point of view, clearly right. Every day then 
 lost was a mistake, and, as the result proved, an irreparable mis- 
 take. On the other hand, had the extremists of the North 
 prevailed in their demand for immediate action they would 
 in the most effective way possible have played the game of 
 their opponents. Fortunately they did not prevail, but their 
 exhortations to action and denunciations of every attempt at 
 a compromise educated the country to a fighting point." 
 
 That large and respectable body of patriotic citizens who 
 were wedded to the Union and dreaded war, and above all 
 
things a civil war, were in favor of any compromise which 
 might result in preserving harmony between the sections. It 
 is difficult at this time to appreciate the excitement of those 
 stormy days. Moderation and silence was but little understood 
 or appreciated. The firing upon Sumter fired the hearts of 
 both sectious, and followed, as it was, by a call of Mr. Lincoln 
 for troops to make war upon the States, promptly welded the 
 States of the South into one common bond. They felt that if 
 they must fight they preferred to fight the stranger rather than 
 their neighbors who were contending for the maintenance of 
 their own rights, and that to yield to the party in power at such 
 a juncture was but to invite further aggressions on their rights, 
 and that this would involve their subjugation with the over- 
 throw of their most cherished institutions. That no perma- 
 nent compromise was practicable, aud that war at some time 
 was inevitable must now be clear to all ; that the war has 
 taken place; that the abolition of slavery has occurred ; that the 
 South has been thrown open to settlement, to free and unem- 
 barrassed communication to the outside world ; that the greatness 
 of our section aud the capabilities of our people to maintain our 
 free institutions has been manifested, and that the war has proved 
 a great educator to all, is now conceded. In turning over the 
 government to our Northern friends the much misrepresented 
 people of the South can point with pride to the fact that the 
 declaration that "these united colonies are, and of right ought 
 to be, free," was penned by a Southern statesman ; that this decla- 
 ration was made good under the leadership of a Southern gen- 
 eral ; that "the father of the Constitutiou" was a Southern 
 man; that through a Presideut, a Southern man, our bounda- 
 ries were extended from ocean to ocean and from the Gulf to 
 the lakes; and that prior to the late war all assaults against 
 the integrity of the Union were compromised and accommo- 
 dated mainly through Southern statesmanship. When, after fifty 
 years of its existence, the government was turned over to the 
 statesmen of the North, in the language of one of her gifted and 
 eloquent sons, the South surrendered it to her successors "mateh- 
 2 
 
10 
 
 less in her power, incalculable in her strength, the power and 
 the glory of the world." 
 It is of 
 
 STEPHEN D. RAMSEUR 
 
 that we now propose to speak — his life, his services and his 
 lamented death. In the Piedmont section of our State there is 
 one county named in honor of that Revolutionary hero, Benja- 
 min Lincoln, who at the time was in command of the Conti- 
 nental soldiers in Charleston harbor, fighting for the freedom 
 and independence of the American colonies. This county was 
 originally a part of Mecklenburg, the " Hornets' Nest" of the 
 Revolution, and her sons partook of the sturdy patriotism of their 
 neighbors. In her territorial limits was fought the battle of Ram- 
 seur's Mill and other stirring scenes of like nature. Lincoln, 
 though one of the smallest counties in the State, gave to history 
 such well-known Revolutionary names as Brevard, Dickson, 
 Chronicle and others, which, though less generally known, were no 
 less patriotic and determined in upholding their principles. The 
 county-seat of Lincoln, with that want of imagination and origi- 
 nality for which Americans are celebrated, is called Lincolnton, a 
 small village long distinguished for the culture, refinement and 
 unobtrusive hospitality of its people. While her citizens were not 
 wealthy they enjoyed such affluence as enabled them to be inde- 
 pendent and self-reliant. About the year 1837 there was born in 
 Lincoln county three children, each of whom became distinguished 
 in war before attaining his twenty-seventh year, and also from 
 among her accomplished daughters came the wives of Stonewall 
 Jackson, Lieutenant General D. H. Hill and Brigadier General 
 Rufus Barringer. Ramseur, Hoke and R. D. Johnson were born 
 within a year of each other, and for distinguished services in the 
 field were promoted and entitled to wear the coveted general's 
 wreath on their collars. This same county gave to Alabama 
 Brigadier General John H. Forney, a gallant soldier, who is 
 now, and for years has been, one of her most faithful and trusted 
 members in the national Congress. Born and reared amidst 
 
11 
 
 such favorable and stimulating surroundings, it is not a matter 
 of surprise that these young men should have been prompted by 
 au honorable emulation to secure those prizes that were justly 
 their own, for "blood will tell." Entirely free from the 
 " pomp and circumstance of glorious war," ever kind and acces- 
 sible to those about, him, skillful and able in the field, Major 
 General Hoke readily became the idol of his soldiers. While 
 not attaining to so high a rank, Brigadier General Johnson was 
 an able and fearless soldier. The life of Ramseur, while briefer, 
 was not less brilliant and attractive than that of any of his cotem- 
 poraries. It has been eloquently said by another: "A book of 
 dates, a table of dynasties, a succession of kings, or popes, or 
 presidents — these in one aspect are history; but if they are to 
 attract, or impress, or enduringly influence us, behind these dry 
 bones of the historian's cabinet there must glow and palpitate 
 the living lineaments of a man." 
 
 But should we choose an element of pre-eminent power to 
 interest mankind, that element must consist of the life and deeds 
 of some prominent actor upon the great theatre of war. While 
 many admire, enjoy and are improved by the triumphs of the im- 
 agination and the reason the impulse and the heart of the multi- 
 tude in every age and clime have been taken captive by the great 
 actors rather than by the great thinkers among men. This has 
 been true from the time of Joshua until that of Mahomet, and 
 from thence to the present time, and we must conclude that the 
 multitude is right. Even the eloquence of Demosthenes, the ora- 
 tory of Cicero, the glowing periods of Louginus, the beauties of 
 Gibbon, the orphic rhythm of Milton, the profound reasoning of 
 Bacon and the marvelous creations of Shakespeare, all have their 
 enthusiastic admirers, but the heart of the multitude goes out in 
 profound admiration for the courage, the genius and marvelous 
 achievements of the great conquerors of the world. It attends 
 them not only in their triumps, but accompanies them with its 
 sympathy in disappointments and misfortunes. So many elements 
 are combined to constitute the truly great commander I will not 
 endeavor to enumerate them, but will content myself by saying 
 
12 
 
 that the popular sentiment that the ideal general displays his 
 greatest power upon the battle field is an error, of which the late 
 Von Moltke is a notable example. His greatest achievements 
 consist in so preparing and mobilizing his forces as to virtually 
 secure his success before encountering his adversary. Our Revo- 
 lutionary period supplies us with an example of one of those 
 matchless leaders, who, while he lost the majority of the great 
 battles in which he was engaged, yet, even amidst the hardships 
 and sufferings of a " Valley Forge," by his forethought, his 
 patience and unselfish patriotism could win and retain the confi- 
 dence and admiration of his troops until he led them to the 
 achievement of results which won the admiration of mankind. 
 And our late war gave us the example of one who in all respects 
 was a fitting complement of the former. Peerless in victory and 
 in adversity, he was matchless. Among the many able general 
 officers which the exigencies of the late war called to the front, 
 Ramseur is entitled to rank high, and gave the most flattering 
 promises of still greater achievements. 
 
 Stephen D. Ramseur, the second child of Jacob A. and 
 Lucy M. Ramseur, had Revolutionary blood in his veins 
 through John Wilfong, a hero who w r as wounded at King's 
 Mountain and fought at Eutaw Springs. He was born in Lin- 
 colntou the 31st day of May, 1837. His surroundings were 
 well calculated to promote a well developed character and a 
 strong self-relying manhood. His parents were members of 
 the Presbyterian Church, and did not neglect to see their son 
 properly instructed in their religious tenets. They were pos- 
 sessed of ample means for their section, and gave to him the 
 best advantages of social and intellectual improvement without 
 being exposed to the "devices and snares of the outer world." 
 To the strong and beautiful character of his mother,, Ramseur is 
 said to have been indebted for the greater part of his success in 
 life. In preparing the life of Dr. Thornwell, Rev. Dr. Palmer 
 has asserted a truth which may be classed as a proverb: "The 
 pages of history will be searched in vain for a great man who 
 had a fool for his mother." In writing of her the Hon. David 
 
13 
 
 Schenck, who married Sallie Wilfong, her second daughter, 
 says : "As a young lady she was said to have been beautiful and 
 attractive. I knew her intimately from 1849 to her death. She 
 was a woman of great force of character. To a judgment clear 
 and firm she united gentleness, tenderness and sympathy. Her 
 manners were easy and courteous and fascinating. She was an 
 active and devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, and 
 brought up her children in the teachings of the shorter catechism 
 from their early youth. It was to her that General Rarnseur 
 owed the mental and moral foundations of his character." He 
 received his preparatory training in the schools of Lincolnton 
 and in the village of Milton, then he matriculated at David- 
 son College, entered the Freshman class and passed eighteen 
 months at this institution. He early displayed that decision of 
 character and force of will that distinguished him in after life. 
 He had an ardent longing for a military career, and though dis- 
 appointed in his efforts to secure an appointment as a cadet at 
 the United States Military Academy, he was not cast down. 
 Through the aid of General D. H. Hill, then a professor at 
 Davidson, his second application was successful. He was given 
 his appointment to the Academy b) that sturdy old Roman, the 
 Hon. Burton Craige, who before the days of rotation in office 
 was long an able and distinguished member of Congress from 
 our State. Rarnseur spent the usual term of five years at the 
 Academy and was graduated with distinction in the class of 1860. 
 Among his class-mates of national reputation were Generals 
 James H. Wilson and Merritt, Colonel Wilson, Commandant at 
 United States Military Academy, and Colonel A. C. M. Penning- 
 ton, U. S. A. 
 
