The 33rd NCT at Cedar Run, August 1862

The regiment advanced to the front and met the Stonewall Brigade “Fleeing from the front.” General Jackson was quoted as saying: “At this critical moment, Branch’s Brigade met the Federal forces, flushed with temporary triumph, and drove them back with terrible slaughter through the woods.” Sutton, the historian of the 18th Regiment says: “General Jackson rode out in front of our brigade and ‘dropped’ his hat in silent acknowledgement of our deed in holding so important a point, which the old Stonewall Brigade had failed to do.”

The 33rd NCT at Sharpsburg, September 1862

Took part in the famous “Light Division” forced march to Sharpsburg on 17 September, 1862. Reaching the field of battle at 3:30 pm at a pivotal moment and saving the Army of Northern Virginia from defeat at the hands of Federal forces. General Branch was killed during this engagement by a sharpshooter’s bullet while observing an enemy advance in a peculiar “v” formation, with his field glasses. Colonel Lane assumes command of the Brigade. 

The 33rd NCT at Chancellorsville, May 1863

Lane’s Brigade is part of Jackson’s famous flanking march. “At night we formed line of battle not far from that place throwing forward a heavy line of skirmishers. The next day (2nd) about dark we were ordered to advance to the front for a night attack.” After the initial engagement of Jackson’s Corp: “The Thirty-third was deployed as skirmishers across the plank road, and the line of battle in rear was as follows: Seventh and Thirty-seventh on right and Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth on the left – the left of the Thirty-seventh and the right of the Eighteenth resting on the road.” 

The 33rd NCT at Gettysburg, July 1863

“In the famous charge on 3 July the brigade formed the left of the second or supporting line, and the Thirty-third was on the left of the brigade. Lane’s and Scales’ Brigades were assigned to Major-General Trimble.” The action is described as follows: “Pickett’s men came first upon the enemy. They hold their ground for a time, but it is almost impossible to live under such a tempest of fire. Pickett staggers and falls back. Davis of Pettigrew’s command, falters and flees. Lane and Scales leap to the front. They overtake Pettigrew and the two lines (Pettigrew and Trimble) then become one (Major Saunders) and the advance is continued. They reach the stone wall. Pettigrew is broken to pieces and leaves the field. Lane and Scales fight on. Their right and left are wholly unprotected. The Federal fire is concentrated upon these two matchless brigades. They mount their breastworks. A furious volley is poured into them by the second Federal line. They retreat, not in disorder, but as General Trimble says “sullenly and slowly, in almost as good order as they had advanced.”

“General Trimble tells General Lane: “If the troops I had the honor to command today (Lane’s and Scales’ Brigades) couldn’t take that position, all hell can’t take it.”

The 33rd NCT at The Wilderness, May 1864

Ordered into the fighting line about 5 p.m. “When our troops in front, fighting Hancock, a skilled and determined officer, could hardly hold their ground. Colonel Venable, of General Lee’s staff, said to Colonel Palmer, of A. P. Hill’s Corps, “Thank God, I will go back and tell General Lee that Lane has just gone in and will hold his ground until other troops arrive tonight.” Lane did hold his ground, and actually drove back the enemy, greatly superior in numbers, a short distance at the point of the bayonet.”

The 33rd NCT at Petersburg, October 1864 through April 1865

Federals shell the brigade in their entrenchments continuously on night of 1 April until daybreak. “The regiments in the works from right to left were in the following order: Twenty-eight, Thirty-seventh, Eighteenth, Thirty-third. The Seventh was on detached duty. The men were placed from six to ten paces apart-a mere skirmish line. Against this weak force Grant hurled his crushing masses, at daybreak the next morning. We fought desperately, but our thin line was pushed back by sheer force of numbers until it was smashed to pieces. We then retreated behind our winter quarters and continued the contest, each man for himself. A part of the regiment fell back to the Plank Road under Colonel Cowan and a part to Battery Gregg, under General Lane.” 

The 33rd NCT at Appomattox Court House, April 1865

Brigade was ordered to occupy a position on the left of the road, near the court house in line of battle. “While we were moving into this position at a double quick we were suddenly halted and a Federal officer came from the front and rode down our line. He smiled, as he rode quickly on, but it was the wickedest smile I ever saw on any man’s countenance. The report quickly spread that General Lee had surrendered.”

The 33rd North Carolina surrendered ten officers and 108 men to the enemy at Appomattox Court House. These are the Cabarrus County men of Company C that reluctantly stacked arms:

J. File, 2nd Sgt.

J. Fink, Private

J. Propst, Private

W. Barnhardt, Private

J.W.Rogers, Private

C. Tucker, Private

D.W. Suther, Private

W.E. Barnhardt, Private

R.W. Barnhardt, Private

J.C. Corzine, Private

W.H. Clark, Private

D.M. Murph, Private

R.A. Rumneajo, Private

E. Teague, Private

“That night we lay down on the ground and shed bitter tears, feeling we had no home and no country.”

“The Southern soldiers were the equals, in every possible respect, of any soldiers that ever fought for God or man. The world must bow before such men. We failed only because it was impossible to succeed.”

“It is not in mortals to command success, We did more, we deserved it.”
James A. Weston

All information listed above came from the history of the Thirty-third regiment by Major J. A. Weston. All quoted lines are Major Weston’s words or direct quotes from other individuals whose identity are indicated in Major Weston’s monograph.