that Jefferson Davis had been taken prisoner and confined in Fortress Monroe; perhaps it was the most fortunate thing that could have happened to Mr. Davis. Immediately he became the scape-goat of the Southern people; their sorrows had to be borne by him and he stood for the cause for which they had fought, and perhaps he would suffer the death penalty for them. The trial never came off, but for all that, Jefferson Davis returned, the people's idol-the great chieftain of the South. And so he remains to this day."

In October, 1865, Mr. Semmes went to Washington and saw President Johnson. The President asked him what he had done for the South? Mr. Semmes answered: "All that a man could do, by words and deeds, to promote the Confederate cause, and now he wanted to resume in peace the practice of his profession."

"Well, go home and work," said Mr. Johnson. He immediately returned to New Orleans, having borrowed $100 for that purpose, not being possessed of another cent in the world. His palatial home in this city, with its fine furniture and mirrors, and magnificent library, had been confiscated when the city fell into the hands of the Federal forces, under General Butler. He resumed the practice of his profession in partnership with Mr. Mott, and rapidly rose to the head of the Louisiana bar.

The principal factors in those stirring scenes, of which he was such a part, have nearly all passed away. He and Mr. Garland and one other Senator, perhaps are all that remain of the Confederate Congress. The years have passed on and a new South has grown on the ruins of the old, and of this South Mr. Semmes is still a conspicuous figure and active worker. But as he himself said, the old life was full of grace and beauty, and has, for him, the peculiar charm of an autumn twilight's lingering adieu.

[From the Wilmington, N. C., Star, March 12, 1897.]

THE FORTY-FOURTH N. C. INFANTRY.

Historical Sketch Of.

This brief record of the organization, movements and achievements of the 44th Regiment North Carolina Troops, could not have been written except for the assistance of Captains W. P. Oldham, Robert Bingham, Abram Cox and Lieutenants Thomas B. Long and Richard G. Sneed, officers of the regiment, who participated in its career, and especially am I under obligations to Captain John H. Robinson, of the 52nd North Carolina, who was detailed during the latter part of the campaign of 1864, at the request of General Wm. McRae, to serve on his staff as A. A. G. in place of Captain Louis G. Young, who had been severely wounded. The facts stated in a memorial address delivered by the writer in Wilmington, N. C., on May 10, 1890, on the life and character of General William McRae, in so far as they are connected with the operations of the regiment, and its participation in the various engagements described have been used without reserve, as they are known to be correct; nor has there been any hesitancy in quoting from the language of that address when appropriate to a description of events constituting alike a part of the history of the regiment as well as of the brigade.

CHAS. M. STEDMAN.

The 44th Regiment North Carolina Troops (Infantry) was organized at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh, N. C., on the 28th of March, 1862, with George B. Singletary as its colonel; Richard C. Cotten, captain Co. E, its lieutenant-colonel, and Elisha Cromwe 1, captain Co. B, as its major. Colonel Singletary was killed in a skirmish with Federal troops at Tranter's creek in Eastern North Carolina on the 5th day of June, 1862. He was an officer of extraordinary merit, and would have unquestionably attained high distinction but for his untimely end. On the 28th of June, 1862, Thomas C. Singletary, his brother, was elected colonel in his stead. LieutenantColonel Cotten resigned on account of advanced age on the roth day of June, 1862, and Major Elisha Cromwell was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, to fill the vacancy caused by his resignation. The vacancy caused by the promotion of Major Elisha Crom

well was filled by the election of Tazewell L. Hargrove, captain Co. A, on June 10, 1862. On the 24th day of July, 1862, LieutenantColonel Cromwell resigned, and Major Tazewell L. Hargrove was elected in his place, and on the 28th of July, 1862, Charles M. Stedman, captain Co. E, was promoted and elected major. The staff and company officers are named as they appear in the following list, and in the order of their promotion:

Adjutants-Stark Armistead Sutton, John A. Jackson, R. W.

Dupree.

Ensign W. S. Long.

Sergeant-Majors-John H. Johnston, Alexander S. Webb, E. D.

Covington.

Quartermaster-Sergeant-Isham G. Cheatham.

Ordnance-Sergeant-Robert J. Powell.

Commissary-Sergeant-D. F. Whitehead.

Chaplains-John H. Tillinghast, Richard G. Webb.
Surgeons-William T. Sutton, J. A. Bynum.

Assistant Surgeons-J. A. Bynum, William J. Green.
Quartermasters-William R. Beasley, William L. Cherry.
Commissary-Abram Cox.

Company A-Captains-Tazewell L. Hargrove, Elkanah E. Lyon, Robt. L. Rice.

First Lieutenant-Elkanah E. Lyon, Robert L. Rice, Richard G. Sneed, A. J. Ellis.

Second Lieutenants-Robert L. Rice, William R. Beasley, John B. Tucker, Richard G. Sneed, Robert Winship Stedman.

Enlisted men, 148.

