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 Onitiersitp of J13ort|) Carolina 
 
 Collection ot jl^octj Carolmiana 
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SKETCHES 
 
 OF 
 
 MAJ.-GEN. STEPHEN DODSON RRMSEUR. 
 
CI 
 
 prp:fack. 
 
 Major General Stephen Dodson Ramseur, of the Con- 
 federate Ann\- of Virginia, was my early companion in 
 youth, my dearest friend in manhood, and connected with 
 me by the strongest family tie, being my brother-in-law; 
 and, to preserve his niemor\- and perpetuate his fame, I 
 have collected these sketches. 
 
 The future historian will here find the material to write 
 
 the brilliant storv of his life. 
 
 D. SCHENCK. 
 April iS, iSg2. 
 
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SkGtcb of Major Seneral S, D, Raniseur, 
 
 lU K. H. HAKDINi;, 1). D. 
 
 Major GeNKKAL S. D. RamSKIR was horn in the villajje of 
 Lincolnton. N. C, on the 31st of Ma\', 1^37. He was the second 
 child of Jacob A. and Luc)' M. Ramseur. His parents were mem- 
 bers of the I*resb\terian Church, am! he was bred under relij^Mous 
 influences. The circumstances of his childhood were those best 
 adapted to develop his character most favorabl)'. His parents 
 possessing; amj^lc means to ^ive their children all necessar\' social 
 and intellectual atlvanta^es, relieved them on the one hand from 
 the ills of povertN', while on the other they preserved them from 
 the enervating and corrupting allureinents of an artificial and 
 worldly life. Having received his elementary education in the 
 schools of Lincolnton, and the village of Milton, in his native 
 State, he sought an appointment in the Military Academy at West 
 Point. Failing in tliis effort, he entered the freshman class in 
 Davidson College, N. C. At this institution he spent about 
 eighteen months, but he had early chosen arms as his profession, 
 and the opportunity again recurring, he determined to apply again 
 for a Cadetship. Encouraged and aided by General D. H. Hill, at 
 that time Prolessor of Mathematics in the College, and who rec- 
 ommended him to the notice of the Hon. Burton Craige, he suc- 
 ceeded in gaining the eagerly desired appointment. 
 
 At West Point he remained five years, an additional )ear having 
 been added to the course while he was a student there. He was 
 graduated in i860. 
 
 B)' his courtes}', high-toned integril}- and sterling worth, he 
 made many warm personal friends, both among his brother cadets 
 and in the professional staff. Of the branches of the service left to 
 his choice, he preferred the Light Artillery, and in this was com- 
 missioned second Lieutenant b) brevet 
 
 It will be seen that the young Lieuteniint w<is in the Unitetl 
 States army but a short time before the breaking out of the hostil- 
 ities between the North and South, and this period — froni June, 
 i860, to April, i86[ — he spent in the performance of his duties at 
 
32 
 
 Fortress Monroe. In April, i86i, after the bursting of the storm- 
 cloud, Lieutenant Ramseur resigned his commission in the army, 
 and tendered his services to the newly-formed government at 
 Montgomery. On the 22nd of the same month he was commis- 
 sioned 1st Lieutenant of Artillery, and ordered to the Mississippi But 
 whilst on his way to his new post, he received a telegram announ- 
 cing his election to a captaincy of the "Ellis Light Artillery" 
 
 This was a battery composed of the first young men in his State, 
 and was then in formation at the Capital. 
 
 Captain Ramseur now repaired with all haste to Raleigh, where, 
 by his energy and activity, he soon secured the requisite number 
 of guns, horses and other equipments necessary for a thoroughly- 
 appointed battery; and in a very short time he had his full comple- 
 ment of men. At "Camp Boylan," near Raleigh, he drilled and 
 practiced his battery for some time, and brought it to such a state 
 of perfection that it became the pride of our State. 
 
 But the people began to ask why he did not go to the front. 
 Troops from all the Southern States had been passing through 
 Raleigh, and hastening on to Virginia, but the "Ellis Artillery'', 
 was still going through its daily drills. The citizens, who had not 
 become well acquainted with the young commander, began to think 
 that this w^as a holiday company, and one of the papers published 
 at the Capital, spoke somevvhat derisively of Captain Ramseur's 
 artillery, as the "Parlor Battery." Inquiries were made by the 
 authorities at Richmond, to which place the seat of the Confederate 
 Government had been removed, as to when the battery would be 
 in readiness. No definite answer could be returned — Captain Ram- 
 seur said that his command had not yet attained the proficiency 
 which he desired, and the drilling and reviewing continued. Some 
 of Ramseur's friends thought that he had been tardy in resigning 
 his commission in the old service, and they now thought him cen- 
 surably slow in taking the field. In both" of these opinions they 
 were wrong. In the one case, before giving up his commission, the 
 young officer was determined to wait until every effort of the South 
 to avert the strife had proven futile; and in the other, now that he 
 had drawn his sword in our cause, he was as fully determined that 
 when he went to the contest, its prowess should be recognized. 
 And the record of the "Ellis Light Artillery" affords a favorable 
 comment on his decision of purpose. 
 
 At last he was ready, and late in the summer of 1861 his battery 
 
33 
 
 proccctieii to X'iii^inia. ■ I h- was stationed iicir Sniithtu-ld on the 
 South siile of the James, and spent the tall and winter months in 
 camp at that pl.iee, or in occasional mo\'ements to .md from Nor- 
 folk. 
 
 At .ill of the reviews of the arms' in the dep.irtment of Morfolk, 
 this b.itter)' was the c\'nosiire of attraction ; and its beautiful evolu- 
 tions and proficienc)- in drillintj <^ained for the youthful commander 
 many encomiums from the reviewing generals. 
 
 In the Spring of 1862, when Richmond w.is threatened b)- Mc- 
 Cicllan's achance up the Teninsula. Captain Ramseur was ordered 
 to report, with his battery, to General Magruder at \'orkto\\n. It 
 had the honor, therefore, of forming a part of that little army of 
 about 7,ocxD or 8,000, which, by the masterly activity of its General, 
 was made to represent such a formidable front that the ojjposing 
 force, (which has been variously estimated at from 40,000 to 160,- 
 000) was deceived into a halt, which continued until the arrival of 
 the "Army of Northern Virginia," under Jos. K. Johnston. 
 
 General Magruder had known the meritorious young officer 
 when they were both in the service of the United States; and 
 he, therefore, detached him from his favorite battery, to place 
 him in command of the artillery of the right wing. It was here 
 that Major Ramseur, who had now been promoted, saw his first 
 active service. 
 
 Before any serious fighting occurred on the Peninsula, Major 
 Ramseur U'as elected to the Colonelcy of the 49th North Carolina 
 infiintry, and although he regretted to dissever his connection with 
 the artillery, he accepted the new promotion. The " Ellis Artil- 
 lery," however, under the gallant leadership of Captain Manly, a 
 short time afterwards, at the battle of Williamsburg, won its first 
 laurels, which continued to brighten till the close of the war. 
 
 The regiment of which Colonel Ramseur now took command 
 was composed altogether of new men, men who had just enlisted 
 But, b\- the exercise of his knowledge of infantr\' tactics, the young 
 commander at an early da>' had it prcparetl for the front. The 
 49th belonged to Ransom's brigade of Huger's division, and saw- 
 its first service in the skirmishes which preceded the opening bat- 
 tles before Richmond. Encouraged by the fearless intrepidity of 
 its commander, this body of men from the very outset rendered 
 most signal service. It went through the series of battles memor- 
 able as the "seven day's fighting," and in the last of these, at Mai- 
 
34 
 
 verii Hill, on tlic ist of Jul)-, whilst leading a victorious charge, the 
 young Colonel was wounded. He was shot through the right arm, 
 above the elbow, and that night, after the battle, was borne to 
 Richmond, and carried to the house of Mr. M. S. Valentine. Here 
 he met with every possible kind attention but the nature of his 
 wound was such that more than a month elapsed before he could 
 travel to his home in North Carolina. 
 
 Whilst at home, and before he had sufficientl}- convalesced to 
 return to the field, Colonel Ramseur received his commission as 
 Brigadier General. He now thought that promotion was coming 
 too rapidly, and felt seriously disinclined to accept this newly offered 
 compliment. But at the earnest request of his friends, who had a 
 higher opinion of his capacity than he himself had, he reluctantly 
 accepted the increased rank. It is a commentary both on the innate 
 bravery of his regiment and the fearlessness of its commander that 
 this officer was promoted immediately after leading a new comrriand 
 into its comparatively first fight. 
 
 In October, 1862 — though unable to use his right hand, even in 
 writing — he repaired to Richmond in order to make a decision in 
 regard to the brigade which had been offered him. He called on 
 President Davis, and explained to him his delicacy in accepting the 
 exalted rank that had been conferred upon him, but the President 
 insisted that he should take the commission, telling him at the same 
 time to return to his home until he was entirely restored to health. 
 But General Ramseur, instead of returning to North Carolina, 
 sought out the army, and took command of the brigade which had 
 been left without a general officer by the death of the gallant 
 George B. Anderson. His arrival at his new command was thus 
 spoken of afterwards at a meeting of condolence, held in Lincoln- 
 ton, on the 31st of October, 1864. It is an extract from a speech 
 delivered by Colonel Bynum: 
 
 "Assigned to a command in which I served, I knew him well. 
 He succeeded the lamented Gen. Anderson, an officer of great 
 abilities, and well skilled in the art of war, commanding the love 
 and confidence of his men. His was a place not easily filled. 
 
 " General Ramseur came to the brigade, a stranger from another 
 branch of the service; but he at once disarmed criticism by his 
 high professional attainment and great amiability of character, in- 
 spiring his men, by his own enthusiastic nature, with those lofty 
 martial ciualities which distinguish the Southern soldier." 
 
3i 
 
 This brigade. CDinposcd of the Jiul, 4th. I4tli and 30tli Xortli 
 Carolina icL;iniciits, then attached to Jackson's corjis. was coiii- 
 m.imlcd bv (icneral Ramscur at the battle of Chanceilorsvillc-. 
 where he was a^ain wounded in the foot l)\- a shell, u hilst leailins^' 
 a successful chari^e upon the eneni\'s works. I his second wonml 
 did not take him from the field, but he continued with his brii^ade, 
 and shortl)' afterwards accompanied it throuj^h the Tennsxlvania 
 campaign. In the battle of (iettysburj^^ he acted with conspicuous 
 gallantry — his brij;ade being among the first to enter the captured 
 town. Here he won. b\- his courage and militar)- deportment, the 
 highest esteem <ind warmest admiriition of the dixision. corps, ami 
 army commanders. 
 
 After the return of the arm\- from Penns\lv<inia, and when there 
 seemed to be a peaceful lull in the terrible war. and when the divi- 
 sion to which General Ramseur's brigade belonged was preparing 
 to go into winter quarters, near Orange Court House, he obtained 
 leave of absence for the purpose of being married. He had long 
 been engaged to Miss Ellen E. Richmond, of Milton, N. C, and on 
 the 27th of October, 1863, they were united in marriage. Spending 
 some time at the house of his wife's mother and at his home in 
 Lincolnton, he again repaired to his brigade. 
 
 The winter of '63 and '64 was spent in comparative quiet, but 
 Grant having taken command of the army of the Potomac, the 
 struggle was renewed in the spring with increased fury. Following 
 the fortunes of the corps to which his brigade belonged, the ne.\t 
 general engagements in which he bore a part were at the Wilder- 
 ness and Spotts>lvania Court House. The following extract from yt 
 the "" London Morning Herald" affords a vivid picture of the action 
 of this brigade. Having been written by an English gentleman, 
 who had familiar access to Gen. Lee's headtjuarters, it must needs 
 be more impartial than if it had been written by anyone connected 
 with the arm)'. It is a description of the battle of the Wilderness, 
 fought on the 12th of May, 1864, and is dated at Richmontl, on the 
 25th of the same month. After recounting the skirmishes w liich 
 preceded the battle, and describing the commencement of the bat- 
 tle itself, this correspondent thus alludes to the recapture. b\- Ram- 
 seur's brigade, of a most important salient from which another 
 portion of the army had been dislodged: 
 
 "The Federalists continued to hold their grouml in the salient, 
 and along the line ol works, to the left of that angle, w ithin .1 shorl 
 
36 
 
 distance of the oosition of Monoghan's (Hay's) Louisianians. Ram- 
 seur's North Carolinians of Rode's division formed, covering Mon- 
 oghan's right; and being ordered to charge, were received by the 
 enemy with a stuborn resistance. The desperate character of the 
 struggle along that brigade-front was told terribly in the hoarse- 
 ness and rapidity of its musketry. So close was the fighting there, 
 for a time, that the fire of friend 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 defeated. The earthworks being at the moment in 
 their immediate rear, they bounded on the opposite side; and hav- 
 ing 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- 
 fences; and though they crouched close to the slopes, under enfil- 
 ade 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 pre- 
 vious night by a brigade which, until the I2th of May, had never 
 yet yielded to a foe— the Stonewall." 
 
 At Spottsylvania Court House, General Ramseur acted with his 
 accustomed gallantry. In this battle he was shot through his 
 already disabled arm, and had three horses killed under him; still 
 he never left the field, but led on his brigade to the gathering of 
 fresh laurels for himself and forces. General Ramseur's career as a 
 brigade commander was an uncommonly brilliant one. He never 
 led the brigade into action that he did not add to its reputation. 
 It was noted at Chancellorsville that he drilled it under heavy fire, 
 and led it in a charge when others refused to advance, his men 
 absolutely running over portions of a recusant command. An 
 officer describing his appearance as he stepped up to Gen. Rodes 
 and offered his brigade for the charge said, " he looked splendidly." 
 
 For his services at Spottsylvania, on the occasion referred to by 
 the correspondent of the London Herald, Gen. Ramseur was com- 
 plimented on the field by Generals Ewell and A. P. Hill, and sent 
 for by General Lee, that he might receive, in person, the thanks of 
 that noble commander. 
 
37 
 
 While (icncral Raiiisi-ur infused his own daiiiiL;. impetuous nature 
 into his men, they almost worshipped him. They seemed to feel 
 tlie same kind of personal entluisi.-sm towards him that the corps 
 felt toward General Jackson, lie could lead them <in\ where; if he 
 was ^uidin^ them. the\' never distrusted, never hesitated, never 
 quailed. Their hearts beat with his hi^h coura<.je and responded 
 to his heroic intrepidit\-. They h.id the most unbounded confidence 
 in his daring skill and military resource. 
 
 In June, 1864, he was promoted to a Major Generalship, and as- 
 signed to the division formerly commanded by General Early. 
 
 Early's corps, composed of Gordon's, Rodes' and Ramseur's divi- 
 sions, was shortly afterwards detached from Lee, and sent to repel 
 Hunter, who was threatening Lynchburg. General Early reached 
 L\nchburg in time to save the city, and after the repulse of Hunter, 
 he marched for the third time into Maryland. No serious fighting 
 occurred during this campaign until the army reached Monococy 
 bridge, where Ramseurand Gordon defeated the forces commanded 
 by General Wallace. The army of the valley then marched to 
 within fi\'e miles of Washington city, and but for the timely arrival 
 of troops from the Department of the (julf, migiit have captured 
 the Federal capitol. 
 
 This addition to the enemy's army caused General Early to 
 retreat to the lower valley, where, with various successes and 
 reverses, he remained until ordered to rejoin the arm}- before Rich- 
 mond. 
 
 At the battle of Winchester on the 19th of September, General 
 Ramseur's division sustained the brunt of the fight, from da\'Iight 
 until nine or ten o'clock, when the other divisions came to his relief. 
 It was in this fierce conflict that the gallant Rodes gave up his life; 
 and, with the departure of his spirit, our army lost one of its noblest 
 commanders. Gen. Ramseur was transferred from Early's old divi- 
 sion to the division which was left without a Major General by the 
 fall of Rodes. He commandetl this but one month, when he, too, 
 died the gallant death of a soldier, at the battle of Cedar Creek. 
 
 In what esteem Major General S. 1). Ramseur was held by his 
 immediate superiors the following e.xtract will show. And the 
 cause of the letter from which the extract is taken, gives a faint 
 indication of the love entertained for him by his troops. Lieuten- 
 ant General Early wrote as follows to Hrig. General Bryan Grimes, 
 who at the request of the division lately commanded b\- Generals 
 
38 
 
 Rodes and Ramseur had asked for a suspension of military duties 
 for one da>', tiiat it might duly honor these noble captains: 
 
 "Hkad Quarters. Valley Dist., Oct. 31, 1864. 
 
