>From: "Tom McDonald" <[email protected]> >To: <[email protected]> >Subject: Captain Lawrence Richard Anderson >Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2006 00:04:19 -0400 > >Our Civil War Ancestors >Captain Lawrence Richard Anderson, 44th North Carolina Infantry >(1825-1864) >Descendant of Gary Jones (MajGary6) >essay by Thomas McDonald > >There are many for which our Civil War Heritage is indeed very personal, >million of americans can actually claim by geneology ancestors who took >part in the Civil War. Having ancestors who served their cause gives >someone a unique view and perspective. Our friend has just that with >several ancestors who served the Confederacy during the war. One in >particular has an interesting history. > >Lawrence Richard Anderson was born in Pitt County, North Carolina February >22, 1825 near the present day town of Farmville. His ancestry had >inhabitied the western part of Pitt County which includes the city of >Greenville. Anderson was by all accounts a fairly well educated for being >from a small farm family. Lawrence was fifth child of ten children of >which six lived to adulthood. > >Lawrence was able to seek a living as a lawyer meanwhile marrying Mary Ann >Joyner in April, 1845. They would raise eight children themselves. >Meantime, like most who lived during those times of secession, they chose >to actively take part in the defense of their state and country. Loyal to >North Carolina, Lawrence took an active role in recruiting troops for the >Fourty-Fourth Regiment, North Carolina Infantry. In March 1862, The >regiment would be organized at Camp Magnum, near present day Raleigh. >Lawrence would be given command of Company D one of three companies raised >in Pitt County. > >For the first year of it's service, the 44th was used to defend coastal >North Carolina from further invasion by Federal Troops who by the time of >their entry into Confederate service was already occuping the outer banks >and towns like New Bern. They even took part in an engagement with >Federals at Tranters Creek. This resultred in the death of their Colonel >G. B Singletary. After several months on this duty they were soon sent >north to join Pettigrew's brigade in Virginia. However as they were moved >into Virginia, they were mainly posted for guard and picket duty during >this period and didn't particpate in most of the campaigns that took place >in 1863. But that didn't mean Anderson was not busy for he and his Company >D would take part in one of south's most solemn ceremonies. > >General Lee though very despondent still had to deal General Hooker placed >near his front and couldn't spare any troops at the time for any funerals >for his prized lieutenant. However there were troops that could take part >those guarding the armies supply lines and Lawrence Anderson's Company D >was available. So in twist of irony while Jacksons Casket was laid in >state at the State Capitol in Richmand. Captain Lawrence Anderson and his >Company D, 44th North Carolina guarded him. > >But time would soon make for the 44th to take a more active role in the war >and soon Anderson and his company would soon face the horrors of war in the >Wilderness and Spotsylvania. Anderson was able to get through those days >but soon would face the Federals outside Cold Harbor Virginia on the second >of June. For what Andserson faced that day trying to turn the Union Flank >in one of few Rebel charges that took place that day was best described by >William Long a Captain in the 44th: > >"Each second brings a belching forth of death and you hear the dull thud so >spoken of as a bullet strikes the yielding body of a comrade - a sound >like the striking of a baseball onto a catchers glove." > >For Long, he would be wounded but later recovered. This wouldn't be the >same for Lawrence as he was found dead a couple of days later. > >Sources: > >Sketches of Pitt County, a brief history of the county, >1704-1910<about:blank> > >Pvt. William Tate Crawford <about:blank> > >Lawrence Richard Anderson - Genealogy<about:blank> > >The Library of Congress<about:blank>