had frequent skirmishes. On his return from New Mexico, his father having purchased lands in Louisiana, induced him to resign his commission in the army and aid in cultivating the soil. He was thus engaged, when Sumter fell. His military education, and his exemplary character induced the authorities of Louisiana to offer him a command, but he preferred serving his own state. He came to North Carolina and tendered his services to Governor Ellis, they were promptly accepted, and he was appointed colonel of the fourth, afterwards fourteenth, regiment of North Carolina troops, with which he remained until the expiration of the twelve months term of service. He was then elected colonel of the forty-third and also of the forty-fifth regiments, both of which had enlisted for the war, and about the same time he was tendered the command of the second cavalry. He accepted the command of the forty-fifth regiment. In October, 1862, he was commissioned brigadier. As a disciplinarian he had no superior; in attention to the comforts and wants of his men, and handling his troops in action, as was proved at Gettysburg, and Spottsylvania, he was the equal of any officer in the army. His brigade consisted of the thirty-second regiment, commanded by Colonel Brabble, who was killed at Spottsylvania; the forty-third, commanded by Keenan, who was wounded and captured at Gettysburg, and afterwards by Cary Whitaker, killed at Petersburg. The forty-fifth, commanded first by Morehead, (who died at Martinsburg,) and then by Boyd, who was wounded and captured at Gettysburg, and was exchanged, to be killed at Spottsylvania; the fifty-third by W. A. Owens, killed at Winchester, and the twenty-second North Carolina battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Andrews who was killed at Gettysburg. What a sad record! How loudly does it speak of the heroic gallantry of these devoted men!
General Daniel spent the fall of 1862, with his brigade at Drury's Bluff, and in December of that year, he was ordered to North Carolina, under General D. H. Hill. Shortly after the battle of Chancellorsville, he was transferred to Lee's army, Rhodes' division, attached to Ewell's corps, during the Pennsylvania campaign, the division being the advance column. When Carlisle, the extreme point of advance, was reached, General Ewell made an address to his men, congratulating them on their success. Turning to Daniel's brigade, recently attached to his corps, said: "They have shown themselves so obedient to all orders, so steady and regular in their march, that he entrusted to them the charge of bearing the corps flag, confident that its honor would not suffer while in the keeping of such troops." The conduct of General Daniel at Gettysburg, the first real opportunity he had had to display his military skill, won for him the esteem and admiration of his associates in arms. His brigade never faltered a moment on that disastrous field, but moved with the precision of a machine. We have to pass the intervening period to the closing scenes, the battles of the Wilderness, and Spottsylvania Courthouse.
The morning of May 5th, 1864, was an auspicious day in General Daniel's career. He was then in the reserve, supporting the Stonewall and other brigades. General Jones was killed, and all gave way before the impetuous charge of the enemy. At this critical moment, when to hesitate was to be lost, Daniel ordered his brigade to charge, and he drove the enemy back. On the same night, (May 5th, 1864,) Daniels brigade was ordered to the extreme right, and was kept constantly engaged.
Grant had driven Johnson from his position, Ramseur and Harris had gone to retake the works; the enemy were trying to break Lee's second line, pushing the right of Daniel's brigade heavily. He was a few paces in the rear of the Forty-fifth regiment; while giving
| Index - Contents |
 |
|
| ||
|
||