 General: — Your request for the suspension for to-morrow in 
 
 your division of all military duties which are not indispensable, in 
 
 order to carry out the purposes of the resolutions of the officers of 
 
 the division, in honor of Major General R. E. Rodes and Major 
 
 General S. D. Ramseur. is granted. I take occasion to express to 
 
 the division so lately commanded in succession by these lamented 
 
 officers, my high appreciation of their merits, and my profound 
 
 sorrow at their deaths. 
 
 vf * * * * 
 
 "Major General Ramseur has often proved his courage, and his 
 capacity to command; but never did these qualities shine more 
 conspicuously 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 band, 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 zvith 
 his fall, the last hope of saving the day zvas lost. General Ramseur 
 was a soldier of whom his State has reason to be proud — he was 
 brave, chivalrous and capable. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 J. A. EARLY, Lieut. Gen. 
 
 Brig. Gen. Bryan Grimes. Covid'g-Div. 
 
 Mortally wounded on the afternoon of October the 19th, 1864,. 
 after having participated in one of the most brilliant strategic move- 
 ments of the war. he was captured and died in the hands of the 
 enemy next morning about 10 o'clock. Some of his friends in 
 Winchester procured his body, had it embalmed, and sent through 
 the lines to his family. To Major Hutchinson, his Adjutant Gen- 
 eral, who was captured at the same time, the family of General 
 Ramseur are indebted for some additional accounts of his last mo- 
 ments. His wound was through the body, and of a very painful 
 
39 
 
 natuif; but he had occisidiial periods of ease, ami tliiriiij^f tliese he 
 conversed very calmly. He knew th.it he was f.itall)- wounded, 
 but was not unprepared to meet death. To (ieneral Hoke, wh<j 
 iiad been an old schoolmate and friend from childhood, he sent this 
 word: " Tell General Hoke I die a Christian, and have done mv 
 duty." 
 
 He had heartl, but the da\' before the b.ittle in u iiich he was to 
 give up his life, of the birth of his little dauj^hter. He spoke most 
 tenderl)' of his wife and little child, a".d sent them many loving 
 messages. The last words he whispered were for her: "Tell m)- 
 darling wife," he said, " I die with a firm faith in Christ and trust to 
 meet her hereafter." For his father, brotlicrs and sisters, also, he 
 had words of peace and love. 
 
 General Ramseur was a Major General only for the period of five 
 months, commanding first, Early's division, and after the death of 
 General Rodes, taking his command. But during this short time he 
 maintained his high military character, and the entire confidence 
 of his superior officers and brother Major Generals. There was 
 onh' one occurrence in the whole of General Ramscur's militar\- 
 career to which it is possible to attach an\- blame, or make him the 
 subject of censure, and even if it be a blunder or mistake, what 
 commander has not at some time made one false step. 
 
 It is thus spoken of b)- General Early in his narrative of his cam- 
 paign in the Valley. 
 
 ''On this da)'. (19th of July,) I received information that a column 
 under Averill was moving from Martinsburg toward Winchester, 
 as the position I held left my trains exposed in the rear, I determ- 
 ined to concentrate my force near Strasburg. This movement 
 was commenced on the night of the 19th; Ramseur's division being 
 sent to Winchester to cover that place against Averill. Vaughns 
 and Jackson's cavalry had been watching AveriU, and on the after- 
 noon of the 20th it was reported to General Ramseur that Averill 
 was at Stephenson's depot, with an inferior force, which could be 
 captured, and Ramseur moved out from Winchester to attack him. 
 
 But relying on the information he received General Ramseur did 
 not take the proper precautions in advancing, and his division while 
 moving by the flank, was suddenly met b)' a larger force under 
 Averill. advancing in line of battle, and the result was, Ramseur 
 was thrown into confusion, and compelled to retire with the loss of 
 tour pieces of artillery and a number in killed and wounded. The 
 
40 
 
 error committed on this occasion, by this most gallant officer was 
 nobly retrieved on the subsequent part of the campaign." 
 
 It is very doubtful if any blame should be attached to Gen. Ram- 
 seur for this affair. The cavalry command, mentioned, had been in 
 his front all day for the special purpose of watching Averill, and 
 reporting from time to time. A General commanding must rely on 
 his subordinates for much information; he cannot possibly attend to 
 everything himself. Gen. Ramseur had secured no information that 
 the enemy were nearer than Stephenson's depot. Those whose 
 duty it was to inform him reported such as the tact. It was a mis- 
 take, therefore, that under the circumstances might have happened 
 to an)' general. Certain it is that General Early did not censure 
 Gen. Ramseur at the time, and General Rodes did not for one 
 moment lose his confidence in him. 
 
 General Early thus speaks of General Ramseur in his account of 
 the battle of Cedar Creek: 
 
 "Major General Ramseur fell into the hands of the enemy mor- 
 tally wounded, and in him, not only my command but the country 
 suffered a heavy loss. He was a most gallant and energetic officer, 
 whom no disaster appalled, but his courage and energy seemed to 
 gain new strength in the midst of confusion and disorder. He fell 
 at his post, fighting like a lion at bay, and his native State has 
 reason to be proud of his memory." 
 
 General Ramseur was a noble specimen of a man; though dis- 
 tinguished as a warrior and possessing marked abilities for military 
 success, yet his greatest excellence was his character as a man. He 
 had all those qualities that excite the love and admiration of friends 
 and the respect of foes; no dishonorable thought, word or act stains 
 his bright name. In all the relations of life he was a model as a 
 son, brother, husband, friend; he was without reproach. His friend- 
 ship elevated and ennobled, for the whole tone of his character was 
 lofty. He had developed in a remarkable manner two elements 
 necessary to the highest type of man, viz: a humanly tenderness 
 of feeling, united with the most manly courage and self-reliance. 
 His courage was the theme of the whole army, he seemed perfectly 
 fearless, absolutely devoid of any sense of fear. It seems strange 
 that one so affectionate, so almost womanly in his feelings, should 
 have been so completely at home amid the dreadful scenes of the 
 battle field. But he absolutely reveled in the fierce joys of the 
 strife, his whole being seemed to kindle and burn and glow amid 
 
41 
 
 tlie excitements of dani^er. lie was spoken of b\- one of the \'ir- 
 ginia jiapers as tlie Cliexalier Ha\ar(l of tin: war. IIis courage was 
 marvelous — danger seemed to draw him as by a strange fascination, 
 and he couUl pardon everytliing hut cow.irthce. Vet all this was 
 not because he was indifferent to human life and suffering, he would 
 expose himself to shield his staff, and his eyes would fill with tears 
 as he reviewed his broken ranks, after the engagement was over. 
 
 General Ramseur was remarkable for his love of children; he 
 would devote himself to them wherever he met them, and seemed 
 to take the greatest pleasure in pleasing them. From childhood 
 he himself had been a most devoted child to his parents, and no 
 sister ever had a brother more affectionate, no wife a husband more 
 entirely her own. His whole nature was self-denying. — open- 
 hearted — generous; no mean envies, no base jealousies were found 
 in him. He never sought promotion, it always came unasked b}- 
 him. 
 
 In person. General Ramseur was of medium height, his figure 
 was slender but well proportioned, very erect and of fine martial 
 bearing. His brow was large, prominent, well rounded — his eye 
 large and black and the whole expression open, winning and strik- 
 ing. His face indicated in a most remarkable manner loftiness of 
 character and purity of sentiment. He was a fine horseman, sitting 
 his horse with grace, and managing him with skill. 
 
 Gen. Ramseur was a member of the Presbyterian Church and 
 died expressing his hope in Jesus as his Saviour. 
 
 The writer of this sketch passed the last two years of the war in 
 close intimacy with General Ramseur. He saw much of his Chris- 
 tian character, and had man\' conversations with him on religious 
 subjects. During this period he always expressed himself as trust- 
 ing in Jesus. He read his Bible, and was regularl)' at church, and 
 always promoted religious observance among his troopK. The last 
 winter of his life Mrs. Ramseur spent with him in camp. He had 
 prayers regularly in his famih-. and read religious books. He spoke 
 particularly of his enjoyments of Jay's "Christian Contempl.ited." 
 a book on the Christian character. He also read his Bible a great 
 deal, and his faith graduall)- became brighter, more fixed and 
 calmer. The last sermon he heard was in New Market from the 
 text, "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden 
 manna and Aill give him <i white stone " He enjoyctl it and spoke 
 of his satisfaction in it. 
 
42 
 
 His last words to Mrs. Ramseur were an expression of assured 
 hope in Christ. 
 
 A high-toned and chivalrous gentleman, a gallant soldier, an 
 humble Christian. We may apply to him the words of the great 
 Poet of our language — 
 
 "In war was never lion raged more fierce, 
 
 In peace was never lamb more mild, 
 
 Than was that young and princely gentleman." 
 
li liV.'H , :l 
 
 MAJOR GENERAL STEPHEN D. RAMSEUR. 
 
 DY PERMISSION OF THE CENTURY CO. 
 
ADDRESS 
 
 LIFE AND CHARACTER 
 
 MAJ. GEN. STEPHEN D. RAMSEUR, 
 
 ucfoiif: the 
 
 LADIES' MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION OF RALEIGH, N. C. 
 
 MAY 10th, 1891. 
 
 BY 
 
 HON. WILLIAM R. COX. 
 
 RAI.EIGH : 
 
 E. M. rZZKLI-, STEAM IRINTEK AM) ItlNDUR. 
 I89I. 
 
ADDRESS 
 
 Mr. J'resid^'iit, Ltulies and (icntlnncn : 
 
 When XiTxc's looked upon the roiiiitlcss hosts of Persia he 
 is said to have wept when he reMcrti'd that within one hun- 
 dred years iVoin tiuit time not one of those then in his pi-esenee 
 woidd i)e livini;. It is with siniihii" emotions every survivor of 
 the war l)etween the States must he inovt-d when ealh-d upon to 
 pass in review and comment upon tiie heroic deeds and still 
 more heroic sufferings of those who partieij)at('d in that fierce 
 and unrelenting conflict. 
 
 It is now over a quarter of a century since the last hostile 
 gun of the war was tired ; the laws are everywhere respected 
 and obeyed ; and every citizen, irrespective of section or service, 
 recognizes it as his (irst duty to march to the defense of his gov- 
 ernment whenever menaceil l)y foes either from within oi- with- 
 out. 
 
 To such as may (piestion the poliev or pi'oprietv (»!' these 
 memorial reunions, and inquire why these gatherings of the peo- 
 ple, which may keep alive the estrangements of the past, we 
 commend the remarks of that eloquent New Yorker, C'hauncey 
 M. Depew, who, upon a similar occasiiju forciblv antl truthfnllv 
 declareil that " vaj)id sentimentalists and timid souls dej^recate 
 these annual reunions, feai-Ing they may arouse old strife and 
 sectional animosities; hut a war in which five hundred thousand 
 men were killed and two millions more wounded, in which 
 States were devastated, and ukjucv spent e(pial to twice England's 
 gigantic debt, has a meaning, a lesson, and results which are to 
 the people of this Hepid)lic a liberal education, and the highest 
 chairs of this university belong to you." 
 
 The ladies of this associati(»n have a just aj)preciation of" the 
 necessity for preserving the truths of history for the future his- 
 torian, who, with a juster prospective which distance mav give, 
 
shall write a lii.-tory ofoiir coniiiion 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 pteans to and crown 
 with laurels tlie brow of the victor. Even distinguished })ar- 
 ticipants in such strifes are not slow to yield to importunity 
 the autobiographic memoirs of colossal achievenients 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- 
 lin 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 offense, 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 
 prol)ably continue until time shall be no more. In the war 
 between the States there was but little of tnalice, 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 
 
SI,AVKi:V 
 
 existed in every Stale. New 1':iio;|mii(|, ulii.-li iiltiiiiatelv Ix-cariie 
 the |)riiiei|)al theatre of free-soil ism and aholitiuii nj^itatioii, was at 
 one time more interested in the shive tra(h! than any other section 
 of our eonntry. It is not mere s|)eenhition to deehire that had her 
 soil and elimate l)een adapted to the enhivatioii and ])n)diietion 
 of the chief staples of the South she wonid have recognized it 
 as a >;reat oiitrai^e to have been compelled to relinqnish so j)r()(it- 
 al)K' an institution without her free consent. By prospective 
 enaetmt'nts our Northerti friends frradnally 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 j)rospered and we rejoice 
 in their prosperity as a part of our common countrv. In an 
 address delivered by Mr. Kvarts before the New England Soci- 
 ety he said that the Puritan l)elieve(l in every man atteudino- 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 escaj)ed from this "great 
 iniquity," their restless intellectuality early prompted them to 
 exj)ress 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 centurv 
 made but little headway, and only became a j)otential element 
 of discord when it was discovered that its agitiUion would have 
 the effect of securing the ascendency of one of the great politi- 
 cjil parties of the country.. As slavery only obtained in the 
 minor section its agitation, on .sectional grounds, ultimatelv had 
 the effect of j)r()m()ting a crisis which enabled the ambitious and 
 aspiring politicians to iuHame the pa.ssions of their followers 
 until they were prepared to .see their country |)lunged into a war, 
 which the border States, led by Virginia, did all that lav 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 he 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 untrammeled from governmental control as its exigen- 
 cies might demand. The one contemplated a magnilicent cen- 
 tral government, with that ostentation and parade that keeps 
 the masses in av/e; the other a simple, economic, democratic 
 government, regulated and governed by the people. The fol- 
 lowers of these statesmen were known by the party ntrmes 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 im})eril, 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 overwhehning majority, and the views 
 he entertained and ably advocated laid the foundation for that 
 great popular approval which n)aintained 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 
 
tliat the iii>titiitiiiii dl" slavci-y played a iiiiiiui- pail in (lie [x.liti- 
 oal aiiilalioiis of this i-oiintrv so loiijr as onr politics rclatfd 
 aloiio to (picstioiis of national jioiicry. Tlic first scrions dillicnltv 
 of moil' than local siirnifieaiicc which threatened onr institu- 
 tions arose from the imposition of an exciso tax on distilled 
 spirits, known as the "Whisky Rehellion." The second, from 
 the hostility of the New Knuland States to the war of 1812, 
 which serionsly interfered with their commercial tiallic. So 
 ureat was this discontent that a convention was calK'il to meet 
 at Hartford, Conn., which had in view the secession of the 
 States represented from the Tnion. In 1820 was passed what 
 is known as the Missouri Compromise, which in effect was simplv 
 a truce between two antagonistic revenue systems, while the nidli- 
 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 chieHv 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, witli its genial climate and "peculiar institution," had 
 turned her attention to the science of politics and a consideration 
 of governmental affairs, the consecjuence 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- 
 litionisn), which up to this time had been the obedient hand-maid 
 to any party that would lend its co-operation, w<re believed to 
 be the j)otential 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, j'^om this time for- 
 ward the leading statesmen of the South were denounced ami 
 vilified as aristocrats and slave-drivers; and on tlje recurrence 
 of every national contest this new party resorted to every device 
 to create animosities between the sections. At this time the 
 
8 
 
 Democratic party was so strong it became factional, and was 
 finally disrupted throuoh 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 time 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 hi.s 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 tlie great catastrophe all those parts were. The 
 extremists on botli sides were urging the country to immediate 
 blows, regardless of consequences, and by so doing they were 
 educating it to the necessary j)oint when the hour should come. 
 Had the Southern extremists prevailed, and the Southern l)lood 
 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. El very day then 
 lost was a mistake, and, as the result j^roved, an irreparai)le 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 tluir 
 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 wai-, and above all 
 
9 
 
 tliin«j;s a civil war, wrvv in liivor of aiiv coiiipidiMix' wliicli 
 niiiilit result in i)it'sorviiii; lianunny In'tweoii the sections. It 
 is (litliciilt at tliis time to appreciate the excitement of those 
 stormy chiy>. .^^()(^eratio^) and silence was hut little understood 
 or ap])rcciatcd. The liriii<;- u|i(iii Suiiitii' Urcd the li(:irl> nt" 
 both sections, and I'ollowed, as it was, i)y a call (ti" Mr. Lincoln 
 tor troops to make war upon the States, j)romptly welded the 
 States of the South into one common bond. They f'i'lt that if 
 they must fight they preferred to Hirht the stranger rathei- than 
 their neighbors who were contending for the maintenance of 
 their own rights, and that to yield to the party in jxiwer at such 
 a juncture was but to inviti- further aggressions on their rights, 
 and that this would involve their subjugation with the over- 
 throw of their most cherished institutions. That no perma- 
 ueut compromise was practicable, and 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 thiown open to settlement, to free and unem- 
 barrassed communication to the outside world; that the greatness 
 of our section and the capal>ilitics of our jieopic 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 j)ride 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 Constitution" was a Southern 
 man; that through a President, a Southern man, our bounda- 
 ries were extended from ocean to ocean and from the Gulf to 
 the lakes; and that {)rior to the late war all a.ssaidts again.st 
 the integrity of the Union were compromised and accommo- 
 dated mainly through Southern statesmanship, ^\'hen, 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 "matcli- 
 2 
 
10 
 
 less in her power, incalculable in her strength, the power and 
 the glory of" the M'orld." 
 It is of 
 
 STEPHEN D. RAMSEUR 
 
 that we now pro[)ose 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 hosjiitality 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 daughtei's 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 otlier, and for distinguished services in ihe 
 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 faithfid and trusted 
 members in the national Congress. Born and reared amidst 
 
11 
 
 siu'li lav(ti-al)U' ami stiimilatin^- siii-nniiitlin^s, it is not a inatlcr 
 of Mirprisc that tlii-si- youni; luoii should liavi- htcii prompted l>y 
 an h()iioral)le t-iiudatioii to sicnre thosi- pri/''s that wen- justly 
 their own, tor ^' h/()i><( iri/l (dl.'" Kntirt'ly IVt-e from the 
 " pomp and circuinstantr' oC trjorions war," ever kind and acccs- 
 sihlo to those abont him, sUillfnl and ahlc in the lieid, Majoi' 
 General Iloke leadily hecann' the idol oC his soldiers. While 
 not attaining to so hi>;h a rank, Brigadier General Johnson was 
 an able and fearless sohlier. The life of Ramsenr, while briefer, 
 was not less brilliant and attractive than that of any of his eotem- 
 poraries. It has been elocpiently said by another: ''A book of 
 dates, a table of dynasties, a snceession oit kings, or popex, or 
 presidents — these in one aspect are history; but if they are to 
 attract, or impress, or endnringly infineuce us, behind these dry 
 bones of the historian's cabinet there nuist glow and palpitate 
 the living lineaments of a man." 
 