 Through his courtesy, sincerity and the conscientious discharge 
 of his duties while at West Point he formed many valued 
 friendships both among his fellow-students and in the corps. 
 After graduating, Rarnseur entered the light artillery service 
 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant by brevet. He was 
 in the United States army but a short time prior to the break- 
 ing out of hostilities, and during that time was assigned to 
 
14 
 
 duty at Fortress Monroe. In April, 1861, he resigned his com- 
 mission in the old army and promptly tendered his sword to the 
 Provisional Government of the Confederate States, then assem- 
 bled at Montgomery. By this government he was commissioned 
 First Lieutenant of Artillery and ordered to the department of 
 Mississippi. About this time a battery of artillery was being 
 formed at Raleigh, whose membership was comprised of the 
 flower of the patriotic youth of the State. It was called "the 
 Ellis Artillery," in honor of our then Very able and patri- 
 otic Governor, whose early death by phthisis was an irreparable 
 loss to our State in the early days of the war. The officers were 
 Manly, Saunders, Guion and Bridgers, who, owing to our long 
 peace establishment, were not familiar with even the rudiments 
 of the drill. Therefore, with more patriotism than selfish emu- 
 lation, they promptly applied through Lieutenant Saunders to 
 their friend the Governor for some suitable and reliable com- 
 mander. With a pardonable pride in so fiue a company, Gov- 
 ernor Ellis had doubtless previously considered this subject in 
 his own mind. At all events, so soon as the request was made 
 known he promptly replied: "I have the very man. You 
 couldn't get a better. It is Lieutenant Ramseur." Thereupon 
 a dispatch was sent tendering him the command, which reached 
 him on his way to his new field of duty. He accepted the unso- 
 licited but none the less coveted distinction of repelling the 
 invasion of his native State in command of her own sous, and 
 repaired at once to Raleigh. On arriving at the camp of 
 instruction near this place he found a first-class command of 
 raw recruits without equipments or discipline or the remotest 
 conception of the magnitude of the great contest before them. 
 Many had joined the artillery because it was known to be out: of 
 the higher and more attractive branches of the service. They 
 concurred with Secretary Seward, that the war was a matter of 
 a few months, or else with Vice-President Stephens, that for 
 the defense of their firesides gentlemen should not be kept in 
 camps of instruction and discipline, but permitted to remain at 
 their homes, for they were capable of judging when the enemy 
 
15 
 
 should be met, and by what methods most easily defeated. If 
 they had read of war it was, iu books which gave it such gloss 
 and glamour as made every battle magnificent, if not positively 
 delectable, for such, indeed, is the general current of popular 
 history. Not so Ramseur, who had been taught in the school 
 where the art of war is thoroughly explained, the discipline and 
 drudgery of soldier life daily seen and the distinctions and 
 advantages of rank recognized and respected. His education 
 and experience led him to concur with Viscount Woolsey, who, 
 in speaking of war, declares that active service teaches us some 
 painful lessons: "That all men are not heroes; that the quality 
 as well as quantity of their courage differs largely; that some 
 meu are positively cowards; that there always is, always has 
 been, and always will be, a good deal of skulking and malinger- 
 ing; it teaches us not to expect too much from any body of men; 
 above all things to value the truly brave men as worth more 
 than all the talkers and spouters who have ever squabbled for 
 place in the arena of politics." Ramseur was well satisfied with 
 the esprit de corps of his command, and resolved to employ it to 
 the best advantage. To do this his men must have a knowledge 
 of tactics, discipline, and subordination was indispensable. He 
 had considered all this, determined what was right, and whether 
 it consorted with the wishes and inclinations of those who 
 belonged to the command or not was not material with him. 
 Indeed, duty was his polar star. He did not willingly sever his 
 connection from the old army, but when called on to elect whether 
 he would fight for or against his people and his State there was 
 no hesitancy, no doubt as to where his duty lay, and he threw 
 his whole soul and energies into the cause of the South. This 
 company was composed of twelve months men. Ramseur 
 wanted soldiers, and wanted them for the war. This being 
 known, some, a few members of the company, began to become 
 discontented. They feared they were to be treated as regular 
 soldiers, and insisted that inasmuch as they had volunteered only 
 for twelve months that should the company be reorganized for 
 the war they were entitled. to withdraw. They were good men 
 
16 
 
 and did not desire to leave the service: they were allowed to with- 
 draw, and in other fields made valient soldiers. The reorgani- 
 zation of the battery was soon completed, all elements of discord 
 eliminated, and, under the skillful management and discipline of 
 its new Captain, made admirable progress. The great thing now 
 was to secure its guns and equipments, and in this the company 
 was aided by its name and the patriotic ardor of the citizens of 
 Raleigh. At this time there was only one field battery availa- 
 ble, and for it another company was applying. The name and 
 personnel of the Ellis Artillery won the prize, while the volun- 
 tary subscriptions of our citizens supplied it with horses. Being 
 without tents or suitable parade grounds, Mr. William Boy- 
 Ian tendered it his residence and out-buildings for shelter and 
 ample grounds as a camp for instruction. The offer was accepted, 
 and here the company received that impress which, when called 
 to Virginia and brought in comparison with others, carried off 
 the palm for their soldierly bearing, their splendid drill and 
 handsome equipment. In the latter part of the summer of 1861 
 the company was ordered to Smithfield, Va., where the fall and 
 winter months were spent without graver duties than occasional 
 reconnoissances to and from Norfolk. McClellan's army was 
 now near Washington, confronted by that of General Joe Johns- 
 ton, while the public mind of the North was becoming very 
 impatient at its inaction, and began to renew the cry of "On to 
 Richmond!" which had been so popular before the inglorious 
 defeat of the Federal army at Manassas. McClellan, unable to 
 resist this clamor, determined to endeavor to reach the Con- 
 federate capital by way of the lower Chesapeake, and on trans- 
 ports transferred his army to the Peninsular and sat down before 
 Yorktown. It is estimated that McClellan at this time had an 
 army of not less than one hundred and twenty thousand men fit 
 for duty. This force was to be confronted and delayed until 
 Johnston could arrive by thirteen thousand Confederates under 
 J. B. Magruder, who, in order to accomplish this purpose, was 
 compelled to cover a front of thirteen miles with his small force. 
 The work was done, and with consummate ability, and it is no 
 
17 
 
 disparagement to others to say there was no officer in either 
 army better qualified to play such a game of bluff than the 
 genial, whole-souled Mag-ruder. Ramseur was ordered to report 
 with his battery at Yorktown. When he arrived Magruder, 
 who had known him in the old army, detached him from his 
 battery and placed him in command of all the artillery on his 
 right. Here Ramseur saw his first active service in the field, 
 and received the promotion of Major. On the arrival of the 
 forces of McClellan a campaign of maneuvering commenced 
 which delayed advance for over a month. In the meantime 
 Ramseur had been elected Lieutenant Colonel of the Third Regi- 
 ment of Volunteers, but declined to leave his battery. Subse- 
 quently, and before serious demonstrations had begun, he was 
 elected Colonel of the Forty-ninth Regiment of Infantry. He 
 was still reluctant to leave his battery, but appreciating the fact 
 that Manly and its other officers were then well qualified for 
 any duties that might be required of them, through the per- 
 suasion of friends he was induced to accept the promotion. Sub- 
 sequent events soon justified his confidence in this artillery com- 
 pany. At the battle of Williamsburg, where it received its first 
 baptism of fire, it gathered fadeless laurels which it was des- 
 tined to wear throughout the war with a fame still augmenting. 
 The Forty-ninth Regiment was composed of raw recruits who 
 were gathered together in the camp of instruction at Raleigh, 
 organized into companies and regiments and instructed as to its 
 duties in the field. With his accustomed energy and ability 
 Ramseur immediately addressed himself to the labor of making 
 soldiers out of these new recruits. By constant drill he soon 
 had his regiment in fair condition; and, as the emergency was 
 pressing, he moved with it to the point of danger. The regi- 
 ment was assigned to the brigade of an old army officer, General 
 Robert Ransom, who was soon to become a distinguished Major 
 General of cavalry in the Army of Northern Virginia and 
 thence to be assigned to the command of all the cavalry under 
 Lougstreet in his operations in the West. In the series of bat- 
 tles around Richmond, known as the "Seven Days' Fight," 
 3 
 
18 
 
 Ramseur, while gallantly leading his regiment in the battle of 
 Malvern Hill, received a severe and disabling wound through 
 the right arm, hut declined to leave the field until the action was 
 over. This wound necessitated his removal to Richmond, where 
 he was detained for over a month before his injury permitted 
 him to enjoy the much-coveted pleasure of a visit to his home. 
 Indeed, the arm was broken, and he was ever afterwards com- 
 pelled to wear it in a sling. 
 
 In his report General Ransom speaks of the conspicuous gal- 
 lantry of Ramseur and his men, and it was by reason of his 
 soldierly qualities mainly, displayed upon this occasion, that his 
 promotion to the rank of 
 
 BRIGADIER GENERAL 
 
 soon followed. While still at home wounded Ramseur received 
 notice of his unexpected promotion. At first he doubted whether 
 one so young should accept so responsible a position, and was dis- 
 posed to decline the promotion. His friends did not coincide in his 
 views, and through their persuasion he was induced to accept it. 
 In October, 1862, with his arm still disabled, he went to Rich- 
 mond to make a decision in regard to the brigade offered him. 
 While there he called upon Mr. Davis, alike distinguished as a 
 soldier and a statesman, to whom he expressed the fears then 
 agitating his mind. In that affable and engaging manner pecu- 
 liar to himself, Mr. Davis at once dismissed any suggestion of 
 his declining, and on the contrary urged him to accept the com- 
 mand, return home and remain until he had entirely recovered 
 his health and his strength. But Ramseur obeyed only in part 
 the suggestions of his Commander-in-chief. He accepted the 
 command of the brigade and went at once to the Army of 
 Northern Virginia, and, with his wound still green, entered upon 
 the discharge of his duties. This brigade was then composed 
 of the Second Regiment, organized and instructed by that able 
 tactician, scholarly and accomplished gentleman, Colonel C C. 
 Tew, who was killed at Sharpsburg; the Fourth by the chiv- 
 alrous and lamented Brigadier General George B. Anderson, 
 
19 
 
 who died of wounds received at Sharpsburg; the Fourteenth, 
 before ks reorganization, was commanded and instructed by that 
 soldierly and ardent North Carolinian, Brigadier General Junius 
 Daniel, who fell in the Spottsylvania campaign ere his commis- 
 sion as a Major General had reached him; and the Thirtieth 
 by Colonel F. M. Parker, the brave soldier and courteous gen- 
 tleman, of whom further mention will be made during the course 
 of this narrative. Ramseur, "like apples of gold in pictures of 
 silver," was aptly and fitly chosen the worthy commander of 
 this distinguished brigade, and immediately addressed himself to 
 its reorganization. His admirable qualifications for his duties 
 and his pure and chivalrous character were soon recognized and 
 appreciated and infused new life and spirit into the command. 
 Asa disciplinarian he was rigid; as a tactician, skillful; as a 
 judge of men, good; as a redressor of wrongs, prompt; as an 
 officer, courteous and urbane; as a soldier, fearless and chival- 
 rous. He early commanded the respect and ultimately won the 
 hearts of all over whom he held command. This brigade at 
 the time he assumed command was in Rodes' Division of Jack- 
 sou's Corps. Ramseur remained in command without events of 
 any particular importance occurring until he entered upon his 
 
 CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN. 
 
 His report of that famous battle is so full and complete, and so 
 clearly displays the unselfish and chivalrous nature of this officer, 
 I am confident I cannot do better than to incorporate it as a part 
 of this sketch. It reads as follows: 
 
 "May 23, 1864. 
 
 "Sir: — In obedience to Orders No. — , dated May 7th, 1863, 
 I have the honor to submit the following report of the opera- 
 tions of my brigade in the series of skirmishes and battles open- 
 ing at Massaponax Creek and euding in the splendid victory at 
 Chancellorsville : 
 
 "Wednesday a. m., April 29th, the brigade was placed below 
 Massaponax Creek to dispute the enemy's crossing, and remained 
 
20 
 
 in that position, occasionally annoyed by their artillery (by which 
 I lost a few men) and kept on the alert by picket firing until 
 Thursday evening, when we were withdrawn to a point near 
 Hamilton's Crossing. 
 
