Lee's Officers

[bill_torrens]

RAUCH, Henry A.

“Georgeanna Woolsey, a volunteer nurse at Gettysburg for three weeks, worked at the U.S. Sanitary Commission Relief Lodge located adjacent to the railroad depot on Carlisle Street. On July 16, a Confederate soldier was brought there in an ambulance from one of the field hospitals to await his turn for transportation to Baltimore. She recalled that he was a ‘fair-haired, blue-eyed young Lieutenant’ who was weak and faint, badly hurt and failing – very near death. Ms. Woolsey took a special interest in the man, coaxing him to take some nourishment and talked with him for several hours during the night. She identified the rebel as Lt. Rauch and related how he said that his father was old and ailing, and was a Lutheran clergyman in South Carolina. She later wrote: ‘All day long we watched him – sometimes fighting his battles over – oftever singing his Lutheran chants – till in at the tent door, close to which he lay, looked a rebel soldier, just arrived with other prisoners.’ This soldier knew Rauch, and told Woolsey that the lieutenant’s brother was also wounded, and was in one of the prison train cars now. Soon, the brothers were reunited. Henry Rauch, however, was sinking fast and did not recognize his brother who stayed by him until evening. Ms. Woolsey continued: ‘And there the brothers lay, and there we, strangers, sat watching, and listening to the strong clear voice, singing “Lord, have mercy upon me.” The Lord had mercy, and at sunset [July 17] I put my hand on the Lieutenant’s heart to find it still. All night the brother lay close against the coffin, and in the morning he went away with his comrades, leaving us to bury Henry….giving us all that he has to show his gratitude – the palmetto ornament from his brother’s cap and a button from his coat. Dr. W. read the burial service that morning at the grave, and wrote his name on the little headboard.”

[Coco, Wasted Valor: The Confederate Dead At Gettysburg, pp.109-110.]

[bill_torrens]

HARRIS, Edwin Victor

1st Lieut., Co.E, 49th N.C. Inf.: 25th December 1862. Captain: 22nd March 1864. Killed at The Crater on 30th July 1864:- "Harris and myself had just been congratulating each other on our good fortune in getting through safely when the order to move separated us...At the head of his company, he was following Major Davis along the trenches chatting gaily, when they came to an exposed position on the line. A ball from the enemy passed close to the Major. He turned to warn his men to walk low. Just as he turned a ball struck poor Ed, passing through his neck cutting the great artery. The blood spouted from his neck in a stream as large as one's finger, and gushed out at his mouth. And now ensued a most tender and affecting scene. The poor fellow seemed at once to realize his condition. He could not speak. But stepping up to Major Davis, he passed his left hand through his arm to support himself from falling, and extended his right hand to tell the Major farewell, while he gave him a look, which Major Davis says he shall not forget to his dying day. It seemed to say: "I am killed, I know you cannot help me, do not forget me, goodbye!" The Major saw he was going fast, the blood spouting from his neck, he urged him to sit down. This he did not seem inclined to do, but tottering to Lieutenant Crawford, of his company, shook hands with him, gave him the same look and fainted from loss of blood. He ceased to breathe as he was carried out." Had also served in Co.A, 4th N.C. Inf.

[Pearce, Diary Of Captain Henry A. Chambers, p.210; North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster (c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com]

[Brian Downey]

Bill! Are you still out there? I notice no new entries in this fine series since February. I miss them, and I'd be interested to hear how the CDROM part of the project is going, too.

I hope all is well.

These little bios have been most enlightening and entertaining in themselves, but also great in pointing to sources for further study. Some have broken "logjams" in my research on the leaders at Sharpsburg.

Thanks very much, and I hope you can resume!