Barrycdog
Major
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2013
- Location
- Buford, Georgia
James W. Atkinson, Color Bearer, 33rd North Carolina Regiment. Atkinson of Cumberland County, North Carolina, enlisted on March 1, 1862 at age 17. He was mustered in as a Private.
Atkinson was wounded at or near Gaines Mill, Virginia, on or about June 27, 1862. He returned to duty prior to September 17, 1862, when he was wounded in both hands at Sharpsburg Maryland. He returned to duty in November-December 1862 and was present or accounted for until he was wounded at Chancellorsville in early May 1863.
He was promoted to Corporal in July-August 1863 and was present or accounted for until wounded while bearing the colors at Reams' Station, Virginia, on August 25, 1864. He returned to duty prior to September 30, 1864, when he was wounded in the leg at Jones' Farm, Virginia. He returned to duty in November-December 1864 and participated in the desperate defense of Fort Gregg, southwest of Petersburg, on April 2, 1865.
The battered Confederates were forced out of the defensive work after driving back six enemy assaults. Exhausted of ammunition, they resorted to throwing rocks and bricks but finally withdrew. Colonel Cowen of the 33rd Regiment wrote to Gen. James Lane, "Color Bearer James Atkinson made his escape from Fort Gregg after the enemy had entered it, and brought away the colors safely."
Lane attested to the heroism by adding, "I was an eyewitness to the above. Atkinson ran from the fort when the enemy mounted the parapet, and with the colors of the Thirty-third North Carolina Regiment flying, he made his escape without being struck, though he was a marked target for the enemy. His exploit was greeted with cheers upon cheers from the men in the main line of works."
One week later, Atkinson surrendered with his regiment at Appomattox.
Atkinson was wounded at or near Gaines Mill, Virginia, on or about June 27, 1862. He returned to duty prior to September 17, 1862, when he was wounded in both hands at Sharpsburg Maryland. He returned to duty in November-December 1862 and was present or accounted for until he was wounded at Chancellorsville in early May 1863.
He was promoted to Corporal in July-August 1863 and was present or accounted for until wounded while bearing the colors at Reams' Station, Virginia, on August 25, 1864. He returned to duty prior to September 30, 1864, when he was wounded in the leg at Jones' Farm, Virginia. He returned to duty in November-December 1864 and participated in the desperate defense of Fort Gregg, southwest of Petersburg, on April 2, 1865.
The battered Confederates were forced out of the defensive work after driving back six enemy assaults. Exhausted of ammunition, they resorted to throwing rocks and bricks but finally withdrew. Colonel Cowen of the 33rd Regiment wrote to Gen. James Lane, "Color Bearer James Atkinson made his escape from Fort Gregg after the enemy had entered it, and brought away the colors safely."
Lane attested to the heroism by adding, "I was an eyewitness to the above. Atkinson ran from the fort when the enemy mounted the parapet, and with the colors of the Thirty-third North Carolina Regiment flying, he made his escape without being struck, though he was a marked target for the enemy. His exploit was greeted with cheers upon cheers from the men in the main line of works."
One week later, Atkinson surrendered with his regiment at Appomattox.
Bringing the