Company B-Captains-Elisha Cromwell, Baker W. Mabry, Robert C. Brown.

First Lieutenants-Baker W. Mabry, Robert C. Brown, Thomas M. Carter.

Second Lieutenants-Thomas M. Carter, Robert C. Brown, Charles D. Mabry, Elisha C. Knight.

Enlisted men, 135.

Company C.-Captains-William L. Cherry, Macon G. Cherry. First Lieutenants-Abram Cox, Andrew M. Thigpen, Samuel V.. Williams.

Second Lieutenants-Andrew M. Thigpen, Macon G. Cherry, Samuel V. Williams, Reuben E. Mayo, Samuel Tappen.

First Lieutenants-Cornelius Stephens, John S. Easton.

Second Lieutenants-John S. Easton, James M. Perkins, George W. Parker, Thomas King.

Enlisted men, 116.

Company E-Captains-R. C. Cotten, Charles M. Stedman, James T. Phillips, John J. Crump.

First Lieutenants-Charles M. Stedman, James T. Phillips, John J. Crump, N. B. Hilliard.

Second Lieutenants-R. C. Cotten, Jr., James T. Phillips, John J. Crump, Thos. B. Long, N. B. Hilliard, C. C. Goldson, S. J. Tally. Enlisted men, 183.

By reason of his health Lieutenant Thomas B. Long resigned in July, 1862. He was a most accomplished officer; brave, competent and true, he was respected by all.

Company F.-Captains—David B. DeBerry, John C. Gaines.
First Lieutenants-John C. Gaines, John C. Montgomery.

Second Lieutenants-John C. Montgomery, Alexander M. Russell, Geo. W. Montgomery.

Enlisted men, 127.·

Company G.--Captain-Robert Bingham.

First Lieutenant-S. H. Workman.

Second Lieutenants-George S. Cobb, James W. Compton, Fred. N. Dick, Thomas H. Norwood.

Enlisted men, 129.

Company H.-Captains-William D. Moffitt, James T. Townsend, R. W. Singletary.

First Lieutenants-James T. Townsend, William H. Carter, Thomas H. Norwood.

Second Lieutenants-Daniel L. McMillan, R. W. Singletary, Moses Haywood, E. A. Moffitt, R. W. Dupree.

Enlisted men, 141.

Company I.-Captains-Downing H. Smith, John R. Roach.
First Lieutenants-J. J. Bland, John R. Roach.

Second Lieutenants-John R. Roach, John A. Jackson, J. M. Lancaster.

Enlisted men, 120.

Company K.-Captains-Rhett R. L. Lawrence, W. P. Oldham. First Lieutenants-Joseph W. Howard, W. P. Oldham.

Second Lieutenants-David Yarborough, Bedford Brown, J. H. Johnson, A. S. Webb, Joseph J. Leonard, Rufus Starke.

Enlisted men, 144.

On May 19, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Tarboro, North Carolina, thence it proceeded to Greenville, North Carolina, and for a few weeks was engaged in outpost and picket duty in that section of the State, during which time it participated in no affair of consequence, save the skirmish at Tranter's Creek, which, though otherwise unimportant, was to the regiment most unfortunate, in that its accomplished commander lost his life.

From eastern North Carolina the regiment was ordered to Virginia and there assigned to the brigade of General J. Johnston Pettigrew, one of the very ablest commanders of the Army of Northern Virginia. Not only the 44th regiment, but the entire brigade, which consisted of five regiments-the 11th North Carolina, the 26th North Carolina, the 44th North Carolina, the 47th North Carolina, and the 52nd North Carolina, felt the impress of his soldierly qualities. It was ever a matter of regret to the officers and men of the regiment that no opportunity was offered them of manifesting their appreciation of his great qualities by their conduct on the battlefield under his immediate command. The other regiments of his brigade were with him at Gettysburg and contributed to his imperishable renown by their steadfast valor, but the 44th North Carolina whilst en route, was halted at Hanover Junction, Virginia, to guard the railroad connections there entering, and thus protecting General Lee's communications with Richmond. Colonel T. C. Singletary with two companies, remained at the Junction. Major Charles M. Stedman, with four companies, commanded north of the Junction and the bridges of the Fredericksburg, and of the Central (now C. & O.), Railroad across the South Anna and the Little River, four in number, were entrusted to Lieutenant-Colonel Hargrove, who posted one company at each bridge, remaining personally with Company A, at Central's bridge, across the South Anna, the post of the greatest danger.

On the morning of the 26th of June, 1863, the Federal troops, consisting of the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry, two companies of a California cavalry regiment and two pieces of artillery, about 1,500 all included, commanded by Colonel, afterwards General Spear, appeared before Lieutenant-Colonel Hargrove and his small force of forty men, stationed in a breastwork on the south side of the river, built to be manned by not less than 400 men. Before Colonel Spear made his first attack, Lieutenant-Colonel Hargrove abandoned the breastwork as being entirely untenable by so small a force, fell back to the north side of the river, posted his men under cover along the