Licensed Battlefield Guide Eric Lindblade picks up the story of the 26th North Carolina near their monument on Meredith Avenue (Video #9).This video was taken at approximately 10:00 AM on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
Licensed Battlefield Guide Eric Lindblade was born and raised in North Carolina. He began his study of the Civil War after a trip to Gettysburg when he was six years old. He attended East Carolina University and is the author of “Fight As Long As Possible: The Battle of Newport Barracks” (2010). His next book “The 26th North Carolina, 1861-1865: A Regimental History” is expected to be released in 2018. Eric is the host for our series on the 26th North Carolina. If you would like to contact Eric, you can click here to reveal his email address.
A map showing the location of Videos #9-12. Previous posts in this series: Part 1 [the 26th North Carolina starts July 1], Part 2 [the 26th North Carolina moves out towards McPherson’s Ridge], and Part 3 [the 26th North Carolina advances against the 24th Michigan in Herbst’s Woods].This map was created in a chair facing east on April 22, 2017.
Robert Ransom was a native North Carolinian who graduated from West Point in the Class of 1850 (along with Gouverneur K. Warren). After the Battle of New Bern on March 14, 1862 the 26th North Carolina will be assigned to a brigade under the command of Ransom and will serve under him during The Seven Days Campaign. Burgwyn and Ransom did not see eye to eye and after Vance’s election as governor, Ransom attempted to block Burgwyn’s promotion to colonel and with it command of the 26th North Carolina. Ransom according to accounts stated he did not want any “boy colonels” in his brigade. Eventually the 26th was transferred from Ransom’s command to a new brigade formed under the command of Johnston Pettigrew. While initially said in a derogatory way against Burgwyn the nickname of “Boy Colonel” stuck and today is viewed in a much more favorable light.This image is courtesy of Eric Lindblade.
This painting which depicts the three colonels of the 26th North Carolina was the work of William George Randall who completed the work around 1904. From left to right: Colonel John R. Lane, Colonel Henry K. Burgwyn, Jr., and Colonel Zebulon B. Vance. Today the painting is part of the collection of the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh.This image is courtesy of Eric Lindblade.
John Randolph Lane was born and raised in Chatham County, North Carolina and at the age of 25 enlisted in the “Chatham Boys” (later Company G of the 26th North Carolina) on June 10, 1861 and was mustered in as a corporal. On September 19, 1861 he was elected Captain of Company G, and on August 19, 1862 was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the 26th North Carolina. This photo was taken after Gettysburg and you will notice the various reunion and veteran ribbons and pins that Lane is wearing.This image is courtesy of Eric Lindblade.
Video #10: Eric describes the combination of factors that result in the 24th Michigan’s retreat from Herbst’s Woods.This video was taken facing east at approximately 8:30 AM on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
The 24th Michigan’s monument is over Eric’s left shoulder. We’re going to walk down a trail to the right of the monument to the 24th Michigan.This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 10:00 AM on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
Walking down the trail in the direction that the 26th North Carolina would have went as they advanced through the woods.This view was taken facing east at approximately 10:00 AM on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
Eric is pointing back toward the monument to the 24th Michigan Infantry.This view was taken facing west at approximately 10:00 AM on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
Video #11: Eric explains that the soldiers mention in their accounts of the fighting on July 1st that they could see a good distance through Herbst’s/Reynolds’/McPherson’s Woods.This video was taken at approximately 10:00 AM on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
Eric is demonstrating how this patch of woods doesn’t have a lot of undergrowth, making it more similar to the kind of woods the soldiers would have confronted in July of 1863.This view was taken facing east at approximately 10:00 AM on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
Video #12: Eric describes what he believes was a “running fight” through Herbst’s Woods between the 24th Michigan and the 26th North Carolina.This video was taken at approximately 8:30 AM on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.