Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 32.djvu/230

 218 Southern Historical Society Papers.

with 325 men, and of this number 265 were killed, wounded and missing".

Colonel Carrington was a number of times by his superior officers recommended for promotion. A recommendation from General Pickett, in possession of his family, is here given:

DIVISION HEADQUARTERS, CAMP NEAR GUINEA'S, February n, 1863.

It affords me much gratification to testify to the distinguished services of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry A. Carrington, of the i8th Virginia Volunteers, during our present war of independence.

He has served continuously from its commencement to this time except when absent, disabled by wounds received in battle, and al- though truly deserving of promotion, as is also the Colonel (With- ers) of his gallant regiment, still has not by the accidents of the service nor by the promotion of his colonel, received it. I had the honor to command the brigade to which his regiment belongs a year past, and have had frequent opportunities of knowing his effi- ciency as an officer and in the control and government of his regi- ment. His coolness and activity at the battle of Williamsburg was worthy of great praise, and I especially mentioned him in my re- port. At the battle of Seven Pines he was very painfully wounded while with his regiment under one of the hottest fires and danger- ously exposed positions during the war. He joined immediately after his convalescence, and was again wounded quite severely at the battle of Second Manassas. He has stuck to his regiment re- ligiously, although he has suffered much from sickness. He is an officer of much modesty and merit. I think he is very deserving of promotion, and conscientiously recommend him.

G. E. PICKETT, Major-General Commanding Division.

After a captivity of nearly ten months, Colonel Carrington re- joined his command on the morning of the igth day of May, 1864, just after the regiment had entered upon Beauregard's celebrated charge upon Butler's Federal forces, and just as the major com- manding had fallen, desperately wounded. At once assuming command, Colonel Carrington continued in brilliant style one of the most successful charges made during that bloody campaign, for the battle of Drewry's Bluff was, indeed, one of the most hotly con-