 "Friday, May 1st, at 3 A. M., we were aroused for the march 
 and led the advance of Major General Rodes' Division in the 
 direction of Chancellorsville. At a distance of seven miles from 
 Fredericksburg we were detached from our own division and 
 ordered to report to Major General Anderson, when we advanced 
 upon the enemy, who fell back in confusion before our sharp- 
 shooters for several miles, strewing the way with their arms and 
 baggage, this brigade, with General Posey on our right and Gen- 
 eral Wright ou our left, for upwards perhaps of two miles, 
 being in advance. About 6 P. M. we found the foe in force upon 
 our front and supported by batteries that poured grape unsparingly 
 into the woods through which we were still advancing. Night 
 approaching a halt was ordered, and we slept on our arms with 
 a strong picket line on the outposts. 
 
 "Saturday, May 2d, we were relieved about sunrise and shortly 
 thereafter marched by a series of circuitous routes and with sur- 
 passing strategy to a position in the rear of the enemy, whom 
 at about 5 p. m. we were ordered to attack. 
 
 "This brigade was directed to support Brigadier General Col- 
 quitt, with orders to overlap his right by one regiment, and was 
 placed accordingly. At the command we advanced with the 
 division, preserving a distance of about one hundred yards in 
 the rear of General Colquitt. Brisk firing was soon heard upon 
 our front and left, indicating that General Doles had encountered 
 the foe. At this point General Colquitt moved by the right 
 flank, sending me word by an officer of his staff that the enemy 
 was attempting to turn his right. I immediately moved by the 
 right flank, but heard no firing in that quarter. Again he sent 
 his staff officer to inform me that the enemy was passing by his 
 right flank, when I directed him to say to General Colquitt (in 
 effect) that the firing indicated a sharp fight with General Doles, 
 and that my impression was that his support was needed there, 
 
21 
 
 and that I would take care of his right flank. General Colquitt 
 moved to the front, with the exception of one regiment, which 
 continued to the right. I then pressed on by the right flank to 
 meet the enemy that General Colquitt's staff officer twice reported 
 to me to be in that direction, and prosecuted the search for half 
 a mile perhaps, but not a solitary Yankee was to be seen. I 
 then came up to the division line and moved by the left flank to 
 the support of General Colquitt, whose men were resting in line 
 of battle on the field General Doles had won. 
 
 "Saturday night our division occupied the last line of battle 
 within the intrencliments from which the routed corps of Sigel 
 had fled in terror. My brigade was placed perpendicular to the 
 plank-road, the left resting on the road, General Doles ou my 
 right and Colonel (E. A.) O'Neal, commanding Rodes' Brigade, 
 on my left. I placed Colonel (F. M.) Parker, Thirtieth North 
 Carolina, on the right of my brigade; Colonel (R. T.) Bennett, 
 Fourteenth North Carolina, on right centre; Colonel (W. R.) 
 Cox, Second North Carolina, left centre, aud Colonel (Bryan) 
 Grimes, Fourth North Carolina, on left. 
 
 "Sunday, May 3d, the division, being as stated, in the third line 
 of battle, advanced about 9 o'clock to the support of the second 
 line. After proceeding about one-fourth of a mile I was applied 
 to by Major (W. J.) Pegram for support to his battery, when I 
 detached Colonel Parker, Thirtieth North Carolina, for this pur- 
 pose, with orders to advance obliquely to his front and left and 
 join me after his support should be no longer needed, or to fight 
 his regiment as circumstauces might require. I continued to 
 advance to the first line of breastworks, from which the enemy had 
 beeu driven, and behind which I found a small portion of Paxton's 
 Brigade and Jones' Brigade, of Trimble's Division. Knowing that 
 a general advance had been ordered, I told these troops to move 
 forward. Not a man moved. I then reported this state of things 
 to Major General Stuart, who directed me to assume command 
 of these troops and compel them to advance. This I essayed to 
 do, aud, after fruitless efforts, ascertained that General Jones was 
 not on the field aud that Colonel (T. S.) Garnett had been killed, 
 
22 
 
 I reported again to General Stuart, who was near, and requested 
 permission to run over the troops in my front, which was cheer- 
 fully granted. At the command "Forward!" my brigade, with 
 a shout, cleared the breastworks and charged the enemy. The 
 Fourth North Carolina (Colonel Grimes) and seven companies 
 of the Second North Carolina (Colonel Cox) drove the enemy 
 before them until they had taken the last line of his works, 
 which they held under a severe, direct and enfilading fire, repul- 
 sing several assaults on this portion of our front. The Four- 
 teenth North Carolina (Colonel Bennett) and three companies of 
 the Second were compelled to halt some one hundred and fifty 
 or two hundred yards in rear of the troops just mentioned for 
 the reason that the troops on my right had failed to come up 
 and the enemy was in heavy force on my right flank. Had 
 Colonel Bennett advanced the enemy could easily have turned my 
 right. As it was, my line was subjected to a horrible enfilading 
 fire, by which I lost severely. I saw the danger threatening 
 my right, and sent several times to Jones' Brigade to come to my 
 assistance, and I also went back twice myself and exhorted and 
 ordered it (officers and men) to fill up the gap (some five or six 
 hundred yards) on my right, but all in vain. I then reported 
 to General Rodes that unless support was sent to drive the 
 enemy from my right I would have to fall back. In the mean- 
 time Colonel Parker of the Thirtieth North Carolina, approach- 
 ing from the battery on the right, suddenly fell upon the flank 
 and repulsed a heavy column of the enemy who were moving to 
 get in my rear by my right flank, some three or four hundred of 
 them surrendering to him as prisoners of war. The enemy still 
 held his strong position in the ravine on my right, so that the 
 Fourteenth North Carolina and the three companies of the Second 
 North Carolina could not advance. The enemy discovered this 
 situation of affairs and pushed a brigade to the right and rear of 
 Colonel Grimes aud'seveu companies of Colonel Cox's (Second 
 North Carolina), with the intention of capturing their com- 
 mands. This advance was made under a terrible direct fire of 
 musketry and artillery. The move necessitated a retrograde 
 
23 
 
 movement on the part of Colonels Grimes and Cox, which was 
 executed in order, but with the loss of some prisoners, who did not 
 hear the command to retire. Colonel Bennett held his position 
 until ordered to fall back, and, in common with all the others, 
 to replenish his empty cartridge-boxes. The enemy did not halt 
 at this position, but retired to his battery, from which he was 
 quickly driven, Colonel Parker of the Thirtieth North Carolina 
 sweeping over it with the troops on my right. 
 
 "After replenishing cartridge-boxes I received an order from 
 Major General Rodes to throw my brigade on the left of the 
 road to meet an appreheuded attack of the enemy in that quar- 
 ter. This was done, and afterwards I was moved to a position 
 on the plank-road which was intrenched, and which we occupied 
 until the division was ordered back to camp near Hamilton's 
 Crossing. 
 
 "The charge of the brigade, made at a critical moment, when 
 the enemy had broken and was hotly pressing the centre of the 
 line in our front with apparently overwhelming numbers, not only 
 checked his advance but threw him back in disorder and pushed 
 him with heavy loss from his last line of works. 
 
 "Too high praise cannot be accredited to officers and men for 
 their gallantry, fortitude and manly courage during this brief 
 but arduous campaign. Exposed as they had been for five days 
 immediately preceding the fights on the picket line, they were, 
 of course, somewhat wearied, but the order to move forward and 
 confront the enemy brightened every eye and quickened every 
 step. Under fire all through Wednesday, Wednesday night and 
 Thursday, without being able effectually to return this fire, they 
 bore all bravely, and led the march towards Chancellorsville on 
 Friday morning in splendid order. The advance of the brigade 
 on Friday afternoon was made under the very eyes of our 
 departed hero (Jackson) and of Major General A. P. Hill, whose 
 words of praise and commendation, bestowed upon the field, we 
 fondly cherish. And on Sunday the magnificent charge of the 
 brigade upon the enemy's last and most terrible stronghold was 
 made in view of Major General Stuart and our division com- 
 
24 
 
 mander, Major General R. E. Rodes, whose testimony that it 
 was the most glorious charge of that most glorious day, we are 
 proud to remember and report to our kiudred and friends. 
 
 "To enumerate all the officers and men who deserve special 
 mention for their gallantry would he to return a list of all 
 who were on the field. All met the enemy with unflinching 
 courage; and for privations, hardships, and splendid marches, 
 all of which were cheerfully borne, they richly deserve the thanks 
 of our beautiful and glorious Confederacy. 
 
 "I cannot close without mentioning the conspicuous gallantry 
 and great efficiency of my regimental commander. Colonel Par- 
 ker of the Thirtieth North Carolina was detached during; the 
 fight of Sunday to support a battery, and having accomplished 
 that object moved forward on his own responsibility and greatly 
 contributed to wrest the enemy's stronghold at Chancellorsville 
 from their grasp as well as prevent their threatened demonstra- 
 tions upon the right of my brigade; the gallant Grimes of the 
 Fourth North Carolina, whose conduct on other fields gave 
 promise of what was fully realized on this; Colonel Bennett of 
 the Fourteenth North Carolina, conspicuous for his coolness 
 under the hottest fire, and last, though not least, the manly and 
 chivalrous Cox of the Second North Carolina, the accomplished 
 gentleman, splendid soldier, and warm friend, who, though 
 wounded five times, remained with his regiment until exhausted. 
 In common with the entire command, I regret his temporary 
 absence from the field, where he loved to be. 
 
 "Major Daniel W. Hurtt, Second North Carolina State 
 Troops, commanded the skirmishers faithfully and well. 
 
 "To the field and company officers, one and all, my thanks 
 are due for the zeal and bravery displayed under the most try- 
 ing circumstances. 
 
 "To the gentlemen of my staff I owe especial thanks for ser- 
 vices rendered on the march and upon the field. Captain Seatou 
 Gales, Assistant Adjutaut General, and Lieutenant Caleb Rich- 
 mond, Aide-de-camp, were with me all the time, promptly car- 
 rying orders under the very hottest fire. I take pleasure, too, 
 
25 
 
 in speaking of the bravery of private James Stinson, courier, 
 a youth of twenty, who displayed qualities a veteran might boast 
 of, and of the conduct of private J. B. Beggarly, also a courier 
 to headquarters. 
 
 "To Dr. G. W. Briggs, Senior Surgeon of the brigade, my 
 thanks are due for his zeal, skill, and care of the wounded. 
 "I am, sir, very respectfully, 
 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 
 "Stephen D. Ramseur, 
 " Brigadier General Commanding." 
 
 In the report of this battle by Major General Rodes he 
 makes the following remarks as to the part borne by Ramseur's 
 Brigade : 
 
 " While these movements were taking place on the left, Ram- 
 seur and Doles pushed forward on the right, passed the first line 
 of intrench ments, which had already been carried, passed the 
 first and second lines of our troops, and became fiercely engaged. 
 Doles deflecting to the right, passed up a ravine behind the grave- 
 yard on Chancellor's Hill, and finally came out in the field nearly 
 opposite the house, driving the enemy before him as he advanced, 
 actually getting several hundred yards to the rear as well of 
 those troops opposing the rest of my division as of those oppos- 
 ing General Anderson's Division. Subsequently he was com- 
 pelled to fall back and was directed by General Lee to take a 
 large body of prisoners. Ramseur, after vainly urging the 
 troops in the first line of intrenchment to move forward, obtained 
 permission to pass them, and, dashing over the works, charged 
 the second intrenchment in the most brilliant style. The strug- 
 gle at this point was long and obstinate, but the charge on the 
 left of the plank-road at this time caused the enemy to give way 
 on his left, and this, combined with the unflinching determina- 
 tion of his men, carried the day and gavg him possession of the 
 works. Not being supported, he was exposed still to a galling 
 fire from the right, with great danger of being flanked. Not- 
 4 
 
26 
 
 withstanding repeated efforts made by him, and by myself in 
 person, none of the troops in his rear would move up until the 
 old "Stonewall Brigade" arrived on the ground and gallantly 
 advauced in conjunction with the Thirtieth North Carolina Regi- 
 ment, Colonel F. M. Parker, of Ramseur's Brigade, which had 
 been detached to support a battery, and was now on its return. 
 Occupying the works on the right of Ramseur, and thus reliev- 
 ing him when his ammunition was nearly exhausted, the Stone- 
 wall Brigade pushed on and carried Chancellorsville heights, 
 making the third time that they were captured." 
 
