The Battle of Cemetery Hill
Gettysburg Pa
July 2nd, 1863

Cemetery gate East Cemetery Hill as it appears today.

Tarheels and Tigers
by Ed Mantell

    On the night of July 2, 1863 after one of the fiercest artillery duels of the war, the 21st NC took part in some of the worst fighting seen at Gettysburg. It was reported that Major J.W. Lattimers 16 confederate guns fired 1,147 rounds at the federals entrenched on Cemetery Hill, over 60 Federal guns returned fire.
    Hays' Louisiana Tigers anchored the right of the Confederate line on Winebrenner's Run, with the 6th, 21st, and 57th NC on the left. Formed up in the front yard of the Culp family farm under the command of Col. Isaac Avery. Around 6:30pm Gen. Ewelll gave Hays and Avery the order to advance. The whole Confederate line proceeded to right wheel into battle. Hay's Tigers slammed into the Federal Line first, torn by double canister. The Tigers proceeded  forward over fence and wall advancing as the artillery fire intensified. The 21st in the center of the North Carolina regiments ran into the federals advance pickets, the  41st NY, and the 33rd MA, who after firing a volley or two fell back to the right of the main federal line. The 21st pressed forward crossing two stone walls under heavy fire both cannon and musket, advancing toward the federals.
    In front lay the 68th and 54th NY regiments, newly formed and not yet tested in battle crouched behind a stone wall on Brickyard Lane. The NC units now only yards away surged forward with a spine tingling rebel yell! Here the fighting intensified as men fought with bayonets and rifle butts. Due ot the steepness of the hill the federal batteries could not depress their cannon to support the infantry andy longer. Overwhelmed by the gray clad Tarheels, the 68th and 54th NY units broke and ran toward the gatehouse on Cemetery Hill. Seeing this hole open in the Federal line the 21st charged up the hill towards Rickett's battery of guns. Sometime during this phase of the battle, Col. Avery fell, shot in the back of the neck while turning to give orders to his men. His last act on the field was to write a note in his own blood, it read: "Please tell my father I died with my face to the enemy". The 21st now overran Rickett's Battery capturing some of its guns. Darkness had now fallen and small battles raged everywhere as small pockets of men engaged each other in close deadly combat, illuminated only by musket and cannon fire. About 9:00pm Federal reinforcements consisting of the 14th ID, 4th OH, and the 7th WV, the "Gibraltar Brigade" arrived. Advancing with fixed bayonets into the battle, forward toward Rickett's Battery and the 21st NC, after brief hand to hand fighting the Confederates were pushed back down the hill in much disorder followed by the 7th WV which halted at stone wall originally held by the NY units. The battle for the most part was now over, with small skirmishes continuing through the night as the Confederates made their way back to the safety of their own lines. It is very possible that the 21st North Carolina actually went the furthest at Gettysburg! Three Cheers for the "OLD NORTH STATE"!

Gettysburg Campaign 21st NCT June-July 1863
by Clark Fox

 Following the defeat of the Federals at Chancellorsville and the death of Jackson, the Army of Northern Virginia returned to Fredericksburg, where it was reorganized into three corps. Hoke’s brigade, under Col. Avery, remained in Early’s Division, which was assigned to Lieutenant General Richard S. Ewell's corps. On the march into Pennsylvania, which followed in June and culminated in the battle of Gettysburg, the 1st Battalion NC Sharpshooters was detached from Hoke’s (Avery’s) brigade and attached to Ewell’s headquarters.

June 4, 1863- Hoke’s (Avery’s) brigade left its camp near Hamilton’s Crossing as Early’s division moved with Ewell’s Corps toward the Shenandoah Valley.

June 13th, 1863- The Division went into position in front of the enemy at Winchester, Va.

June 13-14, 1863- During the fighting at Winchester, Hoke’s (Avery’s) brigade was held in reserve behind the front and ordered to support the artillery. The brigade was not actively engaged as a unit in assaulting the enemy positions.

