Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 7.djvu/209

190 afforded opportunity to early earn his promotion. First, as its colonel, and throughout the war from the fall of 1863 as its brigadier, he was never separated from the command. The regiment went into Kentucky with Kirby Smith, and returned, but did very little fighting. It spent the winter of 1862-63 at Cumberland gap. At the battle of Chickamauga (September 19th and 20th), it fought most valiantly, and its loss was very heavy. Colonel Jolly was seriously, and for a long time supposed to be mortally, wounded; both General Preston and General Gracie were enthusiastic in their commendation of the men and officers of this regiment, and the War Records preserve the names of many of the gallant soldiers.

It took part in the investment of Knoxville, November 17th to December 4th; was at Bean's Station, December 14, 1863, and wintered in East Tennessee.

About this time the brigade was reorganized, and comprised henceforward the Forty-first, Forty-third, Fifty-ninth (a consolidation of Hilliard's Second and Fourth battalions), Sixtieth (a consolidation of Hilliard's First and Third battalions), and the Twenty-third (Stallworth's) battalion of sharpshooters. In May the brigade was sent to Virginia to General Beauregard, to oppose the Federal attempts on the outposts of Richmond. It was hotly engaged at Drewry's bluff, May 12th to 16th; was almost continually in the trenches at Petersburg from June, 1865, till the end; and was fighting gallantly at Appomattox when the flag of truce called the halt which was eternal. It surrendered about 50 men.

Adjt. John R. Shelton was killed near Richmond; Adjt. John L. Stephens was wounded, and Capt. O. W. Pritchett killed, at Drewry’s bluff; Capts. James A. Gordon, killed at Chickamauga; O. H. Prince, P. Gordon and Lieut. William H. Watkins, at Chattanooga; Capts. T. M. Hughes and J. A. Sylvester, at Petersburg.

The field officers were Cols. Archibald Gracie, Jr., and