Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/851

Rh his home. At that city he has continued in the practice of law, attaining an honorable rank in the profession. Major Carrington retains an earnest affection for his comrades and maintains a membership in the camp of Confederate veterans at Washington.

Major Henry C. Carter, of Richmond, a distinguished participant in the famous career of the Richmond Howitzers in the army of Northern Virginia, was born in Appomattox county, July 4, 1841, a son of Archibald W. Carter. At the age of sixteen he became a deputy in the office of the circuit court clerk of Campbell county, and in 1858 served for six months in the State auditor's office at Richmond. Remaining in Richmond he enlisted in the Richmond Howitzers, a volunteer battery commanded by Capt. George W. Randolph, later secretary of war for the Confederate States. As a private he served with this command in the suppression of the John Brown insurrection at Harper's Ferry. Upon the secession of Virginia the battery was rapidly recruited and enlarged to a battalion, composed of the first, second and third companies, and called the Richmond Howitzer battalion, all under the command of Captain Randolph, promoted to the rank of major. Carter was assigned to the third company and was mustered into the service on Capitol Square, April 18, 1861. Soon being promoted corporal, he started with the command on June 6th, to report to Col. J. B. Magruder, in command at Yorktown. At the battle of Big Bethel, on June 10th, he sighted and ordered to be fired the first gun of the engagement, which was also the first cannon shot of any regular engagement in Virginia during the war of the Confederacy. Promotion soon followed to sergeant, and to second lieutenant in the winter of 1861. He served on the peninsula until March, 1862, when he was ordered to Suffolk, where the battery remained until the evacuation of Norfolk. Then participating in the fighting against McClellan, the battery won laurels at Mechanicsville, Frayser's Farm and Gaines' Mill. In August Lieutenant Carter participated in the night attack on the Federal fleet at Harrison's landing, and then moved with the reserve artillery to Manassas, thence taking part in the Maryland campaign and the battle of Sharpsburg. On the return to Virginia he reported to Gen. J. E. B. Stuart with two guns, and was stationed on outpost duty at Charleston, where, on October 16th, he sustained a heavy attack by Hancock's troops. In the engagement he was severely wounded by a 12-pound round shot in the shoulder, this being one of the few instances in either army where such a wound was survived. He rejoined his battery near Fredericksburg near the close of the year and went into winter quarters at Bowling Green. Ordered to Fredericksburg April 21, 1863, he moved thence on the rear of Jackson's flanking column to the field of battle at Chancellorsville. During the heavy attack at Catherine Furnace by Sickles' corps he was ordered with two guns to hold the enemy in check until the Confederate column could form in position higher up the hill, a service he satisfactorily performed. During the fighting of the 3d of May his battery was placed in position by Gen. J. E. B. Stuart in person, near Chancellor's house, and rendered effective execution. During this engagement Carter's horse was shot under him. Moving from Culpeper Court House with Ewell's corps June 12th, he assisted in the capture of Milroy's forces at Winchester, and continuing to Gettysburg, participated in the second and third days'