June 14-15, 1863-  The Federal forces at Winchester retreated during the night and the brigade occupied Winchester on June 15th. At Winchester the 54th NC Troops was detached from the brigade to escort prisoners back to Staunton.

June 22, 1863- The 21st NC (Hoke’s Brigade) forded the Potomac River at Shepardstown, Md, and entered Pennsylvania the next day. The Brigade now consisted of the 21st NC, 6th NC, and the 57th NC.

June 24th, 1863- Early’s division moved through Quincy and Altondale to Greenwood, where it remained in camp on June 25th.

June 26th - July 1st, 1863- The 21st NC marched with the division to the outskirts of Harrisonburg , Pa. where on July 1st the Division was ordered to countermarch and rendezvous at Gettysburg, Pa. The 21st made this march towards Gettysburg on the Heidlersburg road.

July 1st, 1863- The Division came on the field at Gettysburg as Genl. Rodes division was engaging the enemy, and after forming a line of three brigades (with Hoke’s / Avery’s men on the left) and placing his fourth brigade behind, Early ordered his right brigade forward to the aid of Rodes. As soon as the right brigade engaged the enemy, Early ordered his other two front-line brigades forward. Col. A.C. Godwin, 57th NCT who commanded the brigade after Col. Avery was mortally wounded, reported the activities of Hoke’s / Avery’s brigade on July 1-3 as follows.....
 

O.R., S. I. vol. XXVII, pt. 2, pp. 484-485

July 1, 1863
 “Skirmishers were deployed in front of our lines, and at 3 pm the order to advance was received. The enemy had formed a line of battle on the hillside in front of the town under cover of a strong fence, portions of which were made of stone. Our advance was made with great deliberation until we approached a sluggish stream or slough, about 200 yards in front of the enemy's lines, when the batteries opened upon us with grape and canister, seconded by a very destructive fire from the infantry.
 Col. Avery now gave the order to double-quick, and the brigade gallantly dashed through the stream and up the hill to the fence, the enemy stubbornly holding their position until we had climbed over into their midst. Two Napoleon guns were taken by the 6th NC. A large number of prisoners taken at this point were sent to the rear. The enemy now fled into the town, many of them being killed in retreat.  The brigade continued to advance toward the town, but while yet in the outskirts, was wheeled to the left and reformed on the railroad. The enemy had now succeeded in planting a battery upon a high sloping spur on the mountain side (Cemetery Hill) immediately on our front. Under cover of the railroad cut, we were moved by the left flank
about 400 yards to the left, and again moved forward. The shells from the enemy proving very effective, we were soon after halted in a depression on the hillside, and the men ordered to lie down. Skirmishers were thrown forward, and this position held through the night and until 8 pm on the next day, July 2nd, when the brigade moved forward to the attack.”

July 2, 1863
 Hoke’s / Avery’s brigade was ordered to sleep on arms near a railroad cut during the night of  July 1-2 and continued to occupy this position throughout the day on Thursday, July 2nd. Having received orders to attack, Genl. Early ordered a cannonade of the Cemetery Hill fortifications. At 6:30 pm Hoke’s / Avery’s brigade and Hay's brigade were ordered to the advance. Hoke’ brigade held the  left of the line and therefore had the longer march, covering 400+ yards, most of which under heavy artillery fire from Union batteries that literally swept the field with cannister, grape and shot. Hoke’s brigade advanced in a battle line with the 6th NC on the right, 21st NC in the center, and 57th NC on the left. Consequently, due to the line of march, the 57th NC took the brunt of the artillery bombardment and were literally cut to ribbons... while receiving cannon fire from the front and being enfiladed by the 5th Maine battery on a knoll to their left. The brigade also had to make a right wheel while under fire and in the process of crossing  2 creeks and rock walls and rail fence.

