Our loss in officers and men was great. All the field officers of the Twenty-First were killed and wounded except Colonel W. W. Kirkland, who was after this fight, promoted to Brigadier-General. Here the lamented Colonel Isaac E. Avery, commanding the brigade, laid down his noble life on the altar of his country's freedom. Lieutenant-Colonel Rankin was badly wounded and left in the hands of the enemy, where he remained a prisoner throughout the war. It is recorded in Vol. 125, Official Records Union and Confederate Armies, that Private Oliver P. Rood was awarded a medal for conspicuous bravery in capturing a flag of the Twenty-First North Carolina Regiment in a charge on our lines at Gettysburg 3 July. As I have just stated above, a most frightful and determined conflict raged on the night of the 2nd. the ground was strewn with dead and wounded. Man after man went down, among them Major Alexander Miller, who picked up the flag after the first color-bearer fell. He soon shared the fate of the former. It was soon taken up J. W. Bennett, Company F, who was, also, in quick succession, shot down. The colors were then taken by the writer and very soon after this, we fell back into the works, which we had just passed over a few paces and continued such a terrific fire upon the enemy, that their rifle was completely silenced, the enemy crouching behind their works. About this time Corporal Eli Wiley, Company M, asked permission to take the flag, saying he did not see it when it fell. It was given to him and after the writer had gone a few paces along the line, orders were given to retire at once, which was accomplished under a severe fusillade. We had retreated about twenty-five yards when I saw the flag for the last time. Corporal Wiley was killed, and left, together with the flag, in the lines of the enemy. In the darkness and confusion the flag was not missed untill we had rallied under cover about the distance of two hundred yards. The enemy did not follow, or show any disposition to do so, as stated above. Soon all firing ceased and the battle was ended. This was 2 July, and as Private Rood claims to have captured the flag in a charge on our lines, 3 July, it is evident that he did not capture the flag in battle at all, as our regiment was not engaged after 2 July. Therefore, it is conclusive that he picked up the flag on the battle field on the following day, the 3rd, and it is altogether probable that he took the flag from the body of the dead hero who had been cold and stark in death for many hours. The regiment, brigade or corps, were not at any time charged by the enemy. On the other hand, the charging was all done by the Confedrates and we reached Cemetery Heights, trading possession of their works, and if the attack had been pressed on our right, the enemy could have been prevented from concentrating upon the brigades of Hoke and Hayes, compelling them to retire, after having victory in their grasp. For details, see General Early's report. We do not wish to detract from an antagonist any distinciton, but the records should be kept straight. 4 July we let Gettysburg, our division bringing up the rear of Lee's army. Halted at Hagerstown several days, then retired across the Potomac.
THE BATTLE OF PLYMOUTH
The regiment was engaged in the memorable battle of Plymouth, N. C., 20 April, 1864, where it successfully assaulted the enemy's fortified position, the entire garrison surrendering to General Hoke. The enemy's psoition her was a very strong one, protected by forts and gun boats. About dark we were ordered to make an assault upon one of the outer forts up to which our brigade charged, time after time, with persistent courage and stern determination. In the third attempt the parapet was gained. Here the fighting was desperate and at close quarters and deadly--waxing hotter from beginning to finish. The commander of the fort, though mortally wounded, refused to surrender, cursing his lieutenant, (who had assumed command), for hoisting the white flag and surrendering.
INCIDENTS OF DARING COURAGE
It was indeed a gallant defence. The Twenty-First Georgia and the Twenty-First North Carolina Regiments, as at the first of the war, again fought side by side in this fierce conflict--mingling their vocies together in the same deafening yell of triumph. Many of them were stricken down on this bloody field and many of them sleep in a common grave. In this fight officers and men in both regiments, vied with each other in deeds of unsurpassed courage. Where all acted as heroes, it would seem invidious to make any special mention of names, but I must call attention to the distinguished and daring courage of Captain James O. Blackburn, Company G, and Private Francis Clinard, Company A. Both fell far in advance of our line in making the assault. The command then laid down under arms, in line of battle, among the dead and wounded, hearing all night the distressing cries of the wounded. Knowing what was before us, we slept but little, expecting to make an attack on the main fort neat the town early the following day. But the Confederate ram, the "Albemarle," coming down the Roanoke river, sank or ran off the Federal gun boats. Then, after a brief and futile resistance to our combined land and naval forces, the entire garrison surrendered unconditionally to General Hoke, who paid the brigade a handsome tribute by saying: "My men, my confident expectations in you have been fully realized in this fight."