 But should we choose an element of pre-eminent power to 
 interest mankintl, that element must consist of the life and deeds 
 of some prominent actor upon the great theatre of war. While 
 raanv admire, enjoy and are improved by the triumphs of the im- 
 a^'-ination and the reason the impulse and the heart of the mnlti- 
 tude in every age and clime have been taken captive by the great 
 actors rather than by the great thinkers among men. This has 
 l)een 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 Longinus, the beauties of 
 Gibbon, the orpine 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 concjuerors of the world. It attends 
 them not only in their triuini)s, 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. Plis 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- 
 deuce 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 was wounded at King's 
 Mountain and fought at Eutaw Springs. He was born in Lin- 
 colnton 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 
 l)eing 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. Thoruwell, Rev. Dr. Palmer 
 has asserted a truth Avhich 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 writin<>; of her the Hon. David 
 
13 
 
 Sc'hciu'k, who mairii'il Sullic Wilioiit;, her second daughter, 
 says: '* As a yoiiiiu- lady Aw was said to liavc Im'cii hcantiCid and 
 attractive. I knew Iut intimately from 1.S4'.) to lier death. Shi- 
 was a woman of oieat force of character. To a jnd<:;ment clear 
 and firm she nnited jrenth'iies.s, tenderness and sympathy. Her 
 manners were easy and eonrteons and fascinating, f^he was an 
 active and devoted memher of the Presbyterian Chnrch, and 
 bronii,ht uj) hci- chilthcn in the teachings of the shoi-ter cate<'hism 
 from their early youth. It was to her that CJeneral Kamseur 
 owed the mental and moral tonndations of his character." lie 
 receivecj his jncnaratory trainin*:; in the schools of Lincolnton 
 and in the village of Milton, then he matriculated at David- 
 son College, entered the Freshman cla.ss and passed eigliteen 
 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 aj)pointment 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 successfid. He was given 
 his appointment to the Academy by that sturdy old Roman, the 
 Hon. Burton Craige, who before the days of rotation in office 
 was long an able and distinguished member <if Congress from 
 our State. Ramseur 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 
 .lames 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 manv valued 
 friendships both among his fellow-students and in the corps. 
 After graduating, Ramseur 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 phOiisis 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 fine 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 one 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 1)0 met, and by what methods most easily defeated. If 
 ihey had read of war it was, in books which gave it such gloss 
 and glamour as iw.nlr every battle magnificent, if not positively 
 delectable, for such, indeed, is the general cnn-ent of ])oj)nlar 
 history. Not so Kamscur, who had been taught in (he school 
 where the art of war is thoroughly explained, the discij)line and 
 drudgery of soldier life daily seen and the distinctions and 
 advantages of rank recognized and respected. His education 
 and expci'ience 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 (jualitv 
 as well as quantity of their courage dilfers largely; that some 
 men are i)ositivcly cowtirds; 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 tie corpn of his command, and resolved to emj)lov it to 
 the best advantage. To do this his men must have a knowledge 
 of tactics, discipline, and subordination was indispen.sable. 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 jxdar star. He did not willingly .sever his 
 connection from the old army, but wlu;n called on to elect whether 
 he woidd fight for or against his people and his State there was 
 no hesitancy, no d()ul)t as to where his duty lay, and he threw 
 his wht)le 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 
 fur 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 
 jiersonnel 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 l)e confronted and delayed until 
 Johnston could arrive by thirteen thousand Confederates under 
 J. B. Magruder, who, in order to accomj)lish 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 
 
 tlisnarai'-oment lo others to sav there was no otlicer in either 
 armv better (|iialilie»l to play such a game ol" bhilV than the 
 genial, whole-souled Magrudtr. Raniseur was ordered to report 
 with his battery at Vorktnwu. When he arrived Magruder, 
 who had known him in the old .aiiny, detached liini from hi.- 
 battery and placed him in cotnmaml of all the artillery on his 
 ri'dil. Here Kamseur saw his first active service in the field, 
 and received the promotion of Mait)r. On the arrival of the 
 forces of McC'lellan 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 declinid to leave his battery. Subse- 
 (juentlv, 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- 
 suasiou 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 (»ld army officer. General 
 Robert Ransom, who was soon to become a distinguished Major 
 General of cavalry in the Army of Northern Virginia and 
 theuce to be assigned to the command of all the cavalry under 
 Longstreet in his operations in the West. In the series of bat- 
 ties around Richmond, known as the "Seven Days' Fight," 
 3 
 
Ramseur, while gallantly leading his regiment in the battle of 
 Malvern Hill, received a severe and disabling wound through 
 the right arm, but 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 
 soldierlv 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 oflPered 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 A^irginia, 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 
 
 wliii (lii'il of woiinds ivccivctl at Sharpsburg ; the l^'oiirti'ditli, 
 before its reorganization, was eoiiuiianded and instructed hv that 
 soldierly and ardent North Oii'olinian, ]iri<iailier (ieneral Junius 
 Daniel, who fell in the 8pottsylvania (•ainj)ai<i;n ere his eoniniis- 
 sion as a Major (General had reaehed him; and the 'riiirtieth 
 l)y 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, "liUe ai)ples of gold in j)ictures of 
 silver," was aptly and fitly chosen the worthy c-ommander 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- 
 son's Corps. Ramseur remained in command without events of 
 any particular in)portance 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 Massaj)onax Creek and ending in the splendid victorv at 
 Chancellorsville : 
 
 "Wednesday a. m., April 'iOth, 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 onr 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 on 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 advancinjj. 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 infi)rm 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 
 
 ami tl):it I would take carr ».f his rioht Hank. ( Jciicral ('oI(|niit 
 inovt'd to tliL' iVont, with the exi-cjjtioii of oiw ivgimeiit, whidi 
 (•(mtimu'd t(» tUv riijht. I thi'ii pressed on hy the rij^ht Hank to 
 meet the eiuiuy tiiat ( Jeiicral C'ohjtiilt's statl' officer twice rejioitcd 
 to me to he in that direction, and prosecuted the .search for hall" 
 a mile perhaps, hut not a solitary Yankee was to i)e seen. I 
 then came np to the division line and moved l)v the left flank to 
 the silpport of (Jeneral Colquitt, whose men were resting; in line 
 of hattle on the field (ireneral Doles had won. 
 
 "Saturday niglit our division occupied the last Hue of Uittle 
 within the intrenchments from which the routed corps of Sigel 
 had fled iu terror. My brigade w^as placed perpendicular to the 
 plank-road, the left resting on the road, General Doles on my 
 right and Colonel (E. A.) O'Xeal, 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 (\V. R.) 
 Cox, Second North Caroliua, left ceutre, and Colonel (Brvan) 
 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 supj)ort to his battery, ^-hen I 
 detached Colonel Parker, Thirtieth North Carolina, for this pur- 
 pose, with orders to advance obliquely to his front and left and 
 join mc after his support should be no longer needed, or to fight 
 his regiment as circumstances might recpiire. 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' Jirigade, of Trimble's Division. Knowing that 
 a general advance had been ordered, 1 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 essaved to 
 do, and, after fruitless efforts, ascertained that General Jones was 
 not on the field and 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 ray 
 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 ail 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 ray 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 rigiit, so that the 
 Fourteenth North Carolina and the three comj)anies of the Second 
 North Carolina could not advance. The eneray discovered this 
 situation of affairs and pushed a brigade to the right and rear of 
 Colonel Grimes and seven companies of Colonel Cox's (Second 
 North Carolina), with the intention of capturing their com- 
 raands. This advance was made under a terrible direct fire of 
 musketry and artillery. The move necessitated a retrograde 
 
2a 
 
 inovt'inciit oil till' \K\vi of Colonels (irimcs and Cox, wliicii was 
 exec'uletl in order, bnt with the loss of some prisoners, who did not 
 hear the coniniund to retire. (\)Ionel Bennett held his position 
 nntil ordereil to fiill hack, and, in eommon with all the others, 
 to repli'iiish his empty cartridge-boxes. The enemy did not halt 
 ;it this position, but retired to his battery, from which lie was 
 (juicUly (iriven. Colonel Parker of the; Thirtieth North Carolina 
 sweepiiii;' over it with tlii' troops on my right. 
 
 "After re})lenishing cartridge-boxes I received an order from 
 Major General Kodes to throw my brigade on the left of the 
 road to meet an apprehended 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 w^as 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, bnt the order to move forward and 
 confront the enemy brightened every eye and quickened every 
 stej). Under fire all through Wednesday, Wetlnesday 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 
 ou 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 aud report to our kindred 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 unfiinching 
 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. 
 lu common with the entire comniand, I regret his temporary 
 absence from the field, where he loved to be. 
 
 "Major Daniel W. Hurtt, Second Norjth Carolina State 
 Troops, commanded the skirmishers faithfully and wt^ll. 
 
 "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 Seaton 
 Gales, Assistant Adjutant General, and Lieutenant Caleb Rich- 
 mond, Aide-de-catnp, were with me all the time, promptly car- 
 rying orders under the very hottest fire. I take pleasure, too. 
 
25 
 
 in s|)eiiking of the braveiv of private James Stinson, eourier, 
 a youth of twenty, who displayed (pialities a veteran ini^ht boast 
 of", anil of the eondnrt of private J. B. Jk'ggarly, also a courier 
 to headquarters. 
 
 "To Dr. G. \V. Brings, Senior Surgeon of the brigade, my 
 thanks are due for his zeal, skill, and care of the wounded. 
 "I am, sir, very respeet fully, 
 
 " Your obetiient servant, 
 
 "Stephen D. Ramseih, 
 "Brigadier General Cominandimjy 
 
 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 iiitrenelunents, 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 iu the field nearly 
 opposite the house, driving the enemy before him as he advanced, 
 actually getting several hundred yards t(» 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 j)risoners. 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 (he enemy to give way 
 on his left, and this, conii)ined with the unHincliing determina- 
 tion of his men, carried the day and gave hini possession of the 
 works. Not being supported, he was exposed still to a galling 
 fire from the right, wiih great danger of being flanked. Not- 
 4 
 
26 
 
 withstandiug repeated efforts made by hira, and hy myself in 
 person, none of the troops in his rear would move up until the 
 old "Stonewall Brigade" arrived on the ground and gallantly 
 advanced 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, tiie Stone- 
 wall Brigade pushed on and carried Chancel lorsvi lie heights, 
 making the third time that they were captured." 
 
 In this battle Ramseur, though severely wounded, decli^ied 
 to leave the field, and is especially mentioned by Rodes as one 
 who was ''distinguisfied 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 (»f 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 
 
 (IKNKUAI. I.KK's TKIIU'TK. 
 It i>':uls as follows: 
 
 " IlKAlHilAUTEltS AuMY OF NoUTHKUN ViKcilMA, 
 
 'MuiR' itii, i,s(j;j. 
 "His Excellency Zkiuilon B. Vance, 
 
 " (fovernor of North Carolina, UalcUjli: 
 
 "Governor: — I liave tlio honor to (^11 the attention of your 
 Excel U'lU'v to the reduced condition of Brigadier General liara- 
 seur's Brigade. Its ranks have heen much tliinned hy the casu- 
 alties of the battles iu which it has been engaged, in all of which 
 it has reudered conspicuous service. I consider its brigade and 
 regimental commanders as among the best of their respective 
 o-rades in the armv, and in the battle of Ciiancellorsville, where 
 the brii>-ade was much distinguished and suffered severely, Gen- 
 eral Ramseur was among those whose conduct was especially 
 commended to my notice by Lieutenant General Jackson in a 
 message sent to me after he was wH)unded. 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 l>e had. I am satisfied that 
 the men could be used in no better way to render valuable ser- 
 vice to thecountry^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 I Who sends a message to Lee about Ramseur 
 that is worthy to be repeated to the Governor of the State? 
 Stonewall Jackson, from his i)ed of anguish. No higher eulogy 
 could be pronounced. 
 
28 
 
 After the battle of Cliaucellorsville, Ramseiir, 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 Federaf troops 
 fell back in much disorder, anil 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 
 iu gallant style to the attack, passing ovei' 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 
 
 tiuv !)(' at least two liius of inCaiitry posted Ix'liimI stone and 
 plaiik fences, and passing over all obstacles, tlicy reached tlie 
 crest of the hill an<l entered the enemy's i)reast\vorIvs, crossing 
 it, getting possession of one or two batteries." 
 
 Brigadier General Ivorson, of Georgia, had manifested >neh 
 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 Ivamseur 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 liam- 
 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 t)ow made supremely happy in their mar- 
 riage, which occurred on the 22d of October, 18(33. 
 
 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 tiiat uidess 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 ham|)ered 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 terril)le 
 losses at Coal Harbor, where, according to Swinton, he had thir- 
 teen thousand of his men killed and wounded within (he space 
 of two hours, and this without inflicting but little loas on his 
 adversary. 
 
30 
 
 On the morning of May 5tli, 1864, over one hundred thou- 
 sand of Grant's troops had crossed the Rapidan, 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 ai-my 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, and he was directed 
 to approach under the cover of night and a dense fog and assault 
 the line 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 anti(;ipation of an attack on his front on the morning of 
 the 12th he had his brigade under arms at early dawn, Veiy 
 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 {)arallel to the 
 two lines held by the enemy. The men in charging were 
 
31 
 
 (iirocted to koop tlioir allitiiitiu'iit and not pause until hoih lines 
 of works were oiii*s. Iltiw gallantly and successfullv these 
 orders were exeeuted were witnessed l)y (ienerals Ixodes and 
 Ewell. The two lines of Federal troops were driven ix-ll-inell 
 out and over both lines of our orijrinal works with <rrcat loss. 
 The enemy held the breastworks on our ritrlit, enfiladin^r the 
 line with destructive tire, at the same time heavily assaulting our 
 right front. In this extremity, Colonel liennett of the Four- 
 teenth offered to take his regi^raent from left to right, under a 
 severe tire, and drive hack the growing masses of the enemy ou 
 our right. This hazardous offer was accepted as a forlorn hope, 
 and was most successfully executed. To Colonel JJeunett and his 
 men, says General Ramseur, and his gallant officers, all honor is 
 due. I distiuctly recall the circumstances under which the 
 charge was made, aud for cool audacity and uuflinching 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 mv 
 regiment was pouring a most destructive fire into the Fedeials 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 vlropped 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 descrii)tion of the hat- 
 tie of the Wilderness, gives this vivid account of the action of 
 Ramseur's Jirigade on the morning of the Tith : 
 
 ''The Federalists continued to hold their ground in the sa- 
 lient, and along the line of works, to the left of that angle, 
 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 
 
 aud foe rose up rattliug in oue common roar. Ramscur'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 ojjposite side; aud 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; aud 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 uever 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 
 aud Ramseur were destined, alas! in a few short months, to lay 
 down their noble lives in the A^alley 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." 
 