Col. Godwin reports......
 “As soon as the summit of the hill was gained, it was discovered that the batteries which we had been ordered to take were in front of Hay's brigade, and considerably to the right of our right flank. We continued to advance, however under a terrific fire,
climbed a rail fence and still farther beyond descended into a low bottom, and dislodged a heavy line of infantry from a stone wall running parallel with our front. The enemy's batteries now enfliaded us and a destructive fire was pored into our ranks from a line of infantry formed in rear of a stone wall running at right angle with our line of battle and immediately below the batteries.
 Col. Avery now ordered a change of front, and succeeded in wheeling the brigade to the right, a movement which none but the steadiest veterans could have executed under such circumstances. In swinging around, three stone walls had to be surmounted. The ground was rocky and uneven, and these obstacles prevented that rapidity of movement and unity of action which might have insured success. The men now charged up the hill with heroic determination and drove the enemy from his last stone wall. In this charge the command had become much separated, and in the darkness it was now found impossible to concentrate more that 40 or 50 men at any point for a farther advance. Major Tate with a portion of the 6th NC aided by a small number of the 9th Louisiana Regt. succeeded in capturing a battery on the right. No supports were at hand, and the approach of the enemy in overwhelming force compelled him to retire.
    The scattered fragments of the brigade now withdrew, and were reformed near the position which it had occupied through the day. Here I learned for the first time that our brigade commander Col. Avery had been mortally wounded. In his death the country lost one of her truest and bravest sons, and the army one of its most gallant and efficient officers. In the desperate struggle through which we had just passed, the officer and men of Hoke’s brigade fulfilled all the expectations which their gallantry on former occasions had excited. No body of men of equal number could have accomplished greater results
against such overwhelming odds. “
 
    During the night fighting on Cemetery Hill, visibility was near zero as the darkness and gun smoke combined to make the men fire at gun flashes only. In several instances hand to hand fighting broke out, and as Col. Godwin reported, fighting devolved
into groups of small pockets of men. As the 21st NC withdrew from this position the color bearer was shot down (the 4th) and the colors were left on the field...later to be picked up by a union soldier. He later claimed that he captured them in a charge on the Confederate lines on July 3rd. Indeed , the 21st NC was not engaged at all on July 3rd. He did nevertheless receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for “capturing” the 21st NC Regimental Flag. Although this flag was supposed to have been turned into the Fed. Govt., it was not done so, but was taken / delivered to his home... reportedly destroyed in
a fire later in the 19th century.

Evening, July 2, 1863

    Due to heavy reinforcements of the Federal line, and since no Confederate support from Rode’s Division materialized, the small fighting groups of the 21st NC slowly withdrew from the Cemetery Hill fight and found their way back to the railroad cut position of July 1st. All units in the brigade (especially the 57th NC) has suffered tremendous casualties and many brave soldiers in the 21st NC would never see home in the North Carolina Piedmont again.
    During the attack on Cemetery Hill on July 2, the 21st NC lost  9 killed, 65 wounded, and 37 missing (presumed dead or captured). Although heavily engaged for the past 18 months, the 21st had not experienced this heave a loss since the first Battle of  Winchester in May of  1862. The loss rate of 102 men is estimated to constituted over a 40% loss... A look at the roster of the 21st NC shows the tremendous loss of officers as they lead the troops on the advance and wee particular targets of Union marksmen.

Col. Godwin in his official report states.....
     “the command of the brigade now devolved, and before daylight (on July 3rd) by order of Major General Early, I moved into position in the railroad cut on the outskirts of the town. Later in the day I was ordered to form on the left of Hay's brigade , in one of the upper streets of the town, and in advance of the position on the railroad”.

     Thus, the brigade spent the 3rd day of the battle of Gettysburg in reorganizing from the Cemetery Hill fight. The men were able to get some very badly needed rest...after having marched from Harrisburg and going directly into battle on July 1st, enduring an off and on artillery bombardment all day on the 2nd and finishing up with an evening assault on Cemetery Hill.

July 4th, 1863

Col. Godwin reports...
     “At 2:00 am, on the morning of July 4th by order of Major General Early, I moved the brigade bye the right flank to a position west of Gettysburg, and formed line of battle on the left of Hay's brigade. This position was maintained throughout the day”.
     “At 2:00 am, on the morning of the 5th, the brigade moved off with the Division in the direction of Hagerstown.”
     Early’s division served as the rear guard of the Army of Northern Virginia as it marched back to Virginia.

