★★★ Avery, Isaac Erwin

Isaac Erwin Avery​

Born: December 20, 1828

Birthplace: Amherst, North Carolina

Father: Colonel Isaac Thomas Avery 1785 – 1864

(Buried: Forest Hill Cemetery, Morganton, North Carolina)​

Mother: Harriet Eloise Erwin 1795 – 1858

(Buried: Forest Hill Cemetery, Morganton, North Carolina)​

Wife: Martha Susan Taylor 1842 – 1936

(Buried: Mount Hebron Baptist Church, Burke County, North Carolina)​

Education:

Attended University of North Carolina​

Occupation before War:

Plantation Manager of Avery Family Plantations Yancey and Burke​

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Contractor for building of Western North Carolina Railroad Company​

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Part Owner of Western North Carolina Railroad Company​

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Known to have been a large man weighing over 200 lbs.​

Civil War Career:

1861: Youngest of Four Brothers to enlist in the Confederate Army​

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1861 – 1862: Captain Company E, 6th​ North Carolina Infantry Regiment​

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1861: Wounded in the First Battle of Manassas, Virginia​

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1862: Served in the Battle of Seven Pines, Virginia​

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1862: Lt. Colonel of 6th​ North Carolina Infantry Regiment​

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1862 – 1863: Colonel of 6th​ North Carolina Infantry Regiment​

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1862: Wounded during the Battle of Gaines Mill, Virginia​

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1863: Regimental and Brigade Commander, Battle of Chancellorsville​

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1863: He was known to always insist on high level of discipline & drill​

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1863: Acting Brigade Commander at the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania​

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1863: Mortally Wounded in right side of neck East Cemetery Hill​

Died: July 3, 1863

Place of Death: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Cause of Death: Wounds

Last Words: "Major: Tell my father I died with my face to the enemy"

Age at time of Death: 34 years old

Burial Place: Washington Confederate Cemetery, Hagerstown, Maryland

 

[Pollaco]

Assumed command of Hoke's Brigade when Hoke was wounded at Chancellorsville,

 

[Pollaco]

On the first day of Gettysburg this brigade advanced on the extrene left of the Confederate Battleline and swung around Barlow's Knoll in conjunction with Hay's Louisianans. Here they smashed into Coster's Brigade. They captured 2 cannons and drove the Union Brigade back into town. On day 2 the two Confederate Brigades stormed East Cemetary Hill but were driven back due to lack of support which didn't show up. It was while "being driven back" that Avery was mortally wounded.He died the next day.

 

[Pollaco]

After he was shot off his white horse he lay partially paralyzed and unable to speak Avery scribbled a simple note with his left hand. He handed his former business partner, major Samuel Tate, this blood stained note. "Major, tell my father I died with my face to the enemy. I.E. Avery"

 

[Pollaco]

General Early mentions Avery in his report, In it He said "In his death the Confederacy lost a good and brave soldier."

 

[Cavalier]

Another example of his last concern being that his family knew he did his duty. And he insisted on discipline and drill. Just an opinion of course but I think these are the kinds of guys who made the Army of Northern Virginia the formidable force it was.

John

 

[Pollaco]

Two of Avery's brothers were also wounded at Gettysburg. They however recovered.

 

[covers]

How Isaac got his commission ... sounds like a fish story to me.

William W. Avery. Politician, served in North Carolina congress and represented North Carolina in the Provisional Confederate Congress, signed the North Carolina Secession, LS, 2p, Richmond, July 27, 1862. To Hon. H. T. Clark (Governor) regarding a misplaced recommendation from commissioned officers of the NC State Troops for his brother, Lt. Col. I(ssac) E(rwin) Avery to be Colonel (he became Colonel, 6th North Carolina, died at Gettysburg on day 2)