33 
 
 (n-m-ral Lt»iii:, in liis " Lite ot" Lee," jmts tli<' n;\inc of Kiunsciir 
 in till' van ot* tln>sc who rn^licd into this :inn;Io of" death and 
 hnrh'd hack the Federals' most savai;e sallies. I)nrin<:; the lonj; 
 and tierc-e stiii<;<;le I saw soldiers plaee the arms of their com- 
 rades who had just I'allen in such a position as when they had 
 l)ee4)me stiH'enod they w<)nKl hold the eartridj^es we were using. 
 Yes, Hghting and cxhansted, amidst blood and mnd and brains, 
 they would sit on the bodies of their fallen comrades for rest, 
 ixnd dared not show even a linger above the breastworks, fur so 
 terrible was the lire at this angle that a tree eighteen inehes in 
 <liameter was ent asunder by niinnie balls. After the battle was 
 over Generals Lee and Ewell thanked Raniseiir in jjerson, an<l 
 directed him to carry to his officers and 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 i- 
 sufficient praise to bear witness that from that time on to the 
 surrender at Apj)omattox 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 
 to 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. 
 
 THK VALLEY OF VIlUilNIA, 
 
 both physically and strategically, is one of the most attractive 
 regions of that State. It is not less distinguished for the bril- 
 liant aehievements 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 and 
 drove from the valley Milioy, Fremont, Banks and Shields, 
 whose combined forces were five times as great as his own, 
 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 Rara- 
 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 array 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 soon 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 reconnoitered 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 Ijib- , 
 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 uiilors t(t ( JnuTal Rodes to li'ad the next iiiiiniiiii;, tlicrc 
 
 was simie ilclay in iiis luovemi'iit (Ui the 2].st, hut the piiiMiit 
 
 was ivsuiiu'd very shortly after sunrise." Alter icstiii;:; a dav 
 
 we resumed the riian-h and rearheil JJiiehaiiaii that nij^ht. Oiii- 
 
 lU'xt important movr was to eross the Potomac into Marvhind. 
 
 We reached Frederick, Md., about the !)th of" the month, when 
 
 Rumsenr, after a slii^ht resistance, moved through the town and 
 
 brushed away the Feiierals before him. Our invasion had so 
 
 alarnicii 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 onr front he drew his troops up on the ea-tcrn baid'C 
 
 of the 
 
 MO.NOCACY. 
 
 Kauiseur deplnyed in his front, drove his skirmishers acro>> 
 the river and a brief and brisk artillery duel followed. In the 
 meantime MeCausland, with his cavalry, crossed the river, 
 attacked the Federal left Hank and threw it into confusion, 
 which Early discovering, threw forward Gordon's Division, 
 commanded by Breckinridge. Gordon moved to the assistance 
 of MeCausland, 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 lo'^s in killed and wounded 
 was severe, but as this was a sharp and brilliant engagement, 
 well |)lanned and spiritedly executed, it infused new life into 
 our troops. On the lOth we moved to Koekville. As the weather 
 was h(jt and the roads dusty, onr troops were easily fatigued and 
 made but slow progress. The next day we resumed the march, 
 and in the afternoon reached Seventh street pike, which leads into 
 Washington. In a history of the Army of the Potomac, Swiu- 
 ton, in sj)caking of this moveujent, 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 
 into the citv, 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 Jie 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, 
 -svith 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 Averill 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 iiy Vaughan was correct. This matter, while not 
 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 i)roved 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 (Hstjiisted l)y his wary iiu'tliods, and savs in his " La^( "S'car 
 of the \\'ar" that "tht" i-vcnts (if (he last immth had satisfied 
 me that the coinniandfr opposing nie was without entL'r|)rise and 
 possessed an excessive caution which amounted to timidity. If 
 it was his policy to pfoduce the impression that his force was too 
 weak to fiyht me, he did not succeed ; hut if it was to convince 
 me that he was not an able and enori>;('tic commander, his strategy 
 was a complete success, and subscfpient events have not ciianged 
 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 fidly realized the fact that 
 upon the result of his first encounter 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 thev 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 and have a bad effect on the November 
 elections. The convention which had met and made its nomi- 
 nation of the Democratic candidate for the prcsidcncv 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 tiien 
 have had the power to make arrests and punish those who thus 
 talked treason. 
 
 " But this decisive victory was the most cffectivo campaign 
 argument made in the canvass." 
 
38 
 
 In addition to what Grant says, there was another motive 
 which made Sheridan timid in encountering- our forces, and pos- 
 sibly Grant's presence was necessary to get him u]) to the hght- 
 iug 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. 
 
 " Tiiese men were now commanded by a veteran officer of the 
 Confederacy, General Jubal A. Early, whose past services liad 
 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 Corj)s, with Gen- 
 erals Rodes, Ramseur and Gordon commanding its divisions; 
 the infantry of Breckinridge, of Southwestern A^irginia; three 
 battalions of artillery, and the cavalry brigades of Vaughan, 
 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 AVINCHESTEll. 
 
 Of this movement he says that, "having been informed that 
 a force was at work on tlie railroad near Martinsl)urg, 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 
 
 i.)ii :ui(l :i inirt of \\w aitilKM-y, 1.) Martiiishnrj;, j,iv<r<lc.l l,y 
 a part, of J.uinax's cavalry." It will thus Ih- seen tliMt in 
 the presenee of a larirely superior force, and a new an.l untried 
 eommander, Early had his troops stretched (.ut and sepa- 
 rated like a string of glass l)eads with a kn-.t between each one, 
 In a previous move of a similar nature on Martinsburg, at 
 liunker Hill, I had been reliably infbrmed that the next time 
 Early should make the mistake of separating his command 
 Sheridan intendeil to attack and endeavor to crush his troops in 
 <letail. This iaet 1 commiuiicated to General Rodes, who rei)lie(l : 
 "I know it. I have told Early as much"; and with much 
 irritation of manner, said: ''I can't get him to believe it." 
 
 On 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 Buuker 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 coidd have moved forward and crushed 
 this corps before the remainder of Sheridan's troops arrived, and 
 seciire<l a complete victory. In speaking of the time when the 
 firing commenced, P:arly, 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 Runker Hill, to move at once, but by 
 some mistake on the part of my stall' 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 initil 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 
 
 to 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 anil 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 m}^ 
 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 Jjieutenaut 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 point 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 Bannett had two horses shot from under him and 
 was captured. Colonel Cobb of the Second lost a foot, and 
 Colonel Thurston of the Third was severely wounded. While 
 my loss in officers and 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 
 
 tlu' iiilhiitrv li:ul ntirctl I'idm my left, :ui<l Fitz Lee's eaviilry 
 was luitlv eii^au'etl with that of the l'\<lei<iU. I i-e|ilie(l that 
 there was no oeeasion for iiiy iallinj;- hack, as I eoiiKl re|iiilse 
 anv assault the Federals ini}2;lit attempt; and upon their emleav- 
 oriiii'- to advance, 1 opened fire \\\h>i\ tjiem an<l the\- lapidly 
 sought shelter. Discovering (after Major' Peyton retired) that 
 the Federals were in my rear, I lell hack in good order to the 
 Martinsbiirg pike and formed on the left of oiu- trctops. Here 
 we were exposed, withont any protection, to a heavy artillery fire, 
 which was inflicting unnecessary punishment upon my men. I 
 turned to General Brcckinri<lge, who was near, and pointed to a 
 line of hills and suggested that that was the place to make our 
 staud, to which he agree<l. Thereupon I faced my men about 
 and comiueuced retiring deliberately to the hills, all the troops 
 conforming to this movement. General Early, through a staff 
 officer, directed me to return ; I thcreuiion faced my men aljont 
 and move<i them to the Iront. Upon reaching the turnpike 
 a second officer came from General F^arly and directed nie to fall 
 back. Facing my men about, I again commenced slowly 
 retiring. While thus marching and countermarching in a 
 murderous fire, a cannon-ball struck in the color-guard, just iu 
 the rear of my horse's tail, cut one man asunder, tore off the 
 skidl of another, which was thrown iu front, and spattered blood 
 and brains on all who wer(> 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 no 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 ex|)osed 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 retinxl. Then 
 6 
 
42 
 
 proceeding to tlie turnpike, I was retreating in column, when Dr. 
 Hunter McGuire, who was with Early, api)roached and said Gen- 
 eral Early was feeling badly; that we had lost but one caisson, and 
 he wished I would take ray trodps 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- 
 inp- 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 Raraseur 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 thus 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 have thought, instead 
 of being promoted, Sheridan ought to have been cashiered for 
 
43 
 
 this i);it(l('." Ill Ills "Memoirs," (ji'untsays: "Sliciidim iiiovcil at 
 the tiini' lixi'd iij)t)ii. lie mot Early at tho crossing oi'thc Opc- 
 <liiaii Creek and won a most decisive victory — one whicli elec- 
 trified the country, l^aily had invili'd tliis attack him>ell' liy 
 his had ^eMeral>hi|), and made the vietory easy." Considering; 
 the.grt'at disparity ot" nnmhcrs, this hattle of Winchester was, 
 after all, no i^reat victory on the part ol" Sheridan, and (irant 
 intimalts as mnch, i'or his troops out numhi red those of Early 
 more than three to one. His cavalry was in line condition, while 
 «.)nrs was worn down hy excessive duties and seant forage. It 
 was won at a critical moment to the Federal government, and 
 it l)ecame to its interest to inaguifN- it in every way j)ractical)le. 
 
 After out defeat at Wiuehester we fell back and formed a line 
 of battle behind Fisher's Hill. In our encounter with Sheri- 
 dan's armv, notuitlistandin;^' our defeat, his loss had been severe 
 ami his pursuit was languid. It was the *20th before he reached 
 our frout, and several days were passed in maneuvering and 
 skirmishing. Ramseur's Division occ-upied 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 anil took possession of our line. Ram- 
 seur hearing the firing to his left, withdrew my brigade from the 
 liue and ordered me to move in the direction of the fii'ing, for after 
 the fall of Rodes, Ramseur, to our great gratification, was pUu'ed 
 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 L<»max 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 fidl dusk when we ivached the road. Colonel Ren- 
 dleton, an admirable oflicer 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 
 
 euemy in a haiid-to-hand eucounter, repulsed them and stopped 
 the pursuit for the night. It was while near ine that Colonel 
 Pendleton, whom I had intimately known when on Jackson's 
 staif, 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 in society. From education, association and pursuits 
 he was superior to the ordinary 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 hoy 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 wlio bore 
 The brunt of conflict, inarching side by side — 
 Forget how yonth forgot liis beardless face, 
 Made beanteous bv his valorous arm?" 
 
45 
 
 N«), lu'ver I while :i widdwcd Iii-art cciiscs to f'iir<;('t or a sister 
 sli;ill eoltlly toiieh the brother's "honored blade." All honor 
 then to the ni)l)le women who, in his old ago and povertv — that 
 " iil-inatehod pair" — seek to ])rovide, if not a lionie, at least a 
 shelter for him. May Heaven's choieest blessing rest upon theni 
 and till who siiall aid them in their j>ious and pati'iotic woil<. 
 
 To retnrn to niy narrative. After the affair of I'Msher's Hill 
 we fell back to the lower passes of the Jiluo Rigdc, where Sheri- 
 dan followeil us as liir as Staunton. Then, after destroying the 
 Central Railroad, he retreated uj) the valley and took position 
 behind his intrenehments at 
 
 CEDAR CREEK. 
 
 Early had now been re-inforced by the return of Kershaw's 
 Divisiou, Cutshaw's battaliou of artillery and some cavalry, 
 which about made up his losses at \\'inchester and Fisher's 
 Hill. About the time Sheridan fell back it had been Early's 
 purpose to attack him, which he (loid)tless anticij)ated, 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. Froiu our signal station, which overlooked 
 their camp, it was discovered that the Federal left flank was 
 lightly picketed, and by a long detour and careful movement 
 could be taken in reverse. A flanking movement was directed 
 by Early and mainly intrusted to (Jordon, 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 earlv 
 dawn. Here we were joined by Payne's cavalry, who at full 
 speed dashed uj)on and c;i])tiired Sheridan's headquarters, and, 
 but for his absence, would have captured him. \\'hile Crook's 
 Corps was enjoying its undisturbed cpiiet, and })ossibly dream- 
 ing of to-morrow, we descended like a wolf on the fold and 
 
46 
 
 aroused them by "Rebel yells" and peals of musketry, aud 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 Hamseur 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 oiferedsome 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 [)risoners, 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, aud 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 arniy — 
 hundreds of slightly wounded men, thi'ongs 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 presence. 
 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 
 
 i/.c'il Ills iiu'ii tlir West he could Miid tiinicil iipnii ih, I -IkhiM 
 si\\' about .') o'clock in the afternoon. Ivum.seiir kept his men 
 well ill hand, and iVoni behind rock walls successfully resisted 
 the advance of tiie Federals. Near 4 o'clock Kershaw's Division 
 nave way on inv left. I sent my head(|uarter courier, private 
 Bei:;;;arlv, to report the fact to Cieneral Kamseur. \\'hile (loin<r 
 so his horse was shot througii the ear and the horse upon which 
 General Kamseur sat (for he refused to take shelter) was killed. 
 At the request of General Ramseur, private Begt;arly let the 
 General have his horse. So careful was Kamseur of the rights of 
 others, even in the midst of a severe engagement, this horse was 
 not taken before getting my consent. 
 
 Dui-ing this whole encounter no man could have behaved 
 more magnificently and heroic.ly than Kamseur 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 lhi~ 
 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 siiine more conspicuous than on 
 the afternoon of the 19th of this month, when, after two 
 divisions on his left had given way and iiis own was doing 
 the same thing, he rallied a small band 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 l*Jth of 
 October would have had a far difl'erent history. He met the 
 death of a hero, and with his fall the last hope of saviiuj the day 
 
48 
 
 was lost! General Ramseur 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 tlisorder. 
 The brigade commanders conducted themselves, each and all, with 
 great coolness and judgment, and are deserving of especial men- 
 tion for using all possible eiforts 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 themselvt-s 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 fai- as lean judge fnnu 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 uniibrm 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 ontitK'd to one >till lii<:;li(r. Instead of" fighting with a few 
 hniidioil inoi), as Kaily elsewhere says, we see him, in the lan- 
 guage of General (iriinos, "holding his division well in hand," 
 officers and men doing their duty hdthCnliy, while the disurder 
 and cont'nsion in other j)arts of (he field hastens the disaster 
 wliich with tn>oj>s skillfnlly handled shonld not have oecnrrcd. 
 
 It will lie asked if the eritieisms of Early's valley (•am|)aign 
 are just, why did not General Lee remove him? There an; 
 several good reasons why General Lee should have heen slow to 
 pursue sueh a eourse. Karly was a man of supeiior intelligence, 
 he was earni'st in the cause, and as a hrigadier and division com- 
 mander a hanl lighter and successfid officer. There is, however, 
 a marked ditfcrcnce 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 |)resume 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 bis subordinate commanders, too fearful of 
 wounding their pride, and 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 mishaj>s clearly attributable to the inefficiency, neglect 
 or carelessness of others." 
 
 Through the courtesy of the family of (Jcneral Ramseur, I 
 am placed in the possession of a personal letter from K. R. Hutch- 
 inson, of Virgini;i, 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 llilton, 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 in 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 distance hut iiad reformed, 
 and were stubbornly contesting a position oil 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 Randolpii's hoi-se, the 
 Captain running along side and supporting him. We got him 
 
51 
 
 tlun t(» tlu' aiiil)iil:inrc I IkkI l)r(>ti;;lit up. I tlinii;^lit lii' was 
 sate tlu'ii, iKtt Uiiuwiiii:; how (laiiiicniiis was his wound, and 
 roniainod with the rear i^uard. When I was suh.sef|UC'ntly cap- 
 tured hy the enemy's cavahy, I was eaiTJed to General Sheri- 
 dan's headquarters, and learning that General Raniseur had been 
 caj)turcHl, asked and obtained permission to remain with him. 
 The road had been blocked up by wai^ons, causing a delay, that 
 gave the enemy time to get up and take him j)iisoner, just south 
 of Sti-asburg. Many of his former friends (West Pointers) 
 called to see him yesterday and to-day, and offered every assist- 
 ance in their power, (ieneral Sheridan among the mimlxr. He 
 was taken to General Sheridan's headquarters and njade as com- 
 fortable as circumstances would permit. Dr. James Gillespie 
 (Cutshaw's Battalion of Artillery), a Confederate surgeon, assisted 
 l)y the enemy's surgeons, attended to him and did all that could 
 be done under the circumstances. He sutlered a good deal from 
 his wound, the ball having entered his right side, j)enetrating the 
 right and left Iinig, and lodging near the left side. But the eud 
 w'as peacefid 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." He 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. (i. P. A. C. S." 
 
 IN a^NCLUSION. 
 