July 5th, 1863

    The Division marched toward Fairfeild

July 6th, 1863

    The Division moved to the front of Ewell’s Corps as Rodes’ Division became the rear-guard of the Army.

July 6th-7th, 1863

    The night of  July 6th-7th the 21st NC spent the night near Waynesboro.
 

July 7th, 1863

     Very early on July 7th, the 21st NC moved toward Hagerstown, and Early’s Division encamped about a mile north of the town on the Chambersburg Road. There it remained until July 10th when it was moved through Hagerstown  to a position southwest of town on the Cumberland road. At Hagerstown the 54th NC rejoined the brigade. The division was again moved to the right the next day, remained in position until after dark on July 12th, when it was moved to the right across the Williamsport road to support Genl. A. P. Hill's line. At dark on July 13th the division was withdrawn to Williamsport, and on
July 14th it re-crossed the Potomac. Hoke’s brigade forded the river above Williamsport. A few weeks after the army returned to Virginia, the 1st Battalion NC Sharpshooters rejoined Hoke’s brigade, which was thereby restored to it's full complement of units.
 

Major Beall's account of the 21st NCT at Gettysburg

    We then passed over the Potomac and went to Little York, Pa., 1 July the two armies again encountered each other, at Gettysburg. On this day the regiment assisted in gaining a very decided victory over the enemy, driving him back in great confusion,  through Gettysburg. On the second day we made an assault on the enemy's fortified line and failed.
    In the general history which will go down to posterity, of course nothing more than a brief and cursory reference can or will be made, to the service of any small command. Yet it is due this gallant brigade (then Hoke's) as also to those who lived not to see the clouds and darkness of other days, to refer briefly to the glorious service of as brave a set of men as the sun ever shone upon. I will in my feeble way, attempt to show how those indomitable patriots demeaned themselves amid the wild carnage of that stricken field. The impressions of the writer, of that memorable day are not a picture of mere fancy, but one of actual experience. Methinks I still hear, through the long vista of years, the rolling echo of those awful accents of battle. After a lapse of thirty-seven years, I recall not without emotion, the incidents of the battle which occurred on that second day at gettysburg, and while life last, will cherish my remembrance of the magnificent courage displayed by our command.

THE ASSAULT ON CEMETERY HEIGHTS
    After lying all day under a July sun, suffering with intense heat, and continually annoyed by the enemy's sharpshooters from the heights, from sheer desperation, we hailed with delight the order to again meet the veteran foe, regardless of his advantage in numbers and position. Really, the enemy's artillery, reopening at the going down of the sun, fell like music upon our ears. At the time the assault was made, the enemy had massed heavily in our front, and placed batteries in the rear of his own lines, which were used with fearful effect against us, firing over the heads of his own men. The ground we had to pass over was ascending, but the troops advanced in double quick time, and with a cheer went over the rifle pits in advance of the enemy's main line of works, killing and capturing a few of them--the greater part taking refuge behind the main line of breastworks. Here the fighting was desperate, but like an unbroken wave, our maddened column rushed on, facing a continual stream of fire. After charging almost to the enemy's line, we were compelled to fall back, but only a short distance. The column reformed and charged again, but failed to dislodge the enemy. The brigade held it's ground with unyielding determination--ever keeping afloat our flag to battle and breeze.
SLAUGHTER OF COLOR BEARERS
    Four out of five of the color-bearers who dared hold up that flag, went down to a heroic death. As often as the flag went down it was taken up and flaunted in the face of the enemy, holding an impregnable position. The hour was one of horror. Amid the incessant roar of cannon, the din of musketry, and the glare of bursting shells making the darkness intermittent--adding awfulness to the scene--the hoarse shouts of friend and foe, the piteous cries of wounded and dying, one could well imagine, (if it were proper to say it), that "war is hell". Further effort being useless, we were ordered to fall back a short distance under cover. To remain was certain capture, to retreat was almost certain death. Few, except the wounded and dead, were left behind. Here, these brave North Carolinians "stood, few and faint, but fearless still." The enemy did not follow or show any disposition to leave their defenses.
    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 until 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 Confederates 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 distinction, 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 following is a list of men of the 21st NCT reported killed, wounded, captured, or missing at Gettysburg. For more information refer to "North Carolina Troops 1861-1865"