 In this battle Ramseur, though severely wounded, declined 
 to leave the field, and is especially mentioned by Rodes as one 
 who was "distinguished for great gallantry and efficiency in this 
 action." 
 
 It will be remembered that it was here that that great ideal 
 soldier of the Army of Northern Virginia, who stood second 
 only to Lee, Stonewall Jackson, fell mortally wounded, and was 
 carried from the field. His command then devolved on A. P. 
 Hill, who was wounded, and then upon General J. E. B. 
 Stuart, whose plume, like that of Harry of Navarre, was 
 always seen conspicuous in the thickest of the affray. While 
 each of these Generals mentioned Ramseur and his brigade in 
 the most flattering terms, I will not stop to quote from their 
 reports. I prefer to hasten on and call your attention to what 
 will be recognized by every soldier of that army as one of the 
 highest compliments and most distinguished tributes that could 
 have been paid to Ramseur and his command. I beg you to 
 pause and reflect upon the force and power of each expression. 
 It emanates from one not given to compliments, but who, in all 
 of his public communications, seemed to weigh and carefully con- 
 sider each word that he used. I am confident that the existence 
 of this letter was not known either to Ramseur or to any of his 
 command when written, and came to my notice for the first time 
 only very recently. 
 
27 
 
 GENERAL LEE'S TRIBUTE. 
 
 It reads as follows: 
 
 "Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia, 
 
 "June 4th, 1863. 
 "His Excellency Zebulon B. Vance. 
 
 " Governor of North Carolina, Raleigh: 
 
 "Governor: — I have the honor to call the attention of your 
 Excellency to the reduced condition of Brigadier General Ram- 
 senr's Brigade. Its ranks have beeu much thinned by the casu- 
 alties of the battles in which it has beeu engaged, in all of which 
 it has rendered conspicuous service. I consider its brigade aud 
 regimental commanders as among the best of their respective 
 grades iu the army, and in the battle of Chancellorsville, where 
 the brigade was much distinguished and suffered severely, Gen- 
 eral Ramseur was among those whose conduct was especially 
 commended to my notice by Lieutenant General Jackson iu a 
 message sent to me after he was wounded. I am very desirous 
 that the efficiency of this brigade should be increased by filling 
 its ranks, and respectfully ask that, if it be in your power, you 
 will send on recruits for its various regiments as soon as possible. 
 If this cannot be done I would recommend that two additional 
 regiments be sent to it if they can be had. I am satisfied that 
 the men could be used in no better way to render valuable ser- 
 vice to the country and win credit for themselves and their State. 
 "I am, with great respect, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 (Signed) "R. E. Lee, 
 
 " General" 
 
 Mark the language: "I consider its brigade and regimental 
 commanders the best of their respective grades in the army." 
 What army? The Army of Northern Virginia! The best on 
 the continent! Who sends a message to Lee about Ramseur 
 that is worthy to be repeated to the Governor of the State? 
 Stonewall Jackson, from his bed of anguish. No higher eulogy 
 could be pronounced. 
 
28 
 
 After the battle of Chaucellorsville, Ramseur, with his brigade, 
 accompanied the army of Lee in its invasion of Pennsylvania. 
 In connection with Rodes' Division, in the first day's fight at 
 Gettysburg they secured the elevated ridge known as Oak Hill, 
 which was the key-note of the entire field. Swinton, in his 
 "Army of the Potomac," says: "When towards three o'clock a 
 general advance was made by the Confederates, Rodes speedily 
 broke through the Union centre, carrying away the right of the 
 First Corps and the left of the Eleventh, and, entering the inter- 
 val between them, disrupted the whole line." The Federal troops 
 fell back in much disorder, and were pursued by our troops 
 through the town of Gettysburg. This was our opportunity to 
 have seized the heights, the subsequent assaults on which proved 
 so disastrous to us during the progress of this battle. Ramseur 
 urged that the pursuit should be continued until Cemetery 
 Heights were in our possession. The light of subsequent events 
 shows that he was clearly in the right. Our friends in Vir- 
 ginia are fond of boasting of the advanced position of their troops 
 at Gettysburg. It is a thing to be boasted of. Her sons were gal- 
 lant and martial, and far be it from me to. detract one tittle from 
 the fame to which they are entitled, yet it is but an act of jus- 
 tice to call attention to the fact that the only two brigades which 
 entered the works of Cemetery Heights on the second day of 
 the battle were Hoke's North Carolina and Hays' Louisiana 
 brigades. The former was then under the command of that 
 gallant soldier and accomplished gentleman, Colonel Isaac E. 
 Avery, who lost his life on this occasion while gallantly leading 
 his brigade on the heights on the 2d of July. In his roport of 
 
 this battle, Early says: 
 
 # * * * ******* 
 
 "As soon as Johnson became warmly engaged, which was a 
 little before dusk, I ordered Hays and Avery to advance and 
 carry the works on the heights in front. These troops advanced 
 in gallant style to the attack, passing over the ridge in front of 
 them under a heavy artillery fire, and there crossing a hollow 
 between that and Cemetery Hill, and moving up this hill in the 
 
29 
 
 face of at least two lines of infautry posted behind stone and 
 plank fences, and passing over all obstacles, they reached the 
 crest of the hill and entered t lie enemy's breastworks, crossing 
 it, getting possession of one or two batteries." 
 
 Brigadier General Iverson, of Georgia, had manifested such 
 a want of capacity in the field at Gettysburg he was relieved of 
 his command and assigned to provost guard duty. Asa further 
 mark of Lee's appreciation of Ramseur this brigade was assigned 
 temporarily to his command, in addition to the one he already 
 commanded. 
 
 In the various skirmishes and battles of this campaign Ram- 
 seur displayed his usual efficiency and gallantry. After return- 
 ing from Pennsylvania our troops went into winter quarters 
 near Orange Court House, and as it was clear that after the 
 exhaustive campaigns of the year we would enjoy a period of 
 comparative quiet, Ramseur obtained a leave of absence for the 
 purpose of entering into the most important relations of one's 
 life. He had long been attached to and was then engaged to 
 Miss Ellen E. Richmond, of Milton, but the consummation of 
 his hopes had been often deferred by the exigencies of the pub- 
 lic service. He was now made supremely happy in their mar- 
 riage, which occurred on the 22d of October, 1863. 
 
 The successive failures of the Army of the Potomac in its en- 
 gagements with the Army of Northern Virginia created a general 
 apprehension throughout the North that unless something more 
 satisfactory was accomplished the successful issue of the war was 
 becoming a most doubtful problem. This prompted the nomi- 
 nation of General Grant to the grade of Lieutenant General and 
 he was assigned to the command of "all the armies of the United 
 States." One of the conditions of his acceptance was that he 
 should not be hampered in the discharge of his duties by the 
 central authorities at Washington — a wise and judicious precau- 
 tion, which else had resulted in his supersedure after his terrible 
 losses at Coal Harbor, where, according to Swintou, he had thir- 
 teen thousand of his men killed and wounded within the space 
 of two hours, and this without inflicting but little loss on his 
 adversary. 
 
30 
 
 On the morning of May 5th, 1864, over one hundred thou- 
 sand of Grant's troops had crossed the Rapid an, and thence fol- 
 lowed that series of battles on the overland route to Richmond, 
 wherein the killed, wounded and disabled on the part of Grant's 
 army were as great as the whole army of Lee when these 
 engagements commenced. During this march Ramseur's men 
 were frequently engaged in successful skirmishes and battles 
 with the enemy, but the great battle in which he shone con- 
 spicuously was on the 12th of May, at 
 
 SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 
 
 On the afternoon of the 11th there was severe fighting on our 
 right, when Ramseur's men mounted over our works and 
 drove the enemy from our front in a hand-to-hand engage- 
 ment. It was expected by Lee that during the night Grant 
 would withdraw his troops for the purpose of continuing his 
 advance on Richmond. In order to be in readiness to confront 
 him when he should make this change, Lee had directed that 
 the guns in front of Ed. Johnson's Division, in a point in our 
 lines known as the " salient," should be withdrawn during the 
 night to facilitate our movements in the morning. This fact 
 became known to Grant through a deserter from our lines. 
 Hancock's Corps was in front of this point, aud he was directed 
 to approach under the cover of night and a dense fog and assault 
 the Hue at early dawn. The attack resulted most successfully, 
 for our works were captured, together with a large number of 
 prisoners. To restore in part this line became Ramseur's duty. 
 In his report of the action he speaks substantially as follows: 
 That in anticipation of an attack on his front on the morning of 
 the 12th he had his brigade under arms at early dawn. Very 
 soon he heard a terrible assault on his right. He therefore 
 moved Cox's Regiment, which was in reserve, to a position per- 
 pendicular to his line of battle. At this time the enemy was 
 massing his troops for a further advance. For the purpose of 
 driving him back he formed his brigade in a line parallel to the 
 two lines held by the enemy. The men in charging were 
 
31 
 
 directed to keep their allignment and not pause until both lines 
 of works were ours. How gallantly and successfully these 
 orders were executed were witnessed by Geuerals Rodes and 
 Ewell. The two lines of Federal troops were driven pell-mell 
 out and over both lines of our original works with great loss. 
 The enemy held the breastworks on our right, enfilading the 
 line with destructive tire, at the same time heavily assaulting our 
 right front. In this extremity, Colonel Bennett of the Four- 
 teenth offered to take his regiment from left to right, under a 
 severe fire, and drive baek the growing masses of the enemy on 
 our right. This hazardous offer was accepted as a forlorn hope, 
 and was most successfully executed. To Colonel Bennett and his 
 men, says General Ramseur, and his gallant officers, all honor is 
 due. I distinctly recall the circumstances under which the 
 charge was made, and for cool audacity and unflinching courage 
 I never saw it surpassed. At the time the movement was com- 
 menced Colonel Parker's Regiment and the Federals were engaged 
 in a hand-to-hand encounter in and over the works, while my 
 regiment was pouring a most destructive fire into the Federals in 
 our front. We entered these works at 4 o'clock on the morning 
 of the 12th and remained in the works fighting and contending 
 for over twenty hours. When relieved, hungry and exhausted, 
 we dropped upon the wet ground and slept most profoundly. 
 