 Ramsenr 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: " Ramsenr com- 
 
52 
 
 mauded iufantry aud I the whole of Early's cavalry dur- 
 ing the time I was with Early. Whenever I had opportu- 
 nity to see Raniseur 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 acticju 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 mounted 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 
 
 l):»ltlr is lillctl with the most niixiuiis toR-hodiiiu^ of diiii^cr, wliidi 
 air to Ik- tollo\Vf«l after the Uattli" lias lurii foii^rht witli still 
 nioro wearying; and anxious thoughts and slcfphss niirhls — 
 for her there is no rest until the list of killed ami wain. led is 
 iveeived and donltt is resolved into eertainty. 
 
 No doubt amitlst that day's vieissitudes Raniseur's mind wan 
 continuallv d\vellin;j; upon his wife and eliild, and jdeasant 
 thoughts of an early meeting and of additional honors that mi-ht 
 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 man can see 
 what a (lav niav bring forth, or certify how long he has to live. 
 In Ivamsenr'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. 
 AVhen 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, " 1 did 
 niv duty and died a Christian." 
 
 "He died, but his end was fittin<?, 
 Foremost in tiie ranks lie led, 
 And he marked the heights of his nation's gain. 
 As he lay in the harness — dead." 
 
 The Rev. E. Harding, his connexion and chaplain, in his 
 sketch of General Ram.seur, to which I am indebted in prepar- 
 ing this memoir, in writing of his Christian character, .says: 
 "Ramseur rea<l his r,ible a great deal, and when opjmrtunity 
 offered held lamily prayers; that he was "fond of conversing 
 on religious subjects, and i)unctual in attending divine service"; 
 that he "was a high-toned and chivalrous gentleman, a gallant 
 sohlier, an humble Christian." 
 
 His last thoughts on earth were of home and Heaven, the 
 sweetest word-^ in any language. He said, bear this message to 
 my precious wife: "I die a Chri.stiau 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 servicf, the blue and 
 the gra}' — Sheridan, Custer, Federal and Confederate sur- 
 geons — gather around his couch to minister to his wants and 
 smooth his dying pillow. His soul takes its flight, and the day 
 men called his last was his first in tlie 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 (he 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 accomftanied his remains to their last resting-place, which 
 is in the Episcopal church-yard, and deposited them beside 
 those of his father and motlier. 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." 
 
MAJ.-GEN. STEPHEN 1). RAMSEUR. 
 
 [From the CaroliiKi Tinirs, Charlotli', N. ('.'] 
 
 Tlu' remains of Gen. Raniseur, who fell in the recent hattles 
 in the Valley, reached here on Saturday evening, (Nov. 5th, 
 1804) by the Northern train. The Naval (Juard, under the 
 coniniand of Major Ramsey, together with a considerable con- 
 course of citizens, met the remains at the depot, and escorted 
 them to the residence of Col. L. S. Williams. On Sunday 
 morning the same escort followed the remains of the honored 
 dead to the depot, whence they were conveyed to Lincolnton, 
 the place of his residence, for interment. 
 
 The hearse was decorated with the Confederate battle-flag, 
 and drawn by a span of black horses. 
 
 GE.N. RAMSEUR. 
 
 On Sunday morning the body of Gen. Ramseur was escorted 
 from the residence of Colonel L. S. Williams, (where it had 
 been taken on its arrival from Richmond,) to the depot of the 
 Wilmington, Charlotte and Rutherford Railroad, by the Naval 
 Guard battalion. Major Ramsay commanding, and a number 
 of the citizens of Charlotte. The following named officers act- 
 ed as pall-bearers: Col. Wm. J. Hoke, Col. Edwin Osborne, Lt. 
 Col. John A. Young, Lt. Col. T. H. Brem, Major R. J. Echols, 
 Dr. J. W. Ash by, Capt. E. Stitt, and Capt. D. DeWolf. At 
 the depot a special train was in waiting, and, as soon as the 
 body and the escort were on board started for Lincolnton, 
 where they arrived at 11 o'clock. There the body was escort- 
 ed from the depot and deposited in the court house, to lay in 
 state until Monday, that the citizens of Lincoln county be en- 
 abled to attend the funeral. 
 
 The citizens of Lincolnton, having had no notice of the 
 coming of the train on Sunday, very few of them were present 
 
at the depot when it arrived. As soon as the ceremonies were 
 over they came forward, and, with their usual hospitality, 
 took charge of the Naval Guard battalion and those of our 
 citizens who accompanied them, and entertained all with such 
 a profusion of good edibles as is rarely seen inthese war times. 
 At 3 o'clock the train left for Charlotte with the military on 
 board, where in due time they arrived safely, all well pleased 
 with their visit — the first, with many of them — to the good 
 people of Lincolnton. — Carolina Times. 
 
 [From The Carolina T/mes'.] 
 
 Lincolnton, Nov. 8th, 1864. 
 
 Mr. Editor: On Sunday morning last, the 6th of Novem- 
 ber, the roll of the muffled drum announced to our people 
 that the mortal remains of Major General Ramseur had 
 been Inought to this his home for interment. They, though 
 unexpected, were met at the depot by a large concourse of 
 citizens who, together, with the Naval Battalion, command- 
 ed by Lieut. Ramsey, from your town, formed a proces- 
 sion in the following order: first, the naval battalion with 
 arms reversed, then the hearse containing the body covered 
 with the Confederate flag and wreaths of flowers; on each 
 side of the hearse walked the following gentlemen as pall- 
 bearers : Col. John A. Young, Col. W. J. Hoke, Col. Edwin 
 Osborne, Lieut. Col. Thos. H. Brem, Maj. Echols, Maj. Ashby, 
 Capt. W. E. Stitt, and Capt. De Wolf; after the hearse came 
 the citizens. 
 
 The procession moved from the depot to the court house 
 where the body was deposited. It remained there for a short 
 time when it was conveyed to the Presbyterian church, where 
 the coffin was opened and the body viewed by the citizens 
 until half past two o'clock, p. m. on Monday, when the funeral 
 services were performed by Rev. Robt. N. Davis, of the Presby- 
 terian church, in the presence of a large and grief-stricken 
 audience. The body was then conveyed to the cemetery and 
 deposited in a vault there peacefully to rest until it shall be 
 awakened from its slumbers, at the last day, by the trump of 
 
3 
 
 God, summoning both patriot and vandal to render an account 
 of the deeds done in the body. The writer of this had not 
 tlie j)h'asure of the jiersonal ae(iuaintanee of the deceased, but 
 has. with pride, watched his short but brilliant career, from 
 the memorable 20th of May, 1SC)1, when the thunder of his 
 artillery, at Ralei<j;h, announced to the people of the State that 
 the hated tie, that bountl us so lonj; to Northern ojjpression 
 hatl been broken, to the day when in the Valley he so glori- 
 ously made a winding sheet of his martial cloak. He fell a 
 christian hero, clad both in the hvery of his country and in 
 the armor of his iJod. While we mourn our los?, let us enml- 
 ate his patriotism and christian virtues. 
 
 Alkx. II. Justice. 
 
 LiNCOLNTON, Nov. 12, 1864. 
 
 Eds. Confederate, Raleigh, N. C: The remains of Maj. Gen. 
 Ramseur reached here last Sunday at 12 o'clock, by special 
 train from Charlotte, escorted by the Naval Battalion of that 
 city. They were taken to the court house and thence to the 
 Presbyterian church, followed by a long procession of the 
 citizens. On Monday afternoon, after a very impressive and 
 appropriate discourse by the Rev. Robert N. Davis, his body 
 was temporarily deposited in the vault of the Hoke family, 
 near the village burying ground. 
 
 The features of the distinguished dead were perfectly natur- 
 al, except a marble paleness, and were seen by all, both vil- 
 lagers and strangers, who can)e to the church to take the last 
 look on his noble face. 
 
 The body had been embalmed by the enemy. He received 
 his mortal wound between 5 and 6 o'clock in the evening, (on 
 19th of Oct.,) after two horses had been shot under him, and 
 while cheering on his men, surrounded on three sides by the 
 enemy. His A. A. G., Maj. Hutchinson, aided by others, bore 
 him to the rear, then went for an ambulance, and on return- 
 ing found him on Capt. Randolph's horse, the Captain running 
 along by his side and supporting him ; and thus got him to 
 the ambulance. 
 
The ambulance was impeded by wagons and taken by the 
 enemy, and also Maj. Hutchinson. Being taken to Gen. 
 Sheridan's headquarters, Maj. H. obtained permission to re- 
 turn there with Gen. Ramseur. 
 
 The General's last words were — " Tell my darling wife, I die 
 with a firm faith in Christ, and trust to meet her hereafter." 
 His last words to the ambulance driver who took him from 
 the field were: "Tell Gen. Hoke I die a christian and have 
 done my duty." 
 
 On the 3d. inst., as Gen. Hoke was riding out to examine 
 some work that was going on, a staff officer of Gen. Colquitt 
 came to him to say, there was a flag of truce in front, with 
 the body of Gen. Ramseur. It seemed hke akind Providence 
 had guided the body of the christian soldier into the hands of 
 his fellow-officer, the friend to whom his lips had breathed 
 almost their last words. 
 
 Gens. Hoke and Colquitt and staff accompanied the body 
 to Richmond and placed it in the Capitol. The next day the 
 Governor of Virginia ordered a military escort to attend the 
 body to the depot, from which Major Adams, of Gen. Hoke's 
 staff, and a friend of the family, returned his honored remains 
 to the village of his birth and the care of his desolate family. 
 Thus another hero has passed away. 
 
 H. H. Smith. 
 
 TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF MAJOR-GENERALS RODES AND 
 
 RAMSEUR. 
 
 At a meeting of the officers of Rodes' Division, A. N. V., 
 held at the camp near New Market, Va., on the 29th inst., 
 Brig.-General Phil. Cook was called to the Chair, and Major 
 G. Peyton appointed Secretary. 
 
 The following preamble and resolutions were reported by a 
 Committee consisting of Brig. General W. R. Cox, Colonel D. 
 G. Cowan, 32d N. C. Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel J. W. 
 Beck, 44th Ga. Regiment, Captain Watkins Phelan, 3d Ala. 
 Regiment, and Captain T. C, Belcher, 5th Ala. Regiment, and 
 were unanimously adopted : 
 
" Wht'n tlu' ^ood and j,'ifte(l are takoii from aniniif,' us l»y theundia- 
 tinguisliint; liaiul of death, it is meet tliat we should cherish their 
 memories and protit by their examples ; therefore he it 
 
 AV-xo/o (/ /.s<. That in" the death of our loved and respteeted leaders, 
 Major (ieneral Rodes and Major ( Jeiieral Kamseur, who fell u|)on the 
 battle tield while L'allaiitly discharirin^' their duties, our cause has lost 
 two hrilhant otlicers: this Hivisiou two able and experienced leaders ; 
 and we personallv two cultivate<l comrades and courteous and urbane 
 instructoi-s. Their deeds and their chivalrousdarin^ need no eulo^dum 
 at our hands, they constitute a part of the history of this war, and are 
 the richest heirlooms of their families. 
 
 Rtsoltrd Jnii. That they fell where the true patriot deli^dits to fall ; 
 upon the tield of honor, and in thedischar<;e of one of the most sacred 
 obliirations known to man, and that our cause has been rendered more 
 dear to our lu'arts, if possible, by the sai'rilices they have made, in de- 
 fending our homes and firesides from the desecration of ruthless in- 
 vaders. 
 
 Resoh'tuLlrd. That, as a mark of our high aitprcciation of their worth, 
 all militarv duties not indispensable be suspended on Tuesday next, 
 that the ('haplains of the different brigades be re(iuested to hold 
 divineservice, and that the drums be uiufHed, and after these proceed- 
 ings are read at Dress I'arade, the troops "red on arms" while a dirge 
 shall be played bv the bands. 
 
 Resolred itli, Tliat their disconsolate and afllicted families have our 
 •warmest sympathies in this, their sad bereavement, and we trust that 
 He, "who doeth all things well," will soon enable tlem to see the 
 "silver lintng to the cloud " even amid the shadow of death. 
 
 Ee.iolird 5th, That copies of these proceedings be furnished to the 
 family of each of the deceased, and that the North Carolina and 
 Alabama papers be requested to copy them ; also, that a copy be spread 
 upon the order books of the Division and Brigades. 
 
 Phil. Cook, Chairman. 
 
 G. Pey'TON, Secretary. 
 
 Headquarters, Rooes' Division, 
 Oct. 80th, 1864. 
 Captain Samud J. C. Moon, A. A. G.: 
 
 Captain : At a meeting of the officers of this Division, held on yes- 
 terday, to express their sense of the great loss sustained by this com- 
 mand, and the service, in the deaths of Major General Rodes and 
 Major General Ramseur, it was resolved that all military duties not 
 indispensable to the safety of the army, be suspended in this Division 
 on Tuesday next. I have the honor to request permission from the 
 Lieutenant General commanding to carry out this resolution. 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 Bryan Gri.mes, 
 Brigadier General Cotnmanding. 
 
 Headquarters, Valley District, 
 October 31st, 1864. 
 General: Your request for the suspension for to-morrow in your 
 Division of all military duties which are not indispensable, in order to 
 carry out the purposes of the resolutions of the officers of theDi vision in 
 
6 
 
 honor of Major General R. E. Rodes and Major General S. D. Ramseur 
 is granted. I take occasion to express to the Division, so lately com- 
 manded in succession by these lamented officers, my high apprecia- 
 tion of their merits, and my profound sorrow at their deaths. 
 
 While serving with General Rodes, when we were both Division 
 Commanders, I had formed a very high estimate of his qualities as a 
 man and an officer. That estimate has been greatly enhanced during 
 the recent campaign. I have been struck with admiration of his con- 
 stant and vigilant devotion to duty, his careful attention to the discip- 
 line and welfare of his men, and his great coolness, skill and gallantry 
 in action. He fell on the 19th of September, at the head of his Divis- 
 ion, making one of the most gallant charges that has been made dur- 
 ing this war. I parted with hmi as he was going into the charge, and 
 witnessed the vigor with which he hurled his Division aga nst the 
 columns of the enemy, driving them back in confusion. He met his 
 death just at the moment when the enemy was flying before h im, and 
 there never fell a truer gentleman nor braver soldier. In his death 
 his country sustained a severe loss which cannot be easily re paired, 
 but he fell nobly, gallantly, heroically doing his duty. 
 
 Major General Ramseur has often proved his courage and his capaci- 
 ty to command ; but never did these qualities shine more conspicuously 
 than on the afternoon of the 19th of this month, when, after two divis- 
 ions on his left had given away and his own was doing the same 
 thing, he rallied a small band 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 tield, 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 
 was lost. General Ramseur was a soldier of whom his State has 
 reason to be proud — he was brave, chivalrous and capable. 
 
 Your Division has thus been called on to mourn the loss, within one 
 month's time, of the two commanders who have fallen at their posts. 
 It is a sad loss to the Division, the army and the country. I feel it 
 most sensibly. In them I have lost not only valued friends, but most 
 able and efficient assistants, and I join with the Division so well com- 
 manded by them, in honoring their memory. Let the Division be in- 
 spired by the example of these noble heroes, while lamenting their 
 loss. Respectfully, 
 
 J. A. Early, Lieut. General. 
 
 Brig. General Bryan Grimes, commanding Division. 
 
 The city papers are requested to copy. 
 
 MAJ. GEN. S. D. RAMSEUR. 
 
 A large meeting of the citizens of Lincoln county assembled 
 at the court house on Monday, the 31st of October, 1864, for 
 the purpose of considering the death of Major General Stephen 
 Dodson Ramseur, a citizen of that county ; when Col. W. P. 
 Bynum, formerly of the 2d N. C. T. arose and said: 
 
"A recent reverse to our arms in the Valley of Viri^inia, causes us 
 to (leplor* a loss, irreater than thai of a lialtle, the loss of a nohle, 
 brave and aceoinplished olllcer, Major (Jeneral RanistMir. Tiiis large 
 and spontaneous meetint; evinces the deep liold which lie had on the 
 public contidence as a military chieftain ; and the profound sorrow 
 which pervadws the country on iiis sudden but heroic; deatii. Assign- 
 ed to the command in whicii I served, I knew him well. He succeeded 
 the lamented (Jeneral Anderson, an ollicer of great Hl)ilities, and well 
 skilled in the art of war, commandiii;^ the love and contidence of his 
 men. His was a place not easily tilletl. 
 
 (Jen. Uamseur came to the brigade, a stranger, from another depart- 
 ment of the service ; but he at once disarmed criticism by his high 
 professional attainment anil great amiability of character, inspiring 
 his men, by his own enthusiastic nature, with those lofty martial 
 qualities wiiich distinguish the true Southern soldier. 
 
 The loss of such a man is a national calamity, and calls on us to 
 commemorate his great virtues and to mingle our sorrow with the 
 general grief " 
 
 In concluding, Col. Hyiunn moved that his Honor Judge 
 James E. Oshorne be called to the chair, and that Ambrose 
 Costner and V. 4. McBee, Es(irs., act as secretaries, and the 
 meeting was so organized. 
 