Field and Staff::
Major Alexander Miller

Co. A , Davidson County:
Corporal Michael Evans
Privates
Jonathan Hains
C. H. Jackson
Willaim A. Leach
Henry Motherly
John H. Smith

Co. C, Surry County
2nd Lt. Frank V. Banner
2nd Lt. William Graves Foy
1st Sgt. Samuel T. Sandefur
Clp. Davis M. Holder
Privates
N. M. Green
Hohn H. Hunley
B. F. Kidd
S. W. Linthicum
Albert Low
Daniel McGee
Stephen Parrish
Linsey Robins
Ira Dred Wall
Thomas Jefferson Wicker

Co. D, Forsyth County
1st Lt. John M. Hauser
2nd Lt. Albert Aspaugh
1st Sgt. James C. Webb
Sgt. William Henry Voss
Clp. Williaim H. Thomas
Privates
Alexander Miller
James R. Moore
Sanford Moss
George Ransom
Columbus L. Reynolds
John Tuttle
James W. White
W.C. White

Co. F, Stokes County
Capt. John W. Beard
1st Sgt. John W. Williams
Sgt. William M. Bennett
Privates
Martin Darnell
John H. King
Lockey Morris
George W.Mounce
John W. Newsom
John H. Roberts
G. A. Wall
Isaac H. Wall
William Wall
William D. Wall

Company G, Stokes County
1st Lt. William F. Nelson
Sgt. Obadiah W. Ligon
Privates
Hugh Pettis Fulton
Samuel Fulton
Levi Kiser
Tandy Kiser
Alexander Moore
Thomas D. Neal
James M. Tuttle
Salathiel Tuttle
William Watford

Company H, Surry County
1st Lt. Daniel J. Cockerham
1st Sgt. Jesse C. Idol
Sgt. Robert William Brinkley
Sgt. William Jekins
Clp.John Holyfield
Clp. Larkin Logan
Musician William C. Revels (African-American)
Privates
Denson A. Ashburn
Rural A. Doss
Andrew J. Glassco
William Holyfield
W. T. Jones
William Miller
James O'Neal
William H. Roberts
J.G. M. Walters

Company I, Surry County
Sgt. Enoch M. Stone
Sgt. J. J. Stone
Privates
James W. Mickey
Thomas Poore
William J. Pritchet
H.M. Scott
Edward F. Shelton
John Zebulon Vaugh
John A. Whittington

Company K, Forsyth County
1st Sgt. R. H. Crews
Sgt. Wiliam W. Fansler
Sgt. J. F. Idol
Clp. William Henry Burner
Privates
Joseph H. Brewer
Henry H. Elliott
Peter Mooney
Jacob Warner

Company L, Rockingham County
Capt. William J. Pfohl
1st Lt William E. Goolsby
1st Lt. John T. Martin
Sgt. P. B. Ray
Clp.James M. Amos
Clp. Joseph P. Plummer
Privates
William Alley
Wryland Alley
Charles M. Baker
John W. Joyce
William C. Mays
Adam M. Mitchell
William Perdew
James L. Pirtle
George W. Wrenn

Company M, Guildford County
Lt. John A. Cobv
Sgt William W. Coe
Clp. Wesley Adolphus Elliott
Privates
Henry Monroe Black
J. R. Duggins
William W. Duggins
Joshua Joyce
Joseph M. McLean
Will H. Stewart
Wilson Walls
Francis M. Watson
J.C. Chapman
 
 

I would like to very much thank, Ed Mantell Clark Fox and Bob McCanless for their help on this project. back

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