 A correspondent of the London Morning Herald, who had 
 familiar access to Lee's headquarters, in a description of the bat- 
 tle of the Wilderness, gives this vivid account of the action of 
 Ramseur's Brigade on the morning of the 12th : 
 
 "The Federalists continued to hold their ground in the sa- 
 lient, and aloug the line of works, to the left of that augle, 
 within a short distance of the position of Monoghan's (Hays') 
 Louisianians. Ramseur's North Carolinians of Rodes' Division 
 formed, covering Monoghan's right; and being ordered to 
 charge, were received by the enemy with a stubborn resistance. 
 The desperate character of the struggle along that brigade-front 
 was told terribly in the hoarseness and rapidity of its musketry. 
 So close was the fighting there, for a time, that the fire of friend 
 
32 
 
 and foe rose up rattling in one common roar. Ramseur's North 
 Carolinians dropped in the ranks thick and fast, but still he 
 continued, with glorious constancy, to gain ground, foot by foot. 
 Pressing under a fierce fire, resolutely on, on, on, the struggle 
 was about to become one of hand to hand, when the Federalists 
 shrank from the bloody trial. Driven back, they were not de- 
 feated. The earthworks being at the moment in their immedi- 
 ate rear, they bounded on the opposite side; and having thus 
 placed them in their front, they renewed the conflict. A rush 
 of an instant brought Ramseur's men to the side of the de- 
 fenses; and though they crouched close to the slopes, under en- 
 filade from the guns of the salient, their musketry rattled in 
 deep and deadly fire on the enemy that stood in overwhelming 
 numbers but a few yards from their front. Those brave North 
 Carolinians had thus, in one of the hottest conflicts of the day, 
 succeeded in driving the enemy from the works that had been 
 occupied during the previous night by a brigade which, until 
 the 12th of May, had never yet yielded to a foe — the Stone- 
 wall." 
 
 In an address before the Army of Northern Virginia, Colonel 
 Venable, of Lee's staff, says : " The restoration of the battle on 
 the 12th, thus rendering utterly futile the success achieved by 
 Hancock's Corps at daybreak, was a wonderful feat of arms, in 
 which all the troops engaged deserve the greatest credit for 
 endurance, constancy and unflinching courage. But without 
 unjust discrimination, we may say that Gordon, Rodes and 
 Ramseur were the heroes of this bloody day. * * * * Rodes 
 and Ramseur were destined, alas! in a few short months, to lay 
 down their noble lives in the Valley of Virginia. There was 
 no victor's chaplet more highly prized by the Roman soldier 
 than that woven of the grass of early spring. Then let the 
 earliest flowers of May be always intertwined in the garlands 
 which the pious hands of our fair women shall lay on the tombs 
 of Rodes and Ramseur, and of the gallant dead of the battle of 
 twenty hours at Spottsylvania." 
 
General Long, in his " Life of Lee," puts the name of Ramseur 
 in the van of those who rushed into this angle of death and 
 hurled back the Federals' most savage sallies. During the long 
 and fierce struggle I saw soldiers place the arras of their com- 
 rades who had just fallen in such a position as when they had 
 become stiffened thev would hold the cartridges we were using. 
 Yes, fighting and exhausted, amidst blood and mud and brains, 
 they would sit on the bodies of their fallen comrades for rest, 
 and dared not show even a finger above the breastworks, for so 
 terrible was the fire at this angle that a tree eighteen inches in 
 diameter was cut asunder by minnie balls. After the battle was 
 over Generals Lee and Ewell thauked Ramseur in person, and 
 directed him to carry to his officers aud men their high appreci- 
 ation of their conspicuous services and heroic daring. At this 
 time such portions of the First and Third Regiments as were 
 not captured in the salient were placed in the brigade, and it is 
 sufficient praise to bear witness that from that time on to the 
 surrender at Appomattox their officers and men always showed 
 themselves worthy of the highest confidence reposed in them. 
 In appreciation of the conspicuous services rendered by Ram- 
 seur on this occasion, he was made a Major General and assigned 
 t<> the command of Early's Division, and I had the distinguished 
 honor of being assigned to Ramseur's (now to become Cox's) 
 historic; brigade. 
 
 THE VALLEY OF VIRGINIA, 
 
 both physically and strategically, is one of "the most attractive 
 regions of that State. It is not less distinguished for the bril- 
 liant achievements of Stonewall Jackson than for the ardent 
 patriotism of its men and the devotion and sacrifices of its 
 women to the cause of the South. It was here that Jackson, 
 with only a little army of thirteen thousand men, defeated aud 
 drove from the valley Milroy, Fremont, Banks and Shields, 
 whose combined forces were five times as great as his owu, 
 besides capturing vast quantities of much needed commissary 
 and ordnance stores and large numbers of prisoners. After 
 5 
 
34 
 
 the battle of Coal Harbor the Second Corps, composed of Ram- 
 seur's, Rodes' and Gordon's Divisions, were placed under the 
 command of Early, and directed to proceed to this valley, 
 with instructions to capture or destroy the army of Hunter, 
 a recreant Virginian, who was marching in the direction of 
 Lynchburg, destroying the country as he moved along. Attached 
 to this corps was Nelson's and Braxton's battalions of artillery, 
 together with a division of cavalry. At this time Breckinridge, 
 who, in a brilliant engagement, had recently defeated Sigel, 
 was at Lynchburg awaiting our arrival. Our troops were trans- 
 ported by rail. Ramseur's and the greater part of Gordon's 
 Divisions were sent forward as soou as they were ready. They 
 arrived at Lynchburg at about 4 o'clock p. m., on the 17th 
 of June. Here they united with Breckinridge and the troops 
 of Major General Ransom, who was in command of the whole 
 cavalry in the valley. Hunter was in camp near the city 'of 
 Lynchburg. In a letter to me, General Ransom says that at 
 this time "he (Ramseur) and I reconiioitered the left flank of 
 Hunter's army and found it could be most advantageously 
 assailed, and in person reported the fact to General Early, who 
 said he would not attack until the whole of Rodes' Division had 
 arrived from Richmond. The opportunity to destroy Hunter's 
 army was then lost." Hunter took counsel of his fears and 
 advantage of the cover of night and darkness to make a hasty 
 retreat. Early on the morning of the 19th we commenced a 
 pursuit, and just before night overtook the enemy's rear at Lib- 
 erty, when Ramseur's Division moved on it and drove it through 
 the place. It was now ascertained that Hunter had not taken 
 the route that we anticipated, but had retreated by way of Beau- 
 ford's Gap, where, the next day, he was found occupying a com- 
 manding position on the crest of the mountian. After our 
 arrival we spent the afternoon in efforts to secure a position from 
 which to successfully assail him the following day. Hunter, by 
 our failure to promptly pursue at daylight, made his escape, and 
 being in the mountains further pursuit was useless. Early, in 
 his report, says: "By mistake of the messenger who was sent 
 
35 
 
 with orders to General Rodes to lead the next morning, there 
 was some delay in his movement on the 21st, but the pursuit 
 was resumed very shortly after sunrise." After resting a day 
 we resumed the march and reached Buchanan that night. Our 
 uext important move was to cross the Potomac into Maryland. 
 We reached Frederick, Md., about the 9th of the month, when 
 Ramseur, after a slight resistance, moved through the town and 
 brushed away the Federals before him. Our invasion had so 
 alarmed the Federal capital that General Wallace was directed to 
 move at once with such forces as he had and could collect and 
 interpose them between us and Washington. When Wallace 
 reached our front he drew his troops up on the eastern bank 
 of I he 
 
 MONOCACY. 
 
 Ramseur deployed in his front, drove his skirmishers across 
 the river and a brief and brisk artillery duel followed. In the 
 meantime McCausland, with his cavalry, crossed the river, 
 attacked the Federal left flank and threw it into confusion, 
 which Early discovering, threw forward Gordon's Division, 
 commanded by Breckinridge. Gordon moved to the assistance 
 of McCausland, while Ramseur crossed over the railroad bridge 
 and fell upon Wallace, who retreated with great precipitation, 
 leaving in our hands six or seven hundred prisoners besides 
 his killed and wounded. Our loss in killed and wounded 
 was severe, but as this was a sharp and brilliant engagement, 
 well planned aud spiritedly executed, it infused new life into 
 our troops. On the 10th we moved to Rockville. As the weather 
 was hot and the roads dusty, our troops were easily fatigued and 
 made but slow progress. The next day we resumed the march, 
 aud in the afternoon reached Seventh street pike, which leads into 
 Washington. In a history of the Army of the Potomac, Swiu- 
 ton, in speaking of this movement, says: ''By afternoon the 
 Confederate infantry had come up and showed a strong line in 
 front of Fort Stevens. Early had there an opportunity to dash 
 iuto the city, the works being very slightly defended. The hope at 
 headquarters that the capital could be saved from capture was very 
 
36 
 
 slender." The truth is, the Sixth and Ninth Corps of Grant's 
 army were then en route to save the capital, and for us to have 
 entered it at this time might, in the end, have proved a costly 
 experiment. Probably more expedition might have been exer- 
 cised by us in our march. After reconnoitering and skirmishing 
 a couple of days, we turned our backs on the capital, beat a hasty 
 retreat to the Potomac, followed by the enemy's cavalry. 
 
 The next engagement of any importance in which Ramseur 
 was concerned was at Winchester, where he was left with his 
 command and a battery of artillery to protect the place from a 
 threatened attack from Averill. While here he was informed 
 by General Vaughan, in command of the cavalry, that Averill, 
 with a small force, was at Stephenson's Depot, and could be sur- 
 prised and easily captured. Placing too much confidence in these 
 representations, Ramseur advanced against him without the 
 proper precaution of throwing forward a strong skirmish line, 
 and he encountered Averall with a large force of infantry and 
 cavalry, and met with a pretty severe repulse. In a letter to me, 
 General W. G. Lewis, who was wounded in this engagement, says 
 that Ramseur was not altogether responsible for the mistake that 
 occurred, for he had every reason to suppose that the informa- 
 tion furnished by Vaughan was correct. This matter, while nut 
 of much importance, is referred to simply because it is the only 
 instance in which he met with a reverse. The blame properly 
 rests upon General Vaughan, who should have been more 
 careful in his statements. 
 
 On the 9th of September information reached us that a large 
 force had been concentrated at Harper's Ferry, which consisted 
 of the Sixth, Nineteenth and Crook's Corps, and was under a 
 new commander, who proved to be Sheridan. From this time 
 on constant maneuvering and skirmishing occurred between the 
 two armies, in which Ramseur was more or less prominently 
 engaged. Sheridan proved to be a wary, cautious and prudent 
 commander. In all of these movements it appeared that his 
 purpose was rather to ascertain the strength and character of his 
 adversary than to engage him in battle. Early was disappointed 
 
37 
 
 and disgusted by his wary methods, ami says in his "Last Year 
 of the War" that "the events of the last month had satisfied 
 
 me that the commander opposing me was without enterprise and 
 possessed an excessive caution which amounted to timidity. If 
 it was his policy to produce the impression that his force was too 
 weak to right me, he did not succeed; but if it was to convince 
 me that he was not an able and energetic commander, his strategy 
 was a complete success, and subsequent events have not changed 
 my opinion." Sheridan had recently been transferred from the 
 Army of the West, where Lee's methods and "Stonewall Jack- 
 son's way" were known as towers of strength. For the first 
 time Sheridan was given an independent command, had a whole- 
 some dread of our veterans, and also fully realized the fact that 
 upon the result of his first eucouuter with his adversary there 
 was involved an important political as well as military element. 
 
