[Airchallenged]

Originally Posted by Holly6

Thanks AC. I've always been interested in the aspect of the "citizen soldier" in their relation to the War. So many of those men performed incredibly with little formal military training. I was a J.L. Chamberlain fan long before "Gettysburg". Soul of a Lion was an early favorite. From Professor to Maj. General in 3 easy years?

Do you have a favorite CW personality that successfully made the transformation from civilian to soldier?

I don't really have a favorite. One that would be near the top was Col. Henry K. Burgwyn of the 26th North Carolina. He was the youngest Colonel in the Confederate Army. He was born in Jamaica Plains, Ma (Its a suburb of Boston, my Aunt lives there) to wealthy planters while they were on vacation. He grew up in North East Nc along the Va border. He graduated from UNC-CH at the age of 16 in 1857. He then went to VMI and graduated in 1861. He got a personal recommendation from T. J. Jackson to be a Confederate Officer. He was the Lt. Col. at first and then replaced Col. Vance when he became the Governor of NC. The 26th NC was in Ransom's brigade, where it fought the Battles of New Bern and Malvern's Heights, until this point at which it was transfered to Pettigrew's Brigade. On July 1st, 1863 The 26th NC and 11th NC charged up the slop of McPherson's Ridge against the Iron Brigade. In the ensuing fight, in which Burgwyn was leading from the front, he was killed moments after being the 12th (approximately) standard bearer. He was shot through the Lungs and died at the base of the hill in the arms of Pvt. William Cheek. Cheek was one of the few member of the Regiment to make it through day three of the Battle. Out of the 800 men that began the charge that day 86 were killed and 502 were wounded, including 13 color bearers. On day three the Regiment only with the 11th NC and the rest of Pettigrew's Brigade made it the furthest in Pickett's charge, an additional 100 or so yards. Only 3 officers and 86 men made it back across the field. Company E had three men left and Company F was gone. Maj John T. Jones, was commander of the Brigade (after Pettigrew was killed in the retreat to Va) and Capt. Henry Albrieght commanded the Regiment.