William G. Lewis.



William G. Lewis.



William G. Lewis. Appointed from North Carolina June 2, 1864, to rank from May 31, 1864; confirmed June 2, 1864; wounded and captured in action at Farmville, Virginia, April 7, 1865, and paroled at Farmville Virginia, between April 11 and 21, 1865.

He was a Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. When the Civil War broke out, he was a railroad civil engineer, whom joined the Confederate Army and was commissioned a Major. He saw action at the Battle of Bethel, Battle of New Bern, was promoted Lieutenant Colonel of the 33rd North Carolina Regiment in 1862 and participated in the defense of Richmond. In 1863, at the Battle of Gettysburg, he was Colonel in command of the 33rd North Carolina and led a brigade in the Battle Of Cold Harbor. In June 1864, and was promoted Brigadier General in charge of the entrenchments of Drewry's Bluff, Virginia, where he saw his last action. Following the war, he returned to his career as a civil engineer, serving as the State Engineer of North Carolina and general superintendent for several railroads.

Born: September 3, 1835, Rocky Mount, Edgecombe, North Carolina.
Death: January 8, 1901.

Father: John Wesley Lewis.
Mother: Catherine Ann Battle.
Wife: Martha Lucinda, Married March 15, 1864.
He died of Pneumonia.
Burial: Willow Dale Cemetery, Goldsboro, Wayne County, North Carolina.

Numbers 509. Report of Lieutenant Colonel W. G. Lewis, Forty-third North Carolina Infantry.
DARKESVILLE, W. VA., July 19, 1863.

SIR: In accordance with orders received from headquarters, I beg leave to respectfully submit the following report of the part acted by the Forty-third Regiment North Carolina troops in the three days' battle at Gettysburg, Pa.: At about 1 o'clock, July 1, we were drawn up in line of battle, about 1 or 2 1/2 miles from Gettysburg. After brief cannonade by a battery on our left, we were ordered forward. We moved forward about a mile before we encountered the enemy. The Forty-third Regiment was halted in a lane, when the Forty-fifth and Second Battalion moved still farther forward and engaged the enemy. Our position at that time was on the fight of the Forty-fifth, and on the left of the Thirty-second Regiments. We were then ordered to move by the left flank to a position between the Second Battalion and Fifty-third Regiment, with orders to support either on the right or left, as necessity demanded.

We remained in that position under a sharp cross-fire for some time, when we were ordered to join on to the left of the battalion and support it. The right of the regiment, in obeying that order, was exposed to a most severe fire in front and on flank, and lost very heavily. Captain [W. C.] Ousby was killed there, while doing his full duty. We remained there but a short time, when we received orders to fall back under cover of the hill, which was done in perfect order. After a short time, and when supports came up on our left, we were ordered to join on with the battalion as before, to swing around the right, and advance toward a battery of the enemy which was pouring a deadly fire into our flanks. We continued to advance, driving the enemy before us, until we came to a railroad cut, which interfered a short while with our advance.

At the railroad cut, 400 or 500 prisoners surrendered to the brigade; also several stand of colors were captured, but I am not certain that any were taken by this regiment. After moving a short distance farther in line of battle, we moved by the left flank behind a railroad embankment, where we rested until the following day. On the morning of July 2, we moved to a position on the crest of a hill which the enemy held as their line the day before. Here we remained quiet until about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when our batteries opened on the enemy's position on the highlights beyond the town, and were vigorously replied to, which subjected the regiment to severe shelling, in which we lost 1 killed and several wounded very severely.

About dark, we were ordered forward, and advanced nearly a mile, when we were halted. After remaining there a short time, we were ordered to retire, and took position in a street on the south edge of tho town. We remained there until near daybreak, when we were ordered to the extreme left of our line, to assist General Johnson in an attack on a mountain. We entered the action July 3, about sunrise, on the side of the mountain. We remained in reserve under fire a short time, when we moved by the left flank, and relieved troops who occupied works from which the enemy had been driven.

After remaining some time under fire, but not being able to return it, we were ordered to go over the breastworks, and support General Steuart in a charge on the enemy's position. Colonel [T. S.] Kenan carried the left wing over, but Steuart's brigade was repulsed and driven back before the left of our regiment had advanced far enough for the right to join it in the proposed charge. Colonel Kenan was wounded in this charge, and was taken off the field, when the command of the regiment devolved on myself.

The left wing remained out of the works some time, exposed to a most severe fire from a battery posted about 400 yards distant, when they were ordered to return to the work. From that time to the time we were ordered to retire, this regiment was exposed to a most severe fire of grape, shrapnel, and shell at short range, and only two companies oh the right had an opportunity to return the fire of the enemy. About 2 o'clock we were ordered to retire, which was executed in first-rate order. We remained in line of battle until about 1 o'clock, when we were ordered to return to a position near the one occupied by us on July 2, which we did.

With but one exception-and that an officer-the officers and men behaved remarkably well. There was no straggling from this regiment. Where all acted so well, it is difficult to particularize for good conduct; but Lieutenant [Jesse A.] Macon, Company F, and Lieutenant {W. E.] Stitt, Company B, showed such marked coolness and bravery on the field, that it is just that they should be mentioned. Sergeants [P. B.] Grier, Company B, and [G. W.] Wills, Company D, behaved remarkably well.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. G. LEWIS, Lieutenant Colonel, Comdg. Forty-third North Carolina Infantry.