 Grant's campaign from the Wilderness to Coal Harbor had 
 been disappointing to the North, where there was a feeling that 
 so far the war had been a failure, which, in commenting on, in his 
 "Army of the Potomac," Swinton says, that when the records 
 of the War Department shall be carefully examined they will 
 develop discoveries of the most startling nature. In speak- 
 ing of public sentiment just prior to the battle of Winchester, 
 Grant says in his "Memoirs": 
 
 "I had reason to believe that the administration was a little 
 afraid to have a decisive battle fought at that time, for fear it 
 might go against us aud have a bad effect on the November 
 elections. The convention which had met and made its nomi- 
 nation of the Democratic candidate for the presidency had 
 declared the war a failure. 
 
 "Treason was talked as boldly in Chicago as ever it had been 
 at Charleston. 
 
 " It was a question of whether the government would then 
 have had the power to make arrests aud punish those who thus 
 talked treason. 
 
 " But this decisive victory was the most effective campaign 
 argument made in the canvass." 
 
38 
 
 In addition to what Grant pays, there was another motive 
 which made Sheridan timid in encountering our forces, and pos- 
 sibly Grant's presence was necessary to get him up to the fight- 
 ing point. 
 
 In his "Memoirs," Sheridan says: 
 
 " I had opposing me an army largely composed of troops that 
 had operated in this region hitherto under "Stonewall" Jack- 
 son with marked success, inflicting defeat on the Union forces 
 almost every time the two armies had come in contact. 
 
 "These men were now commanded by a veteran officer of the 
 Confederacy, General Jubal A. Early, whose past services had 
 so signalized his ability that General Lee specially selected him 
 to take charge of the Valley District, and notwithstanding the 
 misfortunes that befell him later, clung to him to the end of the 
 war. The Confederate army at this date was about twenty 
 thousand strong, and consisted of Early's own Corps, with Gen- 
 erals Rodes, Ramseur and Gordon commanding its divisions; 
 the infantry of Breckinridge, of Southwestern Virginia; three 
 battalions of artillery, and the cavalry brigades of Vaughau, 
 Johnson, McCausland and Imboden." 
 
 Early had marched and countermarched so often in the pres- 
 ence of and around Sheridan's army without bringing him to a 
 test of strength, he began to think him no better than Hunter, 
 and entertained more contempt for than fear of him. He separated 
 his divisions at will, and scattered them from Winchester to 
 Martinsburg — twenty-two miles — with no greater motive than 
 that of interrupting railroad traffic, producing a little diversion 
 in Washington, and securing a few commissaries in Martins- 
 burg. His last movement in this direction was on the eve of the 
 
 BATTLE OF WINCHESTER. 
 
 Of this movement he says that, "having been informed that 
 a force was at work on the railroad near Martinsburg, I 
 moved on the afternoon of the 17th of September with Rodes' 
 and Gordon's Divisions and Braxton's artillery to Bunker 
 Hill; and on the morning of the 18th, with Gordon's Divis- 
 
39 
 
 inn and a part of the artillery, to Martiosburg, preceded by 
 a part of Lomax's cavalry." It will thus be seen that in 
 the presence of a largely superior force, and a new and untried 
 commander, Early had his troops stretched out and sepa- 
 rated like a string of glass beads with a knot between each one, 
 In a previous move of a similar nature on Martinsburg, at 
 Bunker Hill, I had been reliably informed that the next time 
 Early should make the mistake of separating his command 
 Sheridan intended to attack and endeavor to crush his troops in 
 detail. This fact I communicated to General Rodes, who replied : 
 "I know it. I have told Early as much"; and with much 
 irritation of manner, said: "I can't get him to believe it." 
 
 Ou the morning of the 19th the booming of cannon was 
 heard in the direction of Winchester. As skirmishing at this 
 time was frequent, we could not positively decide as to what it 
 portended. Rodes was now at Stephenson's Depot, Breckin- 
 ridge and Gordon at Bunker Hill, and Ramseur at Winchester. 
 Rodes received orders to "move out," but was not directed where 
 to go. We moved out, took position behind a rock wall north 
 of the road intersecting the Winchester road, where we anx- 
 iously awaited further orders for the space of two hours. All 
 this time Ramseur, with his seventeen hundred men, was actively 
 engaged with Sheridan's advance corps. Had we have been 
 properly directed, we could have moved forward and crushed 
 this corps before the remaiuder of Sheridan's troops arrived, and 
 secured a complete victory. In speaking of the time when the 
 firing commenced, Early, who was with Gordon, says: "I imme- 
 diately ordered all the troops that were at Stephenson's Depot to 
 be in readiness to move, directions being given by Gordon, 
 who had arrived from Bunker Hill, to move at once, but by 
 some mistake on the part of my staff officer, the latter order 
 was not delivered to either Generals Breckinridge or Gordon." 
 
 Ramseur was compelled to bear the whole brunt of the attack 
 of Sheridan's army until we came to his support, about 10 A. M. 
 While Rodes was moving in column up the Martinsburg road, 
 near Winchester, we were unexpectedly called to attention, faced 
 
40 
 
 fo the left, and moved forward to engage the enemy, who had 
 advanced to within one hundred yards of the road. Grimes' 
 Brigade was on the right, mine in the centre, and Cook's on the 
 left, for Battle's was still behind. After a brief and vigorous 
 assault the Fedrals commenced falling back. 
 
 Grimes drove him through the woods and formed on the left 
 of Ramseur, while I was driving the Federals before me in an 
 open field, supported by Cook on my left. The latter brigade 
 was brought to a temporary halt. Rodes was now in my rear, 
 and dispatched his only remaining staff officer to push forward 
 this brigade. At this moment Lieutenant J. S. Battle of my 
 staff came up, informed me that Colonel Bennett of the Four- 
 teenth Regiment had just had his horse shot under him, and he 
 had given him his. It was now that General Rodes was shot 
 in the head by a ball, and caught by Lieutenant Battle as he fell 
 from his horse. The fall of Rodes was not observed by the 
 troops, who pushed on, and struck a weak line between the 
 Sixth and Nineteenth Corps. At this poiut the Federals were 
 severely punished, and fell back, leaving their killed and wounded. 
 A large number of officers and men were secreted in a ditch, whom 
 we captured. We pursued the enemy, with a hot fire, beyond the 
 crest of the hill on which Grimes had established his line. Here 
 Evans' Brigade, upon meeting a heavy fire, fell back, which 
 exposed my brigade to a concentrated, direct and left oblique fire. 
 Seeing that I could not maintain this advanced position, my Aide, 
 Major Gales, was sent to General Early with a request to have 
 a battery placed on a hill in my rear. This was promptly done, 
 when my men fell back and were formed behind the battery, 
 which opening with telling effect upon their heavy lines, they laid 
 down, and the victory appeared to be ours. In this brief engage- 
 ment Colonel Banuett had two horses shot from under him and 
 was captured. Colouel Cobb of the Second lost a foot, and 
 Colonel Thurston of the Third was severely wounded. While 
 my loss in officers aud men had been severe, my troops were in 
 fine spirits. Here we lay until 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when 
 Major G. Peyton of the division staff directed me to fall back, for 
 
41 
 
 the infantry had retired from my left, and Fitz Lee's cavalry 
 was hotly engaged with that of the Federals. I replied that 
 there was no occasion for my falling back, as I could repulse 
 any assault the Federals might attempt; and upon their endeav- 
 oring to advance, I opened fire upon them and they rapidly 
 sought shelter. Discovering (after Major Peyton retired) that 
 the Federals were in my rear, I fell back in good order to the 
 Marti usburg pike and formed on the left of our troops. Here, 
 we were exposed, without any protection, to a heavy artillery fire, 
 which was inflicting unnecessary punishment upon my men. I 
 turned to General Breckinridge, who was near, and pointed to a 
 line of hills and suggested that that was the place to make our 
 stand, to which lie agreed. Thereupon I faced my men about 
 and commenced retiring deliberately to the hills, all the troops 
 conforming to this movement. General Early, through a staff 
 officer, directed me to return ; I thereupon faced my men about 
 and moved them to the front. Upon reaching the turnpike 
 a second officer came from General Early and directed me to fall 
 back. Facing my men about, I again commenced slowly 
 retiring. While thus marching and countermarching in a 
 murderous fire, a caunon-ball struck in the color-guard, just iu 
 the rear of my horse's tail, cut one man asunder, tore off the 
 skull of another, which was thrown in front, and spattered blood 
 and brains on all who were near. My veterans, instead of 
 being stampeded, only pressed a little more impulsively upon 
 my horse's tail. 
 
 War hath its horrors, which the selfishness and ambition of 
 men bring upon them, and they must endure them; but the suffer- 
 ing and distress of females uo true man can complacently witness. 
 Such scenes of distress and heart-rending agony as were mani- 
 fested by the true women of Winchester as their town was uncov- 
 ered and they were thus exposed to the foe, while they cannot 
 be described, brought tears to the eyes of stoutest men. 
 
 Our troops now retreated towards Fisher's Hill. My brigade 
 secured the elevation which I had selected, and stood as a 
 menace to pursuit until our army had measurably retired. Then 
 6 
 
42 
 
 proceeding to the turnpike, I was retreating in column, when Dr. 
 Hunter McGuire, who was with Early, approached and said Gen- 
 eral Early was feeling badly ; that we had lost but one caisson, and 
 he wished I would take ray troops and protect from capture the 
 artillery then passing. I informed him that I was so far from 
 division headquarters (for our army was not then in sight) that I 
 did not desire to have my brigade exposed to capture unless he 
 would bring me an order from General Early, who was then rid- 
 ing slowly along the pike. He returned to the General and came 
 back and said the General said he wished I would do it. I then 
 dispatched Assistant Adjutant General Gales to General Battle, 
 who, after the fall of Rodes, was in command of the division, 
 with information as to where I was and what I was doing. I 
 then turned to my command, which had been joined by other 
 troops who had lost their commands, and directed them to deploy 
 and advance between the enemy's cavalry and our artillery, which 
 was done with great spirit and promptness in the presence of the 
 General, but without a word of indorsement from him. In 
 this manner we moved on, protecting the artillery until near 
 dusk, when we found Ramseur with his division thrown across 
 the turnpike to prevent pursuit. About the time the artillery 
 and my brigade crossed his line the enemy made a spirited 
 charge to capture the guns. Ramseur's men rose and met it 
 with a well-directed fire, which stopped further pursuit. I 
 moved on and soon joined our troops. So that Ramseur, upon 
 whom the enemy had opened their battle in the morning, gave 
 them the last repulse at night. 
 
 Of this battle, Early writing, says: "A skillful and energetic 
 commander of the enemy's forces would have crushed Ramseur 
 before any assistance could have reached him, and thns caused 
 the destruction of my whole force; and later in the day, when 
 the battle had turned against us, with the immense superiority 
 of cavalry which Sheridan had and the advantage of the open 
 country, would have destroyed my whole force and captured 
 everything I had. ****** j } lave thought, instead 
 of being promoted, Sheridan ought to have been cashiered for 
 
43 
 
 this battle." In his "Memoirs," Grant says: "Sheridan moved at 
 the time fixed upon. He met Early at the crossing of the Ope- 
 (pian Creek and won a most decisive victory — one which elec- 
 trified the country. Early had invited this attack himself by 
 his bad generalship, and made the victory easy." Considering 
 the great disparity of numbers, this battle of Winchester was, 
 after all, no great victory on the part of Sheridan, and Grant 
 intimates as much, for his troops outnumbered those of Early 
 more than three to one. His cavalry was in fine condition, while 
 ours was worn down by excessive duties and scaut forage. It 
 was won at a critical moment to the Federal government, and 
 it became to its interest to magnify it in every way practicable. 
 