 The Hon. Win. Ijander arose and offered the following re- 
 solutions, as expressing the sentiments and feelings of the 
 meeting: 
 
 Whereas, We have heard with deep regret of the untimely death of 
 the brave and chivalrlc Major General Stephen Dodson Ramseur, who 
 fell mortally wounded while nobly leading his division, with great 
 gallantry, at Cedar Creek in the Valley of Virginia, on the 19th Octo- 
 ber, 18«J4, 
 
 We, the citizens of this his native county, feeling a profound inter- 
 est in his memory, and an e.xalted pride in his numerous heroic and 
 brilliant achievements in arms, from thevery beginning of our stru"'- 
 gle for right and independence, deem it a sad privilege as well as a 
 sacred duty, to unite with our fellow citizens of this State and of the 
 Confederate States, in deploring the irreparable loss of him, than 
 whom no sister State has lost a purer, nobler, braver son. Therefore 
 be it 
 
 Resolri'd. That while we bow with humble submission to the inscru- 
 table will of God in this afflictive dispensation, we are forced to feel 
 the pall of gloom which has been thrown over our whole Confederacy 
 by the sudden fall of so valuable an officer in the midst of his brilliant 
 career. 
 
 Resolved, That we tender to his afflicted wife and his fond father 
 and numerous relatives, our most sincere condolence in this their sore 
 bereavement. 
 
 Rtxolredy That a copy of these proceedings be sent to his wife and 
 his father, and be transmitted for publication to the papers of this 
 State. 
 
 Mr. Lander remarked that he did not arise to pronounce a 
 
euology on his deceased friend, whom he knew from child- 
 hood to his death, but to make some brief statements of his 
 history In May, 1837, in the town of Lincolnton, in three 
 days of each other, were born two children, who were one day 
 to shed lustre on their country's history, and to win ior them- 
 selves an immortal fame. In boyhood they were warm and 
 devoted friends, and were noted for their sacred obedience to 
 their parents and their pure moral character. They came to 
 manhood, the one a member of the Episcopal, and the other 
 of the Presbyterian church. For awhile they were separated, 
 until the mighty struggle for our indepedence came, when 
 again they w^ere found side by side for three years of bloody 
 strife in the defence of our rights and liberty — now we alas! 
 must sever their history — General Ramseur now lies in his 
 grave, a noble sacrifice to the glorious cause which General 
 Robert F. Hoke still lives to defend. 
 
 General Ramseur entered West Point in 1855 and graduated 
 in 1860, when he was assigned to duty in the artillery of the 
 United States army. When Lincoln issued his Proclamation 
 he resigned his commission and was appointed a Lieutenant 
 in artillery ; but while at Montgomery he received the com- 
 mission of the Ellis Artillery at Raleigh, and chose to resign 
 his commission in the regular army and aid in organizing our 
 State forces, which were then being called to the field. He 
 was present with his battery and fired the salute in Capitol 
 square which announced that we had seceded from the Union. 
 He was soon promoted to a Major, and ordered to Smithfield, 
 on the James, where he remained until the Peninsula cam- 
 paign. He was then assigned to the command of the artillery 
 in General McLaw's division. While so acting he was elected 
 Colonel of the 49th North Carolina Troops, and hastened to 
 organize them at Raleigh. He was assigned to General Rob- 
 ert Ransom's brigade, and soon was called to the defence of 
 Richmond. He participated in the attacks on McClellan ; and 
 at Malvern Hill while acting with conspicuous gallantry was 
 severely wounded in his right arm, and was disabled for duty. 
 While at home he received from President Davis the commis- 
 sion as Brigadier General and was assigned to the command 
 of the lamented Anderson. At Chancellorsville he was under 
 
Jackson in his celebrated flank movement, and won for him- 
 self iinperishal)le >?lory in one of the most brilliant charfjcs of 
 the war, which at once marked him as one of the best Gener 
 als of the army. At Gettysburu, by a most skillful movement 
 on the battle field he re-captun-d many of oiir prisoners, 
 and was first to enter the town, he again added greatly 
 to his reputation. At the Wilderness and Spotsylvania, he 
 participated largely, and for his heroic conduct at the bloody 
 salient where General Edward Johnston was captured, he was 
 promoted and assigned to the command of Early's division, 
 which was soon ordered to the Valley. While there, he, for 
 a moment, suffered from the false and licentious charges made 
 upon his conduct at Winciioster, where his division suffered 
 a rout, notwithstanding his fearless and dangerous exposure 
 of himself in attem|)ting to rally his troops; but this was 
 soon dissipated by the stern voice of truth, which ex<merated 
 him and placed blame where it belonged. On the death of 
 the lamented Rodes, he succeeded to his position in the 
 division, to which he liad formerly belonged, and wliiie lead- 
 ing his division victoriously against the enemy, he fell 
 mortally wounded by a shot through the right lung. Mr. 
 Chairman, this is his history — the history of one of the most 
 amiable men and brilliant soldiers that has yet offered himself 
 on his country's altar. He was my friend, intimately so, and 
 I weep for him. He was our country's friend, and we should 
 all st)rrow for him. 
 
 Maj. Allen B. Magruder then paid a mo.st beautiful tribute 
 to the memory of Gen. Ramseur, sketching his social char- 
 acter, as follows: 
 
 Mr. Ch.mrman — I cannot permit the present occasion to pass by 
 without uniting my voice in sympathy witli that deep current of feel- 
 ing which the untimely death of one so loved and honored as Gen. 
 Ramseur, has so naturally called for in this community. I feel, too, 
 that I may, without intrusion, claim the indulgence ofthis meeting; 
 for, although comi)aratively a stranger here, 1 enjoyed the advantage 
 of an intimate acquaintance with tlie lamented dead before 1 knew 
 his home and kindred in this, his native State. It was my good for- 
 tune to know him in the morning freshness of his bright career. He 
 had just graduated at the military academy at West Point, and enter- 
 ed upon the profession of arms — that stern vocation which he illus- 
 trated by heroic deeds, and has now ennobled by his devotion even 
 unto death. It was amid the festive scenes of the national metropolis 
 that I first knew him. He was stationed, for a time, in Washington 
 
10 
 
 city, and was attached to a battery of light artillery — my relations to 
 the commander of which brought me into intimate daily intercourse 
 with him. He was sometimes my guest, and I mingled freely with 
 him in those social scenes in which he showed to such advantage. I 
 had thus the opportunity of knowing his merit and appreciating those 
 high qualities which adorned his character. Possessed of great per- 
 sonal gifts and attractions — of a noble aspect and graceful form — of 
 fascinating manners, ever kind and gentle in his intercourse with 
 others, intelligent and cultivated in intellect, he presented to us an 
 embodiment of all those qualities and accomplishments in person, 
 mind and manners, which we most admire in man. 
 
 About this time the storm of war- -then no bigger than a man's 
 hand which the prophet saw in the distance — swept across our horizon 
 and suddenly burst in fury on our beloved country. In its lowering 
 darkness I lost sight of him for a time. I afterwards learned that with 
 characteristic devotion and fidelity, he had repaired to his native 
 State, and offered his sword in defence of her rights. Subsequently 
 we met again. I well remember the occasion. It was while he was 
 on the march to the Virginia Peninsula, in command of the battery 
 of artillery which was afterwards so honorably associated with his 
 name. He had landed at King's Hill wharf, on James river, and was 
 proceeding to report for duty at headquarters of the army of the Pe- 
 ninsula, of which I was at the time a staff officer. On the summit of 
 one of those noble hills, which overlook the broad waters of the 
 James, I met the battery— not the battery I had known him with in 
 Washington — but another, as complete and efficient in equipment, 
 and more excellent in that it was dedicated to the cause of freedom. 
 I see a gentleman — now in my eye— himself a brave and gallant sol- 
 dier, who bears in his person the marks of his devotion to duty in the 
 hour of peril, who will no doubt remember our meeting. I allude to 
 Capt. George Phifer, at that time on the staff of his gallant kinsman's 
 (Ramseur's) battery, which won the praise of all who witnessed its 
 discipline and drill. In all the elements of complete organization and 
 equipment— in its splendid appointments and its skilled evolutions, 
 it was a model. This was due, we all know, to the ability, the profes- 
 sional genius, the untiring energy and the soldierly pride of its chiv- 
 alrous commander. 
 
 As an artillery ofiicer he was a martinet—so apt and successful indeed 
 that he was not long permitted to remain in command of a single 
 battery. I remember that, by the special order of the commanding 
 general, he was placed in command of a battalion of light artillery, 
 and entrusted with the arduous duty of organizing the drill and evo- 
 lutions in lines of batteries — the French system of artillery tactics— 
 not generally known in our service. Afterwards, as we know, he was 
 appointed to the command of the 49th regiment of North Carolina 
 troops— a position in which he gave further proof of his rare talents 
 and aptitude for military life. In the terrible conflict of Malvern Hill, 
 Col. Ramseur gallantly led his regiment under a perfect tempest of 
 balls, shot and shell, and won the official commendation of his supe- 
 riors. Here he received that severe wound which held him, for a 
 time, in painful inaction, and from the effects of which he never fully 
 recovered. 
 
 It is not wonderful that an officer of such promise and ability met 
 with speedy promotion, for it was not long after that he was made a 
 Brigadier General. Rising steadily and rapid 1)^- always snatching 
 from opportunity the fame which merit entitled him to win, he soon 
 became a Major General, and commanded his division in the battle in 
 
11 
 
 which he mot his lamented but heroic death. Truly may we appro- 
 priate to him the words of the preat poet of our language, in describing 
 one of the priiu-esi of tlie house of Plantagenet: 
 
 "In war was never lion raped more fierce; 
 In peace was never pentle lamb more mild 
 Than was that younjiaQd princely gentleman." 
 
 It ifl sad— mournful to think, that at puch a time os this, such a man 
 is lost to us. It is a sad and bitter, but still a wise lesson we are taufrht 
 by the event. It impresses us witli tlie brevity an(' vanity of human 
 life, anil the instabilitv of all liuman greatness. The good name and 
 the dear memorv of our friend and countryman remain to us as a pre- 
 cious legacy. We will cherish botli with affectionate regard, for m all 
 the relations of life he was without fear and without rei)roach. All 
 honor to his memory : peace to his ashes. May death and glory keep 
 around his tomb one eternal Sabbath. 
 
 Col. W. J. Hoke also reviewed his military history as it 
 came under his personal observation in the campaign, and 
 related some toucliing incidents of his bravery in baitle, his 
 kindness in camp, and his sympathetic care for his wounded 
 and sick. 
 
 L. E. Thompson, Esq., remarked : 
 
 It is with a melancholy pleasure, Mr. Chairman, that I respond to 
 the resolutions that have just been read. It is melancholy, sir, be- 
 cause thev inform me of the untimely death of one whom I had long 
 regarded "as a friend. I had known him well and intimately, and had 
 watched him as he passed on the current of time from infancy to 
 vouth, and from vouth to manhood ; and I thought I saw in him at an 
 early age the germ of usefulness to his country and honor to himself. 
 It is melancholv because his death has made a void that can never be 
 filled around manv a fireside, and has caused a flow of tears that can- 
 not soon be dried". It is melancholy, sir, because in his decease our 
 common country has lost a soldier of more than ordinary merit, and 
 who had pledged his every effort and his life to that country's cause. 
 But still amid this woe there is a pleasure in giving a response to the 
 resolutions, for thev record the merits of my friend, and do, to some 
 extent at least, justice to his manly life and honorable death ; and be- 
 cause thev allow me an opportunity, in this his .lative place, to mingle 
 a few words of sorrow with the deeper grief of his nearest and dearest 
 friends. 
 
 No one else responding further to the resolutions, Judge 
 
 Osborne said : 
 
 He hoped it would not be inappropriate in him, though a citizen of 
 another county, to mingle in the general feeling which pervades this 
 community. "His acquaintance with the distinguished soldier, in 
 honor of whose memory this a.ssemblage has been called, began with 
 his military service in fhe Confederate States. He was placed by the 
 Executive "of North Carolina in command of a company of artillery, 
 which in its organization and equipment was justly the pride of all 
 the contributions made by the State to the common cause, 
 
12 
 
 Understanding thoroughly the requisites of this branch of the ser- 
 vice, he addressed himself with ardor, energy and perseverance to its 
 order and discipline ; and although he was soon transferred to other 
 spheres of service, under other commanders, the battery has rendered, 
 in all the great conflicts of tliis war, constant and unsurpassed service. 
 
 The qualities of the young soldier attracted attention at an early 
 day, and advancement, steady and rapid, waited on his steps, as occa- 
 sions gave opportunity for the exhibition of his military talents, until 
 he attained the distinguished position in which he offered up his life 
 for his country. The character of Gen. Ramseur presents a most in- 
 teresting subject of study. 
 
 He blended in his nature all those qualities which fascinate by their 
 loveliness, with those which, by authority and force, command admi- 
 ration and applause— like those most attractive scenes in nature which 
 awaken our ever varying emotions by striking diversities of objects 
 placed in immediate juxtaposition, "where beauty is embosomed in 
 the lap of grandeur," and flowers and shade and verdure contrast with 
 mountains and forests, and those wonderful displays of majesty and 
 form which inspire awe and terror. In the associations of civil life 
 we could scarcely realize that one as amiable, whose temper and dis- 
 position seemed to be almost formed in the model of female loveli- 
 ness, could wield the arm of authority over contending hosts, and be 
 the foremost, the most persevering, the most daring of leaders on the 
 field of battle. His heart was alive to every gentle emotion, to every 
 tender sympathy, but his energies rose with accumulating difficulties, 
 and his self-possession never faltered in the midst of danger and car- 
 nage. One trait of character which was the master principle of his 
 life gave to him all that was impressive and commanding. It was an 
 ever present sense of duty. He was never surprised into a forgetful- 
 ness of his moral obligations — the principles of Christianity found in 
 bis nature a congenial soil; he, without difficulty, yielded himself to 
 their control and regulated his conduct by their authority ; and this 
 made him a hero of the highest type, because he was a christian hero. 
 He believed in Christ, he had faith in goodness, truth and duty and 
 their everlasting rewards. The death of such a man in the service of 
 his country, in the appointed sphere of his duty, is accompanied by 
 every thing which is glorious on earth and every thing which is hope- 
 ful in immortality. It is but the call to come up higher, to a higher 
 sphere and more enduring honor. It brings to us all a most instruc- 
 tive lesson, and urges each of us in the station which we are appointed 
 to be brave, faithful and diligent ; and hope for no higher triumph 
 when death shall find us, than we died discharging our duty. 
 
 The resolutions were unanimously passed, and the meeting 
 adjourned. 
 
 [From the North Carolina Presbyterian]. 
 
 GEN. S. D. RAMSEUR. 
 
 Action of the Session of the Presbyterian church of Lincolnton in reference to 
 the death of the late Maj. General S. D. Ramseur. 
 
 This body deems it due to the memory of the gifted and 
 lamented dead, to the church of which he was a member, and 
 
13 
 
 to the country to which he devoted his life, to present to the 
 public their hifjh appreciation of iiis worth. 
 
 Steplieu Dodson Kaniseur was born in tlie town of Lincoln- 
 ton, N. C, on the 31st of May, 1837. His parents were Mr. 
 Jacob A. and Mrs. Lucy M. Raraseur. He was a child of the 
 covenant, and was early instructed in the great principles of our 
 holy religion. As a son, he learned and j)racticed obedience 
 to parental authority, and home was always the place of his 
 chief attraction. The most dangerous hours for village boys 
 found him at home, surrounded by the healthful influences 
 of a ha|)py family, and engaged either in the perusal of his 
 juvenile books, or in the innocent sports of boyhood. 
 
 In due time he entered upon a course of liberal education, 
 and afterwards pursued his studies with great success at David- 
 son College. After remaining there for some time, and wish- 
 ing to turn his attention to the study of military affairs, he 
 was entered as a Cadet in the Academy at West Point. Here 
 he remained during the then extended time of five years, and 
 graduated with high standing, and received the commission of 
 Lieutenant. Before the actual outbreaking of the present 
 war, he resigned his Lieutenancy, and tendered his services to 
 his native State. By his skill and distinguished ability as a 
 commander especially in the terrific conflicts at Malvern Hill, 
 Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, and Spottsylvania 
 C. H., as well as by his noble bearing as a gentleman, he was 
 rapidly i)romoted until he reached the rank of Major General; 
 in the faithful discharge of which office, he fell on the 19th of 
 Oct. 1864, while encouraging and gallantry leading his troops 
 in one of the fiercest conflicts of the war. 
 
