Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 25.djvu/171

 '/'A. Tii'iiihi-th'n-il Xrtl> dn-nli'iiii Infantry. 167

d.-rson, Granville county, N. C, some time in 1857, taking charge of both the male and female schools of the town. Of the former he lUlu-d the Henderson Military Institute. The breaking out of the war found him in this position. He was quick to bound into the ring of military life, upon which he was destined to reflect so much honor and glory. His first wound was received at Seven Pines. iin, at Cold Harbor, just after Seven Pines, he was severely w. nmded and carried from the field. Within sixty days he returned to the command, and devoted himself diligently to the work of re- cruiting and disciplining his regiment. At South Mountain his man- agement of the regiment, under exceptionally trying circumstances, w.is such as to elicit from General Garland words of highest praise for his regiment and himself, a few minutes before the general re- ceived his mortal wound.

After Sharpsburg, and when the army had recrossed the Potomac, Colonel Christie was ordered by General D. H. Hill to take com- mand of Brigadier-General Anderson's Brigade, the latter having been terribly wounded. He commanded this brigade until Colonel, afterwards Major, Bryan Grimes reported for duty, when Christie returned to his own regiment

At Gettysburg the fight was opened by Iverson's Brigade, of which the 23d was a part, and Christie held his men for hours under the most terrific and galling fires, until the whole regiment was either killed, wounded or captured, with the exception of one non-com- missioned officer (some say lieutenant) and sixteen men. He was in the act of leading a charge when he fell mortally wounded, and many other brave men and officers of his command fell immediately near him. Some years ago a writer in the magazine called " Our Living and Dead," in noting Colonel Christie's death, wrote:

" This not only closes the military but the early career of a truly noble patriot, over whom memory will ever linger pleasantly among his friends and with those with whom he served, and who ought to have the gratitude of all who love the South."

A touching piece of poetry, appearing in that magazine, com- memorates his pathetic allusions to his darling wife whom he so much desired to see ere his spirit should take its everlasting flight. " But alas! " says the writer, "she came too late she saw him no more." She, noble woman, survives, and is residing near Franklin, Virginia, and having had her gallant husband's remains bought home, she doubtless is solaced, in some degree commensurate with her sor-