 After our defeat at Winchester we fell back and formed a line 
 of battle behind. Fisher's Hill. In our encounter with Sheri- 
 dan's army, notwithstanding our defeat, his loss had been severe 
 and his pursuit was languid. It was the 20th before he reached 
 our front, and several days were passed in maneuvering and 
 skirmishing. Ramseur's Division occupied the left of our line 
 of battle and the prolongation of our line was defended by cav- 
 alry. On the 22d, Sheridan threw forward Crook's Corps, 
 pushed back our cavalry and took pessession of our line. Ram- 
 seur hearing the firing to his left, withdrew my brigade from the 
 line and ordered me to move in the direction of the firing, for after 
 the fall of Rodes, Ramseur, to our great gratification, was placed 
 in charge of his division. On moving to the left I had a brisk 
 skirmish with a part of Crook's men, but did uot encounter the 
 main force. From the firing in the direction of our line it was 
 soon apparent that our army was falling back. I now met Gen- 
 eral Lomax with a part of his men, and he kindly conducted me 
 by the nearest route to the turnpike over which we were 
 retreating. 
 
 It was full dusk when we reached the road. Colonel Pen- 
 dleton, an admirable officer and an accomplished gentleman- 
 of the corps staff, met me and requested that my brigade be 
 thrown across the road to cover the retreat. The brigade was 
 promptly formed, advanced rapidly to a fence, where it met the 
 
44 
 
 enemy in a haud-to-band encounter, repulsed them and stopped 
 the pursuit for the night. It was while near me that Colonel 
 Pendleton, whom I hail intimately known when on Jackson's 
 staff, fell mortally wounded. 
 
 Napoleon said: "The moral force in war is worth twice its 
 physical effect," Unfortunately, from this time on, that moral 
 force which leads to success in battle was, in this army, under 
 its present leadership, sadly lacking. 
 
 A word now as to the 
 
 PRIVATE SOLDIER 
 
 of the Confederate army. The emergencies of the South called 
 forth all of her sons to the front ("from the cradle to the grave," 
 as Grant expressed it), and in its ranks might be found men of 
 every position iu society. From education, association and pursuits 
 he was superior to the ordiuary soldier. He fought not for pay, for 
 glory or promotion, and received but little of either. He coveted 
 danger, not from recklessness, but for the loved ones at home, 
 whose approbation and safety were dearer to him than life itself. 
 His honors and rewards were the approval of a good conscience. 
 His humor was droll; his wit original ; his spirits unflagging; 
 his shoeless feet, tattered clothes and "hard-tack" were oftener 
 matters for jest than complaint. When his officer was consider- 
 ate and capable he was his idol. He was intelligent, understood 
 the issues at stake and discussed the merits and conduct of every 
 battle. Whether on the picket line or the forefront of battle, 
 behind every trusted musket there was a thinker, and there was 
 an accommodation and comradeship between the mere boy and 
 the oldest veteran. It was such devotion and unsurpassed hero- 
 ism as was displayed by the privates of each army, equally 
 brave and of one nationality, that makes our country great and 
 demonstrates to the world the excellence and superiority of the 
 Anglo-Saxon race. 
 
 "Can comrades cease to think of those who bore 
 The brunt of conflict, marching side by side — 
 Forget how youth forgot his beardless face, 
 Made beauteous by his valorous arm?" 
 
45 
 
 No, never! while a widowed heart ceases to forget or a sister 
 shall coldly touch the brother's "honored blade." All honor 
 then to the noble women who, in his old age and poverty — that 
 "ill-matched pair" — seek to provide, if not a home, at least a 
 shelter for him. May Heaven's choicest blessing rest upon them 
 and all who shall aid them in their pious and patriotic work. 
 
 To return to my narrative. After the affair of Fisher's Hill 
 we fell back to the lower passes of the Blue Rigde, where Sheri- 
 dan followed us as far as Staunton. Then, after destroying the 
 Central Railroad, he retreated up the valley and took position 
 behind his intrenchments at 
 
 CEDAR CREEK. 
 
 Early had now been re-in forced by the return of Kershaw's 
 Division, Cutshaw's battalion of artillery and some cavalry, 
 which about made up his losses at Winchester and Fisher's 
 Hill. About the time Sheridan fell back it had been Early's 
 purpose to attack him, which he doubtless anticipated, for he 
 heard that Longstreet had joined Early, and it was their pur- 
 pose to destroy him. Early pursued Sheridan beyond Middle- 
 town, where he found him too strongly intrenched for a direct 
 attack, and we were therefore formed behind our breastworks 
 at Fisher's Hill. From our signal station, which overlooked 
 their camp, it was discovered that the Federal left flank was 
 lightly picketed, and by a loug detour and careful movement 
 could be taken in reverse. A flanking movement was directed 
 by Early and mainly intrusted to Gordon, who, with Ram- 
 seur's Division, commenced moving early after dark. The night 
 was consumed in a fatiguing and exhausting march, which was 
 conducted with the greatest secrecy. We reached the point at 
 which we were to cross the creek and make the attack at early 
 dawn. Here we were joined by Payne's cavalry, who at full 
 speed dashed upon and captured Sheridan's headquarters, and, 
 but for his absence, would have captured him. While Crook's 
 Corps was enjoying its undisturbed quiet, and possibly dream- 
 ing of to-morrow, we descended like a wolf on the fold and 
 
46 
 
 aroused them by "Rebel yells" and peals of musketry, and they 
 hastily fled in garments more suited to a camp than a ball-room. 
 After our great reverses the sensation of pursuit was delight- 
 ful. As Ramseur hurried from point to point to hasten forward 
 his troops where resistance was offered his presence and manner 
 was electrical. Notified of our attack by the firing, the Federals 
 in other parts of the field formed and offered some resistance, but 
 they were so much demoralized that my little brigade drove back 
 a division ten times its number after but slight resistance. By 
 8 o'clock we had captured nearly all their artillery and from 
 fifteen hundred to two thousand prisoners, and the Federals were 
 in retreat. Early in the meantime, with two divisions which 
 had scarcely been engaged, came upon the field. Gordon informed 
 me that he then advised him to seize all his wagon, artillery and 
 ambulance horses — indeed, every one he could get — mount his 
 men upon them, and hotly pursue the Federals before they could 
 recover from their panic. But we were very deliberate. While 
 this was occurring Sheridan was at Winchester, on his return 
 from Washington. He gives this graphic account of his meet- 
 ing with his fleeing troops: "At Mill Creek my escort fell 
 behind and we were going ahead at a regular pace when, just 
 as we made the crest of the rise beyond the stream, there burst 
 upon our view the appalling spectacle of a panic-stricken army — 
 hundreds of slightly wounded men, throngs of others unhurt, 
 but utterly demoralized, and baggage wagons by the score, all 
 pressing to the rear in hopeless confusion, telling only too plainly 
 that a disaster had occurred at the front. On accosting some of 
 the fugitives, they assured me that the army was broken up, in 
 full retreat, and that all was lost; all this with a manner true 
 to that peculiar indifference that takes possession of panic-stricken 
 men." In the meantime General Wright, with one division and 
 some cavalry, had the only organized force in our preseuce. 
 The return of Sheridan and the lack of a vigorous pursuit had 
 the effect to allay the panic with which his army was seized 
 early in the day. Ascertaining from some prisoners that were 
 captured that Lougstreet was not with Early, Sheridan reorgan- 
 
47 
 
 ized his men the host he could and turned upon us, I should 
 say about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Ramscur kept his men 
 well in hand, and from behind rock walls successfully resisted 
 the advance of the Federals. Near 4 o'clock Kershaw's Division 
 gave way on my left. I sent my headquarter courier, private 
 Beggarly, to report the fact to General Ramseur. While doing 
 so his horse was shot through the ear and the horse upon which 
 General Ramseur sat (for he refused to take shelter) was killed. 
 At the request of General Ramseur, private Beggarly let the 
 General have his horse. So careful was Ramseur of the rights of 
 others, even in the midst of a severe engagement, this horse was 
 not taken before gettiug my consent. 
 
 During this whole encounter no man could have behaved 
 more maguificeutly and heroicly than Ramseur did in his efforts 
 to resist the overwhelming tide which was now setting in upon 
 us. From the position which he occupied the retreat of Ker- 
 shaw's Division and the overlapping flanking column of the 
 Federals could be seen. His troops became alarmed and could 
 not be held in position, and in a vain effort to hold them this 
 brave and accomplished young officer fell 
 
 MORTALLY WOUNDED 
 
 and was captured. In speaking of his conduct upon this 
 occasion, General Early says: "Major General Ramseur has 
 often proved his courage and his capacity to command, but 
 never did these qualities shine more conspicuous than on 
 the afternoon of the 19th of this month, when, after two 
 divisions on his left had given way and his own was doing 
 the same thing, he rallied a small baud and for one hour 
 and a quarter held in check the enemy, until he was shot 
 down himself. In endeavoring to stop those who were retiring 
 from the field I had occasion to point them to the gallant stand 
 made by Ramseur with his small party, and if his spirit could 
 have animated those who left him thus battling the 19th of 
 October would have had a far different history. He met the 
 death of a hero, and with his fall the last hope of saving the day 
 
48 
 
 was lost! General Raniseur was a soldier of whom his State 
 has reason to be proud — he was brave, chivalrous and capable." 
 General Grimes says, in his report of this battle: "Up to the 
 hour of 4 P. M. the troops of this division, both officers and 
 men, with a few exceptions, behaved most admirably, and were 
 kept well in hand. But little plundering and only a few shirk- 
 ing their duty. After that hour all was confusion and disorder. 
 The brigade commanders conducted themselves, each and all, with 
 great coolness and judgment, and are deserving of especial men- 
 tion for using all possible efforts to check their troops, but with- 
 out success. The death of the brave and heroic soldier, General 
 Ramseur, is not only a loss to this division but to his State and 
 country at large. No truer and nobler spirit has been sacrificed 
 in this unjust and unholy war." Colonel Winston, commanding 
 the Forty-third and Forty-fifth North Carolina Regiments, says 
 that "only one man of those regiments in passing through the 
 rich spoils of the enemy's camp fell out of ranks, and he did it 
 to get a hat, and was court-martialed." And so far as I observed, 
 the charge of General Early, that the loss of the fruits of our 
 victory in the morning was ascribable to the plundering of the 
 soldiers, is a great injustice. Certainly it is so as applicable to 
 that large body of North Carolinians who were then in his corps, 
 and who upon this, as upon prior and subsequent occasions, 
 proved themselves to be among the best soldiers in the Army of 
 Northern Virginia. 
 
 What General Lee said in his letter to General Early, dated 
 September 22d, 1864, in regard to his strategy as a separate 
 commander, was clear to all, and in the main led to his want of 
 success. Lee said: * * "As far as I can judge from this dis- 
 tance, you have operated more with your divisions than with 
 your constituted strength. Circumstances may have rendered 
 it necessary, but such a course is to be avoided if possible." 
 When General Forrest was asked the cause of his uniform suc- 
 cess he replied: " I get there first with the most men." If not 
 classic, this is at least epigrammatic. 
 
