Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 25.djvu/170

 166 Southern Historical Society Papers.

in the 23d at Chancellorsville was officially reported by General Rodes, as 173 killed, wounded and missing. Among the killed was Captain James S. Knight, of Rockingham, Richmond county.

In the Gettysburg campaign no part of the army acted a more important part than did the 23d North Carolina. It was engaged in the fight of the first day at Gettysburg, in which the brigade lost fifty-five per cent, in killed and wounded. The loss in this regiment was so great the first day, that it could not be taken into action, as a regiment, the succeeding days. The regiment was left without a commissioned officer, all being among the killed and wounded, and there remained but one non-commissioned officer and sixteen pri- vates. The Colonel, D. H. Christie, was mortally wounded. Lieu- tenant-Colonel R. D. Jordan was badly wounded through the lower jaw and neck. Captain Baskerville, of Company G, killed on the field. Major Blacknall, first day at Gettysburg, was disabled by a ball that entered his mouth, knocking out several teeth and passing back through the neck. On the retreat to Virginia, he was captured, his terrible wound having forced him to stop for rest at a farm house. Colonels Christie and Johnston were also captured in an ambulance, but were rescued by Confederate cavalry and taken to Williamsport. The former died on the way to Winchester. Blacknall managed to escape from his captors, but was taken again next morning, then taken to Fort McHenry, where, with other officers, he was forced to draw lots for the fate of being shot in retaliation for a Federal Major shot in Richmond. Major Blacknall drew the unlucky number, and was condemned to execution, but for some reason his life was spared, then transferred to the horrors of Johnson Island, where he spent the winter, returning to his home in March, 1864. Against remons- trances of family and friends although a wreck now of his former self, by reason of wounds and hardships he scorned to accept a " bomb-proof" position, but rejoined his regiment in time to go with Early on his tfuly great march on Washington. By the way, it is said that Melville Holman, of Colonel BlacknalFs old company in the 23d, was killed at a point nearer to Washington than any other Confederate who fell in the war.

Now, some words as to the careers, respectively, of Christie and Blacknall, the latter having succeeded the former as colonel of the regiment.

Daniel Harvey Christie was born in Frederick county, Va., March 28, 1833. In early life he displayed a fondness for military studies, and was educated at a military school. He became a citizen of Hen-