 But, whilst actively engaged in preparation for the duties of 
 life, and in the diligent cultivation of his mind, he did not 
 neglect the education of his heart. The " one thing needful " 
 demanded and received his early attention. On the 22nd day 
 of Apiil, 1855, after a careful examination as to his personal 
 piety, he was received into the communion of the Presbyterian 
 church of Lincolnton. He believed the testimony of God. 
 He accej)ted the gospel as the wisdom of God, and the power 
 of God unto his salvation. He received it as a "faithful say- 
 ing, and worthy of his" most cordial "acceptation, that Christ 
 
14 
 
 Jesus came into the world to save sinners." Convinced of 
 his own unworthiness and inabihty, and conscious of the in- 
 finite sufficiency of the blood of Christ; discarding every hope, 
 and renouncing every trust, except those which the gospel 
 presents, he yielded to its claims, and rested upon its provis- 
 ions. During the last eventful year, especially, his christian 
 graces revived and expanded. The precious fruits of the tree 
 of godliness gradually matured before they were rudely shaken 
 to the ground. Prayer with him had become a habit and a 
 pleasure, and he was a firm believer in its efficacy. The word 
 of God was his great text book, and his private correspondence 
 exhibits a most extensive knowledge of its contents, as well as 
 a wonderful facility of apt and appropriate quotation. 
 
 Gen. Ramseur loved the church of his own choice. He 
 received her doctrines, and admired the scriptural simplicity 
 of her order and worship. The qualities of his mind were 
 such as, unaided by the graces of the Spirit, went to constitute 
 he nobleman of nature; but with these graces, they made him 
 at once "the highest style of man." With a heart naturally 
 tender, generous and afiectionate, endowed with a high order 
 of intellect, cultivated with diligence, and polished with care 
 — amiable, gentle, and winning in his manners; patriotic, 
 courageous and gallant to a fault, with noble aspirations for 
 an honorable name, and lofty desires to be a benefactor — his- 
 tory will record his success, when she writes out the purity of 
 the man and the deeds of his daring. 
 
 Sustained by that faith which unites to the living Head^ 
 animated by a " lively hope " which allured him to a better 
 world, he died the death of the righteous, and " his end was 
 peace." 
 
 Life's duty done, as sinks the clay, 
 Light from its load, the spirit flies , 
 
 While heaven and earth combine to say. 
 How blest the righteous when he dies." 
 
 Rev. R. N. Davis, Moderator. 
 James T. Alexander, 
 
 W. H. MiCHAL, 
 
 A. McCoy, 
 John F. Phifer, 
 Wm. Tiddy. 
 
15 
 
 IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 How beautiful in death 
 
 The Warrior's course appears — 
 Embalmed by fond allection's breath, 
 
 And bathed in woman's tears, 
 
 To-day we have parted with the last remains of Gen. S. D. 
 Raraseur. Not an uneasy resting place in thine enemy's 
 country, oh, gallant Ramseur ! but here in our midst, who have 
 known and loved thee— in the old church yard, near that 
 dear, good mother, whose strong love even in death, can draw 
 ■ thee to her side, shalt thou find thy rest. 
 
 Alas! our friend is gone and we shall see his face no more, 
 no more. The past is all that is left us of him on earth. We 
 look back on our childhood's days; and childhood's sports, 
 and think with loving regret of the little arm, which was ever 
 strong to shield or uphold those whose weakness claimed its 
 protection ; for that heart was as brave and chivalric then on 
 that childish field of action, as since in the terrible contest 
 through which it has passed. Later came memories not less 
 touching, of our joyful meetings (after short separations) in 
 the summer holidays, where thy glad, bright spirit, old friend 
 and playmate, gave tenfold increase to our delightful enjoy- 
 ments. Yesterday for the first time, he passed, cold, silent 
 and unheeding us as we stood sad and tearful, where we had 
 so often gathered before to welcome him with smiles. And 
 now he will need neither smiles nor tears to welcome him 
 again. He will return to us no more. The past is all that is 
 left us of him on earth. But oh ! what a bright, glowing, im- 
 perishable record— that past is of glorious deeds achieved in 
 his country's name and for her defence, on many a hard 
 fought battle field ; and of sufl'ering intense most willingly and 
 cheerfully endured for her sake. Alas ! he has fought his last 
 battle. He can fight no more, nor suffer wounds of heart or 
 body, for his beloved country's sake. He has laid his life a 
 sacrifice upon the altar of that country, and left the tenderest 
 ties which could make that life dear to him. 
 
16 
 
 Father, sisters, brothers, wife — and oh! anguish unspeakable, 
 his child; his little daughter, whom he had never seen, nor 
 clasped to his heart before he relinquished her forever — 
 yet not forever, thank God. A day will yet come to this dark 
 night of sorrow, where there will be no more parting — no 
 more tears; when the anguish of this hour will be forgotten in 
 the glorious triumph of love undying over Death and the 
 Grave. 
 
 " For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are 
 not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be 
 revealed in us." 
 
 Miss Laura Alexander. 
 Lincolnton, N. C, Nov. 7, 1864. 
 
 [From the Carolina Times]. 
 
 Mr. Editor : The following beautiful and touching lines, 
 accompanied a wreath of evergreen, which was laid c n the 
 coffin of Gen. Ramseur. They are the production of an 
 elegant and accomplished lady, well known for her gifted 
 genius and intellectual attainments — will you please publish? 
 
 " IMPROMPTU. " 
 
 MAJ. GEN. S. D. RAMSEUR. 
 
 A wreath for the honored dead, 
 
 The gallant and the brave. 
 A wreath of living, fadeless evergreen, 
 
 For the youthful Hero's grave. 
 
 A wreath for the gifted dead, 
 
 As fadeless as his name ; 
 A name inscribed in lines of light, 
 
 On the proudest scroll of Fame. 
 
 A wreath for the cherished dead, 
 Embalmed with the tears and sighs 
 
 That the bleeding heart of affection sheds 
 When the loved and cherished dies. 
 
17 
 
 A wreath for the plorious dead, 
 
 The noble,' f^ifted hrave, 
 A star from liis country's eky has fallen, 
 
 A nation weeps o'er his grave. 
 
 Mrs. M. C. Munroe, of Charleston, S. C. 
 November 6, 1864. 
 
 [From(the Confederate]. 
 GENERAL S. D. RAMSEUR. 
 
 BY PELLOY. 
 
 There are aome'moments when the'human heart, 
 
 However stout, must weep some friend laid low, 
 When death with icy hand has come to part 
 
 One whom we love and honor here below ; 
 
 And when he shoots the cool dart from his bow, 
 And chills foreverraore the bounding blood, 
 
 And sets his withering seal upon the brow 
 Which marks it for the earth-worm's future food ; 
 Then heartfelt, sorrow weeps where mirth before had stood. 
 
 There are some moments when a nation's heart 
 
 Is wrung with anguish to its inner core. 
 When joys on pinions wild is seen to start. 
 
 And wing its flight to some far distant shore ; 
 
 When wailing dirges rise where oft before 
 Themi<lnight revel rose with noisy glee ; 
 
 When million bitter tears are known to pour 
 On earth which covers for eternity. 
 One of her gallant sons who died to make her free. 
 
 Such was the homage paid to one who fell 
 
 From his high place into the lonely grave ; 
 In each true patriot's heart there is a cell 
 
 Which keeps his memory green as ocean wave ; 
 
 His dust may crumble in the grass-clad grave 
 Where he lies lifeless now without a thought, 
 
 His memory watered by our tears will brave 
 Oblivion's lowering shades ; and how he fought 
 Will be on History's page in glowing letters wrought. 
 
18 
 
 O- Moloch ! cruel god of war, was not 
 
 Great Jackson's blood enough to quench the fire 
 That raged within your heart ? must you now blot 
 
 From out that scroll of names which all admire, 
 
 Another victim to your fell desire? 
 Must there again come tolling in our ear 
 
 The death knell swelling in our hearts' deep lyre? 
 Well may you at your bloody action leer. 
 You could not choose another man we held more dear. 
 
 His form was ever foremost in the fight, 
 
 His voice oft heard above the battle's roar ; 
 He fought triumphant, conscious of the right, 
 
 As his forefathers fought in the days of yore. 
 
 Although misfortune's dark night seemed to lower. 
 He hoped to see his country's wounds all healed, 
 
 And freedom's sun dispel the mist which o'er 
 The land hung damp ; with Justice for his shield, 
 He rushed to meet grim battle on the bloody field. 
 
 Oppression still was clamoring at the door 
 
 To gain admittance and revenge delay, 
 Uncertainty made every bosom sore 
 
 That tried to drive solicitude away. 
 
 Such was the anxious time when his bright day 
 Was turned to night by Death's dark sudden clasp 
 
 The monster met him in the war cloud gray ; 
 With crushing fingers his brave breast he grasped 
 And changed his battle cry to dying gasp. 
 
 His noble form is mouldering in the dust, 
 
 His weary soul is high above the earth, 
 His fame alone remains to keep from rust, 
 
 And that is all that's left of Ramseur's worth ; 
 
 Then of bright fame shall there be any dearth ? 
 This, this is all of homage we can show ! 
 
 No ! let the land that gave him birth, give birth 
 To those who'll ne'er forget how much they owe, 
 To one who gave his life to ease his country's woe. 
 
 Aivthor unkn 
 
19 
 
 IN MKMOKV OK (iEN. S. D. RAMSEUR. 
 
 The following beautiful poem from the pen of a gifted lady 
 of Virginia, though not intended for publication, is thought to 
 merit a more extended perusal than it could obtain in manu- 
 script; an opinion in which we heartily concur, and, we there- 
 fore, most cheerfully give the poem a place in our columns. 
 —Ed. Bidletin, Charlotte, X. C 
 
 Harp of the South I whose melancholy note, 
 
 Rings a sad sweetness through the ruins of time, 
 Methinks God's angels that around thee float. 
 
 Now strike a holier, loftier hymn ; 
 A Hymn which while creation yet was stilled, 
 Foretold that man was God 
 Indwelling in the sod. 
 And now, oh man! behold it.all fulfilled ; 
 
 Go read the life of him just sunk to rest. 
 
 And, see in God a Christian patriot blessed. 
 
 We can but weep, the notes that sweetly ring. 
 
 Though angel notes, to us so plaintive are 
 Such notes as would night's chanting Pleiades sing, 
 
 To welcome back their lost, long wandering star. 
 But that orb in its other home a void must leave. 
 And from those distant spheres 
 Soft clouds collect the tears. 
 Where stars forevermore an absence grieve ; 
 
 'Tis thus we mourn a star to earth once given, 
 
 'Tis thus the angels sing a star come back to heaven. 
 
 What pen of man may draw the patriot's soul ? 
 
 What eye doth God permit to see its fire? 
 But its high thoughts in pealing anthems roll, 
 
 Struck from eternity's rapt lyre, 
 And forth his deeds go sounding evermore. 
 And when the dead that sleep, 
 AVhere angels vigils keep. 
 Shall wake to walk their native, heavenly shore. 
 
 They too shall catch and chant the immortal song, 
 
 For to these and God this patriot's deeds belong. 
 
20 
 
 Droop down ye Southern banners/while the gale 
 Sweeps with a moan around Virginia's hall,* 
 
 Tell to the cruel world, ye winds the tale, 
 Of the warrior resting in his pall. 
 
 Just heaven, forgive the vengeance in our soul, 
 For the torn Southern heart. 
 Would with life freely part. 
 That the black clouds of destruction might unroll. 
 Break forth on the head of the Merciless foe, 
 And crush him forever in i^itiless woe. 
 
 Virginia, his blood on thy bosom was left, 
 
 As he fought for thy honor and life- 
 Weep mother of States ! of thy guardian bereft, 
 
 In the dark hour of vengeance and strife. 
 But that blood which is staining thy breast. 
 Through thy veins shall flow 
 With a furnace red glow, 
 And thy being shall know never an hour of rest, 
 
 'Till he be avenged whose knell has just tolled. 
 
 Who lies on earth's bosom so helpless, so cold. 
 
 Yes, Virginia shall give to thy foes, 
 
 A dread death more eternal than thine; 
 Her prowess shall gather thy enemy's woes. 
 
 And offer them up on Nemesis' shrine. 
 And her tearful eyes with a softened light, 
 Shall turn when she weeps, 
 That her loved early sleeps, 
 In death's long, dreamless hours of night. 
 
 And that young bride shall yet love the soil where he fell, 
 
 Virginia, whose rich annals his bright deeds shall tell, 
 
 Ye soldiers ! whom Ramseur the gallant, on led, 
 Why weep that so noble a chieftain is gone? 
 
 Hark ! list to the beckoning spirits tread, 
 It woos ye to rise, be men, hasten on. 
 
 Ye men of his pride, ye men of his love. 
 Look at his native land, 
 See where her spoilers stand. 
 
 By the blows ye strike for her your sorrow prove ; 
 Spirit of Ramseur! see they brush away the tear, 
 And the battle tells how was thy memory dear. 
 
 Thou old Carolina, fair State of his pride, 
 Whom his fathers revered with patriot love. 
 
•21 
 
 Who may tell his warm prayers at lejiving thy side, 
 
 He jinrjx).>ieil tliv unwasted valor to j)rove? 
 Ami the laurels that on the young hoMIit's brow lay, 
 As he sunk to his rest. 
 Were as fair as those pressed. 
 In thine am-ient, heroic, eolonial day. 
 And the star of thy glory, that rose bright in that hour. 
 Brave Raniseur beheld reach its zenith of power. 
 
 Oh fair Southern land, for this hero why weep? 
 
 Wouldst thou call him to earth mid her tempest of wars? 
 Bid him break in the grave the sweet waiting sleep, 
 
 And tread where death's black river flows ? 
 "Oh God," let each heart in hymns now proclaim, 
 "We thank Thee for the call, 
 Which robed in death's pall, 
 The warrior who leaving to us his bright fame. 
 
 Sought a chaplet away where the angels on high, 
 
 Stood to crown him immortal an heir of the sky." 
 
 Miss S. B. Valentine, 
 Richmond, Va. 
 
 • His body laid in the Capitol at Richmond, 
 Richmond, Va., Oct., 1864. 
 
22 
 
 Personal Recollections of General Ramseur. 
 
 General Ramseur was shot through the body and lungs. It 
 was told me that he was standing on the ground with his left 
 arm raised to his horse's mane to mount when the ball struck 
 him under the arm, passing entirely through to the right side 
 lodging just under the skin. He had already had one or two 
 horses shot from under him 
 
 He was taken to General Phil. Sheridan's Head-quarters? 
 where he expired on Thursday, October 20th, 1864, about 10 
 o'clock, a. m. His body was embalmed by his old comrades 
 in the United States army and placed, in full uniform, in a 
 beautiful coffin, which was sent to "Old Point," thence up the 
 peninsula to the Confederate lines, under an escort of honor 
 and delivered to the hands of General Robert F. Hoke. 
 
 On the lapel of his coat was a small bouquet of flowers, 
 which had been presented to him by a lady and worn all 
 through that bloody battle. 
 
 In his side pocket was his purse and other little articles 
 taken from his person, and among them the bullet which 
 killed him. These were given to his wife. 
 
 These noble, generous acts of the Federal officers deserve 
 to be remembered with gratitude. 
 
 The face appeared quite natural and was in placid repose, 
 though somewhat discolored by the settling blood. His hair 
 was always thin and was dropping out, threatening baldness, 
 and he had had it cut very short a few days before his death. 
 His beard was long, fine and silken, beautiful in its softness. 
 
 I met his remains in Charlotte. They came from Rich- 
 mond Ilia Danville, to Charlotte. While in Charlotte they 
 were in state at the residence of Col. Lewis Williams, on West 
 Trade street, some two or three blocks from the public square, 
 on the north side. 
 
 Just outside, and west of the old cemetery of Emanuel's 
 (or the "old white") Church, in Lincolnton, where the Lu- 
 therans and German Reformed people worshipped, was a 
 
2^ 
 
 large vault, under pround, lined with granite, built by the 
 Hoke fiiniily. 
 
 In this vault the body of General Raniseur was laid tem- 
 porarily. A large choir of twenty or thirty ladies and gen- 
 tlemen, led by Mr. Hildreth H. Smith, sang: "Thou art gone 
 to the grave" as the collin was lowered to its resting place. 
 An immense concourse of people from all the surrounding 
 country attended the funeral and nearly all wept at the vault. 
 
 General Ramseur's remains were subsequently removed 
 from the vault and buried in the cemetery of the Episcopal 
 church. 
 
 A beautiful marble shaft, with appropriate inscriptions, 
 marks the spot. 
 
 He never lived to see his daughter, who was born only a 
 few days before he received his mortal wound. 
 
 The earl}' boyhood of General Kamseur was marked by an 
 open, generous, frank bearing; he was free from envy, devo- 
 ted affectionately to his friends and family ; happy and cheer- 
 ful in disposition, and fervently fond of ladies' society. He 
 was handsome, bright and companionable; dressed wuth 
 scrupulous neatness, and was a model of politeness. 
 
 He wai> brave to a fault, a fine horseman, a good shot, and 
 a keen sportsman. He never indulged in petty mischief, so 
 common to boys, but enjoyed an innocent joke even at his 
 own expense. He had a merry, earnest laugh and a joyous 
 face. 
 
 I was once seated at a dinner table with him and Miss 
 Jennie Gibbon, sister of the late Major General Gibbon, of 
 the United States Army, while General Ramseur was at home 
 nursing his wound received at Malvern Hill. He was then 
 the Colonel of the 49th N. C. troops. 
 
 In response to some narrative of his army experince, one 
 of the guests playfully said : "Colonel, you are a hard case.''- 
 
 Miss Gibbon, who greatly admired him, looked smilingly 
 around and retorted : 
 
 "Yes, but I have seen many a sweet kernel in a hard case." 
 
 The Colonel clapped his hands in triumph and applauded 
 Miss Gibbon enthusiastically. 
 
 I doubt if ever a finer impromptu pun was ever made. 
 
24 
 
 Miss Gibbon afterwards married a United States officer. 
 
 The wound which Colonel" Ramseur received at Malvern 
 Hill severed one of the large nerves in his right arm and 
 paralyzed its motion, though he suffered agonizing pain from 
 it, frequently being compelled to use morphia to allay it- 
 This wound made it necessary for him to write with his left 
 hand altogether for several years and he was just beginning 
 to recover the use of his right arm when he was killed. He 
 was wounded once before by a ball through his left forearm, 
 and once on the foot by a shell. 
 
 As illustrating his skillfulness with a gun, he related to me 
 that on one occasion a Federal scout rode at a seemingly safe 
 distance from his line reconnoitering his position. He order- 
 ed his sharpshooters to take him down, but all their shots 
 were in vain. The General, with some irritation, called for a 
 sharpshooter's ritle and brought down the scout the first fire, 
 and then rode out and took his Burnside rifle from him. 
 This he sent to me a? a trophy and I still have it. 
 
 On another occasion a Federal sharpshooter, concealed in 
 the branches of a pine tree, was picking off his officers one 
 by one and defied all efforts to dislodge him. The General 
 watched patiently until he saw the puff of smoke from the 
 Yankee rifle high up in the tree and the next moment the 
 sharpshooter was tumbling from his lofty abode, another vic- 
 tim of the General's unerring aim. He used to laugh heartily 
 about this and describe the surprise he gave the fellow and 
 how ludicrously he came down the tree. 
 
 General Ramseur was a christian upon principle, a student 
 of the Bible and strong in his faith. His mother, a noble 
 christian lady, had eaply instilled into his mind the West- 
 minster catechism, and he knew and appreciated it thoroughly. 
 
 My correspondence with him was frequent, free and full 
 from 1855 to his death, and all this time his letters breathe a 
 spirit of faith and love towards God, which is of the most 
 comforting nature to his friends. Nothing profane or obscene 
 came from his lips; and he was emphatically "pure in heart." 
 
 He abhorred the newspaper puffs, gotten up to make a false 
 reputation for those not worthy of it. He had great con- 
 tempt for i)olitical generals. Indeed to such an extreme did 
 
25 
 
 he carry his iiKxk'sty in tliis respect that he would not ;illo\v 
 his picture to be taken durinj; the war lor fear it would be 
 (lisplayeil in some artist's show win(h)w, and it was only alter 
 mudi piTsuiusion that he consented to have a photoj,'r:iph 
 taken wliile Major of Artillery In-low Petersburji;. No one was 
 allowed to copy it. 
 
 (ieneral Raniseur 'iu)nored his tjither and mother," and 
 when misfortune financially befell them, he never received 
 money without dividing; the larj^er portion with tliem. These 
 and others were the foundation virtues which supported the 
 fabric of his splendid character. 
 
 In conclusion, in my mature age, after lifty-seven years of 
 experience and observation among men, 1 can sincerely say 
 that I have never known or observed a nobler specimen of 
 manhood, morally, mentally or physically, than M;ijor General 
 Stephen Dodson Ramseur, of Lincolnton, North Carolina. 
 
 D. SCHENCK. 
 
 March 8, 1892. 
 
 Mrs. General Ramseur. 
 
 The widow of llie gallant Rauiseur, who 
 was the spirit aud life tlie generals 
 of hue's army, is livin-; at her inolher's 
 home near Alilion, as gentle, and modest 
 and heautifiil, as she was in her maiden 
 days. Mrs. Ramseur is pleasant and cheer- 
 ful in soriety, but still dre&.sfs in the deepest 
 Hiourniug, and with the vanities and show 
 of this gay and ^\<itiy life she has nothing l» 
 do, l.utaniid Hip (juit-t of her country home 
 ske has devote.1 herself to the education of 
 her daughter who |)roniis(s to rival the 
 mtither in all the accomplishments that 
 adorn a woman. Mrs. Ramseur was a Miss 
 Ricbmund. 
 
RAMSEUR Died, on May 27th, at 
 
 Concord, N. C, at the home of her sister, 
 Mrs. Montgomery, Mrs. Ellen Richmond 
 Ramseur, widow of Major General Ramseur, 
 of the Confederate Army, who was killed at 
 Cedar Creek, October 19th, 1864. Her 
 maiden name was Ellen Richmond. Her 
 home was Woodside, near Milton, N. C, a 
 home endeared to many friends by its hos- 
 pitality and her own gracious presence. In 
 early life Mrs. Ramseur united with the 
 Presbyterian Church, and lived a consistent, 
 pious life. During the greater part of her 
 life she lived with her mother and brothers 
 in her paternal home. She was a woman of 
 great personal loveliness, of winning sweet- 
 ness and charm of manner, as well as at- 
 tractive and lovely character, kind and gen- 
 tle in feeling and bearing. Sh6 had a very 
 pronounced force of character, based on 
 right thinking and religious principle. 
 Brought up in a home of ample means, she 
 addressed herself bravely to the altered cir- 
 cumstances produced by the Civil War, 
 patiently bearing life's duties with sweet 
 amenity and gracious manners, carrying 
 light and sweetness around her. Her de- 
 meaaor was marked by that delicacy and 
 refinement which piety engrafted on natural 
 sweetness of disposition always makes so 
 charming. She was most tenderly loved 
 and admired by kindred and friends, and 
 her memory will be ardently cherished. 
 She had been an invalid for two }'ears. She 
 met death with serene triumph, looking be- 
 yond the grave to the home awaiting her. 
 Her last words were, "I am perfectly 
 happy. Christ is here in this room. God 
 is with me," and so through the dark gate- 
 way bright with her Lord's presence, she 
 passed into the Eternal City. 
 
Mrs. EIUmi 1{. Itainsour, widow ()l 
 (Jen. Stopht'ti Dodson Hamsuiir, died 
 in Concord at the rosiilinn-i' of Mr. (i. 
 CJ. liichmirnd, on Sunday evening:, 
 Mav i'T, lltOO, at ~):'M) o'clock. Mrti. 
 Ivamscur was thodau^lit'T of C. II. 
 and Mary Uichiiiond, and was born 
 ^n Caswcil county onMlic 'Jstli day of 
 l)oC(unl)L'r, 1S4().' She was married in 
 (ict(>lior. lS();{,to Cii'n. KauiscMir, who 
 was killed at Cedar Crock in October, 
 18U4, leaving- a ilau<;iiti*r only a few 
 days old, whom he never saw. Mrs. 
 Ka'mseur was a true type of tho best 
 element of Southern womanhood. 
 She was (juiet and inlellif^ent, affec- 
 tionate and i)rous. Thoufi'li possess- 
 ing: many attractions and graces she 
 never enterel society- after tho deatlu 
 of her husband, but devoted her life 
 (JO her dauiihter and the niemorv of 
 her distingnished husband. To those 
 who were so fortunate to be asso- 
 ciated with her, her life was a bene- 
 diction, so sweet and f>;entle, so kind 
 and cheerful. 
 
 Mrs. Kamsenr had been living in 
 Concord for the last eighteen months 
 at Judge Montgomery's, who mai-- 
 ried her sister. She went to her 
 brother's to spend awhile and was 
 unable to return. Her sutl'erings 
 wei'e long and severe but she bore 
 them without a murmur and died in 
 great peace, assuring her family and 
 friends that all was well. Almost her 
 last words were: "I know that my 
 Kedeemer liveth." 
 
 Her body was carried to the depot 
 by old Confederate soldiers, several 
 of whom had served under hergallant 
 husband, and thtMico carried to Liu- 
 colnton and buried beside her hus- 
 band. 
 
 The people of Lincoluton showed 
 every mark of respect. Their kind- 
 ness, sympathy and hospitality were 
 beautiful. The editor, who was one 
 of the escort, has never seen any- 
 thing more refined and appropriate 
 to the occasion than was the conduct 
 of the good people of Lincolnton. 
 The funeral services were in the Pres- 
 byterian church (of which she has 
 long been a consistent member> con- 
 ducted by llev. K. Z. .Johnston, as- 
 sisted by Ki'V. Dr. .1. V. Fair, of Sa- 
 vannah. 
 
 and Mrs. Moi|tg<>iaery ; Mrs. K. H. 
 Harding, Mrs. Judge Sehenck, ^tissos 
 Mary Ivaniseur. Mollie Dodson. Willie 
 Kiehmoniland MamieDotlson; Messrs. 
 (i. (i. Kichniond, VnM\. Richmond, ('. 
 U.Montgomery, l\ H. Fetzer, J. D. 
 I.,entz, Maury Uichmoi»d and J. U. 
 Sherrill. The following old soldiers 
 acted as pall bearers here: Messrs. 
 D. A. Caldwell, J. D. Harrier, D. B. 
 Coltraiie. J.C. (iibson, A. li. Young 
 and U.S. Puryear. 
 
 . — I 
 
 DEATH OF MRS.; KI.I-EN K. KAMSEUR 
 
 She Fell on Sleep »it the lloiiie of Loved 
 Ones In Concord— The Interment lu Lin- 
 coluton. 
 
 Special to The Observer. 
 
 Concond, iMay 28— T>?ath released Mrs. 
 Ellen H. IlamS'eur of her .sulTering Sun- 
 day evening at 5:30 o'clock. Mrs. Ram- 
 seur was born at Milton, N. C, on De- 
 cember 2SL.h, 1840. She was a daughter 
 01" C. H. and Mary Richmond. In Oc- 
 tober, 1863, she was married lo the gal- 
 lant G?n. Stephen D. Ramseur, (who was 
 killed in the battle of Cedar Creek Oc- 
 tober 19lh, 1864. being mHrrled only 
 about a vear. Since the death of her 
 liushand Mrs. Ramseur has never gone 
 into society, bul has devoted her lite to 
 her daughter and to Lhe sacred memory 
 of her dead husband. Mrs. Ramseur 
 came, some 18 months agt), to make her 
 home at Judge Montgomery's, 'Mrs. 
 Montgomery being a sister. 'About a 
 month ago she went to Mr. G. G. Rich- 
 mond's, her brother, where she grew 
 worse, thus breathing her last at the 
 home of her brother. Rev. Cochran 
 Preston perflormed t.he funeiul riles this 
 morning at the home of Mr. Richmond. 
 The pall-bearers were men who had 
 done service to tke Confederate cause. 
 One had fought in a number of battles 
 under her illustrious husband; another 
 was with him as he was borne in lin 
 ambulance to the enemy; a third bore 
 the flag of truce and received his body 
 from the enemy. 
 
 Mrs. Ramseur was held in tender re- 
 gard, both for her own personalit-i-es and 
 the memories associated iwith her hus- 
 band, in whose honor the IT. D. C. oC 
 Concord was named. The body of Mrs. 
 Ramseur was taken to Lincolnton this 
 morning, accompanied by her daughter, 
 Miss Mary Ramseur; iMrs. W. J. Mont- 
 gomery and Mrs. E. H. Harding: 
 Messrs. G. G. and C. H. Richmond, sur- 
 viving brothers; Judge Montgomery 
 and Richmond Montgomery. Maury and 
 Misses Willie Richmond, Mary and Mol- 
 Vu- Dodson, and Messrs. J. B. Shea-riU, 
 J. D. !Lentz and P. 53. Fetz-r. 
 
TRIBUTE OF LOVE. 
 
 ThsDodson Bamsenr Chapter U. D. C. 
 in Honor of Mrs. Ellen Ramscur. 
 
 At the last meeting of the Dod- 
 spn Ram^eur Chapter^— United 
 ©aughters of the Confederacy 
 the following resolutions, w«re 
 offered, and ordered placed upon 
 the minutes. 
 
 "Tribute of love and respect 
 to the memory of Mrs. Ellen 
 Richmond Ramseur, 
 
 Whereas, it has pleased our 
 Heavenly Father to remove from 
 our midst, our esteemed, and be- 
 loved honorary member, Mrs. 
 Ellen Richmond Ramseur there- 
 fore be it. 
 
 Resolved. That we humbly 
 bow in submission to the will of 
 our Father in Heaven with pro- 
 found, and tender sympathy, and 
 condolence to the sorely be- 
 reaved. 
 
 Resolved. That we shalLever 
 cherish her memory, her lovely 
 Christian character. 
 
 Resolved. That these resolu* 
 tions be spread upon the minutes 
 of this meeting, as a part of the 
 record. 
 
 Resolved. That the secretary 
 furnish these resolutions to the 
 town papers for publication and 
 a copy of the same to the family. 
 Mrs. Jno. P Allison. 
 Mrs. D B Morrison. 
 Miss Rose Harris. 
 
 Mi-s. Rainseor's Life— Tribute by a Char- 
 lotte Friend. 
 
 iDicid, in Concord, Sunday, May 27th, 
 1900, Mrs. Ellen Richmond Riamseur, 
 \vidow of General iSteplieTi D. Ramseur, 
 who laid down his life for his country. 
 
 The gallant S'ltephen Dodslon. Ramseur 
 was one of the youngest of the lOon- 
 federace generals, a graduate of We^ti 
 Point, cons'pieuou'3 as a man and as a 
 soldier. He was mortaliy wounded in 
 the battle of Cedar Mountain and died 
 in the hands of the enemy. How-ever, 
 all that w-as mortaJ was laid to rest 
 among Ills loved ones, in the lovely old 
 town o'f Lincolnton, where yesterday, 
 after long years of waiUng, irests by his 
 side, the -wife of his youth. 
 
 Ellen Richmond was a native of Cas- 
 well county and in her maidenhood gave 
 her heart and hand t'O the handsome 
 cousin, who was granted a furlough to 
 claim his fair bride, so soon to become 
 a widow. She, \vith her only daughter, 
 Mary, lived at the old home most of the 
 time, thougli these last years of weary 
 wail'ing and suffering have been spent 
 in the hospitable home of Judge Mont- 
 gomery, of Concord, lovingly tended by 
 Ilea- daughter, Mary, and her sister, 
 Mrs. Lou Richmond Montgomery. 
 
 At the last, there gathered around her 
 bedside all 'but ■one of her brothers 
 and sisters, including Dr. and Mrs. E. 
 H. Harding. 
 
 Monday jnorning the friends carried 
 her through to Lincolnton, by way of 
 Gastonia. 
 
 Had it been known here in time, the 
 Daughters of the Confederacy would 
 iiiave ibeen delighted to show honor to 
 her and to the memory of her noble 
 iiusband. 
 
RESOLUTIONS OF KESPEOT 
 
 At a nieetiug of the Ladies Mias- 
 iouary Society of iMilton Pifiibj- 
 terian Church, the following 
 resolutions were adopted: 
 
 Wliereus, God in Ilia infinite wis- 
 dom, Jias Ciilled to the Church 
 Triumphant, our beloved sit^ter- 
 niember, Mrs. Klleu D. Kamseur; 
 therefore, he it resolved: 
 
 Ist, That wc bow our humble 
 submissiou to the will of Him who 
 taketh his faithful ones to their 
 eternal reward. 
 
 2nd, That while we niid« the 
 gracioub charm of her presence 
 amony: us, hor unaffe;;ted warnuh 
 and kindness of heart; we shall en- 
 deavour to imitate her pure and 
 lovely example, her exalted christian 
 character, her unseltith dwvoiion to 
 duty, her loyalty to her church and 
 tlie cause of her Master. 
 
 3rd, That we extend (he tendcrest 
 sympathy of our hearts to the sor- 
 rowing family, commending them to 
 God. who was alwavs hor '*ShieH 
 and Buckler" and ir whoso presence: 
 she shall live and reign forever. 
 
 4th, That a copy of these resolu 
 tions be sent to the family, and also 
 be published in the Miltou Herald. 
 
 ' Mrs H. Walker, 
 Committee, \ Miss. Susan 1 lines, 
 Mrs. Kate Watkius.