 We cheerfully accept the well merited tribute General Early 
 pays the chivalrous and knightly Ramseur, but it is insisted he 
 
49 
 
 is entitled to one still higher. Instead of fighting with a few 
 hundred men, as Early elsewhere says, we see him, in the lan- 
 guage of General Grimes, "holding his division well in hand," 
 officers and men doing their duty faithfully, while the disorder 
 and confusion in other parts of the field hastens the disaster 
 which with troops skillfully handled should not have occurred. 
 
 It will be asked if the criticisms of Early's valley campaign 
 are just, why did not General Lee remove him? There are 
 several good reasons why General Lee should have been slow to 
 pursue such a course. Early was a man of superior intelligence, 
 he was earnest in the cause, and as a brigadier and division com- 
 mander a hard fighter and successful officer. There is, however, 
 a marked difference between a chief and subordinate commander, 
 and Lee had never known, him otherwise than as a subordinate. 
 It is true that Lee was finally compelled to remove him, and we 
 may presume it was his reluctance to wound that caused him to 
 unwillingly take the step which soon became necessary. This 
 forbearance was in keeping with Lee's general character, as known 
 to those who served under him. It is so well expressed by Col- 
 onel W. H. Taylor of his staff, in his book entitled "Four 
 Years with General Lee," we can but quote from him. He says : 
 
 "If it shall be the verdict of posterity that General Lee in 
 any respect fell short of perfection as a military leader it may 
 perhaps be claimed: First, that he was too careful of the per- 
 sonal feelings of his subordinate commanders, too fearful of 
 wounding their pride, aud too solicitous of their reputation. 
 Probably it was this that caused him sometimes to continue in 
 command those of whose personal fitness for their position he 
 was not convinced, and often avowedly or tacitly assumed respon- 
 sibility for mishaps clearly attributable to the inefficiency, neglect 
 or carelessness of others." 
 
 Through the courtesy of the family of General Ramseur, I 
 am placed in the possession of a personal letter from R. R. Hutch- 
 inson, of Virginia, an able and accomplished officer, who before 
 the battle of Cedar Creek had long served as Major and Acting 
 Adjutant General to the division. Major Hutchinson was with 
 7 
 
50 
 
 General Ramseur when he received his fatal wound, was cap- 
 tured while endeavoring to remove hira from the field, and by 
 his bedside during his last moments. 
 
 His account of the sad occurrence on that occasion is so vivid 
 and touching no apology is deemed due for introducing his let- 
 ter, with a single omission, in this monograph : 
 
 "Near Strasburg, Va., October 20, 1864. 
 " Mrs. S. D. Ramseur Milton, N. C. : 
 
 "Dear Madam: — I do not know how to write to you; how 
 to express my deep sympathy in your grievous affliction; but 
 the Christian soldier who has gone before us to that other world 
 has asked me to do it, and I must not shrink from the performance 
 of this duty, however painful. I am writing by the side of him 
 whose last thought was of you and his God, his country and his 
 duty. He died this day at twenty-seven minutes past 10 o'clock 
 a. m., and had at least the consolation of having by his side 
 some who wore the same uniform and served iu the same holy 
 cause as himself. His last moments were peaceful, his wounds 
 were painful, but his hope in Christ led him to endure all 
 patiently. He received his mortal wound yesterday afternoon 
 (October 19th) between the hours of 5 and 6 p. m. at the 
 post of honor and of danger, where he always was. Our 
 troops had fallen back a short distauce but had reformed, 
 and were stubbornly contesting a position on a hill which the 
 enemy attacked from three sides. He exposed himself to every 
 shot, cheering and encouraging all. I was not far from him 
 when I saw his horse shot; he procured another, which was 
 shot also, and immediately after he received his fatal wound (the 
 second), all in the space of a very few minutes. I ran over to 
 him, got some men. and bore him to the rear, your brother join- 
 ing us on the way. I then went off after an ambulance, found 
 it, but saw on returning with it that he had been left, as I 
 thought, in the enemy's lines. This fear was soon after dissi- 
 pated, however, by seeing him on Captain Randolph's horse, the 
 Captain running along side and supporting him. We got him 
 
51 
 
 then to the ambulance I had brought up. I thought he was 
 safe then, not knowing how dangerous was his wound, and 
 remained with the rear guard. When I was subsequently cap- 
 tured by the enemy's cavalry, I was carried to General Sheri- 
 dan's headquarters, and learning that General Ramseur had been 
 captured, asked and obtained permission to remain with him. 
 The road had been blocked up by wagons, causing a delay, that 
 gave the enemy time to get up and take him prisoner, just south 
 of Strasburg. Many of his former friends (West Pointers) 
 called to see him yesterday and to-day, and offered every assist- 
 ance in their power, General Sheridan among the number. He 
 was taken to General Sheridan's headquarters and made as com- 
 fortable as circumstances would permit. Dr. James Gillespie 
 (Cutshaw's Battalion of Artillery), a Confederate surgeon, assisted 
 by the enemy's surgeons, al tended to him and did all that could 
 be done under the circumstances. He suffered a good deal from 
 his wound, the ball having entered his right side, penetrating the 
 right and left lung, and lodging near the left side. But the end 
 was peaceful and quiet. He spoke continually of you, and sent 
 very many messages to his family, but above all, to his wife. He 
 told the ambulance driver to tell General Hoke that he "died a 
 Christian and had done his duty." He told me to "give his 
 love and send some of his hair to his darling wife"; and often 
 wished he could "see his wife and little child before he died." 
 He told me to tell you he had a "firm hope in Christ, and hoped 
 to meet you hereafter." Pie died as became a Confederate soldier 
 and a firm believer. 
 
 "I inclose the lock of hair he desired sent you. 
 
 "Respectfully, R. R. Hutchinson, 
 
 "Major and A. A. G. P. A. C. 8." 
 
 IN CONCLUSION. 
 
 Ramseur in personal appearance was slight, erect, alert, earnest 
 in speech, with dark prominent eyes and well developed fore- 
 head. He was an ideal soldier. 
 
 General Robert Ransom, in writing of his bearing in action, 
 while they were together in the valley, says : " Ramseur com- 
 
52 
 
 mauded infantry and I the whole of Early's cavalry dur- 
 ing the time I was with Early. Whenever I had opportu- 
 nity to see Ramseur his conduct was marked by great energy, 
 brilliant dash (often amounting to impetuosity) and an enthu- 
 siasm which inspired those he led." 
 
 Among the soldiers of Napoleon, Marshal Ney was known as 
 "the bravest of the brave." When asked whether he ever felt 
 fear in battle, he replied that he never had time. His reply 
 might aptly be that of Ramseur. When in action his enthusi- 
 asm arose with the magnitude of the dangers that environed 
 him. But this enthusiasm was controlled by a well-directed 
 judgment as to the best disposition to make of his troops, and as 
 to the weak points of his adversary. He fully realized that war 
 meant danger, even death; that the eyes of his troops were upon 
 him, and their greatest safety lay in marching fearlessly and 
 promptly to the front of danger, and he never hesitated to lead 
 them. 
 
 On the day preceding the battle of Cedar Creek, General Ram- 
 seur received intelligence of the birth of the little child men- 
 tioned in the letter of Major Hutchinson. The birth of one's 
 first born arouses a thousand thrilling emotions in the heart of 
 every manly bosom which can be felt but not described. 
 
 General Ramseur was a superb horseman, and on the day of the 
 battle he appeared upon the field well mouuted and dressed with 
 an unusual care in his handsome General's uniform. He wore 
 upon the lapel of his coat a bouionniere, the gift doubtless of 
 some fair and patriotic woman in that section, bestowed in recog- 
 nition of the joyous event which he had made known to her. 
 I have already described the enthusiasm with which his presence 
 on this occasion inspired, as he hastened from one part of the 
 battle field to another, and an electric glow even thrilled through 
 my impassive breast as we drove our gallant adversaries before 
 us, they making just enough resistance to heighten the effect 
 danger inspires. How different is the situation of man and 
 woman under such circumstances. To man the presence of dan- 
 ger is all-absorbing. Woman, on the approach of an impending 
 
53 
 
 battle is filled with the most anxious forebodings of danger, which 
 are to be followed after the battle has been fought with still 
 more wearying and anxious thoughts and sleepless nights — 
 for her there is no rest until the list of killed and wounded is 
 received and doubt is resolved into certainty. 
 
 No doubt amidst that day's vicissitudes Ramseur's mind was 
 continually dwelling upon his wife and child, and pleasant 
 thoughts of an early meeting and of additional honors that might 
 be his, for in the course of this address it may have been observed 
 he scarcely ever participated in an important battle that he did 
 not win a promotion. It is wisely provided that no mau can see 
 what a day may bring forth, or certify how long he has to live. 
 In Ramseur's case it is pleasant to feel that as a hero and a 
 Christian he was prepared to meet his last enemy when he came. 
 When being borne from the field his memory revisits the old 
 homestead, and he thinks of one between whom and himself the 
 warmest ties had always existed. There was but a month's 
 difference in their ages. "Tell General Hoke," he says, " I did 
 my duty and died a Christian." 
 
 "He died, but his end was fitting, 
 Foremost in the ranks he led, 
 And he marked the heights of his nation's gain, 
 As he lay in the harness — dead." 
 
 The Rev. E. Harding, his connexion aud chaplain, in his 
 sketch of General Ramseur, to which I am indebted in prepar- 
 ing this memoir, in writing of his Christian character, says: 
 "Ramseur read his Bible a great deal, and when opportunity 
 offered held family prayers; that he was "fond of conversing 
 on religious subjects, and punctual in attending divine service"; 
 that he "was a high-toned and chivalrous gentleman, a gallant 
 soldier, an humble Christian." 
 
 His last thoughts on earth were of home aud Heaven, the 
 sweetest words in any language. He said, bear this message to 
 my precious wife: "I die a Christian and hope to meet her in 
 Heaven." No balm to the bruised heart could be more precious, 
 no assurance more gratifying. 
 
54 
 
 Irrespective of section, irrespective of service, the blue and 
 the gray — Sheridan, Custer, Federal and Confederate sur- 
 geons — gather around his couch to minister to his wauts and 
 smooth his dying pillow. His soul takes its flight, and the day 
 men called his last was his first in the Paradise of God. His body 
 was carefully embalmed by the Federals, borne through their 
 lines and delivered to his early and cherished friend, General 
 Hoke. And thus was illustrated the saying that the world 
 would remain at peace if those who made the quarrels were 
 the only men that fought, for between the soldiers of the 
 two armies there was no personal animosity — of one race, of 
 one nationality, equally brave and equally sincere, they did not 
 bring on the war, and not with their consent has its animosities 
 been continued. Ramseur's remains were carried to his native 
 village, and there a large concourse of his neighbors and friends 
 assembled to express their sorrow and do honor to his memory. 
 They accompanied his remains to their last resting-place, which 
 is in the Episcopal church-yard, and deposited them beside 
 those of his father and mother. Over them a loving and 
 devoted kinsman has had erected a handsome monument, on one 
 side of which is engraved the Confederate flag and the principal 
 battles in which he fought, and on the other the date of his birth 
 and of his death, with this appropriate inscription : "A Christian 
